Chapter 7: Breaking the rules

Finally the day was over. All carter wanted to do was get home and finally he was able to do it. He jammed the key in the lock hard and twisted. He through his stuff onto the floor and collapsed on the sofa. THank God it was over. This had been the day from hell. Suddenly his attention was drawn to the alcohol cabinet opposite him. Although he was a recovering alcoholic there was always some form of alcohol in the Carter mansion. Gamma liked a glass of wine and his grandfather had also been a whiskey man. Carter got up and unlocked the door. He opened up the cabinet and picked up a bottle of malt whiskey. He loved this stuff. His emotions were going crazy. His heart started to pound and he could feel his mouth going dry. He was sweating- lots. He reached forwards for a glass and cracked open the bottle. He poured himself a bit and then stood with the glass in his hand for a while. Then finally he rose the glass to his lips and poured in into his mouth. As the whiskey went down his throat it burned but he felt fantastic. Hiss adrenaline was at at all time high and he poured himself a second glass. He knew this was wrong- he was an alcoholic, He repeated it over and over in his mind. You are an alcoholic. You are an alcoholic. You are an alcoholic. He knew he shouldnÕt be drinking but somehow that made it even better.


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Susan and Luka sat as close as possible. They were watching Minority Report- it had just come out on video and although the film was great they werenÕt really watching much of it. Finally the credits began to roll but the pair hardly noticed. Luka picked Susan up- her legs were wrapped around his waist- and carried her into the bedroom. It looked like Susan would be tired again tomorrow.

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Susan was awoken by the phone ringing. She looked over at the clock it was 4 am- who would be calling at this time? Surely it couldnÕt be the ER? She pulled herself out of the bed- untangling herself from Luka. She tried not to wake he up but it didnÕt work. He jumped up startled. She picked up the phone trying to concentrate as he wrapped his arms around her waist and gently began to kiss her shoulder.

ÒLuka- WE have to go to the ERÓÓWhat!?ÓÕQuickly we have to goÓ
ÒSusan wait- what's wrongÓÓCarter is in the ER I donÕt know what's wrong. Look are you coming or notÓÓIm coming- I think we better get dressed first thoughÓ

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The more she thought about it the worse SusanÕs thoughts got. She didnÕt want to think about what could have happened to Carter but thankfully it didnÕt sound like he was critical. Luka had a firm grip on her hand. It hadnÕt loosened since they had got into his car and now they were walking into County Cook general and it was as tight as ever. SHe was grateful for him being there- without him she wouldnÕt have known how to handle this but he had kept her clam throughout it all.

Abby was already at the hospital desk quizzing Frank about what had happened.

ÒWhats going on?Ó Susan was even more glad of Luka being here now. Her throat was dry and itchy and she didnÕt think she would have been able to speak at all at this very moment let alone loudly and clearly like Luka had.

ÒIÕm sorry guys but I really donÕt know. All I know is Carter has been drinking and heÕs gonna be fine. I think heÕs upstairs but I really canÕt help youÓÓShit, heÕs been drinkingÓ
ÒHow long you been here Abby?ÓÓOnly a few minutes. I got a callÓÓUs tooÓÓI just want to see himÓLuka squeezed her hand even tighter than before. She clung to him hard. Her head hurt and her knees felt weak. She was freezing. In her rush out of the house she had forgotten to wear a jumper and was standing in the lobby with only a t-shirt and pair of jeans on to keep her warm. Luka must have felt her shaking because he pulled off his jumper and gave it to her. It was warm and smelt of Luka and she wished she was somewhere else right now. Things were just going right with her and Luka- she had forgotten all about Carter and suddenly here he was again... ÒSusan- Abby- LukaÓÓHey KerryÓÓHow is he?ÓÓHeÕs okay. HeÕs had his stomach pumped and his gonna feel kinda bad tomorrow but otherwise heÕs okayÓÓHe was drinking?ÓÓYeah a hell of a lotÓÓI canÕt believe him. HeÕs like a teenager. You dragged me out of bed when I am going to be working it three hours because he got drunkÓ
ÒSusan- it was a bit more serious than thatÓÓNo Abby- itÕs not. I canÕt believe himÓÓSusan calm downÓÓI want to see him- NowÓÓHeÕs asleepÓÓOh dear. I was asleep that didnÕt stop you getting me upÓÓSusan I brought you and Abby here because of CarterÕs drinking problems in the past. Look. He didnÕt just drink- he took some paracetemol as wellÓÓHow much?ÓÓWe donÕt know exactly but it looks like almost a whole bottleÓÓYou think it was a suicide attempt?ÓÓWe think soÓ
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ÒCarter. Carter. Carter- come on Carter- wake upÓÓI feel terribleÓ
CarterÕs eyelids began to flutter open. His head pounded- hard. He couldnÕt work out where he was. The bed wasnÕt his own and this place smelt strangely. He recognised it but couldnÕt quite place where he was. He didnÕt recognise the voice either but all he was concentrating on now was the pain. It pounded harder and harder. With every beat of his heart and smash went through his brain. After a few minutes the pounding eased. He opened his eyes fully and pushed himself upright. There in front of him sat Susan- why was she here?Ó
ÒCarter- youÕre in the hospital- what you did last night was really stupidÓ

Carter still couldnÕt work out why he was here and why she was sitting in front of him. He tried to remember the previous nights events but it was all just a blur. Suddenly the door opened and a man came in. At first Carter was unsure of who it was but as he came closer he recognised LukaÕs broody Croatian face. He linked his hand with SusanÕs and passed her a coffee. He said nothing but whatever Carter had done last night Luka was not pleased about. I obviously interrupted a night of passion he thought to himself.

ÒSorry- I have no idea what happened to meÓ
"You had a little too much to drinkÓ
From what carter could make out Susan was a wreck. And from the way Luka was answering questions directed at her- she was also unable to speak.

ÒHuh?ÓÓCarter- you took some pills- you donÕt remember?ÓÓNo- pills no I didnÕtÓÓYou did John. They had to pump your stomach. Me and Abby both got called last nightÓÓYouÕve been here all night?ÓÓWe were really worriedÓ
ÒYou were?ÓÓEveryone wasÓ
Did I ask you? Carter hated Luka. And he hated it even more than Luka had something else that was his- Susan. She had been crying- all night by the looks of things. Her hair was shoved up and she had no makeup on but she looked fantastic. The sun glistened off her hair and dispite being slightly sore looking her eyes sparkled. Some people were naturally beautiful- Susan was one of them. Luka knew just how lucky he was. He had now lopped his arm around her shoulder and she was leaning back into his chest. He kissed her forehead lightly and she smiled. They looked very much in love. Suddenly something clicked and it all came running back to Carter. He remembered why he was here. Last night had all started with a glass of whiskey and from there it was all downhill- drowning his sorrows hadnÕt worked. He hadnÕt being trying to kill himself- just forget all the troubles he had been having recently. He was kind of hoping they would have disappeared by the time he woke up- they hadnÕt.

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The door once again creaked open. Susan leaned forward from her resting place on Lukas chest to see who was there. It was Kerry Weaver. She held a chart in her hand and had a doctors coat in the other.
ÒSusan- I need you to work. IÕm sorry but itÕs packed down there and were already once doctor downÓ She signalled at Carter.
ÒKerry- I need to stay here with Carter- I havenÕt had any sleep all nightÓÓSusan-IÕm sorry but I need you down thereÓÓIÕll do itÓ

Luka got up from his chair, kissed SusanÕs head and took the coat from KerryÕs hand. He pulled it on and took the chart from her other hand.

ÒLuka- you donÕt have to do thatÓÓDonÕt worry Susan- IÕll come back up at lunchÓÓOkay- thank you so muchÓ
ÒDonÕt worry about itÓ ÒThat was nice of himÓÓI know it was- he has to work tonight as well CarterÓÓWhat- thatÕs my fault?ÓÓYeah it isÓÓNo-one asked him to be hereÓÓCarter he was with me. He was looking after meÓÓYou needed looking after?ÓÓYes Carter I needed looking after. You freaked me out- you freaked us all out. I thought you were dead. I got a phone call in the middle of the night telling me you were here and I should come down here immediately- I needed looking afterÓÓSusan, IÕm sorryÓÓItÕs not me you should be apologising to- itÕs Luka.ÓÓNo-one asked him to come down here- he came of his own free willÓÓCarterÓ
ÒIÕm sorry- IÕm sorry he had to come here. IÕll cover his shift tonightÓÓWhat you think youÕll be able to? DonÕt be so stupid CarterÓÓIÕm only trying to helpÓÓWell youÕre not. IÕm tired and I just want to collapse- I donÕt want to argueÓÓGo home- sleepÓÓNo- IÕm here to be with youÓ

There was an awkward silence. Carter sighed. He had lost SUsan and probably to a better man. Luka was kind and a nice guy- he would treat Susan how she deserved to be treated- there was no doubting that- but carter still couldnÕt give up- this was the woman he loved.

ÒSusan- IÓ
Suddenly they were interrupted by Abby walking through the door. She looked tired as well. In her left hand she clutched a coffee- and she ran the right hand through her hair.

ÒHey- youÕre awakeÓÓHey- you here last night as wellÓÓAll nightÓ
ÒIÕm sorryÓ
ÒYou shouldnÕt be sorry for thatÓÓI shouldnÕt?ÓÓYou should however be sorry for drinking againÓÓI gave you a lecture...ÓÓAnd I will give you one once that hangover has cleared upÓÓWhat about... the other stuffÓÓYou mean the paracetemol?ÓÓYeahÓÓI think you should see someoneÓÓYou do?ÓÓYeah- Susan what do you thinkÓÓI donÕt know. Seeing someone is good- you should see someoneÓÓYou okay?ÓÓIÕm worried about Luka- heÕs workingÓÓNow?!ÓÓYeah- itÕs my shift but heÕs working it for me so I can be hereÓÓI thought he was working tonight?ÓÓHe isÓÓI already said IÕll do itÓÓCarter- donÕt be stupidÓÓSusan- heÕll be fineÓÓI know but he shouldnÕt have to do it- itÕs my shift. Look I think IÕm going to go work. I canÕt let him do thisÓÓSusan- he wonÕt let youÓÓOh yeah...ÓÓSusan...ÓÓIÕll see you guys laterÓ

The door slammed and Susan walked out in the hall. She was exhausted. Her eyelids fluttered and she felt herself drifting off to sleep. She forced herself to stay awake and glanced down at her watch. 12pm. Luka would be off for lunch soon. She wandered towards the elevator. Here goes...

ÒGo get her pleaseÓÓShe wonÕt come backÓÓSheÕs so tired. I mean so is Luka but she really looks a messÓÓOkay IÕll goÓ
ÒThank youÓ

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