~Rescue Me~

~Chapter 3~

* * *

The darkness began to lift from before Caroline's eye. Her eye blinked. The lid felt as though it were made of lead. Realization came slowly. She was in a hospital room, which she could only see through one eye. Panic filled her. Had she gone blind in the other? She touched her eye with one IV implanted hand. No, it was just covered by a patch.

Who was this guy sitting beside her, asleep, with his hand atop hers? He looked familiar. She struggled to remember his name. JR was it? He had seemed okay. Then again, he'd done exactly what she had told him not to do. Angrily, she jerked her hand out from under his, and used it to rip off her oxygen mask.

JR awoke with a start at the sudden motion. "Hey, looks like Sleeping Beauty is finally awake."

"Don't you Sleeping Beauty me, why did you bring me here?" Caroline demanded. Her mouth was so dry, it felt like it'd been stuffed with cotton, but she didn't care. She wanted answers.

"I brought you here because you were hurt, Caroline. I saved your life, you know." JR replied, crossing his arms. How could she be so ungrateful?

"Well, you didn't save much." Caroline retorted bitterly. "And you've probably ruined my life even more."

"How do you figure?" JR asked.

"My mother. She can find me now." Caroline whispered.

"No, no she won't find you. The police chief is--"

"You got the police involved?!" Caroline interrupted.

"I didn't get the police involved in anything. Your doctor called them." JR protested.

"Yeah, because you brought me here." Caroline said.

"What was I supposed to do? Let you die?" JR asked, exasperated.

"I might have been better off!" Caroline said, a film of tears forming in her eye. "What am I even doing here. I don't have to take this abuse, all I tried to do was help you, and all you're doing is bitching at me." JR said, standing up. "I'm out of here."

"Good! No one was asking you to stay!" Caroline shouted.

At the sound of Caroline's yelling, Jake Martin entered the room. He was pleased to see that his newest patient had regained consciousness, but wondered what all the yelling was about. He stepped over to her bedside and began checking her vital signs.

"Welcome back. I'm Dr. Martin. Is anything wrong in here?" Dr. Jake asked.

"No. I was just leaving." JR said, and stalked out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Caroline obediently lifted her arm for Dr. Martin so that he could slip a blood pressure cuff on it. The tears lingered in her eyes. She hadn't wanted to be so hateful to JR, but she couldn't let him get too close. She had to protect herself. She couldn't let anyone get too close ever again.

* * *

JR threw another rock into the water and listened to the satisfying splash it created. Skipping stones at the boathouse had become a frequent stress reliever for him during the tough times. He couldn't believe how Caroline had reacted to him, after what he had done for her. Disappointed didn't begin to describe his feelings. He was hoping he'd find a friend in her. She didn't know about his past problems and she wouldn't have to know. But it looked like any hope for a friendship with her was gone.

The old boards squeaked and JR looked up to see who had stepped onto the dock. It was his old friend, from his days of getting high, Mark. JR turned away. That was the last thing he needed.

"Hey man. What's with the cold shoulder?" Mark asked, helping himself to a seat beside JR.

"Nothing. I've just had a bad day." JR responded, still not facing him.

"Listen. I just got some great stuff. I know it would make you feel better." Mark pressed.

"You know I don't do that stuff anymore, Mark." JR said.

"That doesn't mean you don't want to. Does it?" Mark asked.

"I don't know." JR said.

His hesitance was a mistake that Mark was going to use to his advantage. With a smile, Mark reached into his pocket and withdrew a syringe, followed by a couple of small bottles filled with fluid. Using his teeth, Mark removed the needle's lid, which he pocketed.



"Want any?" Mark said, as he filled the syringe with the liquid.

"No."

"I'll go first." Mark located a vein in his arm, and stabbed the needle into it. With his thumb, he pushed the plunger and expelled the contents into his body. He filled the needle again, and offered it to JR.

JR started to refuse again, but the needle was looking more and more inviting to him. He snatched the syringe from Mark, and plunged it into his arm. He pulled the needle from his arm and tossed it aside. JR lay back, waiting for the drug to take effect. Then realized too late that he didn't even know what he'd taken.