Title: Different, but the Same
Rating: PG (For now)
Spoilers: "Thy Will be Done" and maybe others later
Archive: Ask-I'll let you know
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters they belong to NBC and Warner Brothers and Michael Crichton
This is an alternate ending to "Thy Will Be Done." What if John asked someone else first? This is a story of what could have happened had one thing changed and the effects that it could have had on the lives of those on the ER.
This chapter is best if read with some romantic song playing in the background. My song of choice is "When You Love Someone" by Bryan Adams. It seems to fit well. So-put on your favorite romantic ballad, read and enjoy!
****
(2 weeks later)
"Hey, Carter. You filthy rich grandmother is on line 2."
"Thanks, Jerry. I'll take it in the lounge."
John entered the abandoned lounge, and picked up the phone, concerned about why Gamma was calling him at work.
"Gamma? Is everything okay?"
"Well that's a nice way to greet your grandmother. I just wanted to know if you were coming home for dinner."
"What. You never call just for that reason. What's up?"
"John, your mother is here. She just got in."
He sighed deeply.
"Gamma-crap, I did have plans-"
"With Randi? Dinner?"
"Yes. But I guess I'll cancel. I just really do not feel like dealing with Eleanor Carter tonight. You know how she is. Still stuck in a bubble from Bobby. I am really tired of making attempts to reconcile with her, when I know that I will just be blatantly ignored. It is the story of my life. She was never like a real mother to me. I hate feeling this bitter, but-"
"John, there is a simple solution. Bring Randi with you. That way, you'll have an excuse to leave after dinner."
"Ok. Fine. Whatever. I'll see you later. Bye Gamma."
He hung up the phone, and headed back to the admit desk. Randi was sitting with her back towards him. He walked up behind her, putting his hands on the desk on either side of her, subsequently pinning her where she was. She knew that it was him. The four times they had been out, she became much more aware of everything about him: his smell, the way he breathed, his smile. The list could have gone on forever. She snapped back to reality when he leaned in to whisper in her ear.
"Look, about tonight-slight change of plans."
"Oh?"
"How does dinner at Casa de Carter sound?"
"Fine. But why?"
"Uh-my mother is in town."
"You have got to be kidding me."
"I wish I were. I have not seen her in, like, a year. Gamma told me to bring you to use as an excuse to leave after dinner. Please?" He stared at her with the same brown eyes that she had seen two weeks ago. The eyes that had weakened her defenses, and had gotten her to that benefit.
"Sure. Why not. I like Gamma a lot, and it is certain that the food will be good at least."
"Great. Once again you have saved me from the repercussions of an angry grandmother."
Randi laughed out loud, as John headed toward the ambulance bay doors to meet the incoming paramedic rig.
"You are using me, John!"
"You are a good excuse for an escape. What can I say."
Randi grinned profusely as she picked up the ringing phone.
****
"So Randi, What is your specialization?"
Dinner had begun with an awkward introduction. John was concerned about his mother meeting Randi. But all seemed to be going all right after they sat down, aside from several moments of silence. Until Eleanor caught Randi off guard with her question.
John eyed his mother, not knowing what would happen next.
"Um, I don't know what you mean."
"What are you? Pediatrician, OB, Anesthesiologist?"
"I, uh, I work in Admit," Randi said, looking down at her plate.
"Desk Clerk? John-"
"Mom, don't," John said with a warning tone in his voice.
"John, I just assumed that you would pick your friends more wisely. At least start socializing with those who-who are more socially adept."
Randi could not believe how spiteful that woman was. She felt the tears well up in her eyes. Normally she would have given Mrs. Carter a piece of her mind, but she knew that at that moment, she could not do that without crying.
"Excuse me," she said as she pushed out her chair and quickly ran out of the room.
John's grandparents looked between the mother and her son, waiting for one of them to speak. John took a moment to get his flaring temper under control. His face reddened, and he stood up and stared at his mother.
"How *dare* you, speak to a friend of mine like that at all, much less to her face. Do just try to make my life a living hell? Do you?"
"I am your mother. Do *not* talk to me like that."
"No-no, you see I don't have a mother. You have not been my mother since Bobby died. Twenty years. Twenty years of being ignored. You ignore me, dad, and everyone else that may have meant anything to you at one point or another. Don't just stop by, unannounced, and pretend to be my mother, because you're not." John inhaled deeply, still starring at Eleanor. "Excuse me." He walked out of the dining room, yelling an apology to his grandparents.
****
After a few minutes of searching, John found Randi sitting on the edge of a lounge chair out on the terrace overlooking the pool.
"I don't know if there is anything I can say or do that can make up for what my mother just said to you." He placed a hand on her shoulder. "I never should have asked you to come tonight. She is my problem, and I did not need to bring you into it. I should have expected nothing less from her. I'm so sorry."
He sat down behind her on the lounge chair. Even from there, he could tell that she had been crying.
"It's so beautiful and peaceful here, John," she said, in an attempt to change the subject.
"Randi-"
"Is that a lake way over there?"
"Yeah. You want to go take a look?"
The woman sitting in front of him nodded silently. He stood up and took her hand, leading her in the direction of the lake. They followed the brick path, the moon guiding their way.
In the moonlight, John could not help but notice her appearance. Deep burgundy slacks, black spaghetti strap shell, and a long sheer black jacket. Her hair was falling around her shoulders in big curls, ever so slightly blowing in the wind. She looked so different than she typically did at work.
They reached the small lake without a word spoken between them. John led her out onto the wooden dock, where they sat, hanging their feet over the side.
"Why is she like that, John? What had to happened to make a woman that bitter and spiteful?"
Taking in a deep breath, Johns began to tell Randi the story.
"I had a brother, Bobby. He fell off a horse one day and broke his leg. It was a penetrating fracture. Kind of a random incident. They took him to the emergency room to have it set. That is how we found out. Leukemia. Anyway, long story short, he found out in May, and was gone by Christmas. She went through years of depression; I honestly don't know if she has even fully recovered, yet. It has been twenty years, and she is still shutting me out. She forgot that she had *two* sons. It has driven her and my father apart. Broke up the family."
Randi looked at John's face. It was frozen, as he stared out into the water. She squeezed his hand with reassurance and concern. He finally turned his face toward hers. It seemed like lifetimes that they stared into one another's eyes. She suddenly turned her head back out toward the lake.
John did the same.
"What about you? Any hidden tragedies from your past?"
"Not really. I was raised by my father in a middle class home in Jersey. My mom apparently split when I was a few months old. I never knew her. My dad had one picture of her that he kept on the mirror in the bathroom. I look just like her. Anyway, he had a fatal heart attack two weeks after my eighteenth birthday. That was when I lost control. I got in with the wrong people, because I felt lost without daddy." More tears began to form in her eyes. "I hit a low about two years later, and realized that if I did not get out of there soon, I would never be able to get out. So I came to Chicago, and wound up at County. The rest, they say, is history."
"I guess that we are not as different as most would think, huh? With the mothers and all."
A single tear ran down her cheek. John turned, looked into her eyes again, and lifted his hand to her face. He wiped the teardrop away with his thumb. Slowly and tenderly, he pulled her face towards his. He kissed her gently on the cheek, right where the tear had been wiped away.
As gentle as the kiss had been, Randi had felt fire in it. The two backed away slightly, and stared at each other until John put both of his hands on her face and pulled her into a deep, passionate kiss.
When the kiss ended, they smiled at one another. The world seemed to have stood still for them. They both felt as if everything in their lives were right for the first time in ages. They felt a sense of security and serenity.
"What time is it, John?"
"Three minutes 'til eleven."
"I need to get home. I'm on at 6:00." John helped her into a standing position, and then put his arms around her.
"You don't have to leave. Stay, please?
"I'd like to, really I would, but I'm working a double tomorrow. Frank is out of town."
He smiled, leaning in to kiss her again.
****
I am not sure if the actual story of Bobby's death was ever told in its entirety, so I had to put my own spin on that part. My apologies if it does not coincide with the real story, as presented on the show.
*******************Please, Please, Please Review!*******************
Rating: PG (For now)
Spoilers: "Thy Will be Done" and maybe others later
Archive: Ask-I'll let you know
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters they belong to NBC and Warner Brothers and Michael Crichton
This is an alternate ending to "Thy Will Be Done." What if John asked someone else first? This is a story of what could have happened had one thing changed and the effects that it could have had on the lives of those on the ER.
This chapter is best if read with some romantic song playing in the background. My song of choice is "When You Love Someone" by Bryan Adams. It seems to fit well. So-put on your favorite romantic ballad, read and enjoy!
****
(2 weeks later)
"Hey, Carter. You filthy rich grandmother is on line 2."
"Thanks, Jerry. I'll take it in the lounge."
John entered the abandoned lounge, and picked up the phone, concerned about why Gamma was calling him at work.
"Gamma? Is everything okay?"
"Well that's a nice way to greet your grandmother. I just wanted to know if you were coming home for dinner."
"What. You never call just for that reason. What's up?"
"John, your mother is here. She just got in."
He sighed deeply.
"Gamma-crap, I did have plans-"
"With Randi? Dinner?"
"Yes. But I guess I'll cancel. I just really do not feel like dealing with Eleanor Carter tonight. You know how she is. Still stuck in a bubble from Bobby. I am really tired of making attempts to reconcile with her, when I know that I will just be blatantly ignored. It is the story of my life. She was never like a real mother to me. I hate feeling this bitter, but-"
"John, there is a simple solution. Bring Randi with you. That way, you'll have an excuse to leave after dinner."
"Ok. Fine. Whatever. I'll see you later. Bye Gamma."
He hung up the phone, and headed back to the admit desk. Randi was sitting with her back towards him. He walked up behind her, putting his hands on the desk on either side of her, subsequently pinning her where she was. She knew that it was him. The four times they had been out, she became much more aware of everything about him: his smell, the way he breathed, his smile. The list could have gone on forever. She snapped back to reality when he leaned in to whisper in her ear.
"Look, about tonight-slight change of plans."
"Oh?"
"How does dinner at Casa de Carter sound?"
"Fine. But why?"
"Uh-my mother is in town."
"You have got to be kidding me."
"I wish I were. I have not seen her in, like, a year. Gamma told me to bring you to use as an excuse to leave after dinner. Please?" He stared at her with the same brown eyes that she had seen two weeks ago. The eyes that had weakened her defenses, and had gotten her to that benefit.
"Sure. Why not. I like Gamma a lot, and it is certain that the food will be good at least."
"Great. Once again you have saved me from the repercussions of an angry grandmother."
Randi laughed out loud, as John headed toward the ambulance bay doors to meet the incoming paramedic rig.
"You are using me, John!"
"You are a good excuse for an escape. What can I say."
Randi grinned profusely as she picked up the ringing phone.
****
"So Randi, What is your specialization?"
Dinner had begun with an awkward introduction. John was concerned about his mother meeting Randi. But all seemed to be going all right after they sat down, aside from several moments of silence. Until Eleanor caught Randi off guard with her question.
John eyed his mother, not knowing what would happen next.
"Um, I don't know what you mean."
"What are you? Pediatrician, OB, Anesthesiologist?"
"I, uh, I work in Admit," Randi said, looking down at her plate.
"Desk Clerk? John-"
"Mom, don't," John said with a warning tone in his voice.
"John, I just assumed that you would pick your friends more wisely. At least start socializing with those who-who are more socially adept."
Randi could not believe how spiteful that woman was. She felt the tears well up in her eyes. Normally she would have given Mrs. Carter a piece of her mind, but she knew that at that moment, she could not do that without crying.
"Excuse me," she said as she pushed out her chair and quickly ran out of the room.
John's grandparents looked between the mother and her son, waiting for one of them to speak. John took a moment to get his flaring temper under control. His face reddened, and he stood up and stared at his mother.
"How *dare* you, speak to a friend of mine like that at all, much less to her face. Do just try to make my life a living hell? Do you?"
"I am your mother. Do *not* talk to me like that."
"No-no, you see I don't have a mother. You have not been my mother since Bobby died. Twenty years. Twenty years of being ignored. You ignore me, dad, and everyone else that may have meant anything to you at one point or another. Don't just stop by, unannounced, and pretend to be my mother, because you're not." John inhaled deeply, still starring at Eleanor. "Excuse me." He walked out of the dining room, yelling an apology to his grandparents.
****
After a few minutes of searching, John found Randi sitting on the edge of a lounge chair out on the terrace overlooking the pool.
"I don't know if there is anything I can say or do that can make up for what my mother just said to you." He placed a hand on her shoulder. "I never should have asked you to come tonight. She is my problem, and I did not need to bring you into it. I should have expected nothing less from her. I'm so sorry."
He sat down behind her on the lounge chair. Even from there, he could tell that she had been crying.
"It's so beautiful and peaceful here, John," she said, in an attempt to change the subject.
"Randi-"
"Is that a lake way over there?"
"Yeah. You want to go take a look?"
The woman sitting in front of him nodded silently. He stood up and took her hand, leading her in the direction of the lake. They followed the brick path, the moon guiding their way.
In the moonlight, John could not help but notice her appearance. Deep burgundy slacks, black spaghetti strap shell, and a long sheer black jacket. Her hair was falling around her shoulders in big curls, ever so slightly blowing in the wind. She looked so different than she typically did at work.
They reached the small lake without a word spoken between them. John led her out onto the wooden dock, where they sat, hanging their feet over the side.
"Why is she like that, John? What had to happened to make a woman that bitter and spiteful?"
Taking in a deep breath, Johns began to tell Randi the story.
"I had a brother, Bobby. He fell off a horse one day and broke his leg. It was a penetrating fracture. Kind of a random incident. They took him to the emergency room to have it set. That is how we found out. Leukemia. Anyway, long story short, he found out in May, and was gone by Christmas. She went through years of depression; I honestly don't know if she has even fully recovered, yet. It has been twenty years, and she is still shutting me out. She forgot that she had *two* sons. It has driven her and my father apart. Broke up the family."
Randi looked at John's face. It was frozen, as he stared out into the water. She squeezed his hand with reassurance and concern. He finally turned his face toward hers. It seemed like lifetimes that they stared into one another's eyes. She suddenly turned her head back out toward the lake.
John did the same.
"What about you? Any hidden tragedies from your past?"
"Not really. I was raised by my father in a middle class home in Jersey. My mom apparently split when I was a few months old. I never knew her. My dad had one picture of her that he kept on the mirror in the bathroom. I look just like her. Anyway, he had a fatal heart attack two weeks after my eighteenth birthday. That was when I lost control. I got in with the wrong people, because I felt lost without daddy." More tears began to form in her eyes. "I hit a low about two years later, and realized that if I did not get out of there soon, I would never be able to get out. So I came to Chicago, and wound up at County. The rest, they say, is history."
"I guess that we are not as different as most would think, huh? With the mothers and all."
A single tear ran down her cheek. John turned, looked into her eyes again, and lifted his hand to her face. He wiped the teardrop away with his thumb. Slowly and tenderly, he pulled her face towards his. He kissed her gently on the cheek, right where the tear had been wiped away.
As gentle as the kiss had been, Randi had felt fire in it. The two backed away slightly, and stared at each other until John put both of his hands on her face and pulled her into a deep, passionate kiss.
When the kiss ended, they smiled at one another. The world seemed to have stood still for them. They both felt as if everything in their lives were right for the first time in ages. They felt a sense of security and serenity.
"What time is it, John?"
"Three minutes 'til eleven."
"I need to get home. I'm on at 6:00." John helped her into a standing position, and then put his arms around her.
"You don't have to leave. Stay, please?
"I'd like to, really I would, but I'm working a double tomorrow. Frank is out of town."
He smiled, leaning in to kiss her again.
****
I am not sure if the actual story of Bobby's death was ever told in its entirety, so I had to put my own spin on that part. My apologies if it does not coincide with the real story, as presented on the show.
*******************Please, Please, Please Review!*******************