Goodbye, dr. Carter, part 7
The next few weeks flew by, and the friendship between John and Alfred grew stronger and stronger as the days went. As John couldn't accept his friend living on the streets he managed to convince Alfred to move in with him, but it only lasted for a while. Alfred's real reasons for living on the streets came up after a couple of weeks; he was saving the money to his old days. His plans were to be rich, and live as a prince. John liked the idea too. For once, maybe he could earn some great money and show his family that he could manage and get a good fortune on his own. If he couldn't show them, at least he could show himself.
Therefore, John sold his apartment and moved to a tiny cabin, in a not too good condition. He also sold his TV, stereo and almost everything he owned. At first he worried about missing his stuff, but as he got used to it he actually enjoyed the quiet and easy life they lived.
They had a little garden, which both John and Alfred liked to work on in their free time, and the evenings and nights were spent in the dark streets of Chicago. John finally felt he had a great life.
Alfred and John continued living their new and peaceful life while the world almost went crazy around them. At County was several of the staff worried about John. Since he'd quitted he had only talked to them a few times, but over the last months there hadn't been any signs of him. Especially Kerry felt guilty. For the last six months she'd gotten goosbumps everytime traumas came in. She often called the other hospitals to be sure, and she felt just as stupid everytime. But she feared that one day the answer would be the opposite.
"Hey, Johnny!" Albert called out a Saturday evening. "It's almost 11.00 pm. Let's go to the marked. Saturday's the best day of the week".
"Just a sec, Abby".
A couple of minutes went by before Jon came.
"You okay?" Albert asked.
John nodded slowly. "It's just my stomach. I think I ate something".
"Maybe it's my stuffing?"
"Maybe, I don't know".
"You wanna hang here?"
"No", John said and tried to look fine. "It's Saturday. The costumers are waiting".
"That's the spirit, Johnny. Let's earn some bucks".
It took them about 20 minutes to get to the city. By the time they arrived John had thrown up twice. Albert wanted him to go home, but John refused. As usually there were people all over the city who all were waiting for someone with stuff. Two people nearly attacked Albert and John when they arrived. Albert worked as fast as he could while John puked next to him. He was really sick.
"Hey, dude!" A man yelled. Albert sighed thinking it was trouble. "I need you two in one of the upper streets. The guys over there are crazy, and the other dealers are sold out.
"Sure. We only need some more from Kye first", Albert said. He was happy; this could be their big breakthrough. "We'll be there as soon as we can".
The man smiled and disappeared. Albert looked at a pale John.
"We've got a great chance to be someone, Johnny. You don't look very well, though. You wanna come or go home?"
"Are you kiddin'?! Of course I'm coming. I can continue being sick tomorrow".
Albert wanted deep inside that John would go home. He looked sick, and he should be in bed. But on the other hand, the job wouldn't be the same without John.
"Let's go", John said. This was a chance he couldn't miss. He just couldn't.
After having a chat with Kye they went to the darker and more hidden streets. Quite surprised by the amount of people that was living there they started selling. It was more than Albert could handle alone so John tried to function as normal as possible. But eventually his stomach forced him to sit on the ground leaning against the nearest tree. Albert saw John almost crawling towards the tree. His friend had never acted this way before, and he was really worried.
It took Albert about two hours to sell all they had. When the last costumer had left he headed over to John, who obviously had fallen asleep.
"Johnny!" Albert touched John's shoulder. "Johnny! Wake up! Johnny…? It's Abby… Wake up, Johnny!"
Albert was almost yelling, and suddenly he freaked out. John wasn't breathing…
The next few weeks flew by, and the friendship between John and Alfred grew stronger and stronger as the days went. As John couldn't accept his friend living on the streets he managed to convince Alfred to move in with him, but it only lasted for a while. Alfred's real reasons for living on the streets came up after a couple of weeks; he was saving the money to his old days. His plans were to be rich, and live as a prince. John liked the idea too. For once, maybe he could earn some great money and show his family that he could manage and get a good fortune on his own. If he couldn't show them, at least he could show himself.
Therefore, John sold his apartment and moved to a tiny cabin, in a not too good condition. He also sold his TV, stereo and almost everything he owned. At first he worried about missing his stuff, but as he got used to it he actually enjoyed the quiet and easy life they lived.
They had a little garden, which both John and Alfred liked to work on in their free time, and the evenings and nights were spent in the dark streets of Chicago. John finally felt he had a great life.
Alfred and John continued living their new and peaceful life while the world almost went crazy around them. At County was several of the staff worried about John. Since he'd quitted he had only talked to them a few times, but over the last months there hadn't been any signs of him. Especially Kerry felt guilty. For the last six months she'd gotten goosbumps everytime traumas came in. She often called the other hospitals to be sure, and she felt just as stupid everytime. But she feared that one day the answer would be the opposite.
"Hey, Johnny!" Albert called out a Saturday evening. "It's almost 11.00 pm. Let's go to the marked. Saturday's the best day of the week".
"Just a sec, Abby".
A couple of minutes went by before Jon came.
"You okay?" Albert asked.
John nodded slowly. "It's just my stomach. I think I ate something".
"Maybe it's my stuffing?"
"Maybe, I don't know".
"You wanna hang here?"
"No", John said and tried to look fine. "It's Saturday. The costumers are waiting".
"That's the spirit, Johnny. Let's earn some bucks".
It took them about 20 minutes to get to the city. By the time they arrived John had thrown up twice. Albert wanted him to go home, but John refused. As usually there were people all over the city who all were waiting for someone with stuff. Two people nearly attacked Albert and John when they arrived. Albert worked as fast as he could while John puked next to him. He was really sick.
"Hey, dude!" A man yelled. Albert sighed thinking it was trouble. "I need you two in one of the upper streets. The guys over there are crazy, and the other dealers are sold out.
"Sure. We only need some more from Kye first", Albert said. He was happy; this could be their big breakthrough. "We'll be there as soon as we can".
The man smiled and disappeared. Albert looked at a pale John.
"We've got a great chance to be someone, Johnny. You don't look very well, though. You wanna come or go home?"
"Are you kiddin'?! Of course I'm coming. I can continue being sick tomorrow".
Albert wanted deep inside that John would go home. He looked sick, and he should be in bed. But on the other hand, the job wouldn't be the same without John.
"Let's go", John said. This was a chance he couldn't miss. He just couldn't.
After having a chat with Kye they went to the darker and more hidden streets. Quite surprised by the amount of people that was living there they started selling. It was more than Albert could handle alone so John tried to function as normal as possible. But eventually his stomach forced him to sit on the ground leaning against the nearest tree. Albert saw John almost crawling towards the tree. His friend had never acted this way before, and he was really worried.
It took Albert about two hours to sell all they had. When the last costumer had left he headed over to John, who obviously had fallen asleep.
"Johnny!" Albert touched John's shoulder. "Johnny! Wake up! Johnny…? It's Abby… Wake up, Johnny!"
Albert was almost yelling, and suddenly he freaked out. John wasn't breathing…