Chapter 2:
"Just make sure she gets enough fluids and keep checking her temperature every couple of hours. If the situation gets worse give us a call. Ask for Dr. Parker. Ok?"
"Thank you!" Elizabeth saw the father and his small child out of the room and waved them goodbye. She'd only been working the E.R. for about an hour, and already she was feeling the rush. The place never stopped moving! It was as busy and eventful as the streets just outside the doors. New York was always considered the city that never sleeps. They must've spent a night at the hospital.
"Elizabeth! Just got a call... ambulance heading in with a multiple stab victim."
"Jesus Christ. How old?"
"Twelve." She breathed in deeply to prevent the tears. She was always too touchy about these things. It was one thing her teachers had always gotten on her case about in medical school. Especially in a place like NYC... things like this should be normal to her!
"Ok, I'll set up the room." She ran into the examining room and made sure to set up the table, equipment, and put on her gloves. This was going to be a long night.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Michael!"
"Hey Maxwell! What's up?" Max sat on the stool and watched his childhood friend with wonder. His long hair made him look like something out of a rock video and his plaid shirt opened to reveal his wife beater was too stereotypically bar-like.
"Nothing much... just got settled in and was desperate for a familiar face."
"Where you staying?"
"The Plaza." He took the bottle handed to him and ran his finger over the lid once, a habit he never seemed to be able to break.
"Sh*t man. You are just no joke."
"Yea, well, I'm not the one paying for it. I'm on duty."
"Doing?"
"Can't say."
"Why?"
"Cause then I'd have to kill you." They stopped and then laughed at the way their lives turned out.
"Called Isabel yet?"
"Of course... before I even got here. Then again when I got to the Plaza. She's freaking out about me being here. She caught on to my mission without me saying a word."
"She was always much better at reading you then I was." Max watched Michael work, his hands quickly mixing, pouring, sliding, throwing.
"STOP IT! Don't touch me! GET OFF!!!!" Max turned his head quickly to see the source of the screaming. It was muffled and hard to hear over the music and laughing but when he turned to face Michael, he could tell he heard it too.
"Don't even try to play hero Maxwell. This is MY bar. I'll handle it." Michael stepped out from behind the bar and went over to the corner. Max watched from the stool as he saw the events unfold. Just as it seemed Michael had everything under control, the drunken fool picked up his empty bottle and went to strike him.
"MICHAEL!" He turned just in time to put his hand up against the glass as it shattered and broke into pieces. Oh man... not tonight. Max got up and went to check out Michael's hand.
"Get out! Don't come back either or I swear I will personally kick your fat a**." Good old Michael, always dependable to intimidate his crowd.
"Let me see." He let out his hand and Max gasped at the blood pouring out. He was a cop, not a doctor. Blood still made him pretty queazy. He placed his hand on Michael's, but Michael snatched it out fast.
"Not here, not now. Let's not expose ourselves unless we have to, huh?"
"Well, I guess it means we gotta go to the hospital."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Elizabeth made her way over to the soda machine. She needed energy and fast. It was already a couple of minutes past midnight and she was still waiting for that second wind. She grabbed the Sprite from the machine and made her way to the lounge for a five minute break.
"Elizabeth... Sprite contains no caffeine." She looked down at the soda in her hand and back at the male doctor sitting on the couch.
"Are you serious Carl?"
"Yea... sorry." She gave him her most intimidating look trying to stop his laughter.
"You know what? I don't care." Carl reached his hand around Elizabeth's shoulders and laughed again.
"Hard night?"
"Just tired, I guess. I've had trouble sleeping... when I actually get to bed."
"Hm? Wanna share?"
"Not really. But I'll be fine. I just needed a break."
"Ok. Well, you know if you need anything... I'm right here. You can call me, you can come over whenever you need company."
"Carl... you know that I am not ready to get involved. It didn't work the first time, I doubt it would work now."
"The first time was like three years ago. You have to give love a chance." Elizabeth glared down at her drink. She had to leave the room. This wasn't something she felt like discussing.
"Elizabeth! I need a hand!"
"Coming! Carl, I have to go."
"We'll talk later."
"Sure." She got herself up and got out as fast as possible. She found herself face to face with Jennifer, her young intern and friend.
"I've never stiched anyone up. Can you just help me out?"
"Of course." The sigh of relief was too obvious in her voice and Jennifer couldn't help but laugh. They walked into the room and after a couple of minutes Elizabeth stepped out feeling slightly rejuvenated. Jennifer always had that effect on her. Like everything she did was as amazing as the very first time. She had almost forgotten why she became a doctor, until she met Jennifer. Besides Maria, Jen was probably her closest female friend.
"All set?"
"Yes. Thank you."
"No problem. And Jen... call me Liz. All of my friends do." She made her way out of the room and came face to face with a pair of dark green eyes.
"Oh thank God! You're a doctor right? I need your help." Elizabeth stared at the man with the bleach blonde hair. He was very handsome and quite unlike anyone she'd seen around the hospital before.
"Some friends and I were joking around and I seem to have gotten roughed up."
"I see that. You might need two or three stitches on your eyebrow... nothing too serious. I'll call in Jennifer, she can help you."
"NO! No... please. I'm terrified of hospitals. I really... it took a lot for me to come here. Do you think you'd be able to help me? You just... you remind me of my sister. I'd feel much less nervous if you helped me." She stared into his pleading eyes and found herself not being able to deny his request.
"Ok, fine. Let me find an empty room."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Max pulled up to the parking lot of the hospital with a screech.
"I can't believe you rented a Jeep."
"What?! I've always wanted a Jeep. Besides, it makes me feel young again."
"Just shut up and lock up." Michael held his hand tightly, trying to stop the blood that was seeping through the white table rag.
"Ok, if they decide to do any tests for any reason, I have to be there."
"I know, I know. But I doubt they will. It's the E.R. All they're gonna want to do is stitch me up and kick me out. So don't stress your gelled head about it."
"Leave my gel alone... my hair looks good." Max patted his spiked hair and smiled. They made their way into the emergency room and Max looked around at the crowd of people sitting, being carried away, crying, screaming, arguing, and doing every other sort of imaginable thing.
"Damn, to find a doctor in this mess is gonna be impossible." Michael went to the front desk to ask for assistance and Max took a good look around. The mother with her crying baby looked about ready to break out in tears herself. The coughing from the corner of the room sounded like a bad case of emphysema coming from what couldn't have been anyone older than 8 years old. His eyes reached the hallway headed to the exam rooms when he spotted her. Her long brown hair pulled back loosely, a few strands hanging loose on her face. Her big doe eyes the color of chocolate looked exhausted and ready to just give in. She smiled at the man standing before her, a man significantly taller with bright blonde hair.
"Stop it Maxwell... you're surveying the area." Michael sat down next to Max in the uncomfortable plastic chairs.
"Can't help it. It's what I do. Years of practive I guess."
"Obviously." They both looked over to the direction Max's eyes had wandered. The man looked back for an instant and Max felt his heart drop into his stomach.
"Oh sh*t...."
"What? What's wrong?" He looked at the guy Max now had his eyes glued on.
"Are you still bleeding?"
"Yea, a bit. Why?"
"Come on."
"What the hell are you doing?!"
"COME ON!" Max got up and headed towards the hallway as Michael followed nonchalantly.
"We need a doctor!" Michael removed his bloody rag and waved it in the air. The woman's big brown eyes turned quickly to the men approaching her.
"Please. He was in a brawl and he got hit with a bottle. He may still have glass in there." Max stared into her eyes and was blown away by her beauty. He had underestimated those eyes from far away.
"Actually she was just going to stitch me up."
"I've been bleeding for almost ten minutes, non-stop. I've always been a bad bleeder. All I need is to get cleaned and stitched." Michael looked over at the California guy with his famous intimidating look.
"Ok, ok. Umm... follow me gentlemen." They all walked in the hallway after her and Max looked down at the shaking hands of the man in front of him. He knew his face. He had been looking at random pictures of this man for almost two months. There was no mistaking who he was.
"Andrew... you stay in here. I'll be back in like five minutes."
"And..."
"Michael."
"Michael... you come with me. Room 206 is open. I'll go get the equipment." She closed the door behind her as they left Andrew behind. Michael turned right but Max turned left as he followed the doctor. She stepped into the supply closet and he stepped in after her, closing the door behind them.
"Excuse me sir... what are you doing? This is a restricted area."
"Shh. My name is Max Evans. I work for the FBI. I don't think there's any easy way to say this... but, the man that you put into that room before us... that man is pretty notorious among our unit. His name is not Andrew. His name is actually Sylvester Adams. He's what you'd call a serial killer. He's killed eight women all fitting your description." He watched her eyes open in terror. The look of pure shock on her face was enough to make him want to hug her. What was with this woman? He had never even met her, but he felt instantly attracted to her.
"Oh God... oh my God. Maria was right...."
"I'm sorry to drop the news on you like that, but I've been looking for that guy for a while now. You're the only person who can help me."
"Ok... what do I have to do." The complete innocence in her eyes touched his heart. It was like looking into her very soul. He could tell she was nervous from her ragged breathing and he put his hand on her shoulder to calm her. Without warning he felt a jolt. It was almost electrical and for an instant he found himself in an old attic with a beautiful child trying on hats and dresses and shoes that were too big for her.
"Mr Evans!! What do I have to do??" Max shook his head to rid himself of the strange image.
"Umm... distract him."
"What?! Are you SERIOUS? You want me to go back into the room with a man who is probably plotting to kill me? I don't think that's such a great idea!"
"Just until I call for back up."
"The NYPD? It'll take them a MONTH to get here... and by then I'll be dead and buried!" He smiled as he watched the color rise in her cheeks. Anger was an interesting quality in this woman.
"Listen Dr....?"
"Parker. Elizabeth Parker."
"Dr. Parker, I will be watching you every moment. If he does anything, I'll storm in there and try to restrain him."
"And if you can't?"
"I can."
"Then why don't you do that now?"
"Cause I need to make sure that the cops will come to get him soon after or I might be the one who ends up DEAD."
"Well it's in YOUR job description, not mine." Max watched as she shook her head and placed her hand on her forehead in distress. "I'm sorry. That was uncalled for. Let me go stitch up Michael. While I do that, you go and call the police. Please, please keep an eye on me."
"Every second." He smiled, a smile he hoped was reassuring and perhaps alluring to the young doctor.
"I can't believe I'm doing this." They made their way out into the hallway and he nodded as she headed towards Michael's room. It was show time. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed the NYPD.
"Just make sure she gets enough fluids and keep checking her temperature every couple of hours. If the situation gets worse give us a call. Ask for Dr. Parker. Ok?"
"Thank you!" Elizabeth saw the father and his small child out of the room and waved them goodbye. She'd only been working the E.R. for about an hour, and already she was feeling the rush. The place never stopped moving! It was as busy and eventful as the streets just outside the doors. New York was always considered the city that never sleeps. They must've spent a night at the hospital.
"Elizabeth! Just got a call... ambulance heading in with a multiple stab victim."
"Jesus Christ. How old?"
"Twelve." She breathed in deeply to prevent the tears. She was always too touchy about these things. It was one thing her teachers had always gotten on her case about in medical school. Especially in a place like NYC... things like this should be normal to her!
"Ok, I'll set up the room." She ran into the examining room and made sure to set up the table, equipment, and put on her gloves. This was going to be a long night.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Michael!"
"Hey Maxwell! What's up?" Max sat on the stool and watched his childhood friend with wonder. His long hair made him look like something out of a rock video and his plaid shirt opened to reveal his wife beater was too stereotypically bar-like.
"Nothing much... just got settled in and was desperate for a familiar face."
"Where you staying?"
"The Plaza." He took the bottle handed to him and ran his finger over the lid once, a habit he never seemed to be able to break.
"Sh*t man. You are just no joke."
"Yea, well, I'm not the one paying for it. I'm on duty."
"Doing?"
"Can't say."
"Why?"
"Cause then I'd have to kill you." They stopped and then laughed at the way their lives turned out.
"Called Isabel yet?"
"Of course... before I even got here. Then again when I got to the Plaza. She's freaking out about me being here. She caught on to my mission without me saying a word."
"She was always much better at reading you then I was." Max watched Michael work, his hands quickly mixing, pouring, sliding, throwing.
"STOP IT! Don't touch me! GET OFF!!!!" Max turned his head quickly to see the source of the screaming. It was muffled and hard to hear over the music and laughing but when he turned to face Michael, he could tell he heard it too.
"Don't even try to play hero Maxwell. This is MY bar. I'll handle it." Michael stepped out from behind the bar and went over to the corner. Max watched from the stool as he saw the events unfold. Just as it seemed Michael had everything under control, the drunken fool picked up his empty bottle and went to strike him.
"MICHAEL!" He turned just in time to put his hand up against the glass as it shattered and broke into pieces. Oh man... not tonight. Max got up and went to check out Michael's hand.
"Get out! Don't come back either or I swear I will personally kick your fat a**." Good old Michael, always dependable to intimidate his crowd.
"Let me see." He let out his hand and Max gasped at the blood pouring out. He was a cop, not a doctor. Blood still made him pretty queazy. He placed his hand on Michael's, but Michael snatched it out fast.
"Not here, not now. Let's not expose ourselves unless we have to, huh?"
"Well, I guess it means we gotta go to the hospital."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Elizabeth made her way over to the soda machine. She needed energy and fast. It was already a couple of minutes past midnight and she was still waiting for that second wind. She grabbed the Sprite from the machine and made her way to the lounge for a five minute break.
"Elizabeth... Sprite contains no caffeine." She looked down at the soda in her hand and back at the male doctor sitting on the couch.
"Are you serious Carl?"
"Yea... sorry." She gave him her most intimidating look trying to stop his laughter.
"You know what? I don't care." Carl reached his hand around Elizabeth's shoulders and laughed again.
"Hard night?"
"Just tired, I guess. I've had trouble sleeping... when I actually get to bed."
"Hm? Wanna share?"
"Not really. But I'll be fine. I just needed a break."
"Ok. Well, you know if you need anything... I'm right here. You can call me, you can come over whenever you need company."
"Carl... you know that I am not ready to get involved. It didn't work the first time, I doubt it would work now."
"The first time was like three years ago. You have to give love a chance." Elizabeth glared down at her drink. She had to leave the room. This wasn't something she felt like discussing.
"Elizabeth! I need a hand!"
"Coming! Carl, I have to go."
"We'll talk later."
"Sure." She got herself up and got out as fast as possible. She found herself face to face with Jennifer, her young intern and friend.
"I've never stiched anyone up. Can you just help me out?"
"Of course." The sigh of relief was too obvious in her voice and Jennifer couldn't help but laugh. They walked into the room and after a couple of minutes Elizabeth stepped out feeling slightly rejuvenated. Jennifer always had that effect on her. Like everything she did was as amazing as the very first time. She had almost forgotten why she became a doctor, until she met Jennifer. Besides Maria, Jen was probably her closest female friend.
"All set?"
"Yes. Thank you."
"No problem. And Jen... call me Liz. All of my friends do." She made her way out of the room and came face to face with a pair of dark green eyes.
"Oh thank God! You're a doctor right? I need your help." Elizabeth stared at the man with the bleach blonde hair. He was very handsome and quite unlike anyone she'd seen around the hospital before.
"Some friends and I were joking around and I seem to have gotten roughed up."
"I see that. You might need two or three stitches on your eyebrow... nothing too serious. I'll call in Jennifer, she can help you."
"NO! No... please. I'm terrified of hospitals. I really... it took a lot for me to come here. Do you think you'd be able to help me? You just... you remind me of my sister. I'd feel much less nervous if you helped me." She stared into his pleading eyes and found herself not being able to deny his request.
"Ok, fine. Let me find an empty room."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Max pulled up to the parking lot of the hospital with a screech.
"I can't believe you rented a Jeep."
"What?! I've always wanted a Jeep. Besides, it makes me feel young again."
"Just shut up and lock up." Michael held his hand tightly, trying to stop the blood that was seeping through the white table rag.
"Ok, if they decide to do any tests for any reason, I have to be there."
"I know, I know. But I doubt they will. It's the E.R. All they're gonna want to do is stitch me up and kick me out. So don't stress your gelled head about it."
"Leave my gel alone... my hair looks good." Max patted his spiked hair and smiled. They made their way into the emergency room and Max looked around at the crowd of people sitting, being carried away, crying, screaming, arguing, and doing every other sort of imaginable thing.
"Damn, to find a doctor in this mess is gonna be impossible." Michael went to the front desk to ask for assistance and Max took a good look around. The mother with her crying baby looked about ready to break out in tears herself. The coughing from the corner of the room sounded like a bad case of emphysema coming from what couldn't have been anyone older than 8 years old. His eyes reached the hallway headed to the exam rooms when he spotted her. Her long brown hair pulled back loosely, a few strands hanging loose on her face. Her big doe eyes the color of chocolate looked exhausted and ready to just give in. She smiled at the man standing before her, a man significantly taller with bright blonde hair.
"Stop it Maxwell... you're surveying the area." Michael sat down next to Max in the uncomfortable plastic chairs.
"Can't help it. It's what I do. Years of practive I guess."
"Obviously." They both looked over to the direction Max's eyes had wandered. The man looked back for an instant and Max felt his heart drop into his stomach.
"Oh sh*t...."
"What? What's wrong?" He looked at the guy Max now had his eyes glued on.
"Are you still bleeding?"
"Yea, a bit. Why?"
"Come on."
"What the hell are you doing?!"
"COME ON!" Max got up and headed towards the hallway as Michael followed nonchalantly.
"We need a doctor!" Michael removed his bloody rag and waved it in the air. The woman's big brown eyes turned quickly to the men approaching her.
"Please. He was in a brawl and he got hit with a bottle. He may still have glass in there." Max stared into her eyes and was blown away by her beauty. He had underestimated those eyes from far away.
"Actually she was just going to stitch me up."
"I've been bleeding for almost ten minutes, non-stop. I've always been a bad bleeder. All I need is to get cleaned and stitched." Michael looked over at the California guy with his famous intimidating look.
"Ok, ok. Umm... follow me gentlemen." They all walked in the hallway after her and Max looked down at the shaking hands of the man in front of him. He knew his face. He had been looking at random pictures of this man for almost two months. There was no mistaking who he was.
"Andrew... you stay in here. I'll be back in like five minutes."
"And..."
"Michael."
"Michael... you come with me. Room 206 is open. I'll go get the equipment." She closed the door behind her as they left Andrew behind. Michael turned right but Max turned left as he followed the doctor. She stepped into the supply closet and he stepped in after her, closing the door behind them.
"Excuse me sir... what are you doing? This is a restricted area."
"Shh. My name is Max Evans. I work for the FBI. I don't think there's any easy way to say this... but, the man that you put into that room before us... that man is pretty notorious among our unit. His name is not Andrew. His name is actually Sylvester Adams. He's what you'd call a serial killer. He's killed eight women all fitting your description." He watched her eyes open in terror. The look of pure shock on her face was enough to make him want to hug her. What was with this woman? He had never even met her, but he felt instantly attracted to her.
"Oh God... oh my God. Maria was right...."
"I'm sorry to drop the news on you like that, but I've been looking for that guy for a while now. You're the only person who can help me."
"Ok... what do I have to do." The complete innocence in her eyes touched his heart. It was like looking into her very soul. He could tell she was nervous from her ragged breathing and he put his hand on her shoulder to calm her. Without warning he felt a jolt. It was almost electrical and for an instant he found himself in an old attic with a beautiful child trying on hats and dresses and shoes that were too big for her.
"Mr Evans!! What do I have to do??" Max shook his head to rid himself of the strange image.
"Umm... distract him."
"What?! Are you SERIOUS? You want me to go back into the room with a man who is probably plotting to kill me? I don't think that's such a great idea!"
"Just until I call for back up."
"The NYPD? It'll take them a MONTH to get here... and by then I'll be dead and buried!" He smiled as he watched the color rise in her cheeks. Anger was an interesting quality in this woman.
"Listen Dr....?"
"Parker. Elizabeth Parker."
"Dr. Parker, I will be watching you every moment. If he does anything, I'll storm in there and try to restrain him."
"And if you can't?"
"I can."
"Then why don't you do that now?"
"Cause I need to make sure that the cops will come to get him soon after or I might be the one who ends up DEAD."
"Well it's in YOUR job description, not mine." Max watched as she shook her head and placed her hand on her forehead in distress. "I'm sorry. That was uncalled for. Let me go stitch up Michael. While I do that, you go and call the police. Please, please keep an eye on me."
"Every second." He smiled, a smile he hoped was reassuring and perhaps alluring to the young doctor.
"I can't believe I'm doing this." They made their way out into the hallway and he nodded as she headed towards Michael's room. It was show time. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed the NYPD.