A River of Tears Part - 17

Dr. Johnson made his way through the ER, heading directly for Trauma one, just like he had so many times since he arrived in Chicago. And this would be the third time that he had returned with the results for Kerry. But the small folder that he held in his hand contained more than just a set of results, it contained a verdict, and a sentence. Someone above them was judging them. Those with too many sins were given the ultimate punishment, but then so were the innocent. The punishments were different, one being death, the other heartbreak, but it was near impossible to distinguish between which was the most severe. At least in death you could escape, but those left behind, those who would survive, would have to face the torment that each day would bring with it.

Susan was stood outside trauma one, still hanging onto the hope that Carter's presence would somehow make a difference to Abby's condition. She looked through the glass and at the clock on the wall. The second hand was going slower than ever, and each minute felt like an hour, each hour like an eternity. She closed her eyes in an attempt to hold back the tears, but to no avail. The heavy weight, too much for her tired eyes.

Elizabeth had come down from upstairs, and she and Mark sat silently in chairs. He didn't need to tell her what Abby's condition was, or that of Malucci and the others. The atmosphere said it all. Mark looked up towards trauma one, not even wanting to imagine what Carter was going through. He took Elizabeth's hand in his, and gripped it as tightly as he could. It was a thought that was returned, as Elizabeth squeezed back, neither of them willing to let go.

Kerry remained by Abby's side. Even when Carter arrived, she didn't leave. She couldn't. The guilt had binded her there, not allowing her to escape. She looked up at the clock, and then towards the heart monitor. The story it told: a tragedy.

That same story was being told upstairs. Chen, like Kerry, had remained at Malucci's side. As much as he could be a pratt sometimes, he was still a friend. And just because his condition wasn't as worse as Abby's, it didn't make it any easier. The pain, the heartache, it was all there. The fear, the anger, the anguish, where ever you were, who ever it was, it was there, and there was nothing that you could do about it, except to give in. Chen glanced around the quarantine ward. The sight was one that she wished was a hallucination. And then she brought her gaze back to the body in front of her. She took his hand, and allowed the tears to flow.

Sorry it's short! The next part will hopefully be a little longer, I've got some ideas for it, but I can't make up my mind whether to kill Abby or not, wat do u guys think? Part 18 here soon, Rainbow345uk : )