Disclaimer: I do not own characters from ER.....bummer.

G - This is all Kerry I'm afraid, but it's necessary for later. I'll keep writing soon. When I outlined this story, it looked to be about 19 or 20 chapters total. Let me know what you think. Should I keep going?

Chapter 3 - The Worse Day

Kerry rushed back into her office and slammed the door behind her. She sat back at her desk and tried to continue working. Getting enveloped back in her work was just beginning to calm her down when there was a small knock at her door. She looked up, but before she had a chance to say, "Come in," he already had.

"Am I disturbing you...Miss Chief of Staff?" he said in a slightly playful tone.

"No, not at all," Kerry replied pleasantly. It was Alderman Bright. She had hoped she would never see him again. I guess hopes rarely come true.

"Well, you've got yourself quite a setup here." He glanced around her office seeing the many pictures on the walls, books and ornaments on the shelves, as well as the countless piles of paperwork on her desk and floor. He gestured towards a chair. "May I sit down?"

Kerry just stared at him for a moment before answering, but that moment felt like an hour. She was surprised to see him. "Oh, of course, I'm sorry, Jonathan ...Please, have a seat." He sat and for a moment she just stared at him expecting him to state what he was there for. However, he seemed quite cool, calm and collect wanting to keep things casual. He realized she wasn't going to let her hair down, though.

"Okay, this is why I'm here...." He paused and looked at Kerry almost apologetically for what he was about to say, "...I need a favor."

Kerry grew physically tense and looked away from the Alderman at the door behind him. She suddenly had this crazy urge to just get up, run through that door and never look back....but she didn't. She looked back at Bright.

"There's this kid at the office...I guess he knew Keith and through Keith found out about me and now he's threatening me...," he sighs, "Look, to make a long story short, he needs a shot -"

Kerry's mouth fell to the floor. She was completely shocked and appalled that he would ever consider coming back there again after what happened last time with Keith's death.

He began to talk faster, "Now, I know what you're thinking, but you don't have to worry, Kerry. He's not allergic to penicillin. He's taken it before. He had a case of pneumonia one time or something and they gave it to him then for that. Look, there won't be any problem this time, I promise. Okay....Kerry?" he smirked slightly trying to lighten her up.

Kerry just glared at him not answering, but inside they both knew the answer. She was in too deep now. She couldn't back out. He had her. He had her good. She might as well have sold her soul to this man. He could control her in any way he saw fit and there was nothing she could do about it, because if he went down, she went down with him. And he knew that. She looked away.

"Great," he replied, getting up, "he'll come by tomorrow morning around 11. If you could be down there when he comes, it'd be great." He gave her a quick smile and nod good-bye as he left. She stared at his back as he left her office. Once he was gone, she didn't feel any better. This had definitely been a bad day.

She looked up at her clock. It was only 3:45, but she couldn't take this anymore. She had to go home. Just as she stood up, Gallant knocked on her open door.

"Dr. Weaver? I'm sorry to disturb you, but could I have a word with you?"

She answered him with her voice a little slow, soft and shaky, "This isn't the best time, Gallant. I was just on my way out. Can we talk about it tomorrow?"

"Well, I would appreciate it if I could get an answer today. I sent you my request last week. I wouldn't push it, Dr. Weaver, but the hospital on base needs an answer by 5 today."

She just stared at him for a moment. She decided to just get it done and get him off her back so he'd leave.

"I'm sorry, Gallant, but I can't let you go. We need you here too badly. We're going crazy with the small amount of people we have and we just can't afford to let you go right now." She was very abrupt.

Gallant was a little taken aback and frustrated. "So that's it?"

"Yeah, I'm afraid so."

He stomped out of the room appalled.