Sara hurried in to the ER, bracing herself for a day she knew would be difficult. Kerry shouted the words she dreaded.
Kerry: Sara, Carter needs you, multiple stab and GSW victims coming in.
Sara: Be right there
Sara went to the lounge, got out her stethoscope and shut her locker. She took a number of deep breaths before she went to the trauma room where Carter had already began working on a young male in his late teenage years.
Sara glanced at the face of a young man, she knew as Reese, or little R, who looked like he was in agony. Hoping he didn't recognise her while Carter was here she began focusing her attention on his shoulder, which seemed dislocated.
Sara: What have we got?
Carter: Stab wound on his upper leg and a possible dislocation on his right arm. Looks like he won't need surgery.
The patient had began to get aggressive and tried to get out of the bed.
Carter: Look we're trying to help you
Patient: I don't need you ****** help. Just let me out of here
Carter and Haleh put restraints on him and gave him some medication to calm him down.
Carter: What so someone can stab you in the other leg? Look just be patient, we're trying to help. You haven't given us your name or age but from what I can tell your too young to be involved in gang warfare.
Patient: You wouldn't understand why I do this. You think we're all the same. That guy, next door has ruined my life.
Carter: So this is revenge?
Patient: No.
Carter: Then what is it?
Patient: Its none of your business
Carter: You must be about 14 or 15. You don't need to live like this
Patient: You wouldn't understand
Carter: Make me understand
As Sara administered some morphine in order to pop his shoulder back into place, Reese looked at her.
Patient: Baby girl?
Sara: Yeah it's me.
Carter: You know him?
Sara: Yeah I do. He's a friend.
Abby: Carter, they need you to clear this room, there's another trauma coming in.
Carter: Ok, Sara get him a bed.
Sara: Will do.
Sara wheeled Reese in to a spare bed in the curtain area.
Patient: Listen babygal, you've got to help me. Brianna and Ashley, my sisters are at home and…
Sara: Its all right I've got them covered. No one is gonna come near them I swear to you. They're with J and Ty.
Patient: What about…
Sara: Michael is fine too.
Patient: I got to get out of here
Sara: Your staying here
Patient: Come on, it's only a cut and you've sorted out my shoulder.
Sara: It's not just a cut, you were stabbed and your shoulder only feels fine because of the morphine. Your not going anywhere. What the hell where you doing there anyway? What do you owe him?
Patient: I got hooked a while back and I need to pay him back.
Sara: Reese, you know what he's like. How much do you owe him?
Patient: Over $300
Sara: oh shit. You clean now though right?
Patient: Yeah. I've been clean for over 3 months
Sara: Just stay here. J and Ty are looking after the girls.
Patient: I'm just scared. I want to protect them.
Sara: You won't be able to in the state your in. Leave it to us.
Patient: If anything happens to them I won't be able to forgive myself.
Sara could see the fear in Reese's eyes. She looked at him.
Sara: Nothing is going to happen to them. I swear. No matter what happens I'll. look out for them. But you've got to be careful.
Patient: Thanks baby girl. I knew I could count on you.
Sara hugged Reese as Carter entered the room.
Sara: Aren't you supposed to be handling the next trauma?
Carter: No, Susan and Luka have got it. I've just come to check how he was doing.
Sara: Ok, I better go. I'll. come and see you later. Don't give Dr Carter a hard time ok? He's a friend of mine.
Patient: I won't. Thanks for everything. It means a lot to me
Sara: Anytime
Sara left the room while Carter attempted to talk to Reese with no avail.
Sara continued to handle the victims of the fight, there were about 6 in all. It surprised the ER staff how they would respect Sara and not even try and be the slightest bit aggressive towards her.
Carter: Hey Sara, I tried talking to the boy in 4. He's determined to be known as anonymous. Did he say anything to you?
Sara: Don't worry about him. He'll be fine.
Carter: I'm just concerned. He's too young to be involved with the big guys.
Sara: Yeah I know.
Carter: How do you know him, anyway?
Sara: He's a friend of a friend.
Carter: Oh rite
Sara: Look I've got to go, I'll chat to you later.
Carter: Abby, did Sara order a chem panel for anonymous in curtain 3 or anonymous in curtain 6?
Abby: For Richard in curtain 3
Carter: Wow, your on first name basis. How come?
Abby: Sara's help
Carter: Where is she anyway?
Abby: Taking a well deserved break on the roof
Carter: Thanks
Carter took the stairs to the rood, where he'd been up so often to relieve himself of a nicotine urge, or to get away from a hard day in the ER. Carter opened the door to find Sara sitting on a chair with her head in her hands. Carter shut the door and Sara looked up at him, her eyes had faint traces of tears in them.
Carter: Hey you ok?
Sara rubbed her eyes.
Sara: Yeah, I'm just tired I guess. Do you need me downstairs?
Carter: No. I came upstairs as you haven't put me down once today and I was getting worried.
Sara smiled faintly. Silence fell between Carter and Sara as she looked straight ahead at a view of Chicago.
Carter: Sara, are you sure you're ok? You just seem a bit distant.
Sara: No, I'm fine. In fact I better get going. I've got plans with J and Ty tonight.
Carter: Ok
Sara got up took a look at the view and took the stairs to the ER. Carter followed a few minutes later.
Sara went to say goodbye to Reese. He still looked as scared as ever. Understandable thought Sara, considering the circumstances.
As Sara was leaving the ER, Pratt came over to talk to her.
Pratt: Hey you ok?
Sara: Yeah I'm fine. It's just been stressful today, you know.
Pratt: Yeah I know
Sara: Do me a favour; look out for Reese in curtain 4 please?
Pratt: Sure thing. Good night.
Sara: Night.
Sara left the ER, while Carter stared after her. She seemed so distant. Had he done something wrong? He hoped not.
Carter continued to work on his patients but his thoughts were focused on Sara.