Authors Note: Okay this is chapter 6, please read and review guys! This chapter is kind of long and its written by Abby Lockhart 2, a great chapter too, its the introduction to some heavy carby, so give it a once over and tell us if you like it!
~*~
My shift flew by, along with four extra hours I didn't even realize. It had been so crazy today. We had a huge MVA on the Kennedy, and got slammed with most of the casualties since Mercy and North western were full. I had about 30 charts to finish, but they could wait till the next day. I was completely exhausted. I headed towards the lounge, intent on grabbing my things and just heading to a warm bed. I walked in and noticed Alex and Bryce sitting on the couch, looking in plain terms, bored to death.
"Exciting day, huh?"
Both boys rolled their eyes at me. It had been an exciting day for me at least. I remembered this morning's conversation with the two, and wondered if they were still up for dinner.
"So guys still interested in dinner?"
I watched the two look at each other, and simultaneously nod their heads eagerly. I'll take that as a yes. But of course they would have to go ask their mothers. I was up for a guy's night out, even if it involved two rambunctious boys. I was about to open my mouth to tell them to go ask their mothers when Sam walked in. She nodded acknowledging me and I gave her a small smile.
"Alex, your spending the night over at Bryce's, I have to pull a double."
I didn't even have to look over at the boys to know they were scheming up a very intricate plan to make this a night to remember.
"Sam, I was actually wondering if it would be okay if I took Alex, along with Bryce out to dinner?"
She looked at me, looked back at her watch, and started nodding.
"Yeah. It's fine with me. Double check with Abby though."
I nodded in response and waved her on her way, since she probably had more work stacked up than any doctor. And it didn't help that they were short three nurses, and the others didn't speak too much English. I turned back around to the boys.
"You heard her, Bryce go ask your mother."
I watched him shut his eyes, throwing his head back, exaggerating the whole situation. I found it quite funny, actually.
"Ask me what?"
I hadn't even heard her enter the room. I looked around at her, standing there with her arms crossed. She looked the same way she did that morning, unhappy and grouchy. Was she always like that, or was it just a weekly thing?
"If I could take the boys out to dinner?"
She looked at the boys, and I knew they had their best begging faces on. Pouty lips and pleading eyes.
"I was actually planning to head home with the two."
I heard the disappointed sighs of the two. So did she, by the look on her face. I looked back at the boys, and sure enough they looked ready to cry. Well not really, but close. I pulled her back just shy of earshot of the two.
"Listen, they sat around all day, let them have some fun."
I watched her run her hands through her hair. She pulled at the strands and fiddled with them.
"It's late. I really don't want either out at this hour without Sam or me."
And what was I supposed to be? Wasn't I supervision enough?
"Then come along. It's just pizza."
I waited for a response from her. That took much more effort than I thought it originally would. I didn't agree with her methods of parenting, or her methods of medicine for that matter, and all I needed was another hour with her. But I had no other choice, I had two kids depending on me right now. I couldn't let Alex and Bryce down. After what seemed like a century of endless torture, she nodded her head.
"Fine. Only this once."
Believe me sweetie, I wouldn't want to spend more time with you than I have to already.
"Great."
I hope that my voice hadn't had that sarcastic tone I'm so known for. I turned around at the boys and nodded my head. Their instant high fives told me this was going to be a good night. I was in reach of the chairs and picked up both their coats and threw them at the two. I pulled my coat out of my locker, as did she, who was in eyesight. I motioned with my head for the two to head out, and I waited for Abby. I opened the door, and let her walk through. She stopped on our way out the door to talk to Sam for a second. All I heard from Sam was a quick "Good Luck" to Abby. I waved bye to the rest and headed out, jogging out the boys who were a good half block ahead of me.
We reached the restaurant in record time. It was one of those pizza and play places. I had passed by it a few times, and it seemed nice, so I thought it would give the boys a chance to tire out before heading home. Alex and Bryce ran in, heading to check out the games and machines, while I waited for Abby, who was taking a long time getting to the door. I opened it up again for her, just by reflex again, and when we got in, I took her coat along with mine, Bryce's, and Alex's. I handed them to the doorman and we headed to the table. I pulled up a seat for her, and I sat down across from her. We ordered a cheese pizza, since it was probably the only kind everyone could agree on, and I cashed in some money for tokens for the boys to play with. We sent them off on their ways with an equal amount of tokens in hand. Now it was about time for the awkward silence to begin. I didn't exactly feel like talking to her. But I guess I had sort of buried myself in my own grave.
"Bryce is a great kid."
I watched her take a sip of her Coke and nod her head.
"Yeah, he is."
The only way to get on someone's good side is to compliment her or his children. I wanted us to at least be civil.
"Considering all he's been through, he's strong."
I looked up at her, and I automatically realized that this wasn't the best topic.
"I'm still worried about him."
My turn to play with the straw and soda. It was sort of my habit. Then I would begin to play with the napkin when the soda bored me. Years of formal dinners sort of did that to a person.
"He wants to grow up too fast."
I saw she looked over to where the two boys were playing a car racing video game.
"He misses his father."
I knew that was probably a big reason he was acting the way he was. He had told me enough about his history for me to know he didn't have the best childhood. Although Abby seemed to try, she didn't know how to reach him. And a kid at this age needs a positive example of a male figure. Otherwise his behaviour could only get worse.
"Have you tried talking to him?"
She nodded her head, then somewhat abruptly stopped.
"I talk to him, but I never know how to bring certain things up."
I knew how that was, only except it wasn't with my kid, only my father and mother.
"Just keep doing what you're doing. You've gotten him this far."
She wasn't a model mother, but she wasn't a horrible one either. She genuinely cared about him, much more than I can say about half the patients I see in the ER on a daily basis. I saw the waiter coming, the sent of freshly prepared pizza drawing in the two hungry boys.
After about 3 pieces each, the two boys dispersed yet once again, and I was left alone with Abby. I looked at her in the dim lighting of the restaurant, and there was something about her. Something I just couldn't exactly put my finger on. But I instantly gained some compassion for her. She must be really having a hard time raising Bryce and trying to keep her work load at County. Maybe I had judged her a little too harshly at the beginning.
"You okay?"
I watched her play around with the chain she had around her neck.
"Yeah. Just tired."
I think everyone was probably tired after a day like that.
"You want to head home?"
She nodded her head gently, probably debating whether to stay for a few minutes longer and tire out the boys some more so they would sleep through the night. I signaled for the boys to head over back to the table. They looked tired out as well, and I guess the night hadn't been a complete disaster or waste.
"Come on, I'll walk you guys home."
I helped Abby out of her chair, and slipped on her coat. I paid the bill and headed out the door to meet the trio waiting on the steps. Alex and Bryce instantly moved ahead of us, whispering and laughing. Abby and I walked in silence towards the L, I wasn't surprised. Both of us were probably running on auto pilot, completely worn out from the whole day.
~*~
My shift flew by, along with four extra hours I didn't even realize. It had been so crazy today. We had a huge MVA on the Kennedy, and got slammed with most of the casualties since Mercy and North western were full. I had about 30 charts to finish, but they could wait till the next day. I was completely exhausted. I headed towards the lounge, intent on grabbing my things and just heading to a warm bed. I walked in and noticed Alex and Bryce sitting on the couch, looking in plain terms, bored to death.
"Exciting day, huh?"
Both boys rolled their eyes at me. It had been an exciting day for me at least. I remembered this morning's conversation with the two, and wondered if they were still up for dinner.
"So guys still interested in dinner?"
I watched the two look at each other, and simultaneously nod their heads eagerly. I'll take that as a yes. But of course they would have to go ask their mothers. I was up for a guy's night out, even if it involved two rambunctious boys. I was about to open my mouth to tell them to go ask their mothers when Sam walked in. She nodded acknowledging me and I gave her a small smile.
"Alex, your spending the night over at Bryce's, I have to pull a double."
I didn't even have to look over at the boys to know they were scheming up a very intricate plan to make this a night to remember.
"Sam, I was actually wondering if it would be okay if I took Alex, along with Bryce out to dinner?"
She looked at me, looked back at her watch, and started nodding.
"Yeah. It's fine with me. Double check with Abby though."
I nodded in response and waved her on her way, since she probably had more work stacked up than any doctor. And it didn't help that they were short three nurses, and the others didn't speak too much English. I turned back around to the boys.
"You heard her, Bryce go ask your mother."
I watched him shut his eyes, throwing his head back, exaggerating the whole situation. I found it quite funny, actually.
"Ask me what?"
I hadn't even heard her enter the room. I looked around at her, standing there with her arms crossed. She looked the same way she did that morning, unhappy and grouchy. Was she always like that, or was it just a weekly thing?
"If I could take the boys out to dinner?"
She looked at the boys, and I knew they had their best begging faces on. Pouty lips and pleading eyes.
"I was actually planning to head home with the two."
I heard the disappointed sighs of the two. So did she, by the look on her face. I looked back at the boys, and sure enough they looked ready to cry. Well not really, but close. I pulled her back just shy of earshot of the two.
"Listen, they sat around all day, let them have some fun."
I watched her run her hands through her hair. She pulled at the strands and fiddled with them.
"It's late. I really don't want either out at this hour without Sam or me."
And what was I supposed to be? Wasn't I supervision enough?
"Then come along. It's just pizza."
I waited for a response from her. That took much more effort than I thought it originally would. I didn't agree with her methods of parenting, or her methods of medicine for that matter, and all I needed was another hour with her. But I had no other choice, I had two kids depending on me right now. I couldn't let Alex and Bryce down. After what seemed like a century of endless torture, she nodded her head.
"Fine. Only this once."
Believe me sweetie, I wouldn't want to spend more time with you than I have to already.
"Great."
I hope that my voice hadn't had that sarcastic tone I'm so known for. I turned around at the boys and nodded my head. Their instant high fives told me this was going to be a good night. I was in reach of the chairs and picked up both their coats and threw them at the two. I pulled my coat out of my locker, as did she, who was in eyesight. I motioned with my head for the two to head out, and I waited for Abby. I opened the door, and let her walk through. She stopped on our way out the door to talk to Sam for a second. All I heard from Sam was a quick "Good Luck" to Abby. I waved bye to the rest and headed out, jogging out the boys who were a good half block ahead of me.
We reached the restaurant in record time. It was one of those pizza and play places. I had passed by it a few times, and it seemed nice, so I thought it would give the boys a chance to tire out before heading home. Alex and Bryce ran in, heading to check out the games and machines, while I waited for Abby, who was taking a long time getting to the door. I opened it up again for her, just by reflex again, and when we got in, I took her coat along with mine, Bryce's, and Alex's. I handed them to the doorman and we headed to the table. I pulled up a seat for her, and I sat down across from her. We ordered a cheese pizza, since it was probably the only kind everyone could agree on, and I cashed in some money for tokens for the boys to play with. We sent them off on their ways with an equal amount of tokens in hand. Now it was about time for the awkward silence to begin. I didn't exactly feel like talking to her. But I guess I had sort of buried myself in my own grave.
"Bryce is a great kid."
I watched her take a sip of her Coke and nod her head.
"Yeah, he is."
The only way to get on someone's good side is to compliment her or his children. I wanted us to at least be civil.
"Considering all he's been through, he's strong."
I looked up at her, and I automatically realized that this wasn't the best topic.
"I'm still worried about him."
My turn to play with the straw and soda. It was sort of my habit. Then I would begin to play with the napkin when the soda bored me. Years of formal dinners sort of did that to a person.
"He wants to grow up too fast."
I saw she looked over to where the two boys were playing a car racing video game.
"He misses his father."
I knew that was probably a big reason he was acting the way he was. He had told me enough about his history for me to know he didn't have the best childhood. Although Abby seemed to try, she didn't know how to reach him. And a kid at this age needs a positive example of a male figure. Otherwise his behaviour could only get worse.
"Have you tried talking to him?"
She nodded her head, then somewhat abruptly stopped.
"I talk to him, but I never know how to bring certain things up."
I knew how that was, only except it wasn't with my kid, only my father and mother.
"Just keep doing what you're doing. You've gotten him this far."
She wasn't a model mother, but she wasn't a horrible one either. She genuinely cared about him, much more than I can say about half the patients I see in the ER on a daily basis. I saw the waiter coming, the sent of freshly prepared pizza drawing in the two hungry boys.
After about 3 pieces each, the two boys dispersed yet once again, and I was left alone with Abby. I looked at her in the dim lighting of the restaurant, and there was something about her. Something I just couldn't exactly put my finger on. But I instantly gained some compassion for her. She must be really having a hard time raising Bryce and trying to keep her work load at County. Maybe I had judged her a little too harshly at the beginning.
"You okay?"
I watched her play around with the chain she had around her neck.
"Yeah. Just tired."
I think everyone was probably tired after a day like that.
"You want to head home?"
She nodded her head gently, probably debating whether to stay for a few minutes longer and tire out the boys some more so they would sleep through the night. I signaled for the boys to head over back to the table. They looked tired out as well, and I guess the night hadn't been a complete disaster or waste.
"Come on, I'll walk you guys home."
I helped Abby out of her chair, and slipped on her coat. I paid the bill and headed out the door to meet the trio waiting on the steps. Alex and Bryce instantly moved ahead of us, whispering and laughing. Abby and I walked in silence towards the L, I wasn't surprised. Both of us were probably running on auto pilot, completely worn out from the whole day.