Chapter 34
I give Sebastian's sleeping body to Susan. I knew he would pass out eventually, I just didn't think it would be in the middle of my paperwork. Oh well, cute kid, he's tired. Susan rocks him back and forth gently. She just got off, but she's hanging around for rounds and some paperwork, so she said he would stay with him till I got back. I have to go talk to Elizabeth before I start anything. Susan doesn't know yet, she thinks something big is up. She just doesn't know how big. I give Seb a kiss and head toward the elevator doors. Stairs are my worst enemy right now. My doc keeps telling me the same things I already know. Don't work too much, don't strain your back, no carrying heavy things, keep away from stairs at all costs. Strangely enough, she said nothing about sex. Must of forgotten that one. I reach the floor and wander through the surgical suites to the main desk. I see Elizabeth's curly hair and I quickly make my way to her before she disappears again.
"Dr. Corday?" She turns around and gives me a smile. Her arms wrap around me in a tight hug. I always liked her.
"Up and about already?" I nod my head happily. I know Elizabeth was there through all my surgeries and rehab. She's really a wonderful surgeon and a great friend. I lean against the counter and she gives me a questioning look.
"I actually have some news for you." She looks at me eagerly and I want to laugh. She's the first person I'm actually admitting this to, and it might be a little awkward sounding. I need to breath. Okay, Abby. You can do this. You can do this. Hell, you are doing this whether or not you want to.
"I'm going back to medical school two weeks from now." Her mouth drops open into a wide smile. I nod my head, I can feel my own smile forming. God that felt great. I'm actually doing it. Time to take control of my own life for a change.
"Congrats." I nod my head and play with the ends of my shirt for a second. Okay first part done, now how am I supposed to break the other news?
"I'm your student." She gives me a look that just calmed my nerves. I didn't' know how she would take the news. Some doctors are uncomfortable being mentors or teachers to their friends. But obviously she's glad.
"Good. I can get someone competent for a change. Listen, give me, or Shirley, a call a few days before you start. We can skip the introduction since I know you can handle it. We can get you into the OR." I give her another hug and she wanders off to another appendectomy. Just as I'm about to turn around, an ear piercing scream echoes through the floor. I could have sworn I've heard it before. I have. The devil child herself. I watch her from the corner. I guess Carter got desperate enough to let her loose in the hospital. I hope he's hoping that someone will either sedate her and ship her off to some child-labour work camp, or someone will be stupid enough to kidnap her. Either one would work just fine for me. He won't listen to my requests about selling her off to the gypsies. After another few minutes my sympathy for the monster begins to set in. She's crying like never before and I'm actually feeling sorry for the poor frightened little beast. I walk out and call her name. She turns around and comes running toward me. Her little arms wrap around my waist and her body shakes with sobs. I run my hands over her head, back, and shoulders trying to quiet her. One of the nurses that was chasing her gives me a glance, and I quickly tell her that I'll take her to her father. She nods her head and walks back off to work. I turn my attention back to Madison and she has stopped crying so loudly, but her tears still stream down her cheek.
I give her my hand and she surprisingly takes it. I have no clue where Carter is, but I doubt he's worried too much. I lead her towards the elevator. I'll take her to the ER. At least Susan can deal with her. Because as soon as this whole experience settles, she'll start hating me again. We get of the elevator and I lead her toward the lounge. Susan's sitting at the table, with Sebastian still sleeping on the couch. Madison grabs a hold of my leg again and refuses to let go. I go to the couch, and move Seb a bit to the side. I sit down and Madison sits down next to me, wrapping her arms around me. I mouth "Where's Carter" to Susan but she shrugs her shoulders. She takes the phone and punches in his pager. I grab my own cell from my pocket and dial his cell. It rings a few times, but no answer.
The door slams open and Carter walks in, looking completely pissed off. He looks at me with the most evil gaze, what the fuck is his problem? I return the love and send him a look that knocks him into place.
"Madison." His voice echoes through the room, and Susan gets up. I think she knows this is a bad moment for this family. Whatever family means nowadays anyway. She walks out and sends me a signal that she'll be by the desk if we need her. Madison's arms grasp tighter around my body, and Sebastian is officially up. I pull Seb into my arms, since the sound of Carter's voice will probably echo in his ears for a while.
"Madison." His voice is less loud, but still as fierce. Her nails are beginning to dig into my back and I don't think she could get any closer to me if she tried. I do nothing to protect her. She probably deserves what she's about to get, but I don't completely ignore her either. My hand stays around her like it was before. Her tears are soaking through my shirt right about now.
"Come here." He sounds like he's talking to a dog or something, not his daughter. She does nothing but hold on closer to me. He looks about ready to erupt from anger. I think he needs a few anger management classes, but I'm not about to tell him that. He throws up his arms and storms out of the room. I wait a few seconds before picking Seb and Maddie off me and following him.
I see him pacing the gravel lot outside the entrance. I walk up into yelling distance of him, because I have a feeling that this is not going to very pleasant conversation.
"What the fuck is your problem? Your daughter is terrified!" He walks closer to me, I take a few steps backward to prevent myself from taking all his wrath. Why am I out here defending Madison again?
"Like you know the first thing about parenting because you've raised so many children already!" I roll my eyes at his comment, at least we're in public. He wouldn't dare do anything to me. I keep my current distance and yes, open my big mouth again. The idiot doesn't know the first thing about what I've been through.
"I raised my little brother because my mom was off her meds 99% of the time, so yeah I know a little bit." He looks at me but the anger has yet to subside. He's pacing the floor, he'll probably burn a hole through the asphalt if he tries.
"Yeah, well these are MY kids. We were doing fine without you." I give him a sweet little smile and run my hand through my hair. He's in for it now. He is completely in for it now.
"Right, right. You've got everything under control. I can see that by your spoiled brat of a daughter. Nice job on that one. Don't give me any of your shit. I've been through enough on my own, thanks. I might not have kids, but I had the option twice. The first time I made the stupid choice of aborting it. I was afraid of passing on the disease, of being a bad mother. Every single day of my life I wish I hadn't. And then well, the second time, thanks a lot Carter. I think that was all of your doing."
I take a deep breath. My heart is beating and my pulse is racing like never before. It's an adrenaline rush right now. "So don't tell me that I have no clue what's going on. I spent years of my life raising my brother so he wouldn't end up screwed up like some of the misfits on the street. My mother was gone more than half the time, and I didn't do such a bad job. You're the one that fucked up your daughter. Now go do something about it because obviously she trusts me more right now than she does you."
I turn around and quickly rush back off to the hospital. I am not hanging around to find out how he feels about all of this. I could care less.
I give Sebastian's sleeping body to Susan. I knew he would pass out eventually, I just didn't think it would be in the middle of my paperwork. Oh well, cute kid, he's tired. Susan rocks him back and forth gently. She just got off, but she's hanging around for rounds and some paperwork, so she said he would stay with him till I got back. I have to go talk to Elizabeth before I start anything. Susan doesn't know yet, she thinks something big is up. She just doesn't know how big. I give Seb a kiss and head toward the elevator doors. Stairs are my worst enemy right now. My doc keeps telling me the same things I already know. Don't work too much, don't strain your back, no carrying heavy things, keep away from stairs at all costs. Strangely enough, she said nothing about sex. Must of forgotten that one. I reach the floor and wander through the surgical suites to the main desk. I see Elizabeth's curly hair and I quickly make my way to her before she disappears again.
"Dr. Corday?" She turns around and gives me a smile. Her arms wrap around me in a tight hug. I always liked her.
"Up and about already?" I nod my head happily. I know Elizabeth was there through all my surgeries and rehab. She's really a wonderful surgeon and a great friend. I lean against the counter and she gives me a questioning look.
"I actually have some news for you." She looks at me eagerly and I want to laugh. She's the first person I'm actually admitting this to, and it might be a little awkward sounding. I need to breath. Okay, Abby. You can do this. You can do this. Hell, you are doing this whether or not you want to.
"I'm going back to medical school two weeks from now." Her mouth drops open into a wide smile. I nod my head, I can feel my own smile forming. God that felt great. I'm actually doing it. Time to take control of my own life for a change.
"Congrats." I nod my head and play with the ends of my shirt for a second. Okay first part done, now how am I supposed to break the other news?
"I'm your student." She gives me a look that just calmed my nerves. I didn't' know how she would take the news. Some doctors are uncomfortable being mentors or teachers to their friends. But obviously she's glad.
"Good. I can get someone competent for a change. Listen, give me, or Shirley, a call a few days before you start. We can skip the introduction since I know you can handle it. We can get you into the OR." I give her another hug and she wanders off to another appendectomy. Just as I'm about to turn around, an ear piercing scream echoes through the floor. I could have sworn I've heard it before. I have. The devil child herself. I watch her from the corner. I guess Carter got desperate enough to let her loose in the hospital. I hope he's hoping that someone will either sedate her and ship her off to some child-labour work camp, or someone will be stupid enough to kidnap her. Either one would work just fine for me. He won't listen to my requests about selling her off to the gypsies. After another few minutes my sympathy for the monster begins to set in. She's crying like never before and I'm actually feeling sorry for the poor frightened little beast. I walk out and call her name. She turns around and comes running toward me. Her little arms wrap around my waist and her body shakes with sobs. I run my hands over her head, back, and shoulders trying to quiet her. One of the nurses that was chasing her gives me a glance, and I quickly tell her that I'll take her to her father. She nods her head and walks back off to work. I turn my attention back to Madison and she has stopped crying so loudly, but her tears still stream down her cheek.
I give her my hand and she surprisingly takes it. I have no clue where Carter is, but I doubt he's worried too much. I lead her towards the elevator. I'll take her to the ER. At least Susan can deal with her. Because as soon as this whole experience settles, she'll start hating me again. We get of the elevator and I lead her toward the lounge. Susan's sitting at the table, with Sebastian still sleeping on the couch. Madison grabs a hold of my leg again and refuses to let go. I go to the couch, and move Seb a bit to the side. I sit down and Madison sits down next to me, wrapping her arms around me. I mouth "Where's Carter" to Susan but she shrugs her shoulders. She takes the phone and punches in his pager. I grab my own cell from my pocket and dial his cell. It rings a few times, but no answer.
The door slams open and Carter walks in, looking completely pissed off. He looks at me with the most evil gaze, what the fuck is his problem? I return the love and send him a look that knocks him into place.
"Madison." His voice echoes through the room, and Susan gets up. I think she knows this is a bad moment for this family. Whatever family means nowadays anyway. She walks out and sends me a signal that she'll be by the desk if we need her. Madison's arms grasp tighter around my body, and Sebastian is officially up. I pull Seb into my arms, since the sound of Carter's voice will probably echo in his ears for a while.
"Madison." His voice is less loud, but still as fierce. Her nails are beginning to dig into my back and I don't think she could get any closer to me if she tried. I do nothing to protect her. She probably deserves what she's about to get, but I don't completely ignore her either. My hand stays around her like it was before. Her tears are soaking through my shirt right about now.
"Come here." He sounds like he's talking to a dog or something, not his daughter. She does nothing but hold on closer to me. He looks about ready to erupt from anger. I think he needs a few anger management classes, but I'm not about to tell him that. He throws up his arms and storms out of the room. I wait a few seconds before picking Seb and Maddie off me and following him.
I see him pacing the gravel lot outside the entrance. I walk up into yelling distance of him, because I have a feeling that this is not going to very pleasant conversation.
"What the fuck is your problem? Your daughter is terrified!" He walks closer to me, I take a few steps backward to prevent myself from taking all his wrath. Why am I out here defending Madison again?
"Like you know the first thing about parenting because you've raised so many children already!" I roll my eyes at his comment, at least we're in public. He wouldn't dare do anything to me. I keep my current distance and yes, open my big mouth again. The idiot doesn't know the first thing about what I've been through.
"I raised my little brother because my mom was off her meds 99% of the time, so yeah I know a little bit." He looks at me but the anger has yet to subside. He's pacing the floor, he'll probably burn a hole through the asphalt if he tries.
"Yeah, well these are MY kids. We were doing fine without you." I give him a sweet little smile and run my hand through my hair. He's in for it now. He is completely in for it now.
"Right, right. You've got everything under control. I can see that by your spoiled brat of a daughter. Nice job on that one. Don't give me any of your shit. I've been through enough on my own, thanks. I might not have kids, but I had the option twice. The first time I made the stupid choice of aborting it. I was afraid of passing on the disease, of being a bad mother. Every single day of my life I wish I hadn't. And then well, the second time, thanks a lot Carter. I think that was all of your doing."
I take a deep breath. My heart is beating and my pulse is racing like never before. It's an adrenaline rush right now. "So don't tell me that I have no clue what's going on. I spent years of my life raising my brother so he wouldn't end up screwed up like some of the misfits on the street. My mother was gone more than half the time, and I didn't do such a bad job. You're the one that fucked up your daughter. Now go do something about it because obviously she trusts me more right now than she does you."
I turn around and quickly rush back off to the hospital. I am not hanging around to find out how he feels about all of this. I could care less.