Chapter 18: August. 29, 2000, 9AM, Ambulance Bay (John Carter's Point of
View):
I can't go back in there. Maybe I can get someone to bring my things to my house. No. I have to go in myself..right after I finish my cigarette. I take a drag and wish that I won't have to talk to anyone in the ER.
Oh, shit. I should have included the 'bay' in my wish. Peter Benton just exited the hospital and starts walking toward me. I light a fresh cigarette and begin walking away from the hospital. Maybe he didn't see me. Please, God, make me invisible. But from behind me I hear a shout.
"Carter! Hey, Carter!"
Fuck. Ok, time to face the sad, sad music. I turn around and take one last drag from my cigarette before I flick it away. "Hi Dr. Benton. How are you?" I start walking back to the hospital towards Peter, and I keep going.
"Hey wait up, man," he says.
"Sorry, sir, but I am in a hurry." I rush into the ER and towards the doctors' lounge with Peter at my feet the whole time. Too afraid to look up, I find the lounge blindly, and don't bother stopping when I hear my name. Finally I reach the lounge and find it empty, thank God. Well, empty except for Dr. Benton. I try to ignore him by fumbling with my combination, but Peter interrupts my clumsy fingers.
"They changed your combination when you quit. Actually I was kinda surprised that you didn't come to me and tell me you were leaving. And no one here knew anything about it.
I climb on a chair and start looking through the boxes on the lockers. "So where's all my stuff?"
"Try over to your right." I grab the box. I read 'Carter' on the top and climb off the chair as Benton continues, "I even tried to get it out of Weaver but she-"
"You talked to Kerry about me?" I harshly question, regretting the tone immediately.
"Yeah." He looks suspicious now, "But she wouldn't tell me what's going on."
I put the box on the sofa and look through it to make sure everything's there. It is.
Finally Benton breaks the silence, asking, "What's happening to you? Is everything okay?"
I look up, "Yeah, everything's great."
"Come on, Carter, you look like a skeleton-"
"I've always looked like a skeleton. You know that."
He just glared at me, not accepting my explanation. So I continue, "Fine, you want to know what's going on?" I think fast for a workable lie.
"Yes."
"My grandfather has been ill for a while so I was helping take care of him and his Carter Foundation responsibilities when I wasn't working here. And about a week ago Kerry mentioned that the hospital is in another budget crisis. So since my family doesn't need me to work, I quit to help my grandfather and Kerry. And as for my appearance, I know I haven't been looking my best, but I have a lot to take care of that's more important. When I'm busy I'm just not hungry, and now you have made me late for an appointment," I rattle off as I pick up my box and hurry to the door.
Behind me I barely hear Benton respond, "I hope to see you around again, John." And I stop. Him saying 'John' always touches me.
I turn and respond, "I hope so too, Dr. Benton." Out of the lounge I hear Kerry shout my name.
"Carter! John, wait! Carter, come back here!"
"Sorry, Kerry. I'm in a rush. See ya!" And I dart out the ambulance bay and into my Jeep.
I can't go back in there. Maybe I can get someone to bring my things to my house. No. I have to go in myself..right after I finish my cigarette. I take a drag and wish that I won't have to talk to anyone in the ER.
Oh, shit. I should have included the 'bay' in my wish. Peter Benton just exited the hospital and starts walking toward me. I light a fresh cigarette and begin walking away from the hospital. Maybe he didn't see me. Please, God, make me invisible. But from behind me I hear a shout.
"Carter! Hey, Carter!"
Fuck. Ok, time to face the sad, sad music. I turn around and take one last drag from my cigarette before I flick it away. "Hi Dr. Benton. How are you?" I start walking back to the hospital towards Peter, and I keep going.
"Hey wait up, man," he says.
"Sorry, sir, but I am in a hurry." I rush into the ER and towards the doctors' lounge with Peter at my feet the whole time. Too afraid to look up, I find the lounge blindly, and don't bother stopping when I hear my name. Finally I reach the lounge and find it empty, thank God. Well, empty except for Dr. Benton. I try to ignore him by fumbling with my combination, but Peter interrupts my clumsy fingers.
"They changed your combination when you quit. Actually I was kinda surprised that you didn't come to me and tell me you were leaving. And no one here knew anything about it.
I climb on a chair and start looking through the boxes on the lockers. "So where's all my stuff?"
"Try over to your right." I grab the box. I read 'Carter' on the top and climb off the chair as Benton continues, "I even tried to get it out of Weaver but she-"
"You talked to Kerry about me?" I harshly question, regretting the tone immediately.
"Yeah." He looks suspicious now, "But she wouldn't tell me what's going on."
I put the box on the sofa and look through it to make sure everything's there. It is.
Finally Benton breaks the silence, asking, "What's happening to you? Is everything okay?"
I look up, "Yeah, everything's great."
"Come on, Carter, you look like a skeleton-"
"I've always looked like a skeleton. You know that."
He just glared at me, not accepting my explanation. So I continue, "Fine, you want to know what's going on?" I think fast for a workable lie.
"Yes."
"My grandfather has been ill for a while so I was helping take care of him and his Carter Foundation responsibilities when I wasn't working here. And about a week ago Kerry mentioned that the hospital is in another budget crisis. So since my family doesn't need me to work, I quit to help my grandfather and Kerry. And as for my appearance, I know I haven't been looking my best, but I have a lot to take care of that's more important. When I'm busy I'm just not hungry, and now you have made me late for an appointment," I rattle off as I pick up my box and hurry to the door.
Behind me I barely hear Benton respond, "I hope to see you around again, John." And I stop. Him saying 'John' always touches me.
I turn and respond, "I hope so too, Dr. Benton." Out of the lounge I hear Kerry shout my name.
"Carter! John, wait! Carter, come back here!"
"Sorry, Kerry. I'm in a rush. See ya!" And I dart out the ambulance bay and into my Jeep.