So here's Chapter 4. Sorry it's taking me such a long time to write, I don't know what's up with me. So this one's quite long but I hope you enjoy it. Thanks to everyone who reviewed it so far, please keep it up!

Chapter 4: Who's gonna stop the rain?

The rain hammered down on the window as the light of the screaming alarm lit up the darkened room. The screen flashed 7.02am. In the corner of the room a baby started to cry.

Susan sleepily fumbled with the off switch and slid wearily out of bed. She pulled on a sweater and pushed her tousled hair out of her eyes. She walked over to the crib in the corner and looked down at her daughter.

"Come on then, Gracie." She said as she bent down and picked up the baby. She glanced over at the bed and saw that it was ruffled but empty.

"Chuck?" She called out. The apartment was silent. "I bet daddy's fallen asleep in front of the TV again." She said to the baby in a tone that sounded as if this was a regular occurrence. She walked out into the living room but he wasn't there.

"Chuck?" She called once again. She made her way into the kitchen with the baby still in her arms. Upon the table lay a scrawled note.

You looked so beautiful asleep I just couldn't wake you. Got called into work, sorry babe xxx.

She knew the real he hadn't woken her was because she would be angry with him. And she was angry with him. He was supposed to be looking after the baby while she pulled a shift but now Grace would have to go to day care.

She glanced at the clock. 7.17am. Her shift started in precisely 43 minutes but she wasn't even dressed.

"I think we're going to be late." She said to Grace but she just smiled and gurgled.

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Abby leant against the kitchen cabinet holding a mug of steaming coffee. She stared, carefully contemplating each drop of rain running down the window. Her thoughts were spinning round a thousand times within her head and she hadn't been able to sleep. She glanced at the clock. 7.24am. She had already been awake for three and a half hours.

Mike walked out of the bedroom drawing the duvet around him close to keep out the cold.

"Hey, there you are," he said. "I wondered where you'd gone. I was starting to get lonely."

She forced a smile. "I just couldn't sleep."

"You OK?" He asked. "You look a bit pale." He stared deep into her dark brown eyes. She glanced away.

"I'm just tired, that's all."

"Well, come back to bed then. Please?" He slid his arms around her waist; she closed her bleary eyes and leant her head on his shoulder. All her thoughts just melted away. This is where she wanted to stay.

"I can't. I have to go to work."

"Call in sick," he said.

"I can't. I'm already running late."

She made her way to the bathroom and softly closed the door behind her. She switched on the shower and sat on the side of the bathtub, holding her head in her hands.

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Luka sat in his parked car watching the rain lashing down heavily on the windscreen. He looked at the clock on the dashboard. 7.32am. They were going to be late but there was nothing new there. He beeped his horn to remind them of his presence.

Sam peered out of the window on to the car below. "Come on Alex, hurry up!" She shouted. "We're gonna be late. Again."

She picked up the phone and started to dial.

"I'm not going!" Alex shouted back. "I already told you!"

Luka's cell phone rang, which made him jump with surprise.

"Hello?" He answered.

"Sorry, we're just on our way down." Said Sam. "Come on Alex!"

"I told you I'm not going!" Came the answer in the background.

"Hold on, I'll be right up." Said Luka.

"No, don't worry, you'll get soaked." She said. "We will be down in a minute." Luka knew this wasn't true. Alex hated school and wanted to stay home with Luka and Sam so he had taken to causing trouble every morning. They had played this scenario out for the past 3 weeks and although Luka had started to love Alex as his own it didn't make him any less difficult to deal with.

"I'll be up in a minute." He said. He climbed out the car and was instantly drenched but it didn't matter, he would just put on some scrubs when they eventually arrived at work. It didn't take long to persuade Alex to get in the car once he had been bribed with a trip to the ER but they were still going to be late.

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Carter sat alone listening to the sound of the rain bouncing off the window ledge. It was quiet compared to the sound of his own pounding heart. He stared at the telephone that sat on the table beside him as if by doing this for long enough it might dial itself and he wouldn't have to work up the courage to do it himself. He glanced down at the crumpled piece of paper in his hand and then at his watch. 7.46am. He had to be at work at 8am but he had to ring her sooner or later.

His hands trembled as he slowly picked up the receiver and dialled the number. An unfamiliar voice answered.

"Hello. Can I help you?"

He wasn't prepared and fumbled for words. "Um...er...hello...um...can I speak to Kem please?"

"I'm sorry, you must have the wrong number. There's no-one here by that name."

"Oh" he said. He felt gutted by this news.

"Well, if that's everything..." Came the voice on the end of the line.

"No, wait!" He thought for a moment. "What about Makemba? Makemba Likasu?"

"Can I ask who's calling?"

"John. John Carter." His heart was racing with sheer anticipation. She must be there or he wouldn't have been asked to hold. He was going to be able to talk to her.

"One moment please." The voice trailed off and he could hear mumbled conversation in the background. He remembered his time in Africa and pictured the hospital. He imagined Kem there now, busily tending to her patients, preparing to talk to him. He hung on the line for what seemed like well over 10 minutes before the strange voice came back.

"I'm afraid she's busy. She said not to ring again." Then came the dial tone.

He replaced the receiver and sat shocked and devastated by this news. He thought she'd be happy to hear from him. Why didn't she want to talk to him? He had so much to say, surely she must have too. He didn't want to believe that everything they'd shared could disappear so quickly. Only the rain on the window broke the oppressive silence that now possessed the room.

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"Abby, Susan, Luka, John and Sam I want to see all of you in the Doctor's lounge. Now!" Screamed Weaver from down the hall. She had obviously seen them congregating at the admit desk.

"She does not look happy." Susan whispered to Abby.

"Yeah, she's not." Piped in Frank looking rather smug.

"Would someone please tell me what time the clock on the wall reads?" Interrogated Weaver. Everyone remained silent staring from clock to wall to floor and back again but no-one dared to meet her gaze. "Well?" Came her shrill, piercing voice. "Luka, perhaps?"

"It's 9.02am Dr Weaver." He replied.

"So you can tell the time. Amazing. So how come every single one of you was late for your 8am shift this morning?" She barked. "Dr Lewis, 8.19am. Dr Kovac, 8.26am. Sam, 8.26am. Dr Lockhart, 8.39am and Dr Carter, 8.52am. What am I meant to do if a trauma comes in and I'm down three attendings, one resident and one nurse?"

Still they all remained silent.

"You leave me no option but to punish you all accordingly. Lucky for you I haven't yet done the Christmas schedule but you will now all work the Christmas Day shift."

"But..." Started Susan.

"No buts. That's the final word. If you can't get here on time you have to pay the price." She turned to leave.

"Hang on a minute Kerry." Said Luka. "Don't you think you're being a bit harsh. Some of us have kids to think about. Can't we discuss this?"

"No, and it's Dr Weaver." Came the answer. With that, she stormed out.

"Evil witch." Susan fumed.