Okay, I tried to update faster so…hopefully it's worth it! Thanks for all your reviews (I can't believe I made the 100 mark!!) I appreciate your support so much;)

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Psychotic Break-out

Chapter 16: Aftershock

Doctor Faye to ER! Doctor Faye to ER! The well-worn voice of the hospital tannoy system blared indifferently through the halls of Community General Hospital. James Faye's head snapped up instantly from the golf magazine that he had been perusing. Leaping up from the couch in the doctor's lounge he snatched up his lab coat and threw it around his shoulders. It billowed importantly around him as he raced down the corridor to the Emergency Room.

By the time he had reached ER he was calm and business-like. You had to be. If you got too emotionally attached then it could cost somebody their life, and you your job.

He strode towards the gurney that had just been carted through the large doors that dominated the Emergency Room. He was about to issue some orders when he caught sight of the pale, gaunt person lying on the stretcher. He gasped as recognition dawned on his face.

"Page Doctor Bentley immediately"

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Amanda Bentley sat behind her immaculate desk in the Pathology Lab, her shiny black hair pulled back into a neat bun and her face screwed up in concentration as she attempted a crossword puzzle in the daily newspaper. She glanced upwards and reached for her half eaten sandwich, and then took a large satisfying bite.

The small clock perched on her desk told her that it was almost half-past one. Why did her lunch break always have to go so quickly? She sighed and put down the newspaper. As she did so her pager began to bleep urgently. Sighing again she laid down her sandwich this time and reached for her phone.

"Doctor Bentley you're needed in ER. Doctor Travis has just been brought in" The voice on the other end of the phone answered.

"What!" Amanda shouted down the phone, "What's his condition?"

"Critical. Gunshot wound to the chest, broken leg and possible internal injuries"

"I'll be right there. Who's taking care of him?"

"Doctor Faye"

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Amanda knocked several nurses flying as she flew up to the ER. Not bothering to apologise she kept on going, tears threatening to cascade down her cheeks. If anything happened to Jesse…She didn't want to even imagine…Sure Jesse got on her nerves, but she cared deeply about him. He had so much energy and enthusiasm for life. Not to mention the fact that he was a damn good doctor. Jesse was like - no he was - a member of her close family.

When she reached her destination, there was no sign of Jesse or James Faye. She grabbed a passing nurse. "Where is Doctor Faye?" She demanded, her eyes blazing.

"He's in Trauma One with Doctor Travis" The scared looking nurse stammered, clearly affected by the condition of her friend and colleague. Jesse was a very popular member of the Community General staff. Amanda's features softened momentarily before re-assuming their worried stance.

"Thank you" She called over her shoulder as she rushed forwards and shoved open the door to Trauma One.

Her breath caught in her throat as she caught sight of the small, deathlike figure lying on the bed. This was what the once lively, funny, enthusiastic Jesse had been reduced to. A small tear finally escaped as she clapped a hand to her mouth. She watched James and the Trauma nurses swarm about Jesse's body in slow motion, perfectly choreographed. It didn't seem real.

It took her several moments to compose herself adequately enough to ask the right questions and find out Jesse's chances of survival. With great effort she slowed her rapid breaths and marched forward calmly.

"James how's he doing" She asked softly, not wanting to interrupt the concentration of the skilled medic.

"Amanda, I'm not gonna lie to you, Jesse's pulmonary arteries were lacerated when the bullet entered his chest. He's lost a lot of blood, his blood pressure is too low and I'm worried that he has a widened mediastinum" James paused to direct the nurses to insert a saline IV tube.

Suddenly Jesse began to cough. Dry, racking coughs which made his small frame shudder and lurch dangerously. Blood sputtered from his lips and stained the pristine white of the hospital sheets. Amanda watched with the horror of one who must watch their child suffer in agony, as Doctor Faye began to insert a chest tube to ease Jesse's ragged breathing. Then he issued orders that Jesse was to be prepared for radiology, followed by surgery.

One of the nurses went to Amanda and laid a hand on her arm. "Doctor Bentley, it might be wise if you waited outside" Amanda nodded vacantly, not taking her eyes off Jesse as she was propelled gently backwards towards the door.

Once she was back in the corridor it was like she had been brought out of a trance. Her immediate thought was to alert Mark and Steve. She quickly wiped away her brimming tears and cleared her throat before heading towards the nurses' station.

When she had reached the phone she dialled Mark's cell phone number hurriedly, then waited with baited breath for him to answer.

"Hello Mark? Its Amanda" Her voice wavered dangerously as she spoke down the receiver. "It's Jesse! He's in the ER! He's been shot!…I don't know anything about her! Just get down here now Mark! It's n-not looking good…I will" She whispered, her voice having cracked with emotion. Her breath came in gasps as she replaced the receiver, and she stood dazed there for a while before making her way to the waiting area.

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When Mark and Steve reached the shoreline most of the early morning joggers and surfers that had been there when Jesse and Chloe were, were now gone. A few pensioners and young people were scattered further along, but there was nobody else. No Jesse. No Chloe. But Mark hadn't really expected it to be that easy. No. Chloe had something planned.

"See anything Dad?" Steve asked, hoping that his father would pull some magnificent solution from his trouser pocket.

"No son" Mark answered curtly, beginning now to feel the pressure and desperation that his son had felt earlier. Suddenly his cell phone began to ring. He was about to press the "cancel" button, but something held him back – intuition perhaps.

"Hello?" He answered warily. "Amanda what's wrong?" There was immediate urgency in his voice as he uttered this. He was struck by the necessity and overwhelming emotion in her voice. Something had happened.

"He's what? Oh my god…what about Chloe?…we will, just sit tight. Keep an eye on Jess for me" Mark's features were dark as he hung up. He glanced at Steve, who knew without needing to ask that something was very wrong. "Son, we need to get to the hospital immediately"

"What's happened to Jess Dad? Is he…?" Steve hardly dared ask.

"No" Mark answered him, not wanting to include the not yet that was on the tip of his tongue.

Steve felt as if all the panic and guilt that he had been feeling were now converging into one giant tsunami that threatened to overthrow him completely. He put his head in his hands in a pathetic gesture of defeat.

Mark laid a comforting hand on his son's arm, only to have it shrugged off angrily. "Steve!" Mark said forcefully, trying to break through the wall of anger and self-loathing that Steve had created around himself. "Steve! You need to stay strong…for Jesse's sake. I know you've suffered a great deal, but I also know that you can summon the strength to cope with this. Come on Steve!" He took Steve by the shoulders and swung him around so that they were standing eye to eye.

Slowly Steve nodded and Mark could almost see the resolve strengthening within him. "You're right. Jesse needs me. He needs all of us"

Mark smiled grimly at this minor victory, and then added quietly: "We'll need to alert Cheryl and the team that Jesse's been found and Chloe is dead"

To Be Continued…