Chapter Two: Gina Russo

Author: CadaverBlue

Rating: PG-13 for language

Summary: Christian is in the hospital and thinks he knows who the Carver is. Will Sean believe him with no evidence? Can Sean figure it out before the Carver strikes again. Christian makes an unexpected visit to Gina in the hospital.

Disclaimer: I don't own Nip/Tuck or any of the characters, and I am angry because of it.

A/N: Thanks to Eb for her beta work! I forgot to mention in the first chapter that I don't own Nip/Tuck or any of the characters so don't sue me Ryan! Oh and I couldn't find the name of that detective dude, so I made one up! As for the Carver, some think its Merrill, others believe its Matt and then there is that select few who think the Carver is someone else...

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The memories are playing back in a haze of dizziness and fatigue. Beauty is a curse on the world. The inflictor's cold, sharp knife slicing Christian's cheek, his bitter blood flowing into his mouth. He tried to scream, but nothing but a dry, silent moan came out.

"Christian!" A voice yelled from the distance.

Christian shifted in his recovery bed at McNamara/Troy. Sean peered over at him and could tell he was dreaming. Eager to wake him from his nightmare, Sean dipped a washcloth in luke warm water and patted Christian's forehead. Christian stirred.

"Welcome back partner;" Sean whispered.

Christian tried to sit up but collapsed back down in the bed with a thud.

"I feel...like shit." Christian groaned.

"Well that's normal."

Christian scoffed. If there was any one else more qualified to say what was normal after surgery it was he. But then again there was Sean sitting there next to him in the recovery room. Christian looked at Sean and could tell that Sean felt responsible. In some ways Christian did feel like it was Sean's fault. But he knows he can never tell him that. Sean reached for some latex gloves and got closer to Christian.

"Lets see shall we?"

Christian closed his eyes in preparation of the pain.

"If we must we must," he said out of his pursed lips.

Sean reached for the bandages. His hands suddenly felt heavy. This was the second time he was doing this, first in the hospital and now this. He couldn't help but feel his heart grow heavy, his emotions getting the best of him. He fought back tears in front of his best friend.

"Hmm, I think this surgery was a success." Sean said smugly.

"I still feel like shit, and I hate being in bed." Christian laughed at his predicament.

"Well we've got some great drugs in this place, and the sheets are Egyptian cotton," Sean said, trying to raise Christian's spirits.

There was a sullen silence between both of them for a few minutes. The air was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Sean was fumbling with the latex in his hands and Christian was staring at him, as if he was waiting for him to speak. Sean was the first to break the silence.

"The police say that you were the Car..." Sean stopped himself.

"What Sean?" Christian yelled.

"That I was the worst out of all the sad saps that he molested!"

Sean swallowed hard.

"My face is the worst off isn't it Sean?"

"Well we fixed it."

"Did we Sean?" Christian yelled.

"Give me a mirror!"

Sean sighed at Christian's sudden change in behavior. He was scared for himself and scared for Christian. Sean opened the drawer I the side table pulling out a hand-held mirror. He placed it on Christian's stomach, face down. Christian looked at Sean with such hatred in his eyes it scared Sean. Christian grabbed the mirror and held it up to his face. His eyes filled with tears.

On either side of his cheeks were deep, reddened cuts. Wet with moisture that accumulated under the bandage they shined in radiant light under the florescent bulbs. They stood out in the light like an ironic presentation of beauty. Christian reached his hand up to them and touched them lightly. His thick, shaking hand grazing the raised skin and the bulky stitches on his cheek ever so slightly. He winced. His stomach churned at the revealing of his face and he felt nauseous. He dropped the mirror and covered his mouth. He reached for the water next to him. Sean reached out and handed to him, Christian grabbed it out of his hand.

"I think you should leave Sean."

Sean sighed. "I'll be here tomorrow to take you home."

Christian nodded and closed his eyes, ignoring his urge to vomit. Sean walked out and down the hall. Walking by the McNamara/Troy sign that in the lobby he thought of what might have happened if the Carver claimed Christian as a victim forever.

Sean came by the office at noon and Christian was sitting up in bed. Sean looked at Christian and could tell he didn't sleep much. Dark, black bags under both their eyes are what they shared.

"Ready?"

"Yeah,"

Christian threw his legs over the side of the bed. He struggled to stand, the blood rushing to his head. Sean grabbed his arm and led him towards to door. Christian yanked his arm away from Sean in frustration.

"I can do it!"

Sean sighed and let Christian walk to the car himself. Every once in a while Christian would grip the wall to prevent himself from falling. Once in the car Christian felt like he was going to vomit again. His head was spinning his stomach was churning.

"Do you think we can stop somewhere before you take me home?"

Sean nodded.

"Where were you thinking?" He asked.

"The Hospital," Christian answered.

Sean stared at him and thought there might be something wrong.

"Just take me."

Arriving at the hospital, Christian was flooded with memories of the morning he was admitted. The drugs wore off and he crawled to the phone. He didn't dial 911 but he called Julia. Christian sighed.

"Do you need me to..."

"No Sean, just stay out here."

As Sean watched Christian leave the car and walk towards the entrance, he couldn't help but feel sympathetic to what Christian was feeling right now. The things that were probably flying threw his head, the confusion, and the hurt. Sean felt terrible.

Christian ignored the calls of the nurses at the hospital. He passed the nurses station in a haze and he knew right where he was going. Walking into a poorly lit room he stopped at the doorway.

"What happened to you asshole?" Gina said from the bed in which she lay.

"It doesn't matter," Christian replied, touching his face.

Gina sighed and turned towards the window.

"Gina, I came here to..." Christian stopped himself. He walked towards the bed and pulled up a chair.

"What is it?" She asked.

"Have you been watching the news?"

"Not really. What happened to you?" She asked, concerned.

Christian swallowed the lump in his throat.

"The Carver got me."

Gina gasped.

"Oh I'm so sorry Christian."

Christian bowed his head and a tear fell on the bed. Gina reached up and stroked his cheek, touching softly the evidence of the attack. Christian placed his hand on hers.

"I just wanted to see you."

"Why Christian? Why would you want to see a small, helpless woman who is slowly and painfully dying."

"Because I wanted to tell you, that when I was lying on my bed watching the Carver over me I was so scared. Then I thought of you and how brave you are. I realized that..."

"What Christian?"

"I wasn't afraid to die."

Gina took Christians face in her hands, touching him ever so softly. He pulled his head to her chest and pulled him into an embrace. Christian wasn't one to show emotion but he couldn't help but let tears stream down his face.

"I'm not afraid either," she whispered in his ear, kissing his head.

Outside in the parking lot Sean's phone rang.

"McNamara," he answered.

"Dr. McNamara? This is Detective Marsh."

"Good afternoon Detective, what can I help you with?"

"How's Dr. Troy?" Detective Marsh asked with fake concern.

"I think he'll be alright, he claims to think he knows who the Carver is."

The Detective grew silent on the other end.

"Detective Marsh?" Sean asked.

"Well, we have some evidence that could lead us to a possible suspect." The detective said.

"Who?" Sean asked eagerly.

"Merrill Bobbolit."

TBC