A/N: Hey, there! So glad to be back! here it is, the sequel to State of Mind. This picks up right where that left off so you should definately read that first. I started to write this as just a 2 part series and it's develpoed into a 3 part! So, look out for that too. When it's more develpoed, I'll let you know. Ass you know, I don't own anyone. I wish I did, but I don't. Also, all of the opening quotes are Peace of Mind by Nonpoint.
Chapter 4: Secrets, Lies and Mischief Pt. 1
"More than just
More than a thorn in my side
More than just
More than our differece aside
I'm choosing sides now"
The day started off normally as Abby abruptly woke up on a black leather sofa by what sounded like a coffee grinder or blender. Luka apologetically asked if he woke her and it took Abby a moment to remember that she stayed the night at Luka's apartment. Luka asked if she slept okay and then offered her some coffee, which she declined. There was a certain awkwardness in their conversations which both of them noticed. Abby got up and walked towards the bathroom, but Luka stopped her and examined the spot on her face where Brian hit her. His hand lingered for a moment before Luka let his arms drop to his side. Yet another awkward moment between the two recently broken up co-workers.
Carter walked down the street carrying two coffees and a couple bagels, happily whistling and enjoying life. He went up to an apartment door and rang the buzzer. When he got no answer, he dialed a number on his cell phone and upon hearing Susan's anwsering machine he said"Oh Susan, where are you" Meanwhile, Susan walks up behind him as he started to entice her machine with coffee and bagels. She was surprised to see Carter and he was equally surprised to see her outdoors so early. He asked if they were going to the 7:30 Yoga class. Susan confesseed that she'd forgotten causing Carter to comment"You're out early." Susan detected his suspiciousness and told him flat out that she spent the night at Mark's on the couch. She explained that he'd been having some trouble, not going into the details. Carter was clearly unhappy about this as he followed Susan into her apartment.
It was late Friday morning when Susan and Carter arrived at County together, ready to start their shift. Carter quizzed Susan about her staying at Mark's and Susan told him to drop it. But Carter wouldn't, telling her it sounded like there was something she didn't want him to know, something she didn't want to tell him about. Susan insisted that she and Mark were just friends, but Carter asked if she'd be cool if he'd spent the night over at...not able to come up with a name himself, Susan said Lucy questioningly. Carter was surprised by Susan's mention of Lucy. One, since she'd never met her until briefly last week and two, because she'd said Lucy over anyone else. While he puzzled about how she knew about their "relationship" he claimed that he was going to say Darla's, an attractive woman from Radiology. An obvious lie as she knew. Susan didn't buy it and insists that he was going to say Lucy.
"So now you can read my mind" Carter asked with a small smile.
"Well, it's not much of a challenge." She retorted adding that if Carter slept over at Lucy's, she'd be fine with it. It wasn't like they were dating or anything. Carter protested that Susan had a double-standard, but she told him that she wasn't attracted to Mark, while Carter was completely attracted to Lucy. Carter reminded her that he wasn't the one who stayed over at an old boyfriend's house. "He's not my old boyfriend. He's is like my older brother, and I don't want to sleep with him." She informed him.
"And I don't want to sleep with Lucy." Carter told her. Neither of them believed each other and Carter didn't even believe himself; he knew the truth. Even though he and Susan were sort of dating now, he always thought about Lucy. As they entered the ambulance bay, Kerry came out and told them to take a case that was just arriving. It turned out to be a dominatrix and her leather-clad, hooded client. The client had fallen from a "torture swing" suspended from the ceiling, injuring his back and perhaps his head. As they started to wheel the man into the ER, Carter spotted Gallant and called for him to join them; once inside Carter also asked Abby and Malik to assist them.
In the treatment room the dominatrix is more concerned about her expensive leather gear than about the client. She told the staff"You cut it, you buy it." The client refused to let them take off his mask, so the team was forced to work around it. The man asked if he was paralyzed and Susan dryly informed him that he wasn't, but probably bruised his butt. But she ordered an X-ray to be sure nothing was broken. Abby told him they had to remove his suit because the zippers messed up the X-rays. The man asked if he could keep his mask on and Abby assureed him he could. Luka came in to see what was going on, since a crowd had gathered outside the Trauma room.
"Is that a...tail" He asked extremely confused.
"Pure horsehair." Abby informed him with a small smile at the patients belongings. As they prepared the client for transport, Carter noticed that the dominatrix had injured her finger. He told her it was badly dislocated and she should get an X-ray before reducing it, but the woman refused to leave her stuff. Carter told her he could reduce it right there, but it would hurt like hell. The woman told him to do it and though he hesitated, he finally reduced the dislocation. Even though the finger made a disgusting cracking sound, the woman didn't even bat an eye. Not that odd considering her line of work. Abby smiled at her in seeming admiration as she handed the dominatrix her client's leather suit. When she asks about her hood, Carter told her she could go with him and get it back whenever he took it off, adding that they needed X-rays of her finger anyway. Malik and some other nurses accompanied the duo and Carter announced to the crowd that the show was over and they should go back to work.
"What was the tail attached to" Luka asked as they started to clean up the empty Trauma room.
"Believe me, you don't want to know." Gallant replieed disgusted. They all started to leave the Trauma room, but Susan found a large bag and asked what it was. Carter said it looked like the dominatrix's bag.
"After all that bitching about her stuff, she left her bag here" Susan asked shocked and rudely at the same time.
"What's she have in this thing" Abby asked as Susan set it on a table and joined her. Luka immediatly said he didn't want to know, followed by Carter and Gallant, but both Abby and Susan were curious, and opened the bag over the protests from Carter and Luka. They were surprised by what they saw. "Nobody could ever actually use that, could they" She commented.
"Whoa." Luka said with raised eyebrows at the sight of the contents when he came over to see, his curiousity now peeked. Carter reminds them that the bag was a patient's personal property but when he got a glimpse of the contents, he too stopped and stared. Abby accidentally triggered the inflation of a life-size doll causing everyone, including young Gallant, to laugh. She tossed it to Gallant, who reluctantly caught it and held it seeing the lighter side to the doctors of the ER. They next spotted a "big purple thing" which was a dildo. Abby flicked a switch, wondering what it did, and it started buzzing. She tossed it at Luka, who jumped away, letting it fall to the floor, but picked it up and held it at arm length. "Ooh, whoa." Susan and Abby giggled, enjoying the scared and confused look on his face.
"That does not occur in nature" Abby commented between giggles. Susan then took a mask from the bag and chased after Carter with it, while Abby put on a leather studded collar. They were all having fun when Kerry walked in. The five quickly moved to hide what they were holding from a stunned Kerry. The only sound in the room came from the deflating doll.
In the suture room, Kerry read the Riot Act to Carter, Luka, Susan and Abby, asking what they thought they were doing - especially with a Med student in the room. Susan protested that they were just blowing off a little steam. But Kerry reminded them that they were opening the hospital up to a lawsuit and told them that their behavior was "inappropriate, unprofessional, and offensive." She then asked who the things belong to and Abby slowly told her that a patient brought them in. This made Kerry even more upset because they were pilfering through a patient's belongings. She demanded an explanation, but none was forthcoming. Abby told her that they were all sorry, but Kerry wasn't placated. She told them that they were all on notice and that she wouldn't tolerate any more inappropriate behavior from anyone. She then left to go into the next room to talk to Gallant.
"Thanks a lot, girls." Carter said placing the blame on Abby and Susan. But Susan pointed out that Carter didn't have to stay in the room while they played with the bag's contents, he could have left any time. Abby spotted Kerry talking to Gallant in the next room.
"We should have told her Gallant wasn't involved." Susan said sadly.
"You should have told her that Luka and I weren't involved." Carter added snippily.
"I bet you were that kid in elementary school who always told." Susan accused Carter. As they go past Gallant on their way out, Abby asked him if he was okay and Gallant sarcastically said he was great. Later on, Susan went to talk to Kerry at her locker and as she opened, looking at Susan, she didn't see the purple dildo inside. After she finished her speech about how she wouldn't accept anymore foolish behavior, she turned around and gasped at the sight of the dildo.
Chapter 5: Secrets, Lies and Mischeif Pt. 2
Preview: Saturday Morning...
