Fallen Angel

Chapter 12

Note- Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing, it's greatly appreciated. You are all amazing and I thank you for that. I hope that you all enjoy this update.

Carter looked straight into the eyes consumed with fear and worry, the anger he was so accustom to disappeared: memories flooding back to a familiar sight. Although he knew it was real, it all seemed like a dream. How could this be real? Blame circled him as he could see the pain he had inflicted on his friends through one mans searching eyes. He longed to apologize for, well he wasn't really sure this time, he did what he knew was right but somehow saying he was sorry was all that he could think to say once he had the chance to speak.
Benton looked down into the newly opened eyes expecting for them to bring with them the youth he once saw in them, a distant memory now. Pushed aside through all the debris falling around him. But now he saw a familiar gaze, this look he knew too well, it was sad, distant. Benton didn't understand it completely, but he knew that this was how Carter had always been, blaming himself for anything that he possibly could.

"Carter?" he asked again, Carter shook his head slightly to show that he could hear him. "I will be right back." He assured him before leaving the room.

As he walked down the hall, he wondered a question he had been asking for awhile, it seemed like a frequent question when he is around Carter, Why him? Simple enough to ask, but an answer is still negligent of showing itself. He made it to the desk at the end of the hall and found that it was vacant. He picked up the phone and called down to the ER. Mark answered the phone, and the news that everyone was waiting on spread throughout the rooms. Mark said that he would be up after he dealt with a trauma coming in. Benton offered his service but was denied. As he hung up the phone a nurse returned to the station and greeted him kindly, while asking if she could help him. He sent her to Carter's room, while he picked the phone up again to try to call the Carter's again.

He turned and leaned against the desk, watching the nurse walk down the hall, the phone ringing, but going unanswered. As he moved to discard the phone a voice appeared "Hello, Carter residence" the voice stated.

"Hello, this is Dr. Benton from County I work with Car… John. May I speak to a family member?"

The voice hesitated "No one is here right now, might I take a message?"

"Do you know where I can reach them?" Benton asked losing hope in reaching these people.

"Well sir, John's parents will not be returning for several weeks, and have asked not to be disturbed, but if you give me a message I can do my best to get it to them, as for Mrs. Millicent Carter, she is away on business and I am unsure on when she will be returning, but again if you would like I can try to get a message to her."

Benton's eyes drifted towards the floor, he turned around and rested his elbows on the desk leaning his head towards the receiver "Can you just let them know that Dr. Carter has been involved in an accident, and that we will be waiting for their call."

"I will see what I can do Dr. Benton, good bye."

Benton hung up the phone and hesitated before returning to Carter's room, somehow the conversation didn't shock him, causing the question to present itself once again.

Carter watched as the nurse circled him, never making eye contact distant. Checking the machines the medication, she seemed lost in her thoughts, happy but unwilling to show it. He could hear her shoes as the squeaked with every shift and step. She turned to leave the room, but now she turned back as if finally noticing that I was in the room. Watching me watch her, she turned away and left the room, it was just as if she had never been there.

The nurse passed Benton in the hall, but he called for her attention. "Can you bring some ice chips to Dr. Carter's room?" she agreed and left on her new mission. Benton returned to the room and watched as he stared blankly at the ceiling. He knew that he didn't go unnoticed. He sat down beside Carter who stopped his study of the ceiling tiles and began to look over towards his visitor again. Benton wanted to speak, but words seemed to evade him, he didn't know what to say or what Carter was thinking. The silence quickly became unbearable "Well, how about we take that tube out?" Carter nodded in full agreement hating the feeling and memories that came with such a feeling. Just as Benton was beginning the count the nurse returned with ice chips placing them beside Benton. "Three." Carter began to cough as Benton handed him the cup and spoon. Carter took a small scoop and closed his eyes against the cold sensation numbing his mouth while soothing his soar throat.

Carter opened his mouth to speak, but he stopped as he watched the nurse leave again without a word. Carter handed the ice chips back to Benton who held on to them for a moment before placing them on the stand beside him. He was about to speak when Mark walked into the room. "Hey" Mark spoke gently "How are you feeling?" he asked Carter who ran through his mind searching for an answer. Mark didn't ask again fearing a bad answer, or anything bad, he just wanted to help. "Peter…" he began while moving closer to the bed, but stopped as his beeper began to go off. "I'll have to come back later" as quickly as he came he was gone.

Carter gave up his search for an answer and looked back up at the tiles again. "Sorry" he said in less then a whisper, Benton wasn't sure of what he heard, but fearing the truth he refused to ask. "It's Okay Carter" he soothed. Carter wanted to ask questions, but somehow he was afraid to ask, what if the answers weren't what he wanted to hear? All he knew that what ever it was, he was sorry for it.

Note – The next update will most likely be this weekend, but I might get it sooner since a little bit of time is opening up now. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, and please any info, opinions, or anything else are welcome. Have a great day and smile.

thanx darkdestiney2000... I had it spaced differently originally but I guess the upload read it differently