Warped Love
Chapter 6
Note- Sorry for the wait: totally unexpected. But with a snow day I decided that it was perfect timing for me to catch up and hopefully keep up. Thanks to all of the reviewers you guys are so awesome.
The fog was lifting as a new day rose in the ER, as two familiar faces greeted the staff, laughing as the entered the lounge. The smiles they continued to show made the atmosphere of the ER that much lighter, as a dark cloud was lifted. They exited the lounge still laughing as Lucy held the door open for Carter, the joke was unknown, but it didn't seem to matter.
Dr. Williams entered the familiar realm he had met one week ago, but was reluctant to have a second visit. Now it was time for him to work, to become a part of a new world. He walked confidently into the lounge looking straight ahead and ignoring all of the inquiring eyes. As he exited the lounge he took up a chart from the desk and quickly got to work ignoring everything, looking only at his path. But his eyes seemed to stray as he took a quick glimpse at the laughing duo working up their patients in parallel beds. He walked to the end of the hall and found the suture room where he would meet his first patient causing the realness of the situation to sink in. He was dismissive with the patient, still acting superior and staying only long enough to asses the patient and sew her arm without saying one word to her that didn't concern her medical status. The young girl tried to talk to him, but found that he seemed annoyed with her attempt only causing her to feel uncomfortable. He left her and returned to the lounge ignoring the trauma that passed him on his way.
Dr. Weaver made excuses for his dismissive and rude behavior towards the staff and patients, explaining that he is new and is just trying to get a feel for how things are run. As the shift went on, with three hours past, Dr. Williams had only seen two patients and Dr. Weaver found it harder and harder to stand up for his lack of commitment.
Lucy walked into the lounge after her trauma patient had been sent up to surgery. She walked in just as Dr. Williams was leaving, she greeted him and he nodded at her causing her to smile for finally getting recognition. She entered the lounge and noticed that the lights were off, it didn't surprise her but she wondered what he had been doing in the lounge for all that time. She scanned the room as she sat down on the couch, which was set up perpendicular to the lockers. The table surrounded by chairs sat across the room by the window, allowing some light to peer into the room. Beside the table the cabinets received the streams of light from behind the blinds. A door was beside the counter and another beside the couch, which was still swinging from her entrance. She yawned as she decided to lay across the couch; she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Carter exited the trauma room, tired and searching for relief from the pain throbbing in his back, and headed for the lounge. He questioned where Lucy was and three nurses answered together that she was in the lounge; he laughed, as did they. He walked down the hall acknowledging everyone as he past by, still smiling. A crowd surrounded one of the doors to the lounge causing Carter to use the one beside the counters. He walked into the darkened room and he looked over at the couch where Lucy was laying innocently. A shadowed figure in the dark leaned over her. Carter released his crutches and ran at the man hovering over her, he collided with him causing them to crash into the lockers. As they crashed the crutches hit the ground. Lucy sat up scared by the noise around her. She looked beside her and noticed two people struggling against one another. The intruder slammed Carter to the ground and took off out the same door Carter had entered the lounge from. Carter watched the blurred form in the dark, once he was gone Carter struggled to get up, but Lucy kneeled down beside him finally noticing who he was.
"Are you ok?" Carter asked out of breath and worried, staring straight into her eyes as he awaited the answer. Lucy nodded her head still confused and now worried for Carter. Carter was confused as he looked over at the doors and noticed that no one seemed to hear what had happened, he didn't know if he was relieved or worried at that point. He returned his eyes to Lucy who was now sitting beside him rubbing small circles on Carter's back. His breathing calmed down as he continued to scan the room but always returned to Lucy, he smiled lightly at her "Are you sure you're alright?" Lucy smiled at him "Yeah, are you ok? What happened?"
"I'm fine, and honestly I don't know." Carter reached up and rubbed the back of his head that hit the floor. Lucy watched him, worried and more confused. She stood up "I'm going to get someone Carter, I'll be right back." She looked down at him as he continued to rub his head while nodding in agreement.
Lucy looked around the ER staying as calm as she could, and not wanting to leave carter for too long. She spotted Mark and made a straight path towards him. He was talking to Dr. Williams who was complaining about a patient who seemed to be unruly and showed his proof on his right arm where a bruise was forming. Mark asked where the patient was, but Dr. Williams explained that he ran from the exam room. Lucy listened to the conversation as she waited for Mark to notice her presence. She wondered if the patient was the man who was in the lounge only minutes ago. Mark looked over at Lucy who seemed lost in thought "Lucy?" he questioned slightly concerned. She walked closer to him and excused them from Dr. Williams who was angered by their leave.
Lucy led Mark to the lounge and they quickened their pace with every bit of information given. They opened the door and Carter was still sitting up against the locker, but now his head was leaning back as he looked up at them. Mark picked up the fallen crutches and leaned them against the lockers beside Carter. Blood was running down from Carter's nose falling to his shirt. He thought leaning his head back would help. Lucy turned on the lights illuminating the room and showing the bruise forming around Carter's right eye. Mark bent down and pressed the area lightly causing Carter to cringe. "Sorry" he expressed as he continued to examine Carter. "How about we get you to a room?" Dr. Greene asked, Lucy nodded her head in agreement, but carter disagreed.
"I'm fine. And I don't need everyone to worry, but I think security should know." Carter looked up at Lucy apologetically "sorry, if I handled it a little calmer I might have seen who the guy was" he shook his head disappointed in himself. Lucy didn't know how to respond she just continued to look down with worry, for Carter and herself.
They both helped Carter to a sitting position and Mark went to the phone and called for security to be brought down. He walked back to the couch and picked up a tissue for Carter. Carter sat up to reach for the tissue and closed his eyes as pain ran through him with the simple movement. Lucy sat beside him and began to rub his back lightly. Carter took the tissue and wiped the blood and realized that it had stopped. The bruise around his eye was still light, but noticeable. Mark sent staff away as the tried to enter the lounge, only adding to the rumor mill, as the staff knew who was contained within the room, but the stories changed as the noticed a security guard being allowed to enter the room.
Mark pulled up two chairs from the table and set them in front of the couch, one placed in front of Carter and the other in front of Lucy. The guard sat in front of Carter and Mark took the remaining seat.
The guard took out a pad of paper and a pen preparing to write and incident report. He looked at Carter who returned his gaze. "Dr. Carter," he began "can you explain to me what occurred here earlier?" Carter was silent for a moment as he formulated his words. He coughed lightly as he cleared his throat, but when he spoke his voice remained hoarse. "I walked into the lounge, and saw Lucy asleep on the couch. I saw a figure standing over her; he looked like he was smelling her hair or something, I'm not sure. Well, I just ran at him and we hit the lockers.": he paused looking at the lockers beside him as if seeing it happen. "Lucy woke up and I tried to control the man, but he pushed me to the ground and ran out of the room." Carter looked at Lucy then down towards the guard's hand writing down the event. Carter's head was pounding in rhythm with his back, but he suppressed the erg to rub his head in hopes of soothing it. Mark noticed how tense Carter looked and looked between the people in the room wondering if they noticed as well. The guard finished writing and excused himself after Carter was unable to offer more information. He placed his chair by the table and exited the room; curious eyes met him as he walked towards the elevator.
"Carter?" Mark inquired, "Why don't you go home, Lucy you should go too. Get some rest and don't worry about tomorrow, we will call you if we need you guys." Mark stood up and was leaving to avoid an argument. "Thanks" Carter said simply as he looked towards Mark, who smiled then continued out of the room. The staff looked at him expecting an explanation, but he told them to return to their work and mind their own business.
Lucy and Carter gathered their stuff and prepared to leave in near silence. Carter gripped his crutches tightly as he struggled to steady himself. Lucy opened the door and guided Carter out. They ignored the questioning eyes and walked out of the hospital into the crisp Chicago air. They walked to Carter's car slowly and Lucy kept a guiding hand on Carter's back. "Can you drive?" Carter asked. "Well yeah, I'm old enough and they gave me this card that says I'm allowed too." Lucy answered making them both laugh. "Fine, will you drive?" Carter restated his previous question. Lucy smiled "sure." They settled into the car and as Lucy was about to start the engine when she noticed Carter seemed to be staring at her, she looked at him and smiled. "Sorry," Carter said looking away. Lucy took his hand "don't be" Carter looked up into her waiting eyes. They were silent as they stared into each other's eyes. Carter smiled and leaned in towards Lucy, he kissed her and she kissed him back. They pulled away reluctantly and looked away towards the front of the car. Lucy bit her lower lip and started the car. She looked back at Carter who was now looking at her again, they both moved towards each other and fell into a more passionate kiss. Time seemed endless in that moment and they were alone together in their own world. Once again they separated, but they were more comfortable this time, Lucy smiled "Well you know with that bump on your head you probably shouldn't be left alone." Carter couldn't help but smile and agree. The car pulled out of the garage and made it's way down the street with blissful silence and understanding.
Note – Hope it was worth the wait. Sorry about that again. Thanks to all of the reviewers and readers again you are all so great that you deserve rewards for sticking with me through this. I hope to have the next update written and uploaded soon, hopefully by this weekend.