Danger Lurks in the Shadows
Again, R/R please. Thanks! And no flames please.
Disclaimer: I'd love to, but no, I don't own ER. What I do own though, are some original characters I used in this story.
Note: Sentences placed within '.....' are the character's thoughts.
****************************** Chapter One: That Strange Feeling
John Carter briskly walks through the halls of the er. He stopped in front of the lounge, popping his head in for a peek. Inside, he found Malik and Haleh sharing a hearty laugh.
"Oh hey, Dr. Carter," Malik greeted cheerfully in between chuckles.
"Is there a new trauma coming?" Haleh asked as she turned around to face the doctor.
"Uh, no" he answered distractedly as he quickly scanned the room.
Malik cocked an eyebrow. "Looking for something?"
"Probably someone," Haleh muttered under her breath as she rolled her eyes.
"Yes," Carter finally conceded. "Have you seen Abby?" He asked, finally focusing his full attention to the two nurse in front of him.
"Try exam three," Haleh answered, smirking.
"Okay, thanks." In a split second, he was out of the room. Malik and Haleh shot knowing glances at each other.
******************
"So, when will I meet this new boyfriend of yours?" Abby asked giddily. "Is he cute?"
Susan just rolled her eyes. "He's not a new boyfriend," she clarified. "He's more of a casual date, really."
"Yeah, right. Susan, you dated him three times already. I'd say that it is clearly not a casual date and that it clearly violates the second date rule."
"Fine, call it whatever you want," Susan answered with a laugh as she walked over to the window. "Speaking of date," she started as she noticed Carter making his way towards them. "I'd say you're about to have one right now."
"What?" Abby asked, confused.
"I think your lover boy is about to drag into one of those cheap dates, seeing as how he's zoomed in on this place like a man on a mission." Abby, who was seated on the bed, craned her neck and peeked on the window, and true enough, she could see John walking towards them. Suddenly conscious of her appearance, she began to straighten out her shirt and combed her hands through her hair.
"Thank god it's a slow night, huh?" Susan turned around to see Abby fixing herself up. "Don't worry Abby," she said with a laugh, prompting Abby to pause and blush with embarrassment. "He's not looking too good himself." She joked. She turned her attention again outside and spied Carter doing the same thing, causing her to laugh even harder. "What, you two going to the prom or something?"
"Ha ha, very funny, Susan." Abby jumped out of the bed to smooth over her wrinkled pants.
'Fine, fine," Susan said holding her hands up. She made her way towards the bed, taking a seat. "Wake me up when you come back."
Just then, Carter entered the room. "Hey, Abby," he greeted warmly. ". . . . . And Susan," he added as he realized the presence of the woman sitting on the bed.
"For second there I thought you forgot my name, Carter." She said in mock seriousness. Carter could only give an embarrassed smile.
"Don't mind her; she hasn't got any sleep yet."
"Right, so why don't you two get on with your business then, so I could get some goodnight sleep." She said as she lay down on the bed and turned her back towards them. She pretended to sleep as she tried to listen to the two.
Carter turned towards Abby, getting her full attention. "I'm having my break," Carter finally told Abby. "Want to go Doc Magoo's and have some coffee and pie?"
Abby looked hesitantly at him for a second. "I just took my break an hour ago. I don't think Weaver's gonna be happy about that."
"Nah. It's okay. Today's one of those unusually slow night, so I don't think she'll mind."
There was a pregnant pause. Abby is still looking doubtfully at Carter.
"Just go, Abby," Susan finally said, her back still turned towards the two.
Carter had an amused look on his face. "I thought she was sleeping," he said as he glanced over Abby's shoulder to take a look.
Abby shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Fine, let me get my coat," Abby finally agreed as she tuck her hand in her pocket. Carter gave her a big smile. "Just so you know," Abby called out before exiting the room with Carter. "I'm telling Weaver that this was all your idea, in case she found out."
Susan just waved her hand, not bothering to look up. "Have a good time!"
*************
A man was walking briskly towards the payphone, visibly shivering at the cold weather. He has pale blue eyes, and underneath the hat, sandy blond locks can be seen sticking out. He was tall, about six feet, and well built. 'Damn Chicago weather!' He shoved his hands deeper into his pockets. When he reached the payphone, he fished out some coins in his pocket and dialed a number. In two rings, his call was picked up.
"It's me," he said before the person on the other line could answer.
"What's taking you so long?" came the impatient response from the other end.
"I just got sidetracked. I'm here in Chicago right now. I think I'm being followed."
"Just get that package in here as soon as possible. Don't let them get their hands on it." Then the man from the other end hung up.
He sighed, hanging up as well. He squinted his pale blue eyes at his surroundings, looking for anything suspicious. He tapped something inside his jacket pocket, as if making sure that it was still there. Once again, he looked up at his surroundings, and glanced down on his watch. Fifteen minutes to one am, it read. 'Might as well get something to eat.' Up ahead, the Doc Magoo's sign glared at him. He trudges towards the building. As he passed by a dark alley, a dark figure emerged from the shadows and blocked his path.
"Hey man, nice watch," the man said, taking a look at his watch. He was bald, and he dressed in a leather jacket, unbothered by the cold weather.
He brushes him off. "Get lost," he answered angrily. He tried to pass by, but this time, the man shoved him hard.
"I want it," he said, looking at him menacingly. "Give me the watch," he commanded. He took out a knife and showed it to him.
'Shit, not now!' He looked at him with contempt. He brushed his hands again in his pockets, making sure that the package was secured. However, the other man took notice of this.
"What have you got in there, buddy?"
"None of your business." He quickly jumped on the man, who was taken by surprise. He lunged for the knife and tried to wrestle it out of the bald man's hands. Unfortunately, the bald man has a strong grip, giving him a hard time. Just as he was slowly gaining control, the man punched him in the face. He staggered backwards, reeling from the blow. Seeing his chance, the man tried to plunge the knife into his chest. He was not quick enough, and the man managed to thrust the knife into his body. Fortunately, the man had a bad aiming and got only his arm. He held his arm as blood began oozing out if the wound. He was starting to feel a little lightheaded.
"Now, back to the watch," the man said darkly, slowly advancing on him. "I want it."
Unbeknownst to them, two figures had just got out of the diner and saw them, and were now running towards them. "Hey!" one of them called out. The bald man couldn't hide his panicked expression. Within a split second, he bolted back towards the dark alley.
As he sat there on the pavement, he squinted his eyes once more, trying to see the two figures running towards him. It was then he realized that one of them was a woman. There was something strange about the woman. He once again squinted, straining to maintain his vision, which was blurring fast. He felt a feeling of familiarity and in a matter of seconds, images of the past came flooding back, realization hitting him.
"Abby. . . .?" he whispered, as the blackness began to eat his vision away.
************
Carter and Abby walked out of Doc Magoo's in a fit of laughter. Carter's arm was casually wrapped around Abby's waist.
"Susan actually said that?!" Carter asked incredulously with a laugh.
"Uh huh," Abby affirmed, barely managing to contain her laughter. "You should have seen the guy's face!" Carter was shaking his head in amusement. He then playfully pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her.
Abby managed a giggle. "Great John, right here outside." She reprimanded him playfully. "Right where everybody could. . . . . John. " Abby's tone quickly turned serious. Carter glanced at her, and then to the direction she was looking at. In the distance, he saw a man attacked another with a knife.
Adrenaline pumped into his body. "Stay here," he ordered her. He sprinted towards the two men. However, Abby totally ignored him and ran after him.
"Hey!" he called out as the other man was preparing to attack again. He tensed at the sight of the knife, remembering his own experience with it.
As Abby neared the stabbed man, a strange feeling started gnawing at her guts. However, she pushed it at the back of her mind as she and Carter attend to the wounded man.
"Let's get him to the er." Carter said as she reached his side. They both tried to stop the bleeding of the man's wound.
"Abby," Carter said as they work on the bleeding. "Run up to the er and get a gurney in here. We can't carry him with just the two of us."
"No." Abby protested. Carter was about to say something but Abby cut her off. "We should move him at least over there," pointing to the streetlight in front of Doc Magoo's. "That man might come back, John," she added softly. He looked up and met her eyes, silently pleading.
Carter nodded, finally conceding. "As soon as we reach there, go run to the er as fast as you can. Okay, ready, one, two three." They both got hold his torso, dragging him towards the light. As soon as they reached it, Abby wasted no moment before taking off.
As she ran towards the er, the old feeling resurfaced again, this time, however, she was sure what it was. It was a feeling of familiarity. 'Just who the hell is that man?'
***********************
That's the first chapter. Hope you like it. Please, tell me what you think. Should I continue this story? Please tell me. Thanks. ^_^
Again, R/R please. Thanks! And no flames please.
Disclaimer: I'd love to, but no, I don't own ER. What I do own though, are some original characters I used in this story.
Note: Sentences placed within '.....' are the character's thoughts.
****************************** Chapter One: That Strange Feeling
John Carter briskly walks through the halls of the er. He stopped in front of the lounge, popping his head in for a peek. Inside, he found Malik and Haleh sharing a hearty laugh.
"Oh hey, Dr. Carter," Malik greeted cheerfully in between chuckles.
"Is there a new trauma coming?" Haleh asked as she turned around to face the doctor.
"Uh, no" he answered distractedly as he quickly scanned the room.
Malik cocked an eyebrow. "Looking for something?"
"Probably someone," Haleh muttered under her breath as she rolled her eyes.
"Yes," Carter finally conceded. "Have you seen Abby?" He asked, finally focusing his full attention to the two nurse in front of him.
"Try exam three," Haleh answered, smirking.
"Okay, thanks." In a split second, he was out of the room. Malik and Haleh shot knowing glances at each other.
******************
"So, when will I meet this new boyfriend of yours?" Abby asked giddily. "Is he cute?"
Susan just rolled her eyes. "He's not a new boyfriend," she clarified. "He's more of a casual date, really."
"Yeah, right. Susan, you dated him three times already. I'd say that it is clearly not a casual date and that it clearly violates the second date rule."
"Fine, call it whatever you want," Susan answered with a laugh as she walked over to the window. "Speaking of date," she started as she noticed Carter making his way towards them. "I'd say you're about to have one right now."
"What?" Abby asked, confused.
"I think your lover boy is about to drag into one of those cheap dates, seeing as how he's zoomed in on this place like a man on a mission." Abby, who was seated on the bed, craned her neck and peeked on the window, and true enough, she could see John walking towards them. Suddenly conscious of her appearance, she began to straighten out her shirt and combed her hands through her hair.
"Thank god it's a slow night, huh?" Susan turned around to see Abby fixing herself up. "Don't worry Abby," she said with a laugh, prompting Abby to pause and blush with embarrassment. "He's not looking too good himself." She joked. She turned her attention again outside and spied Carter doing the same thing, causing her to laugh even harder. "What, you two going to the prom or something?"
"Ha ha, very funny, Susan." Abby jumped out of the bed to smooth over her wrinkled pants.
'Fine, fine," Susan said holding her hands up. She made her way towards the bed, taking a seat. "Wake me up when you come back."
Just then, Carter entered the room. "Hey, Abby," he greeted warmly. ". . . . . And Susan," he added as he realized the presence of the woman sitting on the bed.
"For second there I thought you forgot my name, Carter." She said in mock seriousness. Carter could only give an embarrassed smile.
"Don't mind her; she hasn't got any sleep yet."
"Right, so why don't you two get on with your business then, so I could get some goodnight sleep." She said as she lay down on the bed and turned her back towards them. She pretended to sleep as she tried to listen to the two.
Carter turned towards Abby, getting her full attention. "I'm having my break," Carter finally told Abby. "Want to go Doc Magoo's and have some coffee and pie?"
Abby looked hesitantly at him for a second. "I just took my break an hour ago. I don't think Weaver's gonna be happy about that."
"Nah. It's okay. Today's one of those unusually slow night, so I don't think she'll mind."
There was a pregnant pause. Abby is still looking doubtfully at Carter.
"Just go, Abby," Susan finally said, her back still turned towards the two.
Carter had an amused look on his face. "I thought she was sleeping," he said as he glanced over Abby's shoulder to take a look.
Abby shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Fine, let me get my coat," Abby finally agreed as she tuck her hand in her pocket. Carter gave her a big smile. "Just so you know," Abby called out before exiting the room with Carter. "I'm telling Weaver that this was all your idea, in case she found out."
Susan just waved her hand, not bothering to look up. "Have a good time!"
*************
A man was walking briskly towards the payphone, visibly shivering at the cold weather. He has pale blue eyes, and underneath the hat, sandy blond locks can be seen sticking out. He was tall, about six feet, and well built. 'Damn Chicago weather!' He shoved his hands deeper into his pockets. When he reached the payphone, he fished out some coins in his pocket and dialed a number. In two rings, his call was picked up.
"It's me," he said before the person on the other line could answer.
"What's taking you so long?" came the impatient response from the other end.
"I just got sidetracked. I'm here in Chicago right now. I think I'm being followed."
"Just get that package in here as soon as possible. Don't let them get their hands on it." Then the man from the other end hung up.
He sighed, hanging up as well. He squinted his pale blue eyes at his surroundings, looking for anything suspicious. He tapped something inside his jacket pocket, as if making sure that it was still there. Once again, he looked up at his surroundings, and glanced down on his watch. Fifteen minutes to one am, it read. 'Might as well get something to eat.' Up ahead, the Doc Magoo's sign glared at him. He trudges towards the building. As he passed by a dark alley, a dark figure emerged from the shadows and blocked his path.
"Hey man, nice watch," the man said, taking a look at his watch. He was bald, and he dressed in a leather jacket, unbothered by the cold weather.
He brushes him off. "Get lost," he answered angrily. He tried to pass by, but this time, the man shoved him hard.
"I want it," he said, looking at him menacingly. "Give me the watch," he commanded. He took out a knife and showed it to him.
'Shit, not now!' He looked at him with contempt. He brushed his hands again in his pockets, making sure that the package was secured. However, the other man took notice of this.
"What have you got in there, buddy?"
"None of your business." He quickly jumped on the man, who was taken by surprise. He lunged for the knife and tried to wrestle it out of the bald man's hands. Unfortunately, the bald man has a strong grip, giving him a hard time. Just as he was slowly gaining control, the man punched him in the face. He staggered backwards, reeling from the blow. Seeing his chance, the man tried to plunge the knife into his chest. He was not quick enough, and the man managed to thrust the knife into his body. Fortunately, the man had a bad aiming and got only his arm. He held his arm as blood began oozing out if the wound. He was starting to feel a little lightheaded.
"Now, back to the watch," the man said darkly, slowly advancing on him. "I want it."
Unbeknownst to them, two figures had just got out of the diner and saw them, and were now running towards them. "Hey!" one of them called out. The bald man couldn't hide his panicked expression. Within a split second, he bolted back towards the dark alley.
As he sat there on the pavement, he squinted his eyes once more, trying to see the two figures running towards him. It was then he realized that one of them was a woman. There was something strange about the woman. He once again squinted, straining to maintain his vision, which was blurring fast. He felt a feeling of familiarity and in a matter of seconds, images of the past came flooding back, realization hitting him.
"Abby. . . .?" he whispered, as the blackness began to eat his vision away.
************
Carter and Abby walked out of Doc Magoo's in a fit of laughter. Carter's arm was casually wrapped around Abby's waist.
"Susan actually said that?!" Carter asked incredulously with a laugh.
"Uh huh," Abby affirmed, barely managing to contain her laughter. "You should have seen the guy's face!" Carter was shaking his head in amusement. He then playfully pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her.
Abby managed a giggle. "Great John, right here outside." She reprimanded him playfully. "Right where everybody could. . . . . John. " Abby's tone quickly turned serious. Carter glanced at her, and then to the direction she was looking at. In the distance, he saw a man attacked another with a knife.
Adrenaline pumped into his body. "Stay here," he ordered her. He sprinted towards the two men. However, Abby totally ignored him and ran after him.
"Hey!" he called out as the other man was preparing to attack again. He tensed at the sight of the knife, remembering his own experience with it.
As Abby neared the stabbed man, a strange feeling started gnawing at her guts. However, she pushed it at the back of her mind as she and Carter attend to the wounded man.
"Let's get him to the er." Carter said as she reached his side. They both tried to stop the bleeding of the man's wound.
"Abby," Carter said as they work on the bleeding. "Run up to the er and get a gurney in here. We can't carry him with just the two of us."
"No." Abby protested. Carter was about to say something but Abby cut her off. "We should move him at least over there," pointing to the streetlight in front of Doc Magoo's. "That man might come back, John," she added softly. He looked up and met her eyes, silently pleading.
Carter nodded, finally conceding. "As soon as we reach there, go run to the er as fast as you can. Okay, ready, one, two three." They both got hold his torso, dragging him towards the light. As soon as they reached it, Abby wasted no moment before taking off.
As she ran towards the er, the old feeling resurfaced again, this time, however, she was sure what it was. It was a feeling of familiarity. 'Just who the hell is that man?'
***********************
That's the first chapter. Hope you like it. Please, tell me what you think. Should I continue this story? Please tell me. Thanks. ^_^