The car pulled up outside Amy's apartment buliding, Carter turned to her,
"You want me to come up with you? Get you settled?"
"No, I'm fine, really." She replied, managing a faint smile. She got out of his car and slammed the door behind her. She fumbled in her bag for her keys and let herself in. Maggie met her at the door,
"Amy, where have you been! You could've called me! I've worked about $300 dollars worth of overtime here because you decided you didn't want to come home! I couldn't even call the hospital because you told me never to do that! I want an explanation!" The other woman folded her arms and looked at the young girl with more than faint distaste.
"Maggie, I am so sorry, I was sick, I had to stay in. I swear it won't happen again."
"It had better not do, or you can find yourself another carer!"
"How's Paul?" Amy asked meekly.
"He's upset, naturally."
Amy walked through to her brother's bedroom. Paul was sat in his wheelchair, his eyes glued to the television. Amy smiled to herself, he looked okay.
"Hey Paul," she walked over and knelt down beside the chair, he didn't look at her, "Hey, I'm sorry buddy, I didn't mean to leave you." She looked into his deep brown sorrowful eyes, he merely blinked and turned away. She took a tissue out of her bag and wiped the dribble off his chin. Maggie stood in the doorway, arms folded.
"As I've been here for nearly three days, can I go home and get some rest, please?"
"Sure, and Maggie I'm so sorry, I promise this will not happen again."
"My payment please!"
"Can I give you that tomorrow? I haven't been to an ATM." Amy replied.
Maggie simply gave a nod, "By the way, Amy, Burger Company have been on the phone, they've been wondering where you've been."
"Oh shit! I've got a shift tonight, Maggie could you..."
"Absolutely not! You've got yourself into this mess Miss Howard, you must sort it out!"
"But how do you expect me to pay you if I lose my job!"
"You must figure that one out!" Maggie replied and with that, she turned on her heel and left the apartment. Amy buried her face in her hands and wept.
As Amy walked through the doors of the ER three days later, she was greeted by Ray.
"Hey, I heard you were coming back today, how are you feeling?" He asked, a look of concern flashed across his eyes.
"Pretty good thanks." Amy looked tired, the past few days she'd worked double shifts in the fast food restaurant to pay Maggie for her overtime.
"You sure, you still look a bit rough."
"I'm fine, really." She grabbed her hair from round her face and pulled it back into a loose pony tail, revealing dark bags under her eyes. Ray looked worried, but said nothing. He took a chart from the rack and walked off to exam 3. Amy sighed and turned to see a beaming Lotte.
"Hey stranger!" She squealed, embracing her friend tightly. "You will never guess what!" the brunette beamed.
"Surprise me." Amy replied flatly. Lotte ignored her friend's blatant lack of interest.
"Peter Gregson asked me out! He's such a dish!" she laughed.
Amy smiled, "That's great Lotte, where're you going?"
"He's taking me for a romantic meal tonight. But that's not all!" Lotte looked at her friend waiting for a response. Amy sighed,
"What else?"
"Roy Kenneth and Ray Barnett have both been persistently asking after you! I think you've got admirers!"
"That's nice." Amy took a chart from the rack and walked past Lotte.
"I tell you HUGE news, and all you can say is 'that's nice'? Don't you care that two really hot men like you?"
"Not particularly."
The day passed quite uneventfully, much to Amy's relief. As her shift drew to an end, Ray caught up with her.
"How was your first day back?"
"Oh you know, coughs, headaches, cuts and bruises, pretty much the usual."
"You sound like you've been here as long as me!" He laughed, looking again into her tired eyes, a hint of concern still present in his own.
"I feel like it!" She replied with a giggle.
"So, how do you fancy chilling out with me tonight? We could go for something to eat, or to see a movie? You, er, you look like you could use a break." Ray said, hopefully.
"Oh Ray, I would love to, believe me I would, but I have other commitments."
"Sorry, you have a boyfriend already, right?"
"No, I just have stuff to do."
"Can't this stuff wait, just for tonight?"
"Not really, I'm sorry."
Amy bent her head low and headed to the lounge to collect her things and headed out for another shift at Burger Company.
"Hello, can I take your order please?" Amy smiled at her fiftieth customer that evening. Her shifts always dragged in the fast food restaurant, and tonight she was stood in a freezing cold drive through booth and there were no fleece jumpers left, so she stood there in nothing but a thin cotton t-shirt protecting her from the cold night air.
As the car left her window, another one pulled up. 'Oh crap!' she thought, she pulled her cap as far over her eyes as she could and endeavoured not to make eye contact with the driver of the car.
"Can I take your order please?"
"Yeah, I'll have large fries and and diet coke, please, and," the driver turned to face the waitress, "Amy!" he exclaimed.
"Hi Ray." Amy replied sheepishly.
"Amy, what are you doing here after a full day at the hospital, you've got an early shift tomorrow, you should be resting! This is why you couldn't come out with me?"
"Ray don't. I need the money."
"Why? Isn't the student loan enough, your parents?"
"It's a long story, Ray, please just leave it and please don't tell anyone about this."
Ray looked at the young woman, her eyes were searching him pleadingly.
"What time does your shift finish?"
"1 am."
"That's about 3 hours from now, I'll pick you up and we can talk."
Amy had no choice but to nod in agreement.
Ray had been waiting outside for nearly 3 and half hours before he finally saw Amy leave the store. She walked up to his car and he opened the door for her.
"Jeez Amy, you look exhausted!"
Amy flooped into the seat next to him.
"Come on, spill."
"I can't, you wouldn't understand." she replied.
"Try me."
"Okay, I'll show you, but on one condition."
"Go on," he said, slowly.
"Don't tell anyone at the hospital about this, you have to promise me."
"Okay, I promise."
Ray started his car and drove out of the restaurant car park. It wasn't long before he pulled up outside Amy's apartment. He switched his engine off and turned to the young woman in his passenger seat. He noticed how beautiful she was, with her long golden hair and giant eyes.
"Okay, we're here, now tell me what's going on."
"You'd better come inside."
Ray followed Amy into her apartment building. It was more run down than his building and it smelt of damp. The grey wallpaper was peeling of the walls in places and the carpet beneath their feet was worn bare and had become a mouldy brown colour. He followed the younger woman as she led him to her apartment and unlocked the door which then opened with a loud creak. Her apartment was cleaner than the building, although the wallpaper was still grey and peeling the apartment had a cheerful atmosphere and Amy had decorated her windowsill with flowers, had placed pictures on the wall and the rooms had a scent of disinfectant. Amy offered her companion a seat on the sofa and a drink, but Ray politely declined.
"What is it you wanted to show me?"
"Hang on a second."
Amy walked through to Paul's bedroom where Maggie was cleaning up aroundher sleeping brother. Maggie stopped what she was doing and wordlessly left the apartment, but not before taking her pay off Amy. Amy went back through to her living room,
"You can come through now, if you like?"
Ray got up and followed her to Paul's bedroom.
"This is my brother, I have to take care of him and it doesn't come cheap."
Ray looked at the young man asleep on the bed and realisation dawned as he glanced round the room and saw the wheelchair, hoist and other general equipment for his care. A wave of pity for Amy wahed over him.
"What about your parents, don't they help?"
Amy led Ray back through to the living room.
"My parents are dead, they died about six years ago, that's how Paul became, you know." Amy took a deep breath as Ray watched her intently. "There was a car accident, they were driving Paul to college for his first day, he got into Harvard. They were so proud and in such a rush to get there. Their car hit some water at high speed and they just lost control. Mom died instantly, Dad died a little later on and Paul suffered severe brain damage."
"What about you?"
"I wasn't there, luckily. But I've had to care for Paul ever since." Amy swallowed as her voice cracked, but she still continued, "I was only 16 at the time, but I worked hard, 2 jobs cash in hand until I graduated from high school. Then I started my medical degree. It hasn't been easy, but it will be worth it when I'm finally earning enough to care for Paul properly, I don't think much of his carer right now, but she's all I can afford."
Ray nodded silently, he felt a great pity for the young woman, but he also admired her courage and strength. Most people would have given up in such situations and would certainly not have become doctors. Ray silently vowed to help Amy as much as he possibly could.