Hey everyone, here's the next chapter. I'm sorry it took so long. High school keeps you busy. I'm sorry if the medical stuff makes no sense. I'm not a doctor and will never be one. Rocketlover, I put Romano in just for you. I hope you like it.

Chapter 5

The two doctors returned to County the next day. Both found it difficult to shake Susan from their minds, but they knew that hiding in their apartments would do little to nurse her back to health. But both were nervous about working in the same hospital. The tension was still very thick.

As the two made their way into the ER that morning, fellow employees seemed to sense the hostility that existed. Few words were passed between the two. When they were forced to work in the same room, they avoided eye contact and kept their conversations completely professional.

But even professional talk seemed to cause tension between the two doctors. Carter turned crimson at the mention of Mark's name. Mark would change the subject at the mention of John's name. They tried to act as if the other ceased to exist.

"John, Mark, we need you out here. Three GSWs. There was a gang fight!" Chuny bellowed from down the hall. The two men left what they had been doing and rushed to trauma 1. They glared quickly at each other as they entered the room. "Chuny, what are the stats?" Carter inquired as he made his way to the side of one of the gurneys. Mark listened as he came up behind. "I think his spleen ruptured. Let's get him up to the OR."

"No, it couldn't have. The bullet couldn't have gone in that deep. Look at the wound!"

"Mark, he's bleeding out badly. The bullet went in pretty far!"

"I don't think we need to take such drastic measures! Let's get an x-ray."

"No, we need to get him upstairs!"

"Do you have to object to everything I say?"

"Well yeah, when you're wrong!"

"Doctors, get a hold of yourself! Get out of my way, I'm taking over." Romano pushed in front and took over yelling instruction to the nurses.

Carter and Mark coward out of the room and occupied themselves in various tasks. Mark felt childish for his actions. Carter was probably right. He just couldn't seem to contain himself anymore. He wanted to strangle him. He wanted to make him feel everything that Susan was feeling.

At the end of his shift, he quickly went to the lounge. As many other ER docs, he generally was caught up in his work and didn't leave until much later then he was supposed to, but today he just needed out. As he entered the lounge Romano was in the corner. He walked quietly to his locker, not wanting to provoke another confrontation with Robert.

"So Dr. Green, are you going to mope around the ER from now on trying to get everyone to feel sorry for you because you and little Jonnie got into an argument and now you'll never get the girl you love?"

"Shut up, Robert," Mark mumbled under his breath.

"Oh come on Mark, we all know you love her. We've always known it. When she first left, I thought little Mark would die. But then she came back and I saw just how gosh darn giddy you were."

"Shut the hell up, Romano, I'm out of here." Mark slammed the door to his locker shut.

"Wait Green, cut the crap. I'm sorry, ok? I know exactly how you feel. Do you think I don't know how it feels to love a woman so much, but she never seems to get it? Do you know how pissed I was when Lizzie went out with Benton? I know how you feel!"

"Thanks Robert. I guess I never thought about that. But what am I supposed to do?"

"Fight like hell. She still has a chance. When she wakes up, you better sure as hell be there. You be the one who is there for her, not Carter."

"But how am I supposed to compete with Carter? I've been trying for years. She doesn't seem to care."

"She cares. Why do you think she came back, idiot? She had nothing in Arizona, but she did have something here. Hey, take it from one lonely man to another, fight like hell Mark for the girl you love. I know I have. I have been for years. I don't know if I'll ever get the one I love, but someone might as well."

"Thanks, Robert."

"Hey, I figure I might as well say something nice once every year or so. But it's over now, so get out of my face idiot!"

"Bye Robert." Mark exited the lounge.