Only time
Disclaimer : Sorry I forgot before, I own none of the ER characters or anything to do with ER, only the characters I have brought to life with my insane imagination he he.
So here's the next chapter, I promise it will start moving a bit quicker after this one. I don't know what you think bout me bringing in Chase but if you like it, I'll keep him in, I think he could become a good source for Carby angst. Ok so I hope you enjoy, and please read an review. Thank-you.
Only time
Nice to meet you
He woke to the familiar sound of his alarm clock.. He rubbed his tired eyes and dragged himself out of bed. He followed his normal routine. He went for a jog around the campus before returning, showering, having breakfast and then brushing his teeth. He started work for seven thirty. The small chemist on Ninth Avenue had a oversized green cross painted on the window, and a green light above the door which read 'Pharmacist', the 'r' had never lit properly just flickered like a fly trap. He waited outside for to open the door. He was an old man, mid sixties was his guess. Their relationship was friendly but work based only, he knew nothing about private life and likewise about John. His hair was black with grey streaks, and his eyebrows where completely grey. He was a short man and John seemed to tower above him. He would work until half two when the chemist closed and he'd go for his usually hot chocolate in 'Delia's'.
He pushed the door and walked in, Giovanna smiled broadly at him, it was busy which was nothing unusual. He spotted Nick as he walked in. Nick Carson was a fourth year medical student, he tutored John as part of his fourth year. Next year he would begin his internship. He always seemed a down-to-earth guy, he had short blonde hair and pale blue eyes, which where hidden under a pair of stylish reading glasses. They greeted each other before Carter went to order his hot chocolate.
'You seem busy', with a cheeky grin he managed to make her stressed face break into a smile.
'Oh no we not just busy John, we too busy', Giovanna exclaimed, 'But I have new worker today'.
'Really?' John cocked his head to the side to emphasize it was a question.
'Si, si.', she looked into the back where a simple table was placed, 'Abigail'.
A young woman approached from the back. Her skin had a deep tan which glistened, and beautiful brown coloured eyes. Her hair was wavy and a deep brunette colour . She was a petite build, short but very slender. She wore a flowing white shirt and fitted jeans. She didn't just have obvious beauty but also had a profound unknown element which excited John.
'This is Abigail Maj..Maj'.
'Abigail Marjorie Wyczenski', she took over from Giovanna and extended her arm towards him, he shook her hand and smiled, 'But I hate Abigail so Abby's good'.
'Nice to meet you, John Carter, everyone calls me Carter'.
'What can I get you?' his mind raced with a million question, all of which where inappropriate when she asked this question.
'John has cioccolata calda ,his favourite drink', she beamed pleased with how much she knew about him.
Giovanna continued to ask questions, mainly about Jessie and if he'd heard from her, he pretended he hadn't. He eventually made his way to the only empty booth in the café. It lay in front of the large bay window, he peered out deep in thought. Work had been a nightmare, most of his morning was spent cleaning the mess a destructive guide dog had caused, and the afternoon looking for a missing pair of glasses, which after almost two hours the lady found in her purse. Chase's offer to ditch the Carter annual foundation ball seemed more and more appealing with every minute that past, an then again he knew how every 'meeting' with Chase ended.
It had been a year ago yesterday, they clambered through the shrubbery that edged the extensive gardens. The garden backed onto the deep Maple Grove County forest, where Chase had organised for some of his acquaintances to meet them. Three hours later they appeared to be in a derelict house, Chase said he often squatted here with the others. The walls where partially covered with dazzling floral wall paper, the cracks terribly hidden and the damp seeped through leaving vast yellow stains, his eyes settled on the three people sat on the floor. One seemed about his age, his hair reached his shoulders and cascaded down his ghostly white skin, his build seemed scrawny. A cigarette lay off centre within his lips, the constant smouldering smell was unmistakable. Next sat a man on the verge of middle age, although blatantly denying it, stubble marked its territory and the remainder of his face was shadowed by the large cowboy hat perched on his head. He was shocked at the next person, a young woman, certainly younger than him. Her hair dyed a manufactured black with obvious blonde roots bleeding through, her bones visibly protruding her skin under her outsized clothes, and the worst bit was the distressing false smile that overwhelmed her lips. That night was the first time Chase had ever taken hard-core drugs, and John realised the young woman, inappropriately named Aelan, which was a Hawaiian name meaning flower, was far from a flower, every other word that left the depth of her malicious mouth was vulgar and explicit. John left minutes after arrival, leaving behind three stoned and one unconscious. Being a doctor in training it was hard to leave a situation like that, but he knew better than to try helping four people who obviously hated being helped. Even the ball seemed bliss compared to another evening like last year, he was wrenched out of his archive at the mellow voice of Abigail.
'One hot chocolate', she smiled affectionately.
'Thank-you', he beamed back, 'Busy first day?'
'Wasn't what I expected, Giovanna tells me you use to work here?' she lowered herself to the chair opposite John.
'Yeah in my first year, she's lovely you know', John gestured towards Giovanna.
'She is. Where are you studying?' he gathered she was just being polite, Giovanna had probably told her all about his woman trouble the night before.
'Third year at Feinberg, you know the medical school', her eyes lit up.
'Really? I'm a second year', she looked shocked.
As they continued to talk, it became clear a new friendship had been born, although feeble and unsure at present it would surely blossom. John eventually excused himself, explaining he had a family gathering to attend. She beamed as she said how great it was to meet him, he promised to meet up with her the following week to help her with molecular biology, after she exclaimed she failed her midterm and had to re sit. Whilst walking through the door, he smiled. She was truly a genuine person.
He scrambled through the bathroom cupboards searching for his shaver, after finding it, he endured another frantic fumble to find cologne. He hated wearing cologne, it made him feel he was turning into his father, but it made Gamma happy so it was routine to spray a small smidgen every time he went round. He emerged from the minute bathroom, pruned to perfection. A pressed tuxedo, not one hair out of place, cleanly shaven and shoes you could take a glimpse of your appearance in. As he made his way across campus towards his awaiting car he spotted her, out of the corner of his eye , laughing with a large group of girls, beautiful was not a worthy word to describe her. She must have seen him, because her hand extended and she waved. How he hadn't seen her on Campus before he didn't know. He desperately wanted to ask her to accompany him to the ball, but after only meeting her some few hours ago, it seemed inappropriate. So he continued to walk to the awaiting chauffeured car.