Chapter 12

Carter was fed up.

It had been 2 weeks in the hospital, well 3 weeks if you count the first week he had been unconscious, and Carter was getting fed up.

The first week he had been cooped up in the ICU, in the hospital bed unable to get up. Because of his concussion, and pneumonia, Mark, and Doug, and Peter were too scared of him getting worse to even let him get help. His broken leg probably didn't help matters. It was like being on house arrest, and he hated it.

Carter knew they were trying to help, to make sure he was ok. And he got that, he knew he needed time to heal. But he needed to get out for a bit or he was going to go crazy. And he really missed being a doctor, and treating people. Being up the ICU was boring. When Mark, Doug and Peter were working he had no one to talk to. Some of the others stopped by like Carol or Jerry, but only briefly. Most of the time he was on his own. It really sucked, especially when Christmas was just next week. It wasn't that he wanted to celebrate Christmas, because he absolutely did not. But it just brought up too many bad memories and it was just another reminder his family didn't care about him anymore. And he really didn't want to spend Christmas in the hospital with all of them smothering him. He liked to spend Christmas alone, it was better that way.

He was supposed to be getting released over the next few days, if his pneumonia finally cleared, and his concussion eased. He was both looking forward to it and apprehensive, because once he got discharged he was to be staying with Mark. There had been no further discussion, Mark had just stated it was happening.

Carter was terrified. He didn't know Mark that well, and he was boss. Living with him would just be weird. Plus he felt like he was intruding on Mark's life. Especially over Christmas, if Mark's daughter Rachel was to be spending time with him. It felt wrong.

Now though, he was actually able to leave his room for longer at least. It had to be in a wheelchair though, or on his crutches with an escort, and only for like 5 minutes because of his broken leg and concussion. They didn't trust him on his own.

He loved being able to get out the room. But being stuck in the wheelchair or only able to use the crunches for so short a time and only being led on a few laps around the ICU floor by someone sucked. He felt so confined, like he couldn't breath.

All they kept saying to him was that he wasn't supposed to over do it. He got that, but his recovery was going too slow for him. He needed to be back on his feet. And fast. He wasn't weak. He just needed to push himself.

He waited until everyone was supposed to be working before he attempted to do some walking, not wanting anyone to know so they couldn't stop him.

It took some manoeuvring to get out the bed and grab his crutches and unhook himself from all the IV's and leads. But finally he was able to stand on his own without keeling over.

He grimaced at the pain of using his broken hand to hold the crutch, combined with a shooting pain his head and the mistake he made of leaning on his right side.

So Carter took a shallow breath and leant all his weight on his left side, and stumbled and hobbled his way down the hallway. He passed a few people, and got a few looks but no one stopped him. They probably just assumed he had been given permission to walk.

He was making good progress. On his third lap around the ICU floor.

"Carter!"

Busted.

Closing his eyes at Mark's voice, Carter came to a stop, shuffling over to the wall as Mark came over. Just hoping that Mark didn't see how hard his body was shaking. He had no idea that walking was so exhausting now.

"Dr Greene." Carter said as casually as he could when Mark reached him.

"Carter what do you think you're doing?" By the look on Mark's face he wasn't happy.

"Just taking a walk. There's nothing wrong with that. You said I could take walks now."

"Yeah supervised. And only for a few minutes!" Mark retorted rolling his eyes, moving to grab Carter's wrist without asking, and looking at his watch; "You're still injured Carter, you have a broken leg! Not to mention a concussion and your pneumonia hasn't clear up. Plus you could rip your stitches." Satisfied at his pulse, Mark moved to cup Carter's chin to flash a light in his eyes. Carter let him, knowing there as no way of getting out of it otherwise.

"I know." Carter replied dryly; "But I'm perfectly fine. I've walked three laps and I'm fine."

"Three laps!" Mark snapped his head up shocked and pissed; "Dammit Carter! What were you thinking?! You're sweating." Mark narrowed his eyes, and put the back of his hand to Carter's forehead; "And you're a little warm. Are you experiencing any dizziness? Headaches? Fatigue? Nausea?"

"No." Carter snapped, but earned a sharp look from Mark.

"...Ok yes." Carter closed his eyes for a minute tiredly, admittedly his muscles feeling heavier and tired, and his head was starting to throb. And honestly, it was taking everything in him not to throw up. By the second lap, his vision had started to blur and he was sure he had swayed a little on his path, but he had tried to push through it. In a way he was relieved Mark found him.

"Alright that's it." Grabbing Carter's good arm, as if to keep him standing, Mark turned over his shoulder calling out to the nurse's desk; "Can I get a wheelchair please?"

"That's not necessary. My room isn't that far, I can make it back."

"No you won't." Mark then paused as he looked at Carter seeing a thin trail of blood on the front of his hospital gown; "Dammit Carter. You ripped your stitches."

"Oh." Carter murmured as he looked down at himself; "Oops." With then everything spun, and if Mark didn't have a hold on him, he was sure he would have face planted.

When a nurse brought over a wheelchair, Mark manhandled Carter into it, and knelt down in front of him concerned as he handed the crutches to the nurse.

"You ok Carter?"

"I feel strange." Carter mumbled rolling his head to the side scrunching his eyes shut.

Mark's eye widened a little startled at that and quickly pushed him back to his room. Carter knew not to argue, and quite frankly, he didn't have the energy.

When he got back into bed, Carter couldn't deny the heavy sigh that escaped him. Which caused Mark to raise his eyebrow as he hooked Carter back up to the machines.

"You shouldn't have gone out alone Carter. If you wanted a walk I would have gone with you. Or a nurse could have accompanied you."

"I'm just sick and tired of being cooped up in here."

"I know." Nodding in sympathy, Mark pulled on some gloves and lifted Carter's shirt to examine the incision site; "Yep these need to be re-stitched. You need to be more careful Carter. I know you want to get out of here, but being reckless like this will only push back your recovery."

Carter's jaw hardened but he didn't say anything.

Mark got to work re suturing Carter and replacing the bandage. During which Carter said nothing.

"Look Carter, you shouldn't be in here too long now. Your leg and arm are healing, there's no post operative complications and your stiches are healing nicely. When you don't rip them." He paused to listen to Carter's chest, he straightened up placing the stethoscope back around his neck; "And your lungs sound stronger. I think the pneumonia's almost gone. We just need to wait another 24 hours to monitor you for anything else, but then you should be ok to be released. But you can't push yourself Carter. You do, you'll make it worse. You need rest."

"Yeah." Carter relented, but not happily; "What's it like in the ER? Maybe I could come sit down there for a while. In a wheelchair of course." He quickly added.

"That's not happening Carter. We're pretty swamped down there now the snows clearing. You still need to be monitored, and we don't have a bed down there for you."

"Yeah I get it. It's just...boring up here."

Smirking Mark nodded; "Right. Well we'll see what we can do about that."

0o0o0oo0ERo0o0ooo0oo0oo

Carter heard the door open, but continued to stare at the ceiling. Not really caring who it was. He wasn't in the mood for another pep talk.

Then there was a thunk, and it forced Carter to roll his head to the sound.

Doug was pulling a chair over, and spun the bed table over, which held a stack of cards.

Smiling, Doug then started shuffling the cards.

"What's this?" Carter said curiously.

"I was thinking blackjack, but if you'd rather play something else. I'm sure I can whip up a scrabble game from the paed's floor."

It brought a smile to Carter's face, even though he knew Doug was probably only here because Mark spoke to him. Carter appreciated that Doug didn't have to be here, and that meant a lot.

"Blackjack's fine."

"Cool." Doug dealt the cards, and as they played and talked, Carter couldn't help but feel better.

0o0o0o0o0ERo0o0ooo

The ER was chaotic and hectic as usual, patients being wheeled through the halls, doctors and nurses rushing about.

And then a tall well dressed older man in a suit and black hair walked in along with a woman, similar in age, slightly shorter, in a classic black dress and jacket, with a handbag on her arm. They were clearly wealthy just by looking at them.

Jerry raised an eyebrow as they approached the desk.

"Yes?" He asked hesitantly; "Can I help you?"

"Where is John Carter?"

"Um and who are you?"

"His parents."

"Right." Jerry paused blinking and held up a finger; "Just let me get a doctor for you." Rushing away, Jerry headed straight for exam room 2, pushing open the door, peering in as Mark was with a patient.

"What is it Jerry?"

"Um Carter's parents are here."

"What?" Mark snapped his head up, eyes wide, and Jerry just nodded, making a face.

"Ok um excuse me a second." Mark addressed his patient before following Jerry out; "Where are they?"

"At the desk." Jerry led him over, but as soon as they got there, they were gone.

"They were just here."

"Well they're not now. What did you say to them?"

"Nothing. Just that I was getting a doctor to speak to them. I don't know where they went."

"Dammit. Ok page Peter up in the ICU, tell him to give Doug a heads up. He's with Carter at the moment. I'm going to head up there." For one, families weren't really allowed in the ICU, and two, Mark was a little scared why Carter's family was here. He didn't want them to upset Carter, and well Carter may not want to see them either.

0o0o0ooERo0o0o0o0o

"21! Hey well done buddy." Doug praised, going to reshuffle the cards; "I get the impression that you've played this before."

Shrugging, Carter smiled; "Yeah well, travelling all over the world, you pick up a few things." There was a certain edge to Carter's tone, that gave Doug pause, but he knew to let it go.

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside that had both Doug and Carter turning.

"...can't go in there!"

The door flung open, and Doug jumped up as a man and woman entered, chased by Peter.

"Don't tell me what I can't do sonny! You have no idea who I am."

This is a private room, you can't be in here." Doug warned, holding up his hand, no idea who these people were.

"Dad?! Mom?" Carter muttered under his breath, causing Doug to turn to him startled, and Peter stopped; "What are you doing here?"

"We're here to visit our son." His dad said defiantly, looking down at Doug and Peter as if warning them not to try to kick him out.

"Carter..." Doug turned to him, sending him an expression that he could get rid of them if he wanted; "You need to rest."

"It's ok." Carter murmured softly nodding at Doug, and sending Peter a look that he was fine with it.

Doug didn't like it, but he left the room with Peter, just as Mark rushed over.

"Carter's parents..." Mark started.

"They're here." Doug said gesturing into the room, watching as Carter talked to them.

"Oh." Mark frowned, crossing his arms.

"Should I kick them out?" Peter asked, totally willing to do it.

"Carter said it was ok." Doug admitted reluctantly; "Just give them a minute. But stay close by. Just in case."

0o0o0oERo0o0oo0o

"Dad." Carter gulped; "Mom. I thought you were on the cruise."

"We were. But we had to cut it short to come check on you." His dad replied, sweeping his gaze over Carter with a stiff frown; "Is it true you jumped in front of a car and did this to yourself?"

Resisting snapping, Carter took a deep breath; "I saved a kid's life. He would have died if I hadn't."

"Hmmm." His dad murmured, clearly voicing his disapproval.

Meanwhile, his mom just walked over to look out the window.

"Why are you here? I thought I wasn't a Carter anymore."

"Don't take that tone with me young man. You got yourself into this position. We gave you ample opportunity to give up this silly venture and fulfil your duty as part of the family. Now I hear you're homeless and are injured." He scrunched his face up as if smelling something bad; "Do you know how bad this reflects on the family? We have a reputation to uphold. Do you even care about your family? Or just want to do whatever you like?"

"I'm saving lives!" Carter snapped and glared at him; "This isn't a silly venture. This is important work. You help people with the foundation, and I do the same."

"If you want to help people then work for the foundation. It's time to stop this silly nonsense. You've gotten it out of your system. Now your mother and I have had a discussion, and we are willing to accept you back into the family. We'll take you home, help you get better, and you'll come to work with me. It's all been decided."

"You can't be serious." Carter scoffed, smirking like it was a joke, and then glared; "Dad! This is my life and I'm adult! You can't just tell me what to do anymore. I'm not giving up being a doctor, or coming to work for you. You have to accept that."

"How dare you? How can you be so ungrateful? Do you even know what you're throwing away? How much time and money we've invested in you!"

"Is that all I am to you, time and money? You've never cared about me!"

"Don't talk to your father that way." His mom said tiredly; "Now stop arguing and come to your senses John. It's time for you to come home."

"No." Carter snapped instantly, and there was a tense moment of silence.

"No?" His dad repeatedly deathly slow; "This wasn't a suggestion. You're coming home son."

"No I'm not."

His dad smirked wickedly; "And what exactly are you going to instead? Live on the streets?"

"What do you care? I'll manage. I can handle myself."

"Clearly." His dad said sarcastically; "Now we'll transfer you to a private hospital so you can get the care you deserve, with some real doctors. Not some measly ER doctors."

Now Carter was getting pissed; "County has real doctors. They saved my life. And they're my friends. Don't talk about them like that."

"Friends? These people aren't your friends. They trained at second rate medical schools. And they are clearly not good doctors if you are still here unwell."

"Get out!" Carter snapped reaching a breaking point.

"Excuse me. How dare you! You have some nerve..."

"You heard him!" Doug called from across the doorway, supported by Peter and Mark; "You need to leave." Doug said crossing his arms.

"You can't tell us to leave."

"Actually we can. Visiting hours are over." Peter replied, not backing down.

"We can call security if necessary." Mark added for emphasis.

Turning to Carter his dad glowered; "If we leave, we aren't coming back. This is your last chance son. If you turn your back on this family we are done. You will no longer be a Carter anymore."

Carter just glared back full of rage at how outrageous his dad was being; "Just go."

Ushering his wife out, Carter's dad shoved past the three doctors to the elevators.

"Carter." Doug said turning to the resident, speaking softly.

"Don't. Just leave me alone." Carter replied turning over to face away from them and closed his eyes, utterly humiliated.

Peter and Doug shared a look as Mark watched Carter's parents leaving.

"I'm going to make sure they go." Mark murmured heading after them as Doug and Peter hovered outside Carter's room.

Mark slid his hand into the elevator doors as they were closing and pushed them back open and stepped inside.

Carter's father lifted his head to glare; "I don't know who the hell you think you are..."

"My name is Dr Mark Greene." Mark replied calmly; "And I'm your son's attending."

"So you're the one who had him give up his prestigious surgical residency for an ER residency?"

Biting his tongue Mark spoke cautiously; "Your son made that choice on his own. He's smart, caring and incredible doctor. I've watched Carter since the first day he's got here, and he amazes me everyday. His dedication to the patients is remarkable, did you know he switched to an ER residency, because he was tired of stitching patients up and not being able to do more? Your son cares so much about helping people, he chose to be an ER doctor to not only treat them, but make their lives better. He is probably one of the best doctors I've ever seen, able to catch diagnoses quicker than anyone, and unfazed under pressure. I have no doubt that he's going to be an extraordinary ER doctor one day, because he already is. You may think him being a doctor is frivolous or silly, but it's so much more than that. Carter is a really gifted doctor. He was meant to do this, and there are many patients who wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for him. Like those kids he saved, who got to be with their families over Christmas. Who get to grow up, and make a difference."

"Why are you telling us this?"

"I just wanted you to know the type of doctor your son is. The type of man. I care about Carter, John, and just want him to be the best doctor he can be."

At that point the elevator doors opened and Mark backed out and walked away, leaving it with them to think about. He knew it probably didn't make any difference, but he had to say it. They needed to hear the truth. If nothing else Mark tried.