Disclaimer: I no own, you no sue

Author's Note: So here is Chapter 8, yep. It sure is Chapter 8...unh huh...So, people should really read my squirrel story, maybe it will make you smile, because this fan fic sure won't.

Chapter 8

It was my first day back at the hospital after the incident. I had become pretty much the most popular young doctor in the building. The story had spread like a fire through a dry leaves factory. I decided against wearing the bandage over my stitches, I felt like seeing the looks of disgust from the women and awe from the men.

"Hey, Carlita," I said, trying a new nickname which seemed to not work. "Can I see Jace's chart?"

Carla's eyes widened and she started to mutter something. Dr. Cox appeared behind her holding my patients chart.

"I've taken it, you told me you didn't want her anymore."

"But that was weeks ago..." I mumbled. This was the last thing I needed, not getting my patient because Dr. Cox thought I was to weak to handle her.

"Look, kid, it's nothing against you." Yeah, right, translation: It's everything against you. "I just don't feel that you can be unbiased in her treatment anymore."

I was speechless, I was also aware that I was being stared at from every direction. I wanted to tell him he was wrong, I wanted to tell him that I knew I was to blame for what had happened, but I couldn't.

"I'm sorry, Bambi," Carla said softly. "I know how much you wanted to help."

As I sat in the lobby allowing Turk to play "connect the track marks" I couldn't help but wonder why Dr. Cox couldn't just out and tell me that he didn't think I could handle her. He's never had that problem before.

"Trade me arms," Turk said.

I knew what I should've done, I should've stood up to him, I should've told him that I wasn't ready to let go of that patient.

"Excuse me, do you know where visitors go in?" Asked a man, he was dressed much nicer than most visitors to come into our quaint little hospital and he held himself like a man of power. "I heard my sister has been in here for a few weeks. Jace Connor?"

I stood, causing an aggravated sigh from Turk. I pulled my sleeves back down to hide the frighteningly accurate picture of Rowdy he'd managed.

"I'm Ms. Connor's doctor, actually. If you follow me I'll take you to her."

I stood outside her door smiling. Her brother, Mansfeld Connor, sat at the foot of her bed talking. From the look on her face I could only assume he was scolding her, but then he gave her a stuffed bear and her glare disappeared. Dr. Cox came over next to me with his arms folded.

"Her brother," I said, breaking the silence. Dr. Cox nodded.

"Jot this down in your diary, cause it is one of the last time's you'll hear me say it. I'm sorry I took your patient."

My eyes widened as I stared at him.

"It's not that you're a weak doctor, anything but. I just didn't want to see a repeat of what happened. Do you understand?" I nodded. "Good, that's why I'm still going to keep her in my patient load, you're back on with your old batches."

I watched him walk away and I watched Jace smile as her brother left. I would never get to make a big difference in her life as my doctor did in mine.

Damn...

"I'm sorry," John said to Carla. "About, well, everything."

Carla continued her usual jobs, not making eye contact. "I know."

"I just freaked out a little. She was my everything and these drugs took her away. I want to get better, nurse, I really do."

Carla's jaw tightened and she could feel herself welling up at the pain in his voice. "I know."

"I want my old doctor back, I want to fix this," he continued with. "I wasn't in my right mind when I did that."

"I know."

John threw his head back against his pillow and groaned. "I'm ready to get better."

Carla smiled and turned to leave the room, a tear rolling down her cheek. "I know."

"Perry, please!" Carla cried out to the man. He continued ignoring her while adding notes to a chart. "At least look in on him, say something to him."

Perry turned to Carla. "You want me to say something to him? Fine."

He stormed towards John's room with Carla behind him, constantly shouting stop and no. He threw the door open, making the man jump, and he hugged his chart tightly to his chest to the stop the shaking.

"It seems to me, Johnny boy, that right now you've only got two choices left. You can get better and do something with your life or you can sit in that bed as the murderer you are and die here. Either way while you sit in this room you are nothing. You are nothing to me, nothing to her, nothing to anyone."

Perry slammed the chart back into Carla's hands before he stormed out of the room.

"There, I said something."

"You okay?" Elliot asked, watching me watching Jace.

"Yeah, I just lost my moment..."

Author's Rant: There's Chapter 8, Chapter 9 should be up by Sunday, Monday at the latest.