Chapter 2

Dr. Cox's POV

I yawned as I walked down the hall to the nurse's counter. I needed something strong to drink. Wishing that alcohol was allowed in the hospital, I spied Sheryl. He leaped at my piercing whistle, "Newbie, I need you to get me a tall Espresso. Pronto."

Jordan and I aren't living together anymore. Our son lives with me on weekends and Tuesday evenings. I'm disgusted with myself, making him go back and forth like a bouncy ball, but Jordan wanted full custody and I can't handle that, so we settled on this crazy schedule. I may not be the best father, but I love that boy. I'm a tolerable father, really. Well, at least I'm better than my father was.

Perry, age16, was sitting in his bedroom watching television. It was past seven o'clock in the evening and his mother was out. Perry hadn't had any dinner yet, but he wasn't very hungry. He'd probably go buy some fast food and bring some home to his sister.

He was just thinking about getting up to ask Paige what she felt like for dinner, when he herd the screen door slam. That sound plants terror in Perry's heart.

'I have time to lock my door!' Perry thought to himself, 'But then he'll just go for my sister.' He left his bedroom door unlocked and sat, awaiting the evil vehemence to rain down upon him.

The stomping feet stopped at his door. Perry's father forcefully penetrated the room, the stench of alcohol trailing behind him. Perry got off of his bed and backed towards the wall, the television still playing.

"Where's my dinner, you little piece of shit?" he yelled at Perry, an almost empty bottle of liquor in his hands. When Perry didn't answer quick enough his father shoved him into a table corner. Perry let out a gasp of pain and sunk to the floor.

"Answer me faster, fucker! Where's my dinner?" he yelled, beating him in the face.

A soft, scared voice spoke from the door, "Dad? We were just starting dinner."

Their father made a move as if to chaise her, yelling, "Wha'ja say, Cunt?" She screamed and ran to her room, locking it.

Perry stood up as his father swaggered to the door saying, "If my dinner isn't ready in the next five minutes, you'll be sorry." With that said he drained the last of the liquor and threw the glass bottle at Perry, hitting him squarely in the head, the glass breaking around him. His father chuckled and left the room, going to sit in the living room, the TV blaring.

Perry tried to hold out until his father left the room. As soon as he did he collapsed on the floor and attempted to remain conscious. He saw his sister run out of her room and into the kitchen as fast as she could to get his dinner started.

In about five minutes she entered Perry's bedroom with a swelling red hand print on her right cheek. Perry was unconscious and she tried to revive him. She was able to get him into the car and drive him to the nearest hospital. The doctors had asked what happened and Perry was able to explain that he fell down a nasty flight of stairs.

Someone snapped me out of my trance. I jumped, startled not only by the snapping noise in my ear, but also such memories put me on the edge. I covered it up by saying, "Shelby, do I look like I care about your insignificant life? Go do what I asked! Now!" I didn't catch a word of what Newbie was saying, but I figured that would cover a wide range of subjects.

He skipped urgently along towards the café. I wanted to avoid any inquiry Carla was sure to ask as soon as Newbie was out of sight, so I speedily headed towards the doctor's lounge.

'I never daydream, although that wasn't much of a daydream. More like a nightmare. Or would it be "daymare"?'

No one else was in the lounge, which wasn't very abnormal for this time of the day. I lay down on the couch, anticipating a lack of disturbance.

I knew why I had that daydream about my father. Yesterday I got a call from Paige. My mother died yesterday morning and my dad wanted us to show at the funeral that Saturday. I never liked my mom. She'd stand idle as our father thrashed the shit out of us.

My mother's funeral was not really something I wanted to go to, but Paige said she was going. I know she'd try to smother Dad with her religious bull crap and I didn't want her to get hurt. Our father is a large, burly man. He could break her in two if he wanted. Also, if I went it would be a good opportunity to rub my life in his face. I haven't spoken to him since I left for college. After 18 years of being called "worthless" and being told that I'll never amount to anything, I'd just like to see the look on his face when I tell him that I have a kid and am one of the best doctors in the city.

"Oh my God, Dr. Cox!"

Out of total surprise, I lunged off of the couch. In the process I saw Newbie spill a cup of coffee down the front of his scrubs.

"For the love of God, Johanna! What the Hell were you thinking?" I yelled at him.

He stood there, looking dumb, "What happened?"

'What the Hell is this kid talking about?' "It looks to me like you screwed up again by not keeping a hold of a cup, that's what happened. I expect a full cup in the next five minutes." I shuttered because that last line sounded too much like the threats of my father.

In genuine concern he asked, "No, Dr. Cox. What happened to your arm?"

I subtly looked to my arms. My wrist had blood seeping down it. I quickly thought up a believable story, anything but what I knew was the truth. "If you absolutely have to know, Jordan has decided that it'll be great fun to give a cat to our three year old son. Apparently the wound has reopened." I lied convincingly, trying not to think about the blood on my arm. 'Thank God, no one has told him that Jordan and I don't live together anymore. I can sill use her as an excuse.'

I found the nearest medical supply closet while Newbie told me some story about a cat. I had trouble putting the bandage on myself, so JD helped me. I don't even think he realized. He's a pretty good doctor, no matter how much I tell him he's not. When he was done I stormed away to ICU, partially hoping he wouldn't follow me.

He followed me, checking my patient's vitals. For a minute there he looked like he was ready to wet himself. Finally he asked, "What's the kitty's name?"

I rolled my eyes and trudged away, not wanting to get into this lie too deep. Thankfully, he didn't follow this time.

I hate cats. Even if Jordan and I were together, I'd never let her get Jack a cat. I couldn't possibly tell Newbie the truth about the scratch though. I couldn't tell anyone about the truth. It's too embarrassing.

Last night I didn't sleep very well. If fact, I hardly slept at all. My lunch break is coming up and right now I'm more tired than I am hungry. I headed to the on-call room. No one was there, so I snagged an extra pillow from the linen closet and curled up on one of the beds in the corner of the room against the wall. Within minutes I drifted into what I hoped would be a peaceful sleep.

I was so wrong.

JD's POV

Lunch was great today! I finally got around to talking to the cafeteria staff about that cake from yesterday and they said they'd make sure I had a piece today. It was just as good as it was yesterday!

I was heading to the nurses counter when something happened to made me stop. I was approaching the on-call room when I heard heavy, staggered breathing. My first thought was that a couple was getting freaky in there. 'Just keep walking, JD. Give them their privacy.' Then I heard a hollow thunk and my imagination was running wild! 'They must be crazy! What are they doing in there?' I expected sensual moaning or something to follow but instead I heard a man's voice whimper and sob, "Stop… don't hurt her… I hate you…"

My eyes grew large. 'Someone in there needs my help!' JD rips the front of this scrubs off, reveling a Superman costume with "JD" in the center, instead of an "S". He races towards the on-call door, dramatically breaking it down. He steps over the rubble and dust, fists akimbo, saying "Is everything okay in here?"

I just stepped into the room, a bit worried I'd find someone being violated against their will. "Is everything okay in here?" I asked. Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw.

Dr. Cox was lying in one of the beds farthest away, struggling against his sheets, covered in sweat. He was thrashing back and forth whimpering, "No… I didn't mean it… please… no." I rushed forward. When I got to his side, I tentatively called him name. He continued thrashing. His left arm flung out and punched the wall. The crack against the wall seemed to make me realize what to do. I seized a hold of his wrists and held them down. He tried desperately in his sleep to break free. I called out his name a bit louder. He started crying like a young boy. JD's heart was breaking for his mentor. "Please," Dr. Cox sobbed, gasping for breath, "Leave me alone."

"Dr. Cox." I called, "Dr. Cox… Perry!"

That did it. Dr. Cox suddenly stopped his thrashing. The sheets were soaked with his sweat. He was so warm. When his eyes opened, they took a moment to register where he was, then his eyes focused on me. I must have looked terrified. His breathing was shaking. He whispered something.

"What?" I asked, uncomfortably.

"Get out!" he yelled, alarm and bewilderment in his eyes. Out of distress by his sudden outburst and from being quite shook up from what I'd just experienced, I leapt off the bed and darted out of the room, closing the door behind me.

I tried to look calm and collected to my fellow colleagues, but in reality I was trembling all the way to a supply closet I haven't hid in since I was an intern. I entered it as quickly and as casually as I possibly could. Once I had hastily closed the door however, I broke down. I told myself not to cry, but as I let my self sink down to the floor with my back against the door to keep anyone from coming in, the tears started to surge. I lost control of myself and started gasping for breath through the sobs.

I had never been so scared in all my life. What had happened back there?

…To be continued…

Thanks to everyone who reviewed the first chapter! One review noted that the italics were occasionally hard to follow. I hope this chapter is easier. I am personally really proud of the way this is going. I think it's going well. I just hope that everyone else thinks so too. Please you guys, review! It's such a simple, quick task and it makes me happier beyond measure! Unless it's really critical! I don't really like critical.

Sorry that there aren't much of the other characters in this story. I'm not sure how much they'll show up. I never know where a story is going until I'm at the end, although I have a pretty sturdy plan for this one.

...This is WHPIAR... signing off...