JD POV

A concerned Carla greeted us in the ICU.

"What happened?"

We didn't have time for questions right now, and Carla understood why I didn't answer. For one thing we had no idea what really happened, and most importantly we had to get Dr. Cox stable.

To protect his privacy I wanted him in a private room and thank g-d there was one available. We wheeled Dr Cox into room 136 and gently slid him off the gurney and into bed.

I immediately put him on oxygen because his breathing was unsteady and at times labored. It was a procedure I have done countless times, but it was strange to do it to someone you know.

As I put the nose cannula in place, Carla started an IV line. Polly, one of the staff's new nurses stood over Dr Cox looking very nervous.

"What is it Polly?" Carla asked.

"How should I take off his shirt?"

You had to feel for the new nurse, Dr. Cox is scary when you first meet him, heck he's still scary after you get to know him. So I couldn't help but grin at Polly's predicament. She was scared that when Dr. Cox gets better, he'll go after the nurse who destroyed one of his countless t-shirts.

"Just cut it off" Carla replied

"It's not like he'll miss it"

I could have kicked my self. Here I am caring for a person who is really hurt, an individual whom I respect and admire and all I could do is make stupid comments.

But my guilty thoughts were snapped when Carla and Polly both gasped.

"What is it?"

Carla didn't respond, she just pointed to Dr. Cox's stomach.

I whipped around the bed to see what would cause such alarm, and it took every nerve I had to stop myself for vomiting.

"Page Dr. Kelso"

Large areas of Dr. Cox's chest and abdomen were covered in nasty blue and purple bruises. I could easily count several broken ribs, and when I examine him I'm sure I'll find more. But bruises don't make me nauseas, I've seen so many over the last six year.

But I've never seen something like this.

Written on Dr Cox's bruised body, in big black bold letters was one word:

MURDERER

Somebody did this for a reason.