Common Ground




You may have a fresh start at any moment you choose, for this thing that we call “failure” is not the falling down, but the staying down. – Mary Pickford


Nathan knew it wasn’t a dream, but where he had slept – the house could be considered a mansion! How in the world does a runaway end up sleeping in a mansion, anyway? A grin came across his face as he got up and got dressed for the day. He hadn’t really had a chance to say goodnight to Carter, who had fallen asleep after making a phone call. Now it was after 9 a.m. He heard a knock at the bedroom door and opened it.

“Come downstairs for some pancakes, young man - you look like you could use something to eat,” Gamma said to him. “I’m afraid we’ll have to wait a bit longer for John. He said he wanted to rest some more.”

“Thank you,” Nathan replied. Was she ever right about the breakfast, he thought as he entered the kitchen a few minutes later. The pancakes and sausage smelled wonderful. He figured he hadn’t eaten since a small lunch the previous day. After Gamma dished his plate, she did hers and they sat down together.

“So, Josh, what does your uncle do at the hospital?” Gamma asked. Nathan remembered the “story” Carter had told her. Actually, the story wasn’t completely made up. Nathan’s uncle had worked as an administrator at County for several years. But he had transferred out last year.

“He’s in administration,” Nathan replied. “I think he might have met your grandson at the 100-year bash for the hospital.”

Gamma asked where he grew up.

“Actually, I grew up here in Chicago. But my dad and step-mom live in Milwaukee.”

Nathan secretly wished he could call his dad and spend the summer up there. But he figured his mom would throw a fit. And his dad would give in and tell him to move back in with his mother.

“This is really good,” he told Gamma as he neared the last bite on his plate.

“Go help yourself to some more.”

“’Morning Gamma, ‘morning Josh. Something smells good in here,” Carter said as he entered the kitchen. Gamma told him he was just in time, because she was about to make another batch of pancakes. Nathan noticed that Carter’s mood had improved. His eyes were brighter and more alert. There was also a hint of a smile on his face.

“Josh, you’re free to use the pool if you’re spending the day here,” Gamma said.

“Also, there are some good books in the room down the hall,” Carter chimed in. “There’s not much on TV during the day.”

“Are you still thinking of working late?” Nathan asked Carter.

“Naahh. Not today. I figure I don’t often have guests! So, I’ll be home around 5:30.”

Gamma asked them if they’d be around for dinner. Carter said they would plan on it. He wondered, though, how Nathan felt about it. After breakfast, he and Nathan headed outside for a walk. “Sorry to put you on the spot about dinner. Are you interested in staying?”

Nathan nodded. “Yeah, I think I could be here.”

Let’s see, what else would Nathan want to know. “My grandpa went to see his brother out in Maine. That’s why you haven’t seen him.”

“I mostly told your grandma the truth. I told her my dad lives in Milwaukee, which he does.”

There was a short, somewhat awkward silence between them as they walked near one of the flower gardens. Both of them silently acknowledged that although they were practically strangers, the potential for friendship was more than just a small possibility. Carter expressed his opinion that Nathan could share whatever he wanted with Gamma. “Did she ask you any other stuff this morning?”

“Well, a few things about my uncle, but it was fine.”

They talked about doing something fun together after dinner. “Maybe we can head out to that carnival tonight,” Carter suggested. “My treat. I think it’s still going to be open.”

Nathan wondered if he was overextending his welcome by accepting, but Carter insisted that it was all right.


In the car (going to the train station) and on the train headed to work, the young doctor thought about the day ahead. Shortly after getting up this morning, Carter had decided today would be a good day to start making some changes. He definitely needed to cut down on his medications. If yesterday wasn’t an example of impaired judgment, he didn’t know what was. He hoped he had made a promising start this morning. On one of his pain medications, he cut down to half of his prescribed dose – 100 percent less than he had been taking most mornings. (For weeks, he had excused the extra half-dose as a “cushion” for the strenuous activity at work.) Now it was time to implement the second piece of the plan: he also needed to alter his workload a bit.

Shortly after Carter arrived at County, he pulled Mark aside. “Mark, I know you were trying to help yesterday and I didn’t say much. I should have thanked you.”

“Actually,” Mark confessed. “You should thank Dr. Chen. She’s really watching out for you.”

“Yeah – she called last night,” Carter answered, agreeing with Mark’s comment. “But there’s something else I’d like to ask you. I kinda hate to do it, but … gosh I’m not sure.”

“Go on, whatever it is, I’m sure it’s fine.” Mark encouraged him. “I can’t believe I’m actually asking you this, but could I go on chart review duty today?” Carter asked.

Mark smiled. “Of course we can arrange that. I’ll talk to Kerry.” Mark thought it was good to see Carter taking an opportunity to slow down a little. After talking with Chen, Mark realized how Carter had been taking on a lot.

Carter breathed a sigh of relief. It was the first time he had really asked for some type of special accommodation since his injury. People were always offering to help with the workload – almost left and right – but it never felt right to him. But the lifestyle was wearing on him. “I’ll be up by the admit desk,” Carter told Mark.


Nathan found himself enjoying the peace and quiet. He took a swim in the early afternoon. Afterwards, he sat next to the pool in a reclining lawn chair while he dried off. He had always thought of himself as someone who needed to be active to be happy, at least most of the time. He remembered how bored he was after he broke his wrist. But this was a different time. Jeffrey would have understood.

There was something different about Carter since last summer. Nathan couldn’t place it. How could he, when he was only with the guy in the ER for a whole ten or fifteen minutes. He seems older. What? Carter was maybe 30, tops. But Nathan could have sworn that he was treated by a man who was four or five years younger. What’s with the depression? And the bad back? Okay, maybe he was overanalyzing this one. Nathan reminded himself he saw no signs of the assumed depression this morning.

Anyway, you’ve got a major decision to make. Nathan tried to brush the thought aside. Please, I don’t want to think about that now. But his conscience kept saying when – when are you going to decide? Angie is right – you can go home – to your mom or your dad! Nothing’s stopping you.

BACK AT THE HOSPITAL It was after 2 p.m.; Carter figured if he didn’t get up and stretch he would pay for it later. He was feeling quite good considering how much his back bothered him last night. There really wasn’t much pain today – just a little stiffness. He headed to the lounge to get a soda. It would be good to get a little more walking in today.

“There you are, John!” Dr. Chen had this amazing talent for sneaking up behind him.

“And there YOU are Deb!” he laughed.

“I’m sorry, did I startle you? I …”

Carter smirked. “You’re forgiven. And in case you’re wondering, I AM working. Just doing some chart review.”

By then they had reached the lounge. Chen told him of course she assumed he was working, she just hadn’t seen him yet. She mentioned that she was once again busy twisting Romano’s arm over another hospital issue. “Are we going to finish our little talk sometime?” she inquired.

Carter had completely forgotten. “Umm, sure – I’m headed out the door around five. But I could stick around a few more minutes if you think you’ll have some time then.”

“Well, you never know around here!” She winked. “But it sounds good right now.”

“Hang on a sec.” Carter stopped her. “I just have one question for you since you mentioned Romano. Did you hear what Lucy did when her heart patient needed this special surgery on Christmas Eve?”

“Oh, I heard about that too. Is it true that she went to Romano’s house? In the middle of the night almost?”

“Yeah!” Carter answered. “Peter told me about it back when I was in the hospital. He said he wasn’t sure if I would laugh or cry, but he thought that was pretty special about Lucy.”

Chen smiled. “She had a brave spirit. But so do you, John.” She placed her hand on his shoulder for a brief moment. It was becoming very clear to Carter that she could be trusted. Over the course of a few months, it seemed their friendship had grown beyond the teasing and the pranks to something more genuine.



Part 6
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