Rats in a Maze




Friday

Dave thoroughly believed that his day had been cursed. He thought that the Chief had it in for him with the endless boring cases, but she was away and Mark Greene was in charge; it was like he was a med student again. Thank goodness his shift was ending and he had two days off in a row. He knew a certain neurology student that desperately needed him for those wonderful days, even if she didn't know it.

Dave smiled, but it quickly disappeared as both Dr. Greene and Dr. Benton made their way over to his position. Dave quickly snatched a chart and proceeded to look very engrossed by its contents. It appeared that his rouse worked or the two high and mighty doctors choose to ignore him. What caught Dave's attention was that the hot red head from days earlier had re-appeared and she was headed straight for him.

"My luck has changed," he said under his breath.

The professional looking woman stopped inches from where he was standing, but she turned her attention to the other two doctors. "Hello again, I'm looking for Dr. Kerry Weaver this time."

Mark was surprised that Dr. Ebright remembered him, but maybe this time he might get away with something other then a name. "Dr. Weaver has been on vacation. Is there something I can help you with?"

Peter Benton was about to leave, not really wanting to get involved in some hospital policy business, but he couldn't remember why this woman seemed familiar to him. As he tried to recall her face, she went on as if he wasn't even standing next to her.

"Well, I need to speak to whoever is in charge of the ER, and more importantly, whoever is overseeing Dr. Carter's return here at County."

This got Peter's attention and it jogged his memory. This was the same person who helped create a scene from earlier in the week. Curiosity got the better of him, and the surgeon remained where he was as he pretended to be interested in a chart lying on the counter.

Mark did not like something about Jill Ebright, but he was Carter's immediate supervisor and if she wanted one of his employees for something it better be important. "I guess you get to talk to me," he said cheerfully.

"I need your signature on this form, its just routine, but Dr. Romano has already approved it. So its just a formality, really." Dr. Ebright just stared at him.

Not wanting to be kept in the dark, "What exactly am I approving?" Mark asked a bit sarcastically.

"Well, Dr. Carter, has agreed to participate in a research paper I'm working on that will be very beneficial to the both us," she replied brightly.

Mark was getting tired of all her cryptic musings, but if it was just a paper he couldn't see what all the fuss was about. "What kind of research paper? I wasn't aware that this deemed several approvals from Dr. Carter's supervisors."

Jill seemed to get slightly annoyed that her task was taking a bit longer. "Dr. Greene, I work at the Hope Psychiatric Center. My specialty in is in schizophrenia and I work with patients with violent episodes. Right now I'm working on a study where we bring both patient and the victims of a violent episode together for mutual therapy. It helps the patient deal with his own trauma of a violent outburst and in turn the victims get to cope with their own PST or depression."

Mark was floored with this notion, and the odd reaction he had observed Carter experience was now easily understood as the ramifications fell in place. "Violent outbursts, is that what you call it? Are you telling me you're Paul Sobrieki's doctor?" He asked in a low voice.

"Yes I am. Since Dr. Carter has gone though some worked related therapy, we thought it best to get County's approval. Now all I need is for you to sign here giving him a couple days off for his first sessions. Now all of this will take place at the Hope Center and..."

Mark couldn't believe that she continued to rattle off the details as if she was proposing that Carter was doing something as mundane as giving blood. "I don't understand, Dr. Carter hasn't mentioned any of this to me. I think I'll need time to talk to him about this if you don't mind."

Dr. Ebright let out an irritated breath and then plastered a fake smile onto her face. "I don't think you understand. Dr. Carter will be at the Hope Carter when we open tomorrow, this is just getting all the I's dotted and T's crossed."

Dr. Ebright placed the papers into Mark's hands again, letting him know that he would sign them. Mark took the documents and scratched his signature, "I want copies of these before you leave this hospital and I want it in the record that I don't think this is a good idea."

Jill took the papers and looked pointedly at the attending, "Neither did Dr. Carter, but he came around. Now I'll get these Xeroxed and I'll be on my way."

As soon as she disappeared Peter Benton made his presence known. "Do you think that was a good idea?" He asked, his voice lowered.

Mark was not aware that he had an audience and turned in time to see Dave busy not reading a medical report and Benton staring at him in anger.

"What other choice did I have, Peter?" Mark fired back defensively.

The surgeon's mouth twitched as if he was going to speak and then thought better about it. He simply walked off, his lack of a response relaying a lot more meaning. Mark glared at Malucci, who was staring at him now with his own eyes full of conflict. The younger resident walked way in a huff and Mark Greene wanted to know why all of a sudden he was a bad guy for just doing what he was told.

He accepted the papers back from Dr. Ebright, who then left the hospital without saying a word. Mark stared at them wondering if he wanted to get involved in something that was obviously very personal to Carter. Hell, the other man didn't say anything to him about it, so it was obvious he wanted to keep it low key. It was just lately he couldn't help but think that there was a certain connectedness that was lost between colleagues here. Friendship had dissolved into something without meaning.

Mark gathered the papers and headed into the lounge, maybe this time he would do something about what he told Carter back in May. Even if the younger man felt uncomfortable he would lend his support in some way, he just didn't know how.





Saturday

John stood at the steps of the Hope Center idly considering about simply walking away and never coming near it again. It was a windy day and Carter wrapped his coat around him even tighter. It was just stupid of him to be standing on the steps like some scared child, but in many ways he feared what was inside there. He didn't really blame Sobriki too much about what happened; most of that guilt resided in him. Carter just was unsure of his reaction to meeting him, knowing what he did to Lucy and how Sobriki's actions towards him altered him forever.

Sobriki couldn't hurt him now and deep inside Carter knew that the troubled man never wanted to, but the scars on his back and abdomen were living testaments of the fury that dwelled inside Paul Sobriki. They were also reminders of the kind of dark emotions that could reside in any human if left unchecked. We were all capable of evil deeds. He allowed himself to slowly crumble away and be consumed by poison rather then face his harsh daily reality. Paul was not in control of certain facets of his mind when he attacked Lucy and then knifed him. Sobriki suffered from a disease that was undiagnosed. After months of ignoring the elements that lead up to the terrible accident, Carter had to face the man responsible for it. He just didn't know if that man was the patient in that hospital or the man too scared to enter it.

Carter looked behind him when he saw a shadow slowly approach him. He was shocked to see of all people Dave Malucci hesitantly climbing the steps before him. Agitated that his whereabouts were known, Carter gave him an icy greeting, "What are you doing here, Malucci?"

Malucci tried to prepare himself for the unwelcome, but all the words he practiced in his head were somehow lost to him now. "I,..ah...well you see..."

"Forget it. Go home Dave, this doesn't concern you." Carter said coldly as he continued up the stairs, hoping Doctor Dave would leave him be.

Malucci had other plans however, and ran up the steps after the other man, not allowing himself to be dissuaded. After all, Dave did give up a day off to try to come out here.

"No, dude, I'm coming with you. Because like it or not, I think this is something that requires..."

Carter spun around when his hand touched the door to the entrance, "Requires what? A babysitter? Did Mark send you or were you afraid I would crack under the pressure?" Carter asked redirecting his nervousness over the entire situation into anger directed toward his co-worker.

A bit angered at his friend's ungratefulness, Dave shot back, "Look Carter, you're going into a psychiatric hospital that holds the guy that murdered Lucy and almost killed you. Now I know you have balls of steel in the ER, but come on, I think you might want the company of a friend outside those office doors."

Carter let his fingers brush the door handle, but they fell next to his side. He faced Dave with questioning eyes and then stared at his feet. "You came all this way just so I knew there would be a friendly face when I came out of that session?" Carter asked, still reeling from the gesture.

Dave felt a bit uncomfortable, so he shrugged his shoulders, "Well I had nothing better to do on my day off, so you know..."

Carter smiled slightly, "Thanks Dave." Not wanting to get too worked up before he entered the center, Carter opened the door and Dave followed him inside.

"So, you really think I have balls of steel?" Carter asked, trying not to laugh as he released some much needed tension.

"Next to my titanium ones, you met I do." Dave replied as he walked with Carter to the big check-in desk before them.

Carter knew that the Hope Center was a brand new facility with state of the art equipment, but he was surprised at the black marble floors and stonework. Three security cameras were tracking their movements through the lobby and Carter went over to the reception area. As he got closer he noticed a man speaking with the guard. Normally Carter would wait his turn, but the other person looked very familiar.

"Dr. Greene, what are you doing here, too?" Carter asked, not very amused by the presence of another staff member from County.

Mark swallowed hard at the reaction of his co-worker, but what surprised him was the sight of Dave Malucci.

"Hey, there boss. How's it going?" Dave chuckled at the bewildered expression of the attending.

"Um, hey Dave. What are you doing here?" Mark asked puzzled.

"Excuse me? Dr. Greene, I asked you the same question?" Carter sighed and shook his head. "Unbelievable, did you two plan this?"

"No." Both men responded at the same time.

"Fine, fine, I'm sure you're here for the same reasons. I appreciate the sentiment and I'm sure everything will go just fine." Carter didn't want to argue with Mark; he just wanted to get this day over with.

The quicker he got to his appointment, the quicker his "friends" would leave him alone. He approached the desk and cleared his throat. A middle-aged man with a chiseled face stared at him.

"May, I help you?" He asked.

"Yes, I have an appointment with Dr. Jill Ebright..."

"Your name?" Mr. Unfriendly asked.

"I'm Dr. John Carter," he answered, stealing a glance with his friends showing his surprise at the unfriendly service.

"I don't see your name on the list, sir. Maybe you have the wrong day." Mr. Unfriendly responded, then preceded to close the appointment book without a second glance.

Carter let out a small laugh, "I'm sure I'm scheduled today. I'm having a meeting with Dr. Ebright, we went over it in detail this past week."

The guard looked at Carter and folded his arms, "Perhaps there was a mistake or it got re-scheduled. I'm sure if you called Dr. Ebright later on..."

"No, Mr...Mr.," Carter looked for a nametag and found none.

"I'm sure that Dr. Ebright does not have an appointment scheduled for you today..."

"What about under Paul Sobrieki?" Carter asked, irritated at the foul up of his day.

"No, nothing under that name either. Sorry sir, you might want to come back next week, but in the mean time, we have very strict rules concerning non-personal on the premises. So if you would leave."

Carter tried not to loose his nerve as he was about to let this person know what he felt about his attitude and service, when he felt a steady hand on his shoulder.

"Why don't we step back for a moment?" Mark asked, trying to calm Carter down before he made a scene.

Carter stepped away after casting an angered expression towards the rude desk clerk and found himself flanked by Dave and Mark.

"So what's up? They loose your name or something?" Dave asked with a bit of humor in his voice.

"Yes, it seems the staff of Hope can't seem to keep their records straight. I might be inclined to ask to see a director or something." Carter said loud enough for the desk guy to hear.

Mark looked over at said desk clerk to see him speaking into a walkie- talkie. "Carter, why don't you just ask to speak with Dr. Ebright? She can come down and straighten everything out."

Dave couldn't help but think that Carter should just lay into the guy; he was after all a desk mite. Dave thought about strutting over to the big guy and kicking ass and taking names, but paused when he saw the doors to the entrance open to reveal Peter Benton walking through.

"Well, well, well, I can't believe it." Dave said out loud just as Peter saw all three men huddled in the center of the lobby.

Peter didn't say a word as all three doctors turned towards him. He saw Mark look at him as if he had grown two heads, Malucci was smirking, and Carter looked like he was going to die from embarrassment.

"Welcome to the party, Dr. Benton, however, I think that next time I should be let in on the festivities." Fed up with everything around him, Carter wandered over to a chair and slumped down feeling emotionally exhausted.

"What's going on here?" Peter asked the remaining doctors.

Mark stepped in front of Dave, "Well it looks like we all had the same idea about coming here. Right now there seems to be a problem with the apportionment times," Mark calmly explained.

Peter exhaled loudly and went over to the same desk, "Excuse me, I think that maybe you should call down someone to clear up this mess. Obviously there has been some kind of mistake and..."

The stone faced gentlemen stared at Benton, "I think its best if all of you left and maybe came back when you get your schedules worked out."

Carter placed his head in his hands and rubbed the sides of his face. He didn't want his battles fought for him and he got up before this day transformed into a nightmare. He stood behind Benton who was waging a verbal war with Mr. Unfriendly.

"Dr. Benton, it's alright." Carter turned to face the annoying clerk, "Look I'm not leaving until I talk to Dr..."

The chiming of an elevator interrupted Carter and the doors swooshed open to reveal the woman in question. She looked flustered by the crowd of people, but soon her faced morphed into her usual calm demeanor.

"Dr. Carter, so glad to see you. I didn't mean to keep you waiting, but I was having trouble locating a co-worker of mine for the session."

Jill shook hands with John and proceeded to ramble on. "Looks like you brought an entire support group with you. Its not necessary I assure you, but if you want them to come with us, I see no problem."

The receptionist coughed to get the psychiatrists' attention, "Um, Dr. Ebright, I don't think its policy to let so many people into a session."

Jill looked up annoyed, "Excuse me, but I don't recall you?"

"I'm Murphy and I'm new here, but I'm pretty sure that..."

"Murphy is it? The last time I checked, new personal didn't dictate center policy to me. So why don't you make yourself useful and be quiet." Jill challenged.

That shut the man up and Dave couldn't help but chuckle, "Woo, major cut down."

Jill didn't even look at Dave as she and ushered the group of doctors into the elevator. Before she hit the up button she glanced up and down the lobby, "Hey Murphy, since you're not doing anything important, find out where Bill and Loonie are, I don't see them out here."

The elevator doors closed shut before anyone heard a response. The desk clerk pulled out his radio and spoke into it, "Home Base to Red 1, we have a small problem."



Part 3
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