Remedy

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Please give me feedback. I am not too sure if I like the way that the story is going. Moreover, how will Kerry react to the new character?
SUMMARY: An new character is introduced and Kerry and Carter experience a falling-out.


“Carter, try injecting the Gentamicin into the inducer line of her IV,” Mark said.

“When? Every time I try to touch her, she wakes up and reminds me that she did not request medical treatment,” John said impatiently into the telephone.

“I don’t know. Try clubbing her over the head and then injecting the Gentamicin into the inducer line.”

“Dr. Greene, I can’t beat my boss over the head to give her medicine that she refused. I don’t think I would be upholding the Hippocratic Oath if I did that. Anyway, she’s got a crutch to beat me with,” John said laughing.

“Well, she’s altered because of the fever and dehydration. Kerry needs to take something. She needs to get better soon.”

“Why? Yesterday, you were talking about how the ER seemed tranquil these last few days. You made it sound like a modern utopia.”

“Carter, I can’t possibly work another double shift. Elizabeth is going to kill me if I don’t come home and take my turn changing diapers.”

“So the modern utopia is limited to only work?”

“No, diapers aren’t too bad. Waking up in the middle of the night is the worst. Carol had it worse. I’ll glad there is only one baby Greene.”

“Dr. Greene, I’ll try to give the meds to Kerry again, but I can’t guarantee it’s going to work.”

“Just try. I’ll see you later this afternoon, Carter.”

“Bye, Dr. Greene.”

John smiled as he placed the telephone back on the receiver. It felt good knowing that in a few hours he would be back at work. The last six-days had been a physical and emotional trial; one he had barely passed. It was hard being trapped in an apartment with someone you desire, but you cannot touch.

Cleaning up vomit, carrying Kerry to the bathroom, and wrestling with her over medication were physically taxing on John’s back. He was experiencing spasms and inflammation again, but he could not tell Kerry. She needed him. She relied on him. John decided that he needed to work through the pain.

Helping her change clothes was the most emotionally taxing task he had ever performed. Every time his hands would touch her, John could feel the energy surge through his body. It was a sexual energy the awakened all his sense and heightened his perception. The sight of Kerry naked made him lose all control over his body. He hands would sweat, and he could feel his arousal become swollen and hard.

“Kerry, Dr. Greene called. He would really appreciate it if you took the Gentamicin,” John said as he approached the red head would was currently occupying his bed.

“I don’t want the Gentamicin. I am feeling much better. I do not need medicines every time I am sick. We overuse antibiotics as it is. I don’t want to contribute to the increasing number of resistant strains,” Kerry snapped back obviously annoyed by John’s comment.

“Kerry, you still are febrile, your blood pressure is all over the place, your appetite is virtually non-existent, and you still are experiencing hallucinations,” John snapped back equally as annoyed, “Is that what you consider feeling good?”

“John, I’m fine. Today, I ate lunch, and I was able to get myself up to the bathroom . . . without your help.”

“Has anyone ever told you that you are a horrible patient?”

“More times than you would care to know,” Kerry snapped back.

“Fine. Do what you want, Kerry,” John said as he threw his arms up in a motion of exasperation.

Kerry genuinely felt bad for her outburst of anger and frustration. She knew that her trying to deny her feelings for John exacerbated everything she said. All the words were harder and unkind. She needed to drive John from her world the only way she knew, putting on her “bitchy” façade.

The last two days were trying for Kerry. Every time John touched her, Kerry’s lust for John became larger. Sometimes her lust for John seemed all consuming. Kerry’s nipples immediately became hard every time John’s hands brushed over her skin. She found her mind contemplating how to get John to sleep next to her, so she could feel his skin against hers. She mentally chastised herself for behaving like a teenager.

Kerry watched as John walking into the bathroom with an armful of clothes. She knew that he needed to go back to work today and that she should probably go home today. Kerry did not know what to think about today. She wondered if she should be happy that thoughts of John would not have the opportunity to torture her any longer, of if she should be sad that she will never have the opportunity to spend this much time with him again.

“Kerry, please take the meds,” John said as he stepped out of the bathroom. He was dressed in a light, chocolate brown shirt with tan slacks and a dark brown, silk tie. Everything piece of his outfit brought out his best features . . . the subtle blonde streaks in his hair, the gold flecks in his eyes, and his slim and defined body.

“John, no. I am going home today. I’ll be gone before you get home from work,” Kerry said quietly.

“Kerry, you really don’t need to do that. You are welcome to stay until you are capable of walking down the stairs and driving your car home,” John said.

“John, I’ll be fine.”

“Where are you going to put the IV bag when you are driving? Better yet, who is going to change the IV bag?”

“I don’t know. I could ask Jeannie to come by once a day.”

“Kerry, you can’t do everything on your own.”

“Who says I can’t try?”

“Fine, Kerry. I am not going to fight with you. You are old enough to make your own decision . . . even if they are ridiculous and stupid,” John said. He was angry. He could not believe that Kerry was capable of acting like such a stubborn snot. Two days ago, she was sweet and caring. John wondered what the hell was wrong with her.

“Damn it! I don’t need your help! I don’t need anyone’s help!” Kerry yelled as she broke down in tears.

John calmly walked towards her and tried to put his arms around her, but Kerry swatted him away. He stood in front of her bewildered. Her emotions still continued to amaze him. One minute she was laughing with him, the next minute she was yelling or making sarcastic comments.

“I’m not going to fight you,” John said as he picked up his leather bag and headed out the door leaving Kerry in tears.

John slammed the door of his Jeep. He turned up the radio, so he could not possibly think about the scene that just happened in his apartment. John pulled out of the parking lot and headed towards County General.

*********

“Welcome back, Carter. You look like a skinny little twig . . . we will have to change that,” Haleh said as she pulled John into a hug that consumed all of his body.

“Does that mean you are going to bring in fried chicken?” John asked.

“Depends if I can get it out of the house without the kids knowing,” Haleh said as she released John from the hug.

John smiled as various members of the staff welcomed him back and inquired about Kerry’s condition. He felt so relaxed. The hospital was his home. It was the one place that he always felt comfortable and accepted.

“Carter, go put your stuff away. I need you to help me in trauma two. Gunshot wound to the abdomen,” Mark said as he headed towards the ambulance bay.

Carter entered the lounge to see Dr. Benton sitting at the small round table engrossed in one of his medical journals. Carter quietly crept to locker knowing better to disturb the surgeon while he was engrossed in anything have to do with medicine. He figured Peter was down in the ER to see for himself that John was okay. John never realized how much Peter cared about him until the night of the intervention. He would have imagined that Peter thought of him as a person, rather than an annoying medical student or a young, inexperienced resident.

“Aren’t you even going to say hello?” Peter said gruffly without lifting his eyes from the medical journal.

“I’m surprised you wanted me to. You taught me never to bother you when your head is buried in one of those,” John said as he gestured toward the journal now lying on the table.

“It’s good to see you back. Mark was worried that Weaver would eat you alive.”

“I cannot say that she is the most lovely house guest, but it wasn’t that bad. I’ve already lived with her, so I knew what to expect.”

“I’m glad your back.”

“I’m glad to be back,” John said as he closed his locker and headed to trauma two.

John pushed the door open. His senses were assaulted by the faint smell of gunpowder and what he believed to be marijuana. A boy no older than fifteen lay on the table, his blood spilling out on to the white linens. The boy was screaming obscenities about whose ass he was “going to cap” and about how his “boys” would be go out and kill whoever had done this to him. The boy’s hair was braided into tight, meticulous cornrows. His eyes were full of rage and hatred.

“What do you need me to do, Dr. Greene?” John asked as he pulled on a gown and gloves.

“Start a second line. His pressure is falling. We need to get some blood into him.”

“Track marks are all over his arms and wrists. I’ll have to go in with a central line.”

“All the veins are collapsed?”

“There are thick epidermal scars and welts. He’s been doing that for a while.”

Chuny handed John a central line kit. John began to prep the clavicular area, so he could go in smoothly and quickly. He fished the guide wire underneath the clavicle until he could feel moderate resistance.

“I’m in,” John said as he tossed the guide wire on the floor and began to assess the boy’s abdomen.

“Carter, what labs are you going to order?” Mark asked. John knew that Mark occasionally still liked to test him . . . the same way Mark did when John was a medical student.

“CBC, Tox Screen, Trauma Panel, Chem 20, Dip of Urine,” John said as Chuny scrambled to record all the tests on the chart.

“Good job, Carter. This kid is a mess. Chuny, call surgery and tell them to book a room. We’ll let them try to fix humpty-dumpty,” Mark said as he clamped the boy’s mesenteric artery, which dramatically slowed the flow of blood.

Malik began to wheel the gurney out of trauma two. John could still hear the boy screaming obscenities. For some reason, the whole experience felt more disturbing than normal. He scanned the room for any trace of why the boy might be so disturbed. The track marks threw him. They made him remember what he had done to himself for months without anyone knowing.

“Carter,” Randi said as she stuck her head through the doors.

“Yeah, Randi,” John said as he sighed loudly.

“Dr. Romano is in the lounge. The little, bald bastard would like to see you,” Randi said as she turned around to walk back to the desk.

John flung open the doors and marched down the hall like some that was awaiting their execution. Romano scared him. Romano knew about Atlanta and subtly used that fact to his advantage. John noticed that the crack-addict jokes were becoming more frequent and the questioning of his abilities was all too common. He wondered how a man could have so little compassion.

“Ah, Dr. Carter. I see you have chosen to come see me,” Dr. Romano said as he motioned for John to sit at the little round table previously inhabited by Dr. Benton.

“You make it sound like I had all the choices in the world,” John mumbled as he sat into the sagging little armchair.

“Oh, you had better watch that little druggie tongue of yours, Dr. Carter,” Romano scolded, “So, I hear Kerry Weaver has become somewhat of a semi-permanent fixture at you home. Could you explain this.”

“I was sick. She came over to check on me. She got sick. I let her stay,” John said tersely as he slowly became increasingly angry.

“Oh, it’s so nice that our little Chief is making personal visits to the little people,” Romano said as an evil smile began to form on his lips.

“Yes, it was very nice,” John muttered.

The silence in the room was thick. John shifted in the small chair. He was uncomfortable sitting next to the small diabolical man, who seemed to glow in the presence of other’s pain. John watched as Romano carefully assessed the situation. Romano was obviously trying to decide where to stick the next painful barb.

The silence was abruptly broken. The door to the lounge swung open. A tall, slender blonde stealthy stalked in and stood in front of Romano. Her eyes were full of rage . . . unbridled rage that was waiting to be released upon its target. The woman clad in a black tailored suit that hugged all her curves. Her long blonde hair had waves that cascaded over her shoulders and plummeted to the middle of her back. It was the color of wheat in the golden sunshine. Her cheekbones were high and pronounced. Her brown eyes sparkled amongst the anger held within. Her black high-heels made a clicking noise on the tile as she made her way to Romano.

“You can’t play with people’s lives like this Robert,” the woman said as she threw a piece of paper at the very stunned Romano.

“I can explain. I thought it would make you happy,” Romano stammered as he stood up.

“I was very happy. I was very happy in New York and Italy. I had just gotten a job at CHOP that would have more than paid for that,” she said angrily as she gestured at the piece of paper.

The situation made John nervous. He wondered who the hell the woman was . . . a lover, a daughter, a much younger wife. Hell, she could not have been more than twenty-five years old. She was attractive and obviously very smart if she had gotten a job a Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, but what was her job? John looked for a way out of the lounge, but he knew he was trapped. The woman had trapped John and Romano.

“Let’s not discuss this now. I’ll be done with Dr. Carter in a few minutes, then I can meet you somewhere,” Romano said as he tried to calm the young blonde.

“I’m not letting you leave. You always find a way out of these conversations . . . after years of experience it is the one thing have learned about you. Except that you a controlling manipulating bastard,” the woman said.

Romano appeared to have been taken aback by the coarse language that she had used to insult him. His head hung low. John saw the anger in the woman’s face soften as she realized what she had said. The woman turned on her heel and began to head for the door.

“Across the street in fifteen minutes, Robert,” she said calmly as she exited the lounge.

Romano slid back into his chair knowing that he had nothing more to say to torture the frightened young resident sitting across from him. Romano nodded and hung his head. John stood up and headed for the door.

“Dr. Carter, that was my niece, Allison,” Romano said.

John stopped in his tracks wondering whether it was okay to keep walking or to stop and listen to the old humbled man.

“She will be your new medical student providing I can talk her into staying,” Romano said softly his words trailing off at the end of the sentence, ”She’s not normally that bad. She is a beautiful girl. Educated at Brown. She got her Physician’s Assistant degree at Marquette. Allison wants to be a doctor.”

A long pause followed. The silence was heavy in the room. Romano sucked in a large breath.

“Come with me to meet her. She should meet you before she decides. I always told Alli you were the best,” Romano said with his head still hung.



Part 4
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