Safety In Numbers




John waited for Detective Rich to make his way in, he was still freezing, and Benton's icy stare hadn't helped that much!

"Dr. Carter, how was your little trip?" Tom asked.

"I went for a walk."

"Well, next time you do that, I'd sure appreciate it if you'd let someone know that's what you're doing, you didn't do much for your friends here, and even less for me. I'm supposed to be protecting you remember?"

"Yeah, I remember. Was that what you needed to talk to me about?"

"Well, no I want to talk to you about Jose, you feel up to it?" Tom asked.

"Ready as I'll ever be." John responded, "How is he?"

"He's good, he's lost part of his vision, but he'll be okay. He...well....he is really sorry. He wanted me to tell you that. He wanted to tell you himself, but he's not allowed anywhere near you. So, he asked me to tell you, and now I have."

"Okay, is that it?" John asked.

"Well, no, the kid is 17. Not that I want you feeling sorry for him okay? I was ready to lock him up so far away he'd never see daylight again. But, he's clean, and he's very repentant. I guess what I'm trying to say is, they make certain, concessions for juveniles and I just wanted you to consider it. Jose is ready to go to prison for what he's done. He knows he's going to prison. My question to you is, do you feel comfortable sending a 17-year-old kid up the river, which I would not in any way blame you for, or would you consider alternative sentencing?"

"Alternate? What's alternative sentencing?" John asked.

"Well, community service, weekend jail, that sort of thing. It's really up to you and Mrs. Nussbaum. We could throw the book at this kid for what's he's done. It isn't the first time he's been in trouble, but I've worked with a lot of kids, and the crack...the crack makes them do stupid, mindless, mean things. He's off the crack. He would have to take weekly blood tests, see his parole officer twice a week, get a job, do community service hours, and weekend jail time, the judge would set the exact parameters, but I just wanted you to know, it's up to you. You need to decide, you were the victim, you and Mrs. Nussbaum. But, mostly you as his most serious crime was the assault with the intent to kill. He didn't have a weapon when he assaulted Mrs. Nussbaum, and her case could be handled separately if you wish."

"I'll think about it. I guess I just don't want to see someone else hurt because of him, he may only be a kid, but he's...it was pretty serious okay? I mean, if he's just yanking our chain, and goes back out and actually kills someone, that'd be my fault, do you understand that?"

"Yeah, I do, it'd be all our faults though, but I honestly don't think that's going to happen. Just think about it and get back to me okay? He's being released." Tom glanced at his watch, "this afternoon, I have to take him to Cook County jail. It's not a pleasant place."

"No pressure." John said sarcastically.

Tom grinned at him, "Absolutely none. You take your time, and let me know what you come up with."

Tom left John with his thoughts. "Oh great like I don't have enough to think about." He covered his head, leaving the world behind.

Stephanie sat in the chair next to the bed, "Aunt Helen says hi, she said to the shroud beside her."

"Oh tell her I said hi back." At least he had responded. When Detective Rich had informed Stephanie of this 'alternative sentencing' she hadn't even wanted to approach her aunt on it, but she did see Tom's point. He was just a kid, 17, and the drugs, the drugs didn't help. He was off them, and would have to remain off them.

"John, it's not like he's getting off scott free. If he flunks the weekly drug test, it's over, if he doesn't show up for community service, it's over, if he doesn't get back in school or get a job, it's over, it's not like it's just a walk in the park for this kid. Besides, isn't healing and rehabilitation what you do? You can understand that. You can fix things, people can make their lives better, they can and do it all the time. I just want you to consider it."

Stephanie reached under the covers, and found his hand. It was ice cold. She warmed it with her own, and peeked under the sheet. She found him staring at her. She leaned over the railing and gave him a kiss, "I know you'll do the right thing."

"No pressure." He said from under his cave of covers.

"No pressure." Stephanie repeated.

***************************

Peter returned four hours later to John sitting up in the chair, and eating. He raised his fork for Peter to see, "eating, see?"

"I see that."

"I saw the psych guy, he's giving me Xanax to sleep and he says it'll help with the anxiety too, he thinks I'm anxious, go figure?"

"Yeah, well, uh...your chest x-ray is clear. I've talked to Dr. Corday, she's still in surgery, but she'll okay your discharge, so I can sign you out."

"When?"

"This evening, you gotta way home?" Peter asked.

"Yeah, I guess Stephanie can come pick me up."

"I get off at 7:00, I can take you home." Peter looked down at the floor, saying the sentence as rapidly as he could.

"Oh, I wouldn't want to put you out." John was a little uncomfortable at the suggestion.

"It's really no problem, you don't live far, and it'll save your friend another trip in."

John started to protest again and was interrupted, "Carter, just be ready at 7:00 alright?"

"Okay, fine, thanks."

Peter left, as John choked down the rest of the nasty hospital food, wishing he could have something more palatable, he was actually hungry for a change.

He finished eating and grabbed his clean t-shirt and sweats. He hit the shower. The water felt wonderful as he let it cascade over his sore muscles. He finished washing, careful of his side. He had the nurse leave a piece of plastic covering in the room, he made sure it was on there good and tight before he took his shower. He wasn't taking any chaces.

He finished dressing and getting his things together, eager to get home, to get back to "normal" whatever that was.

He sat deep in thought, as Peter observed him from the doorway for a few minutes, "Carter, you ready?"

"Yeah, hang on, I told Stephanie I'd call when we left." He hurriedly made his phone call, then went to grab his bag.

"I'll take that." Peter said.

"I can do it." John argued.

"Look Carter, you're getting to walk out, I'm not making you go in a wheelchair, which I cold have insisted upon, it's hospital policy, although, I'm quite sure you would have argued the point, nonetheless, you're not holding the bag and that's that."

John knew when he was beat. He held out the bag for Peter.

They rode home in relative silence broken only by John's attempts at conversation. He should know better by now, Peter Benton didn't know the meaning of polite conversation.

"Don't be doing anything stupid alright? That means, no strenuous exercise, no needless climbing up and down the stairs, no heavy lifting, that means anything over ten pounds, for six weeks, you need to eat healthy things, no calling out for pizza every night, you'll never heal, I put a diet sheet in your discharge orders. I want to see you back in three days for a chest PA and lateral and a cbc." Peter tried to sound concerned, but knew he came off sounding demanding, he had that knack, "You will do this, you understand?"

John shook his head affirmatively, "Yes, I do, I'll be good, I promise."

Peter glanced over quickly, noting John's grin, "I mean that!" He added.

"I know, you just kinda sounded like Helen for a minute there."

"Carter...never mind..." Peter stopped in front of the apartment building. Stephanie and Helen were outside waiting for him. "I see you have a homecoming party waiting." Peter commented.

"Yeah, they're great. Helen's like....." He caught himself, he almost said like the mother I never had, but didn't, he thought it.

"Girlfriend's cute Carter, don't screw it up." Peter said absently as he climbed out of the car.

John got out of the passenger side, he felt good, better then he had felt in days in fact. He was well-rested, and physically felt ready to take on the world, well almost, there was the fact that his leg still wasn't at 100%, but other than that, he was ready to go.

Stephanie came up and gave him a big hug, he went to lift her up, and was side-tracked by the sound of Benton clearing his throat. "Uh...hmmm....remember?" Peter said.

"Uh...yeah..." John leaned over to hug back.

Helen stood on the front steps, with her tissue in hand. It was so good to see her John, that's what she thought of him now, her John, not Mrs. Carter's John, or his parents John, hers. He looked good, she tried not to cry. She wasn't given to emotional outbursts, but she just couldn't help it. John glanced over Stephanie's shoulder, and saw Helen quickly wipe at her eyes. He released his hold on Stephanie and walked toward his friend.

"Hey, I'm okay, it's all right Helen, I'm fine." He hugged her tight as she cried into his shoulder.

"You had me so scared." She said.

"I'm sorry, really I am. I'm fine." He repeated.

"Don't be sorry, you have nothing to be sorry for, if I hadn't been so stupid to walk into that parking garage alone, none of this would have happened." Helen sobbed.

"Helen, Helen, quit, you didn't do anything dumb, but don't ever, ever do that again okay?" John smiled at her, and held her tight, "Come on, let's go in. You got any real food in here?"

Peter followed behind carrying his bag, and feeling glad that Carter finally had someone in his life who actually seemed to give a damn about him. It was about time. He had his sister, and his mother when she was alive, Carter never really 'had' anyone consistently in his life. Peter never understood Carter's family, and never would probably. He didn't even try anymore.

They entered Helen's apartment, and Peter parked his bag by the door, on second thought, he had better take it upstairs to Carter's apartment. "Hey, you got your key?"

John fished around in his pocket, and launched the keys in Peter's direction. "I'm starved." John said.

"Carter, you just ate." Peter reminded him.

"THAT is not considered food, have you ever eaten that stuff?"

"Remember something healthy." Peter looked at Helen, "He is not eating pizza every night."

"Dr. Benton, I have no intention of filling him with junk, with or without your instructions."

Peter turned and took the steps two at a time, and stopped when he saw the door, with the red ribbon tied around it and the note from Detective Rich. "Hey Carter, come here for a minute." Peter said down the stairwell.

John took the stairs, one at a time, holding onto the railing, and stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the door. "Hey, this is nice!" He took the note from the door from Detective Rich, it was a very poor attempt at poetry; "Dr. Carter I broke your door, I freaked when I saw you on the floor, I didn't want you to buy the farm, but I truly meant your door no harm." It was kinda funny, this guy had a strange sense of humor, but John got a kick out of it. He put the card into his pocket, as Peter opened the door.

"Whoa, this cannot be my apartment." John made a show of checking the numbers on the door, and stepping back inside. Stephanie and Helen stood at the end of the steps, observing and smiling. They had cleaned the place up and good.

Peter dropped the bag off in John's bedroom, and started to unpack it.

"I can do that." John interjected.

"I know." Peter finished the job, and then announced that he had to get going, it was his turn to have Reese.

"Thanks Dr. Benton." John said.

Peter clapped him on the back, not too hard, "No problem Carter."

John couldn't believe it when he left without giving another whole set of do's and don't's but he did appreciate the fact that he didn't. He didn't want Stephanie to think he was a total flake, he was a doctor after all, he knew the do's and don't's.

Peter was gone a few minutes, and John decided to go for a short walk. He made his way down the steps, holding carefully to the handrail. He needed to give thought to what Detective Rich had suggested.

"Where do you think you're going Mister?" Stephanie asked.

"Just out for a walk, I need to think."

"About what the policeman was telling you?" Helen asked. "He talked to me too."

"Yeah, big decision." John simply stated.

John made his way toward the door, followed by Stephanie and Helen. "I kind of need to think this through alone."

"Didn't anybody ever tell you, that there's safety in numbers?" Stephanie said as she and Helen caught up with him.

"Come on then." John said as they three walked down the sidewalk in silence.

They walked about two blocks, and John had seemed to have come to some conclusions. They went back to Helen's apartment, where Helen re-heated a pot roast she had frozen the previous week. She handed the plate to John, who thanked her repeatedly. He looked like he was starving. He finished his plate, and Helen sat next to him. "Well?" She asked.

"Well what?" John replied.

"Well, what are you thinking?" Helen asked.

"I'm thinking that what Detective Rich said sounds like a good idea. I cannot find it in me to send a 17-year-old kid to Cook County prison, you have to give him a chance. If he screws up, his chances are over. I'll just hope and pray that he doesn't fall through the cracks, and we need to watch out for each other. Not that I really think this kid will do this again, we just need to make it a point to watch out for each other. As Stephanie so eloquently put it, 'there is safety in numbers' and we need to stick together."

"I'll second that!" Stephanie said as she walked into the room.

"I'm proud of you John, it was a tough decision, and I think you made the right one." Helen said.

"Aunt Helen can I talk to John alone for a moment?" Stephanie asked.

"Well, sure honey, I'll just be in the bedroom for a while, I could use some rest anyway."

Stephanie sat down next to John, and took his face in her hands, she kissed him long and deep, causing his face to flush.

"Steph, you're aunt...." John backed away slightly.

"Is in the other room....it's not like I plan to attack you right here you know!"

"Oh, darn." John smiled at her.

"I have a question for you, and I want you to answer me honestly okay?"

"Sure, I'm always honest with you."

"I know, I just..." Stephanie faltered, then spilled it all out in one breath, "I'm thinking about looking for a job in Chicago, I've needed a change for a while, and my aunt needs me here, and well, how would you feel about that?"

"Stephanie, that would be great!" John smiled, and kissed her so suddenly, it took Stephanie's breath away.

"No pressure though." She added.

"No pressure." He repeated.

"You wanna go upstairs?" Stephanie asked.

"Are you going to attack me?" John smiled.

"I just might Dr. Carter."

"Oh, are you undecided?"

Stephanie just smiled.

"May I coerce you into it?" John asked.

"Maybe, you just might at that."

Stephanie got up and went toward her aunt's room, "Aunt Helen?"

"Yes, dear."

"We're going upstairs for a while, I'm going to help John get settled in. Do you need anything right now?"

"No, I'm fine, you go uh...'settle' him in honey." Helen grinned.

The two went upstairs, Stephanie holding on to his arm, as he slowly ascended the steps upstairs. "I know some great massage techniques for your back, you want me to try it?" Stephanie asked.

"Most definitely." John answered grinning widely, he hadn't felt this happy, this safe, and this loved in such a long time. He opened the door to his apartment, and fell into Stephanie's arms, "I'm so glad I met you." He whispered quietly into her ear.

"Me too." Stephanie answered as she ran her hands up and down his back, sending a chill through him.

"Now, about that massage?" John asked.

"Oh yeah, well you have to have your shirt off, that's a must."

"Well, if I have my shirt off, then it's only fair for you to do the same." John added mischievously.

"YOU are the one getting the massage Mister."

"Yes, but haven't you ever heard that 'there's safety in numbers' I'd feel much safer if we both had our shirts off."

"Oh, aren't we the master of words." Stephanie teased as she started undoing the buttons on his shirt.

He reciprocated, undoing hers just as quickly.

Stephanie was careful not to bother the dressing at his side, her constant reminder of how close she came to losing this man. She never wanted to go through that again.

They made their way back to the bedroom, and Stephanie told him to lay on his stomach, which he readily complied with. She retrieved the massage oil out of the nightstand, and liberally applied it to his back. She rubbed and needed as he grunted every so often, when she reached a sore spot.

"I really need to get your legs to, to make this work of course." Stephanie softly said.

"Of course." John was so relaxed at this point, it didn't make any difference, but he readily complied with her request.

Stephanie helped him undo his pants, and slid them down his long legs, shucking the shoes and socks as well. She left his boxers on for the time being. That would come later. She poured the oil into her hands, and warmed it before applying it to his thighs. She rubbed her way down his legs, all the way to his feet, again, stopping as he grunted when she hit a particularly sore area. She carefully worked her way back up his legs, and back.

"Roll over." She said.

John sleepily obeyed her, his sleepiness quickly dissipating as he rolled over onto his back, and noted that Stephanie had removed her bra. He went to reach for her breasts.

"Ah, ahh, ahh." Stephanie chastised, "Now, there'll be none of that, this is a therapeutic massage."

"But touch is so therapeutic, I'd feel so much better, really, just a little touch?" He asked, "Please?"

"Well, alright, just one, but then back to business." Stephanie conceded.

John moved his hands over her breasts, stopping to flick his fingers over her nipples, "You know what would really feel therapeutic?"

"I can't imagine." Stephanie responded.

"I would love to feel you against my chest." John pulled her to him, and covered her lips with his own.

Stephanie pulled back a bit, "you aren't supposed to be doing anything strenuous, I heard Dr. Benton, no pushing, no pulling, no strenuous activity."

"I'm not going to do the work." John smiled at her.

"Oh, I see, I'm in charge huh?" Stephanie asked.

"Yes, it's all in the name of 'therapeutic' of course." He added.

"Of course." She agreed.

She moved back toward him, placing kisses over his chest, and upper arms, and moving up his neck. She sucked at his ear lobes, and licked circles around his ears, causing a chill to move down his body, straight to his groin.

"Yes, this is definitely therapeutic." John quietly said.

She moved again, taking his mouth with hers, her tongue darting in his mouth, tasting, and being tasted.

John moved her up slightly, taking a hardened nipple in his mouth, slowly sucking at her. Stephanie was so very careful not to put her weight on him. She was small, but still, she held herself up on her arms, and allowed him access to her chest. She could feel his erection on her thigh, as he moved from one side to the next, inhaling her scent, and making her want her jeans off now. She moved back, and stood up next to the bed, unzipping her jeans, and dropping them to the floor, followed by her panties.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Oh much." He smiled at her.

She took a hold of the waist band of his shorts, and pulled them down and off, adding them to the pile of discarded clothing.

She moved slowly back toward him, kissing his thighs, and parting his legs, very gently. She moved her tongue over the head of his hard member, watching his facial expression as she did. He closed his eyes tightly and moaned, as she teased, moving her tongue so slowly up and down the shaft, then just when he thought he couldn't stand it another minute, she took him into her mouth, gliding her lips up and down over him. She moved his body slightly further down on the bed, and kneeled on the floor in front of him. He could barely see her, but her could most certainly feel her.

"Oh.....God...." he moaned as she quickened her pace.

She kept this up for several minutes, until he reached for her. She knew he wanted to make love to her, and readily complied. She planted a kiss on the head of his penis, and moved her lips up his chest, taking a nipple in her mouth and sucking hard. She noticed the fine beads of perspiration on his upper lip, and continued her assault on him.

She moved her lips up his chest to his neck, until he took her face in his hands, and moved his lips over hers, kissing her deeply. She reached back into the nightstand retrieving a condom, and slowly rolled it on him, followed by another assault with her mouth on his hard cock. He moaned his pleasure as she slowly moved her lips up and down, making him writhe beneath her touch. She didn't want him moving around too much, she needed to be careful. She moved back up his body, and placed her knees on the bed next to his thighs. She slowly allowed him to enter her, he was trying to be a much more active part in this assault, and Stephanie cautioned him again, "I'm in charge."

"I'm yours." He simply said.

She moved her hips slowly up and down, stopping when he was deeply within her, pausing long enough to make him moan again. His fingers worked their way down from her breasts, to her waist. He worked his way around to her buttocks, and kneaded them, trying to work her body forward. She quickly moved up and down, as his penis plunged within her.

"Oh......" He said again, momentarily forgetting what his fingers were aiming for.

She slowed her pace again, resting with him half in and half out, as his fingers made their way toward her. He readily found the spot, and Stephanie sucked in her breath as he rubbed gently at her, increasing his pace with her breathing. It didn't take long for Stephanie to reach her climax as John thrust his hips below her, plunging deeply within her as his fingers worked their magic. Stephanie cried out briefly as her body shuddered. She had never reached an orgasm this quickly, and it's intensity took her by surprise. She slowly moved her hips down again, allowing him to set the pace. He wanted her to move faster, and she complied, not wanting him to be moving around too much. She was kneeling above him on all fours, her weight no where on his body as she timed her body with his. His breathing came in great gasping pants, as Stephanie sat up upon him, her legs doing all the work. His hands were clutching at the bedcovers, and a fine sheen of perspiration was covering his chest. All conscious thought left him, as he felt himself reaching his climax. He moved his hips up toward Stephanie's wanting, needing, to be deeply within her. He cried out his release as Stephanie moved herself upon him.

They waited a few minutes for their breathing to return to normal, and Stephanie had moved to lay beside him on the bed.

"That was very therapeutic." John teased.

"Most definitely Dr." Stephanie replied.

"I think we need to stick together, don't you?" Stephanie asked.

"Yes, I do, you know, someone told me recently, that there is 'safety in numbers' and I feel very safe right now, so I guess there is truth to that saying, don't you think?" John said.

"Most definitely." Stephanie replied.

END




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