Safety In Numbers




Tom finished his questioning with Helen, who was looking much better after some rest. He had overheard the nurse saying she was going to be released today. He was glad she was all right. She was lucky. He did remind her not to walk in the parking garage alone. It's just not a good idea. He felt it was his duty to remind, especially older women, of the things that can happen when they are unprotected. Although, Helen did remind him, she was the one with the mace...he had to give her that one.

Now, onto Jose. Tom needed to speak with him. From what he understood, the kid was off the drugs, and feeling remorseful. His mother must have talked to him, that was Tom's feeling. Usually these kids are suddenly remorseful when mommy steps in. They usually know just what to say, to get the lightest sentence possible. Jose was a repeat offender, and this time, he had gone way over the usual juvenile stuff. Tom figured he knew he was doing time, and he had suddenly developed this great social conscience. He doubted it would last. The obscenities would start once he knew it wasn't going to work this time.

Tom introduced himself to the guards, and stepped into the room. Jose was dabbing his eyes with a tissue. "Oh please." Tom thought. Then, Jose said the oddest thing.

"How's the guy?"

"What guy?" Tom asked leery.

"The guy I hurt? How's the guy I hurt?" Jose repeated patiently.

Tom was taken aback, usually these kids could give a shit about their victim. All they cared about was themselves, and their problems, or excuses.

"I think he's gonna be okay." Tom said.

"Oh that's good, that's good man." Jose breathed an audible sigh of relief.

"He asked about you, you know?" Tom said.

Jose looked equally shocked. "He asked about me? Man, I thought he would wish I was blind or dead or worse!"

"No man, he asked how you were, and I think he meant it sincerely." Tom answered.

Jose was silent, as the tears slid down his face. Tom gave him a minute to compose himself.

"I really did it this time, didn't I?"

"Yeah, dude, you really did." Tom believed in honesty, and he needed to let this kid know, he was in it for the long haul.

"I can't believe how much I've screwed up my life." Jose said quietly.

"I can. You've been on this downward spiral for the past 8 years Jose. It started with vandalism, and moved to breaking and entering, destruction of property, truancy, now you add two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, first degree assault, and attempted rape, you're in it thick."

"I know how all this happened." Jose said more to himself than to Detective Rich. "It's the drugs man, the drugs, they make you do stupid stuff, stupid stuff when you're on them, stupid stuff to get more of them."

"I agree Jose, but wasn't it you who chose to take the drugs? Do you feel that you're no longer in control of yourself, it's the fault of the drugs?"

"No, that's not what I mean man! Listen to me! It's like a disease, what I did. It's like a cancer or something, it eats away at you until there ain't nothin' left. No compassion, no caring, no simple human decency, you just don't fuckin' care about anybody but YOU, you're drugs, you're high, getting' the cash to support your high. You couldn't possibly understand it." Jose looked up at Tom, "You just don't know man."

"I guess you're right, I haven't taken anything stronger than an aspirin." The two sat in silence for several minutes.

"I guess you need to get my confession or whatever huh?" Jose said.

"Yeah, something like that." Tom got his pen and small yellow legal pad out of his pocket. He set the tape recorder on the end of the bed.

"Ready?"

"Yeah, man, I'm ready." Jose wiped at his eyes again, and Tom actually was feeling a little bit sorry for this kid. He had known Jose for a while, and he had never once seen him actually "look" like he felt bad about something, and he had also never seen him clean. This was a first.

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

"So, just lounging around huh?" Stephanie said as she made her way through the doorway. She had observed him, with some difficulty, pondering turning the nurse's light on. He looked like he was having trouble getting back out of the chair. She figured she could rescue him just as well as one of the nurse's.

"Yeah, that's it, just hanging around." John smiled at her.

"You look awful." Stephanie stated matter-of-factly.

"You don't." John's smile broadened.

"Flattery will get you everywhere, Dr. Carter." Stephanie leaned over and kissed him gently on the lips.

"That's good to know. Did I tell you you smell good too?"

Stephanie leaned back over, and kissed him again.

"I like the way this is going! Did I tell you that I'm glad to see you?" John said, "That counts as flattery."

"Oh, sorry." Stephanie leaned back over, and planted another kiss, this one longer.

They parted, and Stephanie looked at him seriously, "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm good." John said.

"You trying to get back in bed maybe?" She asked.

"I was just thinking about that, seems my butt fell asleep in this chair." John smiled at her.

"Would you like me to help you get into bed." Stephanie said.

"Miss Ward, are you trying to get me into bed?" John asked innocently.

"Eventually..." Stephanie took a dramatic pause, "Flattery will get you everywhere."

She took him under the arm, and helped him out of the chair and back into bed. He grimaced once, when she touched his ribs. She didn't know what all was injured, and apologized profusely as he waved her off.

"Thanks." He said when he finally caught his breath.

"Was that supposed to be sarcastic?" She asked.

"No, I mean it, thanks, thanks for being here, thanks for helping me, and yeah, thanks for telling me I look awful. I don't need flattery for you to get 'everywhere.'" He rolled over onto his side as Stephanie sat in the chair he had just vacated. She took his hand, and leaned her head onto the side of the bed.

"I've missed you."

"I've missed you too."

Kerry was standing just outside the door, long enough to hear the exchange. She had just come to 'check' on him, she hadn't expected this. He already had someone else. She didn't realize how easily replaceable she was. It was a hard lesson to learn, and one she realized, she had brought onto herself.

She decided to stop lurking outside the door. She needed to know what this 'competition' was like.

"So, how are you doing?" Kerry asked as she moved toward his bed.

They parted quickly, too quickly Kerry thought.

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

The nurse had come in with Helen's discharge orders. All she had was a pair of scrubs. She would have like to have had some clothes to wear home, but you can't have everything. The rape counselor had come and spoken to her about post-traumatic syndrome and all that. Helen had heard it many times, but never directed at her. She called down to John's room, she knew Stephanie was there. She could take her home.

She dialed the room number, and was shocked when Kerry Weaver answered the phone.

"Uh..is this John Carter's room?" Helen asked, just to be sure.

"Yes, this is Kerry Weaver, Helen is that you?"

"Uh...yes, I was looking for my niece, well, great niece actually, is Stephanie around?"

"She's right here, let me get her for you."

Stephanie spoke for a few minutes, as John and Kerry looked uncomfortably at one another.

"I need to take my aunt home, she's been discharged. Is there anything you need from your apartment?" Stephanie asked, clearly ignoring Kerry. She was polite when they were formally introduced, but she knew from what her aunt had told her, that this woman had made John miserable. She didn't want to seem "too" friendly.

"Uh...yeah, as long as you asked. I would love some sweats and a T-shirt." John said, "You shouldn't have any problem getting in, my door is gone. The police kicked it in. Don't ask."

"Okay, I won't ask, I'll be back in a few hours. If there's anything else you need, you know my cell phone number, just give me a call."

Stephanie leaned over a gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek. No sense in rubbing it in. Besides, John looked uncomfortable enough. "See ya soon."

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

Helen and Stephanie went up to survey the damage to John's apartment, and Stephanie decided she would clean for him before he got home. There's nothing worse then coming home to a dirty house. They were surprised when they saw the new front door, with the big read bow and the note on his door. Helen decided that they should use her key to get in. It was easier then calling the building super.

They were both shocked at the trail of blood leading into the bedroom, and the fortress he had built in the apartment. They went about cleaning up and putting things back to rights. Stephanie went into John's room, and searched for the things he had asked for. She noticed the pile of clothes thrown in the back of his closet, and the empty hangers separated from the rest of his clothing. He had a laundry basket right in his room, "guys" she thought as she gathered the clothing and tossed them into the basket. She gathered his things, and finished putting his apartment back 'together' again. She made sure Helen was comfortable, and got a grocery list as well.

Stephanie made her way back out, leaving Helen with the cordless phone. She said she was going to take a nap, but Stephanie thought she looked too keyed up to do that. She told Stephanie that she was calling John's room in half an hour, and expected her to answer. Stephanie knew she was just trying to be cautious, and indulged her.

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

Kerry had thankfully left, when Elizabeth walked in to check on him. She had poked and prodded, apologizing continually for hurting him, "Does this hurt? Oh sorry..." Was the phrase of the day. The JP drain was out, and she wanted to get a PA and lateral chest film. She wanted to convert his chest tube to a water seal before removing it, there appeared to be an air leak, and she wanted to make sure everything was as it should be before removing it.

"Oh, and by the way, if you ever do that again, while on my service, there will be hell to pay." Elizabeth said while writing orders in his chart.

John decided to keep his mouth shut, no use in rehashing this. He had already been lectured to the nine's by Benton, and didn't want to go through that again.

"Did you hear me Doctor Carter?" She wasn't about to let him get out of this one.

"Yes, I heard you."

"You are not answering me." Elizabeth looked up from her writing, "tell me you'll never do that again on my service, and you know darned good and well, of what I am referring."

"Okay, okay, I'll never ever ever do that again, is that satisfactory?"

"Good, glad you see things my way. I'll get the results of her films and we'll talk again this evening. Do try to be good." Elizabeth hugged him tightly, "we've gotten quite used to you Carter, and I wouldn't want anything untoward to befall you, who else would be around to bear my wrath?" She smiled as she parted from him, and made her way out the door.

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

Stephanie stepped from her rental car to the curb. Her aunt had given her explicit instructions NOT to park in the garage. She had gladly obeyed. She grabbed the bag of clothes out of her car, and entered through the ambulance bay doors. Kerry Weaver was sitting at the front desk. "Oh great." Stephanie thought.

"Stephanie right?" Kerry said, her tone patronizing.

"Yes, Kerry isn't it?" Stephanie returned the favor.

"So, how long have you known Dr. Carter?" Kerry asked. John would answer none of her inquiries.

"I've known 'of him' from my aunt, so I feel I've known him for months." Stephanie said evasively.

"So, what do you do for a living?" Kerry asked.

"I'm flattered that you are so interested in me, uh..Kerry right? Yeah, I'm flattered, but I don't really think that's what you want to know. John's a great guy. You threw him back, and I picked up the pieces. So, why don't you just cut the bullshit. You two obviously have to have a working relationship, and I realize you two have a 'history' but it's high time you allowed him to move on. You are the one who cut him loose. Just keep that in mind." Stephanie had never been so thankful for an elevator.

She stepped on, leaving Kerry Weaver slightly open-mouthed.

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

The phone was ringing as Stephanie walked through the door. John hadn't moved to answer it as it rang incessantly. "Wow, he must really be out." Stephanie thought as she picked up the receiver.

"Yes, I'm here. He's asleep. Okay, I'll call before I leave, you take a nap, and I'll be home later with your groceries. Is there anything else you need while I'm out?" Stephanie waited for her reply then said her good-byes.

She sat next to him, watching him sleep. The nurse came in a few minutes later and added something to his IV. She told Stephanie that he had had a shot of morphine, and would probably be out for a while.

Stephanie sat, watching his chest rise and fall. He looked like he was so deep in sleep. Stephanie took his hand, it was cold. She pulled the covers up, and sat back down, her eyelids were heavy. The long flight and nonstop activity had taken a toll on her. She fell asleep in the chair.

She awoke dazed 15 minutes later to John's hand jerking away from her. She looked over at him, he appeared to be asleep, but his arms and legs were moving nonstop, and he was mumbling something. She couldn't really make out just exactly what he was saying. She leaned in closer, and he let out a yell, scaring Stephanie half to death. "John!" she called to him to wake him up, "John!" Stephanie didn't know what was going on, she pushed the nurse's light, and stood gazing down at the pained expression on his face.



Part 9
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