Disclaimer: (see part one) The characters Alex Casey and Dr Margo James are mine.
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This is part three. It�s got a bit of medical stuff in it, and I�m not an expert so forgive me if it�s not 100% accurate, I tried my best. This part is a bit of a filler, not much to do with my lucy/carter storyline. I think it just helps fill in the time of her recovery. I�ve introduced my first new character, Alex Casey. She is Carol Hathaway�s replacement, who would have by now left.J
----- (May): A few months later . . .
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�Carter!� Chuny called after him, as he disappeared down the corridor.
�Yeah,� he replied, turning back to face her.
�Where are you off to?�
�Exam four.� He started walking towards her. �Why?�
�We�re going to need you. There�s a multiple trauma coming in.�
�ETA?�
�Three minutes . . . some guy took a gun into a bookstore,� she told him.
�Okay, prep trauma one and two, STAT!� he said, moving swiftly towards trauma rooms.
�What's going on?� Alex Casey�s slender figure appeared from the direction of the nurse�s station.
�We got a couple of GSW�s coming in,� Carter explained.
�Oh . . . what can I do?�
�Um, Chuny probably needs some help in trauma one.�
�Okay.� She wandered away, her silky blond hair bobbing behind her.
Suddenly a gurney burst though the doors into the emergency department. �Damn it, they�re early,� he muttered.
�Let�s go people.� They heard Mark Greene�s voice travel through the air. He was already beside the gurney. �What have we got?�
�Thirty five year old man, gunshot wound to the right lower abdomen at close range, no LOC, BP 90 over 70, pulse 110.� The young paramedic reeled off all the necessary information and handed the patient over to reliable hands of the ER doctors.
�Let�s get this patient into trauma one. Carter you take the next one.�
�I�m on it.� He dashed out to meet the next casualty, followed by several others.
Two dark haired paramedics were unloading a gurney from an ambulance.
�Thirty one year old male, gunshots to the right chest . . .� one paramedic began giving Carter the details.
�What else have we got?� Luka asked the second paramedic.
�This is Mrs Lowe,� she said. �Mild abrasions to the neck and head, BP 100 over 85, pulse 90.�
�Okay,� he said, in his rich Croatian accent. �If you�ll come with me, Mrs Lowe, I�ll get you cleaned up.�
�Charge to two hundred . . . clear.� Carter shocked the patient, in a vain attempt to get his heart going. �Charge again . . . clear . . .�
�That�s it, we�ve done all we can,� Jing-mei said quietly.
Carter nodded slowly. �Time of death 2:23.� He stepped back, a look of disgust on his face. �This doesn�t get any easier,� he thought.
�Good work, John,� Alex said, putting on a brave smile.
�Doesn�t make up for it,� he muttered, leaving the room.
�Hey Carter.� Mark Greene suddenly appeared. �How is the gunshot patient?
�He didn�t make it.� Carter was exhausted.
�Oh . . . the other one is up in the OR. How are you doing anyway? Is your back giving you any trouble?
�It�s not too bad.� Carter said, his hand moving to his back.
�How�s Lucy?�
�She�s getting so much better.� They sat down in the now empty corridor.
�That�s good to hear.�
�She won�t see anyone . . . about the attack,� Carter blurted out. �Her mother made her go and see Dr James. She did it once, but now she won�t go back again. She claims she�s fine . . . but I don�t know.
�I know I can�t possibly begin to imagine what it�s been like for her . . . and you, but everyone survives things in their own way. Lucy has always been strong.� Mark frowned.
�I guess so . . . I don�t think she wants to face up to what has happened. She won�t even talk to me about it.�
�Um,� Randi interrupted them. �There�s a woman here. She�s looking for a Steve Lancaster . . .�
�Do you want me to do it?� Mark offered.
�No, I�ll do it.� Carter stood up.
�The strong always survive to fight another day,� Mark commented. �How about a drink later?�
�Sure.� Carter drifted back along the corridor to give the tragic news.
