The Snapping
Part One
By Zoinks
ergirlz@yahoo.com

DISCLAIMER: Disclaimer? Why even bother, everyone knows that I did not create these people, I am just a regular person who plays with their lives by placing them in seemingly non-probable situations. Thank You.



Kerry Weaver stormed through the doors of County General. She proceeded straight into the lounge and threw her briefcase on the floor. She could already tell this day was going to suck, and she felt bad for anyone that crossed her.

"What's wrong, chief?" Dave Malucci asked. He had entered the lounge right after her and witnessed the briefcase throw.

"Nothing," she grunted and then continued, "I was reading the obituaries this morning, and I see that the girl I got suspended for trying to save died three days ago, and her caregiver, who I asked to keep me informed on her condition, never told me. A fuse blew in my house, causing my electricity to turn off. Of course, no electricians are available to help me, when I'm available to be helped, so I have to live like an Amish person for the next six days. And, oh yeah, the brakes on my car need replaced, but don't even ask, you are not going to be the one to tune up that piece of garbage this time. Now, why aren't you out there treating patients?" Kerry's voice had an impatient twinge in it, with her tone a couple notches below a yell.

"Because you were talking to me," was Malucci's answer.

"Don't give me that bull-shit, now go treat, cure people, do your job."

Dave gave Kerry a weird look, she growled at him like a dog, and he darted from the room. "Don't even cross Weaver today," he announced to the staff hanging out at the admits desk, "She is in such a bitchy mood. I tried to be nice and she chewed me
out."

"What else is new?" Mark joked, "Here, exam 3." He handed a chart to Malucci, who gratefully accepted the opportunity to exit the path of Weaver. "Now, where were we?" Mark asked.

"We were picking who we thought would make the girls gymnastics team for Sydney. The person who gets the most right out of the seven members wins the pool. It costs $2.00 per choice," Haleh re-informed the group.

"Put me down for Shannon Miller, the Dominique's, Amy Chow..."

"What is this?" Kerry interrupted Yosh as he began to select his choices.

"What's what, Kerry?" Mark asked as nonchalantly as possible.

"This," she said pointing to the chart made up of staff members and Olympic hopefuls.

"Oh, a new attempt at bettering our patient care," Mark replied.

"Does bettering patient care mean flaunting your money around?" Mark looked at the twenty he was gripping and tried not to smile.

"No betting while on duty," she barked. Kerry looked at the group, all stifling smiles. "Gimmee that," she snatched Mark's
twenty, "You can have it back at the end of the day."

"I guess I'll place my bet when my shift ends," Mark said in a hushed voice to his co-workers.

"Yeah, you better," Kerry threatened, she then turned and hobbled away.

"She's on the warpath," Haleh sighed.

"What'd I tell yah?" Malucci asked returning from exam 3.

"The days that she's here, I can honestly say I dread coming to work," Yosh added.

"We all do," was Mark's response.

"Did someone page me?" Dr. Corday entered the admits area, where the group had yet to disband.

Haleh looked up, "Not any of us, Kerry might have.'

"Do you know where she is?"

"No, and we aren't intent on finding her. She chewed us out for running a betting pool, and took Mark's twenty."

"Why'd you let her steal your money?"

"She didn't steal it, she confiscated it. I get it back at the end of my shift."

By this time, the crowd was laughing at the stupidity of it all. The patient flow was steadily slow, so the doctors didn't really have much work to do that day. Yosh looked at Elizabeth, "Do you want to place your bets for the seven girls chosen to the US Olympic team, or are you staying loyal to England in the games?"

"No, I'm going with America, but I'm afraid I don't follow gymnastics."

"None of us do, we just bet for the money," Haleh explained.

"Oh, okay, in that case, put me down for Amy Chow, Dom..."

"That is it!" a voice boomed, interrupting the bet placing, "Dr. Corday, what are you doing?"

"Discussing patient care," Elizabeth said as innocently as possible.

"Yes, and I suppose that Amy Chow is your patient?"

"Yes she is, well, she was, back in England, she had a stress fracture to her wrist, something about parallel bars, and double toe loops, it's a long story," she looked at Yosh who was holding the gambling chart behind his back, "I'll finish telling you later." Elizabeth turned and walked away as coolly as possible.

She stepped onto the elevator to go back upstairs and ran into Chuny. "I'm sorry, are you all right?"

"No, it's my fault, I'm fine," Chuny replied.

"Hey, there's some illegal betting pool going on at the admits desk that Kerry's been trying to bust up."

"I know, it was my idea, but she already found out about it?"

"Yeah, I got caught in the act. I'll finish betting as soon as she leaves though."

"Great. I gotta go put in my picks before all the good ones are taken." With that, Chuny exited the elevator and headed out front. She saw Dr. Carter standing with the group at the desk.

"I've been hearing excellent things about Jamie Dantchzer, and the girl named Elise or Elsie or something, so put me down for them two. Also, I think that..." John looked at the group he was talking to. Everyone was making slicing motions across their throats with their hands, and trying to divert him from his line of thinking.

"Hey guys, can you be serious for like two minutes, I'm trying place a very important bet. Now, I'm sorry if Dr. Weaver doesn't condone this, but maybe it's just because she's not good at gymnastics. It's not our fault that the Chief didn't excel in something..." John continued rambling, while the group continued to try and shut him up. Finally, John caught on, "She's
standing right behind me, isn't she?"

"Yep," Mark said. He wanted to burst out laughing, but didn't for fear, he'd lose more money.

"There will be no more betting pools in this facility. Does everyone understand me, because if not, you're all fired! Is that clear?" Kerry yelled.

Before anyone could answer, Peter Benton entered the area. He was not aware of Kerry's presence and was holding fourteen dollars.

"Elizabeth informed me of a betting pool down here. I want in. Put me down for, hmm," Peter paused as he studied the chart. He selected his choices and went to turn over his money when someone else snatched it.

"You can have this back at the end of your shift," Weaver's voice said demonically. "Hey, what are you doing?"

"Perhaps your little friend upstairs didn't tell you, but there will be no more betting pools down here. I don't even know how she would know about it, because according to her, Amy Chow was one of her patients,"

Kerry stormed away and muttered under her breath, "That bitch, thinks she could pull a fast one on me, yeah, she's so cool with her around the world practicing..."

"Kerry, we could still here you," Mark spoke up, shocked at what he heard his colleague saying.

"Good," Weaver shouted and stormed off.

"The one time I actually try to place a bet," Peter mumbled.

"You can place it on your break, or when your shift ends. We'll hold the pool at Doc's from now on," Chuny decided.

"I can't believe Kerry is so upset about a betting pool. What the hell's her problem?" John asked, more to himself than anyone in particular.

Benton flashed a half smile, "Maybe she finally snapped."

"I agree," Mark said, "Did you hear her, she's never been that rude. I mean she always speaks her mind, but that, well..."

"Imagine what she must be saying about me," John interrupted, "I mean Corday wasn't talking mean about her, but I was."

"She needs to seek professional help," Haleh concluded.

"Immediately," Yosh added.

"So, what are we waiting for, let's get her upstairs," Chuny said excitedly. It looked like Weaver was going to be their first patient of the day.

"No," John said, "This is a matter that must be handled very delicately. We need a plan."