Unexpected Overdose
Part Three
By Renee
RA3LuvSug4@aol.com

(Im 15 now, so where my fanfic is, could you change my age from 14 to 15?)



"Yea, I know it's a pain, but it's required with all patients who attempt suicide. You do know that…" Carter wasn't paying attention to Dr. Deraad as he blabbed on about how he shouldn't have done that. He moved his eyes and gazed around the room. Pretty neat for a psychiatrist's office. He thought. He counted 72 ceiling tiles, one window, and twelve pencils, of which seven had no erasers left. He was starting to estimate how many paper clips were in the container when he sensed someone was looking at him. He was right, because when he looked up, Dr. Dr. Deraad was looking right at him.

"John, you know you do have to pay attention, right?" John blinked and looked at him. He nodded his head.

"I was." He said. Dr. Deraad looked skeptical and asked "Then what did I just say?"

John paused. "Umm…What happened to Chase wasn't my fault and I shouldn't have thought I had no one to turn to?" Carter said, almost turning the end of the sentence into a question. Dr. Deraad nodded hesitantly and said that he was free to go.

"Oh, and John, if you ever, ever need to talk, you know where my office is." And with that Carter left.



In order to leave the hospital, Carter had to go through the ER. He hoped that no one would see him as he passed through the bay doors. He was just about to pass the admit desk when he saw Dr. Benton looking at a chart for a surgery consult he was going to go to. Oh, Carter hoped he didn't look up. Just as he thought that, Benton looked up. Oh, great thought Carter. Now he's going to talk to me. Carter continued to walk, hoping Benton didn't see Carter.

"Hey-Carter! Carter!" Benton called. Carter stopped dead in his tracks and slowly turned around.

"What?" He said, his voice full of agitation. Benton came over and motioned for them to step outside. They went out and found a bench to sit on. It was a few moments before Peter spoke.

"Hey, Carter, how are you doing?" Benton asked. Carter rolled his eyes and sighed heavily. He looked up into the sky. He was sick and tired of people asking him if he was ok. He had to listen all day constantly to people asking how he was doing, if he was ok, how he shouldn't have tried to kill yourself, and what were you thinking? Blah, blah, blah, blah!

"Carter. Carter!" Said Benton abruptly. Carter looked at him.

"What?" He said, obviously his mind was elsewhere, and Peter could see that.

"I just asked you a question."

"Oh yea…Uhh…I'm fine." Carter said, remembering the question and putting emphasis on fine. There was an awkward silence and Carter felt uncomfortable. He hated those silences, especially with Dr. Benton. Carter wanted to tell him so much but he couldn't. Benton was the kind of guy you just don't share that kind of stuff with. Carter stood up abruptly.

"I have to get going. Bye." And he walked away. Peter watched as he walked away.



Peter was in surgery performing on a ruptured aorta when Shirley came in.

"Dr. Benton, they wanted me to tell you this since Carter's not here; they figured you could tell him. Chase is waking up." Benton immediately put down the instrument he had been holding and ran out of the room. He took the elevator to the ICU and stood in the window looking into Chase's room. There was a doctor in there doing a neurological exam. Benton watched and waited a few minutes until the doctor came out.

"Hello, Dr. Benton. What can I do for you?" The doctor asked while he was scribbling some notes onto Chase's chart.

"Well, I was wondering how Chase was doing. I figured it would be best if I could tell Carter due to the previous events." Benton said. The doctor agreed to tell him.

"Dr. Benton, to be perfectly frank, I think he will never be able to function by himself. He's moderately retarded, and he can't talk well." Dr. Benton sighed and leaned against the wall. Oh, man. How am I going to tell Carter?



"Hello?" Carter answered the phone in his apartment.

"Carter? It's Dr. Benton." There was a silence.

"Uhh…Listen, I don't know how to tell you this, but uhh…Chase woke up. He had a neurological exam and it doesn't look too good." Peter said. Again, a silence. This one didn't last long, though.

"I'll be right there." Said Carter hurriedly, and then he hung up.



Benton was standing outside Chase's room when Carter walked up. Benton didn't know what to do, so he just went into Chase's room and Carter followed. Chase was extubated and lying down. His eyes were open, but they were slowly looking around the room. Carter stood at the edge of the bed. Chase looked at Carter and must have recognized him because he made a sort of grunting noise and smiled. Peter looked at Carter, who was just standing there looking at his cousin. Carter gently took Chase's hand and said he was sorry. Then he left. Benton decided to let him leave, because if he followed him, it would probably make things worse. It was just the way Carter was. Peter would find him later, when he had time to calm down. Benton looked at the time. He had to go to surgery.