The Way It Should Be
Chapter Four
By: Carrie Verkman
carebear1025@juno.com



Anna ran home in tears. Her make-up was stained from her tears and was running down her face. Anna looked in a mirror. "I'm a mess." She said. "Everything is a mess. My personal life, my relationship with Carter." Anna sat down on her bed. She rubbed her face with her hands. "I hope things don't get worse." 

Just then the phone rang. Anna picked it up on the first ring. "Hello?"

"Anna! It's Max. I'm so glad you're home." Max said cheerfully. 

Anna groaned. "Max, this isn't a good time." 

"No, no, no, just bear with me for a moment. I've got great news! I'm clean! I'm off the narcotics!"

Anna's mood shifted. "Max that's so great."

"Yep. And you know what else? I got my job back at the CHOP, and they are letting me come to Chicago to do a study in the Pediatric ER! Isn't that great?" 

Anna was excited now. "When are you coming?" 

"Next week." Max answered. "I was hoping I could stay with you if that's all right?"

"That's fine." 

"Wow Anna this is so great. It'll be like old times. Well I've got to go, but I'll see you next week." Max then hung up the phone.

Anna was smiling. It would be good to see Max again. But what about John, she wondered. She let her thoughts wander until she fell asleep. 

One week later…

John finally found a break in his busy schedule to talk to Anna. He wanted to tell her that he wasn't mad about the Chase thing and if Anna ever needed to talk, he would listen. John made his way to the lounge. Already he could hear Anna's cheerful laugh. She must be feeling better, he thought. John opened the door to the lounge and saw Anna standing there with Max Rosher. 

"Oh, Anna I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt you and your guest." John headed for the door. 

"Oh no John, stay." Anna said. "I want you to meet Max Rosher. He is here from Philadelphia doing a study on Pedes ER. Max this is John Carter.  The one I was telling you about." 

"Nice to meet you Doctor Carter. Anna has been telling me so much about you and all of your work." Max shook his hand. 

"The pleasure is mine." John said. "Max, can I talk to Anna alone please?" 

"Yeah sure. I'll be in the cafeteria sweetheart. John, it's been a pleasure." Max left John and Anna alone. 

"Sweetheart?" asked John. 

"Max is always such a big smoothie. What's up?" Anna said. 

"I just wanted to tell you that I have no hard feelings about the Chase thing and I've put it behind me." John explained. 

Anna was surprised. "Oh well, thank you."

John continued. "Also I know you were upset the other night and if you ever need to talk I'll be here."

"Thank you John. I am doing much better. Max has been so great to talk to." Anna said. 

"Say is this Max guy the old boyfriend?" asked John. 

"Why? Are you jealous?" Anna asked playfully. 

"What? No, I was just curious, that's all. I mean he's just an old colleague right?" 

"Right." Anna said. John was acting weird.

"And I'm sure he's not staying at your place either." John said. 

"Actually he is. John what is the big deal?" 

"Nothing." John said. "You know what? I'm just being paranoid. I shouldn't have bothered you. I've got to go now." John left the lounge, Anna was left puzzled.  

"I'm telling you she was definitely flirting with this Max Rosher guy who all of a sudden appears out of nowhere!" John explained. Him and Kerry were sitting on her living room couch after dinner. Once again Kerry inquired into was John was thinking about.  

"Maybe this isn't the ex-boyfriend she told you about." Kerry suggested.  

"I know that it is. I just know." John said. "I finally start to get somewhere with the lovely Anna Del Amico and BAM! Max Rosher shows up and ruins my life!"  John threw his head back and sighed. "I'm too late Kerry. Anna is going to fall for this Max guy and run off with him, leaving me alone forever."  

Kerry spoke up. "You don't know whether Max is an old boyfriend of hers or just a great friend. I don't think you should look into this much further. If Anna wants to tell you where her relationship is going then let her tell you on her own. It would be rude to ask." 

"Yeah you're right. You're always right. How come you didn't become a psychiatrist instead of a doctor?" John asked.  

"Because I don't want to get paid for hearing other peoples problems. I just sit and listen to you and you pay the rent." Kerry said laughing. 

John threw a pillow at her. "That was mean Kerry Weaver!" But Kerry's joke had lightened the mood. John was feeling better now after sharing his feelings. 

"Kerry, have you seen Carter?" Anna asked. 

"He's in the lounge taking his break." Kerry answered. 

"Thanks." Anna headed to the lounge. She found John drinking coffee. He looked up when Anna came in. "Hey Anna? Where's that old smoothie Max?" he asked sarcastically. 

"Oh be quiet. Max is up in the OR observing pediatric surgery." She said. Then she got serious. "John I know you said yesterday that I could talk to you if I needed it, and, well I want to tell you something."

"Go ahead." John put his coffee cup down. 

"I'm not being totally honest with you about Max." Anna explained. "He is my ex-boyfriend. The one I was in love with. But I don't feel that way about him anymore. Max was the one addicted to narcotics, but he's clean and that's why he was granted this study." 

"Oh I see." John said. "Well Anna, thank you for being honest with me."

"Okay well I got to get back to work." Anna left the lounge. John had a wicked smile on his face. "I knew it!" He said to himself. 

Later that night Max and Anna were lying in bed together. Max insisted he had a bad back and refused to sleep on Anna's lumpy couch bed, so the end result was the two of them sharing a bed. Anna seemed distracted. She was thinking about her growing attraction towards John. She had planned to tell Max that night she was finally over him.   

Max spoke up. "Hey baby doll, what's the matter?" 

"Nothing." She lied. 

"Are you thinking of that nosy Carter? You know today I caught him spying on me in the cafeteria. It's like he was doing a background check on me or something. What a moron." Max said. 

"I don't think he's that bad." Anna said. "He's a great doctor and he's really friendly." 

"Whatever." 

Anna was disgusted. "Max you are always so cranky. Give him a chance."

Max went on. "He can get all the chances he wants, but that won't make me like him." 

"Max is there anyone you do like?"

Max had a passionate smile on his face. "I like you, Anna." Max stroked the hair away from her face and kissed her. The two of them came to the point to where they had already taken off their clothes. 

"Max, if we're going to do this we need protection." Anna said.

"I don't have anything." Max answered. 

Anna headed towards the bathroom. "That's okay. I'm always prepared." She pulled out a box of condoms. Anna picked one out and took the wrapper off. She was about to throw it in the trashcan when she saw the empty bottle of pills. Anna picked it up and was horrified. Anger swept through her body. She confronted Max holding the empty bottle in her hand. 

"You lied to me." She said. 

Max looked up. "What's that?" 

"Don't fuck with me, you lying bastard." Anna felt tears in her eyes. 

"Seriously, I-I don't know where that came from." 

"You lied to me about being clean. These are your pills!" 

Max began to apologize. "Anna I'm so sorry. I couldn't do it. I couldn't stay clean. One of the reasons I came here was to see if you'd help me."

Anna started to cry. "I would never help you now." 

"Anna let's talk about this. There's no need to cry." Max begged. 

"Get out."

"Anna-"

"Get out now before I call the police. GO!" Anna demanded. She got dressed. Max packed his things and Anna watched him leave. Anna was still crying and didn't know if she could stop. There was only one man that could make her feel better. The one man she should have been with all along. Anna grabbed her coat and left for Kerry Weaver's house where John Carter was living. 

End of Chapter Four