Caught Unawares
Part Six
By Cimerene
cimerene@gci.net

Rated: PG

A special thanks you to Cathy for the title, editing. Also thanks go out to Jim and J.R. for their beta reading and general good humor!

Spoilers - There are season 7 spoilers, write me if you need more clarification.

Notes: Apologies for this chapter taking so long, real life intruded, and I was unable to make it stop.

Preview:
"It's come to my attention that a certain attending we have on staff here at county is seeing a certain resident of ours. Now, we all know that there are rules in situations such as this, Kerry, but I want you to get to the bottom of this "situation" and have it stopped immediately. If it continues we might have to find someone who is shall we say," he paused and stared her straight in to her face. "A little more concerned with the rules."

Robert imparted his words then strutted away, unaware of the knife he had just plunged into Kerry's chest.

Kerry stood in silence, shocked to her very core,

She watched as Romano calmly strode out of the building, unaware and seemingly uncaring of the strife he had just caused. His words reverberated inside her head. In crystal clear clarity, Kerry understood exactly what he meant, lose John, or lose her job.

All of their efforts at keeping their relationship a secret had failed,

Silently Kerry gathered up her paperwork and made her way though the milling throng. As she passed her fellow coworkers, her mind refused to acknowledge their presence, so Intense was the misery that Romano had invoked in her.

Entering the lounge Kerry slammed the paperwork on the table. Staring unseeingly around at the room before her, she realized exactly how close she was to losing her peace of mind. As quickly as she had entered the room, she left just as hastily, stalking off towards the ladies room.

Kerry opened the door of a small stall, automatically locking the door behind her, in a futile effort to lock her pain outside. It was only when she had seated herself on the edge of the toilet seat that she let tears of frustration and bitterness roll down her face.

She was expected to give John up, that fact was crystal clear. She was expected to be a good little ER chief and drop everything she had ever wanted, for her job. But really, what choice did she have? She could leave County. But her mind railed against the idea. She had made this place hers. She knew as administrators were concerned, she hadn't been in the job very long, but still, this place had become a second home to her.

And John, her mind rocked at the idea of his never accomplishing his dreams of becoming an ER doctor. He was so close to finishing his residency, leaving now would severely disrupt his future career goals. John loved the ER just as much as Kerry did. She saw the fire in his eyes when he was in the midst of a trauma, the way he seemed to excel at doing the best for his patients. His kindness and generosity towards those who were hurting or in pain far outweighed the pettiness of Romano's threats.

Threats, that Kerry unwillingly admitted, could be the undoing of everything they had both worked so hard for. She reluctantly admitted that while Romano might be right technically and legally, morally however, he was dead wrong. Just the fact that Benton and Cleo were tolerated as a couple made just as much of an argument for their case then against it.

And John, how was she ever going to live with out him? Give up making love at three in the morning, soft kisses by candlelight, gentle caresses that spoke so eloquently of his love and concern for her? Give up making love to him when her mind and body and soul cried out for him constantly. Give up the laughter and joy he brought to her life?

The one overwhelming fact that seemed to spring to her mind was how she did not want to give John up. She wasn't ready yet, Kerry decided, not without a fight. Hastily she wiped away a tear. This was not the time for tears, she thought to herself. What she needed now was options, options and a way to fight Romano. Suddenly, with crystal clarity, Kerry knew what she had to do.

All she had to do now was convince John and set her plan in action.



"John, this makes perfect sense!" Kerry said softly, "just listen to me. If we go ahead with this, it should solve all of our problems, legally Romano won't have a leg to stand on!"

Kerry found herself staring into John's expressive face, wondering what he would say to her plan.

"Kerry, I'm not so sure. The ramifications could still extend farther than you are planning now, are you sure you want to go ahead with this?" John asked quietly.

He watched Kerry's face, his eyes intent on hers. Willing her to show him by her actions that what she was thinking was the correct course for them.

"John, it makes sense! Please agree with me." Kerry whispered. "It doesn't have to be forever." She trailed off as John kissed her suddenly, shutting off her words.

John kissed Kerry fiercely, his attention solely on their kiss, drawing apart slightly he held her tightly. "I will not give you up." He whispered softly into her hair, holding her tightly to him.

"I'll go ahead with your plan," John finally said after a long period of silence, "on one condition."

Kerry pulled away from his embrace, tipping her head back to see his face. "And that would be?"

Whispering softly into her ear, Kerry's face lit up. This was a condition she would most definitely meet.


 Several hours and one list later


"Damn!" John's voice carried slightly as he slammed the phone down. The last thing he wanted was to hear the word "no" one more time! Grimacing, he picked up the phone and dialed again, just to get another answering machine. He spoke briefly, long enough to give out his pager number. His temper on a short fuse, he slammed the phone down, struggling to keep control.

"Problems?" Luka said quietly, as he entered the room.

"At this point I would take anyone!" In his frustration, John neglected to mention to whom he was trying to reach.

"May I?" Luka said as he took the paper from John's hand and read it silently.

"The denomination doesn't matter to you?" Luka asked, his accent thicker with each word.

Shaking his head in frustration, John snatched the paper back. "NO, why?"

"I might know someone." Luka said as he picked up the phone and dialed.

John waited impatiently as Luka spoke to someone in Croatian, then handed the phone to him.

"Speak slowly her English is still improving." With that Luka walked out of the room, leaving a bemused John to his phone call.

"I'll be with the head Lac in curtain three if you need me!"

Slamming her cane on a nearby garbage can did nothing to ease the frustration she felt in the moment. Kerry watched as Mark scurried into the lounge in a vane attempt to duck out of her path.

"Mark!" Her voice carried stridently down the hallway, halting him in his tracks.

Mark grimaced before turning to meet her.

"Kerry?" He questioned half-heartedly. No one in their right mind stopped Kerry while she was in a mood, and right now Kerry was definitely in a mood.

"Mark, I'm tired, overworked and well past irritated." With that Kerry slammed the folders she was carrying on the table in front of her. Mark sighed and took a half step backwards.

"This can't go on! I've spent the last two hours reviewing these charts, and to say the least they're a mess!" Kerry motioned towards the one on the top, one that coincidentally had Mark's handwriting on it.

"Do, uh, you need some help?" Mark unwilling asked.

"I'm so glad you asked," Kerry replied as she picked up several file folders.  "Resident reviews! Have them done by Monday!"

"But Elizabeth and I had plans for Vermont.. Uh, I mean, that is....I'll see what I can do!" Mark said hastily, as the gleam in Kerry's eyes intensified.

"Good!" Kerry casually grabbed the chart on the top, then replaced it on the table. John's name could clearly be seen on the label.

As she left she made a point of clicking her cane harder than normal as if to display her continued agitation. Almost on a side note, she said over her shoulder.

"I'm glad I can count on your help, oh, by the way, you might want to consider doing Malucci's review also! I've more than enough on my plate." One down and two to go she thought as she headed down the hallway for the nearest phone.

"John" Millicent Carter began softly. "I'm sure there is a good explanation as to why you have dragged me down here!" Millicent stared around the room at the décor; the restaurant that was across the street from John's work had a less than sterling reputation.

"Actually, all I said Gamma, was I needed to talk to you, you're the one who insisted on coming to work." John laughed lightly at her.

"Well, are you going to drag this out of all eternity? Or are you going to tell me what is going on?" Millicent said calmly. John may have been her favorite grandson, but he did tend to drag a joke out a bit long.

"Well, I was wondering what you were doing this Friday? I have somewhere I need to be, and I was wondering if you would like to attend." John asked softly, his eyes intent on her face.

Millicent contemplated her grandson for a moment. "I have a benefit meeting at 10:00, but if it's important, I suppose I could put it off.

"Its very important to me, Gamma." John told her intently before looking down at his pager, his voice shaking slightly. "Damn, I had hoped to have more time before I was paged. Will you be home later? I could stop by? Maybe for dinner?"

Millicent stared as her grandson prepared to leave the table, his entire attention on the pager before him.

"Call if you're going to be late, I'll instruct Rosa to have dinner ready by seven!" She called out to him.

"I won't be late, Gamma!" he replied as he whirled out the restaurant door.