Kidnapped
Part Six B
By Lynne Facella
Mulderette@aol.com or Lynne1919@aol.com

Rating: PG (language)
Keywords: Angst
Spoilers: Episodes through All in the Family
Archive: Sure, just ask so I know where it is going.

Disclaimer: All ER characters are the property of Warner Brothers, NBC, etc., etc. (The bad guys are mine).

Summary: Dr. Carter is held for ransom and an unwitting Dr. Benton gets dragged along for the ride.

Note: Thanks so much to members of the ERFFCC for your comments and suggestions. Kristen, thank you for your ideas that helped me through my writer's block. Also thanks for everyone who has supported this series. I really appreciate your feedback :)



Bill, Frank and Tony sat in O'Leary's Pub drinking beers and munching on sandwiches. It was only four in the afternoon, but Bill had decided that grabbing an early dinner might help calm their nerves and kill some time. The day had been interminably long. Once he had spoken to Mrs. Carter, it was just a matter of waiting. He couldn't help feeling some guilt over Carter and Benton. He had almost considered going back to see how the kid was doing, but had finally decided this was a bad idea.

"Man, pretty soon I'm gonna be eating at some fucking fine restaurants," Frank said. "I'm gonna order stuff like caviar and lobster and Dom Perignon, all that fancy stuff the rich people eat. Yeah, it'll be great. I'll take a different broad to dinner every night."

"Yeah, that sounds great," said Tony. "Me, I'm gonna move out to the West Coast, maybe California. I hate the snow. I'll buy tickets to see the Lakers and the Dodgers. I'll get really great seats and drink all the beer I want."

'A fool and his money are soon parted,' Bill thought to himself as he listened to how Frank and Tony planned to blow their share of the money. He was going to be very careful with his portion. He would invest some in Real Estate and mutual funds. Then he would travel. He would finally be able to visit the places he had only been able to dream about.

The waitress came over to their table. "Can I get you gentlemen anything else?" she asked with a pleasant smile.

"Honey what I'd like to get from you ain't on the menu," Frank said, leering at the waitress.

"Shut up, Frank," Bill said, giving the waitress an apologetic look. "Please excuse my friend."

The waitress gave Bill a tense smile as she dropped the bill on their table and hurried away.

"I don't need you making excuses for me," Frank said glaring at Bill. "You and your high and mighty attitude."

"Come on Frankie, he didn't mean nothing by it," said Tony, trying to make peace.

"Listen," said Bill staring icily at Frank. "It's obvious that we don't like each other very much, but we just have to get along for one more day. After that, as far as I'm concerned, we never have to see each other again."

"Sounds great to me," Frank said. He reached into his wallet for some money and tossed it carelessly on the table. "Let's get the Hell out of here." He got to his feet and angrily stalked out of the pub.

"I'm going to go see if I can calm him down," said Tony. He put down his share of the money and went to join Frank outside.

The waitress came back to the table. "All set?" she asked.

"Yeah. Sorry again about Frank's remark," Bill said sincerely.

"Hey don't sweat it," the waitress said as she picked up the money and began clearing the table. "We get his kind all the time. You get used to it after a while."

"Yeah, well you shouldn't have to," said Bill. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a twenty dollar bill, which he handed to the waitress. "For your trouble...Sheila," he said, reading her nametag. "Is there a last name to go along with that?"

"Murphy, Sheila Murphy," she replied. "But that really isn't necessary mister."

"I insist," said Bill as he firmly pressed the money into her hand."

"Thank you. Sheila gave Bill a grateful smile.

"It's nothing. You have a good evening." As Bill left the restaurant he decided that he would send an anonymous check to Sheila Murphy, enough money to give her some happiness, allow her to quit her waitress job if she so desired, make her life easier.

Frank and Tony stood waiting outside the van as Bill came out of the restaurant. "Come on," Bill said as he unlocked the van door. "We might as well just head on back to the motel."

Frank shot Bill a dirty look. "It's way too early for that."

Bill glared back at him. "Does it really fucking matter?" We'll be leaving town tomorrow morning. Can't you just hang low for the rest of the day?"

"No I can't," Frank replied in a nasty tone. "Why don't I just drop you off at the motel and Tony and I can go out and get a beer or something."

"Fine," Bill agreed wearily. He wasn't really in the mood to quarrel. He was just grateful that with any luck at all, he would never have to look at Frank's face again after tomorrow. "Just don't do anything stupid like shooting off your mouth to anyone."

"Fuck you! I'm not an idiot!"

"Can you two just chill out?" Tony asked, tired of listening to them bicker.

The rest of the ride to the motel was silent except for the songs blaring from the radio. Bill pulled into the motel parking lot and handed over the keys to Tony. "I hope you use some common sense." He gave Frank a long look as he got out of the van and started walking towards his room.

"I hope you use some common sense," Frank repeated in a high-pitched voice, mocking Bill. He grabbed the keys out of Tony's hand. "I'm driving," he said as he went over to the driver's side of the van.

"I can drive," Tony protested to no avail.

"No, no...I'm gonna drive," Frank said with a gleam in his eye.

"Where are we going?" asked Tony. "We could always go bowling or go shoot some pool."

"No. I thought we could pay a couple of friends a little visit," said Frank with a snicker.

Tony was absently gazing out the window when the meaning of Frank's words finally registered with him. He glanced over at Frank uneasily.

"Come on Frankie," he implored. "Why don't we just go to a bar, watch the ball game and relax?"

"Don't you worry, Tony," Frank said cackling. "When we pay our little visit, it will relax me just fine.



Benton sat silently, keeping vigil over Carter. He had been sleeping very restlessly amidst frequent fits of coughing, which had Benton concerned. He wished he could think of something to do. He hated just sitting in this cell, waiting, with no idea if anyone was ever going to come to free them.

He focused his attention back on Carter who had just let out a little moan and was now looking bleary eyed at Benton. "Guess we're still here," Carter murmured softly.

"Yeah," Benton gently felt Carter's forehead. "How ya doing?"

"Thirsty," Carter mumbled, still struggling to become more alert.

Benton hurriedly grabbed one of the water containers and poured Carter a drink. "Here you go," he said. He supported Carter's upper body and helped him drink. Carter drank some water and then laid back down, the small effort having totally exhausted him.

"Are you in a lot of pain?" Benton asked, noting how pale Carter looked. Every movement the younger man made seemed to cause him to wince or grimace.

"I can handle it," Carter answered weakly.

"Yeah you're a real tough guy, aren't you," Benton commented with a small smile. He wanted to look at Carter's shoulder but decided it was better not to disturb it, as he had nothing at all to redress the wound with.

"Dr. Benton?" Carter asked. "Can I ask you something?"

"Yeah, sure. What is it, Carter?" Benton asked. He noted that Carter was breathing very heavily. He hated this feeling of helplessness that he had. Carter belonged in the hospital and there was nothing Benton could do about it.

"Why...why were you at my apartment?"

"Huh?" Benton gave Carter a puzzled look.

"The other night...why were you there? Why did you go to my apartment?"

"Mark told me you had gone home sick," Benton said shrugging. "I don't know. I just had a bad feeling about it. I felt like something was wrong, so I decided to check on you."

Carter looked at Benton, silently absorbing this information. "I bet you're sorry now," he finally uttered with a look of despair, closing his eyes.

"Carter! Carter look at me," Benton demanded in the same commanding tone he had used hundreds of times when Carter had been his student.

Half-heartedly, Carter opened his eyes, meeting Benton's gaze.

"The only think I'm sorry about," Benton began, looking at Carter intently, "is that you are injured and I can't do a damn thing to help you. I'm sorry we are in this situation, Carter, but I am not sorry I went to your apartment. I am not sorry that I'm here with you now."

"Thank you," Carter said, touched by Benton's words. Although Benton didn't wear his heart on his sleeve, Carter did know how much his former teacher cared about him. It had been made very clear to him after the stabbing.

"I hope that someone will come for you." Carter was suddenly overcome by another fit of coughing which left him breathless by the time it abated.

"Carter are you okay?" Benton asked, unable to hide the worried look on his face.

Carter nodded, still trying to catch his breath.

"Listen man, someone will come for both of us," Benton said, gazing at Carter intently. "You'll be okay, Carter. You have to be."

"Sure," Carter nodded again and wrapped the blanket tighter around his body as a chill ran through him. He didn't want to bring Benton down, but he could tell he was getting worse. His strength was slowly ebbing away, everything hurt. He still had a bullet in him and for all he knew, the wound was becoming infected also. He didn't want to die, especially not here in this tomb-like cell, but he was afraid he was going to.

Benton sighed. Carter looked extremely young, vulnerable and scared to death. He wished he could think of some words to reassure him. Carter was a doctor though and he knew the score. Benton also didn't believe he was letting on just how bad he was feeling. He picked up the bottle of ibuprofen and shook three into his hand. It was hard to judge time-wise if Carter was due for more, but Benton didn't want him to start burning up again if it could possibly be avoided.

"Carter, can you take these please?" Benton asked. He once again helped him to sit up and Carter obediently swallowed the pills.

"Thanks," Carter murmured drowsily. He was about ready to drop off again.

"You get some rest, Carter," Benton said, patting his arm gently.

Suddenly, Carter and Benton were startled by the sounds of muffled voices coming from the hallway. Next, they could hear the sound of a key in the lock. They watched the door with a combination of apprehension and hope. Their hearts sank though when a hand waving a gun appeared followed by Frank's evil smile.

"Hello boys," he said, chuckling. "Are we having fun yet?"

End of Part 6