Unexpected!
A KW fan fic. It premiers after the 2000 season premiere. Facts to know ahead of time. John has completed a successful rehab and is renting the downstairs apt from Kerry again. (I had to give the guy a place to live now didn't I?) And everything else is left to your imagination. Rated. Pg.. but just barely..
* * * * * * *
Kerry left county full of self-righteous indignation. Her cane clicked furiously on the pavement. Dealing with complete and utter idiots all day long had irritated her beyond belief. She struggled to get her jacket on, as she walked hastily out the door. In her haste and impatience she snagged it on the doorframe. Yanking it frustratingly, she not only managed to knock it loose but to also a knock off a single button too. She awkwardly bent down and retrieved it, impatiently jamming it into her pocket.
She glared down the street, forcing fellow pedestrians to give her a wide berth. Her cane tapped angrily on the sidewalk betraying her furious state of mind. Today had been a day of shocks. Dealing with 2 MVA's had been bad, the entire E.R. had been very hectic. Add to that a surprise board meeting that she was ill prepared for. Then finding out that she either had to cut down drastically on insurance or fire a full time employee had made her day much longer and harder than she had wanted it to be.
The choices she made would either affect one person's livelihoods, or could cost her several other employees. She reflected on the lives of her fellow nurses and doctors. Knowing that her budget had never been tighter did not add anything to the mix, still grumbling about bosses
and impossible choices she made her way home. Several minutes later she entered her house. She entered it quietly, most of her rage spent on the way home. What she wouldn't give to forget for a while she thought. She dropped her purse on the counter and hit the message
machine.
The first message was from John. Apparently he wasn't going to be home till later. He was at an NA meeting. She was glad he wasn't going to be home. Letting him re-rent the basement apartment from her was a win/win situation for her. She knew she would be able to better
regulate his pain, and would also be one of the first people to notice if he was shutting down on the people around him again. Deep in her heart she knew the basic reason she had relented and let Carter return to her home, was that she missed him. It was nice to have someone to talk to at the end of the day. However tonight, for the first time since he had returned she was relieved. She knew she was to upset and frustrated by her day to effectively be able to tell someone else what was bothering her, especially to someone who worked beside her every day.
She was slightly relieved to find out he wouldn’t be home till later. At the moment, she craved wine, any type would work. She'd even drink that stuff in a box that someone had left near a lawn chair on top of the roof at County. She remembered being upset when she had found it, definitely not amused and had even relished pouring it down the sink. Now it was starting to look rather tempting! She was also in no mood for the quandary she always had of drinking in front of John, or not drinking in front of him. She still hadn't made up her mind, which was the more sociably correct thing to do; so far she'd avoided drinking anything in front of him. So tonight it was almost a relief to find out he was not going to be home!
She was reaching for a water glass when she heard Jeannie's voice. She leaned across the counter and hit the rewind button, eager to hear what Jeannie was saying. It had been a long time since she had seen or even talked to Jeannie. She listened intently to the quiet voice on the
machine.
"Kerry its Jeannie, It's probably to late to make any plans for this evening, but I was wondering if you'd like to get together and.." Kerry decided she didn't need to hear any more. She picked up the phone and dialed.
"Jeannie, its Kerry."
* * * * * * * *
30 minutes later
* * * * * * * *
Kerry entered the old fashioned pub, and wondered why Jeannie picked this place. Her cane clicked against the wooden floor. The place was very quiet with only a handful of customers inside it. She ignored the glances the fellow patrons gave her; by now she was used to the looks
she received. 'Just your average ordinary redhead with a cane,' she thought. 'Pay me no attention at all.'
She looked around the bar, ignoring the sleazy guy at the end who crooked his eyebrows at her. She glanced around till her eyes rested on Jeannie's elegant features. Kerry nodded her head in acknowledgment to Jeannie's small smile. She quickly made her way over to Jeannie's table.
No sooner had she sat down and said hello, then the waitress came over.
"Can I help you?" the waitress asked politely. Kerry noticing that Jeannie already had a drink ordered a scotch-neat. She watched for a few minutes as the waitress left the table and headed toward the bar.
"What's new? I haven't seen you in at least a month." The doctor in Kerry noticed the pale skin that Jeanie exhibited, the dark circles under her eyes, the look of utter weariness that she exhibited.
Jeannie nodded her head unconsciously, with Kerry she knew she wouldn't be able to beat around the bush and pretend polite nothings. Kerry knew her. Long years of working together had given Kerry an insight to her that few people possessed.
"Not what you're thinking." She smiled softly to her. "Carlos is sick. He's had a slight cold for a bout a week now, and I swear I'm just haven't had enough sleep since he got it." Kerry knew that Carlos had been sick with AIDS since Jeannie had adopted him. Her heart, as it usually did, went out to both Jeannie and her husband Reggie.
"Where's he now?" Kerry asked her softly, her concern evident in her tone of voice.
"With Reggie. Actually Reggie was the one who suggested I get together with you. He said I needed an evening out on the town. I think he meant out of the house." Jeannie's soft grin was evident.
"Are you sure? We could do this another time?" Kerry asked her softly.
"Do what?" A masculine voice said. "And how come no one invited me to this party?"
Kerry and Jeannie both looked up to see Mark standing before them. Kerry smiled up at Mark. For some reason his usual indifference towards her was muted tonight.
Jeannie looked over to Kerry and wordlessly raised her eyebrows as if to ask her if she wanted him to join them. Receiving Kerry's slight nod she scooted over slightly and patted the bench. “Have a seat."
"What are you two lovely ladies doing here?" Mark asked a slight slur to his voice. Jeannie looked over to Kerry telegraphing her amusement of Marks condition.
"Just catching up." Kerry started to reply then paused as the waitress appeared with her drink. She moved to take out her wallet when Mark stopped her.
"My treat. Least I can do tonight." Mark paid the waitress, who smiled at the tip she received then placed the drink in front of Kerry.
* * * * * * *
Several hours later.
* * * * * * * * *
"Mark" Kerry told him as she pushed him towards the door. "Do you have your keys?" she asked him. Mark looked blearily over at Kerry. "Keys? Sure have lots of them." He dug deep into his pockets and rooted around for his keys for several moments. He knew he had them. Finally, he found them and waved them in the air Triumphantly! "Yes, I have keys." He solemnly told her.
Kerry shook her head and took the keys from him. She opened his door, and pushed him inside. "Mark." She watched as he staggered inside, then paused for a moment weaving back and forth, unsteady on his feet. "You need anything?" A basin, she thought or maybe just a blanket.
Startled, she watched as Mark turned and looked towards her. "I told you didn't I that Elizabeth was in England with her mother."
He looked from Kerry to the picture of Elizabeth on the TV. "I haven't heard from her in almost a week now." He sadly looked from Kerry to the picture of Elizabeth. "Sometimes I wonder if she even cares for me." Kerry looked startled as Mark sat down heavily on the couch and started crying softly.
She awkwardly sat beside him and placed an arm around his shoulder. "I'm sure she does Mark."
Kerry wondered why Mark was so upset. He was acting so unlike himself tonight. It was not like him to voluntarily spend time with her, or even confide in her. He probably had a fight with Elizabeth before she left, and was feeling guilty. It would certainly explain why he was so upset tonight. Drinking till he couldn't stand certainly didn't seem like the Mark she knew. She patted him awkwardly on the shoulder not sure what to do. She watched as he lifted his head from contemplating his shoes to suddenly looked her directly in the eyes.
"You're so nice to me tonight. Did I ever tell you how pretty you are?" Kerry face held her shock and amusement. Yes, Mark had definitely had too much to drink she thought to herself. She was unsure what to say or even of what to make of his statement.
"Ah.. Ah..no" she paused unsure what to say. "Mark, I think your drunk." She said softly. She watched as he leaned forward slowly and looked deeply into her eyes. "You’re right.” He paused as if to say something else to her. Kerry waited the silence out, wondering if she should put him to bed, or if he was able to do it him self. She was startled when he leaned over and kissed her.
* * * * * * * * *
John walked into the living room as Kerry stumbled past him. "I was wondering when you'd get home." He said softly taking in her mussed hair and the obvious odor of liquor on her breath. Kerry smiled at him.
"I was out with Jeannie and Mark." Suddenly she giggled. Tonight had not gone as she had expected.
Aha! That explains it, John thought to himself, he noticed that his landlord was obviously under the influence. He watched as Kerry unsteadily moved back and forth weaving on her feet. She dropped her purse on the counter then walked towards the fridge, intent on finding something to eat. Peanuts and Pretzels were not going to do it tonight. John followed her quietly, not quite sneaking up on her.
"Kerry?" his question was never uttered as Kerry suddenly jumped at the sound of his voice. She looked up at his eyes. His eyes were so expressive she thought, very handsome. She blinked at him for a moment not comprehending the question he asked her.
"I asked if you needed me for anything." John asked her quietly, wondering why she was so quiet tonight. He watched her blink her eyes again, then unsteadily shut the refrigerator door.
"No, I think I need to go to bed." She said, not aware that she was slurring her words. She grabbed her crutch and moved slowly and awkwardly out of his way, as she did she caught her crutch on a carpet edge. John caught her just as she pitched forward. He held her for a moment before asking her if she was OK.
Kerry looked up into John's expressive face. She thought how sexy John's eyes were, how they seemed to glint mischievously at her. "What the hell." She said out loud. She wasn't sure who was more surprised at what she did next.
Kerry put her arms around his shoulders and kissed him deeply, instinctively John kissed her back. He enjoyed it in fact. Tomorrow he knew he would have hell to pay. He slowly released her. He was taking a hesitant step backward, when Kerry caught him by the shirt and dragged him even closer.
"I'm not done yet!" she told him seriously, only slurring her words slightly. Surprised John watched as she dragged his head down for an even longer and more intense kiss.
When they finally parted he held her at arms length. "Kerry, do you know what you 're doing?" He asked her quietly.
In response Kerry wound her arms tighter around his neck and kissed him even deeper. Apparently, by the weakness in John's legs, and his almost instant arousal, it was obvious Kerry knew exactly what she was doing!
End of part 1
