may1

A different day in May
(An alternative universe fic featuring Dave and Carter)

-----------------------

Carter hurried towards the doors of the ER, hoping that no one would stop him...he couldn't bear the thought of speaking to anyone...sure that they would have the same look on their faces as the people at his intervention...intervention...hah...more like an ambush...he didn't need them...he didn't have a problem...okay, he'd taken fentanyl...and yeah...it wasn't the first time...but he needed it...how else could he work...

"Carter!" A voice cut through his thoughts.

"Damm," he thought to himself as he pushed his way through the doors, hoping that whoever it was would think he hadn't heard them.

"Wait up, Carter..."

Carter breathed a slight sigh of relief as Dave pushed his way through the doors after him. "Man, what's the hurry?" Dave asked. "Listen, glad I caught you...you wanna go get a beer or something?"

Carter was about to decline, when the doors opened again, as Peter finally caught up with him.

"Carter, I need to talk to you," said Peter. His face was a mixture of relief that he had caught up with him, and annoyance that he wasn't alone.

"Yes Dave, I will go and get a beer with you," said Carter, firmly.

"Cool," said Dave, "You got your jeep? Cause if so, I can fit my bike in the back, and you can drive. I know this really great place, about ten blocks from here."

"He's not going anywhere with you," said Peter, glaring at the younger man. "Carter, you're coming with me." He reached out to take Carter's arm, but Carter backed away, and Dave stepped in between them.

"Doesn't look like he wants to go anywhere with you," said Dave. "Maybe you should leave him alone."

"Get out of my face, Malucci," said Peter angrily. "You don't know anything about it." He tried to go around Dave to reach Carter, but Dave kept blocking his path. "Let me past or I'll have you suspended."

"Hey," said Dave, indignantly, "You may be able to throw your weight when we're in the ER...but guess what...I'm off duty now...you can't push me around out here. Carter wants to come for a drink with me...you got a problem with that...then tough...we're both off-duty...what we do isn't your business..."

"He's right Dr. Benton," said Carter. "What I do isn't your business...not anymore...just leave me alone...please..."

"Don't do this man," said Peter, a note of desperation in his voice. "It's not too late...come with me...you'll be okay..."

Carter shook his head. "I can't do that...I...I'm sorry...Dave...I...I'll go get the jeep...you...you meet me out front with your bike..." Numbly, he turned away, not wishing to see the disappointment that was etched on Peter's face.

Dave frowned as he watched Carter go. Something was wrong here...he could tell...

Turning back to Peter, he was surprised at the venom in the older man's voice as he said, "You have no idea what you've just done, Malucci..." before turning and heading back into the ER.

"Man, something weird is going on," said Dave to himself before going for his bike.

-----------------------

"So," said Dave, as he raised his beer. "You wanna talk about it?"

Carter shrugged, "About what?" he asked, knowing full well what Dave was referring to.

"You know what...about earlier...with Benton...did I get stuck in the middle of a lovers quarrel or something?"

Carter put his glass down and stared gloomily into it. He should have known that Dave would demand an explanation sooner or later...he was only surprised it had taken him so long to ask.

Sighing, he said, "You're probably going to find out soon enough...but I quit County..."

Dave blinked, "Come again? You mean, quit as in left for the day, right?"

Carter shook his head, "I mean quit as in, resigned, walked out, stopped working there, never darken its door again...I'm finished with County...I'm not going back...not that I'd be welcome..."

Dave stared at Carter in amazement. "You're really serious?"

Carter nodded.

"What the hell for?" Dave thought for a minute. "Say, is this cause you didn't get this 'Chief Resident' gig for fourth year? I mean, I know it's a tough break you not being allowed to apply cause you missed so much time, but it's not the end of the world. I mean, you'll be able to try for it next year, right? Course that means you'll be up against me and Chen," Dave smirked, "But you're bound to be in the running."

Carter shook his head, "That's not the reason...I...I just couldn't stand it anymore." He took a gulp of his drink then stood abruptly. "I'll be back in a minute," he said hesitantly before heading off in the direction of the men's room.

Dave frowned as he watched Carter leave. Geez, the guy was so jumpy, what was the matter with him these days... His thoughts were interrupted by the tones of a cell phone. Dave reached instinctively for his pocket before realizing that the sound was coming from Carter's jacket, which was folded neatly on the seat beside him.

Dave wrestled with his conscience for a few minutes before reaching into Carter's jacket and retrieving the phone. He frowned as he read the name on the display, but only hesitated briefly before pressing 'answer'.

"Hello," he said in as muffled a voice as he could manage.

He heard the voice on the other end speak, "John, it's Kerry...please don't hang up on me...I'm sorry about what happened earlier. We...we should never have confronted you like that."

-----------------------

To be continued

(Thanks to kitchensink5 for her suggestion for a title)

Ceindreadh