Warning, this is a fic from the 'sick
and twisted' section of my imagination
<g> and for a change, the fic came from the title....not
the title from the
fic.
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Misery Loves Company
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Timeline: Late Season 5 (after The Storm)
In this version of Season 5, Carter never moved in with Kerry
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"So your course on medicinal herbs and plants is going
well?" Kerry asked Lucy as they walked down the corridor.
"Oh yes, Dr. Weaver," said Lucy nodding
enthusiastically. "Professor Finn was telling us all about
how some of them are even more effective than modern medicine.
I'm so glad that you suggested I take the course."
"Well, I enjoyed learning about alternative treatments when
I was in Med School," smiled Kerry. "Of course, it was
more interesting because I'd actually come across a lot of the
species mentioned when I was working in Africa."
"He was telling us about this plant that reputedly only
grows in Africa," said Lucy. "It doesn't have any
noticeable effects when you eat it, but once you stop, you can't
remember anything that happened to you while it was in your
system...does it really exist?"
"I think there's a lot of 'old wives tales' going round
about," said Kerry. "If you're interested in a bit of
'extra-curricular' reading, then I have a few books on the
subject that I could loan to you?"
"You could? That would be so great," said Lucy
earnestly. "I'm free this evening, I could call round and
collect them."
"That's not necessary," replied Kerry quickly, "I'll
bring them in tomorrow."
"Okay, and thank you again, Dr. Weaver," said Lucy,
before hurrying off.
Kerry breathed a sigh of relief as she pushed the door open to
the lounge. Not that she disliked Lucy...but the girl could be a
bit 'tiring' at times.
Carol was sitting on the sofa in tears, with Yosh, Haleh and
Connie trying to comfort her.
"What's wrong with Hathaway?" Kerry asked Chuny who was
bringing in a fresh supply of tissues. Kerry could see from the
littered floor that Carol had already gone through a few boxes.
Chuny sighed, "She hasn't been able to get in touch with
Doug...he's not returning her calls and when she phoned the place
he was supposed to be staying, they said they'd never heard of
him."
"Poor Carol," said Kerry thoughtfully, as she pulled on
her coat.
She stopped in front of Carol as she headed for the door. "Carol...I'm
sorry to hear about Doug."
Carol looked up at Kerry. Her eyes were swollen and reddened from
her crying. "Save it Kerry," she snapped, "You're
just glad he's left County and Chicago...you...you don't give a
damm that he...he's left me..." She burst into tears again.
Kerry rolled her eyes at Carol's histrionics. "You can
choose to believe what you wish Carol," she said briskly.
"Anyway, maybe he isn't deliberately avoiding you..."
Carol looked up hopefully as Kerry continued, "For all you
know he could have been in an accident...maybe he <can't>
contact you..."
Carol stared at Kerry for a few seconds, before her face crumpled
and she started wailing again. "Oh my God...Doug's dead...he
must be....waaaahhhh."
"I don't think you're helping any, Dr. Weaver," said
Haleh, frowning at Kerry. To Carol, she said, "Shh, honey,
I'm sure he's not dead," as she patted her on the back.
"I'm sure he'll get in touch with you soon."
"Oh well," said Kerry shrugging. "I'm going home."
She turned away from the lounge. As the door closed behind her,
she could hear Carol's sobs.
----------------
Kerry carefully measured out the powder into the mug before
adding water. She sighed ruefully as she looked at the small
amount that was left in the jar. Professor Finn had been mistaken
when he said that the plant was reputedly only grown in Africa.
She had actually located her meager supply while she had been on
sabbatical in South America.
She had always known it would come in useful someday...someday
when she might have an unexpected visitor who might call to her
house on his way out of town to 'tell her a few home-truths'...someday
when said visitor would carelessly turn his back on her while she
retrieved the stun gun which she had purchased for protection a
few years earlier.
Kerry knew that she couldn't keep him chained up in the basement
forever...once her jar was empty, she would have to let her
'prisoner' go...but until then, he was hers to play with...
Kerry slowly pushed the door open and smiled at the figure
chained to the bed.
"Hi honey, I'm home," she said sweetly as Doug glared
at her.
THE END