CHANCES OF THE HEART (Part 3)
(missy@ipax.com.au)

Spoiler warning: This has very serious spoilers for the 5th Season
right through to Point of Origin, so anyone not wanting to be
spoiled, you have been warned. <g>



"I'll go talk to her."  

Mark nodded in response.  Kerry's short outburst had left the
room in silence.

"Come on, people!  We have got a patient on the table.  Let's go. 
DPL tray."  Peter cut to the chase, charging the staff once again,
expectant of their immediate response.

                  - 0 0 0 -

"Jerry?  Did you see where Dr. Weaver went?"  

"The ladies room.  I've got those....."  Jerry was ready to hand
over the labs he had tracked down but only found a retreating
figure.  He dropped them down once again, shaking his head, at
a loss as to what was happening on this evening shift.  He really
should stick to days.

Pushing open the door to the ladies room, Carol quietly entered. 
She was hesitant, absorbing the scene around her, before
approaching Kerry.  Kerry's crutch lay on the ground in the far
corner, a noticable distance from her.  Kerry's hunched figure
leaned over the hand basin, her slim long fingers gripping the
white porcelain tightly with her head bowed.  

Carol slowly moved across to Kerry, gently placing her arm
around Kerry's shoulders.  Her other hand captured Kerry's arm,
lightly giving her a reassurance of her presence and support.  At
first Carol felt Kerry stiffen against her, her body straightening
against the intrusion before she seemed to almost collapse
against her.  

The silent tears that Kerry had been trying to control earlier
trailed a jagged path down her cheeks.  Now, shudders started to
shake her small frame as the shock from the accident and her
mother's injuries finally began setting in. Carol didn't say a
word, her right hand gently moving in small circles, designed to
comfort.  Any soothing words would only have the opposite
effect with Kerry, the protective barrier rising again, ignoring
any notion that she could possibly be upset or in pain.

Kerry began brushing away the tears from her cheek.  Taking in
a shuddering breath, she pulled lightly up but not away from
Carol's comforting arms.  Her hands rummaged through her
pockets, seeking a handkerchief or a tissue.  

"Here,"  Carol softly interrupted her search, a wad of tissues in
her hand.  

"Thanks," Kerry wiped her eyes and selected a single tissue in
which to delicately blow her nose.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"What would it have mattered?  You were asking for my
professional opinion, not my personal experience."  

"I know, Kerry.  But I would have valued both."  The words
were spoken softly.

Kerry looked up into the soft brown eyes of the charge nurse and
gave a small smile of thanks. 

"How is she?" Kerry directed the conversation back to her birth
mother. 

"I don't know.  I left not long after you.  Why don't you finish up
in here and I'll go find out what is happening.  I'll also bring you
some scrubs."  Carol picked up Kerry's crutch and set it against
the basin ready for use.

Kerry was about to protest about the scrubs when she caught
sight of herself in the mirror.  Her clothes were a mess.  Her
stockings had several holes in them.   Even though her top and
skirt were relatively dark in colour, they still showed the stains
of her mother's blood.  

Running the taps, she scooped the water onto her face from
cupped hands.  It was refreshing against her flushed skin. 
Tearing off a strip of paper towelling, she blotted her face. 
Gazing into the mirror, she noted the blood still trickling from
the deep ragged cut running across her left brow.  Frowning, she
looked closer, noting that it would need stitches.  Around the
area, the skin was raised and bruising extended from her
cheekbone, up and across her forehead.  

But it really wasn't her injuries that she was examining.  Her
reflection stared back at her.  She smiled and it was that same
smile she had seen Margaret give her that evening.  Also her
eyes had the same colour blue.  She ran her fingers over the
contours of her face.  Kerry jumped when the door opened again
and watched Carol enter in the mirror.  

"Kerry, I've got Exam Four waiting.  You can get changed in
there.  Your mother has been sent up to the OR, the lavage was
positive."

"Thanks, Carol."  Kerry turned and faced her.  "For being there."

Carol gave a smile and nod of acceptance.  "When you're
changed, Carter will suture that head lac for you."

End Part 3