HEARTS I

CHAPTER NINE

Juliette looked up surprised when Katy walked in the office when she was supposed to be on her honeymoon with her newlywed husband and looked at her with a frown. "Aren't you supposed to be somewhere else with your husband right now?"

"Yeah, but he got in a new case and he could not sit this one out. So we're postponing until next month."

"You better be here when I get married."

"Of course I will be." Katy's phone suddenly started ringing and she looked at the caller ID before she answered. "It's Angela. What does she want?" Katy pressed the answer button and answered the call. "Hey sis, what's up?" Angela was hysterical on the other side of the phone. "Wait...slow down. What happened?" She leaned back in her chair and locked at Juliette shocked. "Dr. Slattery? Where did this happen?"

Juliette looked at Katy worried. "What about my fiancé?"

"Are you sure it happened at the hospital? Can you come over here then we can talk? Okay. I'll see you soon." Katy dropped the call and looked at Juliette like she had seen a ghost.

"What's wrong?"

"My sister just called. She went to see your fiancé at the hospital with her hand and he..."

"What?" Juliette asked concerned.

"She said he attempted to r**e her."

"Jamie?" Juliette couldn't believe what her best friend and colleague just told her. "No...It must be a mistake..."

"She was hysterical. I..."

"Why would he do that?" Juliette asked shocked. "I...I don't know what to say."

"I'm just as shocked as you are."

Juliette struggle to come to terms with what Katy just told her.

Moments later Angela rushed up to them. Katie stood up and walked up to her. She was in tears. "Oh sis'. What happened?"

"He was supposed to look at my hand. And then be started to kiss me. I pushed him away. But he pushed me down on the bed and I couldn't stop him. I screamed and the nurses and doctors in E.R. came to my rescue. If it wasn't for them..." Angela sobbed. "I don't know what I would have done if..."

"This is the same doctor who was in ob-gyn?"

"Yes."

"Angela...you need to take it up with his superiors. If he could do this to you he will do it again." Katie then looked at Juliette who looked at them shocked. "Seems like your prince charming isn't so charming after all." Juliette gathered her purse and her car keys from the drawer. "Where are you going?"

"I need to get out of here."

Juliette didn't go home after work after work and parked her car near East River overlooking Manhattan and Queensboro bridge. She still tried to wrap her head around how Jamie could have done what Angela accused him of. She was sitting there until late when she got an incoming call from Jamie. She ignored the call and remained seated for a while.

Jamie paced the kitchen looking on his watch while waiting for Julie to answer her phone. "Come on Jules. Where are you? You never come home this late. Answer your phone honey, please."

Minutes later Juliette's phone started ringing again. It was Jamie again trying to get hold of her. Soon after the ringing stopped she got a notification that he left a message for her.

"Jules. Are you okay? Where are you. You never come home this late." Jamie started getting worried and went outside to stand on the balcony overlooking the East River and Queens.

Juliette listened to Jamie's voice message and gave a sob. "How was she going to tell him she wanted out of their engagement because of what happened with Angela. What if she stayed and it was true. What if she left and it wasn't true. She placed her hands on the steering wheel and looked at the engagement ring on her finger. She played with it pondering whether to take it off or keep it on. And whether she had to call him and end their relationship and engagement. She still couldn't believe what Katie had told her. And Jamie never struck her as the kind of person who would try and harm anyone, let alone his patients. He never tried anything funny with her, what could have gone wrong for him to try and hurt Angela? The questions kept running through her head until she broke down in tears. She later drove off and booked into a hotel in Queens. She booked a room with a view over East River and Upper East Side where Jamie's apartment was and went sitting on the balcony.

It was 2 am in the morning and Jamie was laying on the living room couch unable to sleep and worried sick about Juliette. By the time he had to leave for work she still wasn't home. He didn't have breakfast and just left for work dog tired from a lack of sleep. Back at the hospital Jamie went over to the cafeteria to grab a cup of coffee to get himself awake. Kyle walked up to him as he sat at the table dog tired. "What's going on with you today?" Kyle asked concerned.

"I couldn't sleep a wink last night."

Kyle could see Jamie wasn't himself. "What's bothering you Slats?"

"Juliette never came home last night." Jamie leaned back in his chair and covered his face with his hands. "I tried to call her several times but her phone just kept going over on voicemail. It's not like her Kyle."

"Maybe she got a little spooked by your mother."

"I hope not. But I talked with her about my mother's attitude and we sorted it out."

"Something else happened?"

"I hope it's not her ex. That man is bordering on a narcissistic psychopath. He was abusive and he tried to hurt her once. I just hope he didn't really get to her this time."

Kyle looked at Jamie concerned. "Have you reported her missing at the police?"

Jamie sighed. "I can only report her missing after twenty four hours." He stood up from his chair. "Honestly, I don't know how I'm going to get through today. And I have a surgery coming up in two hours."

"Do you want' me to stand in for you Slats?"

"I'll be fine."

The day came and went and Jamie just dragged himself through the day to get it over with so that he could get away from the hospital and go home. He parked his BMW in the parking garage of the apartment block where he stayed and took the elevator to the top floor. He walked up to his apartment and opened the door before he turned on the UV lights that filled the room with a purple glow. Then he went to lay down on the couch resting his head on his hands and gazed at the disco ball on ceiling glittering in the purple Haze of the UV lights. He took his phone and called Juliette and left a voicemail after she failed to answer. "Hi baby, it's me. Let me know if you get this message. I love you. Bye."

Another morning broke without him hearing anything from Juliette. As usual he got dressed, got in his car and went back to the hospital for yet another grueling shift. He parked his car in the doctors parking, went into the hospital where he did his rounds before he eventually went to sit in the break room, exhausted. Kyle entered the break room to get himself a cup of coffee. "Heard anything from Juliette yet?" Kyle asked concerned.

"No," Jamie replied depressed.

"You need to inform the authorities Slats."

"I did...I hope she's okay. If anything happens to her..."

Kyle could see Jamie was worried sick about Juliette and not knowing where she is and close to tears. "Hey, they'll find her."

"Yeah, when she's probably dead and chopped up in pieces already. If he could threaten to go there once what stops him from really doing it? That psychopath is capable of doing anything."

Kyle gave Jamie a pat on his back. "If you need to talk Slats, I'll be there. Just give me a shout out."

"Thanks."

Jamie almost broke down in tears just as Kyle left and remained seated for a while.

That same night he wandered through the streets of Manhattan hoping to see a sign of Juliette's white Beetle parked somewhere. He kept walking and gazing into the shop windows.

Every once in a while he would call her number and leave a voice note.

He went on like that until he eventually have up and headed back home.

Before he headed for the hospital he headed to Juliette's work and walked up to her and Katie's desks to find her desk empty. She looked up at him. "Dr. Slattery?"

"Morning Katie. Do you have any idea where Julie is? She didn't come home for two days straight and... I'm worried sick. I didn't sleep for two days straight."

"No. She left here upset and called in sick. She didn't come into work yesterday and not today either."

Jamie frowned knowing it was unlike her. "Thanks. I hope she's okay, wherever she is. It's not like her to just disappear on me."

It was already noon when Juliette walked up to Agnetha at the E.R. reception and she looked up and put the phone down when she saw her walking up to her. "I'm looking for Dr. Slattery."

"He's gone for a lunch break." Agnetha could see that Juliette was crying. "Honey what's wrong? Have you been crying?"

"Is it true?" Juliette asked worried.

"Is what true? Honey, what's going on?"

"That he tried to r**e Angela Murphy. His patient with the hand injury?"

Agnetha looked at Juliette with a scowl. "No. Where did you hear that?"

"She called her sister and said Jamie tried to r**e her the last time she was here...I wasn't sure if it was true or not. I don't know him as the kind of person who would do something like that."

Agnetha nodded. "She came to see him and he left the E.R. bay upset. She tried to force herself onto him. I heard the quarrel between the two of them. Dr. Slattery didn't do anything wrong. His patient was the one who was out of line. I would have known if he had tried anything, and believe me if I tell you, he didn't."

Just then Jamie walked up to them from behind and couldn't believe his eyes that Juliette was standing in the E.R. lobby unharmed. "Jules?"

She turned around to look at Jamie and gave a sob. "Jamie..."

"Oh thank God you're okay. I was worried sick. Where were you? What's going on?"

She rushed up to him and he threw his arms around her in a protective embrace. "I heard what happened Jamie and I didn't know if it was true or not. I just needed to clear my head and..."

Jamie looked at her concerned. "What did you hear?"

"Angela Murphy called her sister and told her you attempted to r**e her. I didn't know if it was true and what really happened."

"She told her sister I attempted to r**e her? When?"

"Two days ago."

Jamie looked at Juliette confused. "What? Why did she do that? I never touched her."

"I know, I know. Agnetha told me. I'm so sorry."

Jamie pulled Juliette close and kissed her on top of her head. "It's okay. I'm just glad you're okay. I almost thought Justin got to you again."

"I almost walked out on us Jamie," Juliette sobbed. "I almost quit everything and went back to Detroit."

"Oh Jules," he replied somewhat disappointed. "I don't want to lose you honey. Not over stupid rumors and lies spread by someone who is jealous."

"Forgive me Jamie. Please."

"Always, Jules. Always." Juliette retreated for a bit and Jamie dried the trace of tears from her face. "Hey, don't cry. I hate to see you upset. I will always love you. No matter what."

Juliette gave a faint smile. "Me too. I should probably get back home. To our place. I took a few days off to clear my head and..."

"I'll see you tonight. I'll get us something to eat on the way home. Just take it easy for today. If you have to, go and treat yourself to something nice. I have a few hundred dollars in the safe at home."

"Thanks."

Jamie was going through a couple of patient files at the E.R. reception of patients who were just admitted into hospital when Stacey walked up to him. He turned his head to look at her. "Hello blondie."

"Hello Slats. I heard you have an unwanted stalker now."

"Well news spreads fast around here. I take it you're referring to the Murphy woman."

"What is it with you and that woman?"

"I don't know. But she better back the hell off or I'm going to get a restraining order against her."

"Sounds like she's a little obsessed. Can't blame her with a hot doctor like you," Stacey replied with a chuckle.

"Hey, don't you start too. I'm telling Kyle. It's not funny at all."

"Relax Slats. I'm really not the obsessive stalker type," Stacey said with a smile. "But...I'm having my engagement party next weekend..."

"You and Kyle got engaged?" Jamie asked surprised.

"Yup," Stacey replied and held up her hand to show her ring to Jamie. "And I kind of need a favor."

Jamie squinted. "What kind of favor."

"Uhm...we're kind of doing a stripper kind of thing, and I was wondering if you would do us the honors."

Jamie started to snicker. "Me dance around in my underwear in front of a bunch of horny girls? I don't think so. No offense. I appreciate the gesture, but...damn. I don't think I'll be comfortable with that."

"You can keep your pants on and only go topless," Stacey tried to persuade him. "I'll pay you."

"Is Juliette invited?"

"Yes."

"Phew. I'll have to think about it. If I say yes, you owe me big time."

Just then Agnetha alerted them to an incoming casualty. "Okay, Dr. Slattery, Dr. Ford. Get E.R. 2 ready. We have an incoming car accident casualty. I'll page Dr. Whittaker."

Moments later the paramedics barged into E.R. with the patient on a carrier. Jamie and Stacey rushed up to them. "Stats," Slattery enquired from the paramedics. "Forty three year old male with eighty percent full thickness burns. Crashed into a fuel tanker. The car and tanker burst into flames and the patient was trapped in the car. Fire services were able to get him out of the burning vehicle in time to save his life. Oxygen levels are critically low due to smoke inhalation and BP is dropping."

"Okay, let's get him to E.R. 2," Jamie instructed the paramedics. They pushed him inside while Agnetha got the IV ready. "Agnetha put him on morphine for me. Not too much we don't want to damage his heart. Dr. Ford. I'm going to have to intubate him. I need some help here."

Stacey stared at the man in horror as she handed the tube to Jamie. "Is he going to live?"

"If it's up to me, yes," Jamie replied. He looked at the patient worried. "Sir can you hear me?" The man looked at Jamie. "Can you see me?"

"He's not responding Dr. Slattery," Stacey said worried.

Just then Kyle barged into E.R. 2. "You paged me. What do we have here."

"Car crash burn casualty," Jamie replied. "Eighty percent third degree burns."

"Holy s**t!" Kyle exclaimed. "Okay, what do you need me to do?"

"We've put him on morphine. We're going to have to take him to O.R. and remove any residue of clothing that melted into his skin and remove the damaged skin."

Kyle looked at the man who was charred from top to bottom. At some places his skin was already blackened. "This is the worse I've ever seen. And he's still alive?"

"Me too, but we're doctors. We're here to fix this." The man suddenly grabbed onto Jamie's arm and gargled. "Sir..." He then tightened his grip on Jamie's arm. "Sir...Let go of my arm." The man refused to let go and just kept gripping tighter. Jamie looked at the man alarmed. "Sir...I'm going to have to ask you to let go."

"Geez, Slats..." Kyle interfered and forced the man to let go of Jamie's arm.

After O.R. Jamie and Kyle went to sit in the break room exhausted. "Well at least he's going to live. Not like the butchered human saga."

"I hope so," Jamie responded. "And I'm dog tired."

"Heard anything from Juliette?"

"She came back. That b***h of a woman Angela Murphy told her and a colleague I apparently tried to r**e her when she came to see me with her hand."

"What?" Kyle asked confused.

"Juliette almost left me because of that woman."

"But Slats? I know of all people you will never do that. Why the hell did she do that?"

"I don't know. But I want her as far away from me as possible."

"Yikes, well thanks for the warning."

Just then Jamie's pager went off. "I have an emergency in E.R. I have to go."

Jamie rushed into E.R. where the paramedics came in with a teenager dressed in all black they struggled to keep on the gurney. She jumped up and screamed at the top of her lungs when the two paramedics tried to contain her. "You paged me."

"Seventeen year old female. Look at her hands doctor."

Jamie took a look and noticed the tell-tale signed of excessive drug use. "Get her in bay 3." She screamed hysterically and put up a vicious fight until Jamie stepped in. He grabbed hold of her wrists and pinned them down with his face inches for her. "Are you going to stop fighting the paramedics and me and let me treat you or are you going to die?"

"I just need one more fix."

"You want me to call a social worker? Because I will. You're going straight to rehab. Is that clear?"

"You're not my father."

"No I'm not. But I'm your doctor? Now are you going to keep fighting me or am I going to have to restrain you?"

"Let me go." She pushed Jamie over with the strength of a horse. He lost his balance and knocked his head on the pedestal behind him and ended up with his butt on the floor. At that moment she headed outside when she fell to the floor having a seizure before she went limp.

Jamie immediately got up and rushed up to her. "Get the crash cart. We have a code blue."

"Dr. Slattery..."

Jamie knelt down next to her as Agnetha brought the crash cart nearer. After several attempts he managed to resuscitate her.

As soon as she was admitted and restrained Jamie went to see her. "What do you have to say for yourself?"

"I don't owe you an explanation."

"I need to contact your parents. Some info would help."

"Well my parents don't give a s**t, and so do I. So get over it pretty boy and get me out of this place."

"It's doctor to you." Jamie started to lose his patience with the arrogant teen. "So first I need your name Jane Doe."

"It's Lorena."

"Okay Lorena. What is your last name?"

"Parker."

"And your parents?"

"Clive and Jennifer Parker."

"Good, thanks. I'm going to give them a call as soon as we get hold of them."

"Please, please don't?"

"And why is that?"

"I ran away from home okay."

"Well sorry to hear about your dilemma. I'm going to call them anyway."

The nurse in the medical ward immediately called Jamie when Clive and Jennifer Parker arrived at the hospital with a pack of photographers on their tail. "Dr. Slattery, we have a little bit if a situation. Security had to close the hospital doors. You need to see this."

"I'm on my way."

Jamie rushed up to Clive and Jennifer as they sat in the waiting area. Clive was a celebrity businessman and his wife Jennifer a well known fashion designer from Upper East Side. "Doctor."

"Mr. and Mrs. Parker. I'm Dr. Jamie Slattery."

"You're Patrick Slattery's son?"

"Yes. How did you know?"

"He's my lawyer. Where's our daughter."

"Follow me."

Jennifer looked at her daughter shocked when she stepped into her room. "Oh my God Lorena, what did you do to yourself?"

"What do you care?"

"That's enough young lady," Clive warned as he stepped into her room. "You're going to rehab missy. And look at you. What happened to the blonde hair and the respectable girl from Upper East Side."

"Well this is who I am dad. I'm a goth. Deal with it. She looked at Jamie upset. "Why the hell did you call my parents? You know what you just did doc?"

"That's enough Lorena!" Her father warned.

They stepped outside and exchanged numbers with Jamie. "I will keep you in touch Mr. Parker. We'll probably have her transferred to rehab either later today or tomorrow."

"Thank you Dr. Slattery. I appreciate your help. She's been gone for six months. If you didn't call us to let us know."

"You didn't call the police?"

"We did, but they wouldn't have recognized her with the way she transformed herself from a Upper East Side school girl to a goth like that."