Hospital Hater [Caleb]

[Gabriel McKettrick]

[atrb=width,400,true][atrb=border,0,true] Screaming sirens and flashing lights were the last he could remember before he passed out.. He could even see the blurred shape of his sister, hovering beside him every step of the way. The bullet had been removed surgically, which he wouldn't like when he came to. Why couldn't the damned thing have just been through and through, in the front and out the back? When he did actually come to, he was greeted by the stench of cleaning chemicals and barren, white walls. It took him only moments to adjust and look around, catching the faces of his sister and his best friend. At his friend's words, he gave a weak chuckle and resisted the urge to sit up. He ran his fingers through his hair instead. "Well, look at it this way, Caleb...you're better use to the department if you're not confined in a hospital." He flashed the man a grin, although his pale gaze was hazy from the pain killers. He tried not to move around too much, not wanting to rip his stitches. That would mean more time in this dump, and he'd have to get more stitches. That wasn't exactly his idea of fun, and he was intent on leaving as soon as he could. He often tried his best to avoid hospitals at all costs. They were like a plethora of diseases to him. Each one was more frightening than the last and not to mention, the stench of the chemicals could suffocate an elephant. "Is there something you know, and you're not telling me? I heard him say somethin', and my guess is that you know what it's all about it or rather, bits and pieces. If that bastard has the 'nads to come into my sister's life and shoot at us, I'd like to be in the loop." He said quietly. From her spot at his bedside, his sister shook her head violently, silently begging Caleb to not say a word. If Gabriel had any of the details, he'd go on a one-man manhunt and probably wind up Swiss cheese. He wasn't exactly the type to listen to reason, and it wasn't likely he'd accept assistance. He was more of a 'kick ass and ask questions later' kind of guy. "Jasmine, could you go to the cafeteria and see what they have?" He murmured, and the girl seemed hesitant at first, torn between leaving her brother's side and getting something to eat. With a sigh, she did as she was asked, trudging off to the cafeteria. After she had gone, he shifted and squinted at Caleb. He'd get the answers he wanted by whatever means necessary. His blood pressure was surprisingly low, despite the circumstances. "Civilians have been cleared, and we both know that I, of all people, deserve to know what the hell is going on. It'll give me something to think about while I rot away in this trash hole." He crinkled his nose and glared around the room, almost as if it had done something wrong. "Please, Caleb.." He said quietly, figuring it'd be the last time he asked nicely and the next time, he'd snoop around, searching for the answers he wanted by rattling cages.

[caleb hayes]

Caleb stood over Gabe, as though he was his guardian angel. After today, he was certain that Gabe was, in fact, his guardian angel. That bullet should have gone right through his chest and into the wall, but Gabe had to be stupid. The bottomless pit of guilt swarmed his stomach and he had to resist the urge to throw up. It would do nothing to make the situation better, only spread his germs through the sterile white room. Blinking a couple of times, he took his Gabe’s oddly clean face before his eyes glanced briefly at the bandaged that worked its way up to his chest. Yes, he should have been the one sitting in the bed making jokes. At least he would have been coming up with better remarks. But the jokes stayed still on his lips and he gave Gabe a small smile. ”You aren’t. You’re such a pansy, staying here for the next couple of nights” he joked, slouching into one of the empty seats. Jasmine slapped him on the back of the head and he rolled his eyes. ”I mean, I think the department won’t mind since it’s for your health and all” the department would probably be sending over flowers and chocolates any moment now.

Caleb glanced out the window, refusing to open his mouth at his friend’s question. No, he wasn’t going to be saying anything to the man covered in bandages. It seemed stupid, and he wondered if he had made everything up in his mind. There was a reason that Ryder went insane, and as a cop, it had nothing to do with the drugs coursing through his system at the time. The words that had escaped the dead man’s mouth were horrible, and Caleb had reported it to the chief himself. Robert had not been pleased with what Caleb heard and it would only be hours until the press got wind of everything. Hell, that stupid gossip site had cornered them and seen Caleb, Jasmine and Gabe rushing into the hospital. One of them was being carried in, and it wasn’t hard to put together. His eyes took in the sunny exterior and wished that the inside looked just as nice. At least then he could make conversation on how nice a hospital looked for once.

Jasmine suddenly disappeared and Caleb watched her go, knowing the reason why Gabe dismissed her. The man probably wasn’t hungry and could probably only eat jello or something. And the one with all the answers was playing thumb war with himself, distracting his eyes by looking at the door where the brunette had left. ”Chief wouldn’t like it” he mumbled, knowing that the chief would probably tell Gabe anyways. And, as deputy officer, Caleb knew everything. He just didn’t want the stupid machine to record the blood pressure when he told the truth. He quickly glanced at Gabe before looking across the room and sinking farther into his chair. ”Ryder mentioned V. He said the bastard was behind everything and that he wouldn’t stop now. That this whole stunt, including another officer being shot, was only just the beginning.” his voice had rushed everything out and he let out a sigh. Everything seemed to be dying and he rubbed his eyes. His life was going down the gutters.

[Gabriel McKettrick]

[atrb=width,400,true][atrb=border,0,true] He huffed and shifted so that the covers hid what his hands were doing. His fingers started off by ripping out the IV drip then they worked to pull off the blood-oxygen monitor. From there, he ripped off the EKG stickies that clung so stubbornly to his chest. The monitor beside his bed flat-lined as he fought to regain control of his lethargic limbs. "I'm not lying around in this damned bed." He muttered, wincing a moment as his stitches strained, struggling to hold together the surgical incision in his abdomen. The Scottish man did the second, stupidest thing he had ever done in the course of his twenty-five years as he threw the covers away and swung his legs over the edge of the bed, slowly starting to force his body to ascend into a standing position. Just as he had accomplished this feat, however, Aubrey Townsend breezed into the room, dressed in a stolen nurse's uniform. After this, the woman would have a meeting with Connor, where she would scorn her mentor and push her luck. "Mister McKettrick, I must ask that you remain in bed until your stitches are removed. You wouldn't want to stay here any longer than you have to, would you?" She queried sweetly. Gabe was readying himself to tell the woman to go fuck herself but when he looked toward her, something stopped him. His pale gaze widened and his face paled, making it seem as if the man had seen a ghost. His sister had about the same reaction, only hers involved dropping the three yogurts she had bought and her hands flew to her mouth to stifle a gasp of surprise. "Just get the damned discharge papers." He said quietly, looking at his friend with a look that almost dared him to try and stop him. "Wish I could, hon." Aubrey said with a pout, pushing him gently back onto the bed. Her black hair fell in wisps around her face, accenting her blue eyes. He huffed and crossed his arms over his chest, glaring up at her like a small child, feeling helpless and vulnerable in the small room. His insurance damned sure couldn't pay for this, and he hadn't been on duty when he was shot. Just another debt he'd be drowning in. From the corner of his eye, he saw his sister move closer to Caleb, and Aubrey hovered above him, quickly reattaching everything and overriding the system to up his dosage of morphine, just before she left the room with a wave and a wink. Jasmine's hand grasped Caleb's, almost as if he was anchoring her to the very floor she stood upon. Gabe's life was spiraling out of control, and Jasmine felt like she had caused a good portion of it by bringing that foul man into their lives. "I didn't mean for this to happen, Caleb.." She finally whimpered, sinking against the man's side as tears sparkled in her eyes.