Upon closer examination

[Jack Bowler]

The sounds of laughter filled the floor from a hysterical patient held up in one of the rooms on the floor. A young woman had gone for a walk in the forest behind her home and had stumbled upon a flower that had just looked too good to pass up. This is what she had said to him through her breathless giggles as she stared at him trying to check her vital signs. Jack had gotten as much information as he could before the woman had slipped into hysterics laughing. He'd put one of the ward nurses on her to watch her while he went off to find out just what had happened.

He sat on a stool in the laboratory he worked at, the flower laying on a metal tray beside him. A large microscope sat on the dark desk in front of him. He was careful to pull off one of the petals of the plant and tuck it on the view stage of the machine. He focused the microscope and looked closer at the flower's petal. Much closer.

"How does a pink snapple send someone into fits?" he murmured out loud in his southern drawl as he refocused the microscope. He furrowed his brow in concentration as he sat back on the stool and ran a hand through his hair. Another fit of giggles bellowed down the hallway and he glanced over his shoulder towards the door shaking his head a little.

He turned back to the flower and the microscope once more. "Impossible," he whispered taking another part of the flower and placing it under the lens of the microscope. He moved the petal to the side careful not to infect himself with the other woman's ailment.

"Hunh..."

He zoomed in closer on the part of the flower on the microscope. Small dots of red were scattered across it which wasn't normal for this type of flower. He changed the magnification of the instrument and looked again to find tiny red mites swarming over the piece of the flower he'd been looking at. "There you are," he chimed aloud.

The lab door opened and he looked up to find one of the assistant's on the floor had entered. He gave him a polite nod and went back to the micrscope for another moment before he turned it off. "Hey John," he said writing something down on the patient's report.

"Yeah?" a voice asked behind him.

"Can you do me a favor and have Mrs. Donovan moved to the second floor?" He looked up at him as he closed the patient file. "She's got a mite infestation that's causing her to laugh uncontrollably."

The other nodded taking the folder from him. "Sure Dr. Bowler."

"Thanks," he said turning back to the microscope to clean it up.

[Sean Andrews]

Something about this floor was clearly humours as peels of loud giggles broke out again and again. Sean strolled down the halls, screeching for the culprit, bring the stale smell of cigarette smoke with him. Turning a bend he found a young assistant pushing a bed down the hall.

“Where are you going?” He questioned

“Dr. Bowler told me to take her down to the second floor” The assistant answered.

“hmm”

Sean picked up the chart and read it over, his eye darting quickly over the information.

“Bowler ‘eh. Continue you on” He placed the chart back down, and dismissed him with a wave of his hand.

Sean then made his way down the hall to where he knew he would find Dr. Bowler. Sean never really talk much to the young American doctor, not because he didn’t like him, but because Sean spend most of his time working, trying not to work, or with Aimee or Cassandra. It was a very full life.

“Bowler.”

Brisk, sharp. Time to put on the “I’m in charge, don’t mess with me” voice and act.

“What’s going with mad giggler I just saw in the hallway?”


[GAH. SO BAD SO SHORT
>.<]

[Carrie Martin]

Caroline Martin was in a frenzy. The second floor was buzzing, which was not a good thing in this case. Patients and Healers alike were flooding in and out, running around like they were suffering from an Unforgiveable Curse. Complete mayhem. And yet, amongst all this troulbe, Carrie felt oddly in control. Strange, but true. She was hurrying down the hall, following a patient that was being moved to an intensive care unit in a different hospital. He was beyond their help, and it killed Carrie to watch him go. She frustratedly pushed the button for the elevator, mumbling something about those damn muggle contraptions when the doors opened and a trainee began to wheel a patient out who was in hysterics. Laughing, actually.

"Wait wait wait! Who is this?"

She stopped the trainee, sighing loudly and looking at her clip board. She had no registered patients who were having a case of the giggles. Was this some kind of trick?

"Dr. Bowler said that this patient was to be brought up here and-"

Carrie held up her hand. Of course this was Bowler's doing. She rolled her eyes, sighing.

"There is no room on this floor for that patient. We're full. Wait for the next elevator and take them back up to Bowler...no, scratch that. I'll do it myself."

Carrie had her game face on. Her "I'm completely serious" voice that made the trainee shiver slightly. She smirked, waiting for her intensive care patient to clear the scene before she wheeled the Mad Hatter back up to the third floor. Sighing loudly, she located a nurse, and a new room for the laugher. It only took a quick wave of her wand to knock the patient unconciouss to stop the fit of laughter, but it would take about three weeks of medication to get rid of the mite. She scribbled something on the patients medical charts before hanging it back on the bed and taking off into the hallway. Now to find Bowler.

"Jack Bowler! You know that patients with laughing mites go to floor one, creature induced injuries. And just because I love you so much, I brought her back for you."

She sauntered up to him while giving her little speech, giving him a look that read a mixture of annoyance and teasing. Bowler was always sending his patients to her floor when he didn't know what else to do with them. It was a good thing the Healer-in-Charge for her floor, Ben, wasn't around, or he would have an earful for Jack. Sliding up next to him, she raised her eyebrows, and smiled. She and Jack weren't exactly close, but not complete strangers, either. They had first met at The Bar after work one day, and gotten along just fine.

"Don't send a trainee, next time, either. I think he just about wet himself."

She smirked, and her gaze flickered briefly to Sean who stood nearby. She cast him a side long glance, giving him a half smile. She hadn't really gotten to know Sean until the past year, when Aimee introduced him. How Aimee and Sean had met, Carrie didn't know, but there was something just off about him to her. She wasn't one to be openly rude, but she wasn't the friendliest to him either.

"Hey Sean."

She said casually, glancing back down at her clipboard. Actually, this was good news. She had been meaning to talk to Sean about tranferring some of her patients up to this floor for isolation. The isolation room on her floor was full, and this mystery virus was spreading fast. On the one hand, it needed to be contained, but on the other, she didn't want to risk spreading it to the various other floors.

"Listen, did you get my memo about patient transfer? Ben was s'posed to talk to you about it?"

[[eww....also short and crappy..the next one will be better. I promise]]

[Jack Bowler]

Seconds off of the flower and the mites had already moved onto the microscope seeking out another victim. Jack had grabbed his wand and cast a charm around the instrument preventing them from going any farther. He was in the process of killing them off when the laboratory door opened and a visitor entered. His gaze remained fixated on the sphere as he waited to see if the visitor had intentions of speaking to him or what.

“Bowler.”

Brisk, sharp. Time to put on the “I’m in charge, don’t mess with me” voice and act.

“What’s going with mad giggler I just saw in the hallway?”

Perhaps an intern would have jumped to the briskness of the other’s voice was Jack was too laid back to have such a reaction drawn from him. Sean was just one of those individuals that you had to give a wide clearance zone around. And Jack wasn’t one to give one. He merely leaned forward towards the microscope looking to see how the sterilization as going.

“I told her a really good joke,” he commented glancing over at him at this point. He gave him a complacent look for a moment as he shifted on the stool to make himself comfortable. “She had a mite infestation from a bouquet of flowers a friend gave her.” He looked back to the microscope. “Doubt she’ll be considered a friend after she gets out.”

“What can I do for you Sean?” he asked peering into the microscope again. The lab door opened again behind him.

"Jack Bowler! You know that patients with laughing mites go to floor one, creature induced injuries. And just because I love you so much, I brought her back for you."

He sighed and looked up as she moved closer. “Ya’ll just content in my trying to stop a mite infestation?” he asked in his southern drawl. “Cause ya’ll are doing a fabulous job…”

"Don't send a trainee, next time, either. I think he just about wet himself."

“That there’s the point of me doing it,” he commented. “If you don’t scare them to the point of losing bodily control then I know they’re a keeper.”

He signed off on some documentation beside the microscope and lowered the field around it. “So let me guess you moved her back up to this floor even though she belongs on the first floor?” he asked. Yes he was aware of what floor he sent her to begin with.

[Carrie Martin]

-sigh-
sean postie on the way?
-prods-

[Sean Andrews]

[-sigh-
yep
just finishing it]

[Sean Andrews]

Sean wasn’t to sure what went on in the American Healers head. The boy seemed to laid back, barely awake, half the time. In a sort of permanent stoned state. One of Sean’s favourite hobbies was verbally beating trainees and the younger staff. Well maybe not, but he did like being in charge, it had it’s advantages. For example besides being able to push your weight around, no one bitched when you were late, or took longer lunches. Except that Sean’s late ‘lunches’ were more often then not mad shag fest with Aimee.

“Don’t be a smartass.”

Sean leaned lazily against the door frame. He saw a lot of himself in Jack. The smartass with a big mouth, the unwillingness to jump when he barked. It was humorous, for about two seconds. It was fine when Sean did it, not when it was done to Sean. A kind of ‘do as I say, not as I do” type thing.

“And you sent her to the second floor? Have you identified what class of mites it was?”

Sean didn’t doubt Jack as a Healer, but he saw that the kid cared, something he didn’t. At least not as much as he use to. Sean was about to open his mouth to lash out again, but a ball of blonde hair and energy entered the room. This blonde ball of energy was of course
Ms. Carrie Martin. It was funny how Carrie and he had worked together for so long, but never talked until Aimee introduced them. He didn’t know much about her, other then she was Aimee’s close friend, and seemed insane, in the good way. Her sidelong glance was inviting for him to be an asshole.

“Carrie you shouldn’t look so long you’ll go blind. Besides didn’t your mother tell you not to hit on married men?”

He waved his ringed finger at her, with that trademark Sean smirk. He found his comment hilarious of course the other two in the room, had no idea about his and Aimee’s affair. So it was a private joke he shared with himself.

“Hmmm? No, must have got lost along the way. As for Ben, I haven’t seen him in a while, must be off doing… Whatever it is that Ben does. Care to fill me in darling?”

He had the memo, in fact he had read it this morning. Ben was always trying to send patients up to his isolation room. He had this idea that Sean’s floor wasn’t as busy as his own, and could always take patients. At the moment this was true, but Sean’s floor saw just as much craziness as Ben’s.

[Yay for slightly less crappy posts.]

[Carrie Martin]

When Carrie had been introduced to Sean Andrews, Aimee had an odd glow about her, and an utter look of admiration for the doctor that Carrie just didn't get. He was an asshole. A cocky, arrogant, good-for-nothing ass hole, so far as she could remember. She pulled a face of utter disgust at his comments. She was so used to having Ben and Darcy, all smiles and flirtation around her, that she forgot how pig-like other men could be. However, Carrie wasn't one to be put down. No, if you mess with fire you get burnt, and Carrie was as hot as things got, so to speak. She was a fireball, that was for sure, and wouldn't take any crap from anybody. Least of all jerks like Sean. She had never been openly mean to him before, though some thoughts crossed her mind. But he was provoking her. Dangling a bait, and she didn't want to disappoint. Besides, she was all too willing to shut up his stupid laugh. He was like a freaking hyena.

"Don't flatter yourself, Andrews. I was just starring at the lipstick left on your collar. Tell Cassandra its a nice color, and I'd like to borrow it sometime."

She smirked, shutting him down with a half glare. Let him be smug about that. Leaving him in opened mouthed silence, she turned back to the other man. She raised an eyebrow at Jack, watching him absorbed in the microscope. Mites, from the looks of it. She bit her lip, resisting the urge to dump the slide in the trash. Carrie had already perscribed an antibiotic to drive away the mites. It was very muggle-esque, but she wasn't sure whether the magical waver had been signed. Afterall, it wasn't her patient to begin with.

"Infestation? Look, Jack. A simple charm can cure the mites up. I wouldn't be tampering with those flowers if I were you."

But he wasn't even looking at her. He was still adimately studying those damn mites. She sighed over dramatically, trying to get his attention. No such luck. Sulking a bit, she put on one of her better pouts, but couldn't keep herself from laughing at his next comment.

"This is true. I'm like the ultimate litmus test. And that one? Definately didn't pass..." She snickered. "And of course I brought her up here. Because I know for a fact that floor one is full. There is not a single availible bed which brings me to you."

She pointed her index finger at Sean. If he didn't grant her space in his isolation quarters, there would need to be serious actions taken, and lots of patients transferring out of St. Mungo's. But of course he would play the "I don't know, tell me about it" card like the but head he was. Somebody had an extra dosage of wanker flakes this morning. She rolled her eyes.

"I'm nobodies darling, certainly not yours. The short version? Our isolation room is full with patients showing symptoms of a mystery disease that's spreading. Yours is the only other floor with empty bed, Andrews, we checked, so don't pull that no vacancy crap. We need that room."

She was getting annoyed at both the boy's non chelant attitude of it all. She couldn't stand people who weren't committed to their job. How had Aimee and Sean even met in the first place? They worked on completely seperate floors, and Carrie knew Aimee well enough to know that she wouldn't give this scum the time of day. And as for Jack...he was very absorbed in his work at the moment, and wasn't giving Carrie and outlet so as to avoid strangling Sean. Fabulous, the way this day was going. Putting on her fiercest pout, she turned back to Jack. She liked his southern accent and usually found him a nice person to be around. He was tons of fun at The Bar, and liked his personality enough to use him as a filter to ignore Sean.

"Actually, I was hoping for your help with identifying said mystery bug, oh master of all things microscope related."

She nudged him slightly, raising an eyebrow. She felt her good mood slowly creeping back, and her good moods were usually contagious. So long as there were no wet blankets around like Sean to ruin it.


[[aw, sorry for being mean to your charrie, Lee. But I am thinking the Carrie doesn't like the sean because she suspects something about him and aimee, though she doesn't know for sure, ya know? like she's afraid to admit it because she wants aimee to be honest with her...-sigh-
complicated girl hormones, that whole deal]]

[Aimee Kensington]

I'm so tempted to join just so Aimee can be in a situation with Sean and Carrie.
Baaaahahaha. Social suicide.

[Jack Bowler]

"Don't flatter yourself, Andrews. I was just starring at the lipstick left on your collar. Tell Cassandra its a nice color, and I'd like to borrow it sometime."

Carrie’s voice behind him had taken on a certain annoyed shrill to it as she stood near him. Jack didn’t even have to look up to feel her eyes boring into the other man. If they had been out having drinks at the bar or where ever he might have offered up his opinion on Sean Andrews. Self centered egotistical asshole. That was Jack’s opinion. And he would have offered it with his southern charm if she had asked him.

The microscope was clear as far as he could see as he sat there giving it a once over just to make sure. In truth he was avoiding the conversation between the two behind him. Jack avoided conflict when he could as many did. He was no exception.

"Infestation? Look, Jack. A simple charm can cure the mites up. I wouldn't be tampering with those flowers if I were you."

“Who’s tampering?” he asked taking out his wand. He cast a charm on the flowers and the tray they were sitting on and levitated them to the biohazard bag off to the side. Once inside the items disappeared immediately. “I personally wouldn’t want to find myself laughing hysterically at Sean later when he tries to assert himself on some of the poor technicians again.” He grinned glancing at the two of them. “Because I find it hard enough not to laugh without a mite infection.”

"This is true. I'm like the ultimate litmus test. And that one? Definately didn't pass..." She snickered. "And of course I brought her up here. Because I know for a fact that floor one is full. There is not a single availible bed which brings me to you."

Jack’s gaze went back and forth between the pair of them as they exchanged words. The south’s influence remained firm as he let them go keeping his thoughts mostly to himself. “Then leave her here for now,” he replied grabbing his stethoscope off the counter from beside him. He draped it around his neck and moved off the stool ready to carry on with his morning rounds for the time being.

The last thing he wanted was to send the woman down to another floor where she picked up something else during her stay at the hospital. And an infection they hadn’t identified yet could be problematic, if not deadly.

"Actually, I was hoping for your help with identifying said mystery bug, oh master of all things microscope related."

“Of course,” he commented. “You know I’ve been trying to get transferred onto you floor for a year now.”

[Carrie Martin]

-pokes the thread-
I believe that it be the Lee's turn
-nods-


join, emmy, pretty please?
-pouts-
I sense a good bout of drama, if you do, and I know how you love drama...

[Sean Andrews]

“Tell Cassandra its a nice color, and I'd like to borrow it sometime” Sean mocked Carrie in his head. Stupid girl. She was clearly to young to be working in this hospital, but whatever that wasn’t his place to decided what to do immature co-workers. It was instead his job to taught, and annoy them on a daily basis. He knew Carrie was Aimee’s friend which meant that he had to be nice to her, but he was finding it hard to do so. At this very moment he was fighting to keep his big mouth shut, to keep himself out of trouble with Aimee. But it seemed he was fighting a loosening battle there.

“You know Martin, I thought so too. But you know what would make it even better? Really bring out the colour and what not? If you added yours beside it. What say you? I’ll come down to your flat. You know tell stash the wife away and all that.”

Smirk, and this time he added that little eyebrow thing in. God he was horrible. He once again laugh with himself, at the humour in his statement. He had come down to Aimee’s flat, only once though as it’s hard to have guaranteed privacy when living with 3 other people. But with his idea of getting Aimee her own flat, he hoped that he would be coming down to that flat more often. It was funny, he mused, how once an affair started. Once a secret was made, how invaded every part of your day and life. It wasn’t something that could be turned on and off on a whim.

What was this? Little Miss Floor Two trying to tell his healers how their jobs should be done? Well last time Sean checked, Carrie didn’t work on this floor, nor was she head healer on her floor. She was just like Lynne, sticking her nose in where it didn’t belong. Ah Lynne, anther co-worker whom Sean couldn’t stand. The pregnant woman would of course be the one to find Sean and Aimee. The pregnant hormonal one. Yes, good choice karma.

“Martin this is my floor with my Healers, we’ll do how we please. I’m 100% sure that Bowler here knows that he’s doing.”

”Then leave her here for now”. What? Thanks Jack, I’ll stick up for you then stab me in the back. Sean was finding that today was turning out to be one of those days not worth getting out of bed for.

“Bowler, I am the one in charge here. I will be the one making decisions regarding this floor, and if I feel that its necessary to take the risk of infecting the entire floor. “

He was short, and could feel his temper rising. He could feel the old blood stream itching for a fag. Now there wasn’t a rule per say that one couldn’t smoke in the hospital, it was common knowledge that the staff who smoked would sneak a fag in their office, and considering that they were away from the patients, in a kind of office, that was good enough for Sean. He dug into the pockets of the lime green robes, and pull out his fag’s, lit one with a match and inhaled deeply. God, it had been a good 15 minutes since his last one.

“Don’t you say a word Martin” he pointed aggressively at her with the fag in hand.

“You can put you paitent in room two, bed 5. Put something on the door so that everyone knows what the patients deal is, and that she is in isolation. And Bowler if your so eager to get off my floor, I suggest cozying up with Miss Martin’s healer in charge, which is how she got her job.”

Yep, defiantly not a day worth getting out of bed for. He knew that he was know being unnecessarily mean to Carrie, but now that his temper had come into play there was no way that his month was going to stay shut for longer then it took to inhale more cancer. And he had sneaking suspicion that this was going to get back to Aimee.

[I love it how it takes me a year to post.
Not.
-cough-
JOIN MAKE MORE DRAMA
SO SEAN'S HEAD CAN EXPLODE.]

[Aimee Kensington]

[[-Snickers-
Will join after school my lovelies.
-Snugs All-]]

[Carrie Martin]

-gasp!-
is thinking of a fabulous postie in response to Lee's evil charrie
-snicks-
wonderful post

[Carrie Martin]

hm...nevermind, I lied...I'm going out for ice cream now...
-sigh-
when a cute guy asks you out for ice cream, you don't say no
-snicks-
will post afterward, I promise