Getting back to "Normal" | Rhekker

Chapter 14- Drugs

Connor was stood at the nurses station when two patrol men came through the ED doors.
"Hey their officers" Maggie greeted them.
"We're looking for Dr. Chalres" they told her.
Connors ears pricked up to the Conversation when he heard those words.
"Eighteen floor, take the elevators up and ask at the desk for him" Maggie pointed.
Connor watched the cops walk up to the elevator and wait for doors to open. We watched the numbers change before stopping on eight.
Connor bolted for the stairwell, flying up step after step. By the time he made it to the eight floor he was panting and out of breath. Not spotting the officers he ran down to Ava's room, only to find it empty. Turning on his heal he ran to Dr. Charles office. Barging in he found Ava was staying in the middle of the room with the two officers holding either of her arms.

"Get off her, she didn't do anything" he barked at them. As he approached he realised Ava was in tears and shivering slightly.
"Dr. Rhodes, that's what we just informed Dr. Bekker of, we were just coming to see you." One of the officers explained.
"What?"
"Dr. Rhodes I think it's best that you sit down for this" Dr. Charles gestured to the chair in front of him. Ava sat down in the opposite chair, gazing down miserably at her lap.

"What is this in regards to?" He asked, not taking his eyes off Ava.
"Dr. Rhodes we got a full autopsy back on your farther" the officer explained.
"And?" Connor said, getting agitated at how long they were taking to explain things.
"Their were high levels of cocaine in his system"
"Cocaine?"
"Yes, it appears that he was taking cocaine and using the higher levels of insulin in his blood work to distract from it"
Connor sat their star struck at this information.
"Dr. Rhodes" Daniel said softly, "were you aware of your farther drug use"
Connor swallowed hard, finally looking away from Ava.
"I knew he had past drug use but I didn't know it was coke"
"We have yet to find a source of the drug, that what we wished to speak to you and Dr. Bekker about"
"So then Dr. Bekker..."
"Is innocent, the cocaine killed him"
Connor pursed his lips, rubbing the wrinkled between his brows.

Ava was innocent, Ava is innocent

"This information doesn't go beyond this room" Connor mutters into his hand.
"His death will remain a heart complication due to environmental factors. No blame will fall on Dr. Bekker or the hospital"
Ava's head finally pricks up at this, her cheeks tear stained, feebly looking at Connor.
"Dr. Bekker do you remember seeing Mr. Rhodes with anything suspicious before his death?"
"Do you seriously think if I saw him, or suspected him of doing coke I wouldn't have reported it?" Ava glared up at them.
"We'll be in touch" they Nodded to Dr. Charles before leaving.

Connor fiddled with his jacket pocket taking out a small metal box of mints and setting them on the table. Ava watched him do this, her attention drawn to it by the shuffling noise.
Connor caught her eye as he went to go put the mints away.
"Do you want one?" He held the familiar box of blue tablets out.
Ava jumped out of her chair and ran out of Dr. Chalres office.
Connor looked between the open door and Dr. Charles.
"I guess she didn't want one?" Connor said, looking out the empty doorway.

Ava came stroming back into the office, the officers in toe.
"Is anyone in Cornelius room?" Ava asked, slightly out of breath from running up and down the hall, having not moved much in a week.
"Uh, no. No ones check in there" Connor shook his head.
"Okey, lets go" Ava nodded for them to follow her.
Ava was viably more relaxed in the elevator ride then she had been during her stay in psych, she'd always hoped that she didn't kill Cornelius, but know she knew she hadn't.

Connor shuddered as they entered the private treatment room. Connor hadn't been in here since his farther had passed away, after all his attempts to save him were futile. Ava looked around the room her eyes darting around the place.
"Cornelius always had this tin of mints on him, I never questioned it. Connor has the same pack, but their blue, the ones Mr. Rhodes had on him were white" Ava told them and the officer nodded, immediately knowing where this was going.
"Mr. Rhodes was being" Ava paused and glanced to Connor, "inappropriate, we'll say. Before I left his room he asked me to pass him his box of mints from his bag and in a fit of range I threw them at his head" Ava pursed her lips awkwardly, having needed to explain the situation, even through she in no way regretted her actions.
She pulled a chair up to the bedside and stood on it, standing on her tippy toes Ava looked on top of the painting that hung above the bed. Connor came up behind her, holding his hands out to catch her, should she fall.

Ava stepped back down, brushing against Connors chest her feet met the ground.
"There" she handed one of the officers a small pill.
"He was taking these every day or so. I didn't question it at the time, but Connor had the same packet. Like I said, the mints are blue, not white"
The detective turned the pill over in his hand, "you could be onto something"
Ava helped her elbow in her hand, stroking the skin softly. Connor noticed this action, remembering her bruised arm while she was still in her coma.
"He did that to you" Connor says, not questioning it as he already knew the answer.
Ava met his eyes skittishly before glancing alway at the wall, clutching her elbow.
Connor locks his jaw, keeping his composure in front of the officers.

"Well have to have someone come in and test the room and remaining pills"
"Thank you for your cooperation" the officer said as they left. Connor stopped to inform the nurses at the station that the room was being closed off while Dr. Charles and Ava went back to psych.

Making his way to the lift Connor hit the button for the ED, before hastily hitting the one for Psych, not knowing what compelled him to change course for Ava's room.
The door was closed and when Connor tried the door their was resistance.
"Ava, Ava" Connor banged on the door, trying to look through the small window.
"Ava let me in!"
Connor heard some shuffling in the room before a scraping noise. The door swung open as Ava pulled the chair back from it. Her eyes were red and puffy as she shook in front of him.
"Ava" Connor sighed, pulling her into his arms. Ava wrapped her arms around Connor neck, he hushed her and walked her back to her bed, kicking the door closed behind him. 
Connor sat Ava on her bed and took the chair next to her.
"Avey it's okey" he whispered, taking her hands in his.

"I killed him" Ava said emotionlessly.
"What?"
"Connor I killed your farther" she gasped, her hands beginning to shake.
"No, no Ave. The cocaine killed him, it was nothing medical"
"No, Connor I killed him-"
"Ava-"
"I handed him the fucking mints, Connor" she shouted.
"I handed him the mints in the day he died, he asked me for them hours before he died"
Ava ran her hands through her hair nervously.

"Ava it wasn't your fault, he-"
"No, Connor. Just get out"
"Ava-" he put his arms out for her.
"GET OUT!" she roared at him.
Connor sighed, pursing his lips. Connor pulled a packet of tissue out of his pocket and left them on Ava's night stand. Connor closed the door behind him, hearing Ava let out a little sniffle before the door shut.