AN: This fic is a little different. It's Carby in a very different situation than on the show. Abby is just getting separated from her husband and they have a son; and she is a doctor. Carter has just moved to Chicago after getting divorced and he has a daughter. Carter comes to work at county. Read to see what happens. It will be Carby, I promise.

Oh, and to my "A Second Chance" and "Road to Recovery" Fans, the next chapters that I wrote for both those stories were accidentally erased from my computer. And you know how much it bites to have to rewrite something that you worked on for so long, so I am going to take a break from them and finish in a little while. This should hold you over though. Hopefully, it will be even better. Thanks for reading.

Disclaimer: Nothing is mine

Chapter One

Abby's POV

I throw some empty boxes onto the carpet and sit down next to them on an already packed one. I've been packing for what seems like hours. I can't believe that I am moving my husband out of our house tonight. We've been married about seven years now, but this marriage hasn't worked for well over five of those years. I know that I have stayed in it because I am afraid of what's out there. This is comfortable. I know Trent and I love him and it is so hard to turn away from that. We have had such trouble through these past seven years though. I think we have survived almost every hardship that a marriage can go through, well I don't even know if you can say that we survived, considering the fact that he is moving out. I have become a doctor with a hard schedule that doesn't agree with his schedule of litigating. I have also had a miscarriage, which turned out to be a pregnancy that Michael didn't even want. We went through a whole year of miscommunications, horrible fighting and accusing each other of infidelity as well. And through all of this we have been raising a son. What an environment to raise a child. I have probably scarred my little boy for life, how can I ever forgive myself? Our fighting hasn't seemed to affect Jake that much; fortunately he is one of the most confident, well adjusted children I know.

I never pictured that this marriage would end up divided, I never wanted my son to have two houses and two separate families, this is something that I never planned for. I guess what's comforting to me is knowing that this isn't the end just yet. This is only a trial separation. Trent will be just around the corner at a hotel. Maybe this wont end up the way I think it is going to. Maybe this separation will make us realize that we can't live without each other. Maybe a month away from me will remind him of how good he's got it at home with his family. God knows right now, he has no idea what he is going to miss. I'm not even sure that he will miss me; I know he will miss our son though. He has been the light of our lives since he was born nearly six years ago; he has really been the glue that has held us together. Some people stay together for the sake of the children, well I think that's us. I love my husband, but it seems like we just can't make it work. We haven't been fighting recently, but that doesn't even seem to be the problem anymore. There is just no passion, no caring, no holding each other, no joy shared; there is sex though, but no making love. This relationship is lifeless, but it's what I know and it's scary to think that it could end. I could be a 36 year old single mother. I guess these next couple of weeks are going to show me what its like to be divorced.

I finish taping up the last box and place it on top of the other ones in the corner. I do everything for this man; I even packed his bags to leave. Its six thirty and he should be home with Jake any minute now. I crash out on the couch and look around the room. It feels empty here and I am all of the sudden apprehensive about him leaving.

"Mommy!" I turn to the door and I smile at the sight of my son rushing into my arms.

"Hi baby" I hug him tightly and reach around him wiping my wet eye to keep from crying; I don't want him to see me upset. I see Trent walk in after him and loosen his tie around his neck. I mouth a hello to him and then close my eyes as I cuddle my baby.

"Mommy, I drew this picture of you and daddy today." I look at the picture, it's quite interesting. It looks like he has drawn us hugging each other. I don't even remember the last time he saw us show affection towards one another.

"What did you draw sweetie?" I try to smile at my son, but I am forcing it too much and to someone a little older, I probably would sound fake.

"Well Mrs. Lawson told us to draw our wish." I stand up and share a look with Trent. We both know now that we have damaged our son and it feels even more horrible than any of the other stupid bull shit that I have been through with his father. A tear escapes from my eye as this situation starts to present its self as a sadder one than I thought it would be. Jakes father is going to leave tonight and I still don't know what I am going to tell him when he asks where his daddy is.

I watch as Trent runs up the stairs to change his clothes. I left him something to change into on our bed and the rest of his stuff is waiting for him down here at the door. I pick up a box and start to pack his car with them as he grabs a couple of other things that he needs in the bedroom. This is surreal.

I hear footsteps approaching behind me as I lean into the car to straighten out the boxes to fit a couple more. I feel Trents arms encircle my waist from the back of me; this is probably the first physical contact I have had from him in weeks. It feels odd, like I am this abused person that isn't used to being touched by another human, it's not normal anymore. I cringe at his touch, not so much because I don't want it, but because it is surprising and uncomfortable.

"Now that I'm leaving, I'm kind of feeling like I don't want to go." He whispers into my back.

"You have to go Trent" I pull his arms off of me as I turn around to face him and let the tears fall from my face. He moves to wipe them but I push his hand away. I won't let him comfort me when he is the source of all of my pain. This isn't how I am going to heal. It's not that I am not angry at him right now, this move out is actually rather civil. Maybe that's because we have hope that in the end everything will work out. And maybe everything won't work out. As much as I love my husband, I know in my heart that he will never change and I probably won't either. I will never be the person he wants me to be and he will never be the husband I need him to be. Maybe the hope is that we will both move on and find other people that fit us better to share our lives with.

"I'll talk to you tomorrow about when I can have Jake this week." I nod my head at him and look down at the ground as he gets in his car and drives away.

A couple hours later I am in my big bed alone for the first time in a long time. It's cold and empty and lonely as I lie awake and stair at the clock. My door creeks open and I turn my head to see a tired little Jake walking up to the bed in his bright yellow Sponge Bob p.j's. I turn the bedside lamp on as he rubs his eyes to adjust to the light.

"Mommy, where did daddy go?" I take a deep breath. Jake is too young to understand that we are separated, although I'm sure he'll figure it out at some point, but well cross that bridge when we get to it.

"Jakey, daddy has to work on a big case for the next couple of weeks so he needs to be in a very quiet place where he can concentrate really hard, so he went to stay at a hotel for a little while. But you are going to see him very soon, baby, okay"

"Can I sleep here with you then" I smile at him. He is just what I need now, my little man.

"Hop in"