Starting Over
Disclaimer: I don't own any ER characters, I only own Caleb.
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Abby's POV
I stopped for a minute and stared at the doors in which I would soon enter, the doors which would change how my life had been the past few years. The doors which lead back to the life I used to live, the life I left behind, the people I left behind. I feel a tugging on my arm,
"Mommy?" my four year old son Caleb calls to me,
"
What baby?" I ask him.
"Are we going to go inside?" he asks, pointing towards the doors,
"Yeah, let's go," I grab his hand as we make our way inside. I'm shocked as I enter, this building I haven't been in for 4 ½ years is exactly the same, or at least it seems the same. The same patients coming in and out, doctors trying to clear the board, families who have heard the worst news about their loved ones. I stop once again and look around, I hardly recognize anybody, then I see a face, the one face I've been wanting to see and dreading seeing. He walks by only to walk back a second later,
"Abby?" he calls, after 4 ½ years he still remembers, I didn't think he would.
"Carter, good to see you," I somehow manage to say. We awkwardly stand there for second before he says,
"Yeah, so, how have you been?" I notice he looks at Caleb as he says it,
"Pretty good," I say as I pull Caleb closer to me, "This is Caleb by the way." He bends down to Caleb's level,
"Hi Caleb, my name is John," Caleb looks up at me and I reassure him its alright to talk to John.
"Hi John," Caleb says waving at him, Carter smiles at him then stands back up,
"So Abby, how long are you back for?" Carter asks me, I can tell he's still in shock from seeing me.
"Actually, Caleb and I are moving back here," I pause then add, "For good."
"I've got to get back to work, maybe we can get together for coffee or something sometime and talk," I notice he once again looks at Caleb then back to me,
"Sure, here's my number," I give him a slip of paper which I wrote my number on, then I watched him walk away, again.
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Carter's POV
I put some x-rays up to the light to look at them, but I can't concentrate on them, my mind wanders. Abby is here, after 4 ½ years she's back, just showing up at the hospital, like nothing had happened. Who does she thinks she is? I'm starting to get angry, she leaves, no explanation or anything, just leaves, then comes back 4 ½ years later with a "Hey Carter, good to see you," and with what I'm guessing is her son, by her side. Her son, that brings up another question, who is the father? Caleb couldn't be more than 4 years old. Could he be mine? We weren't really together, except for that one night, I guess its possible, but she also had just broken up with Luka at the time, could he be Luka's?
"Dr. Carter?" I hear, I turn around to see the patient with a worried look on her face, "Is something wrong?"
"Everything's fine," I reassure them, "I'll be right back," I say as I walk out, I can't concentrate on anything, I'm glad I only have a half hour before I get off. I need to talk to Abby, I need some explanation, I thought we were finally going to get together and be together, forever. I guess not, I'm still not sure how to react to this whole thing, what is the right reaction? Happiness? Maybe a little bit, Anger? I definitely am angry, but how angry am I really? Shock? I wasn't expecting it that was for sure, I didn't think I would ever see her again. Confused? That's probably the biggest one, I'm confused at why she left, why she came back. There are a million other emotions going around in my head, but I don't have time to figure them all out, 29 minutes left in my shift, I better stop thinking and get back to work.
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Abby's POV
My apartment is a mess, what do you expect after moving? Caleb is sitting in his half set up room playing with cars, the TV he left on is blaring some show, partly eaten food left at the table. It's a nice apartment just needs our stuff cleaned up. I survey the mess of boxes and junk around me, I can't help but think how closely this apartment represents my life. A junky mess of confusion, but I can't think about that now, I'm supposed to be starting over, forgetting the life I used to have, even the life I used to have before I left Chicago. Something's I'm just going to have to face, Carter and Luka for example, I know Luka is still here I've just been lucky enough not to run into him, yet. I know it won't be too much longer, I start work at County on Thursday, I somehow forgot to mention that to Carter. I guess I wanted to give him some time to get used to the idea of me being back. I turn off the TV then start to clean some things up, I hear the phone ring but in the mess I can't seem to find it. I hear the answering machine pick up then hear a familiar voice,
"Abby, it's Carter, I really want to talk to you, if you can, meet me by the river around 7 at the same spot we always used to go."
I look at Caleb then go to call Susan, the one person I have stayed in touch with and who knew I was coming back. "Hey Susan, it's Abby, do you think you can watch Caleb tonight? A little before 7? Yeah she can come too, alright, see you then, Bye"
Susan has been the best friend a person could ask for, she helped me move out and in, she helped me with all my problems in Boston, anything and everything she is there for me, "Caleb," I call trying to get his attention, he gets lost in his own little play world, "Caleb," I call again, this time he looks up at me, "Susan and Krista are coming over to play!"
"Yay! Krista! Krista!" He yells and starts jumping around his room.
"Why don't you get your room cleaned up, as much as you can," I say and I watch as he frantically runs around getting things cleaned up.
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Carter's POV
I stand by the river watching for her, I don't even know if she'll show up, or if she remembers where to come. I have so many questions to ask, I don't even know where to start. I look at my watch, 7:15, maybe she isn't coming, but then again she did always run late. I look up and see her walking towards me, another rush of emotions run through me as I walk to meet her.
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A/N: What a fun place to leave it! I'll update soon don't worry! Also, I know there were a lot of unanswered questions, but the will hopefully all be cleared up in the next chapter. If you want to you can e-mail me (JingleBellsRock@hotmail.com) whatever you thought was unclear and I'll make sure to include it in the next chapter. Krista is Susan's 3 year old daughter, I'm not sure who Susan's husband is yet, give me some time to think about it, or you can suggest someone. Thank you for reading and please review!
~Alli