Hey Stranger
Summary: What if Carter had called someone else before Kem? Carby Friendship.
A/N: Alright, I miss Carby! Like badly. And I know she's with Luka and he's with Kem in the finale, but darn it, they could be friends and actually like talk, ya know. So here's my take on if he had called her before Kem. :]
Disclaimer: Not mine, I don't even have the money to feed my cats. Yeah. I think John Wells can feed his cats.. if he has cats.
He dials the number and prays that she'll pick up and not him. He waits as he hears the dial tone and finally, the line clicks on, "Hello." She says in that throaty voice that is uniquely Abby."
"Hey Stranger." He chuckles.
"Carter!" She exclaims and he hears a chair scratch on the tile floor and the 'thump' as she plops down in it.
"Abby." He says softly.
"How are you?" She asked, it's easy to tell she's a tad flabbergasted.
"I'm.... I just had surgery. I'm in Chicago." He explains.
"What!?"
"A kidney transplant."
"Was it... I mean..." He hears her hesitate.
"Yeah." He fills in the blanks.
"Wow." She mutters and he hears her lighter flick.
"Put it out." He mutters.
"How the..." She sighs audibly.
"How's Luka?" He asks the obligatory question. Luka and Carter haven't been friends for a long time, there is a few passing emails, more updates on Abby and Joe than anything else.
"Fine. He's watching soccer with Joe. Do you want to talk to him?" Abby offers, she misses the brief period of time when they all got along. She misses her boys being friends.
"No. That's fine. How's Joe? He's gotta be big by now." Carter says, Joe is what he imagines Joshua would've been like -a full on bundle of energy.
"He's great. A real walking, talking person now." Abby explains, drumming her nails on the kitchen table.
"Wow." Carter smiles, he always knew Abby would be a good mother.
"You should come visit us in Boston some time." Abby tells him.
"Or you guys could come to Chicago. I'm opening the Joshua Carter Center in a few weeks." Carter tells her.
"It's done?" She asks.
"Basically. They're putting on the final touches now. Susan and Kerry are coming." Carter tells her.
"I'll try. No promises." Abby says softly.
"That's all I ask for." Carter replied.
"How's Kem?" Abby asks and then he hears a muffled, "Luka! Don't say that! Not even in Croatian! He'll pick up on it and offend someone." And he hear's Luka's distant laugh.
"Kem's... Kem's in Paris." Carter explains, his voice full of defeat.
"Did she know you were having surgery?"
"Not exactly." He replies, sheepishly.
"John!" Abby chastises him.
"I didn't want her to feel obligated." Carter crosses his socked ankles.
"She's your wife. It comes with the territory." Abby chuckles.
"I don't know anymore." Carter shakes his head.
"John. Call your wife." Abby urges.
"All these years later, a few thousand miles in between us and you're still the boss of me?" Carter teases.
"Carter." She pulls out the mom voice.
"Alright. I will." Carter concedes, "We can't go this long without talking again."
"We won't." Abby reassures him, "Email me the details for the opening."
"I will." Carter smiles.
"Bye Carter."
"Bye Abby."
A/N: Alright. Here's the deal. I'm certain it sucks. It's probably ooc and it's not well written, but it's like 5 am. I have no spell check/grammar check. So if it's wrong, it's wrong. I just HAD to write it. Please review in any event. All feed back is appreciated. Flames will be doused with a fire extinguisher.