Title: "In The Morning

Author: AliBee

Rating: G

Disclaimer: I don't own ER, Carter, or Abby.

Author's Note: Written in response to the challenge to write a one-page (or more) mood fic (a challenge posted on the Carby board), centered around the mood 'nauseated'.
Nauseated: Sickness in the stomach, esp. when accompanied by a loathing for food and an involuntary impulse to vomit.
The silence of the bedroom was pierced with the loud buzz of the alarm clock. As Abby rolled over to turn off the infernal noise she was hit was a strong wave of nausea. She lay back, closing her eyes, trying to will the world to stop spinning. As her stomach was still turning cartwheels, Abby tried taking some deep breaths. It wasn't helping. Abby though back to what she had for dinner last night. Nothing out of the ordinary. She knew she wasn't hung over. She hadn't had a drink since the night Eric disappeared, and she was attending her meetings again. Another thought passed through Abby's mind as she fought the rising nausea. Moving careful she pulled her day planner out of the drawer. Opening one eye, Abby looked at her calendar, scanning for a particular entry. After finding her mark, she did the math. It had been eight weeks since her last one. Abby knew her cycle was irregular, but she knew she didn't usually go eight weeks. Just contemplating what this might mean made the nausea increase. ''Oh, God,'' Abby groaned as she pulled herself out of bed and headed gingerly to the bathroom. She was losing the fight to keep her stomach under control. Now her mind was spinning almost as bad as her stomach. Should she take a home test or let someone in the ER draw her blood? What should she tell Carter, and when? Was she happy? Or scared? Or both? Abby lay her head on the porcelain seat of her toilet. The coolness felt good, but it did nothing to ease the ever rising sickness. The fight lost she emptied the meager contents of her stomach. Pulling herself to her feet, Abby headed over to the sink, rinsed her mouth, and ran a cool washcloth over her face. She had to admit she felt better now. The nausea was gone for the moment but the uncertainty remained. ''Pull yourself together. You have a shift in an hour, ''Abby said to her reflection in the bathroom mirror.

Exactly an hour later, Abby was walking through the doors of the ER. The ride on the EL hadn't upset the delicate balance she was trying to maintain with the dry toast she had eaten. Luckily Susan was in the lounge alone when Abby entered. ''Susan,'' Abby said, '' I need a favor.''

''Sure,'' Susan answered. '' What do you need''

''Could you run a little test for me'' Abby asked.

The next morning, Abby's alarm rang. Without thinking she rolled over to turn it off. A slightly familiar feeling hit her stomach. Uh oh, she thought. Here we go again. Figuring it was better not to even try to fight it. Abby headed towards her bathroom, which is where carter found her when he came home from work. Carter held her hair and rubbed her back. As she finished her business, Abby looked at Carter and gave him a weak smile. ''Carter, were going to have a baby.'' Carter's hand reached for his stomach. He felt just a little nauseated.