Forever and For Always
Ok, so this is my first ER Fanfic. I wrote a couple for Friends, years ago, but this is my first ER one. I am a complete Carby fan and was inspired to write this after Noah Wyle's disappointing departure at the end of season 11. I was so sad Carter and Abby never got back together. Maybe they still will…. (Lost in the thought of them getting back together)… Anyways this is my take on how Carter and Abby should get back together. Enjoy.
This occurs in the middle of season 11 episode Carter est amoureux. Carter has gone to France to see Kem's mother, but this starts before he runs into Kem. Carter is in the hospital and looking for the room.
Carter is running down the unfamiliar hall ways looking for a sick women he has never seen before. He runs to the nurse station, but no use. The nurse doesn't understand English. As he turns to walk down another hall, he sees her. He stops in his tracts. There she is kissing another man. Carter turns on his heels to walk away, but it is too late. She has seen him.
Kem: John? John, wait.
Carter stops and turns around to face her as Kem runs down the hall towards him.
Kem: John what are you doing here?
Carter: I was told your mom had meningitis and she was dying. I came as fast as I could.
Kem: gives him a blank look. What are you talking about? My mom is just here for chemo.
Carter: I got a call from Africa, they told me. I guess they must have been wrong.
Kem: You flew all the way here to see if my mom was ok?
Carter: Well, I came to see you too, but I guess you don't need me. Nods his head in the direction of the man still standing down the hall .I don't know what I was thinking.
Kem: You should have called.
Carter: yeah, I should have. I just thought you would want to see me. But apparently you are over me.
Kem: and what, like you aren't over me. You had a relationship after I left.
Carter: That was a rebound. I was hurt. You had our baby and just left. I didn't know what to do. I had no idea if I would ever see you or even speak to you again. Pause. You know what it doesn't matter. You have moved on, so I guess it is time for me to move on too. Carter starts to walk away.
Kem: John, wait.
Carter turns around but doesn't walk towards her.
Carter: Its over Kem, I can't keep doing this. Tears are in his eyes
Kem: John I'm sorry.
Carter: yeah, well me too. Goodbye.
Carter turns around and walks out of the hospital. Kem doesn't stop him, but rather goes back over to the guy she was kissing earlier. She grabs his hand.
Kem: Come on, now that that's over, lets go se my mom.
Cut to Carter on the plane. He looks sad and ready to cry.
Cut to Chicago and the ER ambulance bay.
Abby is outside sitting on the bench. Jake walks up.
Jake: Hey
No response from Abby.
Jake: I am leaving for UCSF tonight, I just wanted to say goodbye.
Still n o response
Jake: Look I know you're mad at me, but what am I supposed to do. UCSF is where I matched.
Abby: snaps back. You could have requested here.
Jake: You told me not to
Abby: That doesn't mean you had to listen.
Jake: What am I supposed to do?
Abby: You know what? It doesn't matter. Go to San Francisco. Go live your life. Forget about me and our relationship. As of now it is over.
Jake: Abby
Abby: No Jake, its over. I am done. We knew this wasn't going to last. I mean you're a med student for God's sake.
Jake: Abby, I'm sorry.
Abby: yeah, me too. Goodbye.
Abby gets up from the bench and walks back inside the ER, her arms crossed in front of her. Jake watches her walk inside, whispers goodbye, and then turn to go to the El.
Cut to Carter. He walks up to his house and unlocks the door. He goes inside, not turning on any lights and walks up the stairs to his room. He turns on the radio and drops, dead tired onto his bed. The song It only hurts when I'm breathing by Shania Twain comes on the radio.
"Hope life's been good to you
Since you've been gone
I'm doing fine now- I've finally moved on
It's not that bad – I'm not that sad
I'm not surprised how well I survived
I'm over the worse and I feel so alive
I can't complain- I'm free again"
Flash to Abby. She unlocks the door to her apartment and walks inside. She doesn't bother to turn on her lights. She turns on the radio and flops onto to her unmade bed. The same song plays on her radio.
"And it only hurts when I'm breathing
My heart only breaks when it's beating
My dreams only die when I'm dreaming
So hold my breath- to forget"
Scene fades to the next morning. Abby comes out of her apartment and locks the door. Carter gets up from bed and turns on the shower. The song continues to play
"Don't think I'm lying around crying' at night
There's no need to worry, I'm really alright
I've never looked back – as a matter of fact
It only hurts when I breathe"
Cut to later in the day at the ER. Both Abby and Carter are on. Abby is at the admit desk looking over charts. Susan walks over.
Susan: Hey Abby?
No response
Susan: Abby? Earth to Abby?
Abby: Huh, what? She looks up from her chart.
Susan: dreaming about that med student boyfriend of yours?
Abby: Um, no actually that's over.
Susan: Oh, Abby I'm so sorry, I didn't know.
Abby: Its ok, it happened last night. He's moving to San Francisco. It was supposed to be a fling. Nothing more
Susan: well I was wondering if you wanted to get coffee or something later?
Abby: Oh, I can't later, sorry.
Susan: oh, ok whatever. Call me if you want to talk.
Susan picks up a chart and walks off. Carter walks up to the admit desk. Abby looks at him and smiles.
Abby: Hey, I thought you were in Paris with Kem.
Carter: I was. I got back last night.
Abby: And where is Kem. How's her mom?
Carter: In Paris with her mom. That's over.
Abby: Oh, John, I'm so sorry.
Carter: Well it's not your fault. I should have known.
Abby: Do you want to get something to eat later? I get off at six?
Carter: yeah, sure I get off at six too. I'll meet you in the lounge and then we can decide where to go from there.
Six o'clock in the lounge. Abby is getting stuff out of her locker when Carter walks in. Abby looks up at him and smiles
Abby: Hey you ready to go
Carter: yeah, where are we going?
Abby: I was thinking across the street at Ike's, you know for burgers. Does that sound good?
Carter: That sounds great. Carter finishes getting things out of his locker and slams it shut, but not before a picture of him and Kem falls out. Carter bends down to pick it up
Carter: Well I guess I won't need this anymore. He takes the picture and throws it in the trash before walking out of the lounge. Abby watches silently and walks after him.
Across the street at Ike's. Abby and Carter have just sat down at a booth.
Waitress: Look over the menu. I'll be back in a few minutes to take your order.
Abby: Ok, thanks. Waitress walks away. Abby grabs a menu and hands another to Carter. She starts looking at the menu. What are you thinking of having Carter?
Carter: huh?
Abby: What do you want to eat?
Carter: hum I don't know …pause… Abby, why did you ask to go to dinner with me?
Abby: I don't know. We haven't talked in awhile and you seemed in need of some friendly conversation. You looked so down earlier. So I thought going to dinner would cheer you up. Plus I was in need of some friendly conversation too. She smiles.
Carter: Oh pause wait, what do you mean you are in need of some cheering up?
Abby: Jake and I broke up yesterday. He's moving to San Francisco for his internship.
Carter: Oh, Abby I'm so sorry. I didn't know.
Abby: No one except Susan does right now. It'll come out in the next few days though. You know how fast gossip rushes through the ER.
Carter: smiles. Yeah I know. It's crazy how fast it spreads. But still I'm sorry.
Abby: It's ok. It wasn't meant to last. It was just supposed to be a fling. But …
Carter: but it got to be a little more than a fling.
Abby: Yeah, well I mean I met his family and everything.
Carter: did he meet yours?
Abby: Are you kidding? No Way! He doesn't have any idea. I always figured Maggie would show up again, off her meds, and everything would explain itself then.
Carter: Well, don't you think you should have told him?
Abby: Once again, that's why it would never have worked out. They share a smile. Anyways the more important break up is yours. How are you? And what the hell happened in Paris.
Carter: Well, I showed up at the hospital, looking for Kem's mom and before I reached the room I found Kem, kissing another guy.
Abby: Oh John, I'm so sorry.
Carter: its ok, we've both moved on. Pause You know what I don't think I ever really loved her. I loved the idea of having a family and a baby. I was so caught up in that, that I didn't even realize she wasn't the right person for me. I just wanted to start a family and the opportunity came up with Kem. I don't know, I am kind of glad it never worked out. I mean I am sad that Josh died, but even if he hadn't I don't think Kem and I would have stayed together. She wanted to live in Africa, I wanted to stay here. We are just very different people. It would have never worked. Plus, I never dreamed of having a baby with Kem; that was just supposed to be a fling in Africa. A rebound from you. I always dreamt to having a baby with … Carter stops midsentence (but we all, including Abby, know he meant to end the sentence with the word "you")
Abby drops her eyes and focuses on the table. An uncomfortable silence ensues, until the waitress walks up.
Waitress: Are you guys ready to order yet?
Abby: Um, you know what I'll just have some coffee.
Carter: Me too.
Waitress: Is that all?
Abby nods
Carter: yeah, thanks.
Waitress walks away
A few uncomfortable moments pass until Carter clears his throat.
Abby looks up and meets his eyes. They lock gazes and hold it until the waitress comes back with the coffee a few moments later. The waitress puts the coffee on the table. Carter breaks the gaze and smiles at the waitress. She turns and walks away. Abby grabs her cup and takes a sip. She puts it down suddenly.
Carter: burn your tongue?
Abby: yeah. Man that hurt.
Carter: You got to be careful with hot liquids, you know.
Abby: Well this coffee is really hot! Carter laughs and Abby smiles.
So, I never congratulated you properly about receiving tenure. Congratulations.
Carter: Thanks, I didn't really expect it. Susan was real mad. I feel bad about it, but I couldn't do anything. The committee decided.
Abby: Well you deserve it, with all you do. I mean you really have grown in the time I have known you. Coming off that drug addiction like you did. And rising to the position of Attending. You really have grown up and changed from the person I met so long ago.
Carter: well thanks. You know you have grown too. Going back to med school and become a doctor. You have done great. You are a great doctor. I see you with patients. They are lucky to have you.
Abby: Well if I have grown so much, how come my relationships still fail? I mean I can't keep a steady relationship. The failed marriage with Richard, then Luka, now Jake. And of course that year with you. You'd think I would learn how to not screw up, but it still hasn't happened. I still manage to screw everything up.
Carter: Well, you're talking to the wrong person. I am still screwing up too. Plus in our relationship I think we both played a part in messing it up. We were in just such weird places in our life. I look back and think if only I had tried harder to fix our problems, instead of running away, maybe it would have worked. You know I regret going to Africa now. I should have stayed. You needed me and I needed you. It didn't do anyone any good with me running away like that. In the end it just made things more screwed up and complicated. He smiles.
There is long pause. After awhile Abby clears her throat.
Abby: Do you ever wonder what would have happened if you hadn't left?
Carter: Everyday.
Abby: Me too. They meet each other's eyes.
Waitress walks up
Waitress: Here's your receipt unless you want any thing else.
Abby: Nothing more for me. I actually have to be going. I'll see you tomorrow. She starts to put some money down, put Carter stops her.
Carter: Its ok, I've got this, see you tomorrow.
Abby:Are you sure?
Carter: yeah, its on me. Talk to you later, k?
Abby: smiles Thanks. See you tomorrow. You on?
Carter: Of course. See ya
Abby smiles once more and then grabs her coat and leaves. Carter watches her walk out the door and then turns to the waitress.
Carter: How much do I owe you?
Waitress: $3.45. You know you and that girl make a real cute couple. All of us think so.
Carter: uh, we aren't a couple, just friends. Carter hands her the money.
Waitress: Oh, sorry. Pause. Well you sure are cute together. You oughta think about it.
Waitress walks away.
Carter: (to himself) I did and it didn't work out
Carter gets up puts on his jacket and leaves.