You've Got Mail

AUTHOR: Piper Fox

SERIES TITLE: The Distance Between Us. (Set after Series One: What Might Have Been.

FEATURE CHARACTERS: Carter and Lucy (plus some of the others who appear from time to time) Friendship/Relationship/Angst
SUMMARY: Lucy and Carter survived the attack in Season 6 and become good friends. Lucy moved to San Francisco to continue her training after deciding that Chicago had too many bad memories. The story continues with their separate lives. Note: Cheryl Wood and Orla Visnija are original characters who will be introduced in this series.

April 2001:

John Carter stumbled though the door into his apartment. Wearily, he dumped his bag on the counter and headed straight for the coffee. He poured himself a refreshing cup of coffeeand went to the fridge. Inside, to his dismay he found an empty carton of milk. "Dave!" he yelled.

"Yeah?" Dave Malucci's husky voice echoed from his room.

"Why is there an empty milk carton in the fridge?" he asked, as Dave appeared carrying a large bowl of cornflakes.

"Um . . . argh . . . sorry." Dave shrugged, as that was obviously all he could manage between mouthfuls of cornflakes.

Carter grimaced and decided to let it go. "Did we get any mail today?"

"Yeah, a power bill."

"Great . . ." Carter muttered, wondering what the damage to his bank account would be this time.

Dave continued, "A nice smelling letter from your Gamma . . ." Carter grumbled again. "Oh and another letter. From San Francisco, Lucy I guess." Dave wandered out of sight as Carter's attention shifted to the letter. "Lucy!" Apart from a few brief phone calls they hadn't been in contact since January. The thought of her suddenly had his heart racing. Taking his black coffee in hand, he sat down, and tore open the letter.

Dear John

I love San Francisco! It has got to be the best city in the world (no offence to Chicago or anything). Sorry I've taken so long to write, it's just been so busy for me in the past month or so. About a week after I got here I found the cutest little apartment. It's a bit pricey, but I couldn't resist. Especially after staying in a hostel for a week - it was driving me crazy. Last night I cooked (yes I Lucy Evalyn Knight cooked!) for Orla, who lives across the hall from me. It wasn't a bad meal considering my lack of talent in that area (as you know). I think she enjoyed it or was just too polite to mention otherwise. We met on the day that I moved in and pretty much hit it off. I was very glad to find someone like her since I was unfamiliar with the place. I wish you could meet her, she has an amazing personality.

Work is going really well. I'm learning a lot, but it is taking the energy out of me. San Francisco General's ER is very similar to Cook County, but it's also very different. My supervising doctor is Cheryl Wood. She has helped me a lot, and I get on with her quite well. No dramas like when I first became your student. I'll never forget the guidance you gave me though, you really did help me a lot you know. I've really grown in my work as a doctor, Carter; I bet you wouldn't believe I was the same Lucy Knight that stumbled into the ER nearly two years ago. Can you believe it's been that long? So much has happened, so much more to come I guess. I'm becoming a pro at all the procedures that used to trip me up. Coming here was the right decision, but I miss you and everyone else and I can't wait until you give me an update on what's been happening over there. Things finally seem to be coming together for me now and I'm very happy. I hope you are well and that I hear from you soon.

Love Lucy

Lucy Knight smiled as she put down the ink pen she was holding. In the back of her mind she wondered what the real reason was behind her lack of contact with Carter. These thoughts faded as she heard a knock on her door.

"Come in Orla, its open," she called.

The door opened and in strode a confident woman of about Lucy's age. She had shoulder length brown hair, which lightly caressed the outline of her attractive face. She had inquisitive green eyes and refined red lips. She wore a sleeveless grey jersey and dark jeans that showed off her well proportioned figure.

"Hey Lucy . . . what are you looking so dreamy about?"

Lucy frowned as if she didn't know what Orla was talking about. "Dreamy?"

"Yeah, so who's the guy?"

"What guy?"

"C'mon Lucy, I've seen the way you get sometimes. You go all quiet and get this faraway look in your eyes. It's time you confessed," she announced.

"But . . . well I . . ." Lucy wasn't sure what to say or how to begin.

"Fine." Orla sprang forward and snatched the letter off the table.

"Orla!" Lucy tried to stop her, and a chase around the apartment ensued, but in the end she failed miserably.

Orla skimmed the page with her eyes. "Dear John . . . I'll never forget the guidance . . . I miss you . . . LOVE Lucy." She emphasised the word love.

"This is the John Carter you told me so much about? The 'mentor' of yours?"

Lucy nodded slowly feeling suddenly helpless. Even though Orla knew a great deal about Lucy's past, she didn't know about the 'relationship that wasn't' with Carter.

"Something happened that you didn't tell me about . . . am I right?"

Lucy nodded again. "We almost got together."

"I knew you were hiding something."

Lucy then recounted the whole disaster of Exam 6 and 'the relationship that wasn't'.

Orla listened intently until Lucy had finished. "Do you still love him?" she asked quietly.

Lucy paused. "I don't know if I ever did . . . being here kind of dulls my feelings. We weren't compatible.

Orla suddenly smiled. "I know exactly what you need girl, and that's a good night out. Come with me to my office party tomorrow.

"I don't know . . ." Lucy seemed reluctant.

"It's the perfect way to lose those pangs of unrequited love . . ."

"Go on Lucy, it's about time you got over Carter. You've been hung up on him for far too long."

"You're right . . . I'll come." Lucy agreed and little did she know it, but she was about to set in motion some events that would change her life forever.