Title: "I Know"
Author: NiennaTru
Summary: JC/PB friendship. Post-"Old Times." Slightly AU.
Disclaimer: ER and all its characters don't belong to me. If they did, every episode would have mandatory Carter/Benton scenes.
Author's Note 1: Thank you, John Wells, Noah Wyle, and Eriq LaSalle for the gift that was last night's episode, "Old Times." For long-time fans such as myself, I could not have asked for a more emotionally satisfying episode. I've been waiting years for more of the Carter/Benton friendship, and this episode delivered that and more.
Author's Note 2: I was inspired to write this after watching the "sneak peeks" of "Old Times" at the NBC website. I wrote it the afternoon before the episode aired, so it is slightly AU—the phone call Carter makes at the end of the episode does not occur in this story.
"Kem didn't come?"
"No…he didn't call her…and I guess she doesn't know he's here."
Standing outside the hospital room, both looked inside. Carter was laughing at something Morris was telling him while Sam and Gates looked faintly embarrassed.
"I guess I'm not surprised," she began. "But it's a shame. She was good for him, and he seemed to make her happy."
"You didn't think they'd stay together?"
She looked up at him and then again into the room. "Well, I've seen it happen before. Losing a child…especially how they did…it just tears people apart. Memories, I guess…"
He blew out a long breath. "Oh, man…"
"You didn't know?" Her expression softened.
Glancing at Carter, he shook his head. "No."
"She was almost full-term when they noticed the baby stop moving. They came to the hospital right away, but it was too late." She shook her head. "They were about as devastated as I've ever seen."
He rubbed a hand over his eyes. "I asked him if he had any kids…"
She shook her head again. "Peter, you didn't know."
He shrugged. They were silent a moment. Sam had apparently had enough embarrassment and tried to slap Morris in an attempt to silence him. Morris ducked out of the way, and continued his story in an even louder voice.
"I remember the days when you acted like you could barely stand to be around him."
He chuckled. "He was a pain in the ass sometimes."
"No more than you, Dr. Benton."
"Thank you, Haleh."
"You're welcome." She smiled. "You're a good friend to him, Peter. He needs good friends."
Entering the room, she glanced back at him. "And so do you."
Following her, he answered, "I know."
Author's Note 3: When I watched the "sneak peeks" at the NBC website (before the episode aired in its entirety), I knew Peter would probably be able to convince Carter to call Kem. Carter trusts Peter like he does no one else, and respects his opinions (though he doesn't always agree with him, of course). However, the scenario I had pictured in my head called for Carter choosing not to call his wife—and this story was the result. On a more personal note, though I was never overly fond of Kem, I was glad Carter called her in the end. Everyone wants a happy ending for their favorite character, and I am no different.