Two Cold Coffees
A week's time had passed since the terrifying ordeal at the hospital. The lockdown was fierce but to Abby it now seemed like some distant memory. She still couldn't believe all that the staff had been through that night but she felt okay now, and more so, she reminded herself, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." She definitely believed this statement was true in consideration of most of the people that worked in the e.r.
In the chaotic environment created by the lockdown, Abby had come to learn a lot about her co-workers and she was impressed by the magnitude of courageousness that surrounded her. She never knew the depth of dedication that was held by the people that she worked with every day of her life. She knew they were good, but she never knew exactly what they were made of till it came down to the wire like that.
Luka had been thrown about and roughed up by some irate patients who had been trapped in the e.r. She knew what a temper he had; yet she was impressed that he hadn't thrown any of these little squirts out a window. The patients had a lot of gall to mess around with her Croatian ex. He was strong, and he was dark, and you never knew what could cause his temper to flare up. She gathered that mostly, it was when Luka felt himself or others in danger that he lost it, just as the case of their first date. He was threatened by the out-of control "inmates" of the emergency room, and it was extremely uncomfortable in the sweltering heat, and yet, Luka held it together and just worked with everyone, trying to get the unstable people to calm down.
Gallant was just a rookie when it came to e.r. chaos, but he held his own. He became the running man, relaying important messages between doctors, keeping the peace and in general becoming the key organizer of the rampant confusion. He used his military knowledge to calm and control the throng of uppity people who swarmed the front desk with questions and demands. He also stood in strong support against the people who were barking orders at Dr. Lewis.
Susan Lewis was the queen of cool throughout the entire ordeal, and the woman dually impressed Abby. Both her grasp on reality, and her sense of humor, kept the staff level headed and united in their crisis. She managed to put the weight of the hardest decisions on her own shoulders and still stand up tall, juggling complaints and demands with such ease one would think she was reading comic strips.
Although she didn't have too much contact with Chen and Pratt she knew that the work they had done was equally important. They all came stumbling out of that place like weakened kittens into the blinding light of day and flash photography, but Abby knew that anyone still standing had started out with the strength of lions.
And then there was Carter. He floored her. From the start it was apparent to Abby that this man was willing to die for his patient, if it meant bringing the child relief from his pain. He regretted the loss of the young girl and knew that he would do anything in order to save the boy. Even in the midst of the medical emergency and hard decision-making, Carter had told Abby that she didn't need to follow him in there. He had consciously become aware of the danger that lay ahead, not for him, because he was prepared for anything, but for Abby, the woman who followed close behind him when he entered the infectious room. He didn't know that he was the only one that she would have been willing to follow under such dangerous circumstances. She joined him in peril out of both defiance and concern, she wanted to endanger herself for him, and she didn't want him to be alone in there. No one else had made a move toward that exam room once they discovered the dangerous disease. Carter and Abby didn't think twice and they forged on together into the life-threatening situation.
She hadn't seen him much since that day because they were granted a little time off considering all they had been through. They did however walk home together after their release from County General and they held hands tentatively like a couple of teenagers. There wasn't much talking because they were both too exhausted to speak. When they parted the sexual tension burned hotter than the August sun on their shoulders. He had curved one arm around her and wheeled her forward as if they were flamingo dancing. Her laughter bounced off the steaming pavement and up into the trees, and he kissed her then causing the laughter to stop and the swooning to begin. She pulled herself away from him painfully and walked backwards toward her apartment building never taking her eyes off of him.
Now it was a few days later and except for a few phone calls laced with much sexual innuendo, she hadn't laid eyes upon the man. She had actually slept for 24 hours like she had planned and the days in between were spent with heavenly bubble baths and daydreams of John Carter. She couldn't wait for him to take her some place more romantic and kiss her fiercely, just as he had promised. For now she sat at a corner coffee shop awaiting his arrival and trying pathetically to look busy and unconcerned. She picked up a newspaper and looked through it half-heartedly as she peeked over the top trying to catch an early glimpse of him coming down the street. "You know the New York Times is so much better when one reads it right-side up" He had come up behind her and she looked up at him feeling a grin creep across her face. "Shows how much you know, I was just reading the answers to yesterday's crossword puzzle."
"Uh huh. So how are you today Miss Lockhart?" He settled across from her and stared into her eyes. Was she blushing? Yep, she could definitely feel herself blushing. "Well Dr. Carter I am fine and how about yourself?"
"Ahh. I am much better now that I am looking at you."
She shifted in her seat all the while feeling paralyzed by him. This is really funny she thought, I have know this guy for a few years and I am acting like an imbecile. She grinned at him, and made no effort to speak.
Carter ordered two coffees to go. He lifted his eyebrows at her and said, "Care for a stroll? I've got something I want to discuss with you."
Abby looked at her wrist, the wrist that bore no watch at all and quipped, "I think I can fit you in."
"Smashing!" he took on a proper tone and held out one arm to her as he picked up the foam tray holding their coffee with his other hand.
They started their walk down quiet side streets making jokes at one another's expense, and smiling shyly. Finally they reached the promenade and found a bench by the river but far from other human life.
He told her he was planning something elaborate for their first official date. She said he better not be, and hit him playfully saying,
"Unless it is truly expensive, because I am worth it."
He answered her, " I know you are."
They sat side by side for a long while in silence looking out at the water and bathing in happiness. Abby started to stand up and walk toward the railing, but just as she did this Carter caught her hand.
" Do I have to say unhand me, you cad?" She tossed over her shoulder.
" I wish you wouldn't" he replied, pulling her back toward him. He circled his arms about her legs and then placed her gingerly on his lap.
" Well, what I want for Christmas is."she teased him and they both laughed nervously.
She slowly leaned into him and placed her head on his shoulder. He held her gently around the waist and buried his face in her hair. They both lifted their heads simultaneously with eyes closed, their lips met as if it was the most natural thing for them to do. The kiss was soft and extremely passionate. When they stopped Abby's eyes remained closed and Carter struggled to regain his breath. They both started laughing.
" I think you are dangerous to my health Abigail Lockhart."
"Me? No I definitely think this is your fault, I feel faint John Carter."
"Maybe you need a refreshment?" he bantered.
"Yes, speaking of, where is that coffee? I could use a sip." She twisted out of his grasp and leaned over backward trying to grab at her coffee cup.
Noting his advantage, Carter let go of her allowing her to fall backward onto the bench. She looked startled until he leaned over her and swooped in for a deep kiss. He held the back of her head in his hand, and scooped her up with his other arm. He held her like this and they made fools of themselves with the public display of affection. It carried on for quite a while and did not stop until and older couple shuffled by. The older woman commented, " Ahhh behold, Young Love!" and the couple giggled, shuffling away. Breaking away for breath, a beautifully flushed Abby looked at John Carter.
"What have you done to me? Look at my hair, and I feel all feverish again! I am a mess!"
"Stunning!" He smiled at her.
"You devil. You had this all planned out didn't you?" She tried to get him to admit his ulterior motives.
"Who? What? Me? 'They' are clearly not my fault!!!" He raised his eyebrows at her.
"Who are 'they'? Are you talking about that old couple? She looked at him, puzzled by his odd comment.
" You distracted me, and you ruined them! Look what you've created!"
"Who did I ruin? What did I create?" Abby looked around, frazzled. She thought he was insane.
Carter pointed dramatically to the end of their bench. "Those two cups of cold coffee!" He grinned at her and pulled her into a tight hug as he heard her making noises that sounded like a mixture of growling and laughing.
A week's time had passed since the terrifying ordeal at the hospital. The lockdown was fierce but to Abby it now seemed like some distant memory. She still couldn't believe all that the staff had been through that night but she felt okay now, and more so, she reminded herself, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." She definitely believed this statement was true in consideration of most of the people that worked in the e.r.
In the chaotic environment created by the lockdown, Abby had come to learn a lot about her co-workers and she was impressed by the magnitude of courageousness that surrounded her. She never knew the depth of dedication that was held by the people that she worked with every day of her life. She knew they were good, but she never knew exactly what they were made of till it came down to the wire like that.
Luka had been thrown about and roughed up by some irate patients who had been trapped in the e.r. She knew what a temper he had; yet she was impressed that he hadn't thrown any of these little squirts out a window. The patients had a lot of gall to mess around with her Croatian ex. He was strong, and he was dark, and you never knew what could cause his temper to flare up. She gathered that mostly, it was when Luka felt himself or others in danger that he lost it, just as the case of their first date. He was threatened by the out-of control "inmates" of the emergency room, and it was extremely uncomfortable in the sweltering heat, and yet, Luka held it together and just worked with everyone, trying to get the unstable people to calm down.
Gallant was just a rookie when it came to e.r. chaos, but he held his own. He became the running man, relaying important messages between doctors, keeping the peace and in general becoming the key organizer of the rampant confusion. He used his military knowledge to calm and control the throng of uppity people who swarmed the front desk with questions and demands. He also stood in strong support against the people who were barking orders at Dr. Lewis.
Susan Lewis was the queen of cool throughout the entire ordeal, and the woman dually impressed Abby. Both her grasp on reality, and her sense of humor, kept the staff level headed and united in their crisis. She managed to put the weight of the hardest decisions on her own shoulders and still stand up tall, juggling complaints and demands with such ease one would think she was reading comic strips.
Although she didn't have too much contact with Chen and Pratt she knew that the work they had done was equally important. They all came stumbling out of that place like weakened kittens into the blinding light of day and flash photography, but Abby knew that anyone still standing had started out with the strength of lions.
And then there was Carter. He floored her. From the start it was apparent to Abby that this man was willing to die for his patient, if it meant bringing the child relief from his pain. He regretted the loss of the young girl and knew that he would do anything in order to save the boy. Even in the midst of the medical emergency and hard decision-making, Carter had told Abby that she didn't need to follow him in there. He had consciously become aware of the danger that lay ahead, not for him, because he was prepared for anything, but for Abby, the woman who followed close behind him when he entered the infectious room. He didn't know that he was the only one that she would have been willing to follow under such dangerous circumstances. She joined him in peril out of both defiance and concern, she wanted to endanger herself for him, and she didn't want him to be alone in there. No one else had made a move toward that exam room once they discovered the dangerous disease. Carter and Abby didn't think twice and they forged on together into the life-threatening situation.
She hadn't seen him much since that day because they were granted a little time off considering all they had been through. They did however walk home together after their release from County General and they held hands tentatively like a couple of teenagers. There wasn't much talking because they were both too exhausted to speak. When they parted the sexual tension burned hotter than the August sun on their shoulders. He had curved one arm around her and wheeled her forward as if they were flamingo dancing. Her laughter bounced off the steaming pavement and up into the trees, and he kissed her then causing the laughter to stop and the swooning to begin. She pulled herself away from him painfully and walked backwards toward her apartment building never taking her eyes off of him.
Now it was a few days later and except for a few phone calls laced with much sexual innuendo, she hadn't laid eyes upon the man. She had actually slept for 24 hours like she had planned and the days in between were spent with heavenly bubble baths and daydreams of John Carter. She couldn't wait for him to take her some place more romantic and kiss her fiercely, just as he had promised. For now she sat at a corner coffee shop awaiting his arrival and trying pathetically to look busy and unconcerned. She picked up a newspaper and looked through it half-heartedly as she peeked over the top trying to catch an early glimpse of him coming down the street. "You know the New York Times is so much better when one reads it right-side up" He had come up behind her and she looked up at him feeling a grin creep across her face. "Shows how much you know, I was just reading the answers to yesterday's crossword puzzle."
"Uh huh. So how are you today Miss Lockhart?" He settled across from her and stared into her eyes. Was she blushing? Yep, she could definitely feel herself blushing. "Well Dr. Carter I am fine and how about yourself?"
"Ahh. I am much better now that I am looking at you."
She shifted in her seat all the while feeling paralyzed by him. This is really funny she thought, I have know this guy for a few years and I am acting like an imbecile. She grinned at him, and made no effort to speak.
Carter ordered two coffees to go. He lifted his eyebrows at her and said, "Care for a stroll? I've got something I want to discuss with you."
Abby looked at her wrist, the wrist that bore no watch at all and quipped, "I think I can fit you in."
"Smashing!" he took on a proper tone and held out one arm to her as he picked up the foam tray holding their coffee with his other hand.
They started their walk down quiet side streets making jokes at one another's expense, and smiling shyly. Finally they reached the promenade and found a bench by the river but far from other human life.
He told her he was planning something elaborate for their first official date. She said he better not be, and hit him playfully saying,
"Unless it is truly expensive, because I am worth it."
He answered her, " I know you are."
They sat side by side for a long while in silence looking out at the water and bathing in happiness. Abby started to stand up and walk toward the railing, but just as she did this Carter caught her hand.
" Do I have to say unhand me, you cad?" She tossed over her shoulder.
" I wish you wouldn't" he replied, pulling her back toward him. He circled his arms about her legs and then placed her gingerly on his lap.
" Well, what I want for Christmas is."she teased him and they both laughed nervously.
She slowly leaned into him and placed her head on his shoulder. He held her gently around the waist and buried his face in her hair. They both lifted their heads simultaneously with eyes closed, their lips met as if it was the most natural thing for them to do. The kiss was soft and extremely passionate. When they stopped Abby's eyes remained closed and Carter struggled to regain his breath. They both started laughing.
" I think you are dangerous to my health Abigail Lockhart."
"Me? No I definitely think this is your fault, I feel faint John Carter."
"Maybe you need a refreshment?" he bantered.
"Yes, speaking of, where is that coffee? I could use a sip." She twisted out of his grasp and leaned over backward trying to grab at her coffee cup.
Noting his advantage, Carter let go of her allowing her to fall backward onto the bench. She looked startled until he leaned over her and swooped in for a deep kiss. He held the back of her head in his hand, and scooped her up with his other arm. He held her like this and they made fools of themselves with the public display of affection. It carried on for quite a while and did not stop until and older couple shuffled by. The older woman commented, " Ahhh behold, Young Love!" and the couple giggled, shuffling away. Breaking away for breath, a beautifully flushed Abby looked at John Carter.
"What have you done to me? Look at my hair, and I feel all feverish again! I am a mess!"
"Stunning!" He smiled at her.
"You devil. You had this all planned out didn't you?" She tried to get him to admit his ulterior motives.
"Who? What? Me? 'They' are clearly not my fault!!!" He raised his eyebrows at her.
"Who are 'they'? Are you talking about that old couple? She looked at him, puzzled by his odd comment.
" You distracted me, and you ruined them! Look what you've created!"
"Who did I ruin? What did I create?" Abby looked around, frazzled. She thought he was insane.
Carter pointed dramatically to the end of their bench. "Those two cups of cold coffee!" He grinned at her and pulled her into a tight hug as he heard her making noises that sounded like a mixture of growling and laughing.