Disclaimers: All characters property of Michael Crichton, NBC, Wb, etc except for the patients.
Note: Review please! Suggestions and constructive criticism are welcome, help me improve!
Striker20: Thanks for reviewing, I hope you like Abby's reaction in this chapter.
Part 4
"Abby, can we talk please?" Carter asked her.
"Um, no sorry I'm not really in the mood" Abby said, somewhat pissed.
"But Abby..."
"You hurt me too okay?" she hollered at him, rage reflecting in her eyes. She turned upon her heel and started to walk away, but Carter grabbed her by the wrist, causing her to look at him.
"Let go of me" she said through gritted teeth. "Let... Go" she warned him with a slight arching of the eyebrows, her lips twisting into a malicious smile. "Carter, I'm warning you... You don't want me to cause a scene."
Carter was then brought back from his thoughts when she said this. But the look on her face had got him wondering. Would they ever be together again? He tried to answer quickly, before Abby lost it, she sounded serious.
"Eric called" he spat. Abby's face loosened slightly and she seemed to choke on her words.
"Wh... What? When? Why didn't... Why? Why didn't anyone call me?" Abby asked, frustrated.
"Uh, well you were with a patient and I tried to get you to pick up the phone, but Lydia said that the patient was critical and couldn't wait" Carter answered her.
"That's stupid. My brother, I mean... Who knows if he'll call again! Who knows where he is right now?" she got angrier and angrier as time passed by.
"Believe me, I do know" Carter told her.
"Yeah, right" Abby retorted sarcastically.
"I swear to God."
"Did you talk to him?" Abby asked, now furrowing her brow and letting out a snort as Carter nodded. She put her hands to her hips and looked at him right in the eye. "Okay, talk" she ordered. Carter chose his words carefully.
"Your mother had come to visit with Eric. She got hit by a drunk driver in the way to County and she's at Mercy Hospital right now" he said slowly, hating every single word he was saying. He watched as Abby smiled in disbelief, then looked down and ran a hand through her hair.
"Oh my God" she said under her breath. "Oh my God. I need to get there. Was Eric okay?" she asked. "On his meds, I mean!" she specified.
"Oh, that. I... I don't really know. He said you should go. I'm not on, I can take you there" Carter said.
"I don't think that's a good idea, Carter" Abby answered.
"Come on, what are you gonna do? Take the El?" he insisted.
"Maybe I'll just ask Luka" she defended. Carter pleaded with his eyes, and like many times, Abby fell for it.
"Alright" she sighed. "But it means nothing, Carter, okay? Nothing!" Abby said, putting up a finger.
"Nothing" Carter repeated. "Now let's go" he put his hand on her back and urged her out.
"Do you need anyone to cover for you?" Abby asked.
"No, I told you, I'm not on. Half an hour still... You?" he asked back. Abby shook her head.
"I took a half shift from 6:00am to 2:00pm, and I stayed around... I'm starting again at 6:00pm, until 2:00am."
"Wow, you've been here all day?" Carter raised his eyebrows as they got to the car.
"Yep, long shift. But then when I get out I go home and I have tomorrow off" Abby said smiling.
"I see" Carter answered.
They were silent most of the time until they got to the hospital, with exception of Abby's long sigh, and Carter's "What?", to which Abby responded "Mm, nothing." When they got there, Abby entered first, followed by Carter.
"Hello, my name is Abby Lockhart" Abby told a nurse as she got to triage. "My mother is here, she got hit by a drunk driver" she continued.
"Okay, I'll look for her if you wait here, what's her name?" she asked.
"Maggie, Maggie Wyczenski" Abby answered.
"Sorry, would you spell that for me?"
"Yeah. It's W-Y-C-Z-E-N-S-K-I" Abby said.
"Okay, please take a seat and I'll be back as soon as possible" the nurse smiled and left. Carter and Abby sat next to each other and Abby spoke up to break the silence.
"Mercy. What kind of a name is that? Especially for a hospital! Death has no mercy" she joked.
"My grandmother gave the name to this hospital" Carter said with a serious look. He started laughing at the look of terror and shame on Abby's face, and when he caught his breath he continued. "Just kidding. It was just the right time to say that. But yeah you're right."
"Ha, ha, ha. That's so funny I forgot to laugh!" Abby rolled her eyes. Just then the nurse came back and they both stood up.
"Hi, please follow me" she said. Then she turned around for a second and looked at Carter. "Are you married?"
"No" Abby and Carter said in unison.
"I'm sorry, ma'am, but he can't come in if he isn't part of the family" the nurse looked at Abby and then back at Carter.
"No, actually he's my fianc" Abby said and grabbed Carter's arm tightly, smiling.
"Oh, okay. Come in please. Follow me" the nurse said.
"I don't believe you just did that" Carter whispered.
"Shut up, what did I tell you before we came here?" Abby whispered back.
"Nothing... It means nothing" Carter said with a smirk.
"Very good. You're learning fast" Abby smiled sarcastically. The nurse guided them into the ICU. When Abby saw the sign on the door she panicked. "Carter" she whispered.
"Don't worry, it'll be okay" he reassured, rubbing her back soothingly. They entered, and Abby saw Eric sitting on a chair outside a room. He ran up to her and hugged her.
"Abby!" he cried.
"Eric, calm down... Eric, Eric..." Abby hugged her brother back and stroked his hair. "Shh... Tell me what happened..."
