Chapter Four: New Beginning with an Old Friend

Carter POV

"The test results are done, Dr. Carter. It looks like you're the father of those kids."

"What about the last sample?"

"It's a match. The swab sample matches the blood sample. This is Lucy Knight."

My head is spinning after everything that has happened in the last twenty-four hours. The Joshua Carter Center opens, Kem comes to town to call it quits, and a dead Lucy appears out of thin air with kids that I fathered...or rather her dead John Carter fathered. It's very clear that they were happy if they brought three lives into the world. But how did Lucy and Noah end up in this screwed up world? What magic brought them here? And would it suddenly rip them away from me without warning?

I had meant every word I said to Kem. If Michel made her happy then who am I to stand in their way? I might be her husband, but Michel had her heart. I think he always had since before Kem and I went back to Africa. The only reason I had my shot was because he didn't come after her. But in the end I think the better man won. Kem has her issues to get through, and I now have my own to worry about.

I park my jeep in front of my family attorney's office. I want to get this taken care of before I went back to the hospital to see Lucy and the kids. I smile and shake my head as that last thought rolls through my head again. I have a family. I remember the last conversation I had with Lucy about us being compatible.

"Very few people drive me crazy the way that you do."

"Yeah, well you irritate the hell out of me... I'm not really attracted to you anyway."

"Oh, you're not."

"No, you're a little closed off for my taste."

"Closed off?"

"Emotionally withdrawn...not really in touch with your feelings."

"I am not."

"Sure you are."

"I am not!"

"Just forget it. Okay, you're right. We're not compatible."

"Believe me I'm in touch with my feelings right now. And I want to throttle you."

"Throttle...there's an in touch with your feelings kind of word."

"Oh, now you're going to ridicule my vocabulary."

"Just...okay, I just meant opposites attract. Okay, we sound like my Grandparents. They've been married fifty-six years..."

If only I could go back and throttle myself. Maybe things could have been different. I know I would have treated Lucy different that fateful day. I also wouldn't have paid Abby so much attention either. I know that was a big reason why Lucy was alone with Paul and why she had been stabbed so many more times than I was. But that was all in the past and I knew it was something I couldn't change...I had to focus on the present.

"John, it's been a long time. How are your parents doing?"

"Hey, they're doing great thanks for asking."

"What can I do for you?"

"Well, I need some divorce papers drawn up as quickly as possible."

"Your parents..."

"No, me," I say smiling slightly.

"Oh, John, I'm so sorry to hear that. When do you need them by?"

"As quickly as you can. Kem is flying back to Paris tonight, so we want to get this taken care of before she leaves."

"I understand. Is it a mutual agreement divorce?"

"Yes, why?"

"It'll be faster to draw up being a standard divorce."

"I see. How long?"

"Twenty minutes tops...I can have the paperwork sent to you if you need to leave."

"No, I'd rather stay and take them myself."

"Of course...I'll be back shortly with them."

"Thanks," I say as I take a seat in the lobby.

True to the attorney's word, I had the divorce papers in my hands twenty minutes later. I made my way through the city to Kem's hotel. I knew she would be there for another hour. I take a deep breath as I walk up to her door and knock. She opens the door and I step inside pulling my pen out of my pocket.

"I figured you'd want me to wait to sign once I got here," I said signing my name a across all the lines designated for me.

"It didn't matter to me, John. I trust you."

"I know you do. I just want to make this as painless as I possibly can."

"And as quick as possible?" Kem took the papers once I finished signing.

"No, I just figured it would be easier to do this while you were in town. Mailing something over seas takes forever."

"Yes, I know," she replied as she read then signed the papers. "This really is for the best." Kem sighed slightly as she held out the papers.

"I know it is." I take the offered papers sealing the fate of my marriage. "I need to go get these filed with the courthouse. You'll be a single woman again once you reach Paris."

"Thank you, John. And I'm sorry."

"It's all right. Our hearts want what they want no matter what our head's say. You just take care of yourself."

"I will. The same goes for you."

"I will. Bye, Kem," I say as I walk out of the room and out of her life.

An hour later, the papers are filed and I'm heading back to the hospital. It's 2:30 in the afternoon,and I have no idea how I'm even still awake. My adrenalin will run out before long. I just needed to see Lucy and the kids before it did. I arrive at the hospital and make my way upstairs to OB. I glance at the wedding ring on my left hand one final time before pulling it off and placing it in my pants pocket.

I knock on the door before opening it slightly. "Hey, Lucy, may I come in?"

"Yeah, I didn't know you were still here."

"I wasn't actually. I just got back to the hospital to see you and the kids before I crash."

"Crash...how long have you been up?"

"Um...around twenty-eight and a half hours, but whose counting?"

"John, you need to get some sleep."

"I will. It looks like Noah finally sacked out." I look over at Lucy while I gently run my hand down my son's back.

"You got the test results back didn't you?"

"Yeah, I helped run them." I can see relief in Lucy's eyes. She knows that I believe her story now. How could I not? I had the tests to prove she was being truthful all along. "That's one reason I haven't gone to bed yet."

"Is there another reason?"

"I had to talk to my wife which in turn ended my marriage."

"I hope me and the kids aren't to blame."

"No, my marriage was on the rocks before this morning. So have you decided what you're going to name the twins?"

"Well, I thought we could decide together."

"Do I have that right? I mean I'm not the same John Carter that helped create them."

"But you are John Carter, so I think you have that right. I was thinking of naming our son after you and naming our daughter Alexis Millicent Carter."

"After my Grandmother?"

"Yeah, I figured you'd approve."

"I think it's perfect, but do you really want to continue the John Truman Carter tradition?"

"Yes, I do."

I hold my hands up laughing. "Okay, I'm not going to argue with you over it. So, John and Alexis Carter...it has a nice ring to it."

"I think so," Lucy agreed. "So..."

"So...what?"

"What are we going to do?"

"Oh, you mean about some of our nurses like Chuny recognizing you?"

"Yeah, I am supposed to be dead after all."

"I don't know. This is my first experience with alternate realities. I'm honestly too tired to really think about anything right now."

"So, no thoughts on us either?"

"Us...as in you and me?"

"Yes..."

"No, I haven't even gone there yet. I guess all we can do is take it day by day."

"That's all I can ask for. Why don't you lay down on the other bed and get some sleep. I can wake you up for your shift if you're working tonight."

"I'll lay down, but I need to head home and take a shower before my shift starts at seven."

"I'll wake you up at six. That'll give you three and a half hours of sleep. Will you be all right to work?"

"I've done it before. Thanks, Lucy," I say as I lay down on the other bed.

"It's no problem..."

As my head hit the soft pillow, I lose the rest of Lucy's words. I fall into a deep sleep. And for the first time in a long time I found I wasn't immediately plagued by nightmares. I feel my body relax into the softness, but before long I hear Lucy's voice pulling at me to wake up. I open my eyes to find I'm not alone in the bed. I smile wrapping my arm around Noah's small body pulling him close and kissing the top of his head.

"Daddy, that's mushy."

I laugh as I start to tickle the small boy. "It's not mushy."

"Is too mushy. Kiss Mommy not me...yuck."

"Okay, I'm sorry. Daddy is being mushy only because he loves you."

"Daddy..."

"Don't Daddy me... Hey, Mommy, I'm going take our eldest son with me. I'll bring him back once I get cleaned up." I sit up stretching my tired body. Tonight is going to be fun I realize rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.

"All right...Noah, you be good for Daddy and do as he says."

"Yes, ma'am, I'll be good."

I sit Noah on my shoulders before climbing to my feet. "I'll be back." I lean down and plant a soft kiss on Lucy's cheek.

"You be careful."

"Yup."

I walk out of the room and head down the stairs to the main floor of the hospital. It appeared to be back to normal. That was good in a way, but it left a lot of prying eyes. I smile seeing Jerry's wide eyes following me as I approach the desk.

"What's on your mind, Jerry?"

"Sorry Dr. Carter, but he looks a lot like you."

"I would hope so, Jerry. He's my son."

"Your...son..."

"Yes, my son. Noah, this is Jerry. Jerry, this is Noah Carter."

"Hi, Noah..."

"Hi..."

"I'm heading out to get cleaned up. I'll be back before my shift starts." I hear Noah sigh in what I can only assume is aggravation. He knew all the people here at the hospital, but they didn't know him. At least they didn't know him yet. I would have to resolve this problem as quickly as I could for my son's sake.

"Sure thing, Dr. Carter."

I duck down so Noah doesn't hit his head on the door. As I reach my jeep, I realize I need a booster seat. I also come to the realization my jeep would have to go. I needed a vehicle that could carry Noah, John, and Alexis.

"Well, it looks like we're riding the train home Noah, at least until I get you a booster seat and a different vehicle."

"I like trains."

"Me too." I pay for two tickets and head upstairs to wait for the train to arrive.