Author's Note: Okay, before anyone gets too excited (although it's highly doubtful anyone at this point even cares!) this addition to the story does not mean I am continuing with it. I stumbled across this unfinished chapter on an old backup CD and was quite surprised, as I don't even remember writing it. I have always regretted not finishing this story but any outline I had is lost so I only have a vague idea of how it was all going to work out. Maybe one day it will happen but I make no promises. I share this with you and hope you enjoy it!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of the characters from ER. They are the property of Warner Brothers, Constant C Productions, etc.
ARCHIVE: You are welcome to download this story for your own reading, but please do not archive it on any website without my permission.
SUMMARY: A Christmas family reunion.
Previously on "Summer Rain and Roses":
After the confrontation with Laird Carter, John returns to Rose's home. They declare their love for each other and make love for the first time. In the morning, Rose asks John to move in with her and he accepts.
"Ow! Damnit!"
"Sorry," John apologized, slightly easing the pressure of his probing fingers. "Definitely tender there." He turned his head to speak rapidly to Lydia. "Let's get a CBC, Chem 7, LFT and an ultrasound."
The already agitated patient on the gurney frowned in displeasure as the doctor spoke. "What do I need all those tests for? Just give me some pills or something."
"Mr. Addison, you're showing all the classic signs of appendicitis.
We may need to operate..."
"What?" the man interrupted with a squeak. "Are you sure?"
"No, I'm not sure. That's why we need these tests. Okay?"
"I guess," Mr. Addison grumbled.
A rapid double knock on the door overrode his words as John jotted down his notes on the chart. "Yeah?" he called out, without looking up.
"Hey, sorry to interrupt. You got a sec?"
He recognized the voice but continued to write, head bent in studied concentration. "I'm a little busy."
"Uh, I really think you should see this."
He allowed a few seconds to pass before he relented, trying to squash his annoyance. "All right, I'll be there in a minute." Losing his train of thought for a moment, his hand paused in mid-air. Suddenly aware the door hadn't closed yet, he looked directly at Dave. "In a minute, I said."
Shaking his head slightly as the door was finally shut, he turned his attention once more to his patient. Ninety seconds later, he had barely stepped into the hallway before Dave was upon on him. "Seriously, Carter, you need to check this out now."
"What is it?"
Dave motioned for him to follow and John obliged, his curiosity piqued at his fellow resident's odd behaviour. "I put her in Exam 2 but her name's not on the board. I don't think anyone's noticed yet."
"What are you talking about?"
Dave started gesturing broadly but still kept his voice so low, John could barely register what he was saying over the babble of noise in the busy corridor. "You tell me, man! I always figured you for a stand-up guy but if what she's saying is true, you don't deserve her."
Truly baffled now, John came to a full halt and waved one hand in frustration. "Stop talking in riddles and start at the beginning. Who is this woman?"
"Her name's Emily. Ring a bell?"
"No. Should it?"
"I would think so. She says you knocked her up."
"Excuse me?" John was aware of his eyebrows soaring upwards as he stared at Dave in disbelief but his co-worker looked entirely serious.
"She isn't even showing so the deed must have been pretty recent. Any possibility it's true?"
"No! You know me better than that."
As the two men locked gazes, it took a while before Dave finally nodded. "Okay, so she's lying." They continued moving towards the exam room. "Maybe she wants to blackmail you."
"Oh come on," John scoffed out loud. But inwardly, he wondered if that was a possibility. Or maybe this was all some huge case of mistaken identity.
Dave was going full tilt with the blackmail theory. "No, really! She probably found out how loaded your family is and figured you for easy bait."
John shot him a look through narrowed eyes. "Easy bait? You think I'm a pushover?"
"I wouldn't say pushover, exactly. But you're too much of a softie sometimes. She'll probably give you some sob story and before pushing her out the door, you'll slip her some cash anyway."
"That is *not* going to happen." Arriving at their destination at last, John paused with his hand on the door. "Look, we're jumping to conclusions. She probably has me mixed up with someone else."
"I don't know. She gave me some details that were pretty, uh, descriptive."
"Like wha-" John cut himself off in mid-speech. "Never mind. I don't want to know." Without hesitating any further, he opened the door in one fluid motion and stepped inside. His eyes zeroed in on the lone woman standing a few feet away, her back to him. Before he could even begin speaking, she twirled around.
"Johnny!" she exclaimed, her voice bright with obvious delight.
Slack-jawed and rendered speechless, he stood stock still for an eternity before any sound emerged. "Emily?"
"So you do know her!" came the accusation from behind.
Aware that Dave was practically pouncing on his back, he moved aside to let the man in and shut the door. His initial feeling of shock was wearing off and splintering into both pleasure and anger. Crossing his arms across his chest, he held himself in check and spoke stiffly. "Care to tell him who you are?"
"He already knows my name."
"Did you mention your last name?"
She heaved a drawn out sigh. "All right, I guess I've had my fun." Giving Dave a pointed look, she stated, "I'm Emily Carter. His sister."
"Sister? Are you kidding me?"
At Dave's flabbergasted look, John conceded, "Nope, she's the real deal. Much as I'd like to strangle her right now."
"Are you really pregnant?"
"Of course not, moron! I'm just testing my acting skills. I had you fooled though, didn't I?"
"Hey, lady, I don't appreciate..."
John settled one hand on Dave's shoulder and spoke quickly, giving his sister a glare that spoke volumes. "I think you owe both of us an apology."
"It was just a joke. Don't be so serious."
"You've wasted Dr. Malucci's time and mine, not to mention embarrassing me. This isn't funny, Emily."
He hadn't seen her in five years. Despite the stylish, close cropped hair and noticeable maturity in her face, the vague pout that graced her lips now was definitely one of his baby sister. "Okay, okay. Maybe I went a little too far." Turning on the charm, she flashed a grin in Dave's direction. "But tell me truthfully, you did believe me, right?"
"Well I dragged the guy over here, didn't I?" Dave grumbled.
John wasn't about to let her off the hook yet. "I still haven't heard that apology."
"What am I, five years old? Jesus." After an exaggerated roll of her eyes, she met his level gaze. The moment stretched out for several heartbeats but she finally gave in. "Sorry I wasted your time. Really." Her eyes then flickered to Dave. "Sorry." She sounded surprisingly sincere.
"Okay, whatever. I gotta go." Dave retreated hastily, seeming anxious to escape the room.
"Don't be mad. I really am sorry."
The anger had receded but puzzlement remained. "Why would you make up a story like that?"
"It seemed funny at the time. You know me, I like to make an entrance." Her attention dropped to the stethescope around his neck and she came forward, tracing its surface with one finger. "Look at you. I've never seen you at work before. You look so..." Her voice trailed off in a hush.
"Dorky? It's the lab coat."
She chuckled softly. "No, not dorky. Just...very professional."
"When did you get back?"
"A couple of days ago." She poked a finger at his chest, her mouth shaping into a sly smile. "You, big brother, have been stirring up trouble. That's usually my job."
"Ahh, so you've heard."
It had been almost two months since he'd moved in with Rose and he'd never been happier. But he had to wonder what kind of stories Emily had been hearing at the estate. Which versions of the truth had she been fed?
"That's partly why I'm here," she continued. "To invite you over for Christmas Eve dinner."
He didn't bother hiding his surprise. "That's impossible. Grandfather wouldn't allow it."
"He doesn't have a choice. Gamma has made it clear that she wants you there and she usually gets what she wants. Don't even think about saying no."
"I..." He broke off, pursing his lips in thought. "What about Rose?"
He wasn't positive but he sensed a sudden stiffness in his sister. "I don't know. Gamma didn't mention her."
He definitely wasn't imagining the aloofness of her tone. "If she's not invited, I don't feel comfortable going."
"It's meant to be a family dinner."
"She's family to me."
Her expression remained neutral as she backed off the subject. "You don't have to decide right now. We'll talk about it later."
Biting back the retort that he'd already made his decision, he simply nodded. This wasn't the time or the place to get into the dramatics of the situation. "Well, I'd better go," she stated abruptly.
She was several paces from the door before he stopped her. "Emmy." Turning at the nickname from long ago, she regarded him through liquid dark eyes. "Come here, silly girl," he chastised, with arms outstretched.
Hesitating for only a fraction of a second, she came to him slowly and accepted his embrace. She then returned the hug so fiercely, the tightness across his chest was as much physical as emotional. Words were mumbled against his shirt and he lowered his head. "What?" More rumblings that he couldn't distinguish and he felt a cool dampness against his skin.
"Are you crying?"
As she raised her head and revealed tear-stained cheeks, he was transported back to a distant memory. She had been an unusually tough kid and had rarely cried. Bumps and bruises had always been endured with stoic bravery.
But there had been one time when they had wept together, with arms entwined as they were now.
"I'm sorry."
Her voice snapped him out of his reverie. "What? Oh, forget it. Dave will get over it."
"No, not that. I'm sorry I didn't come...when you were stabbed."
"Oh." Startled, it seemed he could articulate nothing beyond that one word.
"I should have. I wanted to! But Mom and Dad didn't think it was necessary. I shouldn't have listened to them. Should have taken the first flight over here." She closed her eyes briefly, giving her head a shake. "Who am I kidding. I chickened out. I can't blame them."
Somewhat bewildered, he asked, "What do you mean, chickened out?"
She swiped at her eyes, ridding them of remaining wetness and regaining her composure. "I didn't...couldn't...watch another brother die. I couldn't go through that again. But it was selfish of me. You needed your family here and we let you down."
"It's okay..."
"It's not okay. But saying I'm sorry is all I can do now." She paused to study his face. "How are you? Really?"
"I'm okay. It's taken a while but I really am." He could say this now with complete honesty. Six months ago, it would have been a blatant lie.
Stretching upwards, she kissed him lightly on the cheek. "I think Bobby was looking out for you," she whispered. And then she was gone.
He stood there in the middle of the exam room for the longest time, staring at the tiles on the floor. He wasn't sure why his sister's apology should make a difference after all this time. But it did. Perhaps he hadn't wanted to acknoweldge it back then but some part of him must have felt abandoned. Unloved, even. It had never occured to him that his sister or parents might have kept their distance because of fear. Fear that he would have met the same fate as his brother. It didn't make things right. But it did help him to understand. That had to count for something.
"Carter, there you are! Weaver's been looking for you. Two GSW's coming in."
Jolted back to reality by the stern voice, he turned to find Lydia framed in the doorway. She wasn't about to leave without him. "Can't hide from you, can I?" he joked amiably, following her into the hallway.
He had a lot to talk about with Rose when he got home tonight.