Discoveries : Part 4
Disclaimer : These are not my characters, though I wish they were. I
just watched the first episode of season 7, and my series is gonna follow most
of the storylines that are used on TV, except for Kerry's and Carter's. This
will come into play later, so just keep it in the back of your minds. Thank
You. I hope you enjoy!
The weeks go by and Carter is happier then he has ever been in his life. He and Kerry spend many private moments together, and Carter is content.
Carter wakes up on Halloween and looks over at the woman sleeping in his arms. He watches her beautiful skin shine with the setting sun. He smiles, but resists the urge to kiss her.
Carter gets up and takes a shower. He and Kerry had decided to work the night shift. They'd be able to be together, plus no one else wanted the night shift so they got he whole day and last night off. And, wow, that had been fun!
Carter dresses and adds the vampire cloak he's bought for Halloween. It isn't much, but the cape is comfortable and Carter figures some little kids may like it.
Kerry wakes up and stretches. She laughs as Carter comes in. He gives her a look.
"What?" He asks innocently.
Kerry struggles to get her laughter under control. "It's just . . . the cloak. Sorry, it just looks a little . . . funny."
"It's Halloween. You're supposed to dress up," Carter says, sitting on the bed.
He takes Kerry's hands in his and pulls her close. She looks up and manages a smile before he leans down and kisses her passionately.
Finally, she pulls away and gives him a warm smile. "Maybe I'll wear scrubs today instead of my usual."
"Good," Carter says, returning her smile.
Kerry gets out of bed and her smile disappears the minute her feet hit the floor. Her face tightens, tears rolling silently down her face.
Carter is quickly at her side. "Shh, sweetheart. Breath, breath," he instructs while massaging her hip.
Kerry breathes deeply and slowly, her face beginning to soften. The tears flow easier, now that the initial shock's over and the pure pain takes over. Carter sits on the bed, with Kerry in his lap, rocking her. He holds her tight and whispers comforting words.
"Oh John," she whispers as her tears subside and the pain lowers to an ache and a numbness. She picks her head up form his chest and sees the fear in his eyes.
"Oh, god, Kerry. This is happening too much lately, and this time was worse. I'm so scared of loosing you!" Carter whispers, tears threatening to leave his eyes.
Kerry puts her head back on his chest and plays with his cloak. "I'm okay. It's just a little twinge, it's not that bad, really."
He gives her an accusing look. "Just a little twinge?! Kerry, for you to even notice any pain you feel, nonetheless let anyone else know of it, the pain has to be excruciating."
Kerry looks up and kisses him quickly. "Stop worrying."
She loosens herself from his arms and grabs her crutch. She goes to the bathroom to get ready for their shift.
Carter stays on the bed, watching Kerry walk. He notices the little limp that she's developed. He sighs. His mind is whirling. How did he become so attached to her?
Kerry comes back into the room, dressed in her scrubs and back to her normal self. "Hey, what's up with you?" she asks, giving him a quizzical look. But, Carter notices the tone of uneasiness in her voice.
Carter shakes his head and pushes his thoughts to the back of his head. "Nothing," he says, getting up and kissing her lightly on her forehead.
"We should get going. Our shift starts in twenty minutes," he says, taking her hand and leading her out to the car.
Carter spends most of his shift keeping a worried eye on Kerry. But, when a large trauma comes in, Carter's attention is redirected to his patients.
Throughout the early part of her shift, Kerry feels Carter's gaze at her back. Her heart leaps, thinking of him. She's never had anyone care for her like this before. She wants to be strong, for him, but the pain is becoming terrible again.
Kerry looks around and sees that Carter is locked up with the new trauma. "Marc, Marc! Take over," Kerry calls.
Marc comes over. "What? Kerry?" But she's already disappeared.
Kerry hurries to the bathroom and bursts open the door. She collapses on the back wall, finding it hard to breath because of the pain. She lets her tears flow, too tired and in pain to care.
Ten minutes later, Kerry is still in pain. She lets out a tiny whimper, wishing that Carter was there. It is so much easier when he's here, holding her, whispering to her.
Finally, when Kerry's eyes are dry, the pain begins to subside. she starts taking deep breaths and pulling herself together. She looks in the mirror and frowns. She runs her fingers through her hair and walks back out into the busyness of the ER.
For the rest of the shift, Kerry avoids Carter's smiles and worried eyes. She knows she has to tell him, but, he'll freak out. She doesn't want to worry him anymore then he already is.
Carter gets out of his shift before her. Kerry hurries through her last two patients and gets her coat. She leaves, and walks over to their annual meeting place : DocMagoo's.
"Hey," Carter says, waving her over.
Kerry goes over to him and allows him to kiss her on the forehead, which she rarely ever lets him do in public. "Lets go for a walk. We always eat here. Lets do something different tonight."
Carter gives her a puzzled look and then grins. "Sounds good."
Carter puts on his coat and follows Kerry into the 2 a.m. darkness. Suddenly aware of her crutch, he walks on the other side of her. He reaches down and takes her hand in his.
They walk in silence for a while, just watching the trees and the moon.
"John, my hip flared up again," Kerry says quickly, not meeting his gaze.
Carter stops in his tracks. "When?"
"Earlier, at the hospital. I went into the bathroom - it went away."
"Was it bad?"
Kerry toys with the idea of saying it wasn't, but decides to tell the truth. "Yes, for a while. Then it subsided."
Carter turns to her with eyes filled with worry and pain. Kerry locks her sorrowful eyes with his.
"I'm sorry, John."
Carter quickly pulls her gently into his arms. "No, it's not you're fault. I'm sorry if I make you feel that it is. I'm just so worried. You mean so much to me. I don't think I can live without you."
"Oh John," Kerry whispers into his chest, tears flowing from her eyes. "You know, I never used to cry before you came into my life. What have you done to me?" Kerry asks, mock seriously. She smiles at him.
He smiles back. She starts to say something, but he catches her lips with his and they share a long, passionate kiss.
When they break apart, Carter takes Kerry's hand and starts waling back to the EL.
Later that night, Kerry awakens to a tightness in her hip. She looks over at Carter's sleeping form. Since returning form Atlanta, he's been lifting weights and Kerry wonders again at how wonderful he looks.
Kerry smiles as she gets up, slips on her nightie, and goes to the kitchen to make a cup of tea. She takes a sip out of her cup and then a piercing, terrible pain takes over her entire body. She lets out a little scream and crumples to the floor, the cup smashing on the floor.
Thank you for reading. The next chapter will be up soon if I get some reviews. Thanks, Mara
