Disclaimer : These characters aren't mine, unfortunately. This is the sixth part of my ongoing ER fanfic.
"Carter, may I sit?" Abby asks, pointing to the empty chair opposite him. "Sure," Carter answers. DocMagoo's is busy. Abby sits down and orders a coffee. Carter feels a quick slash of pain, for this is what he and Kerry used to do every morning. "So, anything new going on?" Carter asks, trying to make conversation. "Oh, nothing really. My shift's at 8:30." Carter nods. They just exchange small talk until the clock turns to 8. "I should get going," Carter says. "Me too." Carter goes straight up to Kerry's hospital room, which Marc takes a note of. "Hey," Carter whispers as he comes into the room. "Hey," Kerry answers cheerfully. "You're looking much better. Maybe they'll let me take you home soon." Carter says, smiling. "A couple more days, Kerry says, smiling back. "Good." "I can almost walk alone with the walker." Carter smiles back. ****************************************************************
The nexts few days inch by. Carter spends a lot of time at DocMagoo's. Sometimes, Abby stops by and talks with him. She's nice company, for Carter misses these moments with Kerry greatly. Plus, Marc has been at him about their relationship, but Carter always denies it. Kerry's also had a hard time denying their relationship. Every day, she's bombarded with questions about Carter from Elizabeth. Finally, the day comes. Carter goes up to Kerry's room. Elizabeth is already there checking Kerry's vitals and taking a look at her hip. "It looks good. How's therapy going?" Elizabeth asks while Carter watches from the corner. "Very good. I can walk alone with the walker all the time now." Elizabeth reads over Kerry's charts. "Looks good. You should be able to go home tomorrow." Carter gives Kerry a joyful grin, which doesn't escape Elizabeth's watchful eye. "Well, I should be getting downstairs. I'll pick you up tomorrow," Carter says before turning and leaving. Elizabeth decides this is her chance. "So, Carter's picking you up tomorrow?" Kerry shifts uneasily on the bed. "Yeah, he's renting my basement, and I can't drive yet so Carter offered to give me a ride." "He seems awfully excited about you coming home," Elizabeth persists. "He's doing some of the paperwork while I'm recovering and he's probably just sick of doing it." "Is that all?" Elizabeth pushes. "Yeah," Kerry answers, avoiding Elizabeth's eyes. "Okay. I thought something more might be going on. Too bad, I think you two would be good together." Kerry refuses to look up. She closes her eyes and remembers the hundreds of times she and Carter have been together. She remembers the energy they share and the wonderful feeling of wholeness she recieves everytime he kisses her. *****************************************************************
Carter sits on their bed, watching the moonlight flicker across Kerry's empty space. Carter sighs, remembering all the times they've been together, and how it felt to hold her tight against him, knowing she was safe from harm. Carter shakes his head, bringing himself back to reality. He gets ready for his shift, excited by the thought of Kerry being home that night. His shift inches by. Carter swears a couple of times that the clock is broken. Finally, 2 o'clock comes and Carter finishes with his patient. He checks out and races upstairs to Kerry's room. Carter stops in the doorway. Kerry's back is to him. She's leaning on her walker while she packs. Carter smiles at how will she has adapted to teh loss of stability in her leg. "Hey," Carter says, coming up behind Kerry. "Hi," Kerry answers, zipping up her suitcase. "Ready to go home?" "You can't believe how ready I am!" Carter smile and picks up her suitcase and helps Kerry get situated behind her walker. Carter starts to walk, but slows down when he notices that Kerry can't keep up. They inch slowly towards the check out desk. Carter's heart sinks at Kerry's painfully slow pace. But, he lightens as Elizabeth comes up to them as they near the desk. Elizabeth grins, "You're getting much better. Is walking getting easier?" "Much," Kerry answers. At Kerry's smile, Carter notices that he hasn't seen Kerry watch since the surgery. A tinge of guilt closes around his heart. He fills out Kerry's release forms while she talks with Elizabeth. "We're ready," Carter says, coming up behind them. "Okay, Kerry, take it easy. If you're careful and work hard at physical therapy, you'll be back at work in 4 weeks." "Thank you," Kerry says, making her way to the elevator. "Thank you so much, Elizabeth," Carter says quickly beforing hurrying after Kerry. Carter whispers in her ear when he catches up with her. "Lets go out the front so no one will see us." Kerry gives his a thankful look, and follows him down the elevator and into the war. They drive home in silence, both deep into their own thoughts. Upon entering the house, Kerry gets herself situated. Carter watches her move around, slowly but steadily. "Hey, Kerry, I'm sorry," Carter says gently as she comes into the kitchen. "For what?" Kerry asks, allowing herself to be pulled into his arms. She's missed him so much! "For not being with you through this all. I should have been, and I wasn't. I'm sorry." Kerry looks shocked. "Forget about it. You were busy, and you couldn't be there all the time. As it is, I think Elizabeth's figured out that we're together." At the sad look in Carter's eyes, Kerry leans in and gives him a long, passionate kiss. Carter wraps his arms tightly around her, returning her kiss. It feels so good, knowing she's safe in his arms!
