Discoveries : Part 9
Discoveries : Part Nine
Disclaimer : I don't own any of these characters, they all belong to the amazing writers of ER. I'm sorry for the cliffhanger last chapter. I hope you enjoy this one, Mara
Carter watches the passing gurney, fear fluttering in his heart. Suddenly, his mind turns on and he jumps out of his chair. He races to the trauma room but he is stopped outside the doors by a throng of doctors and nurses who have clogged the doors.

Carter tries to push his way through the throng, but is pushed aside by the doctors and nurses that are gathered between him and his love. Yes, his love, he knows that now. He hasn't been able to admit it before, but it's true.

He makes one last attempt as breaking through then glances at the woman behind the doors. His heart skips a beat and is takes over for his mind. "Let me through. I have to get through to her, I love her!" He exclaims. Everyone stops moving and stares at him. He doesn't even notice the strange looks he is receiving.

He takes his opportunity and rushes into the room to Kerry's side. He grasps her hand and kisses her cheek. He grimaces at the lines of blood flowing down her face.

"Oh, John, I'm so sorry. I should have listened . . ."she says chokingly.

Carter shushes her. "Shh, shh. It doesn't matter. I love you, I love you so much!"

Tears mix with the blood flowing down her cheeks in small rivers. He wipes them away with his hand.

"What happened?" He asks gently.

She chokes. "I . . . I tried to get away, to save everything . . . but I couldn't, I couldn't. I'm sorry . . . my hip, it wouldn't wo . . ." Kerry lets out a small cry and clutches blindly for her hip. Carter takes her flailing hand in his and tries to calm her.

"Kerry, stay with me. It wasn't your fault. Stay with me," he tells her.

Kerry looks at him with a tiny smile. "I love you, John," she whispers then she's out cold. Carter lets out a little cry of his own.

Finally, he looks up and connects eyes with Marc. "Please, Marc, save her, please!"

Marc nods and gets to work. Carter looks back down at Kerry and keeps her hand gripped in his. He will never remember what happens after that moment. He remembers having to shock her, and then hearing hundreds of words fly around the small room like little birds that he can never quiet catch.

The next thing that becomes clear is him standing outside one of the OR rooms, leaning against the door, watching Robert work on Kerry's hip. He shakes his head and tries to clear it. So much has happened, so much. He can't believe this would happen to him, to her.

He feels his hand on his shoulder and he turns his head tiredly. He sees Elizabeth, standing with her hands massaging her swollen stomach. He almost smiles at the thought of her pregnancy, and how happy he is for her and Marc.

"John, are you okay?" She asks gently.

He lets out a little laugh. "Tired, worried, scared. What do you want?"

She also lets out a little laugh. "Sorry. That was a bad question. She looks good though. Her hip is going to have to be completely replaced and her hear looks like it'll be okay after a lot of rest. But, she didn't bread her neck, and that's a good thing. It did get scary downstairs for a moment, but she should be through the worst now."

"Thank you. When will she be done?" He asks, letting his relief show in his voice.

"Soon."

"Can I stay with her afterwards?"

"Of Course. I really should go help Robert."

Carter nods and Elizabeth starts to walk off. Suddenly, a thought crosses his mind and he call to her. "Elizabeth . . ."

She stops and turns to him. "Yes?"

"You knew all along, didn't you?" He asks quietly.

She gives him a knowing smile. "Yes, I did."

Carter just nods and turns back around to watch Robert finish the surgery. He feels a little weight lift from his heart at the thought of her being through the worst of it.

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Kerry opens her eyes, then closes them quickly, the bright light burning them. She opens them slowly this time, letting them become adjusted to the light. She wonders where she is, but the worried expression in Carter's eyes and etched on his face makes everything come rushing back to her.

"Oh, Kerry, I was so worried," Carter tells her, kissing her gently on the forehead. "How do you feel?"

Now that he asks, she can feel a sharp pain beginning to form in her hip. Her hand automatically finds it way there. He notices this motion and the look of pain on her face and he rushes to the door and calls out for a nurse. He returns and takes her hand in his.

"John, I'm so glad you're here," she tells him.

"I wouldn't ever leave you alone through this. Can you tell me what happened?" He asks gently.

She grimaces as his question. "I . . . after you left . . ."

He soothes her. "Shh, it's okay. I won't get mad at anything, I just want to know. I'm here now. I love you."

She smiles, hearing him say that. "I love you too. Okay, well, after you left I started working on the Stairmaster. I turned the music up as high as it could go. I also turned the Stairmaster up almost as high as it would go. I was so mad!"

It's his turn to grimace. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gotten so mad. My temper's awful."

She uses her little strength to raise their clasped hands and kiss his. "It's okay. My temper doesn't help either. Anyway, when I finished I turned the machine off and turned around. And . . . and there he was." She stops, not able to hold back her tears.

He holds her in his arms, rocking her soothingly. He whispers sweat words into her ear and makes her giggle, which he was afraid he would never be able to do again.

"I see you're up," Elizabeth says as she walks in, her coat in her hand. She places it on a chair and walks to her side.

"Yeah," Kerry replies, allowing Carter to lay her back against the raised bed.

"Everything looks pretty good. Are you in any pain?" Elizabeth asks, looking approvingly at her charts.

"A little," Carter tells her, knowing that Kerry will never admit to it to anyone but him.

"I'll give you something for it," she tells Kerry and Carter gives her a grateful look.

"Thanks," Kerry says meekly.

Marc walks in. "Mind if I join in this little pow-wow?"

"Come on in," Elizabeth tells him as she gives Kerry her pain medication.

"How are you doing?" Marc asks Kerry.

"Good, considering," she tells him, smiling.

"Ready?" Marc asks Elizabeth. She nods and they leave arm in arm after she gives Kerry a few more instructions.

"They knew," Marc tells Kerry after they leave.

"Doesn't matter now. Everyone knows and I don't mind," Kerry tells him.

He smiles at her and kisses her gently. "I love you!"

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Three days later Carter looks around, exhausted. He has just gone through everything in the house, telling the police what had been stolen. Suddenly, he remembers something and rushes into the bedroom and starts to search franticly through a door. The officer follows, puzzled.

"It's gone!" Carter exclaims.

"What's gone?" The officer asks.

"It was so important! Of anything that could have been taken it had to be this! God, anything else would have been fine!"

"Mr. Carter, can you please tell me what was stolen?" the officer asks, still puzzled.

Carter nods.

Thanks for reading. I've left another small cliffhanger - sorry. The next part will be up soon. Thanks for reading, please review. Thanks, Mara