Disclaimer: I don't anything remotely ER.
Author's Note: I'm sorry if I'm making lots of mechanical mistakes. That's what happens when you type really late at night.
Chapter Five A Bad Day
Carter had been wandering around the ER all day, completely stone faced. Abby had tried to talk to him a million times. She had been so sweet, so considerate, but he had waved her off, his mind still occupied with the discourse of yesterday. He shook his head. God! Why was the ER so damn cold today? Then he saw her, her one hand stuffed into the lab coat pocket, the other holding a patient file. She had her head buried there, obviously trying to diagnose a puzzling case. Then she looked up and saw him. Immediately, her eyes darkened and quickly, she swerved in her path and returned in the direction from which she came. Carter started to follow but stopped. Why should he be the one to apologize? She was, after all, the one who had lashed out at him when he had only wanted to console her and be there for her. She was the one who had to take the initiative and apologize first. He watched as she dumped the file at the front desk, glance at her watch, and look around, almost as if making sure he wasn't in the vicinity. She didn't see him standing behind a curtain watching. The ER felt deserted, as if telling Carter that this was his best chance to make up with her, but he stood fast, watching her grab her stuff from the lounge and shed that white lab coat of hers. She was wearing a long, clinging sapphire blue dress and had switched her shoes to glittering stilettos, probably Jimmy Choo. He saw Malucci make a quick pass at her asking her whether or not she needed a ride home. She shook her head, saying that she was going to a party. Well, obviously, Carter thought, what else would she be doing in that outfit… Then Malucci asked if he could tag along. She replied that he could be her date. Dave was aghast, but Deb quickly told him she was joking. She laughed and took off, her heels clicking against the tiled hospital floor.
Carter followed a little later, making sure Deb hadn't seen him. Dave waved goodbye to him and soon, Carter found himself outside the ER doors, watching Jing-Mei walk toward the parking lot. But suddenly, she turned in her path, obviously remembering she had parked her car across the street today because somehow, today the parking lot and garage had been full. Carter watched her step into the street, her head buried in her small bag, obviously searching for her car keys, when suddenly, a car swerved out of one of the alleyways, trying to get away from the police car pursuing it. The car quickly accelerated and in an instant, before Carter could even shout out her name, he saw her body hit the car's windshield and roll off onto the paved street with a thud. He froze, not knowing whether to call her name or just shout. What had just happened? "Gurney! Gurney!" he cried, running into the ER. But when no one responded, he grabbed one and beckoned to Kerry who had just come out of Trauma 2. He didn't have time to explain, but she, seeing the urgency in his face, followed. He pushed the gurney quickly toward the street where the police car had stopped, as well as the other car – its driver obviously in shock. Carter gasped, feeling a lump in his throat, as he rounded the corner and saw her body – Deb's body – contorted and blood seeping from under that beautiful gown. He didn't even reach to see if she was breathing. He heard Kerry gasp as he quickly lifted Deb onto the gurney. Dave had rushed out the doors, too, to see what the commotion was about, and when the gurney was close enough for him to see, he, too, took a sharp intake of breath. Carter felt tears running down his face, but he didn't care. All he knew was that he had to get her to Trauma. Kovac rushed out of Trauma 2 when he saw the gurney roll in. Carter heard him swear, as he grabbed the gurney. They slipped on their gloves and Kerry asked Carter if he had witnessed the event. He nodded blindly, as they prepared to revive her, but the flatline beep was blaring in his ears. "Deb?" he whispered, as Kovac muttered that she was beyond reparation and smashed a tray. Kerry called for time of death. Carter began to see images of Lucy, strewn across the floor, blood drenched, but this time, it wasn't Lucy. It was Deb, and he hadn't even apologized when he could have just because of his damn pride. "Deb," he murmured again, as he saw them pull the white sheet over her contorted, broken, lifeless body. He crumpled to the floor.