After dinner, Gamma kissed the two goodnight and left to go home. Carter and Abby decided to go for a walk before going home. They were walking along, holding hands and laughing when John suddenly stopped and let go of Abby's hand.
"Abby, let's stop here for a second." John said as they reached a bench. He let Abby sit down before kneeling in front of her.
"I love you Abby. You have always been there for me, and I will always be there for you, no matter what. I think you know that. We've gone through more than anyone should ever have to go through and I think that's why I love you so much. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Abby, will you marry me?" And with the last line, he took the box out of his pocket and opened it in front of her. Abby gasped and held her hand over her mouth. She was speechless. "Well?" John asked with a smile a couple moments later.
"I'm sorry, John. I'm sorry. I can't." Abby said quickly and stood up and ran away. Carter watched heartbroken as she left.
"God, Abby." He said softly and shook his head.
**The Next Day**
The next day at the hospital, Abby called in sick and Carter, although seemingly charming and polite, was missing his usual sense of humor. The nurses gathered around the front desk and discussed this as he went by at one point.
"Wonder what happened to him." Haleh said as she watched him go past.
"Poor guy, she must have said no." Conni said, shaking her head.
"Excuse me?" Haleh said with a shocked face.
"Well I heard him talking to someone on the phone the other day. He said he'd pick up the ring by 5. I assume he proposed to Abby."
"Why didn't you tell us before?" Chuny asked incredulously.
"Oh come on. I figured she'd say yes and we'd all find out sooner or later." Conni said trying to defend herself.
"Oh, here he comes." Chuny said quickly as she saw him coming out of an exam room.
"False alarm." Haleh said as she watched him go into the lounge instead of coming towards the desk.
Inside the lounge, Carter opened his locker and sighed. He hadn't slept at all the night before. Every time he closed his eyes, he could see her face. His shift had just ended and he was going back to his apartment to wallow some more. He heard the lounge door open, but didn't turn to see who entered.
"Geez, you look horrible." Jing-Mei said, coming over to John.
"Ah, I can always on you to cheer me up."
"What happened?"
"Uh, I asked Abby to marry me."
"Wow. Congratulations. Shouldn't you be happy?"
"I would, except she said no."
"I'm sorry. Did she give you a reason?"
"No, she just ran off. That was last night and I haven't talked to her since."
"Well, as a woman, I suggest you find her and talk to her, before it's too late. I can see that you love her, and she's a fool if she doesn't love you too."
"Thanks, Deb."
"No problem, John." Jing-Mei said with a smile. "Just invite me to the wedding."
"If there is a wedding." John gave Deb a simple smile and left the room.
"Abby, let's stop here for a second." John said as they reached a bench. He let Abby sit down before kneeling in front of her.
"I love you Abby. You have always been there for me, and I will always be there for you, no matter what. I think you know that. We've gone through more than anyone should ever have to go through and I think that's why I love you so much. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Abby, will you marry me?" And with the last line, he took the box out of his pocket and opened it in front of her. Abby gasped and held her hand over her mouth. She was speechless. "Well?" John asked with a smile a couple moments later.
"I'm sorry, John. I'm sorry. I can't." Abby said quickly and stood up and ran away. Carter watched heartbroken as she left.
"God, Abby." He said softly and shook his head.
**The Next Day**
The next day at the hospital, Abby called in sick and Carter, although seemingly charming and polite, was missing his usual sense of humor. The nurses gathered around the front desk and discussed this as he went by at one point.
"Wonder what happened to him." Haleh said as she watched him go past.
"Poor guy, she must have said no." Conni said, shaking her head.
"Excuse me?" Haleh said with a shocked face.
"Well I heard him talking to someone on the phone the other day. He said he'd pick up the ring by 5. I assume he proposed to Abby."
"Why didn't you tell us before?" Chuny asked incredulously.
"Oh come on. I figured she'd say yes and we'd all find out sooner or later." Conni said trying to defend herself.
"Oh, here he comes." Chuny said quickly as she saw him coming out of an exam room.
"False alarm." Haleh said as she watched him go into the lounge instead of coming towards the desk.
Inside the lounge, Carter opened his locker and sighed. He hadn't slept at all the night before. Every time he closed his eyes, he could see her face. His shift had just ended and he was going back to his apartment to wallow some more. He heard the lounge door open, but didn't turn to see who entered.
"Geez, you look horrible." Jing-Mei said, coming over to John.
"Ah, I can always on you to cheer me up."
"What happened?"
"Uh, I asked Abby to marry me."
"Wow. Congratulations. Shouldn't you be happy?"
"I would, except she said no."
"I'm sorry. Did she give you a reason?"
"No, she just ran off. That was last night and I haven't talked to her since."
"Well, as a woman, I suggest you find her and talk to her, before it's too late. I can see that you love her, and she's a fool if she doesn't love you too."
"Thanks, Deb."
"No problem, John." Jing-Mei said with a smile. "Just invite me to the wedding."
"If there is a wedding." John gave Deb a simple smile and left the room.
