Part 4: What a time to acknowledge the past.
Summer_hunnie@hotmail.com
Abby stared at the desk. Her and Carter had been laughing, that was a good sign wasn't it? At least there would be closure now, at least she'd be able to leave being his friend. Carter walked past her but she didn't even bother to look up. She had a Carter-type radar, as corny as that sounded it was true. She always knew he was around. When she looked up there was a tall man standing in front of her. He was saying her name, but it wasn't really registering.
"Abby!" the guy shouted, slightly worried by her dumb gaze.
"Michael, oh my god!" She smiled; she ran around the desk and pulled him into an embrace.
"Hey stranger! How come I had to hear from my rather classically estranged sister that you were leaving?" he stated smiling.
"I never got around to…" Abby noticed Carter watching intently out of the corner of his eye.
"You mean you forgot me! You forgot you're boyfriend!" Abby blushed slightly and noticed Carter's ears prick up, just as Weaver bounded towards them.
"Abby, there's a patient saying you forgot to administer the pills."
"Thanks, ah, Kerry this is my…what are you Michael?" Abby enquired.
"Ah best friend, I'm Abby's best friend, nice to meet you Dr. Weaver."
"Right." Abby added
"Nice to meet you too, ahh Abby if you could just get right on that, then you can go."
"Thanks Dr. Weaver. I'll be right with you Michael." Abby finished walking away.
"Good, I've got us a table booked." Abby grinned as she walked into the locker room to get her things.
~
Abby walked into the locker room. She'd taken a de-tour to administer the drugs and was rushing so as not to leave Michael waiting. When she entered Carter was making coffee, she felt the need to explain herself but restrained it, sensing that he would speak first.
"Forgot to tell your own boyfriend huh?" Carter asked, she couldn't tell if his tone was amused or annoyed, she decided to go with amused.
"He's not my boyfriend, he's, well, he was my boyfriend when we were young. For about 2 weeks at a time every month for four years!"
"That sounds like a complicated relationship." Carter shot back.
"They're the best relationships, in my opinion anyway. Now he's just a good friend. I think we're too old for that now."
"What the complicated relationships?" Carter thought he'd won.
"No, the type of relationship we had. It was consuming, it was fun, but consuming. It's funny I thought I'd marry him. Then of course Richard came along."
"So why didn't you marry Michael?" Carter asked, not quite understanding the concept.
"Because it was real I suppose. Richard made everything easy, that's why we didn't last."
"Forgive me if I really do not understand." Carter was confused.
"Don't worry Carter, there's no hidden message there. Some things work, some things don't, and some things don't deserve a chance, apparently." Abby didn't realise what she'd said until she saw the look on Carter's face, there was no way to justify it so she just walked away. But Carter followed. He grabbed her wrist gently; they looked at each other for a second. There was so much Carter wanted to say, and yet so much that he couldn't.
"I never meant to make you think that we didn't deserve a chance."
"Really? That's more or less what you said!" Abby said laughing angrily.
"I guess it was." Carter let go his grip on her wrist and Abby walked away, over to Michael. He was smiling, he was happy to see her. That was a change. Carter either looked awkward or angry now a days, there was no in between.
~
Carter stared at the door, praying that Abby would walk back in. Was she right? Was it true that complicated relationships were the best ones? It would certainly explain a lot but he had to let go. She was leaving. There was no point to in this now.
~
Just as Carter got up Abby did walk back in. She stopped and they stared at each other for a second. He walked towards her, he wanted to say something, but was unsure if anything would make the situation any better. Then Abby smiled at him. They were quite close now, and just because Abby was smiling Carter knew it would be okay. He smoothed a piece of her hair away from her face, and Abby looked down at her shoes, scared to make eye contact with him as they both knew where this was heading. He gently lifted her chin and closed his eyes, and they kissed. Neither of them knew where this was headed. She was leaving, she would be gone, and them being unresolved would be completely resolved to nothing. But there was something about finalities that scared them both. They'd never given it a chance and that wasn't what they were doing now. Now, they were simply comforting each other. It wasn't real.
To be continued. Please make my day and R&R!
