Disclaimer: The people that take care of me tell me to get a life and that I don't own the character. So since I don't have a life I like to pretend that I do.
Rating: PG
Summary: Talks with friends give Carter and Susan a new outlook.
Special Thanks: To my best friend Lori for helping me write the story and checking all, and I mean all, the grammatical mistakes, which were a lot.
Crashing Reunion
A Month Later: In the ER. Nighttime.
Weaver walks into the lounge to find Carter sitting at the table staring off into space.
"John, are you OK?" Weaver asked, as she sat down next to Carter.
"Hmm, I'm fine," Carter said after a while. Mark walks into the lounge.
"I need to get to work," Carter said as he gets up and heads out of the lounge.
"He is not doing so well, is he?" Kerry asked Mark.
"I guess the break up between him and Susan has been hard," Mark states.
"I just wish there was something we could do," Kerry said.
"I've been thinking about talking to Susan about it and see if there is anything I can do," Mark said.
"Maybe I should talk to Carter then," Kerry states. Mark shakes his head and walks out of the lounge in search of Susan. He finds Susan on the roof, sitting, looking out into the sky.
"Can I talk to you for a moment?" Mark asked.
"Sure, no one is here to stop you," Susan said quietly, not paying attention.
"Well at least you haven't lost your sense of humor," Mark said.
"Huh?" Susan said as she looked up at Mark.
"Nothing," Mark said as he sits next to Susan.
"So how have you been doing lately?" Mark asked.
"I'm fine, considering the month I've had," Susan said.
"You love him don't you?" Mark states.
"Who?" Susan asked.
"Oh, come on Susan, you know who I'm talking about," Mark said a little annoyed. Susan turns her head toward Mark with tears in her eyes. He puts his arms around Susan and pulls her toward him. After a while of silence Susan breaks away from his embrace.
"I never meant it to happen," Susan said.
"What?" Mark asked.
"I never meant to fall for Carter, but somewhere along the way I did," Susan said.
"So what happened between you?" Mark asked.
"I couldn't tell him the truth," Susan said.
"Why not?" Mark asked.
"I was afraid that if I told him...That I might lose him because of what happened in the past," Susan said.
"Don't you think he is afraid also?" Mark said.
"Why would he be afraid?" Susan asked looking at Mark.
"He was stabbed, and then he became addicted to drugs; don't you think he was afraid of what you would think of him and his past?" Mark said.
"It is not the same," Susan said.
"Yes it is the same Susan, you and Carter needed each other when you have these problems and you still need each other," Mark said. Susan just looked at him and went silent.
"Can I tell you something Susan?" Mark said. Susan nodded yes.
"When you are in love with someone you will get through anything. Carter loves you I can see it in your eyes that you love him also. Now you need to make the decision about what you want to do. Do you want to be with Carter, or do you not want to be with Carter? It is your decision and no one can make it for you, only you can," Mark said. Susan looked at him, then back at the night sky.
"I'm leaving for a trip to L.A in two days, so I won't be back for a while," Susan said. With that said, Susan got up and headed towards the door.
"You need to tell him Susan, before you lose him," Mark said. Susan just looked at him and walked away.
Next Day: Middle of the Day: ER lounge.
Kerry walks in to find Carter laying on the couch with his eyes closed. She pulls up a chair and sits next to him.
"Can we talk for a minute?" Kerry asked. Carter opens one eye and shrugs.
"It is about you and Susan," Kerry states. Carter just rolls over on the couch not wanting to have this talk.
"Hmm, why did you break up?" Kerry asked quietly. Carter slowly sits up and looks at her.
"She broke up with me," Carter states.
"Why did she breakup with you then?" Kerry asked.
"I dunno, maybe talking would have helped," Carter said sarcastically.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Kerry questioned. Carter just sighs.
"Maybe it was my fault; maybe I pushed her too far. She should have told me the truth, but didn't and I don't blame her. I hate talking about my stabbing, so why should she want to talk about her and Chris..." Carter stops short as he hears Kerry laughing.
"What?" Carter asked very confused.
"You are really in love with her, aren't you?" Kerry said after she stopped laughing. Carter just shakes his head.
"Whatever," Carter said as he gets up and walks out of the room. Kerry just stares at the door shaking her head.
Same Day: Nighttime
Abby walks out onto the roof to find Carter sitting looking at the sky.
"Hey," Abby said as she sits down next to Carter. Carter just mumbles something under his breath barely noticing she is there.
"I was wondering if you wanted to go get coffee or something later?" Abby asked.
"No thanks; I would rather just sit here," Carter said.
"You know you shouldn't be so depressed about breaking up with Dr. Lewis," Abby states.
"And why shouldn't I?" Carter asked as he turned and looked at her.
"Because there are other people to date in this world," Abby said as she looked at Carter. Carter just shrugs. She looks at him and then leans in to kiss him, as he leans in also wanting to have the comfort that he once did. Their lips meet with a soft kiss. They break apart and Abby opens her eyes and finds Carter eyes still closed.
"Susan," Carter then whispered. Abby just looked at him.
"What did you say?" Abby asked. Carter opened his eyes.
"What?" Carter asked confused.
"You said Susan's name after you kissed me," Abby stated. Carter just looked back at the sky.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to," Cater said apologetically yet obviously hurt.
"You love her, don't you," Abby stated.
"I'm afraid to say," Carter said.
"Why?" Abby asked.
"I really don't know," Carter answers.
"John, you need to figure out what you feel for her and soon. Because, if you don't you might lose the most important thing in your life. I hope you take what I said into consideration. Remember it is coming from me of all people and I just want to see you happy, even if it is with Susan and not me. Also trust your heart, it is pointing you in the right direction, you just need to follow it," Abby states. She then walks away leaving Carter to his thoughts with tears in her eyes already knowing what Carter was going to do.
Next Day:
Carter is sitting at the admission desk filling out charts, but not paying attention.
"Maybe Abby is right, maybe Susan and I belong together," Carter thinks to himself. He then spots a young couple talking and then it hits him.
"I'm in love with Susan," Carter realizes. He gets up and runs to the lounge looking for Susan, but only finds Mark.
"Where is Susan?" Carter asked hurriedly.
"She is heading to the airport for her trip to L.A," Mark said. Carter looks at him, runs to his locker and pulls out his things.
"Where are you going?" Mark asked.
"Going to find the person I love before she leaves my life," Carter said as he runs out of the lounge.
"Finally," Mark said, then walks to the admission desk.
"Taking the bets now, either they make up or don't," Mark announces. Nurses and doctors just start passing money to Mark.
At the Airport:
Carter is running trying to see if he can find Susan. He runs to one of the workers and asked.
"Where is flight that is leaving for L.A?" Carter asked breathing heavily.
"Sorry Sir, but it already left," the clerk said. Carter just stares and runs outside to see the plane as it takes off.
"I love you Susan," Carter said to himself quietly. He looks up once more and starts to walk away from the airport and everything he knew.
Back At the ER:
Susan comes running in looking for Carter.
"Mark, where is Carter?" Susan asked.
"What are you doing here?" Mark asked.
"Just answer the question," Susan pleaded.
"He went running to find you," Mark said.
"I need to find him and tell him I love him, that is why I didn't get on the plane," Susan said. With that said Susan bolts out the door and runs right into someone coming into the ER, sending both of them to the floor. The staff just smiles and waits for what is going to happen.
"I'm sorry I didn't see..." Susan starts to say until she realizes whom she ran into.
"Susan, but I thought..." Carter started to say, but before he could finish Susan pulls him into a long, passionate kiss. The ER breaks into cheers making Carter and Susan break the kiss and look up. They just smile at each other and then Mark breaks in.
"OK everyone, we have five winners on the bet." Then everyone hands in their money. Carter and Susan look at each other and Carter gets a mischievous grin on his face. He gets up, walks over to Mark and said:
"I'll take that, thank you very much," as he takes all the money. The staff just looks at him and smirks. He walks over to Susan to help her up and as he pulls her close to him he sees Abby and mouths a quiet thank you to her; Abby nods with a sad smile on her face and walks away. Carter looks at Susan.
"You ready to go home? " Carter asked with a grin on his face.
"Yes, but give me a second," Susan said, Carter nods and Susan pulls away. She walks over to Mark and gives him a kiss on the cheek and whispered, "Thank you," into his ear. She then walked back over to Carter and kisses him again. He smiles, puts his arm around Susan and they walked out of the ER together knowing the worst was behind them.
