1 Notes: This started off as a small scene and ended up a whole chapter.
I'm not entirely convinced I like it yet, but I hope you all enjoy (
2
3 Back To Haunt Her
Numb with shock, all she could do was cling to him, knowing that if he weren't there she would be a heap on the floor by now. Her mind raced as she tried to process what she had just been told. Why was this happening? Why now, when she had finally gotten her life back on track and she was finding happiness? One phone call had turned it all on its head once again. He still had the power to do that to her, despite the thousands of miles she had put between them.
"Susan?" Carter whispered in her ear, breaking into her thoughts and bringing her back to the present. The realisation dawned on her that she was breaking down in the middle of the ER. "Let's get you to the lounge, what do you say?" he asked, releasing his hold on her and pulling back slightly to look at her face. She nodded and blindly followed him. Mark grabbed Carter's arm as they passed.
"I'll get on the phone about flights shall I?" he questioned, unable to mask the concern in his eyes.
"Yeah, good idea," Carter replied whilst fishing for his wallet. He removed a credit card and handed to him. "Here, use this. Get her on the next flight, it doesn't matter about the cost." Mark nodded and started dialing. Putting his arm around Susan to steady her, he looked around and noticed they had an audience.
"Hey! Haven't we all got work to do? The last thing Susan needs right now is everyone gawking at her!" He glared around at them all as he opened the lounge door and ushered her in.
Susan moved on autopilot, hardly noticing as he led her to the couch and sat down with her. Memories came flooding back to her, memories she would rather forget. Foremost in her mind was the last time she had seen him. She could still see clearly the look on his face as she left him. That puppy dog look he had perfected years ago that used to melt her heart every time. However, it had failed to work the day she left his life, vowing never to return. But now she had to return. Damn that bastard, she thought, she'd loved him with all her heart, she'd hated him bitterly, and now, when she had finally reached a state of indifference he was back to haunt her.
Carter sat silently beside her, holding her hand. Observing the turmoil in her eyes as she stared into space, he could tell she was not ready to talk yet. He had countless questions, but realised that now was not the time to voice them. She had barely spoken to him about her life in Phoenix, telling him only that she had been engaged but that it hadn't worked out and she had left the guy. He had sensed at her reluctance that there was more to the story, but unwilling to risk upsetting the apple cart and losing her so early in the relationship, he had left well alone until a time when he hoped she would open up to him. Now he felt slightly redundant and confused sitting here next to her. He had no idea how to comfort her, as he didn't know exactly what this man had meant to her. Hell, he didn't even know his name. He tried to shake it off, but there was also a part of him that was fearful of what her ex-fiancé still meant to her. She was visibly upset that much was evident, but then who wouldn't be after such news?
"John?" her soft voice interrupted his thoughts and he glanced over to find her looking at him intently. "Thank you," she continued once she had his attention.
"What for?" He asked, confused.
"For being here. For catching me out there," she smiled faintly, "and for not asking the questions I see in your eyes."
He sucked his breath in sharply at that, surprised that she could read him. He sighed before replying, "Susan, I won't pretend that I understand what's going on, but this isn't about me. I just want to be here for you as much as you need me and I only pray that, when you're ready, you let me in."
She squeezed his hand and smiled once more. "I have no intention of keeping you out, believe me." She moved closer and leaned into him. He put his arm around her instinctively. "I'm not really sure where to start, I've never really spoken about how it ended with David to anyone other than Chloe."
"You don't have to talk about it now, I'm not going anywhere."
Mark stuck his head through the doorway, "Carter," he stated indicating with his head for Carter to follow him outside.
"I'll be right back," he whispered and kissed her forehead tenderly before heading into the hall.
"How did you get on?"
"I've managed to get you both on the 7.30pm flight straight through to Phoenix. First class was all that was left though, but I figured what with her fear of flying, the more comfortable she is, the better."
Carter dismissed the cost with a wave of his hand, but had to question the second ticket, "Both of us?"
"I assumed you would be going with her. You're not?"
"Naturally I want to, but I really don't know if she wants me there. Also, what about work?"
"Forget about work, we'll manage. I don't think she should go alone though. I'm not sure about friends, but she's got no family there anymore."
"No, you're right. I'll talk to her, see what she says about me tagging along," he replied, turning to go back into the lounge.
"Carter?" He looked back at Mark, "She's not going alone, ok?" Carter nodded in understanding and went back into the lounge.
Expecting her still to be on the couch, he was surprised to find her pacing the floor with a steaming coffee cup in her hands. "Hey, how are you?"
She stopped her pacing and stood facing him in the middle of the room. "Worried, frustrated, scared that I won't get there in time …did Mark have any luck with a flight?"
"Yes, you're booked on one leaving at 7.30. Listen, Mark and I were talking and we don't want you going alone. I know it might be awkward with him being you're ex and all, but I want to go with you."
"John, that's sweet, but you don't have to. I'll be ok on…"
"No, I want to. Let me be there for you and look after you. I'll only worry if I stay here," he interrupted before she could finish, practically pleading.
"Ok," she relented and walked over to him. She reached up and stroked his cheek before leaning in to kiss him tenderly. "You're a good man John Carter, I don't know what I'd do without you. I want you to know that none of this has any bearing on us. My going to be with him in no way changes the way I feel about you."
"Sshhh," he stopped her from going on, reaching up and placing his hand over her own on his cheek. "We can talk about it on the plane," he finished, kissing her palm. "Speaking of which, we need to make a move." Releasing her hand, he moved to retrieve his coat from his locker. She put her coffee cup down and did likewise.
"Ready?" She nodded and he guided her out the lounge. Mark spotted them and came over to give her a hug.
"How are you holding up?" He inquired.
"I'm alright, a bit shell shocked and anxious to get away, but I'm ok."
"Phone me when you get there ok?" He asked, looking at Carter for conformation. Once he got it, he stepped back and continued," You'd better go." He turned to leave them just as Kerry approached.
"Susan, I'm deeply sorry to hear the news."
"Thanks Kerry," she replied, attempting a smile.
"Don't worry about work at all. Take as long as you need out there. Both of you. We'll manage fine."
"Yes, thanks Kerry. We really have to get going if we're gonna catch this plane." Carter replied, placing a hand on Susan's shoulder, wanting to leave.
"Yes, absolutely, I understand. Take care now."
After a few more hugs and words of sympathy from the staff they finally made it out the door. Whilst walking towards the car, Carter took out his phone and called home.
"Gamma, hi it's me …listen I'm going to have to leave town for a bit. Susan just found out that a good friend of hers has been in a bad accident …I'm flying out with her to be with them …yes, I will do …could you get someone to put a bag together for me, we're kinda pushed for time …yeah at least a couple of days worth. Thanks, I'll call you when we get there …Phoenix…ok, bye."
"Gamma sends her sympathies," he relayed as they reached the car and climbed in. Carter glanced over at her as he was buckling his belt and could see that she was a thousand miles away once more.
"Hey," he said, reaching over to grasp her hand. "It will be alright, you'll get through this. He might not be as bad as you think."
She sighed and looked out the window at the sun setting between the buildings. "Maybe. I hate sleeping in. The day always gets worse when you do, without fail. We should have just stayed in bed," she said, chuckling to herself humourlessly. Not being able to think of anything of comfort to say, he squeezed her hand before starting the car and guiding it out the parking lot.
A little over an hour later, they pulled up at O'Hare airport, having battled with the rush hour traffic and picked up some clothes. Parking in a long-term lot, they headed for the terminal in silence, both lost in their own thoughts. Was it really just that morning they had been arguing good- naturedly over the shower? They spilt up once inside, Carter heading in search of their tickets, while Susan joined the check-in queue. Locating the right desk, he stepped up to the assistant.
"Hi, I have two tickets for Dr Carter and Dr Lewis reserved under Carter."
"What's your destination Sir?"
"Phoenix, Sky Harbour."
"Here we go, first class?"
"That's right."
"If you could just sign here for them."
"Sure," he replied, signing where indicated and taking the offered tickets.
"Thank you Sir, have a nice trip." She called after him as he turned to look for Susan. He waved half-heartedly in response as he chuckled at the irony of her words. Yeah, it was sure to be one hell of a trip, of that much he could be certain.
To be continued…
2
3 Back To Haunt Her
Numb with shock, all she could do was cling to him, knowing that if he weren't there she would be a heap on the floor by now. Her mind raced as she tried to process what she had just been told. Why was this happening? Why now, when she had finally gotten her life back on track and she was finding happiness? One phone call had turned it all on its head once again. He still had the power to do that to her, despite the thousands of miles she had put between them.
"Susan?" Carter whispered in her ear, breaking into her thoughts and bringing her back to the present. The realisation dawned on her that she was breaking down in the middle of the ER. "Let's get you to the lounge, what do you say?" he asked, releasing his hold on her and pulling back slightly to look at her face. She nodded and blindly followed him. Mark grabbed Carter's arm as they passed.
"I'll get on the phone about flights shall I?" he questioned, unable to mask the concern in his eyes.
"Yeah, good idea," Carter replied whilst fishing for his wallet. He removed a credit card and handed to him. "Here, use this. Get her on the next flight, it doesn't matter about the cost." Mark nodded and started dialing. Putting his arm around Susan to steady her, he looked around and noticed they had an audience.
"Hey! Haven't we all got work to do? The last thing Susan needs right now is everyone gawking at her!" He glared around at them all as he opened the lounge door and ushered her in.
Susan moved on autopilot, hardly noticing as he led her to the couch and sat down with her. Memories came flooding back to her, memories she would rather forget. Foremost in her mind was the last time she had seen him. She could still see clearly the look on his face as she left him. That puppy dog look he had perfected years ago that used to melt her heart every time. However, it had failed to work the day she left his life, vowing never to return. But now she had to return. Damn that bastard, she thought, she'd loved him with all her heart, she'd hated him bitterly, and now, when she had finally reached a state of indifference he was back to haunt her.
Carter sat silently beside her, holding her hand. Observing the turmoil in her eyes as she stared into space, he could tell she was not ready to talk yet. He had countless questions, but realised that now was not the time to voice them. She had barely spoken to him about her life in Phoenix, telling him only that she had been engaged but that it hadn't worked out and she had left the guy. He had sensed at her reluctance that there was more to the story, but unwilling to risk upsetting the apple cart and losing her so early in the relationship, he had left well alone until a time when he hoped she would open up to him. Now he felt slightly redundant and confused sitting here next to her. He had no idea how to comfort her, as he didn't know exactly what this man had meant to her. Hell, he didn't even know his name. He tried to shake it off, but there was also a part of him that was fearful of what her ex-fiancé still meant to her. She was visibly upset that much was evident, but then who wouldn't be after such news?
"John?" her soft voice interrupted his thoughts and he glanced over to find her looking at him intently. "Thank you," she continued once she had his attention.
"What for?" He asked, confused.
"For being here. For catching me out there," she smiled faintly, "and for not asking the questions I see in your eyes."
He sucked his breath in sharply at that, surprised that she could read him. He sighed before replying, "Susan, I won't pretend that I understand what's going on, but this isn't about me. I just want to be here for you as much as you need me and I only pray that, when you're ready, you let me in."
She squeezed his hand and smiled once more. "I have no intention of keeping you out, believe me." She moved closer and leaned into him. He put his arm around her instinctively. "I'm not really sure where to start, I've never really spoken about how it ended with David to anyone other than Chloe."
"You don't have to talk about it now, I'm not going anywhere."
Mark stuck his head through the doorway, "Carter," he stated indicating with his head for Carter to follow him outside.
"I'll be right back," he whispered and kissed her forehead tenderly before heading into the hall.
"How did you get on?"
"I've managed to get you both on the 7.30pm flight straight through to Phoenix. First class was all that was left though, but I figured what with her fear of flying, the more comfortable she is, the better."
Carter dismissed the cost with a wave of his hand, but had to question the second ticket, "Both of us?"
"I assumed you would be going with her. You're not?"
"Naturally I want to, but I really don't know if she wants me there. Also, what about work?"
"Forget about work, we'll manage. I don't think she should go alone though. I'm not sure about friends, but she's got no family there anymore."
"No, you're right. I'll talk to her, see what she says about me tagging along," he replied, turning to go back into the lounge.
"Carter?" He looked back at Mark, "She's not going alone, ok?" Carter nodded in understanding and went back into the lounge.
Expecting her still to be on the couch, he was surprised to find her pacing the floor with a steaming coffee cup in her hands. "Hey, how are you?"
She stopped her pacing and stood facing him in the middle of the room. "Worried, frustrated, scared that I won't get there in time …did Mark have any luck with a flight?"
"Yes, you're booked on one leaving at 7.30. Listen, Mark and I were talking and we don't want you going alone. I know it might be awkward with him being you're ex and all, but I want to go with you."
"John, that's sweet, but you don't have to. I'll be ok on…"
"No, I want to. Let me be there for you and look after you. I'll only worry if I stay here," he interrupted before she could finish, practically pleading.
"Ok," she relented and walked over to him. She reached up and stroked his cheek before leaning in to kiss him tenderly. "You're a good man John Carter, I don't know what I'd do without you. I want you to know that none of this has any bearing on us. My going to be with him in no way changes the way I feel about you."
"Sshhh," he stopped her from going on, reaching up and placing his hand over her own on his cheek. "We can talk about it on the plane," he finished, kissing her palm. "Speaking of which, we need to make a move." Releasing her hand, he moved to retrieve his coat from his locker. She put her coffee cup down and did likewise.
"Ready?" She nodded and he guided her out the lounge. Mark spotted them and came over to give her a hug.
"How are you holding up?" He inquired.
"I'm alright, a bit shell shocked and anxious to get away, but I'm ok."
"Phone me when you get there ok?" He asked, looking at Carter for conformation. Once he got it, he stepped back and continued," You'd better go." He turned to leave them just as Kerry approached.
"Susan, I'm deeply sorry to hear the news."
"Thanks Kerry," she replied, attempting a smile.
"Don't worry about work at all. Take as long as you need out there. Both of you. We'll manage fine."
"Yes, thanks Kerry. We really have to get going if we're gonna catch this plane." Carter replied, placing a hand on Susan's shoulder, wanting to leave.
"Yes, absolutely, I understand. Take care now."
After a few more hugs and words of sympathy from the staff they finally made it out the door. Whilst walking towards the car, Carter took out his phone and called home.
"Gamma, hi it's me …listen I'm going to have to leave town for a bit. Susan just found out that a good friend of hers has been in a bad accident …I'm flying out with her to be with them …yes, I will do …could you get someone to put a bag together for me, we're kinda pushed for time …yeah at least a couple of days worth. Thanks, I'll call you when we get there …Phoenix…ok, bye."
"Gamma sends her sympathies," he relayed as they reached the car and climbed in. Carter glanced over at her as he was buckling his belt and could see that she was a thousand miles away once more.
"Hey," he said, reaching over to grasp her hand. "It will be alright, you'll get through this. He might not be as bad as you think."
She sighed and looked out the window at the sun setting between the buildings. "Maybe. I hate sleeping in. The day always gets worse when you do, without fail. We should have just stayed in bed," she said, chuckling to herself humourlessly. Not being able to think of anything of comfort to say, he squeezed her hand before starting the car and guiding it out the parking lot.
A little over an hour later, they pulled up at O'Hare airport, having battled with the rush hour traffic and picked up some clothes. Parking in a long-term lot, they headed for the terminal in silence, both lost in their own thoughts. Was it really just that morning they had been arguing good- naturedly over the shower? They spilt up once inside, Carter heading in search of their tickets, while Susan joined the check-in queue. Locating the right desk, he stepped up to the assistant.
"Hi, I have two tickets for Dr Carter and Dr Lewis reserved under Carter."
"What's your destination Sir?"
"Phoenix, Sky Harbour."
"Here we go, first class?"
"That's right."
"If you could just sign here for them."
"Sure," he replied, signing where indicated and taking the offered tickets.
"Thank you Sir, have a nice trip." She called after him as he turned to look for Susan. He waved half-heartedly in response as he chuckled at the irony of her words. Yeah, it was sure to be one hell of a trip, of that much he could be certain.
To be continued…