Title: Endings and Beginnings
Chapter 2: For every ending there is a beginning
Rating: PG-13, maybe PG on this one
Spoilers: Not that I'm aware of…
Disclaimer: Okay, everyone knows that we don't own 'em. We just like to borrow them from time to time.
Author's Note: Okay, here's chapter 2. Hope you like it, even though it's short…
Two days later Carter found himself working in the ER, where he performed his duties like a robot. His emotions still hadn't caught up with him yet, and he wasn't sure how the rest of the staff was taking it. The only thing that really kept him going and gave him comfort was thinking about his new relationship with Abby.
Abby. Mark's death seemed to have affected her more than anyone. Carter knew that a lot of that had to do with the events surrounding Maggie. When Maggie had returned to Chicago yet again, things were going okay, but it was clear that Maggie was close to a breakdown again. Mark had called Doug Ross, an old friend and former County doctor in Seattle, who had suggested that Maggie come to Seattle. The hospital that Doug worked at had a halfway house for people just like Maggie, headed by the most competent doctors in their field. Maggie had been wary of it at first, but somehow Mark had managed to talk her into going, and even offered to drive her there. They turned it into a little vacation. Five months later, Abby's mother was healthy and flourishing, and had even gotten a job at a beauty salon. Abby admired Doctor Green for taking time out of personal life, illness aside, to help her mother. But that was just the kind of guy he was.
Carter pondered what had transpired when he told Abby about Mark's death…
"Carter?" Abby murmured sleepily as he hung up the phone.
Once again, Carter had stumbled, looking for the right words, any words, that wouldn't seem to come. Abby, realizing something was wrong, sat up in the bed. "Was that the hospital? She asked.
Carter shook his head. "Uh, no. That was, uh, that was Elizabeth. Abby, uh, I…" he trailed off.
"No. Please tell me he didn't – he's still alive, right? Abby asked desperately. Carter winced at the tears that began to well in her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Abby. Doctor Green passed away sometime early this morning. Elizabeth is going to call back with details and everything." He sat down on the bed and pulled Abby close to him. "Shh…it's okay. Elizabeth said it was peaceful, and that he had shared a wonderful night with them."
"But he's gone…"
Carter shook himself out his reverie. He had a job to do. He couldn't let his emotions, or lack of emotions, get in the way of that. He joined the paramedics rolling the gurney down the hall to Trauma 2 and listened to them call the bullet. "…patient with severe hypothermia, LOC at site…"
Susan Lewis cried softly into her coffee cup. Elizabeth had called her that morning at the hospital – she had been on all night and had just been getting ready to leave. The news had shocked everyone. It's not fair, she thought angrily. I didn't have my time with him!
She sniffed, thinking about all the opportunities she'd had before to tell Mark how she felt about him, that she loved him. Well, she HAD told him, as the El was taking her away to Arizona. She smiled at memory…she had really believed that Mark would come running after her, like a scene out of a sappy romance movie.
He was the main reason she had come back, in all honesty. Yes, Chloe's moving did have a lot to do with it as well, but Susan had had 50 states at her disposal. She never imagined she'd come back to Chicago to find Mark married with a baby.
She was happy for him, though, and for Elizabeth. They seemed natural together, especially in the trauma room. Susan had to admit that she was a little jealous of their easy working ways.
Then there was sweet Carter. Who, while a man, still reminded her of the young resident who had gotten sick at his first trauma. The resident that her and Mark had played a mean nasty joke on and wrapped his leg up in a cast. He had hardened a bit over the last five years, and Susan had been shocked to learn how he was stabbed. Sitting by the pool at his Grandparents house, Susan had also learned of the subsequent drug addiction, and it was then that they had forged a new kind of friendship, after the two of them had admitted having crushes on each other. Then there was that Saturday Sex Ed class. They broke up after that, and had become even closer friends. And now, judging by all the looks, the secret touches, he and Abby had finally admitted their feelings for each other. It was the only bright spot Susan had this morning.
"Susan? Are you okay?
Susan's coffee spilled out as she jumped at the sound of Kerri Weaver's voice. "Oh, dammit…"
"Weren't you supposed to off an hour ago? You should be at home, I know how hard this has been on you," Kerri said sympathetically.
Susan nodded. "I just couldn't go home. I felt like I belonged here."
Kerry put her hand on Susan's shoulder as she left. "We're all going to miss him." Susan placed her hand on top of Kerry's and replied, "I know…I know"