***Song used in this fic is: Angel of the morning by Juice Newton. Thanks to Kitchen_Sink for helping me out with the lyrics.***
Part 5
The three were now seated around a tiny wooden table. They were in a large kitchen that laced any trace of food and held only cooking equipment. Huge woks, deep soup basins and gigantic spatulas decorated the otherwise boring room.
"You know Dave, the food's not bad." admitted Abby putting a piece of steak into her mouth.
"It's actually pretty good." agreed Deb. Dave practically glowed with pride.
"Well, I said my Uncle was a cool chef. I eat here whenever I can."
"Then how come your always at my apartment for dinner?" asked Carter, trying to salvage Dave's feelings by not laughing.
"Carter, I said when I can- not always." said Dave exasperatingly
"Ok, ok." agreed Carter as he once more stole a glance at Deb who was seated at the other end of the table. 'She looks great tonight.' He thought to himself as she laughed at a joke that Abby had made.
"So John, what would you do?" asked Deb, laughing away. Carter was brought out of his trance like a python who's master stopped playing it's tune.
"Huh?"
"I swear Carter, you've been out of it all evening. Care to share what's so important?" said Abby, nudging and winking comically at Carter like it was their little secret.
"Nothing to share." said Carter innocently, taking a sip of his coke.
"You know that your a bad liar don't ya?"
"Dave I honestly don't know what your talking about." repeated Carter, as he turned to face Dave. But as his head turned, Carter caught Deb staring at the table cloth suspiciosly. However, he tore his questioning eye's from her and looked up at Dave.
"You know what, Dave? I think I need to go to the bathroom. Think you could show me the way?" suggested Abby, noticing Deb mysteriously avoiding the looks Carter had been shooting at her.
"Can't you show yourself...." whined Dave.
"I don't know where it is!" insisted Abby.
"Down the hall..."
"And I need you to show me." said Abby who got up and practically dragged Dave out of the room.
Abby finally let go of him once they were safe in a janitor's closet, inbetween a couple of mops and a stack of buckets. "What the fuck did you do that for?" whispered Dave.
"Don't you see it?" said Abby incredulously.
"See what?"
"Everything- Carter's looks, Deb's blush.."
"Yeah. The man told me himself." said Dave proudly. "How can you convict me of not knowing anything."
"What?"
"You heard what I said! Carter- John, whatever told me that he likes Chen."
"As in..."
"Like like? Yep! You've gotta give me the credit woman." said Dave getting up off the cold tiled floor using the sturdy vacuum cleaner in the corner to help himself up.
"Where are you going?" questioned Abby.
"To see all the action." As soon as Dave said this, Abby grabbed hold of his sleeve and pulled him back down again.
"You'll ruin it!"
"Ruin what? How can I ruin the sports channel in my uncles lounge?" asked Dave, totally confused. Abby rolled her eyes.
"Go, go, I don't care!" she said, waving him out of the door. Dave brushed his shirt as though Abby's hand's had somehow dirtied it.
"This was my best shirt!" he muttered to himself as he stalked out of the tiny closet.
"Agggrrr!" groaned Abby in frustration. "I can't stand him. Except for the fact that he is incredibly, cute!"
"Wonder what that's all about, huh?" asked Carter suddenly not feeling very hungry.
"Yeah. You know John, Dave is absolutely right." said Deb finally looking up at Carter, not totally satisfied that her cheeks had stopped glowing.
"About what?"
"The fact that you are a terrible liar." said Deb with a smile on her face.
"I am, am I?" admitted John weakly.
"Yes, you are." confirmed Deb as the two lapsed into a comfortable silence.
Suddenly, the music that had been coming from the disco next door all night long went quiet and a message reading loud and clear on the speakers was heard.
"We have a special request form uh.... anonymous to the girl she, ah, he likes. Everybody let's sway to Juice Newton's: Angel of The Morning!"
The opening strains sounded out as the cheering from the room died down.
"Wanna dance?" asked Carter pushing his chair back and standing up to offer his hand.
"Where?" questioned Deb getting up.
"Right here." he said placing his right hand on Deb's waste. 'It feels nice.' she thought to herself as she rested her hand on John's shoulder. 'And he is the perfect height too.'
***There'll be no strings to bind your hands. Not if my love can't bind your heart. There's no need to take a stand. For it was I who chose a start. I see no need to take me home. I'm old enough to face the dawn.***
Carter felt Deb rest her head on his chest. A warm feeling came over him as he leaned in closer, gently pressing his body against hers.
"What kind of shampoo do you use?"
"Huh?"
"It's just that it smells nice." said John defending himself.
"Really?" said Deb giggling. 'I can't believe he asked me that, of all things!'
"Yeah. really."
Just call me angel of the morning angel. Just touch my cheek before you leave me baby. Just call me angel of the morning angel. Then slowly turn away from me. May be the sun's light will be dim. And it won't matter anyhow.
"Deb?"
"Humm?"
"You do remember that night, don't you?" asked Carter as Deb closed her eye's and the two swayed as though they were in a time warp.
"Yes. Of course. How could I forget."
"Don't you think there was you know..."
"Something more?" asked Deb opening her eyes.
"Uhuh."
"Well...."
"Well what?" said Carter, confused at where she was going with her choice of words.
***If morning's echoes say we've sinned. Well it was what I wanted now. And if we're victims of the night. I won't be blinded by the light.
Just call me angel of the morning angel. Just touch my cheek before you leave me baby. Just call me angel of the morning angel. Then slowly turn away from me. Through the tears of the day, of the years baby.***
"Doesn't our friendship mean something to you, John?" asked Deb, slowly pulling away.
"It's everything to me. I just thought we could, you know...."
"Take it further?" finished of Deb, suddenly dropping her hand from his shoulder. Immediatly, her hand began to get cold and she instinctively began to try and warm it up with her other hand, but this only turned into a nervous gesture.
"Exactly. Don't you think we should give it a chance? Your already finishing off my sentences."
"But that's just it, Carter." said Deb desperately, tears threatening to fall down her cheeks for the third time that night. John just stood there motionless, listening to what Deb was throwing in his face.
"We're too good for each other and, and it just would be..."
"Right?" whispered Carter softly.
Deb just looked down at her hands, contemplating what to say. 'If I don't leave soon, I'll do something I'll regret- I want so much to just... I don't know kiss him.'
She ran from the room and through the emergency exit. Carter was left standing there for a moment as the song that had felt so right came to an end.
***Just call me angel of the morning angel. Just touch my cheek before you leave me baby. Just call me angel of the morning angel. Just touch my cheek before you leave me darling. Just call me angel of the morning baby. Just touch my cheek before you leave me darling.
Just call me angel of the morning angel. Just touch my cheek before you leave me baby. Just call me angel of the morning angel. Just touch my cheek before you leave me darling. Just call me angel of the morning baby. Just touch my cheek before you leave me darling.***
"Deb, wait." said Carter, finally catching up to her about half a block from the club house.
"There's nothing to say Carter. We- I can't do this, we'd lose everything we have...."
"Oh don't pull that one on me." he accused, grabbing hold of the edge of her coat that she had hastily put on while on her way out he door.
"Pull what?" she asked, turning around. The tears had already spilled and made her face wet as though she had plunged into a bucket of water.
"The friendship thing. I don't want to lose it, but I'm willing to take a chance. Aren't you?"
"Aren't I what- ready to do something I know would never work, you know, John, don't judge me, ok?" said Deb starting up on her way again.
"Judge you? Your the one judging me. I'm not good enough for a chance am I?" yelled Carter, a dam of anger and fury let loose. Deb suddenly stooped walking. Her back was turned but this didn't stop him. John kept talking to her.
"A druggie? Is that all I am to you, huh? A druggie not good enough for you- Can't even tell that to my face, think your a real friend of mine?" yelled Carter, running his hands through his hair in frustration.
Suddenly Deb turned around. The street lamp on the side of the road lit up her tiny frame. John could see that Deb's face was red and that her eyes seemed swollen. He began to feel bad for all the things he had said.
"Deb I..."
"Your sorry. I know but I was right all along, Carter. This would never work out. Next time you start yelling- get your facts straight, ok. You know nothing. Nothing about what's going on in my life now." said Deb more tears falling down her face, if that was even possible as it seemed as though she had cried enough for a whole army.
"Yeah, well...."
"Don't bother Carter. I think you should save it." said Deb, hailing a cab that she hurriedly got into.
"Deb-"
"Save it Carter."
Deb was sadly tuning the beautiful instrument that her Grandfather had bought for her. After blowing Carter's head off on the street, she had hailed a cab and went to her freezing apartment to find that the heating was not working.
"It wasn't like he didn't deserve it." she said to herself, pulling her gloves back on after tuning the last string. "I mean, he had no right to be yelling at me like that without knowing the full story."
There was a knock at the door. Getting up slowly from her chair and pulling her thick brown coat around her shoulders tighter, Deb put away her tuning equipment and hurrid as fast as she could to the door. Another more impatient knock came.
"Yeah, I'm coming, I'm coming." she yelled as she unlocked the double locks she had on for security. "Abby, what are you doing here?"
"What do you think?" asked Abby agrily, glaring at Deb with her hands crossed against her chest.
"I don't know what your talking about." said Deb, leading Abby into her apartment.
"Yeah. Sure. Why is it so cold in here?"
"Really I do not know what your talking about and the heating's broken." said Deb putting on her 'Everythings gonna be just fine smile.
"Carter? John? Hello, Deb, what you did to him was really mean." yelled Abby pacing the room all the while looking at Deb.
"No, I did what he deserved."
"You broke his heart!"
"I didn't mean to...." said Deb trying to defend herself.
"But you did." There was silence.
"It wasn't anything more than just a kiss."
"You told me it was!" yelled back Abby, throwing her hands up in the air in expaggeration.
"At the time, yes. Now, I really don't know anymore." said Deb collapsing on the sofa in a heap and rubbing her face tiredly.
"What do you mean you don't know, either you do- or you don't." declaied Abby sitting beside Deb.
"Well I do, but I can't."
"What do you mean-"
"I'm getting married." said Deb in a rush looking away from Abby.
"Huh?"
"You heard me the first time. My parents have arranged for me to marry this... guy."
"Is that even legal?" asked Abby, astounded that they still did this.
"Yes and that's why you can't tell anybody." said Deb forcefully turning around to face Abby with a strong look of determination on her face.
"Do you even know the guy?"
"Yes. He's a family friend- you can't tell anyone especially not John."
"But-" protested Abby.
"You have to promise me!" demanded Deb.
"Fine. I won't tell anyone but you owe me big." agreed Abby "So tell me more about
this guy..."
"I don't really want to talk about it." said Deb, suddenly looking sick.
"You can't hide forever."
"I know, I know."
"Then... spill it." said Abby impatiently. Deb sighed.
"I got ambushed at my parents dinner today, or yesterday actually." she said, looking down at her watch .
"Don't you even have a choice?"
"Yes, but I already let my parents down and"
"When?"
"Remember when I gave away-"
"Oh." The two lapsed into silence once more.
"Enough about me, what about you and Kovac." said Deb a michevous smile on her face.
"That department ain't going so well with me either...."
"Carter my man, you've had me so worried, where have you been?" yelled Dave letting Carter into the apartment.
"Out." he said pushing past Dave and into the apartment.
"I thought you were going to kill yourself- what happened with Jing-mei?" asked Dave following behind.
"Nothing."
"Carter, you gotta tell-"
"Dave not now ok !?" Carter yelled. He slowly walked to his room, his shoulders hunched and his shirt all rumpled. Dave knew enough to let him alone and plopped down on the couch, turning on the t.v.
"Sheesh. People these days just don't tell you anything."
"Nobody would tell you anything, Dave." came Carter's voice through the walls.
Dave got up and switched of the WWF wrestling that he had setteled down to watch.
"Wait a sec man, what are you talking about?"
"Just that Dave, I don't even know why you bother. You know I won't tell you anything." said Carter as he headed off to the kitchen where he grabbed a mug off the rack.
"Look, Carter there is obviously something on you mind and that's what I'm here for."
"All your here for is to eat my food, Dave and nothing else." he said monotoniously.
"Now hear me out, Carter. I took you to a place where you got a free meal which you yourself admitted was pretty good. I worry sick for over four hours wondering where you'd got to- whether you jumped off a bridge or gotten yourself kidnapped or"
"Save your breath Malucci." said Carter getting up dejectedly.
"But-" protested Dave standing up and putting his hand out to stop him. However Carter just pushed passed.
"Save it."
Part 5
The three were now seated around a tiny wooden table. They were in a large kitchen that laced any trace of food and held only cooking equipment. Huge woks, deep soup basins and gigantic spatulas decorated the otherwise boring room.
"You know Dave, the food's not bad." admitted Abby putting a piece of steak into her mouth.
"It's actually pretty good." agreed Deb. Dave practically glowed with pride.
"Well, I said my Uncle was a cool chef. I eat here whenever I can."
"Then how come your always at my apartment for dinner?" asked Carter, trying to salvage Dave's feelings by not laughing.
"Carter, I said when I can- not always." said Dave exasperatingly
"Ok, ok." agreed Carter as he once more stole a glance at Deb who was seated at the other end of the table. 'She looks great tonight.' He thought to himself as she laughed at a joke that Abby had made.
"So John, what would you do?" asked Deb, laughing away. Carter was brought out of his trance like a python who's master stopped playing it's tune.
"Huh?"
"I swear Carter, you've been out of it all evening. Care to share what's so important?" said Abby, nudging and winking comically at Carter like it was their little secret.
"Nothing to share." said Carter innocently, taking a sip of his coke.
"You know that your a bad liar don't ya?"
"Dave I honestly don't know what your talking about." repeated Carter, as he turned to face Dave. But as his head turned, Carter caught Deb staring at the table cloth suspiciosly. However, he tore his questioning eye's from her and looked up at Dave.
"You know what, Dave? I think I need to go to the bathroom. Think you could show me the way?" suggested Abby, noticing Deb mysteriously avoiding the looks Carter had been shooting at her.
"Can't you show yourself...." whined Dave.
"I don't know where it is!" insisted Abby.
"Down the hall..."
"And I need you to show me." said Abby who got up and practically dragged Dave out of the room.
Abby finally let go of him once they were safe in a janitor's closet, inbetween a couple of mops and a stack of buckets. "What the fuck did you do that for?" whispered Dave.
"Don't you see it?" said Abby incredulously.
"See what?"
"Everything- Carter's looks, Deb's blush.."
"Yeah. The man told me himself." said Dave proudly. "How can you convict me of not knowing anything."
"What?"
"You heard what I said! Carter- John, whatever told me that he likes Chen."
"As in..."
"Like like? Yep! You've gotta give me the credit woman." said Dave getting up off the cold tiled floor using the sturdy vacuum cleaner in the corner to help himself up.
"Where are you going?" questioned Abby.
"To see all the action." As soon as Dave said this, Abby grabbed hold of his sleeve and pulled him back down again.
"You'll ruin it!"
"Ruin what? How can I ruin the sports channel in my uncles lounge?" asked Dave, totally confused. Abby rolled her eyes.
"Go, go, I don't care!" she said, waving him out of the door. Dave brushed his shirt as though Abby's hand's had somehow dirtied it.
"This was my best shirt!" he muttered to himself as he stalked out of the tiny closet.
"Agggrrr!" groaned Abby in frustration. "I can't stand him. Except for the fact that he is incredibly, cute!"
"Wonder what that's all about, huh?" asked Carter suddenly not feeling very hungry.
"Yeah. You know John, Dave is absolutely right." said Deb finally looking up at Carter, not totally satisfied that her cheeks had stopped glowing.
"About what?"
"The fact that you are a terrible liar." said Deb with a smile on her face.
"I am, am I?" admitted John weakly.
"Yes, you are." confirmed Deb as the two lapsed into a comfortable silence.
Suddenly, the music that had been coming from the disco next door all night long went quiet and a message reading loud and clear on the speakers was heard.
"We have a special request form uh.... anonymous to the girl she, ah, he likes. Everybody let's sway to Juice Newton's: Angel of The Morning!"
The opening strains sounded out as the cheering from the room died down.
"Wanna dance?" asked Carter pushing his chair back and standing up to offer his hand.
"Where?" questioned Deb getting up.
"Right here." he said placing his right hand on Deb's waste. 'It feels nice.' she thought to herself as she rested her hand on John's shoulder. 'And he is the perfect height too.'
***There'll be no strings to bind your hands. Not if my love can't bind your heart. There's no need to take a stand. For it was I who chose a start. I see no need to take me home. I'm old enough to face the dawn.***
Carter felt Deb rest her head on his chest. A warm feeling came over him as he leaned in closer, gently pressing his body against hers.
"What kind of shampoo do you use?"
"Huh?"
"It's just that it smells nice." said John defending himself.
"Really?" said Deb giggling. 'I can't believe he asked me that, of all things!'
"Yeah. really."
Just call me angel of the morning angel. Just touch my cheek before you leave me baby. Just call me angel of the morning angel. Then slowly turn away from me. May be the sun's light will be dim. And it won't matter anyhow.
"Deb?"
"Humm?"
"You do remember that night, don't you?" asked Carter as Deb closed her eye's and the two swayed as though they were in a time warp.
"Yes. Of course. How could I forget."
"Don't you think there was you know..."
"Something more?" asked Deb opening her eyes.
"Uhuh."
"Well...."
"Well what?" said Carter, confused at where she was going with her choice of words.
***If morning's echoes say we've sinned. Well it was what I wanted now. And if we're victims of the night. I won't be blinded by the light.
Just call me angel of the morning angel. Just touch my cheek before you leave me baby. Just call me angel of the morning angel. Then slowly turn away from me. Through the tears of the day, of the years baby.***
"Doesn't our friendship mean something to you, John?" asked Deb, slowly pulling away.
"It's everything to me. I just thought we could, you know...."
"Take it further?" finished of Deb, suddenly dropping her hand from his shoulder. Immediatly, her hand began to get cold and she instinctively began to try and warm it up with her other hand, but this only turned into a nervous gesture.
"Exactly. Don't you think we should give it a chance? Your already finishing off my sentences."
"But that's just it, Carter." said Deb desperately, tears threatening to fall down her cheeks for the third time that night. John just stood there motionless, listening to what Deb was throwing in his face.
"We're too good for each other and, and it just would be..."
"Right?" whispered Carter softly.
Deb just looked down at her hands, contemplating what to say. 'If I don't leave soon, I'll do something I'll regret- I want so much to just... I don't know kiss him.'
She ran from the room and through the emergency exit. Carter was left standing there for a moment as the song that had felt so right came to an end.
***Just call me angel of the morning angel. Just touch my cheek before you leave me baby. Just call me angel of the morning angel. Just touch my cheek before you leave me darling. Just call me angel of the morning baby. Just touch my cheek before you leave me darling.
Just call me angel of the morning angel. Just touch my cheek before you leave me baby. Just call me angel of the morning angel. Just touch my cheek before you leave me darling. Just call me angel of the morning baby. Just touch my cheek before you leave me darling.***
"Deb, wait." said Carter, finally catching up to her about half a block from the club house.
"There's nothing to say Carter. We- I can't do this, we'd lose everything we have...."
"Oh don't pull that one on me." he accused, grabbing hold of the edge of her coat that she had hastily put on while on her way out he door.
"Pull what?" she asked, turning around. The tears had already spilled and made her face wet as though she had plunged into a bucket of water.
"The friendship thing. I don't want to lose it, but I'm willing to take a chance. Aren't you?"
"Aren't I what- ready to do something I know would never work, you know, John, don't judge me, ok?" said Deb starting up on her way again.
"Judge you? Your the one judging me. I'm not good enough for a chance am I?" yelled Carter, a dam of anger and fury let loose. Deb suddenly stooped walking. Her back was turned but this didn't stop him. John kept talking to her.
"A druggie? Is that all I am to you, huh? A druggie not good enough for you- Can't even tell that to my face, think your a real friend of mine?" yelled Carter, running his hands through his hair in frustration.
Suddenly Deb turned around. The street lamp on the side of the road lit up her tiny frame. John could see that Deb's face was red and that her eyes seemed swollen. He began to feel bad for all the things he had said.
"Deb I..."
"Your sorry. I know but I was right all along, Carter. This would never work out. Next time you start yelling- get your facts straight, ok. You know nothing. Nothing about what's going on in my life now." said Deb more tears falling down her face, if that was even possible as it seemed as though she had cried enough for a whole army.
"Yeah, well...."
"Don't bother Carter. I think you should save it." said Deb, hailing a cab that she hurriedly got into.
"Deb-"
"Save it Carter."
Deb was sadly tuning the beautiful instrument that her Grandfather had bought for her. After blowing Carter's head off on the street, she had hailed a cab and went to her freezing apartment to find that the heating was not working.
"It wasn't like he didn't deserve it." she said to herself, pulling her gloves back on after tuning the last string. "I mean, he had no right to be yelling at me like that without knowing the full story."
There was a knock at the door. Getting up slowly from her chair and pulling her thick brown coat around her shoulders tighter, Deb put away her tuning equipment and hurrid as fast as she could to the door. Another more impatient knock came.
"Yeah, I'm coming, I'm coming." she yelled as she unlocked the double locks she had on for security. "Abby, what are you doing here?"
"What do you think?" asked Abby agrily, glaring at Deb with her hands crossed against her chest.
"I don't know what your talking about." said Deb, leading Abby into her apartment.
"Yeah. Sure. Why is it so cold in here?"
"Really I do not know what your talking about and the heating's broken." said Deb putting on her 'Everythings gonna be just fine smile.
"Carter? John? Hello, Deb, what you did to him was really mean." yelled Abby pacing the room all the while looking at Deb.
"No, I did what he deserved."
"You broke his heart!"
"I didn't mean to...." said Deb trying to defend herself.
"But you did." There was silence.
"It wasn't anything more than just a kiss."
"You told me it was!" yelled back Abby, throwing her hands up in the air in expaggeration.
"At the time, yes. Now, I really don't know anymore." said Deb collapsing on the sofa in a heap and rubbing her face tiredly.
"What do you mean you don't know, either you do- or you don't." declaied Abby sitting beside Deb.
"Well I do, but I can't."
"What do you mean-"
"I'm getting married." said Deb in a rush looking away from Abby.
"Huh?"
"You heard me the first time. My parents have arranged for me to marry this... guy."
"Is that even legal?" asked Abby, astounded that they still did this.
"Yes and that's why you can't tell anybody." said Deb forcefully turning around to face Abby with a strong look of determination on her face.
"Do you even know the guy?"
"Yes. He's a family friend- you can't tell anyone especially not John."
"But-" protested Abby.
"You have to promise me!" demanded Deb.
"Fine. I won't tell anyone but you owe me big." agreed Abby "So tell me more about
this guy..."
"I don't really want to talk about it." said Deb, suddenly looking sick.
"You can't hide forever."
"I know, I know."
"Then... spill it." said Abby impatiently. Deb sighed.
"I got ambushed at my parents dinner today, or yesterday actually." she said, looking down at her watch .
"Don't you even have a choice?"
"Yes, but I already let my parents down and"
"When?"
"Remember when I gave away-"
"Oh." The two lapsed into silence once more.
"Enough about me, what about you and Kovac." said Deb a michevous smile on her face.
"That department ain't going so well with me either...."
"Carter my man, you've had me so worried, where have you been?" yelled Dave letting Carter into the apartment.
"Out." he said pushing past Dave and into the apartment.
"I thought you were going to kill yourself- what happened with Jing-mei?" asked Dave following behind.
"Nothing."
"Carter, you gotta tell-"
"Dave not now ok !?" Carter yelled. He slowly walked to his room, his shoulders hunched and his shirt all rumpled. Dave knew enough to let him alone and plopped down on the couch, turning on the t.v.
"Sheesh. People these days just don't tell you anything."
"Nobody would tell you anything, Dave." came Carter's voice through the walls.
Dave got up and switched of the WWF wrestling that he had setteled down to watch.
"Wait a sec man, what are you talking about?"
"Just that Dave, I don't even know why you bother. You know I won't tell you anything." said Carter as he headed off to the kitchen where he grabbed a mug off the rack.
"Look, Carter there is obviously something on you mind and that's what I'm here for."
"All your here for is to eat my food, Dave and nothing else." he said monotoniously.
"Now hear me out, Carter. I took you to a place where you got a free meal which you yourself admitted was pretty good. I worry sick for over four hours wondering where you'd got to- whether you jumped off a bridge or gotten yourself kidnapped or"
"Save your breath Malucci." said Carter getting up dejectedly.
"But-" protested Dave standing up and putting his hand out to stop him. However Carter just pushed passed.
"Save it."