Author's Note: In this fic, Abby stopped drinking after the scene in "The Letter"
Dealing With It
Chapter 4
Abby looked at Carter. She couldn't believe what he just said. Abby started to walk away from him. How could he think that I would start drinking again when my life is so great?
"Abby…" said Carter as he moved towards her.
"John, how could you think that I would start drinking again?" asked Abby angrily as she sat down on the couch. "I haven't had a drink since that night at the Lava Lounge."
"Abby, I just care about you." said Carter as he sat down next to Abby.
"John…you just said that I was drinking before you got all the details. You know I want to drink so badly, but I didn't because of you."
Carter looked up at Abby. "What do you mean?"
"I didn't want to disappoint you, but that doesn't really matter anymore, does it?" said Abby delicately. "John, we need to trust each other, and I don't think we have that."
"Of course we trust each other, what do you mean?" said Carter.
"John, do you know how scared I was to get into another relationship after what happened between Luka and I? I took a chance with you, but I guess I was wrong about you."
"Abby…I-" said Carter, but he could see that she wasn't going to listen to anything more that he had to say.
"John…just go." said Abby as she walked away from him.
"Fine!" snapped Carter as he left Abby's apartment. Abby watched as Carter left the apartment. Oh John, why did this have to happen? I wanted this relationship to work out so badly, but I should have known that it was too good to be true. Thought Abby as she went to bed. Abby tried to go to sleep but she couldn't because there was someone missing…Carter.
***
The next morning, as Carter was walking into the ER, all he could see was the look on Abby's face when he said that she was drinking again. Why did I say that? Thought Carter.
"Carter…" said Susan softly.
Carter turned around. "Oh, Susan." he said, half expecting it to be Abby.
"Is everything okay? You look really tired." said Susan as they entered the ER Bay doors.
"I'm fine." Carter then saw Abby coming toward him, and he knew that he had to make everything okay with her.
"I'm sorry Abby, please forgive me." said Carter softly as he came towards her. Abby couldn't believe what Carter just said, and she didn't know what to say. Abby looked at Carter, turned the other way, and headed out of the ER. Carter watched as Abby left the ER. What can I do to make this better?
"Go after her." said Susan softly.
"I think I have just ruined our relationship."
"I don't think so." said Susan. So Carter decided to go after Abby and at least try and salvage their relationship.
***
Abby was sitting on the bench outside the ER.
"Abby." said Carter softly as she sat down next to her.
Abby turned around. "John, I don't think we have anything to say." she said, but she knew that wasn't true.
"I'm really sorry that I said that you were drinking again, I don't know what I was thinking. I just want this relationship to work out.
"John…I'm not mad about that anymore." said Abby softly.
Carter looked at Abby. "Then what is it?"
Abby then got up from the bench, and started walking away from Carter. She just couldn't do this, she wanted to be with Carter more than anything, but she just couldn't do it.
"Abby, just talk to me." said Carter softly.
"John…I don't want to get hurt like all the other times, like with Luka and Richard, and I think that is what is going to happen if I stay with you any longer."
"Abby, just sit down." said Carter. Abby and Carter sat down on the bench.
"Abby, I love you more than you know. I don't know what is going to happen with us in the future, but I can promise you one thing that I will never hurt you on purpose."
Susan then came out of the ER. "Carter, Abby, we need you back inside."
"Okay." they both said. Before they went into the ER, Abby whispered to Carter, "I know you would never hurt me."
***
Later that night…
"Susan, have you seen John?" asked Abby as she was entering the lounge.
"Carter went home about an hour ago."
"Oh, thanks." said Abby as she opened her locker.
"So you and Carter made up then?"
"Sort of." said Abby as she left the lounge.
***
When Abby got to her apartment, there was Carter sitting on the couch.
"John, what are you doing here?" asked Abby as she shut the door. She couldn't believe that he was there, but at the same time she was happy that he was.
"Abby, I know you are scared about this relationship, and so am I. But I think if we are truthful with each other, and don't judge each other before we get the facts, I think we are going to be fine. I love you, Abby. I don't want to lose you because I was stupid."
"John…I don't know." said Abby. Abby then looked into Carter's eyes, and knew that she needed to give their relationship another chance. Abby leaned over and kissed Carter. "I love you too…and you aren't going to lose me anytime soon!"
***
The next morning, Carter woke up and looked at Abby by his side sleeping peacefully.
"Morning, John." smiled Abby as she sat up. "John, I want to give us another chance. I guess I will have to deal with whatever comes our way."
Carter looked up at Abby. "We can make this work, I just know it." Abby and Carter held each other tightly, unsure of what the future would bring, but they would deal with it together.
The End