Carter stifled a yawn through the meeting as an endless amount of diagrams and blue prints were pulled out and presented. He tried to ignore the mild throbbing ache of his head were his ten stitches now proudly resided. He noticed the blond that he ran into earlier was across the meeting table and was sending him worried looks. He could only wonder if there was something going on between them. He didn't remember reading anything about her in his file.

Finally, the meeting ended and he somehow managed to squeak by without adding any comments or ideas of his own. He hoped that this wasn't the expected norm for him. Though he could chalk it down to them giving him a break due to his obviously visible injury.

As he made his way out through the double doors a voice called him. He turned to look at the man who was obviously their boss and had done most of the talking throughout the meeting.

"So John, you ready for the big move to headquarters down in Arkansas?" the big balding man asked while clapping him on the back. John nearly choked.

"What?!?", he sputtered as he forgot to watch his actions. It suddenly dawned on him that that's what Gamma must have meant about an announcement to his parents on the answering machine this morning. Regaining some composure he tried to save face.

"Well funny you should mention Arkansas, it turns out that I've decided I really do prefer Chicago after all", he said while trying to give his most sweetly honest smile.

"That's too bad Johnny-boy contract's already been signed and they are expecting you next week. If you need any help with moving here's my moving agency card" Carter numbly accepted the card as a litany of "oh crap" went through his mind. Once again the blond smiled at him as he put away the card.

"I look forward to working with you in the new office John", she said as she passed by giving him a sly smile. He was starting to see why his alternate self would be moving to Arkansas. However, now with Lucy here in a coma he would have no way to keep track of her in Arkansas. He had a feeling if he was going to stay here he was heading the way of unemployment. It would be a first he thought with a smile.

Meanwhile in Dr. Carter's ER…..

"We've got sinus rhythm!" Deb shouted as they rolled the gurney into the ER.

"Good! Someone get me 15 cc's of epinephrine and 20 of antropine!" Mark shouted back as other people rushed in to help.

Chuny quickly ran to his side to pass him the syringes just as Susan walked by.

"Oh my god! What happened?" she asked, as she looked on stunned. She tried to imagine that this was how Deb must of felt when she saw John last year on Valentines Day. She couldn't help but stare at the smudge of blood on the corner of his mouth where Deb was now trying to intubate him.

"Damn, his cords are all constricted. I need lidocaine!" Deb grunted as she adjusted her light. Soon enough the lidocaine was on board and she was in. "Got it! Putting him on 5 O2."

"Ok people we need an abdominal scan and we need to get him ready for a CAT scan. Judging by his pupil responses and this bump on the back of his head, it took the brunt of his collision. We need to rule out exactly how much damage has been done there. Also Susan if you could call up an osteopathic surgeon for his arm. We need to see what we can do about this compound fracture"; Mark sputtered off while doing mental calculations for the dosages that he would need.

"Hold on Carter we're going to get you through this", he muttered as they wheeled him to the scans…

Mark and Susan both looked at the scans in dismay as the osteopathic surgeon was evaluating his left arm.

"We need to call down and head surgeon. Look at all this pressure. If we don't get this relieved in the next hour he's going to have permanent brain damage for sure", Susan announced glumly.

"We should also have him prepped for an abdominal exploratory, the scans indicate that he has internal bleeding there as well. I think we should call Benton. I think he'd like to be the one to do this", Mark added.

"Alright lets do it", Deb said with determination. There was no way that she was going to lose her friend now.

Back at the Motorola Company the next day…

Carter idly tossed his pencil in the air while he waited for someone online to make his or her move. Having no idea what he was supposed to be doing at work at the time he decided to play online chess. All he could do was think about Lucy. He had already decided that as soon as he got off work that he would go and visit. He didn't know how many other chances he would have and so far this was the best one shown to him

He knew that beyond this possible life there was probably only one more. After that he didn't know. Would he just go back to the life he was living if this whole trip through possibilities didn't work out? Somehow he had a feeling that it would be more complicated than that. It was just a sense of unease in the back of his mind. Once again he was rubbing his neck in a hopeless attempt to rid himself of the headache that he had been experiencing since the morning.

Slowly the minutes melted away to hours and he felt it was safe enough to flee his cubicle and go to County. As he was making his get away he was stopped by Alice. He had finally figured out the blonde's name after over hearing some gossip over lunch break.

"Leaving so early John? I thought you were going to help me with our next new dashboard specs?" she asked almost hurt. Carter panicked knowing there was no way he would be able to contribute anything to what she already had.

'Um, I'm going to have to get back to you on that tomorrow. Something's just come up with my Grandma and I need to see her right away", he explained quickly while opening the door and proceeding to shove himself halfway out.

"Sorry to chat and run!" he shouted and jogged to his car. Alice just stood there in awe and wondered if the bump that he took to the head the other day effected him more than she originally thought.

He sighed in relief as he saw the office building get smaller in his rearview mirror. He didn't know how people could stand desk jobs. He really did feel bad about running out but he really did have to see Lucy. He knew he wouldn't be able to sleep later on that night unless he saw her again to make sure she was real. He even held onto the delusion that maybe if he visited her she would wake up.

As he passed by the gift shop on the second floor to ICU he decided to buy some flowers to bring her. He was instantly drawn to the sunflower bouquet and put him on this John Carter's Visa card. He would have to check and see the budget when he got home.

He passed familiar white plaster walls and blue raised signs as he made his way to her room. He once again mentally prepared himself to see her. His grip tightened on the bouquet as he opened the door. He was shocked to see not only Lucy there in her bed but also her mom talking to her at her bedside in one of the hospital chairs.

"Hello, can I help you?" she asked while giving him a glance over. It was obvious that she was crying from the tear tracks down her cheeks. She futilely tried to wipe them away.

"I was just here to visit Lucy. I just found out what happened to her. I was looking her up since I've been trying to get back in touch with old college friends. We went to school together", he said as he handed her the bouquet. "Here I brought them for her".

"Thank you. I'm Lucy's mother. I'm sure she would appreciate them", she said as she set the sunflowers on the windowsill next to Lucy's bed. She once again started crying.

"I'm so sorry. It's just that I think I've finally decided that this isn't what she would have wanted. Did you know Lucy very well back in school?" she questioned.

"We spent some time together for about a year. I can't say if this is what she would have wanted", he answered softly for he truly didn't know. Lucy never talked about what she would have wanted if she needed to be put on life support.

"You know what I think? I think she would have hated it. The idea of being in this room for a year hooked up to these machines. The doctor's say that if I let go I can save 4 people today, that my Lucy can save four people. What am I suppose to say to that when I know the odds are that she will ever wake up. I've a waited a year and she's still not coming back." Mrs. Knight choked out as Carter let her fall into his arms crying.

To be continued…