Summary: "and the only time I feel truly safe, is when I'm back in your arms again."
Rating: PG
Spoilers: All of Season 9 thank you
Disclaimer: I don't think I own any of the ER characters, but you never know with that trust fund of mine....
Author's Notes: Shortest ever: Just read and review and make me one happy writer. This is a non-ship fic. So please, everyone read it.
Back In Your Arms Again
Sluggish moonlight casts a dirty glow above their fallen heads, shadows swiftly gliding before their weary eyes. Gentle breathing inhales the sweet nicotine, the smoker's partner wrinkling his nose at the apparent stench.
"You gonna let me in?"
Hardened eyes shift from the lighted piece of cigarette to his eyes, a mix between a scowl and an amused smirk are revealed across her features. A slight shrug from her shoulders sets off a tensing of the man sitting on the step below her.
"Come on!"
The amused smirk dims and the scowl overwhelms.
"You're ruining my perfect smoke."
He shakes and bows his head, unable to form the words of comfort. For he couldn't comfort.
"Sorry."
Another shrug from the opposite party. Quickly, she snuffs out of the smoke that remains, the dim light still glowing. Growing annoyed, she throws the white piece of trash to the ground, grinding it into the step, the ashes spilling out beneath the toe of her boot.
"Tasted like crap anyway."
He looks up, trying to catch a glimpse of the burdened soul he called his girlfriend. Turning on her heel, he reaches and grabs her arm, pulling her to a stop. Her voice husky and her words slow, deliberate.
"Let go."
He swallows, his Adam's Apple bobbing violently, he forces her to look each other in the eye.
"Stay."
She glares back, her piercing gaze penetrating the harsh silence,
"Make me."
He lets her go. She eyes him defiantly, daring him to make a move. He drops his arms like limp bags of coal.
"I can't guarantee I'll be here when you decide to come back."
Her pulse begins to throb, letting her eyes close for a moment. She reopens her seeing ability and shrugs her shoulders carelessly.
"Some things don't come with warranties."
She proceeds to walk down the steps, turning left and keeping her vision focused on the street-lamp ahead of her. One object at a time.
Passing cafes, libraries, shops, and bookstores, she comes to her final destination. Glancing sideways, she sees he didn't follow her. Good.
She walks the carpeted hallway, the numbers on the door glaring back at her, taunting her. She ignores the hallucinations that played inside her mind.
She locates the correct apartment and stops, letting her fingers circle the numbers engraved onto the deep texture of the wood. She raps her knuckles against the smooth door. Breathing deeply to regulate the growing heartbeat that thudded inside her ribcage.
He opens it. His expression dark, his eyes blinking to register her body standing directly in front of him.
She prays and allows the small smile the creep onto her face.
He sighs, shaking his head slightly, but all the same, a smile rising to his lips.
"Didn't think you'd come."
She shrugs and opens her mouth to begin her spiel on how wrong she had been, useless information. He silences her.
"I'm sorry. It's just- the other night- I was-"
She nods and gently pats his chest, silencing him as well,
"I was a fool, maybe we both were."
He nods as he leans against the doorframe, exhausted by the conversation.
"I love you, Abby."
Her smile broadens, stepping into the hug that enveloped her as she murmured into his shirt, her muffled words bringing an even wider smile to his face.
"I love you too, Eric."
The End.