Author's Note, 12-10-02: Sorry for the delay. I really wanted to get this
one up sooner but there were a few little details I decided to change, plus
it's the last week of semester so I am studying my brains out for finals
(sigh). I would like to spend more time on the chapters and, as Anna
suggested, make them longer - right now I just don't have the time.
Hopefully I can do that with some of the ones that follow (I'm currently on
chapter 9, so there's lots more to come). And thanks to all of you for the
great reviews! They are extremely encouraging. :)
Chapter 3
"When the Lights Go Down"
*************
"You'll need to stay the night for observation." Susan knew the skilled nurse was probably aware of her need for a day or so of hospital attention, but the doctor in Susan insisted on giving details. She looked up at the petite brunette who had barely spoken for the last half hour. Susan didn't know this woman well, though they worked side-by-side at times, but she felt a great deal of sympathy for the nurse. No one should have to go through such an ordeal. Abby's tearful account of her attack had been hard to listen to. Susan remained professional through it all and now felt emotionally drained. She couldn't imagine how much worse it must have made Abby feel.
Softening a bit, Susan touched Abby's hand. "Is there anything I can get you right now? Someone you'd like me to call?"
"I think I'd just like to sleep." Abby managed a slight appreciative smile.
"Ok. I'll be in to check on you later."
Susan dimmed the lights and stepped quietly out of the room. She wasn't surprised to see Carter camped outside the door. "She's resting now. Poor thing's exhausted," Susan filled him in as she leaned against the wall, studying Abby's chart. It was still hard to believe this had happened to one of her co-workers. "Did they catch the bastard who did this?"
"No. I called the police on the way to the hospital, but by the time they got to her apartment he was gone. They were just here, wanted to question Abby. I told them it would have to wait." Carter's jaw stiffened. "Shoulda killed him when I had the chance."
Susan started to say something, but thought better of it. He wasn't in the right frame of mind for a lecture on two wrongs not making a right. She kept her head down for a moment, even when he said what she could tell had been burning in his mind since he'd brought Abby in.
"He raped her, didn't he." It was more of a statement than a question.
Reluctantly Susan affirmed it with a nod. "Her test results should be in soon. The damage isn't too severe... physically. Psychologically, though..." She fretted her bottom lip, trying to come up with at least a tiny glimmer of optimism from the whole mess. There wasn't really a single one she could think of. "But Abby seems like a strong, stable person-"
"She is," Carter stated quickly, firmly. "She's one of the strongest women I know." It took him a minute to realize he was saying that to his girlfriend. He looked at her apologetically, lifting her chin up with his hand. "So are you. Thanks for taking care of her."
He had that goofy little boy grin that melted away any jealousy Susan might have felt towards the woman who really held John Carter's heart in the palm of her hand. She had been sensing their feelings for each other quite a lot lately. Neither Abby or Carter would own up to it - maybe they honestly didn't recognize the feelings yet - but Susan knew. She was a little put off at first, but her relationship with Doctor Carter hadn't developed much beyond the equivalent of a high school crush, so this was no devastating heartbreak. Being jealous and resentful towards Abby right now was totally out of the question anyway. Susan knew Carter was close friends with the woman, and if Abby ever needed a friend this was certainly the time.
"Go on." Susan smiled and motioned towards the room with her head. She knew he was itching to check in on their patient.
Carter leaned in to plant a tiny kiss on Susan's blonde head. She watched him disappear into Abby's room, feeling like she'd just been kissed by an uncle.
*************
Pensively Carter stood at Abby's bedside. She had drifted into a light sleep and he didn't want to wake her, he just wanted to be there with her and to know without a doubt that she was safe. He tried to ignore the disturbing bruises on her pretty face, her arms, her thin wrists. They stirred his anger and filled his head with the unwanted images of the struggle that must have put them there.
Stifling a sigh, he dropped into the chair Susan had left in the room. Resting his head against it, he stared up at the ceiling tiles for a long time, counting them and finding different designs. After awhile his thoughts returned to Abby's apartment and his reason for being there. He had almost talked himself out of stopping by unannounced, but he really needed to get some things off his chest. However, when he heard the commotion and pushed open the battered door to Abby's apartment, the emotions and memories dredged up during his argument with his mother were the farthest thing from Carter's mind. He had wanted someone to talk to - someone that understood him and didn't judge. Abby was the first person he thought of. She had always been so easy to talk to, and more supportive than most people he knew.
He was determined now more than ever to give her that same support in return.
*************
The pain in Abby's side made her wince. She gave up trying to find a comfortable position and sank back against the hospital pillow. It protested with a loud rustle that made her wonder if the nurses had taken to stuffing the pillowcases with newspaper. She missed her own pillows and bed, her clothes, her apartment. But she doubted they would ever hold that sense of security, the safeness of familiarity, that they had just a day or two ago. She didn't even feel safe here in the hospital, her second home, surrounded by the people she saw more than her own family.
Deciding it was time for another dose of Tylenol to ward off the pounding in her head, Abby reached for the call button. She let her heavy eyelids droop shut, expecting it to be a moment before anyone responded. To her surprise, the door opened in seconds. She squinted into the darkness of the room to see which prompt nurse had answered her call. The figure remained silent and hidden in the shadows.
"I just need some Tylenol..." Abby said uncertainly.
No response.
"H-hello?"
Nothing.
Abby's fingers curled around the scratchy hospital blanket. She wanted to hide underneath it like a child who was afraid the boogie man had just crept into her room to snatch her up. She couldn't make out a face, only a tall, familiar looking frame. "Carter?" she whispered with a mixture of doubt and hope.
Brian Westlake stepped further into the room to reveal his identity to the frightened woman. He couldn't help but smile when her color immediately drained. She looked like she'd seen a ghost.
"No," Abby whimpered. "Stay away from me!" She grabbed the call button and pushed it frantically. When the man moved closer she began to shout. "Help! Somebody help!"
Suddenly, Brian lunged forward and put his hands around Abby's neck. Tears sprang to her panicked brown eyes as he began to squeeze.
"Abby."
She felt a hand shaking her shoulder. Heart pounding wildly, Abby looked up at the man standing over her.
"It's okay," said Carter, forehead wrinkled in worry. He had just walked in to find her tossing and turning in her sleep. "You were dreaming."
He sat down his coffee and reached for a cloth to dab on Abby's skin. She was drenched in sweat.
"God," Abby sighed, her mind not quite over the confusion of just waking up from a very realistic nightmare. Her dry mouth suddenly began to water. "I'm gonna be sick."
With the reflexes of a skilled physician, Carter grabbed an emesis basin and positioned it in front of Abby in the nick of time. There wasn't much left in her stomach besides fluids, but she heaved violently for several seconds. Carter could feel her weaken with each shudder as he rubbed her back, waiting for the convulsions to pass. Finally she fell back against her wet pillow, shaky and drained of energy.
"He was here," Abby murmured. "Brian. I thought he was here..."
Carter set aside the basin and returned to soaking up the beads of sweat on Abby's face. "It wasn't real, Abby, you were dreaming," he reassured her soothingly. He used his fingers to sweep back the dark tendrils of hair that were matted to her damp forehead, his hand lingering there. "I'm here. I swear to God I won't let him get anywhere near you again."
Detecting the anger that laced that solemn vow, Abby looked up into his intense gaze. It was the most eye contact she had made with anyone since Carter brought her to the hospital. She hated for him to see her like this, but having him there was a comfort beyond words.
"How long have I been out?"
"All night," Carter replied. He had slept in the chair by her bedside, his long legs stretched in front of him and his head tilted backwards, resulting in a nasty stiff neck. It was a small price to pay. "Susan came in to wake you up a few times, though - check the concussion."
"I don't remember." The last thing Abby remembered was feeling humiliated while Susan performed a pelvic exam and talked about the precautions they would take to prevent any sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy. Abby didn't even want to consider either of those risks.
"Susan thinks you're clear for discharge today."
"Oh." Abby wanted desperately to be out of the hospital, but it occurred to her that she couldn't go home. She didn't want to go back to that apartment yet. Maybe not ever.
"And I told her you'd be coming home with me, so that's fine," Carter added matter-of-factly.
"John, I... I can find a place to stay," Abby protested, "You-"
Carter shook his head, determined. "No, Abby. Be sensible. I have plenty of room and it's safe. There's no way you're going back to that apartment until they catch that shi-... him. I won't take no for an answer." He softened into a bit of a smile. "Besides I've got a satellite and all the movie channels you could hope for."
So used to taking care of herself and everyone else, Abby had no desire to move in with someone else and be "taken care of," even if it was by Carter. Especially if it was by Carter. They had too complex of a relationship for that. But she didn't have the energy to argue with him at the moment, and she could tell he wasn't going to waver. She consented with a small nod of her head.
"Thank you, Carter."
Chapter 3
"When the Lights Go Down"
*************
"You'll need to stay the night for observation." Susan knew the skilled nurse was probably aware of her need for a day or so of hospital attention, but the doctor in Susan insisted on giving details. She looked up at the petite brunette who had barely spoken for the last half hour. Susan didn't know this woman well, though they worked side-by-side at times, but she felt a great deal of sympathy for the nurse. No one should have to go through such an ordeal. Abby's tearful account of her attack had been hard to listen to. Susan remained professional through it all and now felt emotionally drained. She couldn't imagine how much worse it must have made Abby feel.
Softening a bit, Susan touched Abby's hand. "Is there anything I can get you right now? Someone you'd like me to call?"
"I think I'd just like to sleep." Abby managed a slight appreciative smile.
"Ok. I'll be in to check on you later."
Susan dimmed the lights and stepped quietly out of the room. She wasn't surprised to see Carter camped outside the door. "She's resting now. Poor thing's exhausted," Susan filled him in as she leaned against the wall, studying Abby's chart. It was still hard to believe this had happened to one of her co-workers. "Did they catch the bastard who did this?"
"No. I called the police on the way to the hospital, but by the time they got to her apartment he was gone. They were just here, wanted to question Abby. I told them it would have to wait." Carter's jaw stiffened. "Shoulda killed him when I had the chance."
Susan started to say something, but thought better of it. He wasn't in the right frame of mind for a lecture on two wrongs not making a right. She kept her head down for a moment, even when he said what she could tell had been burning in his mind since he'd brought Abby in.
"He raped her, didn't he." It was more of a statement than a question.
Reluctantly Susan affirmed it with a nod. "Her test results should be in soon. The damage isn't too severe... physically. Psychologically, though..." She fretted her bottom lip, trying to come up with at least a tiny glimmer of optimism from the whole mess. There wasn't really a single one she could think of. "But Abby seems like a strong, stable person-"
"She is," Carter stated quickly, firmly. "She's one of the strongest women I know." It took him a minute to realize he was saying that to his girlfriend. He looked at her apologetically, lifting her chin up with his hand. "So are you. Thanks for taking care of her."
He had that goofy little boy grin that melted away any jealousy Susan might have felt towards the woman who really held John Carter's heart in the palm of her hand. She had been sensing their feelings for each other quite a lot lately. Neither Abby or Carter would own up to it - maybe they honestly didn't recognize the feelings yet - but Susan knew. She was a little put off at first, but her relationship with Doctor Carter hadn't developed much beyond the equivalent of a high school crush, so this was no devastating heartbreak. Being jealous and resentful towards Abby right now was totally out of the question anyway. Susan knew Carter was close friends with the woman, and if Abby ever needed a friend this was certainly the time.
"Go on." Susan smiled and motioned towards the room with her head. She knew he was itching to check in on their patient.
Carter leaned in to plant a tiny kiss on Susan's blonde head. She watched him disappear into Abby's room, feeling like she'd just been kissed by an uncle.
*************
Pensively Carter stood at Abby's bedside. She had drifted into a light sleep and he didn't want to wake her, he just wanted to be there with her and to know without a doubt that she was safe. He tried to ignore the disturbing bruises on her pretty face, her arms, her thin wrists. They stirred his anger and filled his head with the unwanted images of the struggle that must have put them there.
Stifling a sigh, he dropped into the chair Susan had left in the room. Resting his head against it, he stared up at the ceiling tiles for a long time, counting them and finding different designs. After awhile his thoughts returned to Abby's apartment and his reason for being there. He had almost talked himself out of stopping by unannounced, but he really needed to get some things off his chest. However, when he heard the commotion and pushed open the battered door to Abby's apartment, the emotions and memories dredged up during his argument with his mother were the farthest thing from Carter's mind. He had wanted someone to talk to - someone that understood him and didn't judge. Abby was the first person he thought of. She had always been so easy to talk to, and more supportive than most people he knew.
He was determined now more than ever to give her that same support in return.
*************
The pain in Abby's side made her wince. She gave up trying to find a comfortable position and sank back against the hospital pillow. It protested with a loud rustle that made her wonder if the nurses had taken to stuffing the pillowcases with newspaper. She missed her own pillows and bed, her clothes, her apartment. But she doubted they would ever hold that sense of security, the safeness of familiarity, that they had just a day or two ago. She didn't even feel safe here in the hospital, her second home, surrounded by the people she saw more than her own family.
Deciding it was time for another dose of Tylenol to ward off the pounding in her head, Abby reached for the call button. She let her heavy eyelids droop shut, expecting it to be a moment before anyone responded. To her surprise, the door opened in seconds. She squinted into the darkness of the room to see which prompt nurse had answered her call. The figure remained silent and hidden in the shadows.
"I just need some Tylenol..." Abby said uncertainly.
No response.
"H-hello?"
Nothing.
Abby's fingers curled around the scratchy hospital blanket. She wanted to hide underneath it like a child who was afraid the boogie man had just crept into her room to snatch her up. She couldn't make out a face, only a tall, familiar looking frame. "Carter?" she whispered with a mixture of doubt and hope.
Brian Westlake stepped further into the room to reveal his identity to the frightened woman. He couldn't help but smile when her color immediately drained. She looked like she'd seen a ghost.
"No," Abby whimpered. "Stay away from me!" She grabbed the call button and pushed it frantically. When the man moved closer she began to shout. "Help! Somebody help!"
Suddenly, Brian lunged forward and put his hands around Abby's neck. Tears sprang to her panicked brown eyes as he began to squeeze.
"Abby."
She felt a hand shaking her shoulder. Heart pounding wildly, Abby looked up at the man standing over her.
"It's okay," said Carter, forehead wrinkled in worry. He had just walked in to find her tossing and turning in her sleep. "You were dreaming."
He sat down his coffee and reached for a cloth to dab on Abby's skin. She was drenched in sweat.
"God," Abby sighed, her mind not quite over the confusion of just waking up from a very realistic nightmare. Her dry mouth suddenly began to water. "I'm gonna be sick."
With the reflexes of a skilled physician, Carter grabbed an emesis basin and positioned it in front of Abby in the nick of time. There wasn't much left in her stomach besides fluids, but she heaved violently for several seconds. Carter could feel her weaken with each shudder as he rubbed her back, waiting for the convulsions to pass. Finally she fell back against her wet pillow, shaky and drained of energy.
"He was here," Abby murmured. "Brian. I thought he was here..."
Carter set aside the basin and returned to soaking up the beads of sweat on Abby's face. "It wasn't real, Abby, you were dreaming," he reassured her soothingly. He used his fingers to sweep back the dark tendrils of hair that were matted to her damp forehead, his hand lingering there. "I'm here. I swear to God I won't let him get anywhere near you again."
Detecting the anger that laced that solemn vow, Abby looked up into his intense gaze. It was the most eye contact she had made with anyone since Carter brought her to the hospital. She hated for him to see her like this, but having him there was a comfort beyond words.
"How long have I been out?"
"All night," Carter replied. He had slept in the chair by her bedside, his long legs stretched in front of him and his head tilted backwards, resulting in a nasty stiff neck. It was a small price to pay. "Susan came in to wake you up a few times, though - check the concussion."
"I don't remember." The last thing Abby remembered was feeling humiliated while Susan performed a pelvic exam and talked about the precautions they would take to prevent any sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy. Abby didn't even want to consider either of those risks.
"Susan thinks you're clear for discharge today."
"Oh." Abby wanted desperately to be out of the hospital, but it occurred to her that she couldn't go home. She didn't want to go back to that apartment yet. Maybe not ever.
"And I told her you'd be coming home with me, so that's fine," Carter added matter-of-factly.
"John, I... I can find a place to stay," Abby protested, "You-"
Carter shook his head, determined. "No, Abby. Be sensible. I have plenty of room and it's safe. There's no way you're going back to that apartment until they catch that shi-... him. I won't take no for an answer." He softened into a bit of a smile. "Besides I've got a satellite and all the movie channels you could hope for."
So used to taking care of herself and everyone else, Abby had no desire to move in with someone else and be "taken care of," even if it was by Carter. Especially if it was by Carter. They had too complex of a relationship for that. But she didn't have the energy to argue with him at the moment, and she could tell he wasn't going to waver. She consented with a small nod of her head.
"Thank you, Carter."