Disclaimer: I don't Abby, Carter or any of the ER 'gang'

Black and White

Carter was ready to leave but he still had 2 hours left to work but he was due a break. Unfortunately, Susan had seen him and Abby walk back into the ER and was expecting a blow by blow account of what they'd done while on their break - for the last hour he'd managed to escape her grasp but he had a feeling that his luck was about to change.

It was now or never, Susan was talking to Weaver, if he was lucky he might make it to Docs without being seen. He snuck out of exam 1 and made it to the door.

'Hey Carter, you on your break?'

So near and yet so far. He turned round plastering a smile on his face.

'Yeah, you?'

'Can be'

He scolded himself for lying - he'd dug himself a hole. So much for honesty being the best policy.

'Going to Docs then?'

He could've sworn she could read his mind - he hoped not.

'Yeah - coming?'

'Why not - anyway I believe you have something to tell me'

'What do you mean?'

'How did it go with Abby?'

'What do you mean?'

'Your being slightly monotonous and you know perfectly well what I mean'

He contemplated acting dumb but she was bound to find out sometime.

'We're seeing each other tonight'

He was going to regret saying that and knew it. He could see Susan getting excited -her eyes had lit up.

'Do you mean like actually seeing her?'

'I'm going to hers to eat ready meals'

'Your first date'

'Its not a date'

'Sure it is'

'Susan, you're deluded'

'No you're in lurve'

He blushed. He needed a come back.

'Are you drunk?'

'I wish. Anyway, when did this become about me - you're the one going on a date.'

The hole was getting bigger and he didn't have a ladder.

'Its not a date and you'd better not tell anyone about it'

'If it's not a date, why are you trying to hide it?'

'I'm not but the ER gossip train will elaborate on it until we are having an illicit affair'

Susan laughed off his expression and he laughed off hers.

'What would you do if they found out?'

'Kill you'

'I wont risk it'

He could see that if the conversation continued he'd say something even more regretful.

'I've got to get back'

'Me too'

'No rest for the wicked'

'Don't I know it'

They entered the ER to be greeted by chaos - not an unusual site.

* 2 hours later *

Carter had just finished with his last patient and was relieved to wipe his name off the board and punch out but he couldn't find Abby.

'Randi, have you seen Abby?'

'She was in the lounge with Susan'

He nodded his head to acknowledge the reply.

He should've guessed that Susan would be involved.

He approached the lounge unsure of whether he wanted to interrupt the conversation. At that moment Chuny opened the door - he had no choice, they'd seen him. He got the feeling that they'd suddenly stopped laughing as his presence had become apparent.

Susan got up to leave

'I've got a patient'

'Yeah right' he thought - same excuse all the time. He watched her leave and was sure he winked at her. He shook his head and turned is attention back to Abby.

'Don't ask'

He raised his hands. 'I wasn't going to. Ready?'

'Yup'

He pulled her up from her spot on the couch and they linked arms.

'Lets get out of here'

While on the way home Abby contemplated where she wanted the evening to go. She didn't want to push it but she was expecting something to happen. In fact she wasn't just expecting she was wishing.

Carter was rambling on about the price of something completely random by the time they reached her apartment. She twisted the key in the door and pushed on the door. It was stuck.

'Damn it' she cursed under her breath.

'Let me try'

He reached over her, his arm around her waist. She felt her heart skip a beat. She looked up at him and froze as he looked back down at her. She though he was going to kiss her but he didn't; he just nudged the door and it fell open.

She stood frozen, not knowing how to feel.

'Abby, are you Ok?'

She was woken from her trance

'What, um, yeah, sure'

She could feel him watching her but didn't turn to face him. She couldn't.

She was being stupid and she knew it, just because he touched her and looked at her with those eyes didn't mean that he was going to kiss her, but then again, it didn't mean he didn't want to. She felt slightly better, she had all evening to figure out what she wanted, what he wanted.

'So what do you feel like eating?'

'Food'

'You get funnier'

'You get sarcastic-er'

'That's not a word'

'So what'

'You can't just invent words in the middle of an argument'

'Says who?'

She walked into the kitchen and buried her head in the refrigerator

'Your hopeless Carter'

What she hadn't realised was that he had crept up behind her. He suddenly grabbed her waist; she jumped and hit her head on the top of the refrigerator.

'Son of a bitch'

'And you say I'm hopeless, you're the one who just banged your head'

Abby hit him playfully. Although her head hurt she was having fun. She had forgotten how much flirting was.

'Abigail Lockhart you seem to be forgetting that I am a lot stronger than you'

'What you must be kidding?'

'Oh, that's low'

'As is, shocking me so I bang my head. Oh yeah, I have just realised I have no food'

'That's great'

'Magoo's?'

'Sure, why not'

'Sorry about that'

'No you're not, you happy to make me pay for greasy, over-priced food'

'Well, if you insist'

She shut the door behind her.

The conversation in the car turned to some rock group.

Abby didn't know why but she felt disappointed that they had to go to Doc's. It then hit her that she was now on neutral territory, the ball wasn't necessarily in her court anymore.

'Which table?'

'One with a window'

Carter signalled the waitress

'What you having?' asked the waitress

'Hot fudge sundae for me'

'Me too'

'I thought you had enough vices'

'Too many to keep count so adding one more wont make much differences'

'Fair enough'

'Thanks for denying that I have vices'

'I'm not going to lie to you'

'You're a real friend you know Abby'

'Oh yeah, you to. I've never known a couple more perfect for each other'

'Oh shit' she thought - she could feel her cheeks burning

'Did I say that out loud?'

'Yeah'

What was she supposed to say now? She prayed that someone would walk in. How come Susan was never around when Abby needed her?

Silence

Even More Silence

Still Silence

Thank God for waitresses. Abby tried to hide her embarrassment by hiding behind her sundae - unfortunately it wasn't working. She needed to re-start the conversation but she wasn't sure how.

'What time are you on tomorrow?'

'Um, 8'

'Lucky you I've got to start at six'

'Voluntarily?'

'No'

'Ouch'

'On no'

'What?'

Carter nodded towards the door. Susan had walked in.

'I suggest we make a break for it'

'Ok then'

'Got your stuff?'

She nodded

'Go, go, go'

They ran out the door their sides bursting from laughter.

'We're evil people you know'

'And?'

'You're really not very nice are you?'

'Get in the car'

'What?'

'I've had enough of your insults'

He looked at her and smiled to show that he was joking.

'You love me really'

The tension was back. She'd managed to kill the conversation and the buzz yet again. The atmosphere stayed in the car until they got back to Abby's apartment. Abby was slightly shocked when he insisted to walking her right to her door.

'I'll um see, you..' Her last attempt at creating conversation

Her sentence was left hanging as he leant in and kissed her. Nothing to passionate but a light lingering kiss.

'Tomorrow?' He concluded her sentence

She was in shock, her heart was racing and she was speechless. She just nodded.

He nodded, turned around and walked down the stairs and out of the apartment block; leaving Abby standing there still unable to compose herself.

-------- Long time no update I know (if anyone's still reading this) BUT I'm my holidays from now until January so I'll be able to update all of my fics. Feedback is a must as always so PLEASE REVIEW!!!!! Luv Hna xXx