Disclaimer: I don't own Abby, Carter or any of the ER 'gang'
Smoke and Fire
* The Next Day *
Carter wasn't exactly sure of what had happened after leaving Abby's last night. Various fellings ran through his head; guilt - should he have left so abruptly, relief - he was glad to have done that it had taken a long time, anxiety - did Abby feel the same way, panic - he was late for work again. It then hit him that Abby was already working as was Susan - he was pretty certain that Susan would've won at 10 questions by now. On one hand he may be in her goodbooks - hed finally kissed Abby so in other, non- existent words told her how he felt, however, on the other hand, he'd just left her standing there. He was a dead man. It was going to be one of those days that he'd pray for constant traumas.
The traffic was bad again and he was stuck in the middle of it - Weaver was going to kill him. He should just walk into County and put his head on a block.
He parked the Jeep somewhere random and ran through the doors. Chen was stood at the admit desk. She nodded in the direction of exam 2. Weaver. If he was careful he could make it to the lounge without being seen. He dodged Weaver and got to the door, he saw her through the small glass pane. He had to choose, Weaver or Abby? He paused hoping for a miracle. It didn't come so he chose Abby.
She was standing at her locker, her back to him. Should he make his presence known or should he just let her turn around and see him? He'd shocked her enough in the last 24 hours he decided to let her know he was there.
He coughed, she turned around.
He couldn't quite make out her original reaction but then she smiled, only a weak smile but a smile all the same.
'Weavers on the war path again'
'I'm a dead man'
'Fair enough'
'I better punch in'
He turned to leave, that wasn't so bad.
'Um, Carter, where are we?'
He wasn't sure what she meant. It was no good lying to himself - he always knew he was lying. He knew exactly what she meant but he wasn't sure what the answer was.
'Well, um, honestly.'
'You don't know?'
'No'
Where was that miracle? He should've chosen Weaver.
'Well, Ok then'
What was that supposed to mean? He wasn't entirely sure how to react - he could just leave and make it seem that he wasn't bothered or he could stay and continue to dig himself a hole - he was getting good at it.
Enter Kerry.
'Dr Carter you're already a ½ hour late and unless you want to be working doubles next week I suggest you get out there and treat some patients'
Thank God for small mercies
'I was just going'
'Abby have you seen Dr Lewis?'
'She was in here a few minutes ago but she was called away by Haleh'
Damn it. He should have known Susan was behind the awkward questions. Hang on, if Abby and Susan had been talking then Susan would have information. Interesting.
'Well, that's just great' Abby thought.
Not only was she unsure of where she stood but apparently Carter was too.
He'd kissed her which must've meant something and she'd let slip that shed thought about them dating. Her little talk with Susan hadn't helped much either. Susan being Susan, had asked for all the gory details, Abby being Abby wasn't exactly sure how much to tell (surely some of it was private) but after much begging on Susans part she'd told her everything. Abby wasn't impressed when Susan had spent the next 10 minutes laughing her head off at Abby's personal crisis. She was only to happy to help when an MVA rolled up
* A few hours later *
The ER was unusually empty and a various members of staff were crowded around the admit desk.
'Are any of you going to the fireworks tonight?' Malik asked
Various replys shot up from various sources although Susan made it pretty obvious that she was.
Malik turned to Abby. She wasn't sure what to say so she just said she might. Abby walked up to the desk.
'Hey Carter are you going to the fireworks tonight?'
'I wasn't going to but.Who else is going?'
'Me, Chuny, Susan and uh, Abby'
She could've sworn his eyes lit up and his cheeks pinkened if only for a second.
Weaver walked back through the door.
The crowd dispersed. Abby saw Carter walk off with Susan - maybe it was a good thing maybe Susan would be able to get some information out of him.
'As doctors aren't we supposed to be against fireworks?' Carter mumbled as he headed into the curtain area with Susan.
'Technically? Yes. Actually? No. Are you going to go then?'
'Don't know, maybe'
'You kow you will, if not for the fireworks for Abby'
'Ive been expecting this'
'I bet you have. You left the girl stood there half paralysed'
He knew she'd take her side.
'What was I supposed to do?'
'Wait for a reaction perhaps'
'Then what?'
'Talk to her'
'What is it with you?'
'With me? You two are the ones desperately in love with each other but neither of you are willing to admit it so you go round and round in circles crawling to me for advice'
'Glad to get that off your chest?'
'Yeah'
'I've got a patient'
He hadn't meant to snap but she was right. He was annoyed not with Susan or Abby, with himself. He tortured himself thinking about her but was never willing to do anything about it, until last night. What had happened last night, the kiss, was an impulse not a decision or at least not one he made consciously.
* At the fireworks *
The evening hadn't gone as well as planned. He had been hoping to spend some time with Abby but she'd stuck with Susan and Chuny. Malik was talking about a firework display he'd seen a few years ago. Carter wasn't listening he was trying to lip read Abby and Susans conversation. He was also taken by how pretty Abby looked - she always looked pretty but tonight was different maybe it was the way her face was lit up by the bonfire.
'Carter, you Ok?'
He recognised that accent, it looked like Chuny was being ignored as well.
'I can distract her if you like.'
He wasn't sure he'd heard her right.
'What?'
'Susan. I can distract her if you like'
'How'd you ...'
'Heard it through the grapevine'
'Oh great. I wouldn't bother they seem to be having fun'
'Your call'
Change the subject Carter.
'What time are the fireworks due to start?'
'Any time soon I think'
'I'm going to get a drink, want anything?'
'No thanks'
'Abby, Susan do any of you want a drink?'
Susan called something about a Pepsi.
'I'll help you'
Now was his chance to talk to her.
'So'
'What?'
'Nothing just trying to start a conversation'
'I wrecked that didn't I?'
'It's Ok'
'Hey look, the fireworks, they've started'
They stood mesmerised by the coloured dots that were illuminating the sky.
Carter couldn't help but watch her, the way her eyes lit up, the way she periodically sunk into her scarf, the way she jumped with every snap, crackle and pop.
'What are you laughing at?'
'You. Your jumping'
'What?'
'Everytime a firework goes off you jump'
They began to move back towards the others.
'I so do not jump'
'You do'
She tripped over a tree root. She couldn't move from her sprawled position on the floor for laughing too much.
He reached out his hand.
'Come here'
He pulled her up
'Are you Ok?'
'I don't know'
'Move over here where there's more light'
He brought his hand up and swept a piece of loose hair away from her face.
She brought her hand up and stopped his.
He could see where this was going.
They stood there without saying anything. He searched her eyes, it was hard to read them in the dark.
Finally, she leant forward and kissed him. Just like before it was nothing heavy but unlike last time he hadn't initiated it.
A loud firework separated them. Carter didn't want to think so he did what came naturally - he leaned forward and kissed her back.
OMG - 2 updates in 2 days - I am doing well. Hopefully I'll have updated Perspective AND Nine Months by the weekend. Feedbacks always appreciated. Luv Hna xXx
Smoke and Fire
* The Next Day *
Carter wasn't exactly sure of what had happened after leaving Abby's last night. Various fellings ran through his head; guilt - should he have left so abruptly, relief - he was glad to have done that it had taken a long time, anxiety - did Abby feel the same way, panic - he was late for work again. It then hit him that Abby was already working as was Susan - he was pretty certain that Susan would've won at 10 questions by now. On one hand he may be in her goodbooks - hed finally kissed Abby so in other, non- existent words told her how he felt, however, on the other hand, he'd just left her standing there. He was a dead man. It was going to be one of those days that he'd pray for constant traumas.
The traffic was bad again and he was stuck in the middle of it - Weaver was going to kill him. He should just walk into County and put his head on a block.
He parked the Jeep somewhere random and ran through the doors. Chen was stood at the admit desk. She nodded in the direction of exam 2. Weaver. If he was careful he could make it to the lounge without being seen. He dodged Weaver and got to the door, he saw her through the small glass pane. He had to choose, Weaver or Abby? He paused hoping for a miracle. It didn't come so he chose Abby.
She was standing at her locker, her back to him. Should he make his presence known or should he just let her turn around and see him? He'd shocked her enough in the last 24 hours he decided to let her know he was there.
He coughed, she turned around.
He couldn't quite make out her original reaction but then she smiled, only a weak smile but a smile all the same.
'Weavers on the war path again'
'I'm a dead man'
'Fair enough'
'I better punch in'
He turned to leave, that wasn't so bad.
'Um, Carter, where are we?'
He wasn't sure what she meant. It was no good lying to himself - he always knew he was lying. He knew exactly what she meant but he wasn't sure what the answer was.
'Well, um, honestly.'
'You don't know?'
'No'
Where was that miracle? He should've chosen Weaver.
'Well, Ok then'
What was that supposed to mean? He wasn't entirely sure how to react - he could just leave and make it seem that he wasn't bothered or he could stay and continue to dig himself a hole - he was getting good at it.
Enter Kerry.
'Dr Carter you're already a ½ hour late and unless you want to be working doubles next week I suggest you get out there and treat some patients'
Thank God for small mercies
'I was just going'
'Abby have you seen Dr Lewis?'
'She was in here a few minutes ago but she was called away by Haleh'
Damn it. He should have known Susan was behind the awkward questions. Hang on, if Abby and Susan had been talking then Susan would have information. Interesting.
'Well, that's just great' Abby thought.
Not only was she unsure of where she stood but apparently Carter was too.
He'd kissed her which must've meant something and she'd let slip that shed thought about them dating. Her little talk with Susan hadn't helped much either. Susan being Susan, had asked for all the gory details, Abby being Abby wasn't exactly sure how much to tell (surely some of it was private) but after much begging on Susans part she'd told her everything. Abby wasn't impressed when Susan had spent the next 10 minutes laughing her head off at Abby's personal crisis. She was only to happy to help when an MVA rolled up
* A few hours later *
The ER was unusually empty and a various members of staff were crowded around the admit desk.
'Are any of you going to the fireworks tonight?' Malik asked
Various replys shot up from various sources although Susan made it pretty obvious that she was.
Malik turned to Abby. She wasn't sure what to say so she just said she might. Abby walked up to the desk.
'Hey Carter are you going to the fireworks tonight?'
'I wasn't going to but.Who else is going?'
'Me, Chuny, Susan and uh, Abby'
She could've sworn his eyes lit up and his cheeks pinkened if only for a second.
Weaver walked back through the door.
The crowd dispersed. Abby saw Carter walk off with Susan - maybe it was a good thing maybe Susan would be able to get some information out of him.
'As doctors aren't we supposed to be against fireworks?' Carter mumbled as he headed into the curtain area with Susan.
'Technically? Yes. Actually? No. Are you going to go then?'
'Don't know, maybe'
'You kow you will, if not for the fireworks for Abby'
'Ive been expecting this'
'I bet you have. You left the girl stood there half paralysed'
He knew she'd take her side.
'What was I supposed to do?'
'Wait for a reaction perhaps'
'Then what?'
'Talk to her'
'What is it with you?'
'With me? You two are the ones desperately in love with each other but neither of you are willing to admit it so you go round and round in circles crawling to me for advice'
'Glad to get that off your chest?'
'Yeah'
'I've got a patient'
He hadn't meant to snap but she was right. He was annoyed not with Susan or Abby, with himself. He tortured himself thinking about her but was never willing to do anything about it, until last night. What had happened last night, the kiss, was an impulse not a decision or at least not one he made consciously.
* At the fireworks *
The evening hadn't gone as well as planned. He had been hoping to spend some time with Abby but she'd stuck with Susan and Chuny. Malik was talking about a firework display he'd seen a few years ago. Carter wasn't listening he was trying to lip read Abby and Susans conversation. He was also taken by how pretty Abby looked - she always looked pretty but tonight was different maybe it was the way her face was lit up by the bonfire.
'Carter, you Ok?'
He recognised that accent, it looked like Chuny was being ignored as well.
'I can distract her if you like.'
He wasn't sure he'd heard her right.
'What?'
'Susan. I can distract her if you like'
'How'd you ...'
'Heard it through the grapevine'
'Oh great. I wouldn't bother they seem to be having fun'
'Your call'
Change the subject Carter.
'What time are the fireworks due to start?'
'Any time soon I think'
'I'm going to get a drink, want anything?'
'No thanks'
'Abby, Susan do any of you want a drink?'
Susan called something about a Pepsi.
'I'll help you'
Now was his chance to talk to her.
'So'
'What?'
'Nothing just trying to start a conversation'
'I wrecked that didn't I?'
'It's Ok'
'Hey look, the fireworks, they've started'
They stood mesmerised by the coloured dots that were illuminating the sky.
Carter couldn't help but watch her, the way her eyes lit up, the way she periodically sunk into her scarf, the way she jumped with every snap, crackle and pop.
'What are you laughing at?'
'You. Your jumping'
'What?'
'Everytime a firework goes off you jump'
They began to move back towards the others.
'I so do not jump'
'You do'
She tripped over a tree root. She couldn't move from her sprawled position on the floor for laughing too much.
He reached out his hand.
'Come here'
He pulled her up
'Are you Ok?'
'I don't know'
'Move over here where there's more light'
He brought his hand up and swept a piece of loose hair away from her face.
She brought her hand up and stopped his.
He could see where this was going.
They stood there without saying anything. He searched her eyes, it was hard to read them in the dark.
Finally, she leant forward and kissed him. Just like before it was nothing heavy but unlike last time he hadn't initiated it.
A loud firework separated them. Carter didn't want to think so he did what came naturally - he leaned forward and kissed her back.
OMG - 2 updates in 2 days - I am doing well. Hopefully I'll have updated Perspective AND Nine Months by the weekend. Feedbacks always appreciated. Luv Hna xXx