Something to Celebrate
an ER-based fan fiction
by: Joycelyn Solo
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Author's note: This isn't a new chapter -- just a bit more
closure in the last couple paragraphs than originally published.
For more information, please see the Author's note at the end
of the story.
Disclaimer: Don't own anything, but if anyone wants to
discuss leasing options, I'm interested...
Chapter Nine
"Abby?"
Swimming to the surface of consciousness, Abby felt warmth flood her at the sound of her husband's familiar and beloved voice.
For a moment she basked in the glow of his love, thankful that he was finally back from that stupid conference. Now they could get on with their lives.
The three of them.
Oh. No.
There were only two of them.
With painful clarity, she remembered waking up in the back of ambulance, recognizing the medics as they worked to stabilize her. Even through the haze of physical pain, nothing had hurt as much as the realization that the baby a being she'd known less than two days was being taken away from her.
Tears seeped from beneath her closed eyelids and she heard John call her name again.
She turned her head away. She couldn't face him. She didn't even get a chance to tell him about the baby.
Did he know?
Yes. She remembered. He'd been in the trauma room before she came upstairs. She'd told him. And doubtless Susan had filled in the blanks when they'd gone outside to talk.
He must know.
And he must hate her.
"Abby?" This time, his voice sounded hurt; his pain masked by his concern for her.
That was her John. Concerned about others before himself. He'd been called arrogant and selfish in the past by many herself included but deep down the wellbeing of others was more important to him than anything else.
She refused to open her eyes to see his look of...
What would it be?
Sympathy for what she was going through? Sadness for his own loss. Support and love to help them both get through this?
Whatever it was, she wasn't sure if she could deal with it.
She felt his hand caress the side of her face as he brushed her hair aside. Without thought, she turned her face toward his hand, seeking comfort from him even as she tried to distance herself and her pain.
Abby Carter had never been very good at relying on others when she was in pain. For the simple reason that she'd never had anyone to lean on when she needed help.
Now she had someone.
She had John.
And her first impulse was to push him away, protect him from her pain.
But he had pain, too. She could feel it. Even the way his hand touched her cheek, she could tell that he hurt.
And he was scared.
For her.
She couldn't leave him with his pain, just as he wouldn't leave her.
John needed her.
She needed him.
Even in her dispair, Abby could feel the reassurance of the love she shared with her husband.
Despite everything, there was something to celebrate.
Bracing herself for she would face -- and knowing John would be there to face it with her, Abby slowly opened her eyes.
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A special note from the Author:
I'm sorry it took so long to come
back to this story. I can't say that I really finished it because,
well, it's the same thing you saw before.
However, no matter how I tried to write the next chapter -- nothing seemed to work. I wanted to somehow convey that, even in their misery, John and Abby's love for each other could get them through it and THAT was something to celebrate. Instead, I took the slacker's way out and reworded the last couple paragraphs to bring as much closure as I could to this story for now. If a muse strikes me later on a better way to end this tale, I may come back, but don't count on it.
I appreciate all your support and readership. I hope you weren't too disappointed by anything that did -- or didn't -- happen. If you're up for some hard-core Carby goodness, please check out "Something to Cherish"; a prequel of sorts to my Carbyverse.
Thank you.
~Joycelyn