Something to Cherish
an ER-based fan fiction
by: Joycelyn Solo

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Author's note: This story is a little AU compared to the ER we tune into every Thursday (or whatever wherever you are) night. The timeline for this story is probably around the middle of Season 8. Susan came back to the ER, but she and John never developed a relationship because he was already involved with Abby. Hope you like.


Disclaimer: ER and characters all belong to someone far more talented -- and richer -- than me. This story is meant for the amusement enjoyment of fans such as myself.

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Chapter One

"You missed the exit."

"No I didn't."

"Your grandmother's house is back there. You lived there not too long ago. I'd think you still remembered the way."

"I know where I'm going."

"Do you?" Abby crossed her arms over her chest, doubt evident on her face. "Care to enlighten me?"

"Not really." he smiled.

Abby raised a questioning eyebrow at him but didn't question further. It wouldn't get her anywhere, she knew -- John Carter, no matter how much she loved him, could be most stubborn when he wanted to be.

Of course, she conceded, a degree of stubbornness was needed in his line of work. There weren't many people who could handle the stress of emergency medicine and, in Abby's only partially biased opinion, he was one of the best.

"Isn't your family going to be a little upset if we're late for dinner?"

John shrugged his shoulders. "Probably."

"And you're not worried about that?"

"Gamma can take care of my parents."

"Oh, so your grandmother knows we're going to be late." Abby turned in her seat. "What's going on?"

"You'll see."

"Carter, you know how I feel about surprises."

John smiled widely. "You're going to like this surprise."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "How can you be so sure?"

"Trust me."

"Uh-huh. That doesn't do much for my confidence." She laughed. "The last time you told me to trust you, we needed a locksmith in the middle of the night."

He shrugged defensively. "It's not my fault you lost the key."

"Actually, it was your fault. You're the one who thought a midnight stroll in the middle of winter was a good idea. If my fingers hadn't been numb from the cold I wouldn't have dropped the keys in that snow bank."

"I told you to wear gloves."

Abby had a retort on her tongue, but she lost it as she looked again out the window. "Why are we headed back downtown?"

"Are we?" he asked innocently.

"Why did we just drive in a big circle around the city?"

No response from the driver's seat.

"Carter?"

He kept his gaze fixed on the highway.

"John?"

He noticed a smudge on the console and put his attention to rubbing it off.

"John Truman Car --"

"Hey!" he said, fixing his gaze on her. "Where'd that come from?"

Abby smiled smugly. "Your grandmother told me to use it whenever you were being particularly obstinate."

"My own Gamma? Working against me?" He managed to look shocked and hurt, even though he was far from feeling neither. He was pleased beyond words that his grandmother and Abby -- the two women he cared most about -- got along so well.

A mischievous smile crossed his face. If only Abby knew the role Gamma was playing in his plans for the evening...

"Are you going to tell me where we're going?" Abby asked, trying once more in hopes of getting him while his defenses were down.

He sighed heavily, feigning impatience with all her questioning. He gave her the sternest look he could muster. "No. You're going to sit there. You're not going to ask any more questions. You're going to be completely surprised." he faced forward again. "And you're going to like it."

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