Sorry I took so long with chapter 3. You have to understand that the final draft is not at all like what i've written in my handy-dandy i work midnight to 5 am and what a great time to write a Carby notebook. Also, i went home for Thanksgiving. The next part may not come until after finals, and if i get my way my computer will come home with me over Christmas break. If i don't get my way, it will sit gathering dust in my new room (!!!) and i will be agitated because i won't have any fics or Photoshop things to work on or my music to listen to. But i dunno, it's an iMac and these suckers weigh about half a ton. We'll just have to see. Thanks to everyone who has left me such wonderful reviews! You guys are the ones who keep me writing! Anyway, without further ado...

*****
And The Moment...
*****

CHAPTER 3: THINGS FALL APART



Two ambulances came barreling in and the emergency team went into action. The doors flew open and the paramedics rolled the first gurney out. Fortyish male with a fractured left tibia. Minor head lacs and bruising, possible concussion. Conscious.

Reeks of bourbon, Carter added as he placed himself along side the patient.

Where's Natalie? the patient slurred as the gurney was wheeled into the ER. Carter moved to the next one.

Middle-aged female, multiple rib fractures. Lacerated carotid with massive blood loss. Carter checked her pulse.

he said sadly.

Chen's voice rang out sharply, frightened. Get over here!

He rounded the corner of the other ambulance. Chen's face was drained of all color and she had tears in her eyes. he shifted his gaze to her patient and froze.

Oh, Christ, he choked out at the sight of Abby's form, lying battered on the gurney.

Weaver appeared at his side. He heard her sharp intake of breath as she registered the situation.

she ordered crisply, Go take care of that other guy.



her tone left no room for argument. She took a deep breath and in a softer voice said We'll do our damnedest for her. She gave him a gentle shove towards Abby's cab driver.

she barked when he appeared for his shift. Go assist Carter. As he passed by, she stopped him and said in a low tone, He's in shock. Keep an eye out, make sure he does things right. Pratt nodded, not knowing what was happening but not pausing to question it, either. The crew rushed into the emergency room.

Carter, Pratt, and Haleh bent over the husky cab driver in Trauma Two. Pratt pretty much took over the case as they worked to stanch the bleeding from the man's scalp. He tried his best to keep Carter occupied, but to no avail. Carter's eyes constantly shifted to the swinging double doors that separated Trauma rooms One and Two. In the next room, Weaver, Chen, and several nurses could be seen huddled around their patient.

They worked steadily, stitching cuts, setting broken bones, some minor abdominal surgery. The moment the driver was stabilized, Carter snapped off his gloves and strode into Trauma One.

What's with him? Pratt questioned Haleh. She looked at him with frightened, anxious eyes.

It's Abby, she whispered.

Pratt murmured. He disposed of his own latex gloves and, sending up a quick prayer, went after Carter.

Weaver said calmly without looking up. Take Dr. Carter down to the cafeteria and get him some coffee.

What about that other patient?

It's minimal. Haleh can handle it.

Come on, John. It took a great deal of strength for Pratt to haul his colleague from the room. Once out, Carter shook his hands off and wordlessly darted to the closest trash can to lean over and vomit into it. Pratt was close behind him to lay a comforting hand on his back.

I'm okay, Carter finally said weakly after a moment. Pratt refrained from arguing. His friend looked awful, and he escorted him to the cafeteria and paid for two large cups of coffee. The cashier noted Carter's expression and turned a questioning expression to Pratt, who ignored it.

They sat wearily at a table and after the first sip of the strong, scalding coffee, Carter seemed to clear up a little. He stared into his coffee before pushing it away and burying his face in his arms.

She'll be okay, man. She'll be okay. Pratt didn't know what else to say. Carter looked up, his eyes saturated in tears. She'll be okay, Pratt repeated.

Stop saying that! Carter spat out. You didn't see how bad it was. You didn't see it.

I'm sorry, Carter, Pratt said awkwardly.

I told her to stay and sleep, Carter said absently. He dropped his head into his hands again. Why was she out?

Let's go see what we can find out, Pratt suggested gently.

They returned to the ER and Weaver meet them at the desk.

She's in surgery, she reported tightly.

Tell me, he whispered.

Let's go talk in the lounge.

Carter perched nervously on the edge of the couch in the lounge as Weaver settled herself awkwardly into one of the wooden chairs from the table. She took a deep breath and began her explanation.

Her left lung collapsed and was reinflated. Her spleen is badly damaged, as are both kidneys. Tib-fib fractures in her right leg, and her right hand had several broken bones. Her tailbone has a hairline fracture also. She suffered some head trauma. Kerry hesitated. there's a little bit of swelling.

He waited, his eyes asking the question.

We don't know yet, Carter, she said softly. He nodded, unmasked fear on his face.

*****

Abby was in surgery for eight hours.

During the seemingly endless hours, Carter managed to place calls to her brother and mother, both of whom were flying in as soon as possible. He flatly refused to place the call to Richard, her ex-husband, referring to him as a callous bastard. Weaver volunteered to call him. Carter paced the halls, insisting that he was unable to calm down until he heard from the OR. Feeling wretchedly guilty, Kerry slipped him a heavy sedative and sent him to the lounge to take it easy, as she put it, despite his objections.

I hate to do that, but he's only making it worse, she admitted. I'm going to scrub in.

Chen and Pratt agreed that they could handle the ER until Luka and some of the med students arrived in a few hours. Kerry disappeared and the ER staff was left in an uncomfortable silence. Pratt noted that Deb was shaking a little, and that her face was still pale.

You all right, Jing-Mei? he peered worriedly at her. She shook her head. I was just remembering a few years ago... Carter and Lucy... she hid her face. Randi and several nurses had similar expressions as they too remembered the events of that horrible Valentine's Day. Pratt wisely refrained from asking any questions.