Author's Note: i almost didn't bother finishing this. i got zero feedback on Chapter 3 and I figured hey, why go on? However, with (that is to say, threats and nagging) from Carolyn, i decided to go on with it. this is dedicated to my dad. Abby's accident is largely based on the one he was in a few years ago.

Disclaimers for chapter 4: Title of chapter 4 was taken from an Enya song by the same name. The song appears later in the chapter. i have no claims on it.

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

CHAPTER 4: HOPE HAS A PLACE



He awoke in the harsh fluorescent lighting of the lounge for the second time in less than twenty-four hours. Groggily he glanced at the clock. Nine in the morning! When had he fallen asleep? For a split second he wondered if Abby had arrived for her shift, but then the memory hit him like a lightning bolt. Was she still in surgery? Was she...?

Carter didn't finish the thought. He exited the room in search of Kerry Weaver. Ignoring the concerned glances of the ER staff, he opened trauma room and curtain area doors, not caring what he might be interrupting. He finally found her halfheartedly restocking a trauma room that had only recently been vacated.

Her voice told of the exhaustion that invaded her this long night. She's out of surgery.

*****
He disliked the ICU. It had a morbid air about it that not even the ER possessed and the feeling sent a chill crawling up his spine.

Carter bypassed the ICU Waiting room. He didn't care that to demand entrance to the ward was an abuse of his privileges as a doctor. The detail was often enough overlooked, and it was not as though he'd never done it before. He always managed to skirt around the strictly enforced visiting hours.

Four patients were enclosed by curtains, each surrounded by softly beeping machines of varying purposes. It took only a moment to find Abby. The curtain to the far left was parted just enough to reveal that a young man in military uniform was standing by the bed. Carter realized that he must be Abby's younger brother Eric.

The heels of his loafers were the loudest sound in the room as he made his way towards them. Eric turned to see who was approaching. His dark eyes were red and held a great sadness in them. Eric had taken a redeye flight the moment he had permission from his commanding officer to take a leave of absence. He had not even taken the time to change out of his dress uniform. It was disheveled and none too clean, but that was the last thing on Eric's mind as he stared down disbelievingly at his sister's still form.

Eric Wyczenski? the young doctor who was approaching spoke his name questioningly. After a confirming nod from Eric the doctor stuck out his hand. John Carter.

Carter noted no recognition from Eric at his name and pressed further. Abby and I are, uh...

Oh, right! Eric exclaimed. He shook Carter's hand. She's told me about you. I'm sorry I didn't know, it's just- long night.

I understand, Carter said quietly. For the first time, he turned his gaze to Abby. Her face was bruised and swollen and it made him wince inwardly.

Can you tell me what happened? I haven't spoken to a doctor or anything. Eric had not sought anyone out for explanations.

Carter took a deep breath, reviewing what he knew thus far.

The guy in the other car had been drinking. A lot. He apparently lost control and crashed into the passenger side of the taxi as it was making a u-turn. He heard Eric's sharp intake of breath and felt his own eyes grow hot with tears, but he forged ahead. Her spleen was damaged beyond repair and they removed it in surgery. Both kidneys were damaged. One is functioning but it isn't fully stable. A few ribs were fractured, puncturing her lung. It was reinflated. Her lower right leg is broken, and so are several bones in her right hand and her shoulder. Her tailbone has a slight fracture as well. And- he stopped to take a shaky breath, closed his eyes. There's some slight swelling in her brain.

Eric paled. he whispered. How bad is it?

Carter hesitated. She may not make it, he said softly, looking not at Eric, but at Abby. He could feel the unshed tears preparing to flood forth.

Has anyone talked to Mom? Eric asked.

Carter nodded. He vaguely remembered having spoken to Maggie Wyczenski some hours before. She's on her way. He glanced around the ICU ward and spotting what he was looking for, rounded up the two chairs and brought them back to Abby's bedside. Eric sank down wearily into one, while Carter moved the other to the opposite side of the bed and plunked down into it.

The two men sat in silence, focused solely on the woman on the bed between them. Carter took her left hand in his, careful of the heart monitor that was clipped to one finger. Her skin was cold and he nearly flinched, needing to remind himself that this was normal. He reached up with his other hand to smooth her hair. It was considerably shorter than it had been- they'd had to cut it in surgery.

Eric quietly observed Carter's behavior. This was someone who obviously cared about his sister. Abby deserved it, after her miserable life with Richard Lockhart. Eric had disliked Richard intensely from the moment he met him. At some point in his childhood he had discovered that he had a strong enough intuition that within a few minutes of meeting someone, he knew whether that person was trustworthy or not. He'd sensed the dishonest and manipulative side of Richard Lockhart immediately. Eric had been the one to give Abby away at her wedding, their father having long ago vanished, but what he really wanted to do that day was hide her and protect her from the man she was marrying.

But John Carter was as different from Richard as two people could be. Eric saw the tenderness in Carter's eyes, the worry, the fear, as the young doctor gazed down at Abby. He knew that his sister was with the right person now.

A commotion drew both of their attention up. A nurse had come to check on Abby's IVs and to tell Eric that there was a phone call for him.

Probably Mom, he said. He went to the desk to take the call. Carter got up to allow the nurse to adjust an IV stand behind him. He watched Eric talking on the phone. He was obviously frustrated and was struggling to keep his voice low. Finally he ended the conversation and came back to where carter was standing. It's her. She's at the airport and she wants me to go get her because she doesn't want to get a cab. His voice was heavy and Carter knew that while Eric didn't harbor as much anger towards his mother as Abby did, he was none too pleased to have to deal with her.

We'll go get her, Carter said.

I told her that if I came to get her, she'd still have to take a cab.

I have a Jeep. We'll have to take the El back to the house to get it, but it'll be easier to just go and get your mom.

*****

They traveled tensely down the stretch of highway that went to the O'Hare Airport exit. Carter drove it straight up to the loading zone, where Maggie Wyczenski was waiting impatiently with two large suitcases. Both hopped out of the Jeep to figure out how to load the suitcases in.

Maggie looked sharply at Carter. Don't I know you?

Yes, we met when you were last in Chicago, and again in Oklahoma.

Maggie flushed a little. I remember now. You work with Abby.

I do, and we've also been dating for several months, Carter told her hesitantly.

Maggie looked him over. she said at last. Can we go see her now?
Eric volunteered to crunch himself into the back seat so that Maggie could sit up front. As the car started, she flicked the radio on and browsed, finally settling on an easy listening station. An Enya song was playing.

Under the heavens
we journey far,
on roads of life
we're the wanderers.
So let love rise,
so let love depart,
let hope have a place in the lover's heart.
Hope has a place in the lover's heart.

The people who most loved Abby Lockhart were struck by the lyrics. This was the thing they needed, the thing that would unite them all and see Abby through, see them all through. Love, yes, love was important, but something more was needed.

Hope.