Chapter 2 - an explanation.
" I was 17!!!" he yelled at Abby knowing that wasn't going to make it any better.
Being in the lounge at this point didn't matter everyone could hear the 'conversation' they were having and they were all gaining interest.
"So when were you planning on telling me this!" Abby said trying to remain calm and obviously failing.
"I didn't think I would have to!" he continued.
"Oh, so you didn't think it was even worth bringing up!?" at this point she was fuming.
"Hahahahah!" he just began to laugh!
"What the hell are you laughing at!?" Abby didn't think she could be more pissed.
"You're just cute when you're angry!" he explained.
"Don't go changing the subject! Grrrrrrhhhh!" she said storming out of the lounge and starting to make her way to the ambulance bay.
"Abby.. Come back!?!" he said following her.
The rest of the staff gave them both a questioning look; Abby totally disregarded them and carter on her crusade to the ambulance bay. Carter on the other hand took a tripping back step in order to look at the rest of them. He put his hand up in frustration and ran out of the hospital after Abby.
" Abby just stop for a sec" he said grabbing her arm pulling her closer AND out of the way of the ambulance coming in.
"Carter I don't want to hear it now!" she pleaded.
" Well I think you have to!" he said trying desperately to calm her down.
"We could use some help over here!!!!" the paramedic yelled, interrupting the recently silent couple.
They exchanged a last look before going back to work.
"Yeah, what do we got?" carter asked watching Abby go threw the emergency doors to get gloved up!
"18 year old restrained front seat passenger, complains of chest pain upon air bag deployment, B.P. is 100/80, pulse is tacky at 120." the paramedic continued as carter helped unload the patient from the rig.
"Where's my dad?" the scared teenage asked looking into her doctors eyes as he brought her into the trauma room.
Carter exchanged a dismal look with the paramedic. After ordering a few tests on the girl carter followed the paramedic outside of the trauma room to help him look for some more supplies to stock the rig.
"D.O.A?" carter asked already knowing the answer.
"Yeah" the paramedic answered grabbing some tubing from carters hand and running out to another call.
The girl was admitted to medicine for observation and carter called social services in to tell her that her father was dead; carter just couldn't handle it today. He made his way back to the lounge - now that his shift was over - to find Abby nervously sipping her coffee. Just one more thing he loved about her.
They had talked for nearly 2 hours. He told her every thing. Well he didn't tell her EVERY THING! But he was as forthcoming as he needed to be. He told her that Liz was his girlfriend throughout most of high school. She was a year older then him and was going to graduate a year ahead of him, and she was going to college out of state. Two weeks before graduation she told him she was pregnant, and that she planned on keeping it. Both of their parents were not on good terms after hearing the news but decided - with out even asking them what THEY wanted to do - that they should get married. They were married until he graduated high school and at that time she was experienced enough to get full custody in their divorce settlement. They had named their child Zoë. Because they did have such a vast relationship together Liz decided to name him as guardian of Zoë in her will several years ago, when they moved to Colorado.
"I got a call early this morning," he told her continuing the explanation, "saying that they were in an accident." He stopped to take a breath and look up into Abby's eyes. It was obvious she knew what was coming.
"she died in surgery." He finally let out after a long pause.
"how's Zoe?" was all that she could force out of her mouth.
"mostly orthopedic injuries but.I still have to go!" he told her not quite sure what else to say.
"I am her legal guardian." he continued.
"I know." She said curtly.
" she's going to have to stay in Colorado until she recovers but I am gonna bring her here for physical therapy." He explained waiting for her reaction.
"she's going to be staying with you?" she was more calm now.
"yeah, I guess, I was just as surprised as you were!" he tried to reassure her.
"I get that, but does she even know you!?" her slightly angry curiosity returning.
"yeah I have seen her a few times and I send her birthday cards and stuff every year," he tried to tell her, "she's the one that told them to call me!"
"I want you to come, abby!" he half asked her.
"why?" she asked growing a little more concerned with THEIR relationship.
"because I want her to know who you are, you're a big part of my life abby, I love you!" he let out final feeling the weight being lifted!
" I was 17!!!" he yelled at Abby knowing that wasn't going to make it any better.
Being in the lounge at this point didn't matter everyone could hear the 'conversation' they were having and they were all gaining interest.
"So when were you planning on telling me this!" Abby said trying to remain calm and obviously failing.
"I didn't think I would have to!" he continued.
"Oh, so you didn't think it was even worth bringing up!?" at this point she was fuming.
"Hahahahah!" he just began to laugh!
"What the hell are you laughing at!?" Abby didn't think she could be more pissed.
"You're just cute when you're angry!" he explained.
"Don't go changing the subject! Grrrrrrhhhh!" she said storming out of the lounge and starting to make her way to the ambulance bay.
"Abby.. Come back!?!" he said following her.
The rest of the staff gave them both a questioning look; Abby totally disregarded them and carter on her crusade to the ambulance bay. Carter on the other hand took a tripping back step in order to look at the rest of them. He put his hand up in frustration and ran out of the hospital after Abby.
" Abby just stop for a sec" he said grabbing her arm pulling her closer AND out of the way of the ambulance coming in.
"Carter I don't want to hear it now!" she pleaded.
" Well I think you have to!" he said trying desperately to calm her down.
"We could use some help over here!!!!" the paramedic yelled, interrupting the recently silent couple.
They exchanged a last look before going back to work.
"Yeah, what do we got?" carter asked watching Abby go threw the emergency doors to get gloved up!
"18 year old restrained front seat passenger, complains of chest pain upon air bag deployment, B.P. is 100/80, pulse is tacky at 120." the paramedic continued as carter helped unload the patient from the rig.
"Where's my dad?" the scared teenage asked looking into her doctors eyes as he brought her into the trauma room.
Carter exchanged a dismal look with the paramedic. After ordering a few tests on the girl carter followed the paramedic outside of the trauma room to help him look for some more supplies to stock the rig.
"D.O.A?" carter asked already knowing the answer.
"Yeah" the paramedic answered grabbing some tubing from carters hand and running out to another call.
The girl was admitted to medicine for observation and carter called social services in to tell her that her father was dead; carter just couldn't handle it today. He made his way back to the lounge - now that his shift was over - to find Abby nervously sipping her coffee. Just one more thing he loved about her.
They had talked for nearly 2 hours. He told her every thing. Well he didn't tell her EVERY THING! But he was as forthcoming as he needed to be. He told her that Liz was his girlfriend throughout most of high school. She was a year older then him and was going to graduate a year ahead of him, and she was going to college out of state. Two weeks before graduation she told him she was pregnant, and that she planned on keeping it. Both of their parents were not on good terms after hearing the news but decided - with out even asking them what THEY wanted to do - that they should get married. They were married until he graduated high school and at that time she was experienced enough to get full custody in their divorce settlement. They had named their child Zoë. Because they did have such a vast relationship together Liz decided to name him as guardian of Zoë in her will several years ago, when they moved to Colorado.
"I got a call early this morning," he told her continuing the explanation, "saying that they were in an accident." He stopped to take a breath and look up into Abby's eyes. It was obvious she knew what was coming.
"she died in surgery." He finally let out after a long pause.
"how's Zoe?" was all that she could force out of her mouth.
"mostly orthopedic injuries but.I still have to go!" he told her not quite sure what else to say.
"I am her legal guardian." he continued.
"I know." She said curtly.
" she's going to have to stay in Colorado until she recovers but I am gonna bring her here for physical therapy." He explained waiting for her reaction.
"she's going to be staying with you?" she was more calm now.
"yeah, I guess, I was just as surprised as you were!" he tried to reassure her.
"I get that, but does she even know you!?" her slightly angry curiosity returning.
"yeah I have seen her a few times and I send her birthday cards and stuff every year," he tried to tell her, "she's the one that told them to call me!"
"I want you to come, abby!" he half asked her.
"why?" she asked growing a little more concerned with THEIR relationship.
"because I want her to know who you are, you're a big part of my life abby, I love you!" he let out final feeling the weight being lifted!