*** NOTE: Sorry, I guess I should have made a note detailing when this fic takes place [Thanks ksmcan for the review/reminder!]  Basically, it is the present-day ER as we know it minus Abby of course.  All of the events that took place in both Carter and Abby's lives still hold (so, his stabbing and drug abuse, her divorce, her whole med-student to nurse thing, her mother being bipolar).  The only tweak I want to make is that in my fic, Abby is still sober and hasn't started drinking again and Eric isn't bipolar.  As for Lockdown: the whole smallpox scare still happened but since they didn't know each other…quarantine was just quarantine for Carter–sorry, no Jinter action. ;) I hope this cleared up some of the timeframe questions.  If there are anymore, feel free to leave a review with a comment or question!

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I tried desperately to control my movements so that I wouldn't shake the boy in my arms and I ran as quickly as I could through the familiar ambulance bay with Abby keeping up beside me.  Bursting open the double doors, I called out desperately for assistance, "Can somebody get me a bed and clear out a trauma room for me?"

Susan spotted me while picking up a chart behind the admit desk, "Oh my god, Carter, what happened?"

She said it as more of a comment and quickly replaced the chart she was holding in her hand, running down the hallway and returning in a flash with Malik and Luka who were wheeling a bed.  "What's his name?" questioned Luka, as I lay the boy down on the bed.

All three of them turned to look at Abby, who I suddenly realized was still standing beside me.  I quickly replied, "Oh, no, she's not his mother, she's a-"

"-nurse," she finished, interrupting me again.  "I work in the ER at Northwestern.  I happened to be on the same train as Dr. Carter and we brought the boy here only after another passenger saw that he had fainted.  He was on the train by himself, so we don't know his name."

"Stats are dropping," announced Malik, who was watching the monitor. 

That was all it took for the noise and chaos to begin and for all of us to snap back to attention.  I turned to Abby and said hurriedly, "I'm so sorry, you're probably late for work now."

"It's okay, it's fine.  I know how hectic it can get here.  You should go, I think they're waiting for you," she said, nodding towards Susan and Luka, "Oh wait, do you think I could call and check in?"

I nodded in response, "Not a problem."

Switching my glance from Abby over to the desk, I gave a yell, "Hey Frank! She needs to make a phone call, connect her to the ER at Northwestern!" As I ran to catch up to Susan, Luka, and Malik, I looked behind me one last time and shouted to Abby, "Thanks for all of your help!"

She gave a little wave and as I turned to face the approaching trauma room, Susan glanced up at me with a raised eyebrow and a bemused look on her face, "So, Doctor Carter, what's her name?"

* * * * * * * * *

Surveying the scene as I entered the ER, I knew that I was greatly missed during the last hour.  It was pandemonium as usual, no different from the ER over at County.  I headed towards the lounge, bumping into Gosselin on the way in.  Cursing under my breath, I faked a smile and wondered if I could make it through the threshold without some demeaning comment. 

"Well, Ms. Lockhart, glad you finally decided to grace us with your presence."

No such luck.

"Good morning Dr. Gosselin.  There was a bit of a crisis on my way here," I replied, restraining myself from adding any sarcastic comments.

"Yes, I heard.  A situation that is now being handled over at County, meanwhile, why don't you get to work here so we don't lose any more patients?"  With that, he walked away, leaving me with a sense of repulsion.

Making a face, I pushed the door open with my back and saw Lyn at her locker.  "Going for a break?" I asked her.

"I wish," she answered bitterly, and as she turned around, I could see why, "Only one hour into my shift and I get somebody's breakfast all over me; this has got to be some sort of a record."

I laughed as I spun the combination on my lock, "I have an extra shirt in my locker if you need it."

"No, it's okay, I think I'm just going to wear scrubs for the rest of the day.  I've learned my lesson," she said, stuffing her lab coat in a bag, "So, why were you late this morning?"

I waved the question off, "It was nothing, just me being a helpful civilian, is all."

Lyn gave me a curious look, but before she could question me further, we were interrupted by another nurse, "Dr. Bennett, Abby, there's a trauma coming in.  35 year old female, hit-and-run, we need you."

* * * * * * * * *

Should I?

Yes.  Maybe I should.

But, what if she thinks I'm stalking her or something?

Nah, I just want to thank her.

Maybe ask her out for dinner? A "thanks for your generosity" dinner?

No.  Not a good idea.  Definitely not. 

These were the questions going through my head as my shift ended and I found myself still wandering through the halls looking somewhat dazed and confused, and then finally preceded to walk zombie-like into the lounge.  I even saw a look of concern pass across Pratt's face as I sat down at the table, or maybe it was because I was actually staying late to fill in my charts for the first time since… well, ever.

I don't know why I ever thought that filling out charts would be a good idea.  It proved to be a useless distraction because now that the risk of cutting off somebody's hand or suturing incorrectly was taken away, my mind was free to wander and think about situations and questions I had never thought of before.

Part of me wanted to go to Northwestern to thank her for her kindness but the other part of me, the bigger part, wanted to go just to be able to see her face again.  

Screw this.  I left my charts half-filled out and clocked out.

*                                 *                                 *                                  *                                  *

Leaning against the admit desk at Northwestern, I glanced around the new but strangely familiar surroundings around me.  "Excuse me," I said to someone who looked somewhat like he belonged behind the desk, "Can you tell me if Abby…" And it suddenly occurred to me that I didn't even know her last name.

I paused and tried rephrasing my question and describing her instead, "She's a nurse, brown hair, kind of petite?"

"Dude, you just described every other nurse that works here.  You're going to have to be a little more specific."

Thoroughly embarrassed, I mumbled, "I know, I just wanted to know if she's still working now.  I don't know her last name.  How many other nurses are named Abby?"

The clerk shrugged, putting up his hands in defence, "Hey, I'm new.  I just started here yesterday."

I felt a tap on my shoulder, "Are you looking for Abby Lockhart?"

I turned around and faced a woman with bright red hair, "Actually, I'm not sure," I laughed, "Is she the only Abby working in this ER?"

"The only one," she replied, offering a handshake.  "Hi, I'm Evelyn Bennett."

"Nice to meet you, John Carter," I smiled, "Do you know if she's still working?"

"Oh, her shift ended over an hour ago."

I looked at my watch, it was past 8.  Of course she wouldn't still be here, how could I have been so stupid? Note to self: never do anything impulsive; ever again.

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Tell me when I get boring, 'k?