Chapter Seven - Hard To Say I'm Sorry

It had been two weeks since they had spoken. Two long, hard weeks. Both were more miserable that they had ever been and it seemed this depression would never end. It didn't help with the staff gossiping about the break-up every five minutes. Abby knew they talked about it all the time, it seemed they didn't have anything better to do. She avoided Carter like the plague, everywhere he was, she wasn't. And vice versa, she figured. And it was true. Carter felt like the world was on his shoulders, and whenever he saw her he felt as if the world was about to end and begin at the same time. Two weeks apart felt like two centuries apart, and neither thought this hell would ever end.

"Well girl I thought they were in for the long haul!" Commented Haleh as she tapped into the computer.

"Me too. They were so happy too." Replied Randi.

"Well I heard it was Kovac who made them split." Interrupted Yosh as he sidled in.

"That wouldn't surprise me. I thought Abby was over him?!" Said Lydia.

"I guess not." Came in Carter as he walked into the reception as he overheard them gossiping.

The 'trusting' colleagues fell silent and looked embarrassed.

"Her Carter we were just.." Stammered Randi.

"Talking about things that don't concern you?"

"So it's true then?" Butted in Chuni who had been silent.

"So it seems." Said Carter looked sad, and then looked up trying to hide his sadness and walked away, grabbing a chart as he passed.

"He's kinda upset about it isn't he?" Said Lydia as Carter had gone.

"Wouldn't you be if you lost the love of your life to her ex?" Said Haleh.

"I don't think I could keep it all in like him though." Observed Yosh.

"You said it!" Said Lydia as she walked away back to work.

Another couple of weeks passed, no change in the situation, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to work together in the trauma room, instead of easier. Carter couldn't sleep, he had thought so many times about going back to the drugs, but then him and Abby would have even less of a chance of getting back together. Abby felt the same, but both knew that if they did give in to temptation then the other would hate them even more. It was the other who'd helped them get over the problem in the first place. Abby very recently in fact, that night at the bar, he had helped her without her even asking. She had been his trusting sponsor and friend, until he abused her help. His fault again, he thought. Trust him to muck up the only good thing going on in his life.

"Carter! MVA on its way. ETA four minutes!" Shouted Weaver as she poked her head round the lounge door as Carter sat at the table eating a bagel.

"Be right there!" He answered back as he stuffed the rest of the bagel in his mouth and got up to leave. As he walked to the door, it swung open and there was Abby. She bustled in and quietly apologised for bumping into him. How uncomfortable was this.

"That's okay." Said Carter as he watched her bunging her stuff in her locker.

She turned to see him staring at her.

"Is there something you want?"

"Are we ever gonna talk about this?"

"You said there was nothing to talk about."

"Well there is. We need to talk."

"John. It's too late. You've left it too late. I'm sorry."

She gave him a sorryful look and walked out, he was crushed. If only he could say sorry, but it was too hard. She was the one in the wrong here. Wasn't she?

4.32pm - ER - Same day

"Luka! I need to talk to you for a minute!" Shouted Abby out the door as Luka walked past. Carter was standing at reception and overheard her calling. Probably arranging another date for tonight, he thought to himself, sneering as Luka walked into the room. He decided he should hear what she had to say, so he walked up to the room and stood next to the door listening intently to the conversation going on inside.

(Inside the suture room)

"What's up?" Asked Luka, sounding concerned.

'Huh, playing the brooding caring shoulder to cry on again' Carter thought to himself.

"Well, it's about yesterday."

"What about it?"

"I've thought about what you said."

"And?"

"And I think it's a bad idea."

"Oh."

"It's not you Luka, it's me."

"I see."

"I still love Carter."

"Abby you need to tell him. I know you loved him even when we were going out, this is too important for you to just throw away."

"I know. But I didn't do anything wrong. And until he understands that I don't have feelings for you anymore, then we can sort things out. But he's still jealous."

"Of what?"

"You and me."

"But we aren't together anymore."

"Yeah but he thinks I still have feelings for you."

"But you don't."

"No. I'm sorry."

"It's okay Abby, I figured as much anyway. Friends?"

"Friends."

(Outside room)

'So she doesn't love him' thought Carter. Oops.

Carter can be such a dumbass sometimes. RnR guys! Thanks! ;)