Chapter Twenty Four - Family Portrait

ER - Admit Area - 1pm

Four days later, John still hadn't returned to work, and Weaver was getting slightly impatient. Abby had gone back after a day; food still needed to be put on the table and the mortgage wasn't paying itself. Abby had told Weaver why he hadn't gone back, he was still pretty upset, what did she expect? But as Abby began explaining the situation to Weaver again, Carter walked through the doors and into the lounge.

"Did you know he was coming back today?"

"No. He didn't say anything this morning."

Abby walked off and into the lounge to find out what he was doing.

"Carter?"

"Hey."

"What are you doing here?"

"Well." He began, as he put his bag in his locker and put on his coat. "I decided it wasn't fair for you to be here earning while I sat at home doing nothing. I can be more productive this way."

"You didn't have to. I don't mind."

"I know you don't. But I do." He said simply, smiling and then kissing her head lightly as he walked out to the admit desk to collect his first patient.

"John you didn't need to come back today. You could have called me and we could have worked something out."

"I didn't think that was necessary, no reason to make a big deal out of it."

"You should have called John. We don't need you today."

Carter looked up from the charts at Kerry and saw her staring at him.

"You're sending me home."

"I'm asking you to come back tomorrow."

Carter was annoyed now. What was the point? He might as well of stayed at home. He smiled irritated at Weaver and slammed his files back down onto the desk. He turned and stormed back into the lounge and opened his locker. Abby was still in there, drinking a coffee and reading a magazine, some crap no doubt.

"What's goin' on?" She asked surprised as he barged in almost making her spill her coffee.

"Weaver's sending me home."

"What?! Why?"

"She doesn't need me today apparently." He said sarcastically.

She sighed and poured the rest of her coffee down the sink. She stood leaning against the side with her arms folded.

"And you're pissed because.?"

"Cos I didn't need to come all the way down here!" He shouted as he slammed his lab coat back into his locker.

"Don't get mad at me I didn't make you come."

"Yeah but you didn't tell me I wasn't needed."

"You didn't ask!"

He laughed and slammed his locker door shut, putting his bag on his shoulder and began walking towards the door.

"Don't turn this around on me."

He stopped in his tracks and stood facing the door. His shoulders relaxed and he dropped his head. He was being really unreasonable, he knew that.

"I'm sorry." He said simply, not facing her, still looking at the floor.

"I'm off in 15 minutes. Wait here and we can go home together."

"You sure?" He asked surprised, turning to face her.

She still stood leaning against the side with her arms tightly crossed.

"Of course. Don't go anywhere."

She walked out leaving him feeling pretty stupid and embarrassed. Yeah it was stupid to just turn up, but he needed to get out. Staying at home moping around didn't help, no matter what people said, he needed to be doing something to get his mind off Gamma. He sighed and threw his bag onto the couch, collapsing onto it afterwards and closing his eyes.

Half an hour later Abby walked through the lounge doors huffing and puffing. She'd been pulled into a trauma when she was just getting off. Typical. Carter would be really pissed now. She walked in, expecting to get an earful from her less than reasonable husband, but found him sleeping on the couch. Her heart melted, right then and there. She sat cautiously down onto the couch next to him, and he opened his eyes slightly.

"Hey."

"I didn't mean to wake you."

"You're okay. Get in here." He said as he lifted his arm slightly, motioning for her to lean onto him.

She moved over so she was lying against him, one of his legs was on the couch, the other on the floor supporting them. She lay down onto his chest, surprisingly comfortable.

"You cold?" He said when he felt her shiver.

"A little."

He leaned behind him and grabbed his coat he had taken off at the beginning of the shift and flung it over her body. She cuddled up under the coat and closed her eyes slowly. A few minutes later, they were both asleep on the couch together. Outside at the admit area, Weaver was asking Susan if she'd seen Abby leave yet, but Susan shook her head and carried on filling in her charts, not bothering to look up.

"Susan. I need to speak with Abby. You haven't seen her?"

"No Kerry..I just told you. I have not seen Abby. See? Not seen her?"

Kerry rolled her eyes and looked around, trying to search out Abby. Susan looked up to see Kerry still looking for her.

"Oh my God Kerry do you have to stand right there? It's distracting." She said slightly annoyed, slamming her pen down on the desk and walking off towards the lounge.

She walked in and straight towards the coffee machine.

"Just what the doctor ordered." She smiled to herself. "See I am funny Mitch." She said to herself as she poured the coffee into her cup and turned around stirring it carefully.

She stopped in her tracks when she saw the sight of Carter and Abby asleep on the couch wrapped in each others arms.

"The honeymoon's over guys." She said silently, grinning to herself. They were so made for each other it was annoying! Susan walked over to the door and called out to Weaver quietly who was still standing at the admit desk looking around, for Abby probably.

"Kerry. Get over here. I found Abby."

Weaver walked over quickly, Susan was useful sometimes.

"Abby I've been look.." She broke off when she walked in and saw the couple lying there. "Oh jeez."

"Awww they look so cute, can't you just leave them for a bit?" Susan asked, it was like they were watching a baby sleep.

"Well I wanna sit down. And so do you. And they are on the couch."

Kerry reached out her crutch and poked Abby's leg slightly.

"Carter stop." She said half sleeping and moved so her face was covered by Carter's arm.

Susan and Kerry laughed a little and Kerry began poking Carter.

"Abby.." He whined slightly as he moved his leg around trying to shake off whatever was touching him.

He turned over so he was completely protecting Abby who was now lying next to the back of the couch and he laid his arm over her.

"Kerry just go for the subtle touch." Said Susan smiling.

"What subtle touch?" Kerry asked laughing slightly.

"Carter! Abby!"

The two opened their eyes suddenly and Carter jumped up leaving Abby disoriented on the couch.

"What?! What's happened?!" He asked worriedly.

"Nothing. We wanted to sit down." Said Kerry simply. "And I need to talk to Abby."

Carter decided it was best to get out of the situation as fast as possible, he'd already been caught with his pants down once, he didn't want to relive the night mare of the embarrassment afterwards. Not that they were doing anything anyway, they were just sleeping. He walked behind Susan and hid until Kerry and Abby had walked out, Abby winking at him on her way.

"So sleepy head what's goin' on?"

"What?"

"You and Abby are both really tired. All nighter was it?!"

"Susan! Of course not, I didn't know Abby was tired actually. I haven't slept for a while."

"Hmm. That's a shame."

"What is?"

"Well I was gonna ask you two out tonight but if you're tired then.."

"Depends where you wanna go!"

"Just for a meal or something. You can decide where if you want."

"Just us three?"

"Four."

"Four."

"Yeah four."

"Who's the fourth? I thought there were only three musketeers."

"Yeah well it's kinda back into a four now."

"Back into a.oh. Luka."

"Is that okay?"

"Oh I don't know Susan..it's kinda weird."

"Oh come on please?!"

Carter turned around from the table he was leaning on and looked at Susan. Why was she so desperate for Luka to come anyway? They'd never been friends before.

"Why do you want him there anyway?"

"Just. Because."

"Because?"

"It'll be fun come on Carter..I know you haven't been out for a while."

"Fine. But no embarrassing stories about my med student days okay?"

"I would never do that!"

"Oh yeah sure."

"What time do you want us to come over?"

"Oh you're coming over now?!"

"Of course."

"And 'us'?"

"What?"

"There's somethin' goin' on I know it."

"No there is not!"

"I know you Susan. Look me in the eye and tell me there's nothing going on and I might consider believing you."

"Well I can't do that."

"Because there's something goin' on?!"

"Noooo, because I don't know myself."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Just give me some time. I'll tell you when I know. I gotta talk to Abby first."

"Why?"

"Cos I want to know how she feels about it."

"I guess."

"I gotta talk to Abby too actually."

"What about?"

"Just stuff."

"Like what stuff?"

"Just stuff!"

"Come on Carter no secrets!"

"What so you're allowed secrets and I'm not?!" He laughed pushing her away as she tried to poke him, maybe the secret would fall out if she did it hard enough.

"Please?! I said I didn't know about Luka. You know what's going on. So tell me!"

"That's what I gotta talk to Abby about."

"You haven't told me yet!"

"Yeah cos I need to know if she wants everyone to know yet!"

"Oh my God."

"What?"

"She's pregnant!"

"No! I wish. I mean no not that."

"You wish huh?!"

"I didn't mean that."

"Sure you didn't. You've only wanted a baby for about 5 years."

"Have not!"

"Have too."

"So have you."

"Actually no I haven't!"

"Oh you have. So if the opportunity came then you wouldn't want it?!"

"No."

Carter lifted his eyebrows at her, both knew she wanted a baby ever since Susie.

"Okay maybe just a little."

"See I knew it!"

"You want one too."

"Okay you got me."

"I think you'd be cute as a Dad."

Susan went over and sat down on the couch clutching the coffee she'd been making. Carter followed and sat down next to her. They hadn't had a proper chat for ages, it was nice. Carter had forgotten how well he got on with Susan, through everything she had always been a good friend to him. She even came to Gamma's funeral even though Gamma didn't think much of Susan and she knew it.

"You think so?"

"Sure."

"I don't know."

"What Abby doesn't want kids?"

"We haven't really discussed it." He looked away, it reminded him of what could have been, he had forgiven Abby for everything, but it still hurt to think about it, and what he could have had.

"What?"

"What?"

"Something's happened." Why could Susan tell so much from his face? "I know you Carter."

"Yeah but it was ages ago."

"What?"

"Come on I don't wanna talk about it."

"I think I already know Carter."

"You do?"

"Abby told me."

"When?!"

"After she'd done it."

"She didn't tell me."

"She was upset. She didn't want you to find out."

"Well that was a given."

"She was so upset about everything. She regretted it."

"She did?"

"Of course. I already knew about Richard, and I guess she thought it would be like it was before with him. But then afterwards she thought about it more, and realised you were different."

"And it was too late."

"Yeah. She felt really bad. I'd never seen her cry before."

"She cried in front of you?"

"Well yeah. I shouldn't be telling you this."

"No it's okay. I guess I can tell you now."

"Ahhh the secrets are all coming out now!"

"Yeah quiet or I won't tell you!"

"Fine. Sorry." She grinned and took another sip of coffee waiting for his explanation.

"Abby and I..we. On our vacation, we."

"Come on!"

"We got married."