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(A/N) Con-cu-bine – Matter-of-fact-ly is per-fect-ly le-git! Bill Gates sez so.

Valaraiya – I was running out of words for purple! – ref. "Amethyst"

Ps. Did anyone else love the episode "Hindsight" And also "A little help from my friends" ?

I don't own 'em, just write weird stalker-like fanfiction.

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Abby opened her eyes. The winter sun was cutting through her room like a knife. She squinted a little, and rubbed her eyes. The smell of coffee hung about the air, and it was all she could do to stop herself from licking her lips, it smelt so good.

**********************************

She ambled slowly and silently up behind Carter, a hand gently resting over her wound. He was standing over some toasted bagels, singing under his breath, though Abby could make out the words…

"You've already won me over, in spite of me, and don't be alarmed if I fall…"

She smiled.

"Alanis Morissette?" She smiled as he dropped his buttery knife. It landed with a clatter on the work surface.

He turned to face her, breathing heavily.

"You gave me the fright of my life." He paused, then added, protectively, "What are you doing out of bed?"

"I smelled coffee."

He handed her a cup, and they exchanged smiles.

"You feel any better?"

She nodded, and cradled the little cup in her hands. It was true; she did feel a little better. She could walk unaided, though not without pain. The long sleep had done her the world of good

Abby suddenly registered the paper bag on the work surface, and the cardboard cup-holder that Carter's own cup nestled in.

"You went out to get coffee?"

"Yeah. You were sleeping, and I…Well I couldn't, so I went for a walk. I got bagels, too."

She took a long sip, and sighed with content.

"What time is it?"

He checked his watch.

"Almost five. What do you want to do this afternoon? I have five hours till my shift."

She shrugged.

"We could go out, catch a movie, grab a meal?"

Abby raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at her lips.

"What?" Carter hadn't realised that he had just asked her on what sounded suspiciously like a date.

She didn't let on. "Never mind"

A big grin split Carter's face. "What?"

She took another long sip, still staring at him.

He took her silence as a no; she didn't want to go out.

"Oh-Kay, how about we stay here? I could cook something…"

She was seriously fed up with her flat.

"Let's go out."

"Where to?"

"I don't care. Let's just go"

"Alright… But, are you sure you're up to it?"

"I'm fine, let's go."

He cocked his head to one side.

"You might want to go get dressed."

She looked down at her sleep shirt and shorts.

"Right."

"Need any help?"

Carter asked, half practical, half playful

Maybe it was meant to sound like a date, she considered.

Winking, she said "I'll let you know." And with that, she disappeared.

**********************************

Smiling, she changed into a pair of dark bootleg jeans, and a pale blue shirt, with only a twinge of pain. No need to call for Carter, she mused, disappointed. Wait…Why disappointed? She sat for a moment, and thought, trying to sort through her feelings.

Then it hit her, like a ton of bricks.

Whoa…

Was she…falling for him?

What she felt for him, she had never, ever felt before. She felt… It was indescribable. It was…

"Abby?" Carter called from the other room, shaking her back to reality.

It was going to have to wait.

"Coming!"

She pulled her leather jacket from the back of her door, and was soon standing in front of Carter, smiling wide. He took her jacket from her, and held it so she could put it on.

"Well, where are we going?" he asked, puzzled at the wide grin that lit up her face.

"Dunno." She shrugged. "Come on."

He threw on his own jacket, and they left, though neither had any idea where they were going.

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  After wandering aimlessly for almost an hour, they ended up in a tiny café. It was quiet, and Carter was glad of it. It would be nice to spend some time with Abby when she wasn't sleeping, or hiding, or crying. In fact, he thought, this was the happiest he'd seen her in a while.

The waitress came over, and they ordered

"A cheese-burger and fries for me, and the lady will have…" He looked over at her, and she stared back, lost once more in her thoughts.

"…Abby?"

"Huh? Oh, I'm not hungry, thank you."

"She'll have the same. And two shakes."

The waitress, only a little confused, scribbled down their order, and left.

"Really, Carter, I'm not hungry."

"Well, all the more for me then." He scanned the Café.

"Oooh, look, they have a dartboard."

"You play darts…?" There was a curious lilt in her voice.

He beamed a cute, dazzling smile, and got up from the table.

He turned back to her, and shook his head. "Nope."

She watched, curious and bemused, as he picked up the bundle of three darts, stepped up to the little white line, and threw one. It bounced of the wall a foot below the board.

Abby laughed hysterically. So much that it hurt and she had to stop.

"Hey! Don't laugh!" he acted hurt and wounded, but she just shook her head in disbelief.

He stepped up and tried again. This time the dart hit the bottom of the board, just below the metal '3'. It hung there for a moment, precariously balanced, before dropping out and hitting the floor.

He looked over to Abby expectantly. "Do I get any points for that?" She collapsed once more into giggles.

"Ok, this isn't right." He started examining the final dart. "These must be faulty or something, I don't know…"

She sighed and stood up. "Step aside."

He looked at her and frowned.

She held out her hand, and he placed the final dart inside.

"Now, watch and learn."

She threw the dart with grace and precision. It flew to the board and struck it solid in the black area below the '20'.

He raised his eyebrows, impressed.

"You play darts."

She shrugged.

"We had a board in our dorm room in college."

He bestowed upon her a stunning smile that seemed to involve every inch of his face.

"Every day, I learn something new about you, Miss Lockheart."

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Carter collected the darts, his from the floor, and hers from the board.

"Let me have another go."

She stood back, motioning him to take her place. "Be my guest."

He concentrated intently; his eyes squinting at his target, his tongue subconsciously poking from the corner of his lips. He drew his arm back and…

The dart flew straight…

Straight into the wall above the board.

"Damn! Thought I had it that time."

"Never mind…" Abby managed through sniggering.

He frowned at her.

"Show me."

She composed herself.

"What?"

"Show me how to do it."

"You want me to teach you how to play darts?"

"Yeah, Come on."

She stood up, and walked over to him.

"You want me to teach you my well-honed skills, and impart on you my well kept secrets?"

"Yeah."

She stood on tip-toe and whispered in his ear. "If I told you I'd have to kill you."

"I'll swear to secrecy."

She stepped back, looked up into his big brown eyes and sighed.

"Ok. But if some unsavoury people kidnap you and try to make you talk, it's not my fault." She held up her hands.

"Your secrets that good, huh?"

"Oh yeah."

She took the other darts from him, and he watched her intently.

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They played darts till the food arrived, then sat down to eat.

Carter tucked ravenously into his cheese-burger, aware that all he had eaten in the last 24 hours was half a bagel.

Abby just absently picked at her fries, lost once more in thoughts of Carter, and Luka.

"Didn't your mother ever tell you not to play with your food?" Carter said, between mouthfuls of burger.

"Oh no. In fact, she encouraged it." Half a smile took hold of her lips, but she continued to fiddle aimlessly with the fries.

Carter looked worried, then softly said, "You really should eat something, you know."

She winced. "I don't feel like eating."

Carter almost dropped his burger. "Are you in pain? Because if you are-"

"-I'm fine. I'm just not hungry, 'sall."

Carter eyed her, suspiciously.

She tried to explain. "I can't eat, when I have too many thoughts." She tapped the side of her head, illustrating her point.

Carter pulled an 'I-Beg-your-pardon?' face, half serious, half laughing.

"Too many…thoughts?"

"Yeah. Like about Luka, and…" She looked up into his big, deep, soft brown eyes, but finding the feeling that hit her too strong to bear, resumed the harassment of her fries.

'And you,' she said, though not out loud.

"Oh." Carter understood now. She'd been through a lot in the past few days, and surely it must have taken its toll.

"How about we finish this, and then take a walk along by the lake?" He checked his watch. Almost nine. "It's really lovely this time of the evening."

"Yeah. Might help me get my head straight." She picked up the shake, and slurped on it. She hoped it would.

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They ambled along in silence, enjoying the cool evening.

Abby inhaled and exhaled, hoping the air would do something to help her think straight.

She had just split up with Luka, not three days ago, and here she was contemplating the fact that she might be falling in love.

With Carter.

She looked sideways at him.

Did he feel the same?

He caught her staring, and smiled at her.

She blushed and looked away.

No, probably not. To him, they were probably just friends.

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Did she just blush? Carter thought she did, but couldn't be sure. The light from the streetlamp was too dim and yellow to see properly, but…

Abby was now completely preoccupied with the ground just ahead of her feet. Her dark hair covered the side of her face, and Carter could not see the expression on her face. He could sense, however, that she was troubled.

"What is it?"

She stopped and leant on the rail that overlooked the water.

"Nothing."

He stopped next to her, but instead of following her gaze out over the lake, he fixed his eyes on her.

"Do you want him back?"

Abby gave Carter a confused look.

"What? Who?"

"Luka."

She resumed staring out over the lake.

"No."

"Good…" Carter blurted, without thinking.

"Why?"

It was Carter's turn to stare at the floor.

He dodged the question. "It's almost ten. Do you want me to walk you home before my shift?"

She noticed the dodge, and a tiny half smile tugged at her mouth.

"It's ok. I'll walk with you to the ER and then I'll walk home."

"Are you sure? 'Cause its ok."

"I would like to see Susan, if she's on. Say thanks, you know, for sitting with me."

"Alright, but I'll walk you home on my break."

"I'm ok to walk home on my own."

"I know."

She nodded.

Carter held out his elbow, and she slid her arm through. They set off towards the ER, arm in arm.

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Abby explained to Carter, on the way over, how she didn't want everyone to see her in the ER tonight.

"You mean Luka?" Carter asked

"Not just Luka. I don't want to have to answer a bunch of questions, that's all. If I sneak into the lounge, will you tell Susan that I'm there?"

"Sure."