**********************************
Abby crawled into bed, but, once there, she found that sleep didn't come. She lay in the dark for almost an hour, a carousel of thoughts spinning unrelenting in her head.
It's no good.
She climbed out of bed, and moved to the couch, close to the phone.
She checked the clock. Almost midnight. Only another, ooh, eight hours till he calls.
She couldn't believe that she was sitting by the phone, waiting for a guy to call. She felt like a schoolgirl again.
She pulled the blanket around her that Carter had slept under. It still had the warm, safe smell trapped inside it, and she inhaled deeply. She curled up underneath it to wait.
She was soon engulfed by the sweet fingers of sleep.
**********************************
He arrived home at eight thirty. The little red light on his machine was blinking. He hit the button and waited.
"John, I do hope you haven't forgotten about the function on the 25th…" His mind raced. He suddenly remembered booking the evening of the 25th off, but it had slipped his mind since, what with Abby being in hospital. He checked the date on his watch. The 25th. He cursed.
"And I presume you'll be bringing a lady this time? It did look awful when you arrived unescorted last time." Gamma!
"I'll see you then, John." The machine clicked off.
"Damnit!" He thought for a moment. Who was he going to take at such short notice? His mind instantly flew to Abby.
But was she well enough?
There was only one way to find out.
The phone rang three times before she picked up.
"Carter?" she sounded sleepy.
"Did I wake you? You said to call when my shift finished."
"No, you didn't wake me." She was lying, of course.
"How are you feeling?"
She mentally checked herself over.
"Fine. I think maybe I can go back to work tonight."
"Uh huh. Or, you could come to a really dull charity function that completely slipped my mind till a few moments ago." The words came out kind of garbled, but she got the idea, and her heart soared.
"You want me to be your date?"
She could almost hear him blush, and there was a long pause.
"Yes."
"What time are you going to pick me up?"
She definitely heard him sigh.
"About seven thirty? I mean, if you feel up to it."
"What am I supposed to wear?"
"It's a formal do, so…"
"I get it. Seven thirty, then."
"You sure you're up to this?"
"Yep. See you tonight." The phone clicked and buzzed in Carter's ear, and he hung up.
His vision started to fuzz as he realised he hadn't slept in twenty-four hours. He made it to his bed and crashed.
**********************************
He was at her door at seven-thirty on the dot, dressed in a sharp black tux and bow tie.
He was completely unprepared for the sight that met him as she opened the door.
She stood there, beaming a trademark smile at him.
His eyes took in every inch of her.
She was wearing a perfectly fitting off-the-shoulder red dress that finished just above her knees.
Her hair was piled up atop her head, but little curls seemed to have escaped and were creeping down her neck.
He found himself breathless, and at a loss for words.
"I'll just grab my purse."
She turned around, and Carter could not believe his eyes. The back of the dress was cut into a V that met in the small of her back.
He managed one word.
"Wow."
She pretended not to have heard, and carried on into her bedroom.
"Well?"
Susan was sat on the edge of Abby's bed.
"I think he likes it."
Susan smiled the smile of a co-conspirator.
"I said he'd like the red one."
"Have you seen my purse?"
"Over on the dresser. I'll wait for a minute so he doesn't see me. I'll lock the door behind me."
"Thanks. I really appreciate the help."
"Good luck." Susan grabbed her hand and squeezed it.
"I think I'll need it."
She returned to the door, and to Carter, who had regained his breath and his power of speech.
"You look amazing. Really, really, amazing."
"You don't scrub up too bad yourself, Dr Carter. Love the tux. So very double-oh-seven." She winked.
"I guess that makes you Pussy Galore." Carter managed, in a very poor British accent.
She raised an eyebrow and he changed the subject. Quickly.
"Ready?"
"You bet."
**********************************
"Well? What do you think?"
It was Abby's turn to be gobsmacked. Waiting in the street for them was a black stretch limousine, complete with driver.
She looked at Carter, then back to the limousine.
"I've never been in a limousine before."
He gestured to the door that the driver was holding open. "Hop in."
She slid herself onto the leather seat surprisingly gracefully, considering the dress.
He slid in next to her, and the driver shut the door behind them.
"Where is it we are supposed to be going?"
"I have to make an appearance at this charity function, and Gamma insisted I bring a date this time."
So it wasn't his choice to take her with him. "Oh."
Carter saw her face fall.
"Not that I didn't want to bring you. I mean, miss the chance to see you almost wearing that dress?"
She brightened a little, and poked him playfully in the ribs.
"Ow! Hey, go easy, would ya?!"
