Disclaimer: I do not own any of the original characters, however I did make up a few of my own.

Apprehension: One Year Later

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One year and no one spoke a word about him. No one bothered to let her know if they spoke to him, if he was okay or if he was suffering terribly on his own. Abby could tell that Susan knew by the way she acted in given situations. Carter's name was mentioned on limited occasions, mainly in private conversations that are attempted to be held without the presence of Abby. Things had changed considerably. All their lives have changed in some way. It was a shame that Carter wasn't around to share in their joy, but apparently no one knew how to contact him.

"I say we all go out," Susan suggested to Deb and Abby asked the walked up to admit where they were both standing around bored in the empty emergency room.

"What's the special occasion?" Abby asked as she flipped the page in her magazine.

"Deb's engagement. We haven't gone out in forever, anyways. Ever since the stuff with Trent," Susan said hesitantly.

"Teaches me to trust any man again," Abby said closing the magazine.

"This is why we have to go out and find you someone who you don't have to trust too much. Shadow Room. We all deserve a night out."

"Fine, but only because I don't want to go home. Just keep the male strippers away from me," Abby said.

"That's my girl. Let's finished up here. Meet outside at eight," Susan told them before finishing off her last patients.

~*~*~*~*~*~

"Who's buying?" Dave asked as the group of guys sat down at a table. Dave Malucci, former County employee now working along side Carter. The two had become good friends over the past year, which was quite shocking considering their past together. But, here they were, years later, sharing drinks with colleagues and swapping horror stories about dates.

"I'll buy. But only because it's Dave's birthday," Carter said as he walked to the bar to start a tab. He came back with a tray full of beers. "Okay. A toast. To Dave, for being a good doctor, for being a good father, for being a good man, and for being a good friend."

"Here, here," all the gentlemen said raising their glasses.

"So, horror stories," Andrew, a fellow friend, colleague and Carter's roommate, asked.

"I never do anything wrong," Dave pointed out.

"Wrong isn't the right word. You unscrewed a screw from a guy's leg, without pain meds," Carter stated before completely emptying his glass.

"I was obeying his wishes."

"Right." The men continued drinking and around nine, after Carter had probably had too many to even walk straight, his attention drew away from his friends. He gently nudged Dave. "Want to make some money?"

"You name it."

"Table near the bar." Dave followed Carter's eyes. Dave smiled.

"What do you have in mind?"

"Gentlemen, care to make a wager?" Carter asked.

"What are we talking about?" Dennis, another colleague asked.

"One hundred dollars, says I can numbers from all three pretty ladies at the table near the bar, without even working," Carter said.

"Deal."

Carter waved over the waitress as he scrawled a note on a napkin and handed it to her.

"Two of your most alcoholic induced drinks with umbrellas for the blonde and the short haired brunette. And a Shirley Temple for the one with long dark hair."

The waitress nodded.

"Shirley Temple? Is this a joke?" Andrew asked. They watched as the drinks were handed to the ladies and the waitress talked to them. When the three women turned to look he raised his beer with a smile.

"Take notes," Carter said as the waitress walked back over. She handed him a napkin.

"From the ladies."

He opened it and smiled.

"Wish me luck," he said as he grabbed his beer and walked over toward them. He leaned past the blonde, setting his drink next to hers and resting his hands on the back of her chair before bending down, his breath hot in her ear. "I seem to have lost my phone number, can I have yours?" he whispered.

"John Carter, have you been drinking?" Susan asked with a smile. Deb just watched, glancing to the direction in which he came and Dave sitting with a bunch of other guys. Abby didn't say a word. She barely looked up from her glass of water when he walked up. The only thing she wanted to do was study his face and read his mind. But she couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes when she knew he was looking right at her.

"Indulge me please." He stood up fully and glanced at the guys. "I'll let you in on a percentage."

"How much?"

"We can discuss it later." He smiled at her as she handed out a napkin. "Hey, pretty lady," he said looking at Deb. "Wait, something's different. Is that a rock on your hand?" he asked. "If you weren't planning on inviting me . . ." he started.

"Calm down. We haven't even set a date," Deb said.

"Then I guess getting your number is out of the question?"

"Can you handle Greg?"

"The question is, can he handle me?" he asked. He kissed her cheek when she handed it to him. He rested his hands on the two opposite chairs and looked at Abby, her downcast eyes forced away from his. "What do you think I have to do to get her number?" he asked Susan.

"This is not my game," she said.

"How's your drink?" he asked, waiting and praying for some sort of response out of her.

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Author's Note: I've appreciated the feedback. Please give me more. I've been having second thoughts about how I want this to end, although there's still some to go. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Thanks.