Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters that appear on the show, however I have made up a few of my own.

Apprehension: Unexpected Guest

~*~*~*~*~*~

"Hey beautiful," Andrew said as he and Carter walked into the ER a couple of days later. Abby turned around and smiled at Andrew.

"You're early."

"Is Susan here?" Carter interrupted. Abby looked at him.

"Lounge."

"Guess again," Susan said as she walked up.

"I need to talk to you," he said.

"Talk or talk?" she asked with a wink.

"You're cute." They slowly walked down the hall. Abby watched as Susan opened the door and they walked in.

"Do you miss him?" Andrew asked, being rewarded with an interesting look from Abby. She was shocked, slightly. What was he actually talking about? Carter as her lover? Carter as her best friend?

~*~*~*~*~*~

"How'd you do this?" Susan asked.

"Cut myself shaving," he responded as she squeezed ointment onto his burned hand.

"It looks like mostly second degree burns, possibly third degree in a couple small areas."

"I am still a doctor," he told her.

"Really? Because I was under the impression that you were carting around on cruises to keep your tan."

"Doctors Without Boarders. I just got back from South America."

"They keep you busy?"

"More or less. I'm forced to provide my services at many different places. I do occasional shift work at Northwestern in the ER. I do some paramedic ridealongs. Most recently I've been helping out at some of the firehouses. With the heat burning the place up I took some quick courses and I'm on call when they need me."

"That would explain the burns."

"I like to live on the edge. There was a little girl trapped behind a burning door and I opened it with my bare hand."

"Sounds like the risk taker I know. Being a fire fighter isn't exactly what I picture you doing."

"I realized that unless I came out of my shell, expanded my horizons and made sure that being a doctor was what I really wanted, then I wouldn't be able to realize the ways of the world. I mean, I've spent so many years now wondering what Abby thought that I haven't even thought about what I wanted."

"So that's what you're doing?"

"Sure. I like life right now. I have choices. I have options. I have work and life completely separate. And nothing is holding me back."

"Except these burns."

"Right." He was silent as he watched her bandage his hand. "Thanks for this."
"No problem," she said with a smile.

~*~*~*~*~*~

"What'd you say to him?" Abby yelled, slamming the door to the apartment. "Carter?"

"What?" he grumbled.

"What did you say to Andrew?"

Carter appeared over the railing, his hair messed up and clad only in boxers. "I don't know what you're talking about." He rubbed his face, causing Abby to notice the gauze wrapped around his hand. She'd get to that later, if she remembered.

"What did you say to Andrew about us?"

"Why? Does it scare you to know he may know everything?"

"Answer the question."

"I told him you were the best lay I've had since high school. What do you think I told him?" he asked.

"I'm serious."

"So am I. Why are you so worried? If you like this guy then be honest with him. Maybe fifth times the charm."

"I'm just scared that once he finds out he'll run. What did you say?" she begged.

"I told him you were my best friend but you got pissed when I left and we haven't talked since. Which is the truth. Did it hurt?" he disappeared back inside his room.

Abby couldn't handle it. He wasn't going to get away with just that. They needed to get this all worked out right now. She walked up the stairs and found him lying on his mattress, a sheet only to his waist.

"Why?"

"Can't you go somewhere else? I'm trying to sleep."

"Why did you tell him that?"

"Why do you care?" He still lay on his stomach, practically ignoring her, until the doorbell pierced their ears. He groaned and reached for a pillow to cover his head. "Get the door please so I can get dressed."

"Since you asked so nicely," she said sarcastically.

"I'm never going to sleep again," he said, frustrated as he threw off the covers and Abby retreated downstairs.

"Be nice to whoever's at the door. Remember, you don't live here," he called pulling on a pair of sweats.

"I hate you," she yelled back as she pulled open the door and felt all the wind escape from her.

"Hi," the woman said, her blond hair cascading over her shoulders as she shifted her bag to the opposite hand. "Is Carter here?" she asked.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Author's Note: Now comes the time to decide how much I want to get into the triangle situation. Let me know what you think.