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: Twenty Bucks They're Wrong

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"How are you?" Susan asked a few days later.

"I am excellent," he said behind his sucker.

"Are you sure? You seemed a little on edge the past couple nights."

"Of course. I'm being optimistic." He closed another chart.

"I can tell. So, Abby's looking for you."

"Good for her."

"John, stop being stubborn. If anything, let her be your friend."

"No. Because last time I felt anything for her she didn't trust me. She literally broke my heart. It took me two trips to Africa, dealing with Gillian and quitting my job, to get over her. I can think for myself now. I'm not doing it again."

"So, I have to keep lying for you. Telling her I had absolutely no idea where you are every night, that I never talk to you, that we are completely void of all communication."

"No. If she wants to truth, tell her the truth. But she's your friend. You know how possessive and angry she gets."

"I get your point."

"I can leave."

"Don't even start that."

"I can stay with Anna."

"Just go home. What's so wrong?"

"Abby is there all the time. She'll talk to me no matter what I do. She'll make me get mad at her because it turns her on." Susan couldn't help but laugh. "I'm serious. She gets this look in her eye when she argues. It's twisted. So, the more immune I get, the more drunk I get."

"You two really have issues."

"I'm through with you," he said with a childish glint in his eye.

"Don't say that too loud or rumors will start."

"They already have. I put my twenty bucks on how clueless they are."

"You're the clueless one."

He climbed up onto the desk and continued charting. Abby appeared and started talking to Susan.

"Why don't we all go out?" Susan suggested.

"Can we go someplace where I don't get in trouble?" Abby asked.

"You and Andrew pick. Carter and I will join."

"Susan will join," Carter corrected.

"We talked about this," she told him.

"No, you talked, I ignored. I'm not going out tonight."

"Why?" Abby asked.

"Aside form the fact that I have no recollection of last night, I just don't feel like getting drunk with people watching. Unless you'd like to join the after show. Or just watch?" he asked looking at her.

"Knock it off," Susan said.

"This was a long night," Pratt said walking up and interrupting their conversation.
"I had fun," Carter said.

"How?"

"It's a rush. My patients lived. I survived without an injury. Any day like that is a good day."

"You would enjoy it," Deb said.

"Déjà vu," Carter said as he turned up the radio.

"Now, a little Afternoon Delight in the evening, for Abby," the announcer said.

"You are such a cheater," Susan said.

"What are you talking about?" he asked. "I didn't do it."

"Pulling that stunt on another woman."

"I didn't do it," he said setting down his chart and getting off the counter, backing up as Susan advanced both ignoring the annoyed glance of Abby who couldn't believe this was happening again. Once out of ear shot, he said something silently to her, which caused her to erupt into laughter, which then caused the attention of admit. "It's okay. She just swallowed her gum," Carter said as they disappeared into the lounge.

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Author's Note: This wasn't how I planned this chapter to end but I think I like this ending better. Let me know what you think.