Disclaimer: I do not own the original ER characters, however I have made up a few of my own

Apprehension: Ready for More

~*~*~*~*~*~

"Me?" she asked looking up at him.

"Where all my other relationships have failed, ours has yet to go. I'm beginning to think that the strongest think I have going is celibacy."

Anna laughed. "I find that hard to believe. You can have a completely normal relationship and still have sex. It might cause more problems if you didn't."

"We've withstood it. And look at us now. Practically living in the same house, not fighting over anything, with a kid and we've never even attempted to enter anything physical."

"Because you're not ready," she told him.

"I'm not ready?" he asked with a smile.

"Right. Until you know what you really want, you're not ready."

"How do you know that I don't know what I want?" he asked.

"Please go to sleep. My shift starts in three hours."

"Fine. Go to bed. Avoid the subject," he mumbled as she snuggled up against him and her breathing deepened. He didn't even close his eyes.

~*~*~*~*~*~

"Good morning. "Carter said walking to admit with a cup of coffee.

"You're in a good mood," Susan pointed out.

"I guess so. Listen, we should talk later. Come find me," he said grabbing a chart and walking off.

"Who was that?" Pratt asked.

"Mr. Optimistic," Susan said.

"A guy is only that happy in the morning after he's been laid," Pratt said with the raise of an eyebrow.

"Do not start assuming things Pratt," Susan said walking off.

"You were pretty happy yourself when you walked in."

"There is nothing going on. How many times do I have to say it?" she asked.

As soon as his day started, it ended. Or at least shot down a little bit.

"Carter, phone," Frank called.

"Take a message."

"She says it's urgent."

"Who is it?" Carter asked. He erased a name off the board.

"She say she's your wife." Carter's hands stilled for a second. He knew the rumors would start now. He was silent as he picked up the phone.

"Wife?" Malik asked.

"You are a piece of work," Carter said into the phone. "No, you listen to me. From now on, do not expect me to be cooperative. I am sick of your childish attitude." He hung up the phone and sighed before picking it up again. "Hi. It's John Carter. Listen, I have a situation. Thanks." He hung up the phone. "Jerry, I'm expecting a man to be here in about ten. Page me the minute he gets here."

Carter grabbed a chart and walked off.

~*~*~*~*~*~

"I'm looking for Dr. Carter," Anna said as her and Avery walked into the ER.

"He's with a patient. Have a seat and fill out a chart."

"And Mr. Ernenzo in four is waiting to get his catheter removed. Mrs. Hillman is waiting for labs. Curtain two is waiting on a referral and trauma one is still on the vent after a near downing," Carter said as he handed the charts to Susan.

"What did you want to talk about?" she asked.

"Nevermind. I just want to get out of here."

"I heard about the call."

"Don't ask." He was erasing a name off the board when the rumors were sparked again.

"Dad," Avery said. He turned and looked at the girl. "What?" she asked when she was greeted with an unpleasant look.

"Nothing. I'm leaving," he told Susan.

"John, where are you staying?"

"In a box on Main Street," he told her as he walked off.

~*~*~*~*~*~

"What are you doing?" Anna asked when Carter's cold hand slowly found warmth with her skin.

"Your apartment is cold." His eyes remained fixed on the television.

"I told you, you're not ready," she told him.

"You have smooth skin."

"I'm warning you." His hand slowly traveled up and she saw hi eyebrows raise in curiosity.

"Dad?" Carter's hand quickly withdrew from under Anna's shirt at the sound of Avery. He turned on the couch.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't feel good." He climbed off the couch and placed a hand on her forehead.

"Anna can you get a thermometer?"

Within moments Avery was tucked back into bed, with cold medicine and a warm blanket. Anna disappeared to turn up the heat and he lay down on the couch, slowly closing his eyes. When she walked past him his hand shot out and he pulled her on top of him.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Continuing my search for warmth."

"John, we talked about this."

"Can you shut up?" he asked. She looked down at him silently. "Good. It's easier to do this when you're silent," he told her one-minute before he kissed her. Their first real kiss, first mutual kiss.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Author's Note: Please continue to R&R. I'm getting closer to the end. Hopefully everything will work itself out.