Chapter 5

Abby slowly opened her eyes, one by one, and tried to focus on the room around her. For a moment, she was very confused. Where was she?

She then glanced across the room and saw the huge, crystal clear aquarium on it's oak stand. She was in Luka's apartment, on his couch. She shook her head, trying to clear the cobwebs taking up residence there. Pushing herself up on her hands and knees she strained to see blue illuminated numbers on his VCR. It read 3:02am.

"What the hell?" Abby looked down and saw that Luka had covered her with his wool afghan, and a pillow was placed under her head where she had just slept. Abby moaned, she had a headache. All she remembered was that after her and Luka embraced, they watched a TV movie in comfortable silence. She must have fallen asleep and he covered her up with the afghan and went to bed himself.

"Ugh, I have to be at work in three hours." Abby quietly pattered barefoot into the kitchen, looking for a pen and paper. Remembering how she had arranged the kitchen when Luka and her were going to move in together, Abby opened the drawer by the stove. Inside the pens and paper sat, obviously never been used. "Figures," Abby chuckled, "every time you do something basic such as setting up a message station, a guy never notices. I wonder how many calls I missed because Luka thought he would remember." She laughed quietly, she hadn't expected to see her package of paper and County General pen still in his kitchen drawer where she had left them almost two years previously.

She scribbled a quick thank you note for Luka, placed it on his coffee grinder where he was sure to see it in the morning, and carefully let herself out of his apartment.

Once out on the street, she headed in the direction of the El Station. Shivering in the crisp breeze, Abby pulled her suede jacket closer around her body. She rushed across the street and whipped up the stairs of the El. Once she was on the train, she let her head fall back against the window. She was so tired, but knew she would be very late for work if she stayed on Luka's couch, her uniform was at home.

Just as her eyes were drifting shut, a buzzing coming within her side bag caught her attention. Confused, Abby rooted through her bag finally realizing her cell phone was causing the disturbance. She looked at the call display on the blue face and was shocked to see it read, "Carter, John."

Her heart fluttered and she sat looking at the phone for nearly four rings before she decided to answer. "Hello? "

His voice on the other end of the line sounded very tired and defeated. "Abby? I've been calling you at home all night. Where have you been?

"Uh, I've been out."

"All night? What, you have a hot date?"

Abby rolled her eyes, "You are kidding right?"

"Yeah, uh sorry, that really isn't my business. Never mind. I just wanted to talk to you. I need to talk Abby, please, will you meet me?"

Abby sighed and looked at her watch, 3:30am. She realized it wouldn't really matter if she got a few extra hours of sleep or not, she was already awake. "Okay, can you meet me at Doc Magoos in five minutes?"

"I'm on my way, my shift just ended." With that, he hung up.

Abby closed her eyes again, what could be possibly want at 3:30 in the morning?

When Abby arrived at the quaint diner, she saw Carter motioning to her from the back booth. She asked the waitress for an herbal tea and joined him there. She sat down sitting across from him and looked over him carefully. He looked tired, he looked like he had been crying.

"Abby, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I know that doesn't make anything better but please, I never meant to hurt you. I've been so confused lately. Our relationship has been disintegrating, I feel like we never talk to one another any more. Something is always keeping us apart and I was feeling lonely one night, then I met Denise."

Abby looked down at her napkin throughout his whole speech, frustrated that tears were pooling in her tired eyes. She looked up at him. "Nothing is that dire in a relationship that you have to go look elsewhere, nothing. We should have talked about it, worked on it together."

"I know, and I know it will never be better. But for the sake of the baby, can we try to remain civil? I know nothing I have done should allow me that honour, but please Abby, let me know my child. Let him know that while I screwed up big time, both his parents will be there for him and can be in the same room at holidays without killing each other. Please Abby, that is all I'm asking." He cast his eyes downward, brushing what looked like a tear off his cheek.

Abby was stunned, she hadn't expected this display of raw emotion from Carter, especially since he seemed to have no feelings towards anyone but himself just hours ago. Her lower lip trembled, and a quiet sob wrenched it's way up her throat. She didn't want her child to be affected by the behaviour of their parents, even before they were born.

"Carter, I wouldn't dream of keeping you from the baby. While I cannot ever be in a relationship with you again, I won't deprive my child of his father."

Carter nodded, his face crumpling in tears. "Thank you Abby, thank you so much. I'm so sorry for everything, really I am." He got up and wrapped her in a big hug.

Abby was taken aback again by his compassion and hugged him back. "You'll be okay?"

He nodded, "I'm sorry, I'm just so tired right now. And I do understand that it would be for the best that we stay apart, but for the baby, he must know both of us. Thank you." He wiped his face, gathered his coat and walked outside towards his Jeep.

After he had drove off, Abby wiped her own face clean of the tears etching their way downward. She was glad her and Carter had made some sort of amends, even though she was still angry, hurt and betrayed by his infidelity. She did want the baby to know John as his father, but she knew that she could never trust him to be in a relationship again.

Abby paid for her tea and walked slowly back to the El station. It was 4:00 in the morning, she had to be at work by 6:00. Just enough time to go home, shower and get ready for work. Suddenly, she knew the whole situation would work out, she would make it work, for the sake of the child.