Please let us know what you think! :)
Jo & Lise xx
Part Ten:
"You're okay with this Gillian?! It's a huge thing to do..."
"I'm a nurse John, its what I do," she replied boredly.
"Its not just normal nursing though is it? Its the cycles of the disease, the sweating, shivering..." He trailed off, paused by the very look on her face.
"You're going back to Chicago right?! He can hardly travel with you!"
"I've already told you, I can stay."
"No, John. I'm going to do this, and you need to go home... you don't belong here. You belong in Chicago, doing what you're best at."
"What pretending situations like this don't happen? Thinking that the worst thing that could happen is my Jeep breaking down?"
"I didn't say that - you know deep down what I mean."
So that's how he found himself, back on the plane to Chicago, back home at last.
***
"I am exhausted!" Susan exclaimed, as she joined Abby in the lounge at the end of their shift. "Starting at eleven is a nice lie in, but it does mean you don't get to finish till eleven at night."
"Tell me about it," Abby laughed, pulling her coat out of the locker.
"Hey, is that the ring?!" Susan exclaimed, grinning widely. "I thought I saw something earlier, but I wasn't sure if I was going mad."
"Yeah, I thought I may as well go get it, since..." She trailed off as Kerry entered the room.
"Oh, hi Kerry." Susan turned to Abby, seeking her approval, and received a roll of the eyes. Taking that as a yes, she grinned widely and took Abby's hand in hers. "Look at this." She thrust Abby's hand forward, displaying the ring. "They're getting married at last!"
"Thank you Susan," Abby muttered. She wasn't exactly ready to tell everyone, when John wasn't even back yet.
"Congratulations Abby." Kerry turned to the coffee machine, beginning to pour a cup.
"Err...do you want to come out and celebrate with me and the soon to be Mrs. Carter?" Susan offered, much to Abby's surprise.
"I only got on two hours ago."
"Ah, graveyard shift." Susan nodded, still giving a friendly smile. "Well, we'll see you tomorrow then." She grabbed Abby's arm, and led her to the door. Once outside in the ambulance bay they stopped. "So, what do you say we celebrate? You, me, a pizza, a bottle of cherryade and a chick flick?"
"Cherryade?" Abby raised an eyebrow.
"It makes me hyper."
"Right..." They both stood in silence for a moment.
"Well?"
"What? Oh, yeah...you know, I'm a bit tired. I might just go home. Sorry Susan." Susan nodded, masking the disappointment she felt. "Another time, yeah?" Abby made her way to the El station, certain of where she was going.
"Er, Abby?" Susan stopped her. "That train will take you the wrong way for your apartment!"
"Right..." She laughed, as if it were an honest mistake, and walked towards the other platform. "See you tomorrow Susan," she called as her friend walked off the other way.
Hiding herself in the crowd on the stairs, she waited until Susan was out of sight, before rushing back down and up to the platform she'd previously been headed for. Once there, she boarded the first El train to arrive, and sat down, staring out the window as it rushed through Chicago. She smiled to herself as the reached the right stop, and got off, before beginning the twenty minute walk.
When she reached her destination, she stopped at the end of the drive and knocked on the door of the little house there. Anneliese came to the door, and smiled widely when she saw who it was.
"Abby! Do come in dear!"
"Who is it Annie?" she could hear Hubert call from the back room.
"It's Abby." Hubert made his way out to the front of the house.
"Lovely to see you again dear. Can we get you something?"
"Actually, I just wanted to let you know I'm staying at the house tonight, so I didn't worry you."
"Oh, how considerate! Isn't that considerate, Hubert?" Anneliese enthused. "What a lovely polite fiancé John has!" Abby noticed the use of his first name, instead of 'Dr. Carter' now that they were in their own house, as if they had to be more careful around the mansion.
After saying her goodbyes, and having to refuse several cups of tea, Abby made her way up the long drive to the house.
***
"I can't believe I never saw that before!" Abby exclaimed as the credits of Oceans Eleven rolled up.
"Me either. Sorry it didn't quite fit with the promised 'chick flick'."
"I'm not so sure...there was some pretty nice eye candy there." She winked at her friend. "George Clooney..."
"Hey, you're an engaged woman!" Susan laughed.
"Yeah, and I'm going to make the most of it." She winked once again, and both burst out laughing. "Right, I'd better get going then." She pulled herself up from the sofa. "Is it okay if I use the phone to call a taxi?"
"Sure. But do you have to leave so early?"
"Sorry." Abby picked the phone up, dialling the number of the taxi company that she now held in her hand. "Hi, could I have a taxi please? From Rights Street. Yeah, that's the one. It'll be to the Carter mansion, you know on the outskirts of town? Yes sure, thank you!" She hung up the phone and turned around to see Susan staring at her. "What?"
"You're going to the mansion?"
"Yeah. I stayed there last night, and the night before."
"Isn't it a bit...lonely?"
"Well I have Hubert and Anneliese down the end of the drive, who are lovely." Susan raised an eyebrow. "Old housekeepers. And I feel lonelier if I stay at my place because...well, the mansion's his. It helps me feel a bit closer to him while he's over the other side of the world getting himself killed."
"Aww!" Susan couldn't help an enormous grin spreading across her face. "You are so sweet. And totally in love." She smiled sadly now. "Do you have any idea how jealous I am right now?"
"Try George Clooney," Abby winked. "I've heard he's rather nice..."
***
A light flicked on in the small gatehouse as he walked slowly down the large gravelled driveway, lumbered by the large holdall.
"Dr. Carter?!" the female voice called uncertainly.
"Hey Annie! Still a light sleeper as ever?!"
"You know me, Dr. Carter... better than any security guard. Mind you, my Hubert wouldn't be much good - not even ravaging wolves could wake him!" The small homely lady rambled on, her voice trickling in one ear, and out the other.
"Oh and my the way... your young wife to be is up at the house, has been quite a lot since your departure! Hubert and I were only saying the other day..."
"Abby's here?!" He asked cutting through her.
"Yes, dear. I expect you'll be wanting to be off joining her?"
"I expect I will! Night Annie!"
***
He stood at the foot of the bed, discarding his jacket and bag messily on the floor. There was something that felt more than right about watching her fast asleep in his old t-shirt, his duvet wrapped tightly around her. He stood examining every inch of her, taking in every minuscule detail, as if she would suddenly disappear beneath him.
It was then he saw a slight sparkle on her finger, beneath her fanned out blonde hair. "Hey..." he whispered softly, kneeling down at the bedside.
She murmured, twisting around in her sleep. At once he regretted trying to wake her from her peaceful dreams.
Her hand slid out from beneath the cover, and turned his face back towards her. She smiled, her eyes portraying the joy she felt at being reunited with him. He didn't have to ask why she was there, he didn't need to, because he knew exactly it was craving contact in his absence in any way, shape or form.
He nodded down towards the ring, and raised an eyebrow.
"Well, you're home aren't you?" She stated as if indifferent.
"I suppose I am..."
She grinned at him once more, and kissed him with all the hunger and passion that had been building up towards him. He had no hesitation in returning the gesture, tracing the path she laid.
He clambered up beside her in the bed, content to hold her in his arms, all night.
That was how they lay for several minutes. Her head placed beneath his chin, his arm placed loosely, but protectively around her waist.
"Abby..."
"Yup?"
"Doesn't Abby Carter sound weird?!"
"It sounds like two first names!" she giggled.
"How about Abigail Carter?!"
"Now that sounds classy!"
They lay in silence, tiredness descending upon them.
"Abby?!" She jumped, awoken from her daze.
"Carteeeeeeer," she moaned, prodding him with her foot.
"Oooooh!" He moaned in reply.
"Oh please! That did not hurt!"
"No, but your feet are freezing!"
They both laughed, her at the indignant tone of his voice, him at her laughter.
***
Please review, you know how much we love it! :-D Thanks for all the reviews so far. ;) We hope you enjoyed the fuzziness of this chapter! :)