Jo & Lise
Part Eleven:
"You sure you're not too tired to go to work?" Abby fussed as they walked down the drive together, hand in hand. After debating whether or not they should call a taxi, or ask Hubert to take them to county, they'd decided a walk to the El station would do them good. And give them a chance to catch up.
"Stop fussing, you're not my wife yet." He winked at her, making sure she knew he was joking. "Anyway, I could ask you the same question, if you know what I mean..."
"I was not talking about that!" She rolled her eyes at him. "I mean, you've been travelling the last two days."
"Yeah, to get back to you. And now I'm here, I'm not going anywhere." Abby sighed sadly. "What's wrong?"
"You said that before. Do you remember, when Eric was arrested?" He nodded. "What happened to us John? We screwed ourselves up so badly." He squeezed her hand tightly. "We were going so good, and then everything got completely out of hand. I pushed you away, I did stupid things...and you did a bit of the same. We practically broke up. How did we let that happen?"
"I don't know," he replied sadly. "But we're together now."
"How could that happen though? When I've never loved anyone in my life like I love you."
"Say that again?"
"Say what?"
"I love you, Abby." She smiled, realising what he'd meant, and relishing the moment, the first moment he'd said those words to her face to face.
"I love you too." A grin spread across his face, and he stopped in the middle of the track. Turning to face her, he bent down and kissed her gently yet passionately. When they pulled apart, both were still grinning. "I'm going to say that more often now."
"I hope you do." He took her hand back in his, and began walking again. "You know, that's all that matters. We had a rough patch, and it totally sucked. But we love each other, surely there's nothing else to it?"
***
"How's it going?" Abby asked Carter as she entered the lounge.
"Good. Except if I get asked how Luka is one more time I might strangle that person."
"They just care," Abby laughed, joining him by the coffee maker. "We all thought he was dead, you know."
"I know, so did I." He wrapped an arm around her waist as he waited for the coffee to be ready. "What about you, how was your morning?"
"Err, apart from the fact Romano's been on my back all day, it's been okay."
"Only okay?"
"Yeah, it actually sucks a bit...this guy kept on grabbing me for a quick kiss."
"Oh really? Should I be worried about this?" He laughed, lovingly playing with her hair.
"I'm not sure. He seemed pretty eager. Couldn't keep his hands off me." His hand moved down her back, rubbing it gently. "It looks like he still can't."
"I wouldn't have guessed." He leant in towards her, kissing her gently on the lip, teasing her, his hand still rubbing circles on her back. "Question is, do you mind this guy being a bit eager?"
"That would depend..." He kissed her passionately, before drawing away slightly to gauge her reaction. "No, I don't mind one bit." This time she initiated the kiss, pulling herself as close to him as possible. "I love you," she managed to mumble in a moment when they parted slightly for air. As soon as she'd got the words out, his lips were back against hers.
"Oh please!" Their moment was interrupted as the door was slammed open. They pulled apart slightly, and glanced towards the door where Romano stood. "If I wanted Romeo and Juliet I'd rent the video!" He turned, and made his way back out of the door.
"Do you think he came in just so he could have a go at us?" Abby queried.
"I have no idea, but it's not going to stop me." Once again he bent down so his lips met hers.
"Dr. Carter!" They pulled apart once again.
"I guess Romano won't let us off that easily." He stepped away from her, brushing a hand against her cheek as he did so. "I'll see you later."
"Yeah, I'm sure you will," she laughed as he left the room.
***
"Hey Man! How's Kovac?" Pratt asked sauntering into the lounge, where Carter lay tiredly across the couch.
"He's good. He's being looked after well with one of the nurses I was telling you about."
"Cool. You off?"
"Yeah, just waiting for Abby to finish up..."
"So all that chick-trouble has been sorted?"
"Yeah...we're getting married!" He smiled happily; not even tiredness could mask his joy.
In reply Pratt grinned, "D'ya know that two of three marriages end in divorce?"
"Oh very funny..." Carter looked as though someone had slapped him.
"Naaah, I'm only kidding Dr. C! You'd better hang on to her ya know! You're one lucky guy!"
"Ha. Thanks. I'll be telling Deb..."
***
"Where are we going?" Abby queried as they exited the ER together.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean are we going to the house or to my apartment tonight?" He shrugged. "Come on, you choose!"
"Well, there is a lot of space in the house with no one to hear us...as long as we tell Hubert and Annie not to disturb us." She giggled, hitting him playfully on the arm.
"Sounds good to me, come on you!"
***
"Here we are then," he announced as they stepped into the hallway.
"Yup." She looked around, grinning, before reaching towards him and kissing him.
"Nice." He reached his arms around her, pulling her closer to him. She relaxed in his touch for a moment, before he suddenly started tickling her.
"Carter!" she yelled through her giggles, pulling away from him, keeping her distance. "What are you doing?"
"Tickling you." He grinned wickedly at her, causing her to squeal, and turn hurriedly towards the stairs. "Where are you going?"
"Away from you!" She ran up the stairs, quickly followed by him.
"Abigail Lockhart, come here!" he called out as he chased her.
"No way. If you tickle me John Carter I swear I'll make sure our marriage never produces any children." He stopped in his tracks staring after her.
"Children?"
"Figure of speech." He stood still momentarily, biting his lip and thinking about the prospect of what she'd just unwittingly brought up. "Okay, I know I said not to get me, but doesn't standing still kind of defeat the point?" She was back at the top of the stairs now, watching him.
"Ah no, I gave up on that. Stupid idea anyway."
"Oh, okay." She began to step slowly back down the stairs. When she got closer he charged at her, pulling her into his arms and tickling her viciously. "No! Stop it! John!" she screamed loudly, squirming about in his arms. After a sufficient amount of squealing he stopped, just holding her close to him. "This isn't a trick is it?"
"No," he replied, before leaning down and kissing her. "Abby, let's get married."
"We are, silly!" she laughed, holding up her ringed finger.
"No, I mean now. Tonight. We've waited too long already to get to this point. Marry me."
"Tonight?" she echoed, pulling away from his embrace. He studied her face intently, trying to guess at what she was thinking. It wasn't particularly difficult. He knew her so well, the look of shock mingled with a frightened little girl was evident.
"Oh it doesn't matter. It was just something said in the moment." He replied coolly.
"Its not that I don't want to, you know I do! It's just..."
"Really? Well your face said different then. Do you really want to marry me at all? Or is it the house you fell in love with... all of this" he spread his arms around gesturing towards the vast hallway...
She stared at him blankly for a second, and rolled her eyes. "Did you really just ask that Carter? I think I'd better go, or you'll start question me even being near you. "How can you even ask that? That was the lowest remark I've heard you make, and I've heard quite a few recently. I wouldn't care if you didn't have a single possession to your name and you know that. Here..." she tugged the ring off her finger and placed it on the hall table.
"Abby..." She glared at him pointedly, before turning to make her way towards the large doorway. "Abby." She didn't dare turn around to look at him. She could already feel herself beginning to cry. The last two weeks had been so emotional, she didn't think she'd ever cried so much in her life. She was like an emotional wreck.
"See you at work," she managed to say with a strong voice, glad she didn't crack. The tears welled up in her eyes. Dammit Abby, she thought, don't do this. Don't let him get to you. But the truth was, he always got to her. Because she was so in love with him, every little thing he said got inside of her. Every snide, rude comment hurt her. And every compliment or loving comment made her feel warm and loved.
"Abby. Wait." He was inside her skin, and no matter how hard either one of them tried she couldn't get him out. She sighed, and turned around slowly to look at him. The tears glistened in her eyes, and she could see he'd noticed. "Oh Abby." He stepped towards her, and pulled her into his arms, kissing the top of her head. "I'm such an idiot. I should have lost you so long ago. I don't deserve to have you keep coming back to me, yet for some reason you do."
"It's because I love you," she mumbled into his chest.
"I love you too." Once again he kissed the top of her hair, before she looked up at him.
"You're beginning to sound a bit like me." The sound of his laugh sent a shiver down her spine, and she couldn't help smiling. They must have taken a big step recently, if they could get back from an argument this quickly. She remembered the endless anger and separation that they'd gone through at various times over the last few months, and she was glad they'd got past it. Once more she smiled at him. "Dinner?" He grinned at her wickedly.
"Dessert."
***
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