Believing
Chapter 2
Author's note: This is an AU Carby. It's set in the future and this second chapter is also told in Abby's point of view. *Flashbacks will be written in italics* I hope you enjoy it and that you review!!!
Thanks for all the reviews! They really encouraged me to start writing this chapter as soon as possible! Thanks!! :)
Disclaimer: I don't know anything you recognize from ER, though I really wish I owned John Carter, or at least be able to borrow him for a while :)
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It all began on a beautiful Saturday morning. The kind of day you'd never think could change your life for the worse. John was having breakfast at the kitchen table in a hurry so he wouldn't be late for work while I tried to get the children to stop playing for a minute so they could have theirs. I finally managed to do so and the four of us sat at the table...
"Daddy..." a now six years old Olivia whined, "it's Saturday!".
"I know that sweetie", John said sighing.
"Then why are you going to work?" she aked him, giving him the puppy eyes she had gotten from him.
"Because I'm going to work Auntie Susan's shift today".
"Why?" three year old John piped in smiling, sporting a cute milk mustache on his face.
"Because she's going to have her baby really soon and she can't work anymore" John answered looking at his clock. He then looked at me pleadingly. I shrugged at him and he turned back to our kids.
"How about we make a deal?" he asked them, "you let me go to work now, and when I get home tonight you guys choose something for all of us to do."
"Anything?" Olivia asked excitedly. I looked at John warningly knowing what was coming.
"Yes, anything" John asked shrugging apologetically at me.
"Chuck E. Cheese!" shouted Johnny gleefully, clapping his hands. I glared at John. I just can't stand that place.
John laughed at me while he said goodbye to the kids. Then he approached me smiling sheepishly, and I instantly forgave him for the torture I thought I would endure that night.
"I'm sorry sweetie" he told me, "I'll make it up to you."
"You better" I said and then kissed him goodbye.
He smiled at me before turning to leave.
And that is the last time I've seen John smile. It's ironic that looking back on that day I really wish we had made it to Chuck E. Cheese for dinner.
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After John left, after some begging and a handful of puppy eyes, I was somehow convinced to join my children in a game of hide and seek. John had insisted he could seek, and he was trying to find us unsuccessfully when the phone started ringing.
"Mommy!" John called me from the kitchen, "Auntie Deb's on the phone". I left my hiding spot behind the living room's couch and saw John running towards me laughing.
"Found you!" he said truimphantly, his blue eyes sparkling. I smiled at him.
"Of course you did," I told him, "you're too good at this." He smiled proudly and followed me into the kitchen.
"Deb?" I asked picking up the phone, "I thought you were working today."
"I am Abby" she said, and the tone of her voice gave me a terrible feeling.
"Is something wrong?" I asked getting a bit worried.
"There's been an accident, John was involved..." she started, and I felt my insides go cold.
"Is he ok?" I cut her off.
"His injuries are only minor, but I think you should come here as soon as possible. He's not taking what happened very well."
"What happened?" I asked part relieved he wasn't badly hurt, part completely scared at Jing-Mei's voice.
"A car drove past a red light, I think John tried to avoid the crash, so he swerved, but he hit another car instead. It was pretty bad for the family in that car. The only survivor is the father."
"Oh God" I said, "I'll be right there, ok?" I had trouble putting the phone back in its place, my hands were trembling so much. I turned and I saw Olivia and John looking at me.
"Where are we going?" asked Olivia at the same time John asked "Is daddy ok?"
I took a deep breath trying to calm myself enough to speak.
"We're going to the hospital" I started, and was amazed at how steady my voice was, "Daddy had an accident, and he got a bit hurt. We're going to the hospital to pick him up."
"Did he get a cast?" John asked.
"I don't know, maybe" I told him.
"If he did, can we sign it?" asked Olivia.
"We'll see, ok?" I told them trying to end the conversation so we could leave. "Now come on, put on your coats, we're going out."
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The drive to Cook County was awful. I could barely concentrate on the road. All I could think about was getting to John. When we finally arrived I got the kids out of the car as fast as I could without worrying them and we entered the ER. Randi was at the main desk and she quickly offered to take care of the kids while I saw John.
"I'm going to see how daddy is." I told them, "You guys stay here with Auntie Randi and be good"
"I want to see daddy too" Olivia said stubbornly.
"You'll see him in a bit, ok?" I told her and she nodded. I turned and saw Deb approching.
"Hey" she said, "he's in Exam two." I thanked her and rapidly walked towards said exam room. I stopped at the door and took a deep breath. I didn't know what to expect. I finally opened the door and went in.
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If I had known what state John would be in when I entered that exam room, I would have stayed outside it for much longer trying to prepare myself for it. It would have been useless anyway. Preparing yourself for what I saw, is just impossible.
John was sitting on the gurney. His left arm was in a cast, and his forehead showed some stitches on its right side. He was shirtless and you could see some angry bruises across his chest. What made me stop dead on my tracks weren't any of his injuries though. It was the look in his eyes.
John's eyes were always so full of emotion. It could be joy, anger, sadness, confusion, but you could always see it in his eyes. And at that moment his eyes were blank, his expression empty. He was just staring ahead, looking at nowhere in particular. His face didn't turn to me when I walked in.
"John?" I called him, hoping he would look at me. He just continued staring ahead.
"You're here" he said tonelessly.
"Are you ok?" I asked him, knowing he was far from it.
"I'm fine" he told me and he finally looked at me, but his expression didn't change. "Can we go home now?"
"Yes" I said, getting a little closer to him, to help him. But he just stood up and walked with a bit of difficulty to the ther side of the exam room, where a scrub top was laying. He took it and put it on.
"Let's go then" he said and walked out of the exam room with me following closely behind.
I should have known the nightmare our lives would soon turn into was just starting.
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To be continued....if you review :)
mmm....I dunno if I liked this very much, but it'll get better I promise. I think there'll be about 3-5 more chapters. I don't know for sure yet ;)
I want to thank you guys again for all the feedback, it was incredible!! :) :) If you review this chapter like that as well, I'll be thankful forever and I'll try to update very soon!
*Ariana*