I decided to set myself a goal. If I had a goal to concentrate on then I wouldn't have to concentrate on anything else. My goal was to not cry. I didn't think I'd achieve it.

Abby and I rode in silence to the hospital. When we got there Susan was in tears. "I'm so sorry, Abby," she cried, throwing her arms around Abby. "I'm so sorry."

Abby mechanically put her arms around Susan. "It's OK. It's not your fault." Abby's voice was flat, emotionless.

"Where is she?" I asked.

"ICU," Susan said, wiping tears from her face.

"What happened?"

"She was . . . waiting for Abby," Susan said, her voice shaky. "She was looking out the window. I turned around to put some dishes away and I heard glass shatter, and I turned around and she was gone." Susan swallowed. "She's in the ICU."

Abby headed towards the elevator but I was rooted to the spot. Bry had fallen through a glass window, three stories, to the concrete below.

Abby turned around. "Are you coming?" she asked impatiently. I nodded and followed her.

When we opened the door to Bry's room I immediately lost all hope of achieving my goal; tears were streaming down my face. Bry's head was wrapped in gauze bandages, her right arm was in a cast, and her face was bloody and bruised.

"What's wrong with you?" Abby asked, coldly.

"Abby. . .our daughter. . ."

"Our daughter?" she spat. "You've known her for like three days Carter. Get a grip."

I stared at her as she marched out of the room. The room started to spin. I reached out for something to grab onto but there was nothing. Everything went black.

**************************

I sat by Bry's bed, just looking at her. She was so small and so pale. I couldn't believe I'd let this happen. I shouldn't have stayed the night at Carter's. I should have just gone home.

The door opened and I stood up. Dr. Freedman smiled at me. "Her vital signs are good," she said. "And so are her brain waves."

I nodded.

"She should wake up within the next twenty-four hours," she said. "If you have any questions or you need anything, don't hesitate to come and find me."

After she left I sat back down and kissed Bry very gently on the forehead. "You hear that?" I asked her. "You're gonna wake up."

Suddenly I wanted Carter with me. I felt bad for being so mean to him and I couldn't really blame him for leaving. But he should have stayed for Bryanne's sake.

I got up to go look out the window to see if maybe he was standing outside. That's when I noticed the blood on the floor.

I rushed out of the room and grabbed the first person I saw. "Where's John Carter?" I asked.

"Who?" the nurse asked me.

"The guy I came her with," I said.

"Oh," she said. "He fainted and hit his head," she said. "We took him down to the ER."

****************************

I looked through the window at Carter. He was sitting on a gurney and Susan was suturing his head. I sighed with relief.

"Hi," I said, opening the door. Carter shot me a nasty look. "Bry's gonna be OK," I said, smiling.

"Why are you telling me?" he asked, bitterly. "Why should I care? I only met her three days ago."

I looked at Susan, expecting her to chide him but she just glared at me. I bit my lip. "I'm sorry," I whispered.

Carter looked away. "All done," Susan said. She kissed Carter on the forehead and left without a word to me.

I sat down next to Carter. "I'm sorry," I said again.

He said nothing. I reached for his hand but he jerked it away. "Didn't we just decide last night that we were done hurting each other?" he asked.

I didn't say anything. I didn't know what to say that would make it better.

"All I ever wanted was for you to love me, Abby," he said. I could still hear anger in his voice. "But time after time you show me that I mean nothing to you."

"That's not true," I interjected.

"Then why do you insist on hurting me at every opportunity?" he asked, finally meeting my gaze.

"Because that's what I do." It was my turn to look away. "That's how I react when bad things happen. It has nothing to do with you. I just lash out at whomever is closest to me. And that's usually you."

"So I either have to learn to live with it or live without you?"

"I can try. . ." I started to cry. "I can try not to . . I'm so sorry John."

He put his arm around my shoulder. "The thing is," he said. "No matter how many times you hurt me, I'll always take you back."

I smiled at him through my tears. "And I'll always come back," I said, kissing him.

I was gonna end this sadly but then I decided I just couldn't bare anymore Carby sadness. I think that if every Carby lover in the world boycotts ER, then the writers will HAVE to make them get back together. Or maybe not. Anyway, review, as always!