Disclaimer: I do not own ER. I am making no profit.

Chapter Nine: More Than You Know

He stared out the window, there wasn't anything particular running through his mind. There hadn't been for the last three days. Every few minutes he would glance to the bed on the right of him. Every few minutes he would fight back the tears that so desperately wanted to fall. When fighting got to hard he would give in to the emotional storm rolling inside of him.

It had been a miracle that the supply plane was there when they returned. It was a miracle that she remained remotely stable as he hastily made the journey of getting her to Paris. There was only one more miracle he was waiting on. It was one he desperately longed for. They had been there at the hospital for almost two days now. He knew there was no way of truly knowing the extent of her injuries. It was a guessing game, especially after the time gap between her assault and him finding her. It was sunny outside, and he resented that. He resented seeing it, he shouldn't have let them go alone. He shouldn't have gone to the embassy. He didn't deserve to be sitting by her hospital bed. He knew she wouldn't agree him. He could hear her telling him it was her choice, not his. He lightly smiled for the first time since finding them.

She turned her head to see him staring out the window. She tried to smile as she noticed how disheveled he was. God she loved him. She really did, sure it was a plutonic love now, but it was love no less. As she stared at him she couldn't imagine her life with out him. He was the closest thing she had to family.

He turned his head to check on her once again, only to be startled by her staring right back. "Shit."

"Hey " She weakly stated, trying to raise her hand into the air.

"How long have you been awake?" He asked as he scooted his chair close to her bed and gently grabbed her hand.

"Not long." She answered. Instead of answering he placed her hand on his face and sighed. Silent tears rolled down his cheeks. "Hey." She stated in response to his tears.

"I'm so glad you woke up." He said as he laid her hand down and wiped his tears.

"My face hurts like hell."

"That's all that does?" He asked with a faint smile.

"No not really." She replied, as she tried to smile the pain shot through her face. "What the hell happened?"

"I don't know." He replied. "You didn't come back, and the next morning we went to look for you guys." He stopped there.

"John."

"I know." He replied without her finishing the sentence. "You should try to rest. We'll talk later."

……….

An hour had gone by, John didn't take his eyes off of her now. He couldn't explain the joy of seeing her looking at him. He knew the next time she woke up there would be questions. Some he, unfortunately, could answer. He dreaded that conversation, god did he ever.

……….

"Carter." She called as she opened her eyes.

"Hey."

"What's happening?" She asked.

"We're in Paris." He replied.

"What am I doing here?"

"Abby," He stated, moving to where his face was directly above hers. "You were attacked, you were on your way to…"

"There was a man." Abby stated with urgency. "I saw him lying on the ground." The tears began to well up in her eyes. "We got out. He was alive. I told Ethan to….Oh my god, Ethan." The tears began to fall now, one right after the other. "He's dead isn't he?"

"I'm so sorry Abby." John stated, once again grabbing her hand. "I'm so sorry." He repeated, the tears falling from his face as well.

They both sat there silently, both still crying. "John." Abby said.

"What?"

"Do you know what happened? I know you said you didn't before, but I know you know something."

"It was the same terrorist cell as before, from that day in the village. The man you found was leaking information to the authorities. He had tried to escape."

Abby didn't reply. There wasn't much to say. She knew the risks before she left, she just didn't think anything would ever happen. "So what's happening?" She asked.

"Right now?" He asked.

"The extent of my injuries, how long am I going to be here, what is happening with Ethan?"

"Ethan's body is already back in America. You have five broken ribs, one of which slightly punctured your liver. It probably would have healed itself, but I told them to go in. You have eight facial fractures, most of the swelling has gone down. Now your just black and blue. You should be here another couple of days and then we'll head back to Chicago."

"Yeah." Abby replied. "I don't feel so well." She stated.

"I know." John replied as he pushed her hair out of her face. "Get some rest." He added as he kissed her forehead. "I'm going to stay right here."

"I love you John."

"I love you to Abby."

……….

"Ssshhh!" Susan demanded as she plugged one ear. "Go ahead John." She stated. "uh huh, uh huh, got it. I'll be there."

"What?" Kerry asked.

"Abby woke up. She's going to be fine. They'll be flying in tomorrow night." Susan said with a light tone of joy.

"That's wonderful." Neela stated.

"So I guess she'll back in to work on Monday." Pratt said with smile.

"Ha Ha." Susan replied.

……….

"There they are!" Susan yelled as she saw them coming off the plane.

"Calm down honey." Chuck jokingly stated as his wife began to wave.

"Abby!" She stated as she went to hug.

"Lightly." Abby stated as she flinched.

"I know." Susan replied. "God you look bad."

"Hey." Abby replied.

"Hey Susan." John stated as he leaned in and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Hey." She replied.

"So I hear I'm going to be in the guest room." Abby said.

"Yeah." Susan replied. "Since your apartment is still rented out."

"Right."

"Everyone from the ER says hello, to the both of you. And Carter they want you to squeeze in a few shifts before you go back."

"Of course."

"You ready?" Susan asked.

"More than you know." Abby replied.

……….

"Knock 'em dead tonight." Haleh stated as Abby was leaving the ER.

"As always." she replied as she continued to exit the ER.

The explorer was waiting outside in the ambulance bay for her. "Hey Sam, your on time for once."

"It's a fluke." He replied with a smile.

"Ready?" She asked.

"As always."

……….

"There are some pictures I'd like to show you." She stated as she looked back at the image that flashed onto the large screen. "This is a boy named Jonah, he's had a life threatening heart condition. He's also where this story begins."

THE END

Author's Note: I hope you all enjoyed this small tale, and perhaps the story will pick up with Abby's future endeavors to help those in Africa, and Chicago!