We'll Always Remember

Author's Notes: Well it's not been quite so long this time. And, by some amazing miracle, I'm actually fairly pleased with this chapter. I've deviated somewhat from the angst, and I'd hazard a guess at this chapter being 99.9% fuzzy so…enjoy it while it lasts!! No, just joking – I'm not actually going in for the heavy angst. So sit back and enjoy the ride…! Umm just a quick mention to my ever-amazing beta, Brooke – you never get any less enthusiastic and…basically just thank you! Don't think I could've written this chapter (or any of the story in fact) without you hunny! So it's appreciated! Right I won't bore you to tears so basically any feedback is appreciated – surrender_something@hotmail.com if you don't feel like leaving a review. And just…enjoy. Because that's why I'm writing this.

Disclaimer: You know the score. I don't own them, I'm not pretending to own them, I have no chance in hell of owning them, to be perfectly honest I wouldn't actually want the responsibility of owning them…I'm just borrowing them for the purpose of this story. No damage will be caused.

Characters: John Carter/Abby Lockhart…with a bit of Susan Lewis definitely planned (she appears in the next chapter), and I'm sure that others will creep in at some point in the near future.

Rating: I'm gonna go with PG-13, although at the moment it's probably only PG. Like I said, I have plans for this story…

Spoilers: Nothing after "The Letter"/"On The Beach". Forget all about the events of "Lockdown"/the whole of series 9.

Summary: the tale of a friendship progressing into something much more, told through a series of poignant firsts charting discoveries about each other, their relationship...and love.

Enjoy!!

Chapter 4: Falling Into Place

You know, the prospect of sitting alone, watching a movie is somewhat depressing – it's the sort of thing you dream about, giving up a Saturday night out to curl up on the sofa with that someone special, watching some slushy film…

It's every girls fantasy, right? Or is that just the strange part of my brain working overtime again?

Well, whatever way you look at it, it sucks.

If only Susan and Deb weren't working. I could really do with some company…and offhand I can't actually think of anyone else who'd enjoy the prospect of sitting down and watching the film I have in mind…

"Would you mind if we…skipped the whole restaurant opening thing? I just don't think I…"

"There are other nights. In fact, it'd probably be better to go once the place is a little more…established, don't you reckon…? You should go home, have a long bath and just curl up. Relax, pamper yourself, whatever."

"Thank you…I just…"

"You don't need to thank me. Just…call me if you need a shoulder to cry on or some company…anything"

Hmm. Tempting. Very tempting, if only to see the look on his face when he realises what film I'd plan on torturing him with. And anyway, I took him up on the first part of his suggestion – the whole long bath thing, and that worked wonders…so why not try his final idea…

I mean, he loves to be right, so why shouldn't he be here to see that he is. And it'd just be so funny! Yeah, I'll call him. It's not as if he's bad company or anything!

Sad, isn't it, that I already know his home number off by heart…and his cell at that! Who would've thought it, Abby Lockhart memorising some guy's number…

'John Carter speaking…'

'John? It's Abby'

'Hey! What's up?' he asks, and I smile at the sound of his voice – it's silly isn't it, that even a simple greeting from him can cheer me up.

'Well I was just wondering if your offer from earlier still stands…?'

'What, the shoulder to cry on?' you know I think he's already got an air of I was right about him…god knows what he's gonna be like when he's actually here!

'Nooo, just the company part. I'm not sitting here in tears, despite whatever twisted image you may have in your mind!'

'You honestly think I sit here imagining you crying? I'm hurt, Abby' he retorts, mock-hurt momentarily changing his voice.

'With you John, anything is possible! So do you fancy coming round? I've got a movie…and popcorn' I add, knowing that'll be the deciding remark.

'I'm there…see you in fifteen minutes?'

'Sure. I'm not going anywhere!'

'By the way…what film is it?' Ah. This is where the fun begins.

'Well…that's for me to know and you to find out in…fifteen minutes! Bye!'

Oh this is going to be fun. So very, very fun!

'Hi…'

'Hey. How're you holding up?' he asks, making no attempt to move from his position, the doorframe his substitute for a leaning post. I smile, holding out a steady hand for his inspection.

'No shaking, no tears, no stupid little hang-ups' I inform him, watching as he visibly casts his mind back to the last time we were in this situation…

God, the man's so easy to read. This could prove to be to my advantage!

'Just feeling a little lonely?' Damnit. I guess I'm not exactly that hard to read myself. Advantage to Abby? Nope, we're even again.

'Something like that, yeah. Come in' I add, gesturing for him to walk past me. He sorta collapses onto the sofa, looking perfectly at home…

Aww. Such a Kodak moment! And my god, when did I get so sappy? We'll have to work on that.

'Make yourself comfortable…' I add, following that with a teasing, 'no, wait, you already have' He gives me that oh-so-sarcastic look of his, and I settle myself cross-legged next to him, balancing the bowl of popcorn in my lap as I stretch across for the remote.

'So what're we watching anyway?' he asks casually, snatching a handful of popcorn before I can slap his hand away. Quick too…I can see I'm going to have to watch this doctor very carefully.

However…I knew we'd get onto the subject of the film sooner rather than later. And I can tell you one thing, I'm looking forward to this conversation – just seeing the expression on his face will make my evening!

'Umm…okay, John, bear in mind that I picked this out to watch on my own…'

'And I'm meant to interpret that to mean that I'm gonna hate it, right?'

'Uhh…yeah, pretty much' I counter quickly, laughing. I don't know, I could have him all wrong – I've just never considered him to be a Patrick Swayzee fan! But then again, he never ceases to amaze me so…

We'll see.

'Okay, 'fess up Abby. What's your method of torture this time?' Ouch. Now that hurt. Best to get this over with quickly.

'Dirty Dancing'

Priceless. Completely, totally and utterly priceless. The guy is a gem in the facial expression department. It's like a film playing in slow motion…his jaw drops, eyes widen and eyebrows rise as he begins to shake his head, slowly and emphatically.

'No. No, no, no, no…no. Abby please tell me this is one of your cruel little jokes devised to fuel your somewhat strange imagination?'

'Um, how about…no. Sorry to disappoint!'

'Where's the fairness in that?' he queries, as I produce the box to prove my point. I roll my eyes.

'I'm the one who had a bad day…I'm the one who needs a comfort film! So, therefore, my choice! And I pick this' he only smirks at my justifications, taking a moment to come up with an argument of his own.

'I'm keeping you company, saving you from an evening of solitude. The least you could do is provide me with a half-decent film to watch!'

'This is a decent film! It's got a good plot, good actors, good songs…'

'Old songs' he corrects smugly, and I poke my tongue out at him – it may be childish, it may be immature, but it's a damn good insult in my mind!

'Old songs are good, especially in context. And, y'know, if you're not going to actually pay attention to the storyline I could always…sing along…'

Game, set and match – Abby Lockhart. Let's be honest, John Carter never really stood a chance. Not that he'd ever tell you that!

'Okay, okay you win. I'll watch…but I'm not happy about this! And I will get my revenge sooner or later!'

'Oooh don't tell me…when I'm least suspecting it right? That's so cliché, especially coming from you! You want the classic response, "ooh I'm so scared"?' I query, putting on the most exaggerated, sarcastic voice I can manage.

'You underestimate my powers Abby' he mutters, pulling a hurt face…which only causes me to laugh more! Stupid reflex responses…one of these days I'll laugh when he's really hurt.

'Hum yeah, those superpowers you inherited at birth, right?'

'Don't mock me!'

'Who's mocking?!' I retort innocently, pressing play on the remote and settling back into the cushions before he starts…I don't know a pillow fight or something. 'Now sit, shush and watch the film'

'Yes nurse'

'I said shut up!'

'You still look kinda tense' he offers, his mouth just a little too close to my ear. You know for a moment there I was proud of him – he'd sat through an entire forty-five minutes of the film without making any snide comments…actually without making any comments at all. I was just starting to think he might be enjoying it…!

But then again, it is John Carter we're talking about here.

'A little. You know how it is, bad days tend to take a little while to go away…' well, y'know, I have seen the film God knows how many times before – I'm sure I can talk and keep up with the plot at the same time – I mean, us women are renowned for our skill in the art of multi-tasking!

'What happened in the end, you know, with Adam? He asks, dropping his hands to my shoulders and applying just enough pressure to move me to the position he wants me to be in, before starting a gentle massage…

And there we have it. Proof that this man does have magic hands. I always suspected it, I just never knew for certain…until now that is!

'They placed him in temporary care until they can "further assess the situation"' I quote automatically, tilting my neck forward a little as his hands move to the top of my back.

'Maybe that's for the best?'

'They didn't even look for another family member. An aunt, uncle, anyone he was familiar with…don't you think he at least deserved that? I just…' I stumble, feeling that all-too-familiar sensation of tears burning my eyes. I shake my head, as if to magic them away. Damn me getting too involved again.

'You know, you wouldn't be the nurse you are today if you didn't get too involved now and again. And I know you feel you didn't help him enough, but you gave him someone he could trust, which was what he needed then. So…just don't think you failed him Abby, yeah?'

Does he really get any better than this? Well, I can tell you one thing – I'm certainly planning on sticking around to find out. This is one guy I could get accustomed to very easily, jokes aside.

He's just…amazing. What more do I need to say?

'Thank you' I murmur softly as he moves his hands, allowing me to settle back against the sofa again, his hand coming to rest lightly on my thigh…and I have to admit it feels good to be sitting next to him.

Spotlight's on me now right?

It's completely different to any other relationship – I could have told you that at the start. Hark at me turning into a soppy, romantic…girlie girl! It's like my worst nightmare come true, yet I'm doing absolutely nothing to change it – just goes to show, things change.

And I think what I appreciate most about his sheer…amazingness, if that's even a word, through all this, is the amount of patience he has, and the lack of pressure he's put on me the past few weeks.

Bang goes the whole 2-date-rule! Somehow it seems irrelevant…besides I'm not sure if I'm…well, if we're…ready for that kind of intimacy yet. I know we've known one another nearly three years now, but we've only really been in the whole relationship phase for a few weeks, and considering how much we've both been burned in the past, taking things slowly seems to suit us both pretty well.

Anyway, in my opinion it just means that when we do eventually get to that…stage in our relationship, it'll be all the more special…bearing in mind that it would've been perfect regardless of the timing…. But surely if it begins with sex that's a bad omen for the rest of the relationship – if the sex comes later, based on emotions…it's a whole different situation.

Whoa. Where did all those deep thoughts come from all of a sudden? Not that it's a bad thing to be thinking about…especially when it's concerning a certain Dr Carter!

Ah. It'd be because of a certain scene in a certain film we just happen to be watching where the dancing lives up to the word dirty!

Yup. That's my excuse. Not my fault whatsoever!

I sigh and tug an oversized cushion towards me, hugging it to my chest…and it's impossible not to smile as I feel him mimic my actions, only he hugs me to his chest.

I'm glad, you know…glad I decided to call him tonight. He knows exactly what kind of comforting I need at any given moment, and now is no different. Kinda brings a whole new meaning to the phrase lean on me, hmm?

'Make a good cushion do I?' I ask, glancing momentarily at the cushion enveloped in my arms, before looking up at him. He laughs, and I promise you I feel the sound reverberate through his chest…maybe that's due to the somewhat increased proximity here…

Just maybe, mind you.

'You do indeed. So much so, in fact, you should consider a career change. Cushion's are highly paid theses days y'know' he counters in all seriousness.

'Is that so? And why would I make such a good job at it?'

'Well…you're comfortable, good to be around, attractive…a real softie at heart…' he murmurs, a low-pitched chuckle escaping his lips at his last comment.

'Oh so that's all I am huh? A comfort, like some kids security blanket?' I query, faking annoyance.

'Hey! We were talking about a cushion!' he retorts, matching my look of annoyance, before laughter replaces it. 'You. You are funny, clever, honest, kind…sexy…'

'Shut up and watch the film' I quip. Damn, I think I might be blushing… not my fault in the slightest, you understand.

'Uhh…not to sound childish but, you started it!'

'So admit it, you actually kinda enjoyed that film'

'Umm…'

'Ha! I knew it!' Ohh isn't it great when you're right. He's such a softie at heart, I never knew he was a sucker for a happy ending. Mind you, this could be something I can use to my advantage…!

'This goes no further, right? Otherwise I might just be forced to reveal a few little known details about you' damn him. I hate it when he gets that smirk on his face – he always thinks he's won. But not this time. This time it's going to be me who finishes with the upper hand.

'Well now that you come to mention it, I'm sure Kerry would love to hear all about that conversation we had on the phone the other night – you weren't exactly in the best of moods if I recall correctly'

'I could tell…hmm let's see…Pratt your observations about his personality…or lack of, as I believe you said' Oooh he thinks he's good. But he's not.

Time to play my joker.

'Need I remind you that it was only two days ago that you were poking fun at Susan and Jing-Mei…well in fact at all of our colleagues - now if some of your comments were to get out I doubt you'd still be the most popular doctor at County now, would you?'

'When did you learn to argue?'

'Oh John, I give as good as I get, on many occasions better. You just never had the opportunity to see that!' I laugh, watching him stand up and walk across the lounge till he's standing just inches away from me.

'Truce?'

He has no idea that when he's this close to me, I'd agree to just about anything he suggested…and he's not going to find that out any time soon, not if I have anything to do with it.

'Truce…' I murmur, smiling. He laughs softly and turns to grab his coat. I reach out, touching his arm gently and giving him a moment to turn round. 'I have a feeling my life changed in the split second I met you John Carter, and I'm not sure yet if that's a good or a bad thing…' I whisper softly, and I can only watch as he leans towards me…

But I instinctively lean up to meet him…

And my god, if the world ended right now I'd be happy. Whatever I said about him having magic hands…that pales in comparison with this. I've never known a kiss could be so soft and sweet, yet so deep and sensual at the same time. His lips are warm, softer than I'd ever imagined, and I can actually feel him smiling so my guess is he can feel the exact same thing with me…

And all too soon he's gone, leaving me breathless as he reaches for the door handle.

Damn him. I was never really mad about the whole kissing phenomenon…until about thirty seconds ago that is. But I could get used to it if it continued to make me feel like that.

I hear him laughing, that low, throaty chuckle that's so very…sexy I suppose, and I shake my head slightly, bringing myself back to reality.

'Go on' I manage to say, nodding towards the door. 'Before I do something we'll both regret'

There's that laugh again, and I'm rewarded with another short, sweet kiss before he opens the door and steps into the hallway, giving me a knowing look.

'You're killing me Abby…in the best possible way'

And he's gone.

Me killing him? I doubt it. Him killing me?

Another kettle of fish altogether…

This is going to be one hell of a rollercoaster ride, but one I wouldn't miss for the world. Because things are finally falling into place…