Chapter Three: You Don't Love Me Anymore
A/N: Thanks to everyone for their support. I dedicate this to anyone who has helped me through hard times with Justin and Jayleigh. For Ella, who sits down and listens to how much I hate guys. To Ryan for never giving up on me. To Tyler for his never-ending love. To Aimee, Brittany, and Kim because they are so easy to talk to about Jayleigh. Also to Steve, Liz, Steph, and James, because they tried. I love you guys more than you know.
Disclaimer: I don't own ER or the song. It, like the one before, belongs to Tim McGraw.
*~LTDan~*
She walks over to him and she says,
Do you remember me?
I think we might have met somewhere before.
Southern Carolina is the place that comes to mind,
But, hey, I guess you never really can be sure.
Well there's nothing like a true love
To go and make a fool of someone
Just like before.
And right there for a minute,
I forgot that you don't love me anymore.
Then an old familiar feeling
Wraps its arms around the moment
And he says so many times I've tried to call.
Well you'd think it's been a lifetime.
It's been two years since I've seen you,
But it seems like no time's gone by at all.
Well there's nothing like a true love
To give you back the feel of someone
Just like before.
And right there for a minute,
I forgot that you don't love me anymore.
Oh and how far we'll travel
For a place to heal our hearts.
We watched it unravel,
So why's tonight the hardest part?
Then he says the weather's changing
And it's icing up the highway,
So I guess it's time for me to hit the road.
So she says goodbye and then before
She knows what she is saying,
She says I wish you didn't have to go.
Well there's nothing like a true love
To go and make a fool of someone
Just like before.
And right there for a minute,
I forgot that you don't love me anymore.
You Don't Love Me Anymore ~ Tim McGraw
"What are you doing here?" Abby said drowsily, blinking away sleep.
"I just got in a while ago. Came to see y— you guys." Nice save, John, Carter thought. He had almost said he had come to see Abby."
"John, it's late. Why are you here?" Abby sat up and put her hands between her knees. She yawned. With her eyes closed and mouth open, Carter could not help but think of how vulnerable she looked.
Carter smirked. "I told you, I came here to see everyone."
Abby seemed to be taking in Carter's appearance. He quickly looked down at his attire, realizing he had not changed from his pitiful button-up and khakis. His shoes, too, were in terrible condition. They were black, or at least, used to be, workman's steel-toed boots.
Abby's gaze shifted from Carter's clothes to his eyes, and there was an awkward silence as they looked into each other's souls for the first time in almost three years. Carter saw a solid barrier in her once-penetrable light brown eyes. There were walls guarding her emotions now, he realized. He knew in an instant he had hurt her when he wrote from Africa. But she had hurt him first. She had asked for her key back. She had forbidden him to go to the Congo. To help dying people.
Shut up, you stupid idiot, you're acting like a little kid. It's both our faults we never worked out.
"John?" Abby broke the silence. "I want to know why you're really here. I know you're not up here because you wanted to chat about the weather. It's got to be past midnight."
Carter smiled. "You're right, actually. I didn't come up here just to 'chat about the weather.'"
Abby shook her head. "Then… why are you here?"
Carter jerked his head in the direction of the sleeping girl. "I came to see her."
Abby's eyebrows shot up. "Oh? Is that the truth? Because, and I'm sorry John, but I don't believe you."
Carter looked confusedly at her. "What I meant was Frank said you were up here in ICU, and I…" he let his sentence trail.
Abby pursed her lips. "So you came up here to see me because you were worried, right?"
Carter could only smile. "…Yeah…" he said slowly, nodding.
Abby's expression changed completely. "Oh, and you've done such a swell job making sure I was all right for the past three years, haven't you, John? Always right there when I need you, weren't you?"
Carter had almost forgotten about her red-hot temper. "Abby, I'm sorry—"
"You left me, John. You left me. I have moved on. I can take care of myself. I'm a big girl." She paused for a moment and took a deep breath. "I've got a better job, I've got a better house… I've got a better life."
Carter must have looked hurt, because Abby was frowning as she murmured, "I'm sorry. I lost my temper."
Carter felt he had overstayed his welcome by now and turned to the door. But as he reached for the doorknob, he remembered something.
"Abby?"
"What?"
"Who's the little girl?"
"Will you be here tomorrow?"
"I should be…"
"Then ask me tomorrow, John."
A/N: VERY sorry about the length! I know, it's short. I wrote all of it during class. I also apologize about the quality…
Mberger88: Yes, aren't people who write cliffhangers just the meanest? Hehe. I'm updating as fast as I can. It normally takes me one or two weeks to update. Uhh… not now. I'm depressed, and have nothing else to do of late…
Fay Taylor: Thank you, thank you. As for Jayleigh being Carter's child, Abby forgiving them, and the three of them riding off into the sunset… I'll just say we'll see about all that.
CL_Curtis: Thank you! I rock! WOO! And I thank you for being there. I appreciate it so much… chickiepoo!
Fariha Khan: You're very welcome for chapter two. :) As for continuing… your wish is my command.
Cathy: Fast enough for ya?
Taschy: I'm glad you appreciate my story. I hope this was updated soon enough to your liking… By the way, and don't think I'm being rude of nuffin, but do I know you? Hehe… it's just that you called me by my name, and I didn't know many people knew it… :)
Jennifer: Yes, it is okay. I'm glad I got you hooked. Haha. I KNEW that bait would work!
Peppercat: Lookit! Steph reviewed! WOO! Yes, 'annoying jerks'… lol. I kept on writing. Thanks to you and Liz and everyone else. You guys are such an inspiration, you know that? ^^
CamilaCarby: Thank you, thank you. I'm glad you loved it!
A/A/A/N (Another Annoying Author's Note): Now, I think that's it. If it's not, it's 10:21 on a Thursday. I'm logged onto MSN, but I believe we all know where I really am…
*~LTDan~*