A/N: I'm updating faster than a jackrabbit can breed! :D Yeah, the lyrics are uber-long. Oh well.
Disclaimer: Time to be formal! I've done everything else. Hehe. ER and all related terms, situations, characters, and plots created prior to the formation of this story belong solely to Michael Chrichton and NBC. I do not own any part of the show, and am making no profit from this short fiction piece. No copyright infringement is intended. The song belongs to Doug Supernaw.
*~LTDan~*
It was six in the morning
When I made the county line
There's someone I got to talk to
I can't get it off my mind
He is just a kid and
He's in a pretty rough spot
Two dimes to make a phone call
That's about all I got
How's my boy today
I know its been three weeks
But you know how far I've got to go
These days to make ends meet
How's your mama
Now with her new live in friend
Oh how I hate the wounds
That never seem to mend
He said I don't call him daddy
But he takes care of things
When you pick me up on Friday
Are you gonna bring me anything
Oh don't worry dad you know
It don't matter what we do
Cause I don't call him daddy
He could never be like you
God bless the little hearts
There the ones who really pay
When mom and dad can't get a long
And they go their separate ways
In a way I'm glad there's some one there
To fill the empty space
Tears of understanding stream down a dirty face
He said I don't call him daddy
But he takes care of things
When you pick me up on Friday
Are you gonna bring me anything
Oh don't worry dad you know
It don't matter what we do
Cause I don't call him daddy
He could never be like you
Be like you be like
you
He is quite a little man
Growing up as fast as he can
And I don't get to see him
Half as mush as I had planed
There's so much I need to tell him
So precious little time
A little rain on the window
And a little wave good by
He said I don't call him daddy
But he takes care of things
When you pick me up on Friday
Are you gonna bring me anything
Oh don't worry dad you know
It don't matter what we do
Cause I don't call him daddy
He could never be like you
He said I don't call him daddy
But he takes care of things
When you pick me up on Friday
Are you gonna bring me anything
Oh don't worry dad you know
It don't matter what we do
Cause I don't call him daddy
He could never be like you
~I Don't Call Him Daddy by Doug Supernaw
Carter reached out a hand toward the door Abby had slammed in his face. He twisted it, but found it didn't open.
"Doesn't your shift start back in three?" came Abby's muffled voice.
"Doesn't yours start back in eight?" he retorted angrily. How could Abby do this to him?
"Carter, just go." He heard her feet move to the other end of the room, towards him.
"Why didn't you tell me she was your daughter before I stuck my tongue down your damn throat, Abby?" he said, banging his fist on the door in frustration.
"John!" she responded, apparently upset. "She's two years old!"
"Fine. Fine, fine, fine, fine! Jayleigh, I'm sorry. My tongue was not down your mommy's throat."
He heard giggling from the other side of the door. "But I saw you, Mr. John. You and Mommy left the door open."
Carter heard some stifled mumbling, and was sure Abby was telling her daughter off.
"Abby?" he said in an even tone, trying a new approach. "Can I talk to you?"
"John, I'd rather we—" BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! "I'm being paged." The door flung open. "Can you watch her? Thanks, I owe you!" she called, running down the hallway toward the stairs.
Carter carefully stepped into the room; the land of a two-year-old was still uncharted territory to him. "Hey," he said, sitting down on the bed, leaving his feet dangling over the edge.
"Hi Mr. John."
"Just call me John. No 'mister'." Carter smiled at the girl.
She returned his expression, and said, "Okay… umm… John."
He sat there for a moment, unsure of what to say to the small child. "So, what's your daddy's name?" The question was not, of course, just to start a conversation.
"Lu-kah."
Carter's heart skipped a beat. "Luka? Luka Kovac? Is that his name?"
"Yeah-huh. He fixes people, like Mommy. He's a doctor," she said proudly.
"Do… your mommy and daddy live in the same house as each other?" he asked in a would-be calm tone.
She nodded. "Yes."
Carter's head was swimming. Luka. Luka Kovac. Doctor Luka Kovac. Doctor Luka Kovac! He risked his life for Luka's, and how did he repay him? He comes back to America and starts a family with the woman that he repeatedly told him he loved. He hated him for that. But then, he couldn't help but think, he was fairly glad that someone was there for Abby. She didn't need to sink into the deep depression Carter had while in Africa.
"John? Are you okay?" said the little girl, poking her small little head around Carter's shoulder.
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine."
She looked confused. "Is my mommy your girlfriend?"
He cringed. "No." Abby Lockhart—Abby Kovac—whatever her name was, she would never be his girlfriend. Not with Luka around. For that, he hated Luka.
Jayleigh saw the look of hurt on his face, apparently, for she said, "I don't call him daddy."
Carter looked around at her. "You don't?" he said in a croaky whisper.
She shook her head. "Nuh-uh. Mommy said I should, but I don't want to."
She was making no sense, and Carter felt that only something sensible would make him feel any better now. "You don't call Luka daddy?"
"Lu-kah said I didn't have to."
He was about to ask her why in the world this was so, when Susan burst into the room. "Carter, you're needed downstairs. Your break ended ten minutes ago. Romano's fuming."
"Uh-oh. Looks like I'm in trouble," he said, smiling slightly at the girl in the bed. "Susan, Abby told me to watch her—"
"It's okay. She's a patient, she's by herself all the time." Carter realized that was true, and wondered vaguely why Abby had even asked him to stay with her daughter.
"So you know, then?" asked Susan when they had reached the stairs.
"About Luka and Abby?"
"Well, no that's not…" Susan's eyes widened. "Yeah, yeah that's what I meant."
Carter didn't say anything. It was beginning to look as if everyone knew something about Abby that he didn't. But he would find out. One way, or another.
Response to Reviews
Helen_w: Yes, hockey. Lol. Great story? Thanks. I really, really appreciate your feedback!
Fariha Khan: Loyal reviewer! Hello! I love you! Thank you for… saying it's interesting… XD
ForeverCarby: How do I do it? I turn on the computer, open Microsoft Word, and begin writing. Haha… Like, wow! I'm like, so happy! Lol. I update a lot. You don't have to tell me to keep it up! ;)
Lily: No apologies needed! You have no willpower either? Haha…
Kt: I can't say I remember one story of mine you've not read… When will I finish it? Well… we'll see… I'm hoping for it to be sometime next month, December.
Tony1: Right back atcha… I hope you liked it. :)
DrKerryWeaver: Death and illnesses suck ass. Don't you think? Luckily, I have writing for an outlet. :D Yes, cliffhangers suck, but I like them.
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Fariha Khan: You are welcome for chapter three, friend. One of the best you've read? XD
Van: Now you know what happens next! I'm glad I was the one to pull you out of your laziness. Hehe.
A/N: Whew. Lots of reviews to respond to. I've decided to start leaving you with a small cookie for the next chapter. No, it's not very well-developed. In return, why don't you review? :)
Carter: What's wrong with Jayleigh?
Abby: She has acute-angle leukemia.
Carter: Oh, God, Abby…
Abby: It's okay.
Carter: I hope so…
Abby: It's treatable. They caught it early. It was… inherited.
Carter: Inherited? Luka has…? Luka had…? He's got the gene?
Abby: No, John.