A/N: Sleep deprivation and depression are not fun. Bah. Oh yeah… all Noah Wyle and Michael Vartan fans (I think Liz, Steph, and I might be alone) HAVE TO see The Myth of Fingerprints. It's wonderful. Noah and Michael play brothers… and they hug and have brotherly moments! WEE!
The answer to the 'mystery quote' in chapter two is from Back To The Future I, said by the character Marty, played by Michael J. Fox. [Don't we all just LOVE him??]
Disclaimer: ER isn't mine. The song is Staind's. Haha. Sorry, I changed the lyrics, Aimee. You'll see why!
*~LTDan~*
And it's been awhile
Since I could hold my head up high
And it's been awhile
Since I first saw you
And it's been awhile
Since I could stand on my own two feet again
And it's been awhile
Since I could call you
And everything I can't remember
As fucked up as it all may seem
The consequences that I've rendered
I've stretched myself beyond my means
And it's been awhile
Since I can say that I wasn't addicted
And it's been awhile
Since I can say I love myself as well
And it's been awhile
Since I've gone and fucked things up just like I always do
And it's been awhile
But all that shit seems to disappear when I'm with you
And everything I can't remember
As fucked up as it all may seem
The consequences that I've rendered
I've gone and fucked things up again
Why must I feel this way?
Just make this go away
Just one more peaceful day!
And it's been awhile
Since I could look at myself straight
And it's been awhile
Since I said I'm sorry
And it's been awhile
Since I've seen the way the candle lights your face
And it's been awhile
But I can still remember just the way you taste
And everything I can't remember
As fucked up as it all may seem to be I know it's me
I cannot blame this on my father
He did the best he could for me
And it's been awhile
Since I could hold my head up high
And it's been awhile
Since I said I'm sorry
~It's Been A While by Staind
Carter pulled off his gloves. "Time of death, 11:46 AM."
"Don't be late again. If you are, you'll pay the consequences."
Carter raised his eyebrows at Romano. "It looks like I just did. If it's the same to you, I was visiting an old friend up in ICU."
"Aha. Really," Romano said, washing his hands. "Since when is a two-year-old your old friend, Carter?"
Carter frowned.
"I'm warning you; if you're late again, you'll regret it." Romano walked away, his blue jacket sweeping after him. Carter followed him out into the hallway, glaring angrily after him.
"Don't try to suck up too much," said a voice in his ear.
He turned and smiled. "I'm too good for that, Abby. I thought you knew better?" He placed a small kiss on her forehead. It was there, he couldn't help it.
"John…" she said warningly.
Carter pretended to be hurt. "I can't kiss my ole buddy Abby on the forehead?"
She smiled up at him. "No," she hissed in a teasing voice.
It was amazing how a gunshot wound to the left lung could bring two people together.
"Do you think we could talk sometime, Abby? I know I've missed a lot around here…" Carter said, looking around the fairly empty hallway, jumping out of the way of two paramedics, Pratt, and a stretcher.
Abby's smile froze. She appeared to be thinking. "My shift ends at ten…" she murmured. "It's not a date, though. You know that, right?"
Carter nodded and smiled the smile that he had witnessed countless women vie for. "I know about you and Luka." It took all he had to continue grinning.
Abby's expression was unsettled as she muttered a single, "Oh."
"I'll see you at ten?" he asked, changing the subject.
Abby's cheek dimples twitched in thought. "Yeah."
******
Carter nervously walked into the lounge at half past nine. Abby was resting there in the lounge, her shift having apparently ended earlier than expected. She was laying, stretched out on the couch, her eyes closed, and her chest rising and falling in a steady motion with her breathing. He was suddenly compelled to run over to her, hold her in his arms, and have a passionate kissing fest…
But he was able to control himself.
He simply smiled and strode over to her, shaking her gently on the shoulder. He laughed softly as she stirred and said, "John, I don't have to go in for another two hours…"
"Actually," he responded, kneeling next to the couch, "you've got half an hour to get out of here with me."
Abby blinked excessively, sitting up straight. "Did I say something?" she asked, her face lined with a frown.
"You told me that you don't have to be here for another two hours." He paused, allowing her to realize she was reliving the past. "I think you were dreaming."
Her face turned a slightly noticeable shade of pink.
"You're already changed," he commented.
"Yeah. Susan let me off early. No clue why. So I changed, came in here, laid down, and… sorta fell asleep, I guess."
Carter smiled. "Let me change out of my scrubs…" he said. He began to take off his coat.
"John, you think you might want to do that somewhere a little more… umm… private?" Abby asked. He glanced over at her to see her staring, seemingly very intent, at the white coat in his hand.
"You're very right." He frowned. "Thanks."
Bad sign, John, he thought. You're not uncomfortable undressing around her. Why don't you skip the trouble and ask her back to your place? Carter reasoned with his conscience. I've not been uncomfortable undressing around her since… the supposed small pox bout. That was a good four years ago. What would change now?
"John? Don't you need to change?" Abby's voice snapped him out of his one-person argument.
"Yeah. Meet you back here in ten."
******
"This is a really nice restaurant."
Carter smiled. "I try," he said teasingly.
"Uh-huh. I'm sure you do."
"Hello, Mr. Carter. I'm Glenda, I'll show you to your seats, if you'll follow me this way please?" the hostess said, walking around to the back of the building to a two-person table, lit with candles.
Oh God, he thought, This all looks extremely romantic. She'll think… oh God.
"I'll be back momentarily for your orders," said the waitress as Abby and Carter sat down.
******
By the time they were halfway through their first course, Carter had already run out of things to talk about. But he couldn't keep Abby's and Luka's daughter off of his mind. He would have to ask sometime.
"Abby, I don't mean to be insensitive… or rude… or meddlesome… but… I'm sorry, I just can't get it off my mind—"
"Just say it, John," Abby interrupted him.
"What's wrong with Jayleigh?" he blurted, sighing afterward.
Abby's face hardened, and her expression changed for the worst. "She's…" she said in a hoarse whisper, "She's got acute-angle leukemia."
Carter's eyes widened involuntarily. He gulped down the margarita he had been sipping slightly in a heavy, unattractive manner. "Oh, God, Abby…"
She managed a minor smile, but he knew it was forced. "It's okay," she said, placing her hand on his.
"I hope so…" he replied, remembering his brother's case of leukemia: everyone had said his would be okay, too.
"It will be. It's treatable—possibly curable. It's…" she frowned. "It's inherited."
His stomach did a flip-flop. "Luka had…? Luka has…? …The gene…?" he spluttered, unable to believe it.
"No, John," she answered softly, smiling sadly.
A lump rose in his throat. God, no. Please, God, no. "You don't have it, do you?" he asked, his voice sounding old and unused.
She shook her head in the same poignant way. "No, John," she repeated.
Response to ReviewsDreamChaser78: Thank you, thank you. I do like… um… twisted stuff. XD Carter as the father? Meh… I dunno… Yes, I think you did mention your liking of the twists. ;)
Peppercat: Hi! Leukemia, yeah. Bitterness. BWAHAHA! I do have something good in mind. Well, actually, I have chapter seven written out already! Is that weird? Lol, I hope not. ;) Keep up my rhythm? Okay. Update sooner? What do I look like, a machine? Don't answer that.
Rachel: Now you know what happens next! WEE!
CamilaCarby: OMG, for real?? IS this chapter awesome? No, it's not. I do, however, like the next chapter. Yes, Luka and Abby are together. Yes, I do know what to do with the rest. But, shh, don't tell! ;)
Allison: I'm-a gonna keep this a-goin so long's there's breath in ma body!
Cool Cat: No, it wasn't as soon as I'd have liked. But, oh well.
Hyperpiper91: Thank ya kindly. *Keeps the story up* It's really heavy…
Starbright: You are very welcome! Fast enough? I hope so.
Fariha Khan: Oh my God, I absolutely love your reviews! You are THE BEST! Continuing, as promised.
ForeverCarby: I love that line too! *Points to Peppercat* I promised that lil' scene to her when I read something similar in Turbulence and showed her. [GO READ TURBULENCE! You can find it on my favorites list! It's great!] I shall continue. Amazing or not, I will.
CARTERJOHN: I want to say wow, I love reviews! :) Thanks a million! Wonderful? If you say so.
Peppercat: I knew it too! I knew it was her daughter all along! And I figured it out before you! Hahaha! No, the tonsil hockey deal wouldn't have made much sense if you thought I was DP! Lol. Don't worry about it. You'll get your pumpkin in a knot. *Sniggers*
Kattybabe2318: You might be right. This is a Carby after all, isn't it? Yeah.
Catie: THANK YOU. NOW YOU CAN LOOK FORWARD TO CHAPTER SEVEN!
Hyperpiper91: I had a feeling too… right now I'm feeling… hyper. Yes. But that's nothing new…
CamilaCarby: It's okay. You dun have to review, but it'd be nice… The quote is at the top of this chapter. ;)
CL_Curtis: YES, I know! But maybe he renewed his contract later on, there are just no reports of it on that particular site. I'd look it up, but I'm afraid of what I'll see. We'll just have to see though, no? *Sighs*
A/N: WOW! That's a lot of reviews! BIG, BIG, BIG hugs to everyone who took the whole thirty seconds to review… Review, everyone else, and I'll loff ya forever!!
*~LTDan~*