A/N: I'm going to write a sequel. I've already planned what I'm gonna do it in, too. ;) Another idea I have is writing this from Abby's POV. Whadda you lot think? By the way, feel free to bash Anne! I don't like her either! :P
Disclaimer: Blah, blah, blah. If you're on chapter twelve and you still think I'm trying to keep props… you're pathetically sad. :) The song belongs to Usher.
*~LTDan~*
When you feel it in your body
You found somebody who makes you change your ways
Like hanging with your crew
Said you act like you're ready
But you don't really know
And everything in your past - you wanna let it go
I've been there, done it, fucked around
After all that - this is what I found
Nobody wants to be alone
If you're touched by the words in this song
Then baby...
U got, u got it bad
When you're on the phone
Hang up and you call right back
U got, u got it bad
If you miss a day without your friend
Your whole life's off track
You know you got it bad when you're stuck in the house
You don't wanna have fun
It's all you think about
U got it bad when you're out with someone
But you keep on thinkin' bout somebody else
U got it bad
When you say that you love 'em
And you really know
Everything that used to matter, don't matter no more
Like my money, all my cars
(You can have it all back)
Flowers, cards and candy
(I do it just cause I'm... )
Said I'm fortunate to have you girl
I want you to know
I really adore you
All my people who know what's going on
Look at your mate, help me sing my song
Tell her I'm your man, you're my girl
I'm gonna tell it to the whole wide world
Ladies say I'm your girl, you're my man
Promise to love you the best I can
See I've been there, done it, fucked around
After all that - this is what I found
Everyone of y'all are just like me
It's too bad that you can't see
That you got it bad... hey
U got, u got it bad
When you're on the phone
Hang up and you call right back
U got, u got it bad
If you miss a day without your friend
Your whole life's off track
You know you got it bad when you're stuck in the house
You don't wanna have fun
It's all you think about
U got it bad when you're out with someone
But you keep on thinkin' bout somebody else
U got it bad
U got, u got it bad
When you're on the phone
Hang up and you call right back
U got, u got it bad
If you miss a day without your friend
Your whole life's off track
You know you got it bad when you're stuck in the house
You don't wanna have fun
It's all you think about
U got it bad when you're out with someone
But you keep on thinkin' bout somebody else
U got it bad
Carter's rotations started back the same day Jayleigh was taken off her sleepers, she could go to Luka' funeral. Carter was nervous about her awakening; he had told her she was his daughter right as he was dragged out of the room so they could be prepped for surgery.
He took the El to work this morning: his car had been completely totaled in Luka's accident. He planned to ask Susan that day what had happened in the wreck.
Stepping into the E.R. was like stepping onto a stage in a room full of people. Frank, Susan, and Gallant all stood around admit. Their eyes landed on him, and he could sense sympathy in their gazes.
He was not going to take sympathy.
"You all act like you've seen a ghost."
Bad idea.
"Are you sure you don't need another day off?" said Susan worriedly, wearing a bigger frown than either Gallant or Frank.
Carter stuck his hands in his pockets, shrugged, and said, "Nope. Why?"
"Carter… your best friend… Luka… is… gone," said Susan quietly.
He began examining the board. "What's your point?"
Susan stood by him, looking at the side of his head. "Abby isn't coming in today. Take the day off. Come back tomorrow, when everything's over."
Carter groaned. "I've been off for three days. I can't afford to take off today!"
Susan gave him a playful shove. "Oh, gee, I forgot how much you needed today's—what?—sixty bucks. I didn't realize that your survival was dependant on working today!" she shouted melodramatically.
Carter flattened his hair, which Susan had just mockingly tousled. Of course, there was no dramatic difference; his hair never laid flat.
"Fine, fine. I'll take the day off. Just promise not to shove me again." He grinned and rubbed his upper arm.
She smiled. "You know I can't do that."
Carter was walking out the door when he remembered. "Susan?"
"How may I help you?" she asked, smiling.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Well, I'll give you fifty-nine seconds. Will that work?" she said, managing to keep a straight face.
Carter nodded slowly. He glanced over at Frank and Gallant, both of whom were still looking between him and Susan.
"To the lounge, my fair lady?"
"But of course, monsieur."
Once the door was closed, Carter sat down heavily. "Tell me what happened."
Susan studied him curiously for a moment. "With what?"
He frowned slightly. "Luka."
Susan drew a deep breath, preparing to impart her knowledge. She went on to explain that Luka had apparently been driving at dangerously high speeds. The EMTs suspected that he had merely taken a corner too sharp, causing the car to swerve out of his control. He flipped over. The car, being so small and compact, pinned him in-between the seat, the deflated airbags, steering wheel, and door. There was no possible way he could have gotten out. He had a hemorrhage, which was the cause of death; he was practically DOA. Had the EMTs arrived fifteen minutes sooner, they could have been able to resuscitate and given him a transfusion to temporarily repair the kidneys. The lung could have been transplanted. He could have lived.
Carter thanked Susan, and wandered out of the E.R., into the ambulance bay.
******
Luka's lowering would be held at seven. Carter had planned to take off at five, but since he was not working at all, he simply sat at home until then. He couldn't remember the last time he had been so bored. The TV had never been used so much.
"Survivor, Wolf Blitzer, Road Rules, Spongebob, Days of Our Lives — what do people watch these days?" he said, laughing and settling for the Bears game.
He realized he hadn't watched television in over two years. He knew nothing of half of the players on the field. The quarterback's name was Allan Christopher, a guy Carter had never heard of.
Sighing at his lack of knowledge, he got up off the couch. He made his way through the house to the refrigerator. Ahh… he thought, pulling out a bottle of beer. How long has it been? Grinning, he opened the bottle and returned to the football game.
The battle was half-empty when the phone rang. "Carter residence. John Carter speaking."
"No shit," said the person on the other end.
He smiled. "Pratt? What's up?"
Carter heard him laugh. "Man, Jing-Mei's got a girlfriend down here, and…" he paused, "damn."
Carter knew what he was getting at, but didn't let on. "Couldn't hold it in? Had to tell someone?" he joked.
"Yeah, somethin' like that. Nah, man, you should come down here and see her. She's single," he said in a somewhat teasing tone.
Carter didn't want to meet her. He didn't want a new relationship. He preferred to be alone, if he couldn't have Abby. But then, his immature side argued that Pratt (and everyone else who caught wind of it, for that matter) would make a huge joke once he figured out he had turned down a girl that could only be described as "damn" because he had never stopped loving Abby.
"Okay. I'm going to Luka's thing at six. I gotta come back here by four. Does she mind?"
"Lemme check." He heard Pratt ask in a barely audible voice, "Anne, can you hop a funeral at six? He's gotta be at his place to get ready at four." He had apparently turned back to the phone. "Yeah, she's game."
Carter sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'll be right there."
******
"I'm Anne."
"John Carter. They call me Carter. Not sure how that happened, but they do."
Pratt was right… "damn", indeed. Anne was tall, around 5"8', putting her six inches shorter than Carter himself. She had dark skin, eyes, and hair. She was beautiful, to put it in simple Laymen's terms.
"Want to get a cup of drink? he asked, nodding towards the door.
She smiled. (Oh God, he thought.) "Sure. But I'm not from around here… do you know where the best place to go is?"
Her voice was beautiful. Her teeth were perfect. What could be better?
"Sure do. Ike's. Just around the corner." Ahh… and smile… She latched onto his arm. Bingo.
******
"Tell me about yourself, John," she said, her hand on her Styrofoam cup.
He tilted his head to the side, thinking. "Well… I'm thirty-four. I… uh… live in the city. Jayleigh, my daughter, is almost three—"
"You have a daughter?" Her smile returned.
"Yeah. She's the love of my life." And I've known her less than a week.
"That's really sweet of you to put your daughter first. I really respect that."
He smiled, and she returned the expression again.
"What's your weakness?" she said.
Abby, Abby, Abby, Abby, Abby.
"I don't know… my daughter is someone I won't let anyone… I don't know… talk bad about… you know?"
"And you shouldn't." She pouted her lips.
"And I don't." He smiled again.
"Can I ask you a personal question?" she asked in a more serious tone.
"Shoot. I'm all answers."
"Who's Jayleigh's mother?"
Damn it.
"You know Dr. Lockhart in the E.R.?"
Anne's brow furrowed. "I've not met her… but I've heard a lot about her."
He turned his head to the side again. "She is."
"Oh…"
Carter glanced at his watch. "Ten 'til four. Do you want me to take you back to County, or do you wanna go to my friend's lowering?"
"Would you care if I went with you?"
"Not at all."
A/N: PHEW! Don't kill me! I do not like her. I am aware she's a Mary-Sue so far… but that's the whole idea!
Response to ReviewsHollymolly: I didn't think about it being confusing… lol. I'm just blonde! :P
Bluecake: Yes, GO CARBY! :D Anti-Luby too? Haha… I have nothing against Luka, but I hate that ship!
Flufflover: Carby love indeed.
MrsWyle: (whose name is still the best!) No, Luka's not dead… I prefer to think of it as "a near-death experience gone out of hand", yeah. Actually… I've never been one to have an all-happy fic (unless it's fluff, but I think I've only written one… yeah, one of those). Killing off characters is my favorite pastime!
Tiuwiu: Wait no more, for Alexa is here! *Superman pose* Lol, ridicule me… I'm stupid! Haha.
Kelly: Thank you a million times over! :D
CL_Curtis: You don't have to wait anymore, either. ;) Now… what's your friend's cousin's email address? I wanna be able to say I know someone on ER! *Pouts* LOL.
DreamChaser78: Yeah, I know it was shady. It was supposed to be in that particular chapter. ;)
Leannan-S: *Coughs* I will not say anything for certain…
Lauren: Thank you. ;)
Carbylobsterandavrilfan: You know when she goes back to the Congo at the end of the season? I'm for her plane crashing!
K-Daawg: Thank ya much, mate. :)
Luby-Connor-Lizzy: Pain, suffering, death, angst… no, you can't get through any fanfic of mine without AT LEAST one of those four 'essentials'. ;)
AnnaSun: *Keeps it up* This IS heavy you know…?
CamilaCarby: You're not alone. Do you get it now?
Jordan-Cavanaugh: You don't like Luka?? I can name about ten fangirls who would wanna kill you. And… opp! There they go! Heh. Yeah. I like an angry Carter. It's… hot… and… stuff… er…
Fariha Khan: You are special! ;) Where was your review for chapter 11, o faithful 1?
MrsWyle: Of course it's the law! Well, it is in 48 states. I think Hawaii and North Dakota still permit her to love Luka. Not positive. It could be South Dakota… *Skips off to check*
CamilaCarby: Hey-ho, #4! :D Lol, I'm insane… Thanks for the review, matey.
AnnaSun: Hey, that was great, thanks.
Luby-Connor-Lizzy: No, I didn't make any sense out of that… something along the lines of updating another chapter sooner… I think. But, yeah, Luka had to go. :-\
Starbright: Yes I did kill Luka! *Coughs* Sorry.
Kattybaby2318: That's gotta be the funniest thing I've ever read…
CL_Curtis: Go me! Yeah, that's right! :D
CookieCarter: How do you feel?
Jayleigh: I feel sad that Lu-kah left. He took me to the park lots. He let me ride the choo-choo train there. Will you take me to the park and let me ride the choo-choo… umm… Daddy?
Carter: Of course. But you'll have to get better first, okay?
Anne: What's wrong with her?
Carter: Acute-angle leukemia. …
A/N: There we go! All done! Nighty-night! Oh yeah… did anyone else watch on 'upcoming on ER' the scene where Carter and Kem kissed? Did anyone else have a handful of their own/someone else's hair in their hands? Yes? Thought so. ;)
*~LTDan~*