A/N: If you've read the LotR trilogy, and have seen the movies – what did you think? Oh yeah, Chrysti – I didn't use the Gary Allan lyrics in this chapter, as it didn't turn out like I thought it would (I spent too much time on Carter/Abby interaction), but I WILL use it in the next chappie. I know these lyrics are a bit inconsistent, but you get the gist of it, right?
Disclaimer: ER is the wonderful Michael Crichton's. The song is Rascal Flatts'
When you light those candles
Up there on that mantle, setting the mood
Well, I just lie there staring
Silently preparing to love on you
Well, I can feel the heat from across the room
Ain't it wild what a little flame can make you wanna do
I melt every time you look at me that way
It never fails, anytime, any place
This burn in me is the coolest thing I've ever felt
I melt
Don't know how you do it
I love the way I lose it, every time
What's even better
Is knowing that forever you're all mine
The closer you get, the more my body aches
One little stare from you is all it takes
I melt every time you look at me that way
It never fails, anytime, any place
This burn in me is the coolest thing I've ever felt
I melt
I melt
every time you look at me that way
It never fails, anytime, any place
This burn in me is the coolest thing I've ever felt
I melt
Every time you look at me that way
I melt, I melt
~I Melt by Rascal Flatts
Jayleigh was out of the hospital on December the fourth. It had been three months since her initial institutionalization. Carter was meeting with Abby during his break later that day. They were to discuss custody.
At the time, though, he was leaning over an MVA/multiple GSW, bleeding out. These cases, the nearly impossible ones, were always the hardest.
"Clear! Clamp him," he said to the med student behind him.
The student nodded nervously and done as he was told.
Nothing.
"Again. Clear!" Carter commanded.
The monitor's screen showed the same green line, and screamed the same piercing cry.
"What's his pulse?" Carter said, taking the paddles from the med student.
The student checked, and shook his head. "Zero over zero. He's gone."
"Time of death?" Carter asked, removing his gloves.
"12:06 p.m.," the med student said, sounding forlorn.
Carter sighed. "Sometimes there's nothing you can do," he told him as the room cleared of nurses and Pratt. "But most times there is. And they are the ones that make you feel good about yourself. But others… you learn from them."
******
It was five o'clock before Carter could get a break. He rang Abby, who had been given a rare day off. They were to meet in Doc Magoo's for lunch, even though Carter had never really considered Doc Magoo's "food" to be actual food.
He was sitting down at one of the booths lining the walls. He absently fiddled with a napkin; folding it into different shapes. He didn't know why he was nervous. He had nothing to be nervous about. It was just Abby.
He looked up and saw her walking his way. He grinned involuntarily, unaware of how incredibly silly he looked: smiling goofily, still folding his napkin, and his eyes glazed over. He loved her. God, he loved her.
"Hey," she said, sliding into the seat in front of him. She wore a pair of jeans, a sky-blue cardigan over a white tee, and a soft smile.
His voice caught in his throat for a split second, but he slipped out a barely audible "hi" into the conversation.
"So…" she said slowly, looking him in the eyes. "Custody?"
Carter waited for her to say something herself, but when she didn't he said, "I was thinking a week apiece for now," he said matter-of-factly. "But if that doesn't work for you—" he added hastily.
"Don't worry, John. It works fine. I thought this might take a while to decide… but it didn't, so…"
He nodded his head, quick to agree with anything she had to say.
"You know, if you want to take her tonight, you can come by and pick her up."
Carter felt like jumping up and kissing her, as he usually did, but decided against it. Instead, he said, "You'd let me keep her over night? Really?"
Abby looked at him for a minute. She appeared to be thinking deeply. "Why wouldn't I? She's yours, too. Keep her the rest of the week, John."
"Thank you, Abby. You don't know… you don't know what this means to me."
******
"C'mon, Kerry, give me the rest of the night off…" he practically whined to Weaver.
"Carter, I've told you once that you can't just leave out of here to spend time with your girlfriend."
Carter chuckled slightly. "Girlfriend? I'm going to pick up Jayleigh!"
"Abby's daughter?" was her quick reply. "Why are you going to pick her up?"
Weaver had a way of being nosy… And stupid, Carter thought.
"She's spending the week with me," he responded dully. Why doesn't she already know this? I was sure Abby had told the whole hospital I was her father!
Weaver was opened her mouth to say something, but then closed it. She looked him over for a moment.
"You're her father?"
Carter nodded, trying to no avail to keep himself from smiling. "Yes."
Weaver looked like she was going to smile, which was quite frightening in Carter's eyes.
"Go get her, then."
And her love for Henry wins out! Carter thought, smiling. He knew he and Weaver didn't see eye to eye most times, but she was a parent, and so was he. Carter supposed they both recognized that as a subject they agreed on.
******
Carter found himself knocking at the apartment Abby had recently bought around eight o'clock.
"Abby!" he yelled at the closed door. "It's me!"
He waited a moment, and she opened it for him. "Hey. Come in."
Carter stepped through the door, and a curly-haired tot came running up to him, her light brown eyes alight with joy.
"Daddy!" she said, latching onto his legs in an instant.
Every time he heard that simple word from his daughter, his heart skipped a beat as reality sunk in time after time.
"Hi, Angel." He picked her up and performed his ritualistic kiss on the forehead. "I missed you."
Her tiny arms slid around his neck. "Mm… I missed you too."
Carter turned to Abby. "She ready?"
Abby nodded, and left the room. Carter wondered if he were taking her too soon. Maybe he should have sat down for coffee first? She should have asked, he decided.
Abby came back with two bags in her hand, each full to the busting.
"She's only staying a week, Abby." He laughed slightly.
Abby set the bags down in front of him. "I know… but I like to know she's taken care of…"
Carter could have easily taken that as an insult, but chose not to. "Okay, then." He looked at Jayleigh, sitting on his right arm. "You ready to go?"
"Yep!"
He grinned. "Well, you better get down so I can grab your stuff, okay?"
He bent over, and she slid out of his arms. He picked up the bags, and looked down to Jayleigh, then up to Abby.
"She have a stroller or something?" he asked.
"Yeah… let me get it…" she responded, and left the room again.
Jayleigh was sitting on the floor, pulling at the carpet. "I'm gonna live with Daddy, I'm gonna live with Daddy…" she sang in her breath.
Carter bit his lip and smiled. He was so happy with his daughter. He loved her more than anything. The only thing that would make his life any more perfect would be Abby. But, for reasons he was unsure of, that couldn't happen.
Abby came back with a folded up stroller tucked under her arm. "This is it."
Carter took it from her, and there was an awkward silence. They reverted their gazes to Jayleigh, who continued to sing.
"You know, you should look into getting a car soon. I don't like her on the El," muttered Abby.
Carter shrugged his left shoulder. "Don't worry about her, okay? I've got it under control. Besides… I'm waiting for the insurance to come through on my XLR…" he said in an equally quiet tone.
Abby's face hardened, and Carter knew she was thinking about Luka.
"Well," he said, a bit loudly. "It's getting late, and she should be up to bed already."
Abby nodded, and smiled an obviously forced smile. She pulled Jayleigh up to a standing position. She kissed her on the cheek, and Jayleigh said, "muah!"
"I love you, honey. Be good, okay? Don't put up a fuss for Daddy. Remember to take your medicines. And I'll see you next week. Alright?"
"Okee, Mommy." Jayleigh pecked Abby's lips. "Bye-bye. Love ya lots!"
Carter placed her in the stroller, and stuffed one of the bags in the bottom of it.
"Well – I think this is it. See you tomorrow. Let's go, Jays."
Response to Reviews
TazManiac: Hiya! Thankies for reviewing! :D Of course she's still stuck on him… she's Abby!
Rock Lobster: I like the beard. I don't like it as much as five o'clock shadow, but I do like it. Then again, I've been obsessed with Noah Wyle/Carter since 1994, so I'd say that. I'm glad you're… here mentally. :D I think we all hate Kem. Can we all hate Anne, too? I left her out of this chapter 'cause two chapters with her in it is TOO MUCH.
Jordan_Cavanaugh: Kem should die. Yeah? Yeah.
Feefsmall: Really? Thanks! I thought I was being uber-predictable. Guess not! Thank ya much. Oh yeah – it's Anti-Kem Mob. Not much of a club. Not 'zactly organized…
Carbylobsteravrilfan: Fuzz… I like that term. In the Harry Potter fandom-verse (which I've had years of experience with – just see my profile), we call it "fluff". So… yeah.
Your momma's cousin's brother's uncle's stepson, dip shit: PJ, hun, get a life. And get off the drugs!
MrsWyle: You missed me? Aww… huggles! I'm back, and I'll prolly be updating a lot due to the winter hols. Sooo… yeah. :)
Kattybaby2318: Yes, I know he's a bit of a dummy. He broke up with Abby and is engaged to Kem. No sane person does that…
CamilaC: Ohh… mucho spoilers! I'm very, very, very excited about the finale/next season. I just want this stupid Kem business to end. Now. After that, if/when Carter and Abby get back together, the only thing that could make it better is if Malucci came back. *Sighs* Only Kerry the lesbian could fire him…
AnnaSun: Thank ya much, m'lady.
Luby-Connor-Lizzy: You should have taped it! You should've! And it's free to download MSN… um… I think the free version is up to six now. Yeah, V.6. You can dl it at :)
Lily: Oh, but I did throw things at 'chickadee'! Anything handy, yep. Rubberband, toy soldier, cough drop…
Lily: Thank you! And DR/CH kinda gives you hope fro JC/AL, doesn't it?
Starbright: *Coughs* We'll see.
A/N: Leave a review, will ya? It'll be appreciated… and, as always, answered! :)