AN: Thanks for your comments, it's good to hear from you all.
The Rainbow After The Storm
Chapter Twenty-one
Two days later
Abby stood in trauma one feeling very ill, she swallowed hard hoping that that would help. She struggled to concentrate on the tasks she was performing when suddenly blood spurted upwards from the patient, she swallowed hard again knowing that she had to get out of there, now.
After what seemed an age Luka said 'Time of death 14:01'
Abby inwardly sighed and pulled off protective gown and gloves before hurrying outside, not looking where she was going. In her haste to get to the bathroom she collided with Carter. As she did so the one thing she was trying to avoid happening, happened as her lunch came back, all over her husband.
He looked at her worried and put one arm out to steady her. She looked he decided sick, of course he knew why, but still at this particular moment she looked awful. As he watched her he assessed her condition.
'You done?' he asked
Gingerly she shook her head and he reached out and took a basin from a passing Malik and held it out to her. Where she stood trying to take deep breaths, but was unable to keep the rest of her lunch down.
'More scrubs?' asked Malik
'Yeah, two pairs, another basin and get housekeeping to clear up the floor'
'Abby if you're sick you should go home' said Luka having also exited trauma, with a couple of med students at his heels.
Abby remained silent.
'Are you going to take her home?' Luka asked Carter 'I'm off now but I can cover for you for a hour or so'
'Thanks' Carter replied.
Still with one hand on her arm he took her into the Lounge, which fortunately was empty. He sat her down on a chair as Malik came in with the clean scrubs, a spare basin and a couple of bags to put the soiled garments in.
'Anything else?' he asked
'No this is fine' Carter said
Malik looked at Abby who was propping her head up with her hand at the table.
'Luka's speaking with Dr Wright' Malik added as he left.
Carter nodded and stripped off his scrubs and donned the clean ones, before hunching down next to Abby.
'Are you going to put these clean scrubs on?'
She nodded ever so slightly.
'Here' he said 'Let me help' and she did.
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When he returned to the hospital everyone who was at admit stopped talking Carter decided that they were gossiping about him and Abby.
'She any better?' asked Luka
'Some, she went to bed' he answered 'Thanks for covering for me'
'Anytime' said Luka as they began to discuss the patients progress since Carter had left.
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'County' Frank barked into the phone then turning he said to Carter 'Your housekeeper'
'Hey' he said
Everyone who was at admit pretended to be exceptionally involved in a task which kept them in hearing distance to Carter. However they were somewhat disappointed as all Carter seemed to say was the word 'Good' every now and again.
Hanging up he turned to see at least a dozen pair of eyes fixed on him. Frowning he picked up the results he had originally come to admit for and left them all standing there still none the wiser.
'It's all a bit strange' said Jing-Mei 'I mean they've been acting weird for weeks, close but not close'
'They have been acting odder than usual' agreed Frank 'We had this discussion the other day when you were off'
'And the outcome was?' she asked
'We didn't reach one' Frank said
'Could be lots of things' said Malik
'I feel that I'm missing something, with them you know ' Jing-Mei said before walking over to her patient.
'It's none of our business' said Caroline watching Carter and wondering as much as anyone else what was going on.
'That's never stopped us from speculating on our colleagues before' said Malik
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On his return home Carter found Abby in the kitchen perched on a stool eating a bowl of pasta.
'You look like you're feeling better' he commented kissing her
'Yeah, sorry about earlier'
'No problem' he replied
'John' she said as he turned to go 'We need to talk'
He did not reply as he had an 'About what' expression on his face.
'With what's happening with us' she clarified.
Carter looked at her, knowing that she had come to a decision, needing a little more time before he could face hearing what she had to say he said 'I'm going to take a shower' then with a slight grin to lighten the mood he added 'Some woman threw up on me earlier, wasn't looking where she was going, I smell real bad'
'Yeah'
'You're not suppose to agree with me'
'Sorry but you do, I'm surprised the patients didn't complain'
'No but the staff did, ten minutes okay'
'Sure' thinking to herself that he would be a lot longer than that he always was when he took a shower.
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They were sitting together on the sofa Abby trying to think of a good way to start off the conversation, Carter dreading what he was about to hear.
Suddenly he couldn't stand the tension any longer and it came out in an unplanned nervous rush. 'Abby, I know you've decided. I want to tell you it's okay, I mean I know you've been feeling really sick and well today, I never really realised how sick you really felt. If it's like that everyday, I know you hide it from me, not just me everyone at work too, how sick you're feeling. I don't want you to go through this if it's not what you want. I know you're concerned about passing on the disease, that's been such a big part of your family life and always will be. I can wait, or maybe we could think about adopting if you don't want to have a baby. I want you to know, it's okay I understand, I don't want to pressure you. I love you and although I want to be a father so much, probably more than you'll ever know. I want to be with you. I need you so much'
'Have you finished?' she asked calmly.
He paused and said 'I think that's about it'
'Good, can I say something?'
He nodded mentally preparing himself for what he knew was coming.
'I've been thinking' she started 'a lot, about different things. About my childhood, my Mother, my brother, you, Susan and Daniel. I'm scared John' she confessed
'It's okay' he said 'I'll come with you if you like'
'What?' she said looking at him, surveying his face and eventually realising what he thought she was insinuating. 'Oh, well that's not what I meant'
'What?' Carter said echoing her comment, he was now totally lost and confused.
'Let's start again' said Abby
'Right' agreed Carter thinking that was a good idea.
She took his hand and placed it on her stomach 'I'm scared I'll mess up, be like my Mother I guess. You know when she came to see me she said some very..... some very good things, which I thought about. I told her about the baby' He looked surprised ' I know you wanted to tell your family and I begged you not to, it just kind of came out. I thought about what she said. I thought about a lot of things and I know deep in my heart that I could never have another abortion. Of course I want to keep the baby, I know it's silly but I think I love she or he already. I'm just so scared I'll make a hash of everything, I'm so good at that'
'No you're not' he told her 'You'll be great, I know'
She drew to courage to look at him, she couldn't believe that they were both crying again, she of course blamed her raging hormones. They sat there and he drew her into his arms where they stayed for a long time, sharing their joy together.
'I really thought' Carter said later into her hair 'that you were going to tell me....'
'Ssshh' she moved and held her finger up to his lips, before gently cradling his face in her hands 'I love you' she said 'So much' and then what began as a soft whisper of a kiss soon became much, much more.
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