AN: Here's the last chapter. I have tried to tie up any loose ends I had floating about, so it's a bit longer than some of the other chapters. Hope you like it, I enjoyed writing it. Thank you to everyone who has read and, each person who has read and taken the time to review too. I have found the reviews supportive and encouraging. Hopefully I will write more in the future. I have a couple of ideas buzzing around my head but I need to develop them some more first.
The Rainbow After The Storm
Chapter Twenty Four
Saturday April 1st 2006 continued
'4cm's, progressing nicely' the Doctor told Abby.
'Great' she thought then she said 'My husband hasn't called?'
'No I don't think so, but I'll go and check. We'll call him again'
'Thank you' Abby replied
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The phone rang, Susan who was alone at admit having just arrived for her shift picked it up.
'County' she said 'What?.....Where?....What's the number?.......Okay, you rang earlier?....When?....Right, got that, thank you'
As she turned round she scanned the floor and she saw a flash of yellow half-tucked away. Pulling it out she read it and shook her head before walking off to locate Carter.
He was standing at a patient's bedside with three med students when she found him.
'John' she said
Carter looked at her puzzled; she never called him John.
'What?' he asked intrigued
'I need to talk to you. Now, in private'
'Let me just finish up here'
'No' Susan interrupted 'Now. I'll take this patient in a minute'
There was something about the way Susan spoke that Carter could not ignore. So he followed her out of the room. The students looked on, they couldn't hear what Susan was saying but Dr Carter looked shocked.
'What?' he asked 'I don't understand'
'Look' said Susan 'The message was that she had been admitted to this hospital' showing him the message 'They called and left a message some hours ago. I think this must be it I found it on the floor' Here she showed him the first message.
'What was she doing out there?' he asked
'More importantly, when are you leaving so that she doesn't have to go through it alone? I'm here now, Luka's on. What are you waiting for?'
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The driving conditions were poor the road was wet as Carter drove out of the city after ringing the hospital to tell them he was on his way in his haste he forgot to ask after Abby.
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The journey had taken longer than anticipated due to a MVA blocking part of the road and having to take a detour. When he at last arrived he was rather frantic. He spoke with a nurse when he reached OB, who told him that the doctor was with Abby and could he wait a few moments. Which set him pacing up and down the hall impatiently, wondering what the hell was happening.
'Dr Carter' the OB doctor said stretching out her hand for him to shake and he did hesitantly.
She proceeded to inform him of Abby's progression. Her waters had broken and she was about halfway dilated. Only agreeing to gas and air and a pain deterrent, despite the fact that she the doctor had suggested an epidural.
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As he entered the room Abby had her eyes closed. Her face was damp with perspiration; her bangs stuck to her forehead. He felt bad suddenly for not being there sooner. One hand he placed on her swollen belly the other on her forehead as he bent down and kissed her lightly. She opened her eyes and looked at him.
'Hey' he said softly stroking her hair.
'Didn't think you were going to get here' she replied
'The first message got lost, I was stuck in trauma' he explained. Not feeling it was the right time to ask what she was doing out here and not back in Chicago.
She was now feeling very relieved that she wouldn't have to go through it alone.
'What?' he asked seeing tears well up in her eyes. 'Contraction?'
She shook her head 'I'm just glad you're here' she told him
'I'm not going anywhere' he told her
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She stood up, she needed to change position, her back ached too much from lying on the bed. Carter supported her with one arm, his hand on his other rubbing slow circles on the small of her back. Her forehead rested on his chest as the contractions flowed through her body. They were stronger now. He expected her to yell at him, not to touch her or come near her again but she didn't make a sound as they stood in this embrace as close as possible to each other.
He tried to visualise how it was for her alone, waiting for him to show. Then he tried to imagine how she was feeling right now.
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Sunday April 2nd 2006
Sometime later she did vocalise about the pain, the situation. She squeezed his hand tightly and he could only wish to go through the pain for her as she pushed down with the contraction.
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Carter couldn't describe how he felt, the minute he became a father, words failed him. It was a strange mix of pride, elation, joy, protectiveness and love. He looked down at the infant in Abby's arms and she looked up and met his gaze and smiled. Her own emotions for once were clearly displayed on her face as he leant down and kissed her again. Again for he kissed her when their daughter finally came into the world and hour or so earlier. He felt like time had stood still for him, Abby and their daughter. His family. He watched as Abby settled the baby to feed unaware that he still wore a goofy grin on his face.
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It was still raining the drops hammering hard against the windowpane, making the morning darker than was seasonal. Carter turned slowly to find his wife and new daughter asleep. Gently he lifted the slumbering infant from Abby's arms and rearranged the blanket around his wife.
'Well' he said speaking softly to the baby who hadn't woken 'I guess I'd better call Auntie Susan, she'll be wondering what's happening'
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The shrill ring of the phone stilted the conversation at admit as Frank answered it.
'Dr Lewis' he said 'It's Carter'
Eagerly Susan took the phone from Frank as everyone who was in the vicinity came closer. Susan kept them in suspense though by asking questions and not relaying any of the answers she received.
'Well?' asked Luka
'A little girl. Amy Grace Carter weighing 6lb 4oz, born at 2:37 this morning. Mother and baby are good'
'Can we go visit?' asked Haleh
'It's a bit of a long way for a visit they'll be home in a couple of days'
'I guess'
'You owe me at least twenty bucks for the weight' said Pratt to Frank
'Yeah and I said it would be a girl' said Malik
'Me too' chorused a few others
'Hang on, hang on' said Frank as Susan walked away from them shaking her head and smiling.
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'Okay?' Carter asked Abby
Abby nodded 'It all seems so strange, you know going home' she sighed
He looked at her wondering what she was really thinking. 'What?' he asked.
'You never asked' she told him.
'What?'
'What I was doing here'
'I figured it wasn't the best time to ask when I got here and after I kind of forgot'
She smiled 'My car is at that baby boutique we went to, I came out this way to collect the stuff we ordered'
'Oh' mouthed Carter
'What are we going to do about my car?'
'Don't worry I'll sort it later' he told her
'You're not mad?'
'No. It's a bit late now. Come on let's go home'
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Over the next few weeks they found that finding a routine with a baby harder than they imagined. Carter felt like a zombie when he went to work and was teased incessantly by everyone in the ER. It wasn't as though they could relax at home as they had one visitor after another. Carter's parents had visited at the same time which although a little awkward the joy of having a grand daughter sort of took the focus away from Jack and Eleanor so it worked out okay.
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He sat rocking Amy who wouldn't settle when; Abby came into the nursery.
'I'll feed her again' she told him as they swapped places in the rocking chair.
'I was hoping you could get some sleep' he replied
'What about you?' she asked
He just shrugged and knelt down beside them, still in awe of their daughter. Abby took her free hand and gently cupped his face lifting it up and their eyes locked, their gaze intense.
'I love you' she told him 'And because I love you, I suggest you go to bed to get some sleep. You've got a twelve-hour shift in..' she paused as she glanced up at the clock 'A shift that starts in a little over four hours'
Hesitantly he stood up and left after taking one final look at the pair of them.
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'Oh she's so gorgeous and heavier than last week' said Susan giving Amy a cuddle then to Daniel she said 'Get down from there' then turning back to Abby she said 'Sorry he's reached the "I can climb furniture stage, aren't I clever" part of life'
'Don't worry about it' Abby told her as she lifted the toddler down from the back of the sofa.
'It's my fault I should have been more organised and brought some of his toys over' Susan said
'So' said Abby 'How's everything? We haven't talked properly for weeks'
'With what?' Susan asked
'Chuck' clarified Abby
'Oh. Well he's met someone; they're really good together. He asked me if I minded if they got married'
'Do you?'
'Hell no'
'What about you?'
'What?'
'A man for you' Abby asked
'When am I supposed to fit that it? It's okay really at the moment the only man I need is Daniel. Maybe when he's a year or two older, I'll feel ready to date, but I've got enough on my plate right now'
'I wouldn't give up altogether. You know we'll baby sit, you can bring him over to stay the night'
'Thank you but...'
'Just think about it okay?'
'Sure' said Susan smiling at her friend.
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They had just sat down to dinner one night when the doorbell chimed.
'Emily's night off' Abby said wearily standing up.
'Sit' Carter said 'I'll get it'
Although Abby could hear muffled talking in the hall she didn't know whom Carter was talking with.
He came back into the room shutting the door behind him. Seeing his expression she stood up and crossed the room to meet him.
'What? What's wrong? Who is it?' she asked searching his face for clues. He gave none, but placed his hands on her shoulders and sat her back down on an empty chair, before kneeling down beside her.
'It's Maggie....' he said and she smiled, then he continued 'And .....Eric'
She looked down at him surprised; it had been about eighteen months since she had last her brother. Although she had had brief conversations with him via the telephone since then.
'He wants to talk to you, alone. You happy with that? You don't have to, I can stay too if you want' he told her
She bit her lip, still looking at him. 'No' she shut her eyes for a second, then opened them and said 'I have to talk with him alone. You'll be in the next room right?'
He nodded clasping her hands in his. 'Okay'
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They sat opposite each other, tension filled the air. He looked at the floor; she on the other hand studied him.
Looking up at her Eric finally said 'I'm sorry Abby, for what happened. I wasn't myself, it was the disease. I thought I could handle it by myself, without any help from anyone. But I was wrong. I'm better. Well better than I was, trying to take my meds.....It's difficult. I love you Abby, I know I said it before when I screwed up last time, but I mean it now and I meant it then'
'I know' she said 'It's okay. I don't know if I'm ready to...that we'll be close like before...it's going to take time'
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Carter made small talk with Maggie who wanted to know all about her first grandchild. When they could hear the baby starting to cry over the monitor, Carter beckoned Maggie to follow him to the nursery where he changed Amy's diaper and Maggie had her first cuddle with her Granddaughter.
Still with the baby in her arms Maggie and Carter went to see what was happening with Eric and Abby, they stood in the doorway of the room and watched as Abby and Eric shared a hug. When the baby let out a small wail they broke apart and Eric went to meet his niece.
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A few weeks later
He stood watching them from the doorway.
'Dr Wright is yelling all over for you' he said
'He'll just have to yell, feeding Amy is much more important. Do you think she'll settle soon in day care upstairs?'
'It's only been a couple of days Abby and we could always get a nanny' he answered walking over and sitting close to her as was possible, gently stroking his daughters feet.
'I know I never thought I'd worry this much. That I'd love her like this. She's so beautiful it takes my breath away'
'Just like you'
She looked up and him with a 'Yeah right' expression on her face.
'Really' he told her
'Haven't you got like work to do?' she asked
'And miss being with my two favourite girls?'
She smiled 'You know the next time we have a baby it should be a boy so I can tell you how much he looks like his dad'
'Next time? You struggled with the idea of one'
'Well Amy's changed my mind'
He grinned at her 'Who would have thought it?' He said then after a pause added 'You're not pregnant? I mean that's not what you're trying to tell me?'
'John we haven't...'
'Oh no' he said thinking about it 'I can't remember the last time in fact'
'I can, I was big and fat and..'
'Oh yeah I remember now' he replied 'This parenthood thing puts a new side to tiredness, which I never envisioned. It's done something to my brain'
'No, you were always like that'
'Ha Ha' he retorted.
'You'd better look snappy' said Susan entering the lounge 'Multiple GSW' then to Abby she said 'James Wright thinks you haven't showed'
'Oh' said Carter and Abby together
'Well?' asked Susan
'One minute' Carter told Susan as she left
'You'd better go' Abby told him
He leant down and kissed Amy's head and then Abby full on the mouth before whispering 'I love you' and he left.
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Sometime later Abby exited the elevator.
'Dr Carter?' said a vaguely familiar woman who was standing there holding a baby a few weeks older them Amy. 'Mrs Sherrill, do you remember me?'
'Yes' said Abby beginning to recollect.
'Except now I'm Mrs McCullough, I married Hartley. Mother still lives with us, she was happy when she got over the shock.'
'And this is?' Abby asked referring to the baby
'George. I came here to. I just wanted to thank you for helping me see things clearly I wouldn't be without George for the world'
'ABBY!' yelled James Wright 'Trauma one now'
'I've got to go, he's beautiful' she said as she left and hurried down the hall. Thinking of how her friends and family had helped her, Abby, to see things clearly, to take a chance on life. Her life here as a doctor, something she almost given up hope of becoming. But especially at home with her family, John and Amy.
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Inside the ER hummed with it's usual amount of daily activity. While outside the cloudburst, which had poured from the sky, stopped as suddenly as it had started, the clouds parted allowing the sun through and a rainbow filled the sky.
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The End
