***AUTHOR'S NOTE*** I found out Kem's correct name and changed this chapter to correct it.

Chapter 7: Putting the Pieces Together

"He didn't believe her?" Luka asked.

"No. She called me in tears a few nights back. She said something about having to get away. I didn't know what she meant, but I haven't seen or heard from her in a week. I'm starting to get worried..." Susan sipped her coffee nervously. "Do you think maybe she could have gone to visit her mom?"

But before Luka had a chance to respond, Carter burst in the door to the lounge. "Sorry I'm late, Susan. Kem was up all night, not feeling well," he mumbled as he quickly put his things into his locker. By the time he turned around to see her response, however, she was out the door.

"What's her problem?" Carter asked Luka.

Luka just sipped his coffee and said, "There's a patient in curtain one asking for you," and walked out the door as well.

Carter was left wondering what everyone's problem was.

* * *

At the admit desk, Carter was writing some notes on the chart of the pregnant patient that he just seen in one.

"Is someone else claiming to be carrying your baby?" Susan asked spitefully.

"No," Carter answered, still writing and not really paying attention. "I saw her a few years ago. We delivered her baby in the ER. She's having problems with this pregnancy as well... Wait a minute... What is that supposed to mean?" He looked up, finally getting it. He noticed that Susan wasn't the only one looking at him with contempt.

"What the hell is everyone's problem today?" he asked angrily. "What did I do?"

Susan looked at Luka. Luka looked at Susan. Susan spoke first, "Have you noticed that someone hasn't been around in a while?"

Carter's eyes grew wide. He moved closer to Susan and whispered, "She told you..."

"Everything," Susan finished for him.

"Look, Susan, it's complicated. I'm having a son with Kem."

"Are you?"

"Susan, don't say things like that. You don't know her."

"And you do?" Now Susan's anger was really showing. "You've known her, what, five minutes? You've known Abby for almost five years now. She wouldn't lie to you. Do you even know what it took for her to tell you what she'd heard?"

Carter didn't respond. Susan walked away in disgust.

* * *

"Could I get Michelle Little's records?" Carter asked the clerk in OB. He was pulling his pregnant patient's old chart for review.

"Actually, I'm swamped," the frazzled clerk responded. "We had eight deliveries last night...two sets of twins. Would you mind looking for it yourself, Dr. Carter?"

"No problem."

"Thanks. They're right through there," she motioned to the doorway behind her.

Once inside the dim and dusty room, Carter walked past the section containing the C's.

"Ha! The c-section," he quietly laughed to himself, thankful that no one was around to hear his corny joke.

Once he had found the "L" section, he quickly began scanning the names, and one chart in particular caught his eye. "Likasu, Makemba," it read. He opened it and found the latest ultrasound photo of his son. His lips curled into a smile. It just had to be his son...

But, if Abby really hadn't heard anything, how in the world could she have known about Peter? Deep down, Carter knew that Abby wouldn't lie to him. That's why he had to check Dr. Coburn's notes from Kem's last check-up. As he skimmed them over, something made him do a double-take...

* * *

"Jerry...Jerry!" Carter yelled to the ER clerk as he raced to the admit desk. "Is Abby on today?" he asked breathlessly.

"No, I don't think so," he answered with his mouth full of doughnut.

"No one's seen her for days," Susan butted in.

"Who?" Sam asked, coming into the conversation late.

"Abby," Carter answered, now desperate for anyone who knew anything.

"She said she was taking the summer off," Sam said while writing something on a chart. "She asked me to take over her Nurse Manager duties for a while. I could do with the raise in salary so..." She looked up to see everyone staring at her with wide eyes and open mouths. "I assumed everyone knew," she continued.

"She didn't even stay for graduation," Neela added.

"Did she tell anyone where she was going?" Carter asked, searching the faces around him.

There were a lot of no's and shaking of heads before Luka said, "Oh my God..."

"What?" Susan asked.

"I know where she is."

"Where?" asked Carter.

"She's in the Congo..."

* * *

"What?" Carter was almost screaming. "How could you let her go there?"

"Don't you dare make this about me, Carter. I tried to talk her out of it, but you know Abby. Anyway, she didn't really seem that interested, she just wanted to get information. Somebody must have driven her away."

Carter looked like he might either cry or punch Luka in the face. But before he had a chance to do either, a painfully familiar voice and the thumping of a crutch resounded through the ER.

"Hey...Hey! What the hell is going on here?" Dr. Weaver hobbled over. "Did I miss the memo? Has County changed from a hospital into Jerry Springer?" No one responded. "I didn't think so. Everyone get back to work..." After everyone began to disperse, she continued, "And I don't want you two working together for the rest of the shift." She motioned to Carter and Luka. "You're attendings. You should set a better example." Carter began to walk toward the door. "Where the hell do you think you're going?" She yelled after him.

"I'll get Susan to cover the rest of my shift. I have something important I have to do," he replied, walking backwards so she could hear.

"John? John!" she called, but he was long gone. She looked up to see Luka and Jerry staring. "Don't you two have work to do?" she squawked before she hobbled away.