Make of Two Hearts
Abby was awoken to small cries coming from Lauren's room. She sighed and padded down the hall to comfort the girl.
Lauren hadn't a nightmare in some time and Abby was a little worried.
Lauren was mumbling and whimpering when Abby entered the room. She took a seat on the girl's bed and took Lauren into her arms.
"Shh… it's okay," she soothed, "What happened, Lauren?"
Lauren looked up at Abby.
"Daddy's never coming back," she whispered and the grief apparent in the little girl's eyes broke Abby's heart on sight.
"I know, Lauren. I know," she said, drying the tears that had slipped down Lauren's face and smoothing out the red curls that had tangled themselves as she turned over in sleep.
Abby took a deep breath and began to rock Lauren quietly.
"Mommy's not coming back, either," Lauren whispered, "Sometimes, I think that Daddy and Mommy are watching me from heaven, but other times, I wonder if maybe they disappeared, or what if they got lost on their way."
Abby looked straight at Lauren in the darkness of the room.
"No one can get lost on their way to heaven."
"How do you know for sure?" the girl asked quietly; scared.
Abby scrimmaged through her imagination, trying desperately to think of something to say.
"Because, Lauren, when people die, the angels lend them a pair of wings so that they can fly up to the heavens. The angel's wings guide them up to the stars."
Lauren was gazing into Abby's in all seriousness, listening carefully.
"I used to wish that I could go up to heaven to see them, but I don't anymore."
Abby swallowed hard, she didn't know what to say.
"I like it with you and Carter," Lauren finally said, as if she was trying to console herself and Abby smiled softly.
"I'm glad."
Lauren nodded thoughtfully, "You were going to marry Carter before you met Daddy, right?"
Abby nodded; she wasn't going to lie to the girl.
"I'm glad you didn't, because we wouldn't have each other if you did."
Abby smiled and hugged Lauren tight.
"I'm glad too," she said.
Abby rocked Lauren lightly until the girl's breathing became soft and steady and then Abby returned to her room only to lie awake in her bed thinking and finally falling into a short slumber.
~*~
"Hi, Abby," Susan greeted as Abby entered the ER the next morning, coffee clutched in her hand, "God, you look tired."
Abby groaned and rolled her eyes.
"Busy night?" Susan teased.
"I wish. Thank God I only have a half-shift today."
"Lucky."
"How's Chuck's back?"
"He took a few days off sick. He said he's starting to feel better, but I'm making him stay in bed nonetheless."
"It's got to be tough lifting people in and out of that chopper."
"Yeah. Anyway, I should probably go, I just came to get Demerol for a patient."
Abby nodded and headed toward the lounge, bumping into Carter on her way. Carter had two charts in his hand and a sandwich in the other – presumably coming back from a quick break.
"Good morning, sunshine," he greeted happily.
"Morning, Carter."
"You look tired."
"Lauren had a nightmare last night."
Carter's face was etched with worry.
"Don't worry; I think she just needed to talk about some things that had been troubling her."
"Mind if I stop by for dinner tonight?"
"Do you even have to ask?"
Carter stopped down and gave her a light kiss on the lips and Abby grinned beneath his touch.
"Talk to you later," he said and departed, leaving Abby stunned as ever that he could be so casual after making her feel so passionate.
~*~
Lauren burst out laughing and Abby and Carter exchanged an amused glance.
"Lauren, honey, at least try not to laugh when you have food in your mouth," Abby sighed as Lauren coughed and spit part of her food into her napkin, still shaking with giggles.
"And you, Carter…" Abby began pointedly, but his smug look made her break into a wide grin instead.
"Yes, dear?" he responded lightly and Abby felt her face flush. Lauren looked from Abby to Carter and erupted into another fit of giggles.
Abby rolled her eyes and she and Carter just joined in with Lauren's laughter.
"You both are incorrigible."
~
Abby returned from putting Lauren to bed and took a seat on the couch next to Carter.
"How was your day?" she asked as she settled herself amongst the cushions.
"Busy, but not too bad. You?"
"Same."
Carter looked at Abby hesitantly; he was nervous.
"Abby…" Abby turned to face him expectantly.
As soon as their eyes locked, she could feel his hunger.
"Carter…" she looked back up the staircase to the room where Lauren lay asleep.
Carter took Abby's face in his soft hand and rubbed his thumb lightly against her cheek.
He pulled her lightly toward him and their lips touched.
The kiss deepened quickly and Abby felt her face grow warm with desire. She felt Carter push against her and she responded by putting a hand on the back of his head and pulling him toward her.
A noise behind her turned Abby's head around and she faced the little figure that was standing in the doorway in her pajamas.
Lauren looked from Abby to Carter and back again. Abby didn't know how to respond and neither, apparently, did Carter who was sinking into the pillows besides Abby trying to hide from their small intruder.
Lauren stared at Carter again before a small tear escaped her eye. Abby sighed desperately and got off the couch, approaching Lauren.
"Lauren, honey, what's wrong?" she heard herself asking. How stupid was she? She knew exactly what was wrong.
"That used to be Daddy's place on the couch."