Title: Fog (yeah, the title sucks)

Spoilers: Midnight episode #21 season #10

Disclaimer: Not mine

Summary: Missing scene from Midnight

Author's notes: I haven't written fanfic in a long time, and this is the first serious ER story I've done. (I would chose an episode like this to try to break in!) I like praise, but don't need blind praise. You see flaws, point them out. I won't fall apart. And, this story probably won't get any longer (I write short) but if it does, a word of warning. It will never become a Carter/Abby fic.

"John." Vicky motioned for Carter to step into the hallway. He glanced at Kem, but her eyes were shut. He knew she wasn't sleeping, her breathing was too shallow. He pulled himself out of the chair and went into the hallway.

Vicky was saying something. He realized she had been talking for awhile. "I'm sorry, what?" Ever since the words "the baby died" he felt he had been in a fog, and it was hard for anything to get through. He had managed to rouse himself to ask Vicky some questions and to try to do what he could for Kem, which wasn't anything. And, now that both those options were gone, the fog was settling over him again.

"Have you called anybody?" she repeated. "To let them know what's happening?"

He stared at her, numbly. "She didn't want me to call her parents."

"Well, we won't push her. But, what about you?"

"What?" He needed to focus, to think. He didn't want to.

"You've suffered a loss, too. Is there anyone you can call? A family member?"

"My dad, I guess."

Vicky laid a hand on his shoulder. "Call him." She walked off.

Carter glanced back into the room. Kem lay so still, with her eyes shut tight. Maybe he should go back in there. But, he remembered how she had jerked away from him. Maybe the last thing she wanted was him in there. Maybe every time she saw him, every time he touched her, just reminded her of their – no. He shook his head. He was getting too close to thinking. It was better, safer, to just perform on autopilot. Just do what others told him, rather than try to think for himself. He went to make the phone call.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Carter's in a meeting. Who's calling please?" the businesslike voice answered.

"This is his son."

"Ah, well, is it important, or can he call you back? Oh, wait. He just stepped out. Oh, Mr. Carter! Your son is on the line."

Carter heard some muttered sounds, than his dad. "John?"

"Dad?"

Jack Carter let out an exasperated sigh. "Look John, do you have any idea what I'm doing? I'm trying to implement those changes that you just waltz in and decided needed to be made. Except, where are you while this is going on? Do you think you just wave a wand, issue a command, and it all happens?"

Carter clutched at his hair with one hand. "Dad. Kem, she, um, she" He stopped. It was getting hard to breathe.

"John?" This time, Jack sounded curious.

"We're at the hospital. The baby..." Oh, please don't make me say it, he thought.

Now Jack sounded concerned. "Is something wrong with the baby?"

"He..." He couldn't say the words. "There wasn't any heartbeat. He wasn't moving." He hoped his dad understood what he couldn't say.

Apparently, he did. "Do you want me to come over to the hospital?" he asked.

It was reflex. "You don't have to."

"No, I don't. But I will. Unless you don't want me there. Do you want me to come"

The fog was slipping back over him. Only one thought penetrated. He needed someone there for him. "Yes, please," he whispered.