Thanks for all the great reviews! I promise that Carter and Abby will take the time out to work through their problems and that there will also be Carby coming up in the next chapters too.
Abby shielded her eyes and glanced over at Carter as the flatbed truck bounced along the African terrain. Inside the cab were Debbie and Gillian. They were heading towards Kivu as Debbie had promised the previous day. This made Abby a little nervous, as she didn't know what to except. What she did know was that the Mai Mai were fighting on the outskirts of the town.
"You okay?" Carter asked her, stretching his arms over his head.
She nodded slowly. "Yeah. Tired and hot, I guess."
He reached over and pulled out a canteen, which he handed to her. "Here. Drink some of this. It's boiled, so it's safe. Hopefully."
Abby smirked and lifted the canteen to her lips, taking a long swig. "Thanks. How much longer do you think?"
"Not sure. A few miles at least."
"Kivu's not safe, is it?"
Carter shook his head. "No, it's not. But since we're with the Red Cross we have amnesty, and hopefully we won't have to stay there too long. Scared?"
"Worried is more like it. It sounds dangerous."
He reached over and took her hand in his. "Hey, it'll be okay. I won't let anything happen to you."
"Thanks," she smiled. Abby pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her arms on top of them. Suddenly, the truck hit a deep rut in the path and sent Abby flying across the flatbed and into Carter's chest. She banged her head against his shoulder and winced.
"Whoa. You okay?" he questioned, running his hand over the top of her head.
She nodded. "Yeah. Didn't know your shoulder could be used as a weapon."
"Neither did I," Carter laughed. He realized that Abby was now sitting in his lap and smiled. "I guess that was a sign that we're getting back on track."
She slid off of his lap and instead resumed a position next to him. "Maybe." Abby rubbed at her head and sighed.
Gillian opened the window that looked over the flatbed and stuck her head out. "You two okay back there?"
Towards dusk, Debbie, Gillian, Carter and Abby arrived at the clinic in Matenda. As Debbie parked the truck off to the side, Carter helped Abby jump down from the flatbed. They quickly joined Gillian by the front of the truck.
Carter was amazed at the sight that lay before him. The clinic had been almost burned to the ground, and various pieces of it were lying scattered across the area. Several Mai Mai soldiers were patrolling the grounds, and they were sending malicious looks in their direction. Abby shakily pressed herself closer to Carter, and he liberally took her hand, squeezing it tightly.
"You guys burned the clinic to the ground?" Carter shouted out at the soldiers. He kicked a piece of burned wood out of the way in anger. The guards looked onward, making no attempt to do or say anything. Abby trudged along next to him, worried that Carter's reaction would provoke the Mai Mai to attack.
"John, stop," she whispered to him.
Debbie and Gillian looked onward, while he continued his outburst. "You guys keep burning down hospitals, where you gonna go when you get shot? Huh? Where are you gonna go when your mothers get sick?"
"John!"
Charles appeared in front of a tent, and the group quickly charged towards them. Abby looked back over her shoulder at the Mai Mai and noticed they were glaring at their little group with disgust. She shuddered and allowed Carter to wrap his arm around her waist.
"You've made it safely," Charles noted. "Do not provoke them, John. For our sake, do not." He lifted the flap and Abby covered her nose automatically when Carter walked inside, followed by Debbie and Gillian. The tent walls were stained with blood, which had also drained onto the floor. Carter noticed a single sandal lying in the middle of the room and bent down to pick it up, letting it dangle slowly from his fingers.
"Many people died here," Charles continued sadly. "The bodies have been taken to Kasese. This soldier believes they are still there."
Carter nodded and Abby looked away. "We have to go there, then." He stalked out of the tent with Debbie on his heels.
"We're not going to Kivu, John. It's not safe."
He shook his head. "We have to. I owe it to myself. If you don't want to go, give me the damn truck and I'll go myself."
"They'll shoot you."
"Then I'll let them!"
"Look, it's ten miles from here. Luka's dead, John. He's dead. I'm sorry about that. I'm sorry. But I've gotten you this far, haven't I?" Debbie sassed back.
"He has a point, Debbie," Gillian added softly. "We owe it to ourselves, to Luka. We need to find his body."
"I'll return the vehicle by morning," Carter offered.
"No!" Debbie shouted. "Don't make me regret bringing you here!"
Carter looked over his shoulder and noticed Gillian and Abby assisting a group of women sitting by the side of the road. "Please."
"There are people here that need our help, John. We'll discuss this later," Debbie voiced, hurrying off with Charles.
Sighing, Carter trudged off to an opposite group of people. He started to assist and treat them as best he could with the limited supplies that Debbie had brought with her. As he moved on to a man holding his son, he realized suddenly that he had treated these people before. Not only that, but they had been with Luka in Matenda.
"Gillian!" Carter shouted out. "Gillian!"
Quickly, Gillian started running towards him, Abby on her heels. "What?"
"They were with Luka in Matenda. Ask them if they know where he is. Ask them!"
She started speaking rapid French with the man, and nodded a few times while Carter stood in place anxiously. "All he can tell me is that the Mai Mai came."
9 PM
Carter adjusted the headphones of his iPod while brushing a stray piece of hair off of Abby's face. She had fallen asleep about half an hour ago, head resting in his lap, the rest of her body curled up against his body.
"Hey." Debbie leaned casually against the wall and handed him a beer. "It's warm, tastes like formaldehyde, but it's wet."
Carter shook his head and held up his own bottle. "No thanks. I already have one." He lifted the headphones off of his ears and draped them across his neck.
"How long have you two been together?"
He rested his head against the cooler wall and sighed. "It would have been a year this month."
"Would have been?" Debbie questioned. "What happened?"
"Things got complicated. We both ran away from each other when our problems got in the way without really solving anything. Then I took off for here without telling her."
"Ouch. That must have put you in the doghouse."
"It did," he agreed. "Big time."
"She's pretty. You're a lucky guy."
He nodded and ran his fingers over Abby's arm. "She's beautiful. I think the time apart made me realize that I'd do anything for her. I came close to proposing to her before I left. Rented out a whole restaurant. Had the ring. Just didn't go through with it."
"Are you guys working everything out now? Is that why she came down here with you?"
He nodded again. "She came down here for me, and because Luka's her friend just as much as he is mine. We're trying to work things out. I'd like to. I don't want to make the mistake I did before of letting her get away."
"Do you love her?" Debbie asked, sinking down onto the ground next to him.
"Yeah. I do love her."
"Then everything will work out in the end."
The conversation went silent for a few moments, with Carter and Debbie just sipping at their beers.
"They just left him there in the jungle?" Debbie questioned, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear.
Carter nodded. "Yeah. The Congolese are afraid to be found with the doctors." He motioned to the guard and sighed. "Do you ever wonder if they'll get bored and start shooting?"
"I don't think about it," Debbie answered quickly. "And if I did, I doubt I'd ever be able to leave Seattle again."
"I never knew how bad things were here before I arrived."
Debbie nodded. "Nobody at home gives a damn what happens here."
"There's no oil here. Millions are being slaughtered and we're too busy eating Happy Meals."
She smiled slightly. "What exactly are you doing here? You don't seem the type."
"What type am I supposed to be?"
"Macho adrenaline junkies and save the world peace freaks."
"Which one are you?" he laughed.
Debbie shrugged. "Which one do you think?"
"It's simpler here. People need help, and I can help them, "Carter explained slowly, changing the topic. "Sorry. It's late, I'm tired."
"We'll take the truck to Kasese in the morning. Maybe we'll be able to learn something."
Carter nodded. "Thank you."
Debbie smiled before standing up. "You're welcome. Good night."
Abby stirred slightly in his lap and opened her eyes groggily once Debbie had left. "How long have I been asleep?"
"About an hour," he smiled down at her. "You were tired."
"I guess I was." She sat up and yawned. "What have you been doing?"
"Thinking. Come on, let's go to the tent and get some real sleep." He grabbed her hands and hoisted her up off the ground. Within minutes, they had reached their temporary tent and crawled inside. Neither bothered to undress, both knowing that they would be up early in the morning anyway.
Abby looked about ready to collapse into sleep again when she crawled into the sleeping bag. Carter slid in next to her and wrapped his arms protectively around her shoulders. They hadn't done much talking today, but the body language said it all. Yes, they were both still willing to talk out their issues, but they knew that right now wasn't the time or place. Both were just comfortable in each other's presence and willing to try and get things back on track between them.
"Goodnight, Abby," he said softly.
She rested her head against his shoulder and laid one hand on his chest. "Night, John."
May 25, 2003
By dawn, Carter, Abby, Gillian and Debbie were huddled together in the cab of the truck, with the latter driving them all towards Kasese. All necessary supplies and duffel bags were placed together in the back of the flatbed.
"Damn, Gillian, how can you smoke this early?" Debbie questioned, obviously annoyed by the smoking in the tight cab space. Quickly, she rolled down the cab window some more while Carter smiled at Abby.
"So why did you change your mind?" Carter questioned honestly.
"Came a hell of a long way. Figured the least I could do is to help you with the last few miles."
About an hour later, Debbie had pulled up to the town of Kasese and everyone climbed out of the cab. Abby had once again fallen asleep against Carter's shoulder and was a little out of it when they arrived.
"What was this place?" Carter pointed to a burned building while holding Abby's hand at the same time.
"A school, I think," Debbie answered back.
Abby saw Gillian double over at the side of the road and start dry heaving. "Maybe we shouldn't."
"We don't have to continue," Gillian told them. "We came far enough."
Carter ignored both Gillian and Abby and instead treaded towards the door of the building. He opened the door and immediately gagged with Abby and Debbie by his side.
"Oh my god," Debbie whispered. "Oh my god." Abby looked away with tears in her eyes and covered her nose and mouth.
"Stay outside. Both of you," Carter demanded. "Make sure Gillian is okay."
It was too late. Gillian had already come to the doorway and started crying. Abby gently placed a hand on her arm. Carter started hovering towards the bodies, realizing that one of the corpses was Patrique, a man who accompanied Luka.
Gillian cried out and clung to Abby as they continued through the morgue. Debbie looked on stiffly, biting her lip.
Carter moved on, spotting another corpse a few feet away. Instantly he assumed it was Luka and moved the body around so he could see its face. But it wasn't Luka. Silently, he breathed a sigh of relief. "It isn't him!"
Gillian stopped crying automatically and blinked at Carter. Abby and Debbie both paused again with looks of shock on their faces.
"Ask him!" Carter motioned for Gillian to ask the soldier that had accompanied him in. "Was he there when these men were killed?"
Gillian started talking to the soldier in rapid French once again. The soldier grabbed Luka's Alliance ID badge out of Carter's hand and started nodding, talking quite fluently back to Gillian. Abby came around towards Carter and clung onto his arm, resting her head against his shoulder.
"He says he's a priest. Luka was the priest, he says," Gillian told them frantically.
Carter kissed Abby's temple roughly and pulled her into his chest. "Ask him where. Where can we find him?"
Reviews will be wonderful, because there will be much Carby coming up in the next chapters. =]
Abby shielded her eyes and glanced over at Carter as the flatbed truck bounced along the African terrain. Inside the cab were Debbie and Gillian. They were heading towards Kivu as Debbie had promised the previous day. This made Abby a little nervous, as she didn't know what to except. What she did know was that the Mai Mai were fighting on the outskirts of the town.
"You okay?" Carter asked her, stretching his arms over his head.
She nodded slowly. "Yeah. Tired and hot, I guess."
He reached over and pulled out a canteen, which he handed to her. "Here. Drink some of this. It's boiled, so it's safe. Hopefully."
Abby smirked and lifted the canteen to her lips, taking a long swig. "Thanks. How much longer do you think?"
"Not sure. A few miles at least."
"Kivu's not safe, is it?"
Carter shook his head. "No, it's not. But since we're with the Red Cross we have amnesty, and hopefully we won't have to stay there too long. Scared?"
"Worried is more like it. It sounds dangerous."
He reached over and took her hand in his. "Hey, it'll be okay. I won't let anything happen to you."
"Thanks," she smiled. Abby pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her arms on top of them. Suddenly, the truck hit a deep rut in the path and sent Abby flying across the flatbed and into Carter's chest. She banged her head against his shoulder and winced.
"Whoa. You okay?" he questioned, running his hand over the top of her head.
She nodded. "Yeah. Didn't know your shoulder could be used as a weapon."
"Neither did I," Carter laughed. He realized that Abby was now sitting in his lap and smiled. "I guess that was a sign that we're getting back on track."
She slid off of his lap and instead resumed a position next to him. "Maybe." Abby rubbed at her head and sighed.
Gillian opened the window that looked over the flatbed and stuck her head out. "You two okay back there?"
Towards dusk, Debbie, Gillian, Carter and Abby arrived at the clinic in Matenda. As Debbie parked the truck off to the side, Carter helped Abby jump down from the flatbed. They quickly joined Gillian by the front of the truck.
Carter was amazed at the sight that lay before him. The clinic had been almost burned to the ground, and various pieces of it were lying scattered across the area. Several Mai Mai soldiers were patrolling the grounds, and they were sending malicious looks in their direction. Abby shakily pressed herself closer to Carter, and he liberally took her hand, squeezing it tightly.
"You guys burned the clinic to the ground?" Carter shouted out at the soldiers. He kicked a piece of burned wood out of the way in anger. The guards looked onward, making no attempt to do or say anything. Abby trudged along next to him, worried that Carter's reaction would provoke the Mai Mai to attack.
"John, stop," she whispered to him.
Debbie and Gillian looked onward, while he continued his outburst. "You guys keep burning down hospitals, where you gonna go when you get shot? Huh? Where are you gonna go when your mothers get sick?"
"John!"
Charles appeared in front of a tent, and the group quickly charged towards them. Abby looked back over her shoulder at the Mai Mai and noticed they were glaring at their little group with disgust. She shuddered and allowed Carter to wrap his arm around her waist.
"You've made it safely," Charles noted. "Do not provoke them, John. For our sake, do not." He lifted the flap and Abby covered her nose automatically when Carter walked inside, followed by Debbie and Gillian. The tent walls were stained with blood, which had also drained onto the floor. Carter noticed a single sandal lying in the middle of the room and bent down to pick it up, letting it dangle slowly from his fingers.
"Many people died here," Charles continued sadly. "The bodies have been taken to Kasese. This soldier believes they are still there."
Carter nodded and Abby looked away. "We have to go there, then." He stalked out of the tent with Debbie on his heels.
"We're not going to Kivu, John. It's not safe."
He shook his head. "We have to. I owe it to myself. If you don't want to go, give me the damn truck and I'll go myself."
"They'll shoot you."
"Then I'll let them!"
"Look, it's ten miles from here. Luka's dead, John. He's dead. I'm sorry about that. I'm sorry. But I've gotten you this far, haven't I?" Debbie sassed back.
"He has a point, Debbie," Gillian added softly. "We owe it to ourselves, to Luka. We need to find his body."
"I'll return the vehicle by morning," Carter offered.
"No!" Debbie shouted. "Don't make me regret bringing you here!"
Carter looked over his shoulder and noticed Gillian and Abby assisting a group of women sitting by the side of the road. "Please."
"There are people here that need our help, John. We'll discuss this later," Debbie voiced, hurrying off with Charles.
Sighing, Carter trudged off to an opposite group of people. He started to assist and treat them as best he could with the limited supplies that Debbie had brought with her. As he moved on to a man holding his son, he realized suddenly that he had treated these people before. Not only that, but they had been with Luka in Matenda.
"Gillian!" Carter shouted out. "Gillian!"
Quickly, Gillian started running towards him, Abby on her heels. "What?"
"They were with Luka in Matenda. Ask them if they know where he is. Ask them!"
She started speaking rapid French with the man, and nodded a few times while Carter stood in place anxiously. "All he can tell me is that the Mai Mai came."
9 PM
Carter adjusted the headphones of his iPod while brushing a stray piece of hair off of Abby's face. She had fallen asleep about half an hour ago, head resting in his lap, the rest of her body curled up against his body.
"Hey." Debbie leaned casually against the wall and handed him a beer. "It's warm, tastes like formaldehyde, but it's wet."
Carter shook his head and held up his own bottle. "No thanks. I already have one." He lifted the headphones off of his ears and draped them across his neck.
"How long have you two been together?"
He rested his head against the cooler wall and sighed. "It would have been a year this month."
"Would have been?" Debbie questioned. "What happened?"
"Things got complicated. We both ran away from each other when our problems got in the way without really solving anything. Then I took off for here without telling her."
"Ouch. That must have put you in the doghouse."
"It did," he agreed. "Big time."
"She's pretty. You're a lucky guy."
He nodded and ran his fingers over Abby's arm. "She's beautiful. I think the time apart made me realize that I'd do anything for her. I came close to proposing to her before I left. Rented out a whole restaurant. Had the ring. Just didn't go through with it."
"Are you guys working everything out now? Is that why she came down here with you?"
He nodded again. "She came down here for me, and because Luka's her friend just as much as he is mine. We're trying to work things out. I'd like to. I don't want to make the mistake I did before of letting her get away."
"Do you love her?" Debbie asked, sinking down onto the ground next to him.
"Yeah. I do love her."
"Then everything will work out in the end."
The conversation went silent for a few moments, with Carter and Debbie just sipping at their beers.
"They just left him there in the jungle?" Debbie questioned, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear.
Carter nodded. "Yeah. The Congolese are afraid to be found with the doctors." He motioned to the guard and sighed. "Do you ever wonder if they'll get bored and start shooting?"
"I don't think about it," Debbie answered quickly. "And if I did, I doubt I'd ever be able to leave Seattle again."
"I never knew how bad things were here before I arrived."
Debbie nodded. "Nobody at home gives a damn what happens here."
"There's no oil here. Millions are being slaughtered and we're too busy eating Happy Meals."
She smiled slightly. "What exactly are you doing here? You don't seem the type."
"What type am I supposed to be?"
"Macho adrenaline junkies and save the world peace freaks."
"Which one are you?" he laughed.
Debbie shrugged. "Which one do you think?"
"It's simpler here. People need help, and I can help them, "Carter explained slowly, changing the topic. "Sorry. It's late, I'm tired."
"We'll take the truck to Kasese in the morning. Maybe we'll be able to learn something."
Carter nodded. "Thank you."
Debbie smiled before standing up. "You're welcome. Good night."
Abby stirred slightly in his lap and opened her eyes groggily once Debbie had left. "How long have I been asleep?"
"About an hour," he smiled down at her. "You were tired."
"I guess I was." She sat up and yawned. "What have you been doing?"
"Thinking. Come on, let's go to the tent and get some real sleep." He grabbed her hands and hoisted her up off the ground. Within minutes, they had reached their temporary tent and crawled inside. Neither bothered to undress, both knowing that they would be up early in the morning anyway.
Abby looked about ready to collapse into sleep again when she crawled into the sleeping bag. Carter slid in next to her and wrapped his arms protectively around her shoulders. They hadn't done much talking today, but the body language said it all. Yes, they were both still willing to talk out their issues, but they knew that right now wasn't the time or place. Both were just comfortable in each other's presence and willing to try and get things back on track between them.
"Goodnight, Abby," he said softly.
She rested her head against his shoulder and laid one hand on his chest. "Night, John."
May 25, 2003
By dawn, Carter, Abby, Gillian and Debbie were huddled together in the cab of the truck, with the latter driving them all towards Kasese. All necessary supplies and duffel bags were placed together in the back of the flatbed.
"Damn, Gillian, how can you smoke this early?" Debbie questioned, obviously annoyed by the smoking in the tight cab space. Quickly, she rolled down the cab window some more while Carter smiled at Abby.
"So why did you change your mind?" Carter questioned honestly.
"Came a hell of a long way. Figured the least I could do is to help you with the last few miles."
About an hour later, Debbie had pulled up to the town of Kasese and everyone climbed out of the cab. Abby had once again fallen asleep against Carter's shoulder and was a little out of it when they arrived.
"What was this place?" Carter pointed to a burned building while holding Abby's hand at the same time.
"A school, I think," Debbie answered back.
Abby saw Gillian double over at the side of the road and start dry heaving. "Maybe we shouldn't."
"We don't have to continue," Gillian told them. "We came far enough."
Carter ignored both Gillian and Abby and instead treaded towards the door of the building. He opened the door and immediately gagged with Abby and Debbie by his side.
"Oh my god," Debbie whispered. "Oh my god." Abby looked away with tears in her eyes and covered her nose and mouth.
"Stay outside. Both of you," Carter demanded. "Make sure Gillian is okay."
It was too late. Gillian had already come to the doorway and started crying. Abby gently placed a hand on her arm. Carter started hovering towards the bodies, realizing that one of the corpses was Patrique, a man who accompanied Luka.
Gillian cried out and clung to Abby as they continued through the morgue. Debbie looked on stiffly, biting her lip.
Carter moved on, spotting another corpse a few feet away. Instantly he assumed it was Luka and moved the body around so he could see its face. But it wasn't Luka. Silently, he breathed a sigh of relief. "It isn't him!"
Gillian stopped crying automatically and blinked at Carter. Abby and Debbie both paused again with looks of shock on their faces.
"Ask him!" Carter motioned for Gillian to ask the soldier that had accompanied him in. "Was he there when these men were killed?"
Gillian started talking to the soldier in rapid French once again. The soldier grabbed Luka's Alliance ID badge out of Carter's hand and started nodding, talking quite fluently back to Gillian. Abby came around towards Carter and clung onto his arm, resting her head against his shoulder.
"He says he's a priest. Luka was the priest, he says," Gillian told them frantically.
Carter kissed Abby's temple roughly and pulled her into his chest. "Ask him where. Where can we find him?"
Reviews will be wonderful, because there will be much Carby coming up in the next chapters. =]