Bad Karma

Carby. Something happens to Abby. Will Carter get to her in time? Will he be able to save her? Read on to find out!

A.N.: I'm not the original author of this story. The original author is carby luva 313. She's decided she doesn't have enough time to write, so she's giving me the honor of finishing it for her. I hope I can do as good a job!

Disclaimer: I do not own ER. It belongs to Michael Crichton and the other members of the production team.

Chapter 9: Trauma

Abby opened her eyes. She was still in the ambulance. Dobson was checking her pulse again. She looked down at Abby and noticed she had come to.

"Don't worry Ms. Lockhart, we're almost there. You'll be fine in no time." Dobson said warmly and reassuringly.

Back over at County, Carter was waiting nervously in the ambulance bay. When the medics had radioed in, they said Abby didn't have any apparent life-threatning injuries. He didn't know if he could deal with working on her, but he promised himself he would stay by her side the whole time. Romano came up behind him.

"Don't worry, Dr.Carter, we'll take care of her, you just come and hold her hand. She needs you." Said Romano, warmly as he motioned to himself, Corday, Luka, and Haleh.

It seemed like it was taking hours for the paramedics to get to the hospital. Ages later, they heard sirens and saw flashing lights as the ambulance rounded the bend. It came to a screeching halt as it approached the ER doors. The staff ran up to the doors to unload the gurney carrying Abby's weak form. The doors opened and Dobson jumped out. Carter fought the urge to shout as he saw Abby. Her beautiful face and perfect body bloodied and covered in scars. He rushed to her side to hold her, be with her.

"Give me the bullet!" Ordered Luka.

"Thirty year old female, Abigail Lockhart, struck repeatedly in the head, chest, and abdomen with a blunt object. Multiple abrasions and contusions, suspected head trauma, good breath sounds, vitals are stable, pulse is 82, sats are 98. Suspected rape." Dobson rambled off.

The last statement hit Carter like a speeding train. Raped? How could he have let this happen? He gave Abby's hand an encouraging squeeze, but was too shocked to say anything for the moment. Abby sqeezed back, and the words finally came.

"Abby, oh my God you're alright! I love you so much, you're safe now. I promise never to let you go!" Carter said with a tear in his eye as he smiled down at her. She looked back up at him as they wheeled her into an empty trauma room.

"I love you too, Carter." Was all she could say. She was drained, both physically and emotionally, so he decided to let her rest.

"Shh, just rest and let the doctors earn their wages." He said with an encouraging smile.

"Get me a portable chest x-ray, full trauma panel, abdominal and head CT, chem 7, CBC, coag panel, and dip the urine." Ordered Corday. Luka was busy examining Abby's various scrapes and bruises, Romano was doing an abdominal ultrasound, and Haleh was starting an IV saline drip. Elizabeth walked over and checked Abby's head injuries.

"Pupils equal, but sluggish, no hemotipynam, neck is clear. Give her 50 of morphine." She said. She then addressed a very groggy Abby.

"Abby, everything looks alright so far, but I need to ask you. Were you raped?" She said quietly.

Carter couldn't believe what he was hearing. What kind of sick bastards... Just then, Abby started sobbing gently. She was given an encouraging squeeze by Carter.

"Y-yes..." Replied Abby through muffled sobs. She felt so ashamed that she let it happen.

"Alright, after we're sure that there's no serious injury I'll have to do a rape kit. I'm so sorry, Abby, but you know I'm, we're, here for you. Now let's get you up to radiology." Elizabeth said comfortingly.

After they came back from radiology, they wheeled Abby into a private room. Carter sat by her side while she slept, waiting for the results. He looked at her. Even through all the bruises and cuts she was still beautiful. Soon after, Luka came in.

"Hey Carter, how's she holding up?" He asked.

"Fine, she's just dozed off. She looks so peaceful..." Carter trailed off.

"We got her test results back. No abnormal hormone levels, no signs of STD's, four broken ribs, one of them tore a small hole in her diaphragm. If the bleeding doesn't stem on it's own within the next few hours, Dr.Romano wants to go in and cauterize it. said she'll be in soon to do the rape kit. I'll just wake her up to suture her abrasions before we do anything else. I'm so sorry this had to happen to her." Said Luka apologetically.

"Me too. I'll wake her. Abby, come on honey, wake up." He said and gently shook her. She opened her eyes slowly and looked up at the two men at her bedside still too tired to speak.

"Abby, I'm just going to suture these abrasions, okay?" Luka asked sympathetically. She could only nod in response. A couple dozen stitches later, Luka was all done.

"Alright Abby, I'll see you later, get some rest. Drs. Corday and Romano will be in to see you in a little while." And with a smile he left the room. Carter had agreed to tell her why the surgeons needed to see her. Abby looked up at John will be in later to do the rape kit, unless you want someone else to do it. Dr.Romano will be in to re-examine your abdominal hemmorhage, you might need surgery to cauterize some bleeding. Dr.Legaspi will be in to talk to you. The police want to question you later. Just remember, no matter what happens, I'm always here for you. I love you and I'll help you through everything, I'll keep you safe. I'll stay in here by your side for it all." He said and kissed her on the forehead gently. Abby finally found the strength to speak.

"Thank you, John. I love you too." She said tearfully.

Carter pulled her into an embrace and held her there for hours. He never wanted to let go. She was safe in his arms, he could promise her that. He should be the one thanking her, for finding her way back into his arms, safe and sound. For being so brave when most people would have given up. Oh yes, she meant the world to him and he was sure going to let her know it, as soon as he could let go. Right now, it felt like that time would never come. Soon Abby fell asleep, and after a few minutes of watching her, Carter dozed off to the sound of her rhythmic breathing. Sweet dreams of one day holding her in his arms, living like none of this ever happened...

A.N.: Yes I know, it's short! I would have written more to it, but then I decided to make it into another chapter. I promise I'll update within the next few days! In the meantime, tell me what you think! Please review! Love my readers! Julia