Disclaimer: I don't own ER, or its characters.

Chapter Three: Hospital Days and Visitors

Blake Memorial Wednesday 9:05 AM

He had been sitting in that chair for three hours. He figured she had been out of surgery for almost six. He knew that she was heavily drugged, he knew she wouldn't be coherent. And yet all he wanted her to do was open her eyes and recognize him.

Standing up he took three steps and leaned against the wall. Looking at her he wondered how life could be this cruel, this unfair? Then he thought of how cliché his last thought was. Like a bad line out of a B movie, second only to a blonde running up the stairs of a house that has a killer on the loose. And yet he still meant it. How much bad can one have? She had a horrible childhood, a family with mental health problems, a failed marriage, more than one relationship that had broken under pressure, and many more disappointments he was sure she never spoke of. And he also thought of himself, the death of his brother, estranged parents, the same type of relations that had broken in his life as well, and the greatest tragedy of all, his failure as a husband and father.

Pushing the thoughts out of his mind he once again sat in the chair. Looking at her, at that moment, if a person could be willed to consciousness she would open her eyes. Sighing he sat back and shut his own.

11:27 AM

Opening her eyes she was uncertain of where she was. As the pain shot through her body she noticed the IV in her arm and the monitors connected to her chest. Damn, I'm in the hospital she thought. But why, the last thing she could remember was…the man, he had a gun. Shutting her eyes bits and pieces of the previous day's events unfolded again, but this time as some type of performance and she watched as a spectator. The thud, the man lying on her porch, Kelly…Kelly. How was Kelly? As she tried to think through the two million things running simultaneously through her mind she couldn't help but feel the dryness in her throat. Coughing, she heard a noise to her right.

The cough had caused him to stir as it brought him out of his light sleep. "Huh, what?" He said hastily as he jerked. "Abby." He said with emotions that came from no where.

"John?" She replied surprised. "What? How?"

"Lauren called. I got here as fast as I could." He said as he brushed the hair from the side of her face.

There were tears running down her cheeks now. "John…What happened?"

"You were shot." He replied simply.

"How's Kelly?" She asked, tears still silently falling.

"She's going to be okay, she was beat up pretty badly."

"Thank you for coming." She said weakly.

"Where else would be?" He asked.

"How long have you been saving that one?" She said with a slight smile as she shut her eyes.

"You have no idea." He joked back as he held her hand.

Thursday 2:20 PM

"Nice to meet you too Annie." John replied as he shook the woman's hand.

"They said Abby could have visitors today." The woman explained.

"Yes ma'am."

"So polite." The seventy year old woman observed aloud causing Carter to smile.

"Well, I know she'd love to see you." He stated, as he began to open the door for the woman. He was surprised by the number of visitors that had poured in since nine that morning. Most saying how Lauren had said that the doctors thought visitors would be okay starting Thursday or Friday. Most thought they'd get a head start and come on in on Thursday. One by they told him Abby was their doctor, their neighbor, friend, or card buddy. The last of which he was amused by. Apparently a group of the women get together twice a month for, what seems to be, a competitive game of Texas hold 'em. And from what Trish told him Abby was one of the card sharks.

Walking down he saw Kelly in the hallway walking with her portable IV. "Hey there." He said as he waved.

"Hey John." She replied with a smile. "People still showing up?" She asked.

"Yes, I think they might have put up a sign up sheet somewhere with time slots."

"They come by my room on their way to hers."

"I see." he said with a smile as they sat in an empty waiting room.

"The nurse let me go on a walk. I love Springvale, but I can only take so many visitors."

"I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like it." John added.

"You've seen very little."

"I'm not sure if I should be scared?"

"Just a little."

"Well, if it's just a little then…"

"I mean, look at me. I just got my family to leave. Do you know what it's like to be around your parents for more than a few hours?" She said with a mockingly annoyed tone.

"Trust me, I know that one." He replied as he thought of his parents. "So when do you get out?"

"Tomorrow. They just want to be sure the bleeding has stopped."

"That's good."

"Yeah it is…So how about you? I mean how long are you staying?" She asked, unable to hold the question in.

"They said Abby would be in for at least another three days, and I want to get her settled and up and around before I go."

"That's quite nice."

"Between me and you, I'm not in a real hurry to get back."

"Really? Want to talk about it?"

"Some other time." He said with a warm smile. "I'm going to go grab a bite to eat." He added.

"If you see anyone who's looking for me…You haven't seen me."

"Last I saw…you were in room eating jello."

"I like you already." She replied as he walked away. Still sitting she thought about what she knew, what he didn't know she knew. He was just like Abby had described, funny, yet somewhat quiet, cute, and almost unsure. The only thing she still couldn't figure out was why they had just moved on. They loved each other, from knowing Abby she knew Abby had loved him. From him coming here she knew he had loved her.

Talking with him she could see the effect his past had on his present, much the same as Abby. They were so similar and yet personality wise so different. Kelly wondered what it would have been like to see them before. Before the wear of the world, before they had broken up.

"We need to have a talk." He said as he flipped off the tv.

"Sounds kind of serious." Abby replied.

"No not really, I just thought we should talk about me being here."

"You mean like for how long?"

"Well, yeah."

"John, I don't want to keep you from something."

"You'll need help when you get home. At least for a few days."

"I know, but what about work?"

"They can cover for me."

"Are you sure?"

"If you want me to go I can. I don't have to stay."

"We pretty much used to live together, I don't think I'd be more comfortable with anyone."

"Are you sure?" He asked.

"Positive."

"Okay then."

"Okay." She agreed.

"So I'm staying?" He asked causing her to smile.

Author's notes: Just a couple of things to clear up…One, Kelly is an adult, she just has a close family. Sorry if I started that story line kind of vaguely or crappy. You can decide which adjective. I come from a small Southern town and more times than not if something happens you've got third cousins sitting in the hospital room with you. Secondly, and slightly more serious, I don't read a whole lot of fan fiction. And while I'm not naïve to think mine is the only story like this out there I truly haven't read many. Any similarities in story line or dialogue are completely coincidental. If anyone has any further concerns or would like to discuss it feel free to contact me at KBearaNhotmail.com. Now where were we…Oh yeah Chapter four.