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

Chapter Four: Dinner Time

The next few days had gone by before he knew it, and at the same time it was as if they had lasted an eternity. It had been hard, the pain Abby had gone through seemed just as painful for Carter. And days that were long for her drug on for him as well, and yet somewhere inside he had enjoyed it. He could never verbalize the thought, for no other reason than is sounded ridiculous. And yet he was happy, Abby was going to be okay and they had had a chance to catch up in a way that is only possible by spending over a week together.

But that would all change, and he knew it. She had come home yesterday and tomorrow night he would drive back to Atlanta to catch a plane. The ER needed him, and the real world called for his return. Still, for this moment he was there immersed in friendship and time well spent.

The conversations had started with simply catching up, not on major things, but details. He told her about the people in the ER, how they were good, some great, but none the same. She told him about her growing practice, and the new demands on her time.

Slowly the conversations began to turn to the battles they had fought in the last couple of years. Their heartaches and broken dreams. The small triumphs that seemed greater than the pain. The things that shaped their new existences and what they saw for their futures. She listened as he spoke of getting over Kem and Steve, her new husband. She told him about how she had broken someone's heart, how she couldn't quite be what he wanted her to be, and that all he wanted was to be all she wanted.

Slowly through out the week they had revived what had been left to sleep through the miles that had separated them. Slowly they had caught up to where they were when they were whole people. Before ex-wives and emotional upheavals, before family crisis and ultimatums, they were back to where they were before life had become cruel.

"I told you I was going to cook." He said defiantly.

"Last time I had your lasagna it wasn't exactly…"

"That's not what I remember about that night." He said with a smirk causing her to slightly blush at the memory they were both thinking about.

"Yes, and as I recall we had neighbors practically knocking down our door because of the smoke alarms."

"Remember the bad parts if you must." He said as he disappeared into the fridge.

"Try to cook it if you must. The pizza number is on the fridge."

"So little faith." He said mockingly.

"We'll see." She yelled back.

"That's right." He mumbled to himself as he thumbed through the groceries he had bought.

He didn't know it but Abby could hear him from the living room as he talked to himself. It was a habit he had had for years. She knew he had no idea, but ever since the first time she heard him in the kitchen she was taken by it. She could recall sitting in the living room when he thought she was in the bedroom. Quietly she would sit there and listen to him repeat the recipe over and over, constantly checking for errors, constantly monitoring the development of the meal. She wondered how with such care he could still manage to burn so many, and over season the majority of the rest. It was endearing to her at any rate. One of the many things she missed from Chicago.

As happy as she was here, and she was, there were still things she knew could never be replaced. Holes, that would never be filled. Sitting at Doc Magoo's with everyone else who had just had the worst day of their life, sitting on the roof of the hospital, simply being around Susan, Luka, and…John. The people she loved.

Yet for every single one of those things she loved the pain of life that resided there was enough to make her leave.

"Okay, the timer is set." He said proudly as he entered the living room.

"Good." She said sarcastically.

"I might not give you any." He replied.

"You would deprive me, the gunshot victim?" She said wounded.

"Use it while you can." He replied.

"Come on." She said as she slowly stood up and grabbed her walker.

"Huh?"

"The porch. This is the perfect time of day sit on the porch."

"Okay." He said as moved to open the door for her.

Was she ever right, the sun was just about to begin setting and the sky was full with shades of orange and pink that faded into the still visible blue sky. The sound of thunder was in the distance, and dark clouds filled the sky to the south of them.

"God, this is beautiful." Carter said almost in amazement.

"I know." Abby replied as she took in her favorite part of Georgia. "There aren't sunsets like this in the city."

"No, there isn't." Carter agreed.

"Thank you." Abby said as she sat in the chair to the right of Carter.

Without taking his eyes off of the sky he replied, "There isn't anything that could have stopped me," Turning to face her now, "you do know that?"

Abby smiled. "You're still my best friend." He added as she continued to smile.

"Abby?" A woman yelled in a frisky tone from the yard next to them.

"Mrs. Taylor." Abby replied waving.

"You still not walking?" The frail woman, who was all of ninety nine pounds, asked.

"Not for a while." Abby replied.

"Oh, well what about him?"

"He's as healthy as can be." Abby yelled with a smile on her face.

"What?" Carter asked.

"Well, send 'em over to walk Joanie."

"I'll send him right over." She said with a mischievous smile.

"What?" He asked confused.

"I walk her dog sometimes."

"You moved down here and turned into a saint."

"Go."

"Joanie, sounds like a harmless dog." He said optimistically. By the time he had walked over into the yard next door Joanie was barking, loudly. He flinched as he saw the huge dog, that was apparently for hunting. "What is he four feet tall?" He asked, not wanting to get too close.

"Go on, she ain't goin to hurt ya boy."

"Are you sure?"

"What are ya scared? Go on." The woman added as he slowly moved towards the dog. Once they were out of the garage it was obvious Carter was no longer in control. The dog that weighed possibly more than half of him quickly led him down through Abby's yard.

Shooting her a look she laughed and waved as they continued to move at a steady pace right out of her yard and in to the next.

Soon the barking and Carter yelling began to fade and Abby settled back into her chair. Shutting her eyes she breathed deeply and sighed. Losing track of time she listened to the sounds of nothing around her.

"Hey." A deep voice said uncomfortably, causing her to slightly jump.

"Keith." She replied, almost uncomfortably.

"How are you?"

"Good." She replied, although she knows he must be wondering how she could answer so simply and coldly.

"I hear you're going to be okay."

"I am." She said with a warm voice. "I'm going to be."

"I bet." He replied simply, and she only imagined what was running through his head.

"Keith…"

"You seem different." He said bluntly.

"I was shot." She said with a slight smile.

"I can't put my finger on it."

"They have me on some pretty good stuff." She continued, "Some really good stuff." She said sarcastically, trying to fill the silence between them.

"That must be it." He said lightly.

As they both sat there silently the sound of a dog barking began to get louder as Carter came into view, running to keep up with Joanie.

"That's a good girl." Mrs. Taylor said as she put the bowl of dog food down. "Thanks for walking her." She added.

"It was nothing." He lied as he wiped the sweat off of his face.

"Who's was that?" Keith asked ,after Carter disappeared into the garage next door., as he was looking over at Abby who was once again amused by Carter's lack of control over the animal.

"That was no dog." John said sarcastically as stepped on the porch. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know anybody was here." He said almost apologetically.

"Not at all." Keith said politely as he stood. "I'm Keith."

"John Carter, I knew Abby in…"

"Chicago." Keith said, completing his sentence.

"Yeah, we both worked in the ER."

"It's good to meet you." Keith added as they shook hands.

"You too, sit down. I didn't mean to interrupt."

"You didn't." Keith replied.

"Well sit down anyway. That dog gave me a run for my money. I'm going to go jump in the shower. It was good to meet you Keith."

"Yeah." Keith replied as Carter exited into the house. Neither said anything after John had left. Sitting in the other chair Keith pieced things together. Pictures he had seen, some stories he had heard, the laughter in her eyes as she watched him being drug around by the dog. "So that's John."

"Yeah, he came when…"

"That's nice."

"Keith, we're just friends."

"I know."

"Then what's…"

"Why couldn't it have been me?"

"I can't apologize any more." Abby said in a drained tone.

"I'm not asking you to."

"I don't think I can give you an explanation either."

"I don't think I want one anymore." He said as he stood up.

"I told you I couldn't give you what you wanted."

"Yeah, but you didn't even try." He said quickly and in a way that hurt.

"I'm sorry." She replied again, "I can't do this right now."

"I'm leaving." He said quietly as he walked away, leaving her alone.

She sat back in her chair and sighed, exhausted, confused, and hungry.

Now out of the shower and dressed he looked out the window to see Abby alone on the porch. Keith, he thought, it was definitely who she had spoken of. He could see it in his eyes when they shook hands. How could two people be so unlucky in love? How could two people so unlucky? Carter had no idea, perhaps that is why he and Abby's relationship had lasted on what ever level. He smiled as the thought that their unluckiness is what binds them together. Moving to find a pair of socks he smelled something, smoke…the lasagna.

"Bad news." He said as he emerged onto the porch.

"It's dinner isn't it."

"It's pretty bad." He confessed.

Smiling she couldn't help but be amused. "One large supreme pizza?" She asked.

"It'll be here in half an hour." He said with a smile.

"Yeah."