Eve Noelle Carter decided (with her parents and doctor, of course) that two days in the hospital was plenty for her. Proud parents Abby and John went to pick her up from the nursery on a Wednesday and took her, bundled in a blanket and a pink knit hat, for her first ride. She sat in her mother's lap, and her mother sat in a wheel chair, to make the journey out of the hospital. Of course, there was no way they would be able to make it out without first seeing the entire staff of the ER. The staff was waiting in the lounge area of the more sterile maternity ward with a cake and some beautiful presents for the new family. They practically jumped on Eve as soon as she was wheeled into the room.
"Oh, my God, she's beautiful!"
"Hi Eve!"
"She looks just like you, Abby!"
"No, I think she looks more like Carter."
Eve was a perfect angel during this commotion. She allowed the group to pass her around from lap to lap without much more than a slight whimper. Carter and Abby beamed the entire time. They couldn't have been prouder of their new daughter. Of course, all parents think their child is the most gorgeous creature on the planet, but Eve actually was a beautiful baby by anyone's standards. She had a head full of dark hair, big eyes, a pouting rosebud of a mouth, and her mother's smooth complexion. After making the rounds, Eve finally found herself in the arms of Susan Lewis.
"Oh, Eve, you are unbelievable," Susan whispered. "She's perfect...she even has eyelashes already! Carter, you're going to have to watch out for this one. The boys are going to go crazy."
"Thanks, Susan...make a first-time dad a little more nervous," Abby joked light-heartedly. Chen passed around slices of cake, and the group enjoyed a little time together in the maternity ward. It was rare for them to be able to gather in such a manner. Sitting around, sharing a grocery-store sheet cake, gazing upon the new baby, chatting like normal people...it gave the staff a feeling of togetherness, of community...maybe even a hint of family? They all had known Carter and Abby for a long time. They had watched strong, independent Abby struggle through the hormonal ups and downs of pregnancy. They had seen patient Carter, the ER's native son, provide Abby with such care and consideration throughout the duration. And after months of waiting and wondering what that little person was going to look like, they finally were seeing Miss Eve Carter in all her glory. So it was no wonder that the simple gathering in the lounge of the maternity ward felt like a family get-together for the ER staff.
"We need to get going," Carter finally announced, and the rest of the party groaned their disappointment. Abby and Eve were starting to resemble wilting flowers. He could tell that their energy was pretty much drained.
"So soon?" Halleh asked. Abby and Carter nodded. Carter got Abby and Eve settled into the wheelchair and pushed them to the elevator. As the elevator doors closed, the family waved good-bye to the group, feeling oddly sentimental towards their unusual coworkers. In such a highly charged, emotional work environment as the ER, tempers flared and fights and arguments couldn't be helped, but Carter and Abby felt confident that everyone who worked there shared one common trait: a good heart.
After they had left, the rest of the staff quickly cleaned up frosting-smeared plates and forks.
"Little Eve Carter. What a beauty!" Yosh said. Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Carter's in for some trouble," Susan smirked.
"Well, he's got a while before the boys will start calling," said Chuney. Susan shook her head, smiling.
"No, that's not it."
"Then what?"
"If that child has even half of her mother's attitude, the two of them together will be way more than Carter can handle. I give him three years before he's completely insane," Susan joked lovingly. The comment got a big laugh from the rest of the staff, who were all too familiar with Abby's biting wit and fiery temper.
"Oh, my God, she's beautiful!"
"Hi Eve!"
"She looks just like you, Abby!"
"No, I think she looks more like Carter."
Eve was a perfect angel during this commotion. She allowed the group to pass her around from lap to lap without much more than a slight whimper. Carter and Abby beamed the entire time. They couldn't have been prouder of their new daughter. Of course, all parents think their child is the most gorgeous creature on the planet, but Eve actually was a beautiful baby by anyone's standards. She had a head full of dark hair, big eyes, a pouting rosebud of a mouth, and her mother's smooth complexion. After making the rounds, Eve finally found herself in the arms of Susan Lewis.
"Oh, Eve, you are unbelievable," Susan whispered. "She's perfect...she even has eyelashes already! Carter, you're going to have to watch out for this one. The boys are going to go crazy."
"Thanks, Susan...make a first-time dad a little more nervous," Abby joked light-heartedly. Chen passed around slices of cake, and the group enjoyed a little time together in the maternity ward. It was rare for them to be able to gather in such a manner. Sitting around, sharing a grocery-store sheet cake, gazing upon the new baby, chatting like normal people...it gave the staff a feeling of togetherness, of community...maybe even a hint of family? They all had known Carter and Abby for a long time. They had watched strong, independent Abby struggle through the hormonal ups and downs of pregnancy. They had seen patient Carter, the ER's native son, provide Abby with such care and consideration throughout the duration. And after months of waiting and wondering what that little person was going to look like, they finally were seeing Miss Eve Carter in all her glory. So it was no wonder that the simple gathering in the lounge of the maternity ward felt like a family get-together for the ER staff.
"We need to get going," Carter finally announced, and the rest of the party groaned their disappointment. Abby and Eve were starting to resemble wilting flowers. He could tell that their energy was pretty much drained.
"So soon?" Halleh asked. Abby and Carter nodded. Carter got Abby and Eve settled into the wheelchair and pushed them to the elevator. As the elevator doors closed, the family waved good-bye to the group, feeling oddly sentimental towards their unusual coworkers. In such a highly charged, emotional work environment as the ER, tempers flared and fights and arguments couldn't be helped, but Carter and Abby felt confident that everyone who worked there shared one common trait: a good heart.
After they had left, the rest of the staff quickly cleaned up frosting-smeared plates and forks.
"Little Eve Carter. What a beauty!" Yosh said. Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Carter's in for some trouble," Susan smirked.
"Well, he's got a while before the boys will start calling," said Chuney. Susan shook her head, smiling.
"No, that's not it."
"Then what?"
"If that child has even half of her mother's attitude, the two of them together will be way more than Carter can handle. I give him three years before he's completely insane," Susan joked lovingly. The comment got a big laugh from the rest of the staff, who were all too familiar with Abby's biting wit and fiery temper.