AN: Thank you for all your reviews, it is so uplifting to read them all. So here I am with an update while still suffering from jet lag and cellulitis which I got from an insect bite in Yosemite. Typical!!! These things always happen to me.

Drawn Uncontrollably To You

Chapter 8

Carter ran his hands through his hair, sat back resting his head on the sofa. His sleepless night was catching up with him. Seeing Abby in a good mood wasn't helping his day. He sighed and shut his eyes trying to draw some inner strength from the recess of his mind.

'You look a little rough today' commented Susan joining him on the sofa with Megan

He opened his eyes and looked at the pair of them. 'What's up?' Susan asked jiggling Megan on her knee.

'I saw something I shouldn't have'

'Oh, what here?'

'No. I was awake all night thinking about how to tell her'

'Who?'

'Abby'

'Whatever it is I get the feeling it isn't good'

'No, maybe I shouldn't say anything'

'If you were her would you want to know?' Susan asked Carter

'Yes' he replied without even hesitating

'There's your answer then, you have to tell her whatever it is'

They walked along by the river, it was a bitterly cold evening and Carter had a feeling that it was going to get even colder and not just the weather.

'What you want to talk to me about?' Abby asked looking at him with a worried expression on her face, as he had looked tired and drawn all day.

He took a deep breath and said 'You'

'Me?'

'Ben really'

'Ben? What's going on Carter?' she put her hand on his arm and they stopped walking

He stared out to the river all the words he had practised earlier seemed inappropriate now. He stood there for a long time trying to figure out how best to tell her.

'Abby' he finally said his expression and tone serious and she looked at him her gaze intense. 'I went out with my mother last night'

'I know, how did it go?' she replied sincerely hoping that it had been successful.

'That part of the evening, better than I expected' he paused then added 'Something else happened'

'What?'

'I... I..Saw Ben'

'You did?'

'Uh huh. He wasn't alone Abby. It looked like he was out on a date'. There he had finally said it and the relief was enormous.

'You sure about this are you?' she answered, her tone curt

This however didn't surprise him, he knew she's be hurt, act this way. He would have been the same, had their roles been reversed.

'Yes' was his only response.

'And what makes you so sure? It could have been something innocent'

'They looked intimate' he told her

'How?' she prompted

'They were very touchy, feely with each other and they shared a kiss'

'They kissed?'

He nodded 'Not the kind of kiss you give a friend unless you are sharing their bed'

She scowled at him and turned away 'Thank you I think that is graphic enough' she said bitterly

'I'm not saying this to hurt you Abby' this time it was Carter who touched Abby 's arm. 'Say something please, I thought you ought to, needed to know'

'I don't need this' she said shrugged off his hand from her arm

'I'm sorry'

'Sorry you saw what you thought you saw or sorry you told me'

'The first'

He badly wanted her to turn round so that he could somehow comfort her, but that didn't happen.

'Please leave' she asked

'What?'

'Go. I need to be alone right now'

'Abby?'

'Just go Carter'

He watched her for a few moments but she didn't move an inch, so he turned on his heel and walked away.

She stood there for ages, rooted to the spot. She didn't know why she was so mad at Carter. It wasn't his fault, and she knew Carter wouldn't lie. She had never really been happy in the past six months with Ben, but she hated it that he had cheated on her. It made her feel so cheap and worthless, reminded her of her relationship with Richard. The thing that irked her most was that Carter had found out about it. That Carter knew what a fiasco her relationship with Ben actually was.

The following day at work the atmosphere was incredibly tense every time Abby and Carter met anywhere in the ER.

'What's going on with those two?' asked Pratt, indicating Abby and Carter who were at a patient's bed side together.

'Nothing as far as I know' answered Jing-Mei 'Why?'

'They seem to be acting odd today'

Jing-Mei shrugged as Carter came up to write on the board.

'You okay?' she asked stepping alongside him

''Yeah' he replied

'Nothing wrong?'

'No' he turned and focused his attention on her

'You look tired' she commented

'Bad couple of nights'

'I thought you were feeling better'

'New problem'

'Oh, what's up with Abby?' she asked trying to find out something interesting

'She's having a bad day that's all' he answered picking up another chart and walking off.

'Well that was productive' said Frank 'We know as much now as we did before you spoke to Dr Carter'

'Shut up Frank' Jing-Mei answered also walking off.

Abby's Birthday

'Have you been here before?' asked Susan as they sat in a newish restaurant

'Nope it's only just opened'

'I know I thought you might have come here with Ben' Susan said, really wondering why Abby asked herself, Susan for a girl's night out on her birthday when she could have spent it with Ben. Not to mention her curiosity of the situation with Abby and Carter, which was accumulating gossip like wild fire at work.

'So' said Susan after a while 'How's everything?' You've looked kind of stressed the last couple of days? What's up?'

'Ben and Carter'

'Oh sounds complicated'

'Oh it is. Never do anything by half, me' Abby told Susan

'Well what have you done?'

'Nothing at the moment which is part of the problem'

'Carter was worried the other day when I spoke with him. Had something he didn't know how to tell you'

'Oh he told me'

'That's what caused the tension between you?'

'I guess so. It's also why I'm here with you on my birthday'

'You and Ben have broken up?' Susan queried

'No'

'Oh' replied Susan

'I need to talk to him, assess the situation then go talk to Carter'

'Right' said Susan none the wiser

'How's Megan?' asked Abby

'Good' replied Susan. Knowing that changing the subject was Abby's way of saying that the Ben, Carter discussion was done.

Susan went on to explain a few of Megan latest antics. Abby began to loosen up a little and Susan found that she was beginning to enjoy herself too. They ended up giggling at almost everything.

It was only as they were about to part company that they saw something similar to what Carter had seen a few days previously. Ben Norris and a smartly dressed woman entering a club.

'I guess that's Ben's birthday present to me' Abby said dryly

'Oh God I'm sorry' said Susan 'I didn't know'

'Carter warned me'

'That's what he told you? That Ben was seeing someone else?'

Abby nodded 'I kind of got mad with him, Carter' she added off Susan's puzzled expression. 'It's not Carter's fault I know, it just makes me feel such an idiot'

'And Ben hasn't dumped you?'

'No'

'Two timing bastard' Susan said

'My sentiments exactly' Abby agreed

'Look you should get in there quick and dump him first. Don't give him the satisfaction of dumping you'

Abby just nodded 'This is confidential, I know people are talking about me'

'Sure' Susan replied

Abby stood at Ben's front door and rang the bell again. She was not at all surprised when the woman she had seen Ben with yesterday opened it.

'Can I help you?' she asked

'Ben in?' asked Abby

'Sure' said the woman closing the door behind her leaving Abby standing out in the none too warm hallway. This did not improve Abby's frame of mind.

Ben eventually came to the door, stunned to see Abby standing there 'I'm surprised to see you, I thought you were working' he managed not knowing for she but they hadn't spoken since she'd walked out in the middle of the night.

She shook her head 'What was a surprise was seeing you and whatever her name is yesterday entering some fancy club, looking intimate and close'

'We're just friends' he replied

'Yeah right, what about when you took her to that expensive restaurant?'

'You know about that too?'

'I just want to know one thing Ben. How long has this been going on?' she kept herself well controlled but inside she was shaking.

'I was going to tell you I promise. It just kind of crept up on me. I met Jenni at work a few weeks ago. I swear I was going to tell you'

'Here' she shoved a few CD's into his hand 'Yours I believe'

'Abby wait, can't we talk about this?'

'We just have. It's over but then you already knew that' she turned and left him standing there as she had a more important place to be.

He opened the door slowly, then when he saw that it was Abby he ushered her in with a slight tilt of his head. They entered the lounge and again he indicated this time for her to sit.

'Coffee?' he asked

She replied by nodding, she didn't really feel like talking but knew in a few moments she would have to. When he came back he sat opposite her, resting his elbows on his knees and his chin on his locked fingers. He gazed intently at her patiently waiting for her to speak. She looked everywhere except at the man in front of her, who sat there quietly, waiting until she was ready.

Eventually her gaze rested on him and she said. 'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to push you away. It hadn't been working for a long time, if ever. I liked him but it was never love, but that didn't stop the hurt of feeling used.' She paused and sighed 'I know you were only trying to help, look out for my best interests. If anyone is to blame it's me; somehow I always manage to get myself in these messes'

He reached out and took her hands in his, never taking his eyes away from hers 'You okay?' he asked

She nodded 'I went to see him before I came here. You know she even answered the door' she told him and he could hear the pain of betrayal in her voice. 'How could I have been so stupid?'

'We don't always think about what we are doing until it's too late' he told her. Thinking of a couple of situations where that had applied to him. 'Don't beat yourself up over it; he's not worth it. He clearly doesn't care, the only person hurting in all this is you' and himself he thought inwardly wishing that this thing with Ben had never occurred.

She looked like she was going to cry, but she didn't and he watched as she bit back the tears.

'You want to stay for dinner?' he offered

She nodded and he knew that speaking right now was not an option for her. They ate the meal in relative silence, but without the tension of the past few days.

'I ought to go' she said eventually not really wanting to leave this environment with Carter where she felt secure.

He stood up and replied 'I'll give you a ride home'

'You don't have to' she told him

'I want to'

He even walked her to her apartment door.

'Thank you' she said turning towards him after opening the door.

'You're welcome' he answered

This time, unlike the day at the river he took the initiative and enfolded her in his arms, pulling her close. She shut her eyes and revelled in the moment, before they broke apart. She entering her apartment, he descending the staircase and out to his car.