Drawn Uncontrollably To You

by Rosa17

A new man enters Abby's life and a new woman into Carter's, but there's a twist in the tale.

21. Chapter 21

AN: Thank you for your comments, to those who are worried about the way the last chapter looked to be heading, hang in there okay.

Drawn Uncontrollably To You

Chapter 21

June 06

The loud ringing of the telephone shook Abby out of her thoughts and she moved from the stove to pick up the handset.

'Hello?' she said

'Abby' said an excited sounding Eric

'Oh no' Abby thought 'he's off his meds' but she didn't ask, instead she said 'Eric. How are you?'

'Fine. More than fine, great, wonderful'

'Really?' she asked somewhat unbelievingly

'Guess what?' he asked ignoring her comment

'What?' she said

'You'll never guess' he told her

'So tell me' she urged

'I'm going to be a Dad. Isn't that great' he told her his voice brimming with pride.

'Yeah it's great Eric'

'You don't sound pleased' he said

'I'm ..... I'm just...... It's a surprise. I didn't know you were even seeing anyone'

'Yeah well it did happen rather unexpectedly. I met Miranda at a New Years party' he explained

As he spoke Abby decided that her initial reaction had been incorrect, he was still on his meds. 'How's Mom?' she asked

'Fine. Really happy to be a Grandma. She said it's your turn now'

'Mmmm' said Abby not committing herself

'So? You and Carter' he said hinting

'Me and Carter what?' she asked

'Going to make me an uncle?'

'You'll just have to wait and see' she told him as light-hearted as she could then added 'I'm happy for you if this is what you really want'

'It is Abby' he replied and Abby hoped that it was true especially for Miranda and the baby.

o0o

A few days later Abby was out with Susan.

'Ill have a coffee and pie' Abby said to the waitress.

The waitress looked at Susan who said 'Um, Chamomile tea and pie please'

The waitress scribbled their order down and left them to it.

'So' said Abby 'Still on herbal tea then?'

'Coffee still makes me nauseous' Susan admitted

'You okay apart from that?' asked Abby

'Yeah I'm good'

'How's your Dad?'

Susan shook her head and said 'So, so. I'm waiting for the next MI to strike. What's been happening with you?'

Abby studied her for a moment and said 'I'm going to be an Aunt'

'Wow. Eric?'

'Of course Eric'

'Sorry it's just a surprise. When's the baby due?' Susan asked

'January. I was surprised too. I just hope it will work out. You know with Eric and his meds and everything'

'He seems, after his initial protest of the diagnoses, coping pretty well'

'Yeah'

'How's Maggie?' Susan enquired

'Ecstatic'

'What about you? How do you feel about it all?'

Abby shrugged and said 'I don't know, it just seems like everyone else is pregnant except me. I'm happy for him, if that's what he truly wants, but a part of me is scared for him'

'In what way?'

'Scared that he's not ready to handle such a responsibility'

'He's not alone, there's his girlfriend'

'Yeah. Does she know what its' going to be like. I mean what it could be like with Eric?'

'Maybe she loves him so much that it doesn't matter'

'It may not matter now but what if he comes off his meds. Look at Maggie?'

'He's not your Mom Abby'

'No, you're right he's not. Let's talk about something else'

'Okay What?' asked Susan

'I don't know. You're usually the font of all the juicy gossip. What's new?'

So Susan proceeded to tell Abby all the latest most interesting pieces of gossip that she had acquired during the past day or two from Chuny, Pratt, Frank and Jerry.

o0o

Meanwhile in the ER Carter sat in the lounge a coffee in one hand and a half eaten doughnut in the other, when Luka entered.

'Hey' said Luka acknowledging Carter as he helped himself to a coffee and stood leaning against the counter.

'Luka' Carter replied

'So, how's married life?' Luka asked

'Good' said Carter nodding with a mouthful of doughnut.

'Abby doesn't seem happy lately' Luka commented

'She's not' answered Carter

'Why?' asked Luka who then raised his free hand in the air and said 'You don't have to tell me, it's none of my business'

Carter shook his head and said 'It's okay. Eric's gonna make her an Aunt'

'Oh and...?'

'And I guess she would have preferred it if he became an Uncle first'

'What about you? How do you feel about it?' Luka asked

Carter shrugged and said 'I don't know. I guess in a way I'm pleased. If and when it does happen I'm going to be scared as hell. I keep telling her it hasn't been a year yet and she tells me that neither one of us have had trouble in the past'

'Abby's been pregnant before? What happened?' asked Luka surprised

Carter nodded and said 'One abortion, one miscarriage' then he shook his head and said ' I shouldn't have told you'

Luka shrugged and answered ' I'm not going to tell anyone'

'Thank you' said Carter

'You need to give it at least a year before you worry. You both have stressful jobs. Try not to think about it' said Luka trying to be helpful but not really helping at all.

'Yeah easier said than done' replied Carter

'I suppose so' said Luka

They stayed as they were for a few moments lost in their own thoughts on the subject.

'I need an attending' yelled Malik crashing through the door 'Either one of you will do'

'I'm on a break' said Carter

'I'll go' said Luka setting his coffee down on the counter. 'What's the problem?' he asked Malik as he headed out the door.

Carter sat there in silence for a few minutes longer before downing the remainder of his coffee and went outside for a much needed breath of fresh air.

o0o

October 2006

Abby took a deep breath and exhaled slowly as she stepped out of the elevator and walked down the corridor, holding a large bunch of flowers, which were obscuring her vision somewhat. Which resulted in her crashing into a man walking in the other direction.

'Watch where you're going' said a familiar but rarely heard voice.

Abby moved the flowers over seeing for the first time, the man she had collided with.

They spoke at the same time.

'Abby'

'Richard'

'What are you doing here?' he asked

'Visiting a friend' she said 'You?'

He looked kind of proud and self-conscious at the same time when he replied 'I've become a father again'

'Really? Congratulations'

'I hear congratulations are in order for you too. I heard on the medical grapevine that you'd got married to Dr John Carter no less. Wasn't he the guy who took you to the charity function we met at?'

Abby ignored the question and said referring to her marriage 'That was eleven months ago Richard'

'Yes well. I hope you'll be happy. I mean it' he told her

Abby not knowing what else to say said 'Thank you' as graciously as she could

'I have to go' he finally muttered

'Sure, bye'

'Bye' he replied moving towards the elevator.

Abby couldn't believe it everyone she knew were either pregnant or just had a baby. Except her, it was just not fair. Putting her emotions aside she continued down the corridor watching the room numbers as she went. Finally she reached the door she was seeking and knocked before she entered.

'Hey' she said to Susan who was sitting in bed looking completely worn out.

'What took you so long?' Susan asked half teasing.

'Well I'm working. It's busy down there. I hope you appreciate this is my break' she replied giving Susan a half grin. 'Here, these are for you' she added laying the flowers on Susan's lap 'From everyone'

'Thanks. I'm never doing that again. Ever' she told Abby gazing down at her son in her arms. Looking up again she said 'Want a cuddle?'

Part of Abby wanted to run as fast as she could in the opposite direction, but the other half of her wanted to hold the baby close. She looked at Susan and gave her a smile as she extended her arms and they exchanged the infant. He felt soft and delicate but strong at the same time. As Abby's heart began to ache she pushed all her emotions back where they had come from and she studied the baby until she had completely gathered herself together.

'He quite heavy' she commented eventually aware that Susan had guessed some of the emotions she was going through right now.

Susan who had decided it would be better to ignore how Abby was unless Abby was willing to address it said 'You're surprised? Didn't it filter through the grape vine, how heavy he was?'

Abby shook her head and remembering her time as an OB nurse said 'He's not the heaviest newborn I come across'

'What do you call heavier?' Susan asked

'Well occasionally we'd get a ten, eleven pound baby, very occasionally a heavier one than that'

'That's comforting to know, as he was only 9lb 10' Susan said with the emphasis on only.

'Big enough' Abby conceded

'He was' agreed Susan

'Have you decided on a name?' Abby asked looking down at the sleeping infant wistfully before returning her attention to Susan.

'Lewis'

'Lewis Lewis or Lewis Martin?'

'Lewis Martin you fool' Susan said as they both grinned

'Well I was just checking I couldn't remember if Megan was Martin or Lewis'

'It's Megan and Lewis Martin' Susan clarified

'Just so I know' Abby said as her stomach made a loud noise from lack of food.

'What was that? Was that you?' Susan asked

'My stomach's protesting, it hasn't seen food for hours'

'You'd better go and get some. I don't suppose Weaver will like you collapsing on the floor from hunger. You'll make the ER look untidy'

'Thank you' Abby said wryly 'By the way he's beautiful' she added as she handed Lewis back to his mother.

o0o

Meanwhile at the desk in the ER Carter stood filling out a form when Luka approached.

'What's all that?' Carter asked Luka referring to a large amount of paperwork and other paraphernalia Luka was carrying.

'I'm going back to the Congo, Spring or Summer next year. Want to join me?' asked Luka

'Go back there?' Carter replied

Luka nodded and said 'Why not?'

'Abby'

'It's only for two weeks' Luka said

'I'll have to think about it' Carter told him

'You could apply, get you jabs. Even then you don't have to go, it's voluntary remember'

'Yeah, I remember' Carter answered.

0o0

Later that evening Abby and Carter managed to spend some time together. They had decided on an early night and now they lay in bed satisfied, sated and content in each others arms.

When his breathing and heart rate had returned to normal Carter said 'Luka's going back to the Congo'

'Really! When?'

'Sometime next year, you know what, he asked me to go with him'

'I'd prefer it if you didn't' Abby commented hoping that if she didn't make a big thing of it he would forget about it.

'I know' Carter said quickly. His mind not made up on whether he would join Luka or not. Then changing the subject he asked 'Did you get to see Susan and the baby?'

'Yeah. I went up there on my break. They're both good' she told him not wanting to relive every minute of the visit.

But because he knew her well he asked 'How do you feel?'

She sighed before she answered 'Okay, sad for us I guess. You know to the people we see everyday, colleagues, patients I look okay, but inside my heart is bleeding for what I almost had and lost'

'Me too' said Carter softly.

They lay there quietly reflecting on their day, Carter absentmindedly stroking Abby's arm.

'You know' he said after a while 'Practising makes perfect'

She raised herself off his chest and gazed intently into his eyes, with a wicked gleam in hers. He returned by looking at her questionably.

'That's the best suggestion you've made all day' she told him

'I believe it was also my idea to go to bed early' he said with a smile.

'I think half the trouble is we don't get time to practise enough at the right time of the month' Abby told him

'Yeah there is that. So? When is the best time?' he asked, his hands beginning to caress her soft skin.

'Now' she told him huskily as she leant over him and kissed him lightly, teasingly.

'Abby' he groaned.

'What?' she asked her eyes lighting mischievously before leaning down and meeting him for a kiss, which lead to a highly satisfying but mostly sleepless night.

0o0