AN: Thank you for your reviews. I am sorry if some of you don't like all the angst, but I'm slowly working towards a happy ending here. Having said that there are some threads of the story I need to wrap up. I also hope to finish posting by next weekend or the following week as I seem to have a sudden burst of writing and am halfway through writing chapter 26 at present.

Drawn Uncontrollably To You

Chapter 23

One week later

Abby rubbed her eyes and wished that her shift would end, having wished that she didn't know if she wanted to go home. At least at work she and Carter could avoid each other, not that he was here today, Today he was off with Jack dealing with some foundation thing. The past week had not been good for them, he had come home late from his solitary walk, she in bed pretended to be asleep and he had got into bed and was soon snoring while she still lay awake.

He had been polite when she had tried to talk to him but nothing more, it was like they had suddenly become strangers at a time when they should have been enjoying their time together, planning. Although she admitted Carter probably didn't want to plan or get too excited just in case something went wrong.

She just wished that somehow they could work this out, even if it meant another fight, they had to clear the air and talk about their fears and dreams together. Exhausted and weary she pulled herself together to work out the remaining eight hours of her twenty four hour shift, a break would be welcome but they were busy.

o0o

'Lunch?' Jack asked Carter as the meeting broke for a hour.

'That'll be good' Carter said 'There's a good place a block from here. Been open a couple of months'

'Good let's try it' Jack said

They were sitting down waiting for their main course to arrive before Jack asked Carter anything personal 'How's Abby? Not working too hard'

'You know Abby' he said brusquely 'Can't tell her what to do'

Jack looked at Carter raising his eyebrows asking 'explain'

'I told her to take it easy but... well she won't listen to me. Wants to do what she feels she's able to'

'Shouldn't you let her. I mean it's her body she should know her limitations'

Carter looked at Jack and confessed 'I'm scared'

'Of losing the baby?' Jack asked and Carter nodded 'Have you told her?'

'She knows, she knew without me saying anything'

'So what's the problem?'

'I think I..... I know I upset her, cosseted her and she felt closed in'

'Oh. You had a fight. When was this? Yesterday?'

'Last week'

'And you haven't sorted it out John?'

Carter shook his head 'No, I've tried to avoid her if anything, and maybe she's doing the same she took a double shift today at the last minute'

'I don't think double shifts are a good idea, under the circumstances'

'I don't want to fight again with her, I love her. This should be a special time'

'Shouldn't you be telling her this?'

'Maybe, probably, yes' Carter finally admitted.

'Don't wait too long before you say something John' Jack told him

o0o

Rubbing her eyes wasn't helping this time Abby thought as she took her fingers away from her face. When her vision remained blurry she was just starting to think about sitting down, when everything went black.

'Abby, Abby' Jing-Mei's voice penetrated through the blackness.

Abby's head was pounding as she slowly opened her eyes and Jing-Mei came into view. Abby moved her head and looked around noticing that they had somehow managed to find her a bed in what looked like exam two.

'How are you feeling? We ought to run some tests' Jing-Mei said

'There's no need' said Abby sitting up quickly then regretting the action and lying down again 'I know what's wrong with me'

'You do? You sure?'

'Yes I haven't had a break or eaten and...' she stopped

'And what?' Jing-Mei asked

'I'm pregnant'

'Oh, I didn't know'

'It's not general knowledge'

'How many weeks?'

'Twelve'

'Wow you don't look...'

'Believe me without clothes I do'

'Maybe we should scan you to make sure everything's okay'

'It's not necessary, I'm due one soon anyway. I'll be fine in a few moments'

'I'll be the judge of that'

Abby not having the energy to argue and also knowing that as soon as Carter found out he would insist she have one anyway and she would have to come back to the hospital after work, agreed. 'Okay, but then I should get back to work'

'And then even if everything's okay I'm sending you home to rest'

'But...'

'No. Don't argue'

'Fine, whatever' Abby conceded knowing there was no point arguing anymore today.

o0o

As it turned out everything was fine and Jing-Mei asked Fleur who was going off shift to take Abby home. Back at Abby and Carters, Fleur fussed over Abby almost as much as Carter had during the previous weeks. She made Abby go to bed and said that she would stay downstairs until Carter returned home. Again Abby could not summon the energy to argue so accepted as gratefully as she could, surprised really as Fleur was not the kind of person to fuss over someone else.

o0o

Carter and Jack come noisily through the door a few hours later and both stopped in their tracks when they noticed Fleur sitting in the lounge reading a medical journal.

'Fleur' said Carter taken aback 'Abby in? I thought she'd still be at work'

'Dr Chen sent her home' Fleur said carefully trying to gauge his reaction.

His heart began to hammer in his chest while on the outside he tried to appear calm, collected, normal, but he didn't fool anyone least of all Fleur or Jack, maybe himself however.

'I don't understand' he said

'Maybe you should go and talk to Abby' she suggested

'You're not going to tell me right?'

Fleur shook her head and said 'Try and be quiet, she went to bed, maybe she's sleeping'

Giving his father and Fleur one final look he headed towards the stairs. This created an awkward atmosphere between Jack and Fleur.

'Coffee?' Fleur asked suddenly wanting something to do.

'Yes thank you' Jack replied.

o0o

Carter gingerly opened the bedroom door, Abby lay under the duvet her eyes shut and he suddenly realised he felt awful. He went over to the bed and brushed a few stray strands of her hair off her face, sensing this she tuned and opened her eyes to look straight into his.

'Come and join me' she whispered patting the bed beside her.

He kicked off his shoes and walked round the bed, clambering on the other side, resting his back against the headboard.

'Closer' she whispered again and he shuffled closer to her.

'Fleur said Deb sent you home' he said finally breaking the silence between them.

'She tell you why?' Abby asked

Carter shook his head 'She said I should come up and ask you. So?'

'I guess it was madness to think I could do a overtime, actually I would have been okay if I had gotten my breaks in, which I didn't'

'You didn't get a break?'

'We were swamped'

'Even so'

'You know I'm sorry about last week I didn't mean to upset you' she told him

'You haven't told me what happened today yet' he said

'Nothing serious'

'Abby, Deb wouldn't have sent you home for nothing'

'I fainted okay, that's all. Jing-Mei insisted I have a scan, and everything was fine, but she made me take the rest of my shift off'

'You got pictures?' he asked sad that he hadn't been there

'In my purse downstairs' she said 'John you don't need to worry, it was a one off. I promise in future I'll eat, take a break, now that everyone knows, they'll be more understanding'

'Everyone knows?'

'I think everyone who was on shift, you know how news spreads'

He nodded 'Yeah' and moved tentatively nearer and they met in an embrace.

'About last week' she said again

'I think you've apologised enough, it's my turn now' he started 'I'm sorry I walked away, I need to think, but everything kept going round in circles and it all made less sense than before I started thinking about it all. I love you and I'm not going my let being afraid stop us from being happy, looking to the future. I know I was a bit over protective but I was scared, I'm still scared and the fact that you know that I am, actually helps. Makes me feel like I'm not alone in this. I'm sorry too that I've put off talking to you'

'That was probably me too, I can be stubborn, determined too you know'

'I know' he said with a smile leaning over to kiss her, something they hadn't done for the past week, something which they both had missed.

o0o

Carter ventured downstairs some time later to find Jack watching TV and Fleur still reading her medical journal, tension from the pair hit him as he stood in the doorway to the lounge.

'You both want to stay for dinner?' he asked causing them both to look up at him.

'Yes, thank you' said Jack

'Fleur?' asked Carter

Fleur look undecided, she wanted to stay for Abby but not if Jack didn't want her to be there.

'Don't mind me' said Jack who despite everything that he had said last time he had met Fleur wanted to get to know her better.

Fleur looked at Jack and Carter suddenly felt as thought they didn't even remember that he was in the room with them.

'You want me to stay? After everything?'

Jack nodded, 'I've been thinking, it's over a year since we met. Maybe I was a bit harsh, if I was in your position I'd be curious too'

'What is going on?' said Carter scratching his head and not following this conversation at all.

They both looked at him suddenly aware that Carter was standing there.

'Maybe you should tell John?' Jack told Fleur

'I can only tell him the story from my point of view, not from yours, not from Julia's'

'Who's Julia? asked Carter now really lost.

'You need to sit down John' Jack said gently as Carter moved and sat on the sofa.

'Perhaps Abby should be here too' said Fleur

Carter looked from Jack to Fleur and then from Fleur to Jack lost for words.

'What's going on?' said Abby who was now standing where Carter had been moments earlier, having come down when Carter failed to return.

'Abby come and sit next to John' said Jack and Abby moved and sat next to him and he took her hands in his as he waited for the bomb whatever it was to drop.

o0o