AN: Okay, I messed up on something. So here is the explanation: I first named Abby's husband "Michael", but I changed it to "Trent" because I didn't want people to get confused that it might be Michael Gallant, because it isn't. So I think that I forgot to change one of the "Michaels" to "Trent". There is no Michael in this story. Sorry for the confusion.

Chapter Two

Carters POV

I walk into my brand new kitchen of my brand new home and pour myself a glass of water. I've been unpacking my stuff for most of the day. Moving is the most tiring thing that I have ever done, it is especially tiring when you are moving half way across the country. I drove for two days straight, from Colorado to Chicago, wow what a nightmare. I was by myself the whole time, just me and my music. I guess I have to get used to being by myself, seeing as I am a newly single father. Although Lexi will live with me most of the time, I will have to fly her out to see her mother at least twice a month. That's a lot to ask of a seven year old, but she is the bravest kid I have ever known. She has been pretty wonderful through this divorce as well, she had a hard time with me separating from her mother, but I know that deep down, she knows that her parents weren't right for each other. I also think that she knows in her heart that her mother was never meant to be a mother. That's why she will live with me most of the time.

I took a chance moving here, I had to get out of Colorado to start a new life for myself and my daughter. We are a new family, one that will have less arguing and more love. We only know one person here. I did my residency with a friend and she got me an attending job at County General. Its nerve racking, coming into new territory and bossing around people that have worked there for years, but I guess I will have to get used to that, besides Susan said that the staff is great. I'm sure they will be welcoming.

I look around this big house, maybe I didn't need to buy something so big. It's empty and lonely, but I'm sure it won't feel that way once I pick Lexi up from the airport next week. She is staying with her mother until I can get us settled here. I am hiring some painters to paint her room pink this week, before she gets here so I can surprise her. I'll also go out and get her a new bed with a canopy, the whole nine yards; I guess the key to this move is to make her feel special in her new environment.

I can't believe my life has led me to Chicago, I don't know this place at all and I am a little bit apprehensive about starting over. I was married for seven years and I don't think I should have ever even been married at all, at least not to Ali. She isn't someone I would have chosen to spend my life with but she got pregnant, and I wanted us to be a family. Although Lexi was an accident she is the best thing that ever happened to me, but her mother was not. I don't even know how we lasted this long, things never even worked for us from the beginning. I Loved Ali but she took so much out of me, she drained me, I was lifeless with her. Ali never even wanted to be a mother, she wasn't good at it all, and she wasn't interested in being better. I fed Lexi, I changed her diapers, I put her to sleep at night. I took her to the park and the zoo; I always wanted to be a family but Ali didn't. I think she missed the single life, a life without responsibility. She probably cheated on me numerous times, I don't even care. Well she has a single life now and I have my little girl and a new hope that I can find someone out there that is perfect for me.

I walk into County General and it's packed with patients, but this doesn't bother me because I'm used to working fast. I am a great doctor, which is one thing that I am absolutely confident about. I walk up to the front desk and look around to see if I can find Susan but there is no way I can find her in this mad house. I flag down a nurse that's approaching the desk.

"I'm looking for Dr. Lewis" I must sound confused.

"Take a seat in chairs, the triage nurse will come see you in a couple of minutes"

"Ah, no, I'm a doctor, Carter, the new attending"

"Oh, sorry" She looks embarrassed, probably because she knows I'm her new boss. She extends her hand for me to shake it. "I'm Sam, Um Susan's in the lounge; it's that second door on the right"

"Thanks, nice meeting you Sam." I wave back at her as I walk into the lounge. I open the door and I almost don't recognize the person I am here to see.

"Susan, you're pregnant!"

"Ya, I thought I'd surprise you."

She gets up to hug me and I immediately feel welcomed.

"Where's Lexi, I want to see how much she has grown!"

"She's going to fly out in a couple days; I wanted to get settled here first. I need to find her a school and daycare and a nanny . . . I've got a lot to do" Okay, I'm a little stressed.

"Well Abby has a son around her age, you can ask her where she sends Jake." I laugh at Susan; I don't know any of these people. This is the first time I feel vulnerable, a little lost, I need to get to know this place and fast.

"So when are you due?"

"About two months"

I follow Susan out of the lounge and into the crazy hospital to get the tour. We walk through the peds room, through the exams rooms and into a busy trauma room. There are so many people here; I don't know how I am going to get to know all of them.

"This is Dr, Carter everybody, your new attending." Everybody lifts up a gloved hand and then gets back to their work; I smile at them and then turn around to follow Susan out the swinging doors. We walk by half a dozen doctors, one of them particularly cute catching my eye.

"Oh, hey Abby, this is John Carter, new attending, this is Dr. Lockhart." She turns around quickly and waves a hand.

"Welcome" She says it flatly, no smile and walks away. Okay, so maybe her appearance is the only cute part about her.

"Don't take it personally, she's been in a bad mood all day." I shake my head at Susan and walk back up to the front desk to sign myself in.

"Take it easy today, get to know the place and stick with another attending in traumas till you familiarize yourself with where everything is. I'm really glad you're here."

Susan is great. I am so thankful to have a friend like her.

She walks away and I am left alone for the first time. I look around the hospital and walk over to the board to sign up for my first patient. Here goes!

Its seven hours later and so far everything is going smoothly, I have met mostly everyone that works here and yes, Susan was right, they are all great. I feel at home here already, I think this transition will be quite easy.

I walk outside to get some fresh air and sit down next to the only unfriendly person I have met so far. Maybe she's in a better mood now.

"Hey" I give her a gentle smile, one that says "I won't bite". She smiles as she looks out into the ambulance bay.

"I'm sorry if I wasn't very nice before, it's been a tough day" She turns to look at me.

"Did you get stuck in some of those traumas for a while?" That's probably not what has brought her down, but what else am I going to say.

"Something like that" Yep, I was right.

"So, Susan says that you have a little boy." She perks up when I mention her son.

"Ya, Jake, he's almost six, you?"

"Lexi, she's seven, she's the greatest kid" She nods her head at me; she knows what its like to be a proud parent.

"So, what has brought you to Chicago?"

"I don't really know actually. I just got divorced . . . and I needed a change." I just realized that that is the first time I have said that out loud, I am divorced. It kind of feels good in an odd way.

"I'm sorry"

"Don't be, this is the best thing that has happened to me in a long time" I smile at her and she laughs, why beat around the bush when you know what it is you should say.

"Well, welcome" She gets up from the bench "For real this time" She smiles kindly at me, this woman is adorable. It's not like I know her at all, but something tells me that she is troubled. She probably got in a fight with her husband or something. If anyone knows what that's like, it's me. Maybe after I get to know her, Lexi can play with her son. She doesn't have any friends here and I know that she's going to need one.

I walk into the lounge at the end of my shift and spot Susan on the couch.

"Hey, you're still here?"

"Not really, I went home for ten of the hours that you just worked."

"Oh, no wonder I didn't see you around" I smile at her warmly, glad that I'm here working with her.

"So how was your first shift?"

"It was really good. Busy. Everyone was really nice though."

She smiles at me and moves to her locker to put her stuff away. I want to ask Susan about Abby but I'm afraid that she'll read into to it more than she should. I'm just curious, but somehow I feel strangely drawn to her, or maybe it is that I just think she's so cute so I have to know about her.

"Um . . . Susan . . . what's the deal with Dr. Lockhart?"

"Oh, she's usually not a bitch like that." She slams her locker door and turns around. "Her husband moved out yesterday." She gives me a sad face, one that suggests that I know how Abby's feeling. I guess I kind of do, but her situation is probably a lot different than mine was.

"That's too bad"

"Not really . . .he's a bit of an asshole. He really doesn't know how good he's got it with her. . . She's one of my best friends and I think she's a little torn apart right now. It's hard to talk to her about it though. I don't think she really wants to let anybody in. I don't think she wants to show her pain so much, ya know"

"I guess we all deal with things our own way"

"Carter, you always know the right thing to say" I smile at her and remain quiet. She walks up to me and grabs my hand in a serious manner.

"I never got to tell you how sorry I was about you and Ali splitting up."

"Its better this way Susan" I pause for a second and then smile to lighten the mood. I let go of her hand as I walk towards the door to leave and I turn around to say one last thing.

"Hey, I'm excited about this. I'm ready to find that perfect fit."