Ok I've posted chapters 4 & 5 together because they are linked.
Warning angst here we come! Please, please read and review. And a big thanks to all those that have done so already.
Two weeks laterAbby stretched and adjusted her position on the sofa. She glanced at her watch it was 11.50pm. She sighed; she had a shift in six hours. She had decided to catch up on paper work this evening, sort out her bills, something she had been putting off for weeks and three hours later she had barely touched them. Her mind was elsewhere.
Her brother was as well as could be expected and she had come back to Chicago a few days ago. She sighed at the thought of the weeks of physiotherapy he had ahead of him. Why did this have to happen now? Why when he was just getting it together?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. She pushed the papers on to the coffee table and walked over to the door. She spied through the peephole she wasn't expecting anyone. Shit, Carter.
She unlocked the door slowly and opened it just as far as she needed to so he could see her.
He looked dishevelled and nervous.
"Hi" he said "Can I come in?
"Carter it's midnight"
"I know sorry"
She looked at him debating in her mind what to do, then reluctantly opened the door wider and without saying a word she walked into the kitchen to make coffee.
Carter stood for a moment trying to figure out what to do and what to say and then slowly closed the door behind him and followed her in to the kitchen.
She stood with her back to him at the kitchen counter and started to prepare a coffee for them both.
He watched her for a moment.
"I haven't seen you at work lately, I mean I have, but not to talk to" he stumbled nervously
"What do you want Carter?" she asked flatly and without turning round. Oh god was he drunk?
"To apologise. I'm sorry Abby I shouldn't have said what I said to you, that day at the river".
He was sorry? Sorry for being an insensitive ass hole. She thought back to what had happened, she couldn't believe how angry he was, at her, at the world. Abby's mind was reeling, what was he doing here? Why did she let him in?
She turned but still refusing to look him in the eye, staring at the table.
"You look like hell Carter".
She wanted him to leave she couldn't deal with him right now.
It was late and she had other things on her mind.
Is if reading her thoughts he said
"How's your brother?" Carter pulled out a chair at the table and sat down.
"Better than he was" she said handing him the coffee that he hadn't asked for.
She sat down next to him at the kitchen table and added
"He's out of the woods at least. He lost his spleen, they had to repair his liver and he fractured both his legs one of them in four places, so he's got a long road to recovery."
"He's in traction?"
"Yes, for six weeks"
"That blows. Susan told me what happened. Was anyone else hurt in the accident? "
She really didn't feel like talking about, it was late, she was tired and she had been on the phone for an hour earlier with her Mother discussing her brothers' recovery.
She sighed
"The other driver suffered only minor injuries, nothing serious, not bad considering the guy ran a light"
"Was Eric on his on his meds?"
He saw her body stiffen and he immediately regretted asking.
She looked at him blankly. "Yes he was and has been for the last five months"
"Sorry"
"What for?" She asked irritably
He paused and looked down at the table. "Everything"
"I'm sorry for what I said Abby, I was out of line, way out of line.
She didn't respond, instead she stood picking up her half empty mug and placed it in the sink whilst Carters remained untouched.
"Well you were kind of right in a way" she said as she walked out of the kitchen. She didn't like the awkward atmosphere between them and she needed space. She began clearing up her papers.
Carter got up and followed her, he sat down on the couch. He patted the space next to him
"Sit down"
She looked at him unsure what to do.
"I wasn't right at all" he said as she slowly sat down next to him. "You are one of the strongest people I know. You overcame everything and look at you now"
Abby fidgeted on the edge of the sofa unable to relax and not sure how to respond.
"And" he added taking a deep breath. "You were right I do need to sort myself out. I need to get back on track only I'm not sure how to get there"
He lifted his hand gently to brush the hair out of her face.
"Carter..."
"Shh don't" he said softly
He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek "Thanks for giving me the push to do something" he added huskily.
She looked at him and glanced at his mouth
He saw her look and took it as invitation. He leaned forward and gently turned her face to his, staring in her eyes. God, she was beautiful .He kissed her softly on the mouth. He had missed this. Missed the affection and intimacy.
Abby closed her eyes savouring the moment and responded. Enjoying the feel and taste of him.
He kissed her harder now feeling the passion rising inside of him.
He wanted her.