Author's Note: I would like to thank my beta reader Annette, for doing such a great job, and helping me and telling me if she doesn't like an idea, thanks!!!



Rough Path

Chapter 4: Why?

Abby looked into Carter's eyes and knew right then that he was going to Africa.

He is leaving again, how could I think anything would be different? Abby thought to herself.

"You are going, aren't you?"

Carter took a hold of her hand. "Yes, but it won't be for long."

"But why do you have to? Aren't there any other doctors that can go? You just came back from there."

Carter looked down at her. "Luka says that they just need me for a couple of days, as another doctor had an emergency, and he wants me to go there as the patients there know me. And other doctors are not vaccinated. It would take weeks before they can go down there but they need someone now. I'm the only one available. I'm sorry."

Abby sighed, and walked away from Carter into the kitchen. He followed her.

"Abby, listen to me, I'll be fine."

"Fine?" Abby said, shocked. "You are going back to Africa, where you had a gun to your head, what happens if this time … you get hurt or ... " She couldn't say it, but what if he got killed?

"I won't get hurt," Carter answered in a firm tone.

"Just go, Carter. If you want to go to Africa then go," Abby shouted, and walked away.

Carter looked back at her. "I'm not leaving, you like this."

"But you are leaving me, aren't you? You are just like every other man in my life. You told me that you would never leave me, but you are doing it right now – again," Abby said, as tears started to fall down her cheeks.

"I'm not leaving you. I wish you could come with me!"

He really wanted her with him. But actually, he was glad there was no way she'd be able to go because she wasn't vaccinated. He'd be too worried about her.

She turned around. "Come with you?"

She knew she couldn't go.

"I don't want to be without you, believe me."

Abby looked at him. "But you are going?"

Carter didn't say anything to her. It was no use as she wasn't going to listen to anything he had to say anyway. And he understood her. If she left for Africa he'd be scared, too that something happened to her. But he had to go.

He decided that it would be the best to just leave before they shouted at each other.

He just went up to her, and kissed her. "Goodbye, I'll be back on Friday night, I'll try and call you, I never wanted to hurt you," he said, as he walked out of the apartment.

It was hard to go. But he knew that he might change his mind if he saw her looking at him any longer. He told himself that he'd be back soon and that he'd never leave her again after that. But now he had to help the people there.

She watched him as he left.

Why did this happen, when everything was starting to get back to normal? But she wasn't going to get upset. If Carter wants to go back to Africa then he can, she thought to herself.

If that was the way that she felt, then why did she feel like a part of her was missing?

She then walked into the bedroom.

***

Later that day

Susan walked into the lounge, and saw that Abby was at her locker, getting ready for her shift

"I thought you weren't on schedule for today?"

Abby turned around. "I decided to come in, as I need to do something to get it off my mind."

Susan looked at Abby, confused. "It?"

"John decided to go back to Africa after Luka phoned him and told him that they need Carter's help. I didn't want him to leave again for Africa but he did anyway," Abby replied as she sat down on the couch.

Susan sat down next to her. "I'm so sorry."

Abby looked up at Susan. "There isn't anything to be sorry about. If Africa is where he wants to be, I guess I have to deal with it."

Susan was confused that he would just leave again since he just came back. "Did you and Carter break up?" she asked, searching for an explanation.

"No, actually John and I were starting to sort things out when Luka called. I don't know why Carter thinks he has to go back there, I'm sure he could have said no."

Susan looked at her friend and could see that Abby was really worried about Carter. "Are you concerned about Carter being in Africa?"

"Of course I am, aren't you? It's so dangerous there, John could get hurt," Abby told Susan, not telling her what Carter had experienced in Africa the first time.

"Of course I am worried about Carter being in Africa, but he knows how to take care of himself," Susan replied, trying to make Abby worry less.

Abby stood up and walked to the counter.

"Carter said he wished I could go with him."

Susan went up to Abby. "I'm sure he meant it," she said reassuringly.

Abby turned around.

"He wants to be with you," Susan said.

Abby smiled a sad smile. "I wish I could go."

Susan smiled. "I know. But you should at least say goodbye. How long until Carter leaves for Africa?"

"I don't know, he left my apartment without telling me."

Just then Susan's pager went off. "I have to go now, as there is a trauma, but talk to Carter before he leaves for Africa," Susan said, as she walked out of the lounge.

Abby sat back down on the couch, thinking about what Susan said and wondering if she should go find Carter before he left.

Suddenly Kerry entered the lounge. "Abby, shouldn't you be out there working instead of being in here?"

Abby looked up at Kerry. "Actually I'm not supposed to work today, I have to go do something before it's too late," Abby said, as he grabbed her jacket and left the lounge.

***

Abby called Carter's cell phone, but there was no answer, she tried his apartment but he wasn't there either.

There was one last place he could be, the airport; she just hoped that his plane didn't leave yet.

But what was she going to say to him if he was there? Though that wasn't really important. She just had to say goodbye.

***

Abby showed up at the airport and went up to the desk. "Do you know if a plane has left for Africa yet?"

"Do you know the flight number?" the receptionist asked.

Abby looked at the receptionist. "No, I don't."

"I'm sorry, miss, but we can't help if we don't know the flight number."

"Okay, thank you," Abby said, disappointed, and left the desk.

As she walked off someone bumped into her.

"Sorry," he said. "Abby? You?"

She looked up and saw that it was Carter.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, surprised to see her there.

"Do you think we could talk before you leave for Africa?" Abby asked, as she took his hand.

"Sure."

They went and sat down on a bench.

"I wanted to say goodbye before you left."

Abby then stood up and Carter looked at her. "You came all this way, just to say goodbye?" he asked, surprised. After the way he left her apartment he didn't think she'd want to say goodbye. "I mean, I am glad you are here, but ... "

"Yes," she cut him short. "I didn't want to miss the last chance to be with you before you leave."

Carter looked at her, touched by what she said. "I'm glad you're here, Abby. Even though I'll be back soon I'm glad you're here."

Abby took a hold of his hand. "Me, too. Back at my apartment I didn't want to come here, but I was just shocked that you were going back to Africa. I don't want to be without you again."

Carter put his arms around her. "I promise to be back safe as soon as possible.."

"Flight 212 to Africa is now boarding," the announcer interrupted them.

"That's me," Carter said, as he stood up.

"I already miss you," Abby said, as she put her arms around him.

"Me, too," Carter answered. "I will think of you every minute of the day." He couldn't think of anything better to say to express how much he'd miss her.

Abby hugged Carter and leaned over to kiss him.

"I'll call you when I arrive."

"Goodbye," Abby said, as she hugged him again. She waved at him as he was leaving.

"John, I love you," she called after him, but he didn't hear it as he had already been gone.

***

3 day ... he had been gone for 3 days; Carter said that he would phone me two nights ago. Why hasn't he called me yet?

"Abby," a voice suddenly said. Abby turned around.

"Hi Susan."

"He still hasn't phoned you, has he?"

Abby nodded.

"I'm sure he'll call you soon. When did he want to?" Susan asked.

"As soon as he arrived."

"Oh," Susan said. "I'm sure there is a reason why he couldn't call yet." Susan tried to reassure Abby, but she could tell that it wasn't working.

Haleh entered the lounge. "We need the both of you out there, as there is a trauma coming in."

"We're coming," Abby said, as her and Susan left the lounge.

***

During the trauma

Jerry walked into the exam room. "Abby, Luka is on Line 1 for you." Abby looked at him.

"Luka?"

Why would he want to talk to me? Unless something happened to Carter.

No, he is fine, she told herself.

"Can you take a message?"

"Luka told me that it was urgent, that he had to speak to you."

"Go talk to him, I can finish the trauma," Jing Mei said.

"Thanks," Abby said, as she walked out of the exam room and picked up the phone.

"Hello?" she asked carefully, not sure what Luka wanted.

"Abby," he started. She could tell by the tone of this voice that it wasn't good news.

"What did you want to tell me?" she asked.

"It's Carter, something happened to him."

To be continued.

Author's Note: Yeah, I know you, think it's the typical "Carter is hurt" story. But it's not, trust me!!!