Rough Path

Chapter 7: The Call

Disclaimer: I don't own ER or "How do I live" by Leanne Rimes.

"It's him," Luka said, not sure what he was going to find. Was Carter dead or alive?

He checked his pulse. "He's alive, but his pulse is very weak."

Gillian came up to Carter and Luka. "Is he awake?"

"John, can you hear me?" Luka asked.

Carter looked up at Luka. "Luka, you found us," he said weakly.

"Us?" Gillian questioned.

"Yes, there was a patient with me. He was shot in the leg, he lost a lot of blood. You have to help him."

Both Luka and Gillian looked at each other.

"What?" Carter asked.

"You have been missing for five days. There is no way that your patient is alive. I'm sorry, John," Luka said.

Gillian went up to the boy who was lying just a few steps away from Carter.

She looked up at Carter and Luka. "He's gone."

Luka looked at Carter. "We need to get you to the clinic. Are you hurt?"

"I think I hurt my leg, but everything else is a blur. I feel so weak."

"Carter, stay with me."

But suddenly Carter dozed off.

"We need to get him to the clinic now!!"

**

Meanwhile in Chicago

Susan was on her way to Abby's apartment.

She knew that Abby didn't want her to come over, but she was so worried about her.

She knocked on the door, but nobody answered it.

"Abby, its Susan. Please open the door."

Susan tried knocking again, but there was still no answer.

She decided to see if the landlord could help her.

"Hi. My friend, Abigail Lockhart, lives in 205. I can't get a hold of her and I'm worried. Maybe I could have the keys to her apartment to see if she's okay?"

"I don't know. Maybe she's just not there," the landlord hesitated.

"Please, my friend could be hurt, just open her apartment for me. You don't need to give me the keys," Susan pleaded.

"Okay," the landlord agreed, as he opened the door.

"Thank you," Susan said as she walked into the apartment.

"Abby!!!" she called out.

When she reached the kitchen she saw Abby lying on the floor.

"Abby, wake up," Susan said, as she kneeled down next to her.

Then she saw that Abby had cut her hand.

Abby opened her eyes slowly. "Susan, what are you doing here?"

"I was worried about you. You didn't sound yourself on the phone," Susan said. "What happened to your hand?"

Abby looked at her hand, and saw that it was bleeding.

"Oh, I dropped my wine glass, and I cut my hand when I was picking it up."

Abby looked at Susan and could tell by the way that she was looking at her that she didn't believe her. "I didn't try to kill myself, it was an accident, Susan," Abby said as she stood up with Susan's help.

"I know you didn't. I was just so worried about you. I know you are depressed about Carter. I just didn't want you to do anything stupid."

"I wouldn't cut myself. If anything I would drink."

"Did you?" she asked worriedly.

"No," she answered, making Susan sigh of relief.

"Come on, I will take you to the hospital to stitch you up," Susan suggested.

"You don't have to, I can go by myself," Abby said.

"No, Abby. I will come with you."

Abby grabbed her jacket and keys before they left her apartment.

**

Susan and Abby arrived at the hospital.

"We go to an empty room, and I'll stitch you up, okay?"

"Sure."

Abby and Susan walked to the room.

Abby sat down as Susan started sewing her hand. "So what happened?"

"I told you, I just broke the glass."

"Abby, I saw the bottle."

Abby looked at her. "I didn't drink any of it, I told you. I just wanted to forget about Carter. I know there is a chance that I'm never going to see him again, and that scares me. I won't ever be able to see him smile again. Why didn't I try harder to get him to stay? I should have told him that I didn't want him to go. That I was scared that he wouldn't come back."

"Abby, it's not your fault. Carter would have gone no matter what. You know that."

Abby nodded. "Thanks for trying to make me feel better. Are you finished? I want to go home."

"I'm finished," Susan said.

Abby got up from the gurney.

"Abby, are you sure you want to go home?  If you can come over to my apartment, and stay there tonight,"

Abby turned around, and smiled. "You know you are really kind, but I need some time to be on my own. I promise you, I will be fine."

"I'll call you later, and see how you are," Susan said, as they walked out of the room.

Abby smiled. "Okay."

Susan watched as Abby left the hospital. She knew that Abby was in a lot of pain. She just hoped that whatever happened next, she was going to be okay.

**

Meanwhile in Kisangani,

Carter slowly started to wake up. "Where I am?"

Luka came up to him. "You are in Africa, you were hurt."

Carter looked up at Luka. "How long have I been asleep?"

"You passed out for about an hour. Just a little while after we found you."

Carter then started to remember everything. "I couldn't save the boy, could I?"

"I'm sorry, John."

Luka sat down next to Carter. "You broke your leg, and you are still weak. You are very dehydrated, but besides that I think you are going to be okay."

Carter nodded. "Does anybody else know that I have been missing?" Carter asked.

"If you are talking about Abby, yes. I called her when we couldn't find you. She wanted to come to Africa, and look for you herself. But I told her not to."

Carter smiled. "She wanted to come to Africa?"

Carter then knew what he needed to do.

**

At Abby's apartment

Abby was lying on her bed, holding Carter's sweater in her arms again. Then she heard a song play on the radio.

How do I,

Get through one night without you?

If I had to live without you,

What kind of life would that be?

Oh, I need ...

I need you in my arms, need you to hold

Abby then started to cry. John, I don't want to live without you. I need you. Did I really lose you?, she thought to herself.

Suddenly she heard the phone ring. I bet that is Susan, she thought. She didn't really feel like talking to Susan, but she knew that Susan would be over there in a second if she didn't pick up on the phone.

"Hi Susan. I told you, you didn't need to phone," she said in a whisper.

"Abby, it's me."

To be continued.

Author's Note: Thanks for all the lovely reviews for the last chapter. I am glad that people are still reading the story.