Abby's POV

Here I stand in the middle of Carters enormous bathroom, waiting for him to come back from wherever it is he went. He carried me here, dropped me off and then left...Weird. I don't want him gone. I feel much more at ease with him around, ease I have longed for a long time, something I have found finally.

I finally hear a noise behind me. He walks in the door carrying a pile of towels. He hands me one, takes my hand and leads me to the blind. I guess this means I'm taking a bath. He turns his back to the blind and waits for me to come out. I come out covered in the biggest towel I have ever seen and he takes my hand again. I look down at our hands, and notice that they fit so perfectly together. He sits down on the bathtub ledge and places me in his lap, while he starts the water.

No One's POV

And there they were. Two beings giving full meaning to friendship: One hurt and down, the other: the healer, the caregiver. Neither of them would realize now, how much the really do need each other.

Carter's POV

"I want to take care of you Abby, give you everything you need, make you feel happy. Anything you want I'll do it for you. Can you live with that?"

She looks a little surprised at my rash statement.

"Yes is the only acceptable answer." I look at her with a small smile so that she doesn't get too nervous. That's the last thing I would want to do to her. "Water's ready." She gets off my lap and I turn my head so that she can take off her robe. I am the gentleman after all.

I hear her step into the water and finally, "You can look at me now Carter, I'm covered by bubbles." She manages to say that with a hint of laughter in her voice, as if she knows that I'm contemplating whether or not it would be ok if I stayed. "Come on, talk to me"

No complaint from my part.

"Is the water ok?" I want her comfortable.

"Yes it's fine. And Carter?" She puts her hand on mine, indicating that she wants my full attention. "Thank You"

"No problem. Abby, really." I give her a smile, needing no more words.

We talk about this and that for the next half an hour, sometimes remaining in comfortable silence, not laughing too much. I notice that what happened is controlling our actions and our emotions and that I know we shouldn't let it. I'm going to see that it won't.

"Ready to get out?" I can't imagine that the water is that warm anymore. A simple nod is my answer. I stand up with the bath towel in front of me, I lower my eyes and wait for her to step out and wrap herself in it.

"What time is it?" I don't know actually, I figure it's pretty late though. "Don't you have a shift tomorrow?"

Unfortunately I do. Much to her surprise I pick her up and carry her out of the bathroom, and walk towards the bedroom that next to mine.

"Carter, I can put myself in bed. You have an early shift, go get some rest." Did she not listen to what I said earlier? I'm taking care of her.

"Abby, really, I'll be ok, worse comes to worse, I'll call in sick or something" I say with a smile, how I wish I could do that. She smiles back at me but nods her head.

I walk over to the bed, pull back the comforter and lie her gently down. I pull up the covers, turn off the lamp and am about to walk out to the door when she grabs my hand. She pulls me down until my face is right close to hers.

"Thanks Carter." She whispers and gives me a light kiss. I nod my head, and head out the door.