Thank you to everyone that reviewed, I totally forgot about this again. I'm thinking about not carrying it on as I'm off to uni soon and don't really have time to write at the moment but I'll carry on for now. Here's the next chapter.
Chapter 25 – Here We GoI rush into the chaos that is the ER, Leah held securely in my arms, and immediately look around for Carter but there are far too many people in here like usual. I make my way to the desk
"Jerry where's Carter?"
"Trauma Two." Great, why whenever you need someone are they stuck in traumas? I push my way through the people waiting in the hallway towards the trauma room and stand outside and watch through the window. It looks pretty bad, a family member is stood at the other door looking teary eyed. I try to get Carter's attention but it doesn't seem to be working, I start pacing backwards and forwards across the corridor. Please Carter, I need to speak to you now, being here really isn't helping. I wait a few more minutes, trying to keep calm, it's no good. I push open the door and step inside.
"Carter." He looks up, surprised to see me here, before carrying on with his work on the patient.
"Abby, what are you doing here?"
"I need to speak to you."
"I'm in a trauma Abby."
"I know but I needed to tell you I'm going to Minnesota tonight so Leah's not going to be in day-care tomorrow."
"What, why?" His attention is still focused on saving the person lying in front of him.
"It's Eric, I talked to Weaver, I have to go Carter my flight leaves in an hour." He looks at me; perhaps he sees the panic in my eyes because he tells me to wait and for one of the nurses to go find Chen or Luka. I move and stand back outside giving them the space to work. He carries on until Chen comes in when he gives her all the information she needs, it feels like they're taking forever but I know it can't really be that long. He eventually follows me out of the trauma room and we head to the lounge.
"Why do you have to go to Minnesota?"
"It's Eric, Maggie's panicking, I don't know what she's going to do, I need to go and be with her, I'm sorry Carter but I have to go tonight." All this came out at top speed, while I'm pacing frantically back and forth in the lounge. Leah's now crying in my arms not at all happy about being so roughly woken up. I need to get going, I don't want to miss the flight.
"Abby slow down, what's the matter with Eric?"
"He was in a car accident, it doesn't look good, she said he hadn't woken up yet, I need to get there."
"Do you want me to look after Leah while you go, it might make things easier for you." She's settled down a bit but the crying continues, I need to calm down so that I can look after her properly but I need to get out of here first.
"No, we'll be fine, I've got all of her things. I want her with me, sorry, I'll make it up to you." This really isn't fair on him I know he loves spending time with his daughter. He brushes it off.
"It's fine, do you want me to take you to the airport."
"I've a cab waiting outside, I just needed to tell you before I went."
"Are you sure you'll be all right, I could talk to Weaver and come with you."
"No, there's nothing you can do I just need to be there for him and for Maggie, but thank you." He gives Leah a light kiss on the head and I move towards the door.
"Call me when you know anything, if you need anything."
"I will, bye Carter." I rush of leaving him standing there watching us disappear.
The cab ride to the airport seems to take forever, I'm panicking, I have to get this flight. 'Calm down Abby.' I tell myself but the sixth glance at my watch in less than five minutes doesn't help. At least I managed to get Leah settled down again, I don't think she really knew what was going on, suddenly being bundled up and rushed out of the apartment and then the hospital. The cab ride seems to have made her drift off again which I'm thankful for.
Finally we reach the airport and I hand the driver the money. This time I'm more careful as I lift Leah out of the car and pick up our bags, I don't think she'd be too impressed if I woke her up again. I walk through the doors and breathe a sigh of relief; at least we got here in time. Soon we're on the plane and flying towards Minneapolis.