Chapter 8

Team Carter

It had been 4 days. 4 hard and grieving days. 96 whole hours since the accident. Lucy hated being the one to have to tell Ruthie that her big sister was dead. She hadn't come out and said that though. She had beaten around the bush in a way, Carter said, only Lucy could. She had told Ruthie that Bella was an angel like her mommy now.

Ruthie had understood but not without grieving like the others. Lucy hadn't left the Carter household since that night. She only had left twice to get clothes and necessities from her house. Julia, Adrian, and Gabe, being too young to really understand what was going on, took it as a mini vacation.

Getting so much attention from Nana (Dr. Corday), Boo-Boo (Luka), Baba (Abby), and Wucy was paradise for the three toddlers.

The three had also made frequent visits to the Carter house over the course of the last 4 days along with The Ross', Dr. Greene, Dr. Ramono, Dr. Weaver, Deb, Chunni, Dr. Benton and Reese, and Dave. Paige didn't want to come home from the hospital until Carter so the two had come home together the other day. John's gunshot wound on his shoulder was still needed to be covered with dressing from the hospital that needed to be changed every 3 hours to prevent infection.

Paige's wrist had been set in a splint. It was around 8:00 in the morning on day 5, hour 120, and Lizzie, Luka, Abby, Lucy, the triplets, and Mark sat in the living room with Carter sipping coffee. The house was pretty quiet. John told them they didn't have to but Ruthie and Paige insisted on going off to school. Lucy felt it was because they didn't want to be in the house. They weren't used to being surrounded by so many people even if it was people they knew and loved. The silence was broken by little Adrian.

"Baba, where's Waldo?" he asked showing Abby his 'Where's Waldo' book. When all he got was a gentle smile and a pat on the head from Abby he went over to Lizzie who was sitting on the floor next to the recliner Abby was in.

"Nana find Waldo?" he asked handing the book to her.

"Okay baby. Let's find that pesky Waldo," Liz said pulling him into her lap.

"I want to help find Waldo Nana," Julia said climbing down from Luka's lap and over to Liz.

"I want to help find Waldo too Nana," Gabriel chirped following his sister. Carter smiled at this.

"There's what we've been looking for," Lizzie replied smiling at Carter. "We missed that famous smile." Over the past few days everyone was trying the best they could to get a smile out of him some how.

"They love their Nana," he commented. His voice sounded rough from not talking and having cried his eyes out the last 4 days.

"Did the meds help at all?" Mark asked watching John grip his shoulder.

"Quite a bit," he answered.

"Boo-boo find Waldo," Gabe said taking the book away from Liz and handing it to Luka.

"No! Nana find waldo!" Julia protested scrunching up her little face and reaching for the book.

"Baba wants to find Waldo," Mark said distractedly brushing some lint off of his shirt. The three seemed to like the idea more coming from Mark and handed Abby the book.

"We better get to the hospital," Mark said referring to himself Luka, Abby, and Liz. The four got up at once. Carter winced in pain as his muscles protested his move to get up and say good bye.

"It's okay John. Stay there," Liz said bending down and giving him a hug. Abby did the same.

"Lucy'll take good care of you," Luka assured him.

"I had no doubts," Carter smiled.

"Nana no buh-bye. Nana no buh-bye," Julia protested grabbing Liz's leg.

"Oh, it's okay sweet heart. Nana will be back very soon," she cooed picking the little girl up.

"Boo-Boo, Baba too?" Adrian asked at Luka's feet. Luka smiled and nodded his head.

"Alright we really have to go now," Mark said tapping his watch impatiently.

"You don't want Weaver on your backs," Lucy agreed.

"Bye Carter! We love you!" Liz cried before Mark grabbed her arm and yanked her out the front door with him. Lucy smiled and closed the front door. She did associate with a crazy couple of people.

"Nana no buh-bye," Adrian cried.

"Come on guys. Look who's on TV!" Carter said pointing to the TV screen he had just turned on.

"Blue! Blue!" Gabe cried followed by his siblings. Lucy watched as the kids ran back into the living room to watch Blue's Clues. John turned around and smiled at her, patting the sofa next to him. She came and sat down.

"Blue's Clues. The parent's life saver. If I'm real lucky I can get Ruthie into it long enough too," he said.

"I'm sorry things have been so hard the last couple of days," Lucy whispered gingerly tracing her fingers along the dressing on Carter's shoulder.

"I couldn't have done it without you and the others," he said.

"I just feel like I could have done more," Lucy whispered near tears. John just smiled and pushed Lucy's head down gently so it rested softly on his shoulder. She could feel the rough cloth that dressed his wound under her ear.

"You've done everything Luce and I'm very fortunate to have you around, especially now," he whispered, patting her hair gently.

"We all make a good team," she agreed.

"Team Carter," he said.

"I like that," Lucy smiled. She lay content on Carters shoulder watching the little ones cry out at the TV and giggle at each other. At that moment she felt very lucky to be part of a team that would strive but always stick together.

She was very happy to be a member of Team Carter.

Hey everyone!

I am enjoying ER a whole lot. I tried watching an episode on NBC or whatever channel it comes on on Thursday's but I only knew like 3 people from the TNT episodes during the week. Any way, Lucy totally died on me the other day. I knew her and Carter got stabbed and all but did it really have to be so sad? I love Luce! Well at least I still have Abby and Liz :)

I hope your enjoying this story as much as I am writing it! Thanks for all the great reviews!

Dru619