Back to the Daily Grind
Carter rolled over and felt Abby laying next to him. The sun was up. Last day of nothing before he had to go back to the ER. He wasn't sure what all they would need to do. He slipped silently from the bed and headed into the shower. Abby woke to hear the water running in the bathroom. That was enough to get her out of the bed. She tiptoed into the bathroom, and slipped into the shower behind John.
"Hey there," He said turning around and facing her.
"Am in intruding?"
"Oh no," He said leaning down and kissing her, "I'm happy you are in here."
"Then why didn't you wake me up first?"
"You looked too peaceful." He said, "I didn't' want to bring you out of your dreams."
"Mmmmm, my Carter dreams," she said as she put her arms around him.
"Your Carter dreams Mrs. Carter?" He said looking at her puzzled.
"You know, the dreams about you. Before we were together I called them my 'Carter dreams.'"
He smiled at her, "let's take them from being dreams to reality."
"Reality is so much better."
He ran his hands down the length of her back. He lifted her up off the floor. "Reality I can handle." He whispered.
They stayed in the shower till the water was cold. A happily sated Abby then went to their room to get dressed.
"What do we have to do today." He asked following her out of the bathroom.
"We have to turn in all the paperwork you got for me, we still need groceries, and we have dinner with your Gamma," she listed.
"Guess we didn't get that done yesterday did we." He said, "okay, but do we have to turn the paperwork into county today?"
"I guess that can wait until tomorrow. You don't want to go there today?"
"No I don't want to get sucked into their yet. Every time I go in there I don't get to leave."
"It does have a way of doing that to you."
"I promised Gamma I would be there tonight." Carter said, "and I'm not going to get stuck so that I can't go."
"What do we need to take with us?" Abby asked.
"The pictures." He said, "she asked to see them."
"Anything else?"
"No what else would we need to take."
"I don't know, I just want to be prepared, "Abby said, fretting.
"Abby it's Gamma's."
"I know," she said.
"Come on let's get the rest of this paperwork done," he paused, "where are the jeep keys."
"Where ever you left them," she said, rolling her eyes.
He looked on the kitchen table. "Let's get out of here, I want to make sure that we get to Gamma's about an hour early."
"Why early?"
"No special reason."
They ran around Chicago doing the things they needed to do, then headed back to the apartment to put the groceries away.
"Is that everything?"
"I think so. Let me change real quick, then we can head to your Grandmother's," Abby said, heading to the bathroom.
"Sounds good to me." He said
Within a few minutes they were in the Jeep heading West.
Carter pulled onto the Carter Estate, he didn't head toward the main house but back behind down into the woods.
"Where are you going?" Abby asked, puzzled.
He stopped the car, "right here."
"Why are we here, this isn't the house. I can't even see the house."
"That's the point," He said taking off his seatbelt.
"What are you doing?"
He hopped out of the driver's seat into the back, "come here."
"Oh, I get it," Abby said as she took off her seat belt, and climbed into the back with John.
He pulled down on top of him, "I wanted to make love to my new wife in our jeep." He said kissing her.
"John, this is kind of naughty," she laughed.
"Just kind of naughty," He said kissing her neck. "I think I can make it very naughty."
"Give it your best shot, husband," she said, with a smile.
"I'd love to," He said pulling her sweater off over her head and gently placing kissing down her shoulders.
She slipped his suspenders over his arms, then worked on his tie.
"I love you," He said nibbling on her neck. He reached down and loosened his pants with one hand.
"I love you too," She said, one of her hands following his.
Carter slipped out of what clothing remained and pulled her on top of his lap. She could feel him, deep in her soul.
"Oh God Abby," He said pulling her down on him, his hand on her hips helping to steady her.
"Oh, John. You feel so good. Don't ever stop loving me."
"I will love you until the end of time." He said to her the fire burning deep with in him. With his hands urging her on, she began to move faster. He looked up at her, into her deep brown eyes. He could see the love that she felt for him. He could feel himself losing control. Together they cried out, their bodies locked in the eternal dance. He let his head rest against the back of the seat, "our jeep."
"Just don't tell Susan. She's the one who has to ride back here, " Abby said, as she tried to untangle herself from her husband.
"I won't if you don't." He said. "Here's your sweater."
"Thanks, but where's my bra?"
"On the rearview mirror." He said leaning forward to retrieve it.
They hastily got back into their clothes, elbows flying.
"I have a present for you." He said as he climbed back into the front seat.
"John, you don't have to keep giving me gifts." Abby said. "Your the only gift I need."
I think that you will like this one," He said, "open the glove box."
Abby pulled the glove box open, and pulled out a small box wrapped in rose paper. Carter watched his wife's face. Abby tore the paper off, and opened the box. Inside was a nametag that read Abigail Carter, R.N., M.S.N. "Oh, John, I love it. Thank you,"she said as she kissed him firmly.
"Well, I couldn't have my wife wearing one that didn't have the right name on it." He said starting the jeep, "I"m glad you like it. Shall we go visit Gamma now?
"Sure, do I look presentable?" Abby asked, patting her hair.
"Yes you do."
He drove them back up to the house. "You have the pictures from the wedding?"
"Yes, under my seat."
He stopped the jeep and went around to her side pulling the door open, "let's go I'm sure Gamma is waiting for us."
She took his hand as she slid out of the jeep, but didn't let go. He led her up to the front door. "You know Gamma likes you a lot Abby." He knocked against the front door. Millicent opened the door herself. On her doorstep stood her grandson and his wife. They looked just slightly rumpled. Ah, young love, she though.
"Hi Gamma," He said hugging her.
"Hello, John." She then reached over and hugged Abby. "And hello to you Abigail."
"Hello, Mrs. Carter," Abby said, properly.
"Abigail, it's Gamma please," she said looking at her grandson's new wife.
Abby smiled. John's grandmother had a warm, welcoming look in her eyes. "Okay, Gamma. And call me Abby, please."
Gamma looked at Abby, "yes Abby." She said nodding, "I hope that your hungry."
"I am, we have been busy today, so we skipped lunch," Abby said.
Carter nodded at the sound of food, "I could do with eating."
"John, you can always eat. I'm glad that we had a bit of money or we would have gone broke keeping you in food."
He smiled at her, "going hungry is something that I don't have to worry about anymore."
"I don't know about that, you know how I cook," Abby bantered.
"They invented take out for us." He said smiling at her. He pulled the chair out from the table for her.
Abby sat at the table. This was a bit overwhelming, being in this grand room.
"I want to hear all about this wedding." Gamma said as they sat at the table.
"It was very nice, Mrs...Gamma. It was just us, Barbara and Kevin there."
"I'm sure you were beautiful my dear."
"Ask John."
Carter smiled as he looked at her, "yes she was Gamma."
"We have pictures," Abby said, eagerly.
Gamma took the album Abby was holding out. She flipped through the pictures she smiled. The love was so evident in each photo. "Dear, why is there a picture of a phone sitting on a table?"
Carter smiled watching them flip thru the pictures, "Susan couldn't be there Gamma, we didn't want to leave her out, so she was on the phone with us."
"How sweet."
"I wish you could have been there," He said
"I was there in spirit, son."
He smiled at his grandmother, "I know you were. Thank you for inviting us over for dinner Gamma."
"Oh I have a wedding gift for you."
"Gamma you didn't have to," He said to her. "I know, but what's a Grandmother for."
He looked at Abby, he didn't know what his grandmother would have gotten them. Carter watched as his grandmother got up and walked over to the end table. She brought back a small box.
"This is for you. I think I found the one thing that the two of you need but no one else would think to get you."
Carter took the box from her. He looked at Abby and then the box. She didn't have to do this, "thank you Gamma. Do you want to open it Abby?"
"Why don't you."
He nodded and slowly opened the box. He lifted out a set of keys, "Gamma what are these to?"
Gamma looked at them both, "they are to a small house that I thought would be perfect for the two of you."
Carter was speechless. "A home. A house of our own."
"And before you protest, I got your sister the same thing."
"I don't know what to say Gamma other than Thank you."
"Yes, thank you so much, Gamma," Abby said recovering from the shock.
"I guess this solves our apartment issues," Carter said squeezing her hand.
"I guess it does. Thank you so much. I couldn't imagine a nicer wedding gift." Abby said, smiling at Gamma.
"You kids deserve it. You take good care of him." She said to Abby.
"I will, every day of my life."
They sat and talked with his Gamma for a while, before excusing them to slip home. He had to be back to the grind in the morning. He walked with Abby out to the jeep, "guess we are going to have to move everything now."
"I guess so, but John, what does your Gamma mean by small?"
"Knowing Gamma it probably has 3 or 4 bedrooms, I know that she is looking forward to great-grandchildren."
"Okay, three or four bedrooms I can handle. As long as it doesn't look like this place, no offence." Abby said, gesturing back toward the mansion.
"No I'm sure it's not as big as here." He said, "what time are you on tomorrow."
"Seven. How about you?"
"Five," he said, "at least no more doubles."
"So did you only marry me to get Kerry to let you out of your promised doubles?"
"But of course." He said smiling. "It means more time with you."
"I do think we need to set a little rule." Abby said, looking serious.
"What might that be." Carter asked.
"No touching in the ER." Abby said firmly.
Carter pouted, "you didn't object when we were dating."
"But now everybody will be watching. And you know how we are," Abby said, smiling.
He smiled back at her, "all right. I promise no touching IN the ER."
"Do you want to go and see the new house tonight or go tomorrow after we get off?"
"Lets do it tomorrow, so we have something to look forward to."
"Not a problem." He said as he turned the jeep towards the apartment.
He stopped the car, "besides five will come way to early as it is."
"Tell me about it."
"I'll try to not wake you up." He said sliding out of the car. He opened the door for her.
"I don't mind," she said.
He smiled at her as they headed up the stairs towards the apartment. "it will be nice to move from here."
"I'll kind of miss my green door."
"We can paint the door on the new house green if you'd like."
Abby perked up at that, "Can we?"
"If that will make you happy." He said smiling at her.
"You make me happy, no matter what color my front door is."
"I know," he said to her as he looked around, "but I will feel safer moving out of here. I don't like leaving you alone."
"I'm a big girl, Carter."
"You're also my wife."
"Your point is?" Abby said, a hand on her hip.
"I worry about you Abby."
"Okay, I guess its your job to worry, a little."
"It is, I love you and with that comes being worried that something might happen to you."
"Nothing is going to happen to us. I think fate has thrown at us all its going to for now."
"I know." He said to her. He unlocked the door to the apartment and headed inside. "Bed sounds good about now. I could sleep for hours."
"I'm a little tired too, for some reason." Abby said, stifling a yawn.
"I don't know why that could be," he said grinning.
"Go to sleep, Dr. Carter, you have an early morning."
Carter sat on the edge of the bed and took his shoes off, "I plan on it." He was out as soon as his head hit the pillow.
Carter rolled over and felt Abby laying next to him. The sun was up. Last day of nothing before he had to go back to the ER. He wasn't sure what all they would need to do. He slipped silently from the bed and headed into the shower. Abby woke to hear the water running in the bathroom. That was enough to get her out of the bed. She tiptoed into the bathroom, and slipped into the shower behind John.
"Hey there," He said turning around and facing her.
"Am in intruding?"
"Oh no," He said leaning down and kissing her, "I'm happy you are in here."
"Then why didn't you wake me up first?"
"You looked too peaceful." He said, "I didn't' want to bring you out of your dreams."
"Mmmmm, my Carter dreams," she said as she put her arms around him.
"Your Carter dreams Mrs. Carter?" He said looking at her puzzled.
"You know, the dreams about you. Before we were together I called them my 'Carter dreams.'"
He smiled at her, "let's take them from being dreams to reality."
"Reality is so much better."
He ran his hands down the length of her back. He lifted her up off the floor. "Reality I can handle." He whispered.
They stayed in the shower till the water was cold. A happily sated Abby then went to their room to get dressed.
"What do we have to do today." He asked following her out of the bathroom.
"We have to turn in all the paperwork you got for me, we still need groceries, and we have dinner with your Gamma," she listed.
"Guess we didn't get that done yesterday did we." He said, "okay, but do we have to turn the paperwork into county today?"
"I guess that can wait until tomorrow. You don't want to go there today?"
"No I don't want to get sucked into their yet. Every time I go in there I don't get to leave."
"It does have a way of doing that to you."
"I promised Gamma I would be there tonight." Carter said, "and I'm not going to get stuck so that I can't go."
"What do we need to take with us?" Abby asked.
"The pictures." He said, "she asked to see them."
"Anything else?"
"No what else would we need to take."
"I don't know, I just want to be prepared, "Abby said, fretting.
"Abby it's Gamma's."
"I know," she said.
"Come on let's get the rest of this paperwork done," he paused, "where are the jeep keys."
"Where ever you left them," she said, rolling her eyes.
He looked on the kitchen table. "Let's get out of here, I want to make sure that we get to Gamma's about an hour early."
"Why early?"
"No special reason."
They ran around Chicago doing the things they needed to do, then headed back to the apartment to put the groceries away.
"Is that everything?"
"I think so. Let me change real quick, then we can head to your Grandmother's," Abby said, heading to the bathroom.
"Sounds good to me." He said
Within a few minutes they were in the Jeep heading West.
Carter pulled onto the Carter Estate, he didn't head toward the main house but back behind down into the woods.
"Where are you going?" Abby asked, puzzled.
He stopped the car, "right here."
"Why are we here, this isn't the house. I can't even see the house."
"That's the point," He said taking off his seatbelt.
"What are you doing?"
He hopped out of the driver's seat into the back, "come here."
"Oh, I get it," Abby said as she took off her seat belt, and climbed into the back with John.
He pulled down on top of him, "I wanted to make love to my new wife in our jeep." He said kissing her.
"John, this is kind of naughty," she laughed.
"Just kind of naughty," He said kissing her neck. "I think I can make it very naughty."
"Give it your best shot, husband," she said, with a smile.
"I'd love to," He said pulling her sweater off over her head and gently placing kissing down her shoulders.
She slipped his suspenders over his arms, then worked on his tie.
"I love you," He said nibbling on her neck. He reached down and loosened his pants with one hand.
"I love you too," She said, one of her hands following his.
Carter slipped out of what clothing remained and pulled her on top of his lap. She could feel him, deep in her soul.
"Oh God Abby," He said pulling her down on him, his hand on her hips helping to steady her.
"Oh, John. You feel so good. Don't ever stop loving me."
"I will love you until the end of time." He said to her the fire burning deep with in him. With his hands urging her on, she began to move faster. He looked up at her, into her deep brown eyes. He could see the love that she felt for him. He could feel himself losing control. Together they cried out, their bodies locked in the eternal dance. He let his head rest against the back of the seat, "our jeep."
"Just don't tell Susan. She's the one who has to ride back here, " Abby said, as she tried to untangle herself from her husband.
"I won't if you don't." He said. "Here's your sweater."
"Thanks, but where's my bra?"
"On the rearview mirror." He said leaning forward to retrieve it.
They hastily got back into their clothes, elbows flying.
"I have a present for you." He said as he climbed back into the front seat.
"John, you don't have to keep giving me gifts." Abby said. "Your the only gift I need."
I think that you will like this one," He said, "open the glove box."
Abby pulled the glove box open, and pulled out a small box wrapped in rose paper. Carter watched his wife's face. Abby tore the paper off, and opened the box. Inside was a nametag that read Abigail Carter, R.N., M.S.N. "Oh, John, I love it. Thank you,"she said as she kissed him firmly.
"Well, I couldn't have my wife wearing one that didn't have the right name on it." He said starting the jeep, "I"m glad you like it. Shall we go visit Gamma now?
"Sure, do I look presentable?" Abby asked, patting her hair.
"Yes you do."
He drove them back up to the house. "You have the pictures from the wedding?"
"Yes, under my seat."
He stopped the jeep and went around to her side pulling the door open, "let's go I'm sure Gamma is waiting for us."
She took his hand as she slid out of the jeep, but didn't let go. He led her up to the front door. "You know Gamma likes you a lot Abby." He knocked against the front door. Millicent opened the door herself. On her doorstep stood her grandson and his wife. They looked just slightly rumpled. Ah, young love, she though.
"Hi Gamma," He said hugging her.
"Hello, John." She then reached over and hugged Abby. "And hello to you Abigail."
"Hello, Mrs. Carter," Abby said, properly.
"Abigail, it's Gamma please," she said looking at her grandson's new wife.
Abby smiled. John's grandmother had a warm, welcoming look in her eyes. "Okay, Gamma. And call me Abby, please."
Gamma looked at Abby, "yes Abby." She said nodding, "I hope that your hungry."
"I am, we have been busy today, so we skipped lunch," Abby said.
Carter nodded at the sound of food, "I could do with eating."
"John, you can always eat. I'm glad that we had a bit of money or we would have gone broke keeping you in food."
He smiled at her, "going hungry is something that I don't have to worry about anymore."
"I don't know about that, you know how I cook," Abby bantered.
"They invented take out for us." He said smiling at her. He pulled the chair out from the table for her.
Abby sat at the table. This was a bit overwhelming, being in this grand room.
"I want to hear all about this wedding." Gamma said as they sat at the table.
"It was very nice, Mrs...Gamma. It was just us, Barbara and Kevin there."
"I'm sure you were beautiful my dear."
"Ask John."
Carter smiled as he looked at her, "yes she was Gamma."
"We have pictures," Abby said, eagerly.
Gamma took the album Abby was holding out. She flipped through the pictures she smiled. The love was so evident in each photo. "Dear, why is there a picture of a phone sitting on a table?"
Carter smiled watching them flip thru the pictures, "Susan couldn't be there Gamma, we didn't want to leave her out, so she was on the phone with us."
"How sweet."
"I wish you could have been there," He said
"I was there in spirit, son."
He smiled at his grandmother, "I know you were. Thank you for inviting us over for dinner Gamma."
"Oh I have a wedding gift for you."
"Gamma you didn't have to," He said to her. "I know, but what's a Grandmother for."
He looked at Abby, he didn't know what his grandmother would have gotten them. Carter watched as his grandmother got up and walked over to the end table. She brought back a small box.
"This is for you. I think I found the one thing that the two of you need but no one else would think to get you."
Carter took the box from her. He looked at Abby and then the box. She didn't have to do this, "thank you Gamma. Do you want to open it Abby?"
"Why don't you."
He nodded and slowly opened the box. He lifted out a set of keys, "Gamma what are these to?"
Gamma looked at them both, "they are to a small house that I thought would be perfect for the two of you."
Carter was speechless. "A home. A house of our own."
"And before you protest, I got your sister the same thing."
"I don't know what to say Gamma other than Thank you."
"Yes, thank you so much, Gamma," Abby said recovering from the shock.
"I guess this solves our apartment issues," Carter said squeezing her hand.
"I guess it does. Thank you so much. I couldn't imagine a nicer wedding gift." Abby said, smiling at Gamma.
"You kids deserve it. You take good care of him." She said to Abby.
"I will, every day of my life."
They sat and talked with his Gamma for a while, before excusing them to slip home. He had to be back to the grind in the morning. He walked with Abby out to the jeep, "guess we are going to have to move everything now."
"I guess so, but John, what does your Gamma mean by small?"
"Knowing Gamma it probably has 3 or 4 bedrooms, I know that she is looking forward to great-grandchildren."
"Okay, three or four bedrooms I can handle. As long as it doesn't look like this place, no offence." Abby said, gesturing back toward the mansion.
"No I'm sure it's not as big as here." He said, "what time are you on tomorrow."
"Seven. How about you?"
"Five," he said, "at least no more doubles."
"So did you only marry me to get Kerry to let you out of your promised doubles?"
"But of course." He said smiling. "It means more time with you."
"I do think we need to set a little rule." Abby said, looking serious.
"What might that be." Carter asked.
"No touching in the ER." Abby said firmly.
Carter pouted, "you didn't object when we were dating."
"But now everybody will be watching. And you know how we are," Abby said, smiling.
He smiled back at her, "all right. I promise no touching IN the ER."
"Do you want to go and see the new house tonight or go tomorrow after we get off?"
"Lets do it tomorrow, so we have something to look forward to."
"Not a problem." He said as he turned the jeep towards the apartment.
He stopped the car, "besides five will come way to early as it is."
"Tell me about it."
"I'll try to not wake you up." He said sliding out of the car. He opened the door for her.
"I don't mind," she said.
He smiled at her as they headed up the stairs towards the apartment. "it will be nice to move from here."
"I'll kind of miss my green door."
"We can paint the door on the new house green if you'd like."
Abby perked up at that, "Can we?"
"If that will make you happy." He said smiling at her.
"You make me happy, no matter what color my front door is."
"I know," he said to her as he looked around, "but I will feel safer moving out of here. I don't like leaving you alone."
"I'm a big girl, Carter."
"You're also my wife."
"Your point is?" Abby said, a hand on her hip.
"I worry about you Abby."
"Okay, I guess its your job to worry, a little."
"It is, I love you and with that comes being worried that something might happen to you."
"Nothing is going to happen to us. I think fate has thrown at us all its going to for now."
"I know." He said to her. He unlocked the door to the apartment and headed inside. "Bed sounds good about now. I could sleep for hours."
"I'm a little tired too, for some reason." Abby said, stifling a yawn.
"I don't know why that could be," he said grinning.
"Go to sleep, Dr. Carter, you have an early morning."
Carter sat on the edge of the bed and took his shoes off, "I plan on it." He was out as soon as his head hit the pillow.