Changes


Spoilers: Touch and Go



Chapter 10

Carter's back

I told myself that I was over him. That I was getting on with my life. I am happy, I have gone back to med school, and am getting my life together. But when I heard that Carter was coming back, everything that I told myself I wouldn't feel was coming back to me.

I was standing by the desk when I turned around, and I saw him, standing not that far away from me.

But he wasn't alone.

**
I looked at him, and the woman that he was with, and I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. Did I want to go up to him and be friendly or just forget that I even saw him? I told myself I wasn't going to go see him, but then I decided it would be for the best to just go and talk to him.

"Hi," I said.

"Hey, how are you," Carter asked as he hugged me.  We broke apart.  "I'm good," I said. I then shook hands with her. "I'm Abby."

"Kem. Good to meet you," she said.

So Carter decided to bring his girlfriend that I guess he met in Africa.

I then said welcome back to Carter. It was so strange to see him again.

"How've you been?" Carter asked. I was surprised that he even asked.

"Good. I'm back in med school." I knew that Carter would want to know about that. Then I asked about the picture that was in Carter's hand. I wondered what it was"

"What's this?"

When he told me that it was an ultrasound, I was in shock. What, we have been broken up for about six months, and he already got someone pregnant? What did he do, break up with me in the letter and get together with this person in the same day.


"Wow... Wow. Congratulations," I said as I held the ultrasound. I looked at Carter. Did he have to bring his pregnant girlfriend here? This isn't the only hospital in Chicago.

I knew it was going to be awkward when I first saw Carter again, but I never thought that I was going to see him with his girlfriend. Who was pregnant. With his child.


Luka then walked up to Carter and Kem and gave her a hug. They talked for a few minutes, and then Carter looked at me, like he realized how uncomfortable it was for me. "Uh, I should probably get back to work. I'll walk you out," Carter said, as he and Kem walked away.

Luka looked at me. "They got together after the holiday. You okay?"

I didn't really know to say; I wasn't sure myself how I was feeling. "Yeah. I'm okay…What'd he knock her up the minute he got there?" I said. Luka was silent. Finally Luka and I just looked and said a few words to each other, and then walked our separate ways.


I was walking down the hall when I saw Chuny coming towards me. "I'm going to get some rest in the on call room,"


Chuny looked at me, and smiled. "Okay." I walked into the room, and lay down on the bed; I couldn't stop thinking about everything that happened. What with Carter returning and then not being able to go home because of Weaver's mistake.

Today is definitely a bad day.



**

After the trauma and everybody left, there was only Carter and I left in the room. It was silent, each of us not knowing what to say to each other.

"I'm glad that you went back," Carter said. I looked at him. Even though Carter and I aren't together anymore, I knew that he would be happy for me that I went back to med school.

"To med school? Me too." I said. I wanted to tell him that his "Dear John" letter helped me realize that I wanted to go back to med school, but I decided against it.

"You never should have left."

"Well…timing is everything right?" I said. Just like our relationship, we only got together because the timing was right. If we hadn't gotten stuck together in that room, I don't know if we would ever have ever gotten together.

Carter chuckled.
 
"What?" I asked Carter. What was he trying to say? Was he laughing about our relationship, all the bad timing we've had.

"Nothing," he said, shaking his head, but I could see that he wanted to say something more.

 "What?"

"You seem happy."

I am happy. I am back at med school and working on my career. My life is finally working out.

"Right back at ya," I said. He did seem happy. He has a girlfriend and a baby on the way. He has everything that he wanted.

Carter then came up to me. "So we're okay?" I sighed for a moment; I didn't know what to say. He just returned from Africa with some big surprises, and I'm still trying to come to terms with everything. But we have to work with each other, and we have to at least be friendly with each other. We were friends once.


"We 're okay."

"Good, cause Kem and I were going to get some dinner later on, I wanted to know if you wanted to tag along."

I was shocked at what Carter said. Was he joking or did he really just invite his ex- girlfriend to go out for dinner with his new girlfriend?


I laughed. "Ha. Well, not that okay,"

"See ya tomorrow," Carter said, as he walked out of the room. I watched him as he left, and then my eyes continued to follow him down the hall.

Are we ever going to be that okay? Are Carter and I going to be friends again, or will he just be another co- worker to me? I sighed as I walked out of the room, following the same path he just took.


**
Later that night,

As I was walking home, I came across a liquor store. Part of me wanted to take a drink, and forgot about everything that happened, like I have so often in the past. But I am stronger now. I don't need to drink.

I picked up my cell phone and dialed a number. "Hello," said a voice on the other end.

"Hi, Susan, I know you are sick, but I just wanted to call and say hi." I don't even know really why I called Susan to begin with.

"Are you okay?" Susan asked, concerned.

"Carter came back today," I blurted out. Susan went silent for a moment. "How was it? How long before you and Carter are going to get back together?"


I laughed at Susan's questions. "He wasn't alone. He brought a woman with him from Africa."

"Oh," Susan replied.

"But that isn't the best part, Susan. Carter is going to be a father."

"What?" Susan said, shocked. "He been gone for what…7 months, and he's already gotten a woman pregnant? I'm so sorry."

"Susan, I'm fine. It was a shock at first to find out that Carter was back, and then to find out that he is going to be a father.

"But I am fine now. I am not going to get upset. Carter seems to be happy. I'm going to be happy for him. And now I am going to work on finishing my med school."


"I should let you go," I said. "Hope you feel better soon."

Susan laughed. "I'm not that sick."

"Bye, see you later," I said.

"Bye," Susan said. I hung up the phone and put it back into my bag.

I was going to be okay.

To be continued!!!