A/N: Hey, there! So glad to be back! here it is, the sequel to State of Mind. This picks up right where that left off so you should definately read that first. I started to write this as just a 2 part series and it's develpoed into a 3 part! So, look out for that too. When it's more develpoed, I'll let you know. Ass you know, I don't own anyone. I wish I did, but I don't. Also, all of the opening quotes are Peace of Mind by Nonpoint.
Chapter 11: Today
"More than just
More than a thorn in my side
More than just
More than our differece aside
I'm choosing sides now"
"Hey, stranger." Carter said to Lucy as he sat down to join her with two cups of coffee. "Funny meeting you here."
"So funny, I forgot to laugh." She said mirthlessly as he leaned over and kissed her cheek. She looked at him stunned and he just smiled with raised eyebrows.
"This place tends to do that. Can't really remember the last time I really laughed here." He said as he took a sip from his cup of coffee. "Maybe it was during that snowball fight with Chuni?"
"You got into a snowball fight with Chuni?" She asked shocked and he just nodded, still drinking. "Who won?"
"I did, but she'll tell you different. Actually, it was the same day Carol went into labor." Lucy perked up a bit at the news, it had ben so long since she'd seen Carol. "She came in andChuni called a time out. I told her she couldn't call a time out in a snowball fight, but she said she could. I noticed Carol behind me and we talked for a minute. As she left, an icy snowball hit me in my ear and I stomped back to Chuni telling her she was dead."
"I think the last time I was really happy here was when you had me to a Pelvic exam on a woman who I later found out what a tranvestite." Carter cracked up laughing at the memory, he'd done that to her on purpose. "It's not funny." She said glaring at him and he nodded his head respectfully, stifling laughter. "Okay, it is but still!"
"That was pretty great." He siad calming down. "Lot of good times here when Doug was still around."
"Damn right." She replied wistfully at the memory of Dr. Doug Ross. "I remember he called me a "by the book student.""
"Not exactly by the "book" since you used that palm pilot." He corrected her.
"True. You know, I don't even remember what I did with that thing." She admitted drinking her own coffee.
"Good job, Luce." Carter said sarcastically at how hse could misplace something that used to be something of a Bible to her. "Yeah, I know," was all she said in response. "So...to get straight to the point, how'd you and Dave end up at Mercy?"
"I put in a few calls." She lied but he gave her that look that he knew she was lying. "All right, all right. I called up Mark and asked him to give us a good recomendation so we could actually work." Carter was surprised at the news, but he was even more surprised that Mark didn't tell him. "He did and Mercy was the most appealing due to it's location and the fact that it was a little like this armpit."
""Armpit?"" Carter echoed shocked at her reference to County. "Why do you say that?" He asked half-laughing.
"Haven't you ever noticed the aroma of this place? I never did until I came back in today." She said with a bit of disgust at the smell lingering in her nose.
"Really? And what "aroma" is there that I can't detect?" He asked mocking a cop performing an investigation.
"Blood, coffee and aerosol. Plus the lights burning out every few minutes and the food mixes into it."
"Sorry, can't say I ever noticed that smell." He said as he sniffed the air.
"Most people don't. Anyway, we landed Resident jobs at Mercy and have been in pretty good shape for a while now."
"You're a Resident now?" He asked briefly remembering that she told Susan that at the Sexual Harassment lecture. "So that's why Dave said that you'd make Chief Resident."
"He thinks I will but I won't." She said looking down into her coffee
"Why not? After what you just did in there, you'd be a shoe-in." He assured her confidently. "Don't be so hard on yourself! Performing two different Traumas at the same time is difficult and very rare. I think Elizabeth is the only other doctor I know to do that."
"Elizabeth? Really?" She asked taken aback. "Odd, never would've pictured that."
"I know." His mood changed as the night of the dance played in his head and how afterwards they kissed. That'd been three days ago and he tried to reach her at Mercy but she was always "detained." "How have you been, Luce? Honestly?"
"Honestly..." She started looking up at him, knowing what he was thinking. "..Life's been up and down so many times I've lost track. That ever happen to you?"
"Once or twice." He said with a smile. Carter was about to ask Lucy if she'd go out with him on a actual date but a pager suddenly went off.
"Oh, that's me." She said looking down at it on the loop of her pants. "Finally! The tests I ordered for Mrs. Saunders and Mr. Cartas are in. I got to go, Carter. Thanks for the coffe." She said brightly before frowning a bit. "Um, I'll see you around." She leaned down and kissed him softly and lingered for a moment after their seperation before turning on her heel and leaving.
"Yeah, see 'ya around." He said with a small smile, which she returned before she strode out to get her tests.
Chapter 12: Vital Signs
Preview: Mark and Lucy have yet another heart felt conversation.
