Part one 'I'm just a call away'

Author's Note: This follows straight on from the prologue.

The voices in italics and underlined are a conversation about Carby, maybe they're voices in Carter's head, maybe two ER fans watching my little episode, or two members of Coffee and Pie dissecting what is going on in their marvellous analytical ways, whoever they are, they're trying to make you think, and they help me write things better. Oh, please R&R if you can, whether you like it or not, thanks to those who did for the default chapter, I thought I'd upload two this time as they are still relatively short.

'Shouldn't he call first'

'No, of course not, its Abby, why would he need to call?'

'Um, hellooo? He has barely spoken to her in the past year, and then after all that has happened, he's just going to show up at her door?'

'No, but she's still his friend right?'

'Why not go to Luka's?'

'Luka is working, he knows that much.'

'Well what if she is?'

'She wont be. Or maybe she will. Yes. Yes he should call.'

He can hear her pick up the phone.

'Hello?' her voice is husky.

'I'm sorry, it's late,' he starts

'Is this Carter?' she can hardly recognise his phone voice, the last time they spoke on the phone was a long, long time ago, but it didn't sound like anyone else she knew.

'Yes, its Carter' he sounded apologetic, and really, really tired, she was confused.

'What are you doing calling me so late?' She didn't sound irate or angry, he was surprised.

'Well I know it's a long shot, and very presumptuous of me to ask, but is there a couch at yours I could use for tonight?'

'Uh, I don't understand, are you locked out or something? I thought you were in the Congo, where's Kem?' oops, she thought, that just slipped out. Too personal maybe?

'Well we broke up, but I thought everyone knew, and I did go over to the Congo, but I'm back and well... yes I am locked out, and Luka's at work, and I couldn't think of anyone else.' He's rambling, she thought. He must be tired.

'Sure, whatever'

'Look, if its too much trouble, I'll just get a room in a motel or something, I know it's late'

'No, don't do that, come on over, how long will you be?'

'Um, 15 minutes, I'm on the El.'

'Ok, see you then' she glanced at her watch, it was almost one, not that late, by an ER doc's standards, she chuckled inwardly at the fresh thought of being an ER doctor herself. But then her mind backtracked to Carter, why come over here? Because he was locked out? He wasn't the type to get locked out, or was he? She hardly knew him anymore, and that made her so upset. That such a strong a friendship between two people could be torn in two.