Part four- drug seekers allowance

A week later

'Carter! Welcome back!'

It was Susan, he smiled to himself and turned around to see that he was right. He finished sorting out the stuff in his locker and went over to embrace her.

'God you're huge!' he exclaimed.

'Stop it, I get that all the time, I'm surprised Kerry hasn't called maintenance down here to widen the exam room doors.'

He chuckled, he'd missed Susan, his old ER pal with her spunky sense of humour.

'So, when's it due?'

'More like when WAS it due?!!' she joked ' Any day now'

'So why are you in?'

' I can't stay at home, as soon as I sit down for ten minutes it starts giving me hell.' She opened the fridge to search for some juice.

'Chuck or the baby?!'

'Both!!!'

His pager went off.

'Weaver. Typical. I've been on one minute.'

'Take it easy okay, he called over his shoulder

'You too' she was worried about him, but Carter always came through right? She hoped he would this time.

Abby hadn't spoken to anyone about what had happened a week ago, she hadn't felt the need, it was all just a silly misunderstanding. She hadn't done much this week, went out with Neela once, she'd gone out on a blind date too, that was a big mistake, the next time Susan sets me up with a biker Ex, say 'No Way! She filed the mental note in with all her other anti-blind date ones. She tried to concentrate on what she was doing, ah yes, the kid on the table had swallowed a key. She slid the X-ray film out from the keeper, and turned on the light. She looked really closely, but couldn't make out any keys.

'When did this happen, sir?' She asked his father.

'I don't remember exactly, I was fixing up some dinner and he started screaming that he felt sick, I can't watch him every minute you know?!'

The guy was getting angry now, Abby hated these moments, when parents interpreted her doing her job as some kind of personal insult against them, as if she was gonna report them to social services or something.

Suddenly Carter burst through the double doors, talk about making an entrance, Abby thought.

'Weaver said you could use a little help' he offered.

'No, I'm good thanks, doing fine here' I replied

'Fine, well that's good, I'll uh, leave you to it then' and he was out of the door as fast as he arrived.

I let out the deep breath I had taken and got back to work, at least it wasn't as bad as it could have been I thought.

9 and a half hours later

'The boards almost clear, just three more charts left, ok who wants what?' Susan exclaimed. We'd been slammed all day, but things had started to quieten down at around ten pm, thank god.

'Whatcha got?' asked Pratt.

'Yeast infection in one, abdominal pain in two and, oh frequent flyer in chairs wants some vicodin.'

'Wow, now that's exciting. I'll take the abdominal pain, at least it won't be too gross or smelly.' Pratt flipped through the chart, making his way to exam two.

Great I thought, better choose before I get left with the yeast infection,

'C'mon Carter, this is what you went to Med-school for now, take your pick'

Susan, sarcastic as ever held out the charts in front of me. I grabbed the drug-seekers chart and went over to find him, leaving Susan to deal with the other one.

Flipping the chart over I saw that the guy's name was Mr Harris, I called his name out until a guy in his late twenties stood up, and I led him to a curtain area.

A quarter of an hour later I have come to the conclusion that the guy isn't in pain, just wants drugs, I'd like to think my diagnosis is valid, I know how it feels, when all you want is the medication, all you want is to make this feeling go away. I decided to take a couple of tests, just to give the guy the benefit of the doubt, I can't cover every single problem by asking him questions. So I tell him I can't give him anything until his tests come back and head back to admit. Abby is there, she's partly hidden behind a pile of charts and is sipping some coffee, oh what the hell, I figure if I don't speak to her now I'll never get the chance. I pause for a second to steal a proper look at her, she looks exhausted, but alwaysstill pretty in her own special brand of the word, pretty Abby.It has been a long day for her. I remember what it was like being an intern, god, that was about nine years ago now, what was I like then? And all I can think is that I was so very, very different from the person I am now.

A/N so, I hope you don't hate it, ofc if you do just review and I can only improve. Anything you don't understand or want to say don't hesitate to let me know, this fic's fun to write!

In the next chapter, Cater and Abby get a little Coffee and Pie!