Warped Love

Chapter 4

Note – sorry for the wait… had some issues to work out. Thank you all for the reviews, they were all very helpful. I hope that you all enjoy this chapter, and are enjoying your weekend. I have a lot of plans for this story and beg for patience, I promise to write as often as I can. But I am short on time at the moment so it could take about a week for updates and I am very sorry for that.

Lucy remained silent as her eyes fell and stared blindly at their clasped hands. Carter didn't attempt to draw her back to reality. He just looked at her hair as small pieces began to fall from behind her ears, slowly covering up her face. He could fell the warmth of her hand around his, and he watched as the tears continued to fall to his hand.

Lucy lifted her head and her reddened eyes met Carter. He smiled slightly at her. Her breaths became shallow and shaken as she tried to keep from breaking down. Carter tightened his hand around Lucy's. "I'm sorry Lucy." Lucy's eyes widened and it looked like she would speak, but she knew that if even a single word passed her lips she wouldn't be able to control her emotions.

Her eyes closed as she fell into her thoughts. Her breathing became steady, Carter watched her every movement; he took in a deep breath as reality sank in. He couldn't take his eyes off of her. He wanted to apologize again, but he knew that wasn't enough.

Carter lifted his hand from the bed, and Lucy leaned forward allowing him to cradle her face. His hand touched the left side of her face and she tilted her head into his warmed hand. With his thumb, Carter wiped away the tears the fell softy from her eyes. Lucy lifted her hands and grasped Carter's hand, a slight smile flashed across her face "Hi." She said just above a whisper.

Now it was Carter's turn to smile back, but he couldn't. He was silent for a moment as he tried to contain himself. After taking a few deepened breaths he spoke in a saddened worried tone. "How are you?"

"I'm good," she laughed slightly, keeping herself from falling apart, "How are you?" She said as she pulled his hand down and held it in her hands. She looked into his drained eyes, lacking their boyish charm. A chill ran through her as she noticed how pale he looked in that instance, causing her to hold on to his hand tighter. The room seemed dimmer then ever before as she looked at the pain in his eyes.

Carter managed to create a wan smile in hopes of comforting her. He saw the sadness filling her eyes with every moment that passed in silence. "Are you sure your ok?" leaving no time for her to answer, "Lucy I'm sorry that I wasn't there sooner." Now tears ran down his pale face creating stained paths.

Lucy couldn't help herself any longer. She pulled her hands away and collapsed her head into her awaiting hands. Her whole body shook in pained silence.

Carter felt lost, as he couldn't reach her to help her in that moment. He became scared for her and angry with himself for causing her such pain. He struggled to sit up, gritting his teeth and closing his eyes against the pain. As he finally made it up he leaned over and pulled her hands from her face, but she wouldn't meet his searching eyes.

"It's not your fault," she said between sobs. "Thank you… you saved me Carter." Lucy's eyes met his and she noticed that he was sitting up and in more pain. Her lips quivered and she grabbed hold of his hand and kissed it softly. She touched his shoulder lightly. She moved her hand down to a controller just within her reach; she positioned the bed to support his new sitting position. "Better?"

"I…" Carter was at a loss for words as he felt Lucy's light touch on his shoulder allowing him to relax a little.

"Carter, it's not your fault. You have to know that. If you didn't come when you did," Lucy stopped her statement as that thought passed between them. The cold feeling of uncertainty scared them both. "That doesn't mater, I'm ok and you'll be ok soon." She wiped the tears from her face and relaxed slightly as she just stared at the lost man before her.

Time seemed to pause for that moment. Their hands fell from each other and they were alone again. The loss of the touch made them both cold. Silence surrounded them, as they searched each other's faces for the answers they so desperately wanted answered, but couldn't bring ask. Fear engulfed them as they thought not of themselves, but of the struggling person by them.

Carter wished for this to all be a dream, for the light to come back and the party to begin again. But it was all lost in dream that could never be. Life was different now hinted at the aspect of death. He searched Lucy's eyes and saw the smile he had grown accustom to.

With every moment Lucy's fear grew, she couldn't see Carter. She saw fear that threatened to consume them both. She wanted to escape, but there was no way out.

Mark and Elizabeth sat at Doc's drinking coffee. There seemed to be a stinging chill in the air that ran through the diner as the door opened greeting another customer.

"Elizabeth, if you add any more sugar I think you'll need more coffee" Mark stated as he watched the stream of sugar run into the coffee continually.

"What? Oh!" Elizabeth noticed almost dropping the sugar. "Sorry, I'm just lost at the moment."

"You were up there for a while, are you ok?" Mark questioned worried, but also expecting the answer.

"How could someone do something so horrible?" She asked not needing an answer "I couldn't leave her Mark, she looked so helpless laying there. When I saw what that man had done… I…"

"I know. We all felt like that. They were lucky." Mark took a sip of his coffee.

"It shouldn't of happened Mark. When I was sitting with her I just kept wondering 'what if?' and I felt like such a horrid person." She rubbed her head lightly.

Mark took hold of her hands lying on the table. "That's the thing… we will never know what if anything, we only know what happened and that's all that maters."

As their tears succumbed the silence became deafening, but neither knew what to say. A knock on the door broke the silence. Lucy turned her attention to the presence standing at the door, but Carter was lost in thought as he continued to watch Lucy. The nurse entered the room and checked the IV, but Carter didn't acknowledge her although he knew she was there. Lucy didn't notice Carter's glare until she looked back at him and noticed a gentleness that intrigued her. The nurse left the room silently, but as she left see couldn't help but notice the awkward feel between the two patients.

Time passed, but moments froze. It seemed endless, but life awaited them. Change was soon coming, but time lingered in the past.

Days past were they would still just stare into each other awaiting the unknown. When they did talk, everything fell apart again and the answers seemed farther away. Soon those days merged into weeks. They became more comfortable with each other, but they ignored the truth. Lucy left the hospital, leaving Carter there to wonder what she was doing, and how she was. Soon he followed her and went back to his home. When weeks turned to months, life regained purpose and work intertwined with recovery. Lucy returned with a slight limp, but very little pain with the help of medication. Once Carter returned she was able to walk more freely, and was needed less medication. She hated to see Carter as he struggled to regain what he had lost. He traveled the hospital on crouches and in obvious pain. He was distanced, but he continued to watch Lucy, to protect her.

Another month passed, and Lucy was free of pain and medication. Carter was still in pain, but he was able to handle it better. They ignored the pain that hung in the air; they worked to numb the past. The staff noticed the difference, as did they.

Carter sat in the lounge after his shift, he looked at the finished charts and questioned if he would be able to get up. He closed his eyes to relax and his thoughts fell to Lucy. He smiled as he pictured her. He felt proud at all she had accomplished. His hand ran over his mouth as he saw the horror on her face in that instance. His eyes shot open at the image he couldn't erase. 'Why didn't I stay with her, just a minute earlier and none of this.' He was pulled from his thoughts as the door opened revealing the subject of his thoughts.

She didn't notice him as she poured her coffee, but he noticed her every movement. He envied her effortless movement, but was thankful that she had it. She turned to sit at the table when she noticed him. Her eyes retained their joy as she smiled at him. He smiled back. She sat across from him and stirred her coffee while still watching him.

Peter and Mark entered the lounge in a debate about basketball, but ended it as they noticed the two people staring at them. They both acquired their coffee and were seated at the table. Carter felt more comfortable in that moment, it seemed normal. They rambled on about random things for a few minutes, but the meaningless conversations ended with an MVA.

Mark and Peter left to prepare for the incoming trauma, although more help was offered they turned it down. With that Lucy made her way to her locker. She looked at Carter who remained seated. "Are you going home?" she asked opening the lock.

Carter turned his attention up to where she stood opening her locker. "Yeah" he shook his head as if clearing the fog surrounding him. He leaned forward and as quickly as he could, stood up, he ignored the pain he felt as he made his way to his locker. Lucy noticed that he was in pain, but had no intention of mentioning it. After she closed her locker she watched as he hung up his lab coat and retrieved his bag and put on a light jacket. Lucy stood there waiting for him, she contemplated leaving, but wanted to walk out with him; she felt safe with him.

He looked up at her once he was ready to go "care to walk with me?" she nodded as she past him his crutch resting beside her. He placed the tool beneath his arm and walked more eased. Lucy walked ahead of him and opened the door for him. "Thank you,' he said as he passed her. She walked beside him from then on. The staff noticed the duo, and as always rumors began.

Carter looked over at Lucy as they walked together towards the El soon to be departed "Hey, why don't I just give you a ride?"

Lucy thought for a moment, "sure" she said smiling up at him. They made their way to the parking lot, in silence.

The ride was a blissful understood silence that only made them smile and occationally laugh at nothing. Carter pulled up to Lucy's place, they took another moment of silence. Lucy thanked Carter for the ride, and as she left the car she felt carters hand pull her gently down to her seat. "Lucy?" he looked into her glistening eyes. She shook her head, then without warning wrapped him in a hug. Carter's smile widened as he felt her warmth. They separated, but were still together.

From that moment everything had changed again and the future held everything for them. With every passing moment Carter felt himself being freed from the past, with Lucy there he was able to regain what he thought he had lost. Time varied, and although blame hung over him at times, the reality that they were both alive changed the time again. The rumors spread, and at times even they questioned the truth. But time would answer all those questions with actions.

Note – Ok, I hope that you all enjoyed this update. I am going to start writing the next chapter later today, but I'm not sure when it will be posted. So smile and go out and play in the snow if you have any, if not find something else to do. Reviews are all greatly appreciated and comments are welcome.