Not Alone
Summary: Abby leaves town, thinking it is best for Carter, but now she has return to Chicago to talk to Carter.
Chapter 8
"Chicago?" Julie asked. "Isn't that where you said you were from?"
Abby nodded. She couldn't believe that she was thinking of going back to Chicago, but she knew that she had to talk to Carter face to face and tell him that the relationship is over, and that was going to be the hardest thing that she ever had to do.
"I guess you decided it was time to go home," Julie laughed. Abby smiled. "Something like that."
Julie then saw some customers walking into the diner. "I need to go, but don't leave before I say goodbye."
Abby nodded. She picked up her cell phone and saw that there was a message. After awhile she decided to listen to it.
"Hey Abby, it's me Susan. I know you are probably upset that I told Carter where you were, but I had to. I know that you don't want to be away from him, you love him. Call me back and talk to me, I know there is more to you leaving."
Abby sighed as she put her cell phone back into her bag. Susan was right, she did love Carter, and that is why she had to say goodbye to him. She didn't know how she was going to do it, but she knew that she had to.
She then picked up her phone, and started to dial it.
"This is John Carter. I'm not here right now, please leave your name and number and I'll get back to you."
She hung up the phone. She couldn't leave a message telling him that she was coming home, but only to break up with him. She didn't want to do that to him. She had put him through enough already.
"Abby."
Abby turned around, and saw Julie standing in front of her, holding a paper bag.
"I made you a ham sandwich and some pie. I thought you might be hungry on your way back to Chicago,"
Abby smiled. "Thanks," she said as she grabbed the bag. "I better be going now." Julie walked towards Abby and hugged her. "It was nice knowing you. If you ever come back to Springfield, come by here and say hi to me."
Abby smiled. "Of course I will." She grabbed her jacket, waved goodbye to Julie, and left the diner.
Abby was putting her stuff into her car when she started to think of going back to Chicago. 'I don't know if I am doing the right thing going back to Chicago to break up with Carter, but it is what I have to do. He deserves so much better than me,' she thought to herself as she closed the trunk, got into her car, and drove away.
}}}
Back in the ER,
Carter was sitting in the lounge when Susan walked in. "Hey," she said as she sat down next to him.
"How are you doing?" she asked. He looked up at her. "You don't have to keep asking me. I'm fine Susan."
"But I know that you miss Abby." Carter stood up. "Yes, I miss her, but there is nothing I can do about it now. She's gone. I have to get on with my life," he said as he left the lounge.
Susan sighed. She knew that Carter was right, that Abby wasn't coming back and he needed to get on with his life, but she knew that Abby was still in love with Carter. But there was nothing more she could do, it was out of her hands now.
Suddenly Frank walked into the lounge. "Susan, there is someone on line 2 for you."
"Did they say who they were?"
Frank shook his head. "They just asked for you."
Susan smiled. "Thanks," she said as she picked up the phone.
"Hello, this is Dr. Lewis."
"Susan."
"Abby?" Susan asked as she sat down.
"Yes, it's me. I'm on my way back to Chicago."
"That's great Abby! I know that you would come to your senses and return back to Chicago and Carter."
"No Susan, you got it wrong. I'm just coming back to Chicago to break up with Carter and say goodbye to everyone, and then I am leaving Chicago for good."
Susan stopped for a moment. She couldn't believe what she just heard. "Abby, are you sure this is what you want to do? I know that you love Carter, so why are you doing this to both of you? John loves you, he wouldn't have come to find you if he didn't."
Abby sighed. "I have made up my mind. I just wanted to call you and see if John is at the hospital still."
"Yes he is. I can go get him and you can tell him what is wrong if you want, because it can't be because you don't love him."
"It is because I love him that I am doing this."
"Abby, that doesn't even make sense! Talk to me! Tell me what is bothering you!" Susan replied.
Abby sighed. "You wouldn't understand, Susan. Trust me."
"You would be surprised."
"I can't talk about this anymore; my time is going to run out on the payphone. I'll be back in Chicago soon."
"Okay," Susan said.
"Just promise me Susan that you won't tell John that I am coming back. I don't want him to know yet since I'm not sure if I am ready to see him tonight."
"I promise. Call me if you want to talk."
"Thanks, Susan."
"Bye," Susan said as she hung up the phone.
}}}
Abby hung up the payphone, and looked at the sign on the road that said that said Chicago was the next right.
She couldn't do it yet she thought to herself as she sat down on the bench. She opened her purse up, took a cigarette out and started to smoke. How was she going to break up with Carter when she was still in love with him?
She sighed. But Carter deserves better than me, and is what I am helping him realize by breaking up with him.
But I'll always love you and remember the memories, she whispered to herself.
She got up, threw her cigarette on the ground, walked to her car, and drove back to Chicago.
{{{
Later,
Carter was shutting his locker when someone walked in.
"Hey."
He turned around and saw Susan standing in front of him. She smiled. "I'm sorry about earlier when I asked about how you were feeling about Abby leaving."
"I understand that you are just being a good friend, Susan, but there is nothing left I can do," She put her hand on his shoulder. "Everything will be okay, John."
Carter nodded. "I know it will be. I just have to forget about Abby and get on with my life," he said.
Susan walked up to her locker and grabbed her jacket. "You really love her, don't you?" she asked as they walked out of the lounge and headed out of the ER.
"Yes I do, Susan. I would do anything for her," he said as they walked to Susan's car.
Susan turned to face him. "Just promise me you won't give up on her."
He looked at her. "What do you mean?"
"You will understand some day," she said, as she got into the car and drove away.
{{{
Later,
Carter was walking to his apartment when he started to think about what Susan said.
"Just promise me you won't give up on her."
He still didn't understand what Susan meant. Abby was the one that left, not me. I love her, I would do anything for her, if only I got a second chance, he thought to himself, as he put his keys into his door and opened it.
"Abby?"
To be continued
