We Used To Be Friends

Chapter Twenty-Two

A/N: Thanks to everyone who's left me a review! Sorry for the delay in getting this chapter posted. Enjoy!

About a half-hour later, Mark came into the lounge. Seeing both Carter and Lucy on the couch, he pulled up a chair and sat down. "Sobricki's gonna be fine. How is your arm?"

"It's fine." Lucy replied.

"So what exactly happened?" Mark asked.

Lucy took a deep breath before starting to recall the story. "I had ordered a Psych evaluation for him hours ago but no one ever came down, so I went to go make sure he was ok. At first I thought Psych had come down and admitted him, but then I saw him. He was waiting for me behind the door when I came in. Somehow Paul got a hold of Chuni's knife. He started telling me that he was tired of being poked and prodded and that now he was going to show me what it felt like. He kept coming closer and closer, and no matter how hard I tried I could not get him to stop. I tried reasoning with him, but he obviously wasn't thinking rationally. When he had me pinned against the wall I knew I had to do something. So I kicked him in the groin area and we started fighting. He sliced my arm and I kicked him. He hit his head against a cabinet and was knocked unconscious."

Mark was quiet for a moment before speaking. "I see." Then he looked over at Carter. "And when did you enter the picture?"

"I came into the room after Sobricki was knocked unconscious." Carter answered.

"Am I in trouble for this?" Lucy asked, suddenly worried about the ramifications of her actions.

"You shouldn't be!" Carter exclaimed. "It was self-defense."

"Actually, even though it was self-defense, I do have to suspend you without pay for a week—starting today." Mark announced. "I believe you that it was self-defense, and I'm very glad that you weren't seriously hurt; however, I also have to answer to hospital policy. I'm sorry Lucy."

While Lucy wasn't happy about this news, she wasn't too angry. She wished that she could still get paid because she could use the money, but on the bright side she got a week off from work. "That's ok. I understand."

"I also suggest that tomorrow you go down to the police station and press charges against Sobricki." Mark told her.

"I agree. You should press charges against him." Carter piped up.

"Ok." Lucy nodded.

"Carter, why don't you go ahead and take Lucy home? Your shift is almost over anyway." Mark suggested.

"Ok. I will." Carter agreed.

"Then I guess, Lucy, you can come back to work next Friday." Mark smiled.

"Thank you Dr. Greene." Lucy smiled.

Mark got up to leave, but turned around once he got to the door. "Oh, and Happy Valentine's Day."

The car ride back to their apartment was pretty quiet. Each of them were both lost in their own thoughts. Once they got inside the apartment, Lucy started towards the kitchen. "Want anything to drink?" She asked.

"No thanks." He replied, sitting on the couch.

Lucy came out a few seconds later with a glass of water and plopped down on the couch next to him. "I'm beginning to hate holidays." She stated out of the blue.

"What? Why do you say that?" He laughed.

"Look at my track record with holidays lately. It's not exactly stellar." She pointed out. "First New Year's Eve and now today. It's almost like I'm cursed on all major holidays."

"You know, I never thought of it like that. That is quite odd." Carter conceded. "Kinda makes you wonder what's going to happen on St. Patrick's Day, doesn't it?"

Lucy groaned. "I don't even want to know! I think I'm just gonna stay inside the apartment that day."

"For your sake, that's probably a good idea." Carter nodded. They were silent for a few moments until Carter spoke up again. "Oh, I almost forgot. I got you something for Valentine's Day."

She was surprised. "You got me something?"

"Well it's not much, but yeah." He replied, getting up from the couch. "It's in my room. I'll be right back."

"Ok." Now she felt bad. She hadn't gotten him anything for Valentine's Day. So why was he getting her something? She thought back to earlier when they almost kissed. She hadn't pulled away because she didn't want to kiss him; she really did want to kiss him. But she was worried about the ramifications of kissing him. First of all, that would change the dynamics of their friendship. She needed his friendship now more than ever and, even though she loved him, she couldn't risk their friendship. Secondly, she wasn't ready for any kind of romantic activity—including kissing. She was just starting to deal with her feelings and thoughts about the rape. Jumping into anything other than friendship with Carter would only confuse her and complicate her life even more.

Carter came back out of his room and handed her a small box as he sat back down on the couch. "Happy Valentine's Day Luce."

She took the box, not opening it yet. "I feel bad that I didn't get you anything. I didn't think that…"

"Don't worry about it." Carter assured her. "My gift is completely cheesy. I know that you haven't had many reasons to smile lately. I just thought this might bring a smile to your face." He noticed that she was hesitating to open it. "Well go ahead and open it."

"Ok." She nodded, opening up the box. Taking a look inside, she immediately closed her eyes and started to laugh. A huge smile erupted on her face as she pulled out the item. "You got me a pez dispenser?"

He smiled. "Yes, but it's not just any pez dispenser. It's a Smurfette pez dispenser."

"I can't believe you got me this!" She laughed.

"Why not?" He asked. "I remember you used to have one of these."

"When I was seven!" She pointed out.

He laughed. "I know how sad you were when you lost it. You loved pez back then."

"I still do." Lucy nodded, looking over at him.

"That's what I was counting on."

"Thank you." She chuckled. "You always seem to know what to do or say to get me to smile."

"That's because I know you so well." He smiled.

She nodded. "Sometimes I think you know me a little too well." Sometimes it seemed like they shared a brain. They could finish each other's sentences and tell what the other was thinking. They had always had that kind of special connection. Normally it amused her.

He wasn't sure what to say to that comment. Of course he knew her well. He grew up with her, even though there was a twelve-year period where they didn't speak to each other. Ever since she came back into his life he had been remembering every single detail of their childhood, trying to figure out how he could have been so stupid. He never should have cut her out of his life. Aside from his Gamma, Lucy was the only other person who had given him unconditional love and support during his childhood. She was the best thing in his life growing up and she's the best thing in his life now. So why did he cut her loose? After thinking about that question for a while, he had finally come to a conclusion. One conclusion was that he was an idiot who didn't know how lucky he was to have Lucy in his life. It was the stupidest mistake of his life, and he didn't intend on repeating that mistake. He was determined to do everything in his power to make sure that she was a part of his life forever.

"Do you want one?" Lucy offered, popping the tiny pez in her mouth.

"Sure." He nodded, taking the pez from her hand. "Thanks."

Although Lucywas sittingthere on the couch next to Carter, her mind was a million miles away. She had finally made up her mind and knew what she wanted. She wanted this baby; she was sure of it. The only question that remained was how was she going to take care of this baby? How is she supposed to have this baby and still go to medical school? How is she supposed to pay for this baby? She wasn't rich like Carter; she couldn't afford to be out of work for months while on maternity leave. She could probably get Shelby to baby-sit for her while she went to work, but another thought suddenly popped into her head. She would have to move because the last thing Carter would want is to live with a baby who would wake up at all hours of the night. So starting tomorrow, she would look for a smaller apartment. She could probably get by with just a one bedroom right now and keep the crib in her room when the baby is born. Maybe if she stretched every possible penny, she could get by.

"What are you thinking about so intently?" Carter asked, drawing Lucy out of her thoughts.

Lucy looked over at him and then focused her attention on the pez dispenser. "I was just thinking about what I'm going to have to do in order to take care of this baby. I'm gonna have to drop out of med school for at least a semester. So I'll have to find some kind of a job to hold me over. I'll have to get a new place…"

This statement confused him. "A new place? Why?"

She laughed, thinking that he should have already guessed why she needed to move out. "Because I'm not going to make you live with a screaming baby that wakes up in the middle of the night."

"I wouldn't mind." He smiled.

"Sure, you say that now. But it just wouldn't work out very well." She shook her head. "Besides it will save me money in the long run if I get a smaller apartment, and believe me, I'll need every penny."

He shook his head, taking in everything she was saying.

"Well, I am exhausted. I'm going to bed. Goodnight Carter." She smiled, getting up from the couch. "And thanks for the pez."

"You're welcome." Carter replied. "Goodnight Luce." He watched her go into her bedroom and close the door. Sitting there alone, he started thinking about what Lucy was talking about. She was going to have a hard time providing for her baby and was going to have to make a lot of sacrifices. Maybe there was something he could do to help her. The wheels in his head started to turn as he began to think of ways to help her. Suddenly, a wide smile broke out on his face as he came up with what he considered to be his most brilliant idea ever.