Chapter 17 – Truce

Abby lay comfortable on the bed, they moved her to another room, she's stable enough to be out of intensive care. Carter was sat on the end of the bed, massaging her foot.

"That should help the circulation"

"You are so good to me John" Abby whispered, enjoying his hands touching her, it felt so wonderful and sensual for her, she needed it, she needed the warmth from a man, she never really got warmth from Jake. Carter was different from other guys, he would give full attention.

"Well I must be a good friend to go to Africa and come back within 24 hours!"

Carter stood up and walked to the window, he raised his hand and uses his fingers to separate the vertical blind. He peered through the gap to look out, his eyes raced around the dark of night. Tiredness has caught upon him; He lets out a big yawn.

"It's still snowing" He commented and opened the blinds for Abby, so she can view the snowfall.

"Wendall was looking for you, Jerry said you cleared off to Africa" Abby croaked, and chuckled "You should have seen her face, she was cursing you, you had her thinking about you running back to Kem"

"What? Really" He replied in surprise. "I bet you joined in the cursing with her!"

"I must admit I did felt anxious, especially what happened the past week, I needed to resolve some issues with you"

"Ah I see you've got some unfinished business with me?" He nodded his head playfully "I need to go back to Africa pretty soon to try relocate the hospital before it's too late, maybe we can talk more when I come back"

"You be careful" Abby pleaded "I'm not fit enough to return the favor, flying out to you!"

He walked round the bed and picked up his bag. "You get some rest, I'm going to get a shower and maybe 40 winks…" He leaned over to kiss her forehead. "I'll be back soon"

Abby watched Carter leave the room, she turned her head to look out of the window and watched the snowflakes dance around in the wind. She falls asleep…

Jake put his hand on Abby's and gently squeezes it. She fluttered her eyes open with being heavily sedated.

"Hey" she croaked looking at his direction.

"Hey, How are you feeling?"

"Uh… erm… silly question"

"Yep" he laughed, "You feel crap I guess?"

"Mmm" Abby replied giving a little smile.

"I'm sorry for being an ass with you"

"No…" She rasped, trying hard to swallow, her throats dry "Water… drink…"

Jake walked to the other side of the bed to pick up the beaker with a straw in it. He puts the straw in her mouth for her to suck. She sighed after a good drink.

"No… I'm the one who should be apologizing," She said taking a painful swallow; her throat is sore from the crike from the trauma room. "I've been unfair giving you hot and cold signals"

"But what my brother did to you was unacceptable! I'm sorry about that, he gets heavy handed after a few drinks"

Susan walked into the room, Jake and Abby stopped in silence.

"Hey guys… Oh I'm sorry am I interrupting?"

"No, Dr Lewis" Jake replied

"I've come by to observe, I won't be long" Susan looked at the IV drip and filled in the update on the chart. "How are you feeling Abby, Do you need anymore painkillers?"

Abby croaked, "Yes please, the strong stuff…"

"I'll get you some Dihydrocodeine, that will knock you out! Back in a sec" She smiled.

They stopped in silence for a minute.

"So are taking that post in 'Cisco?"

"Yes" he replied to her with his face covered in sadness. "I start in the New Year"

"I'm sorry things haven't worked out between us" Abby said reaching for his hand

"You've haven't tried to make it work"

She glared at him in disbelief, half opened her mouth to protest and then realised that she shouldn't get worked up so she relaxes her head back down on to the pillow. She saw Susan coming back in to the room with her meds.

"Here you are… let me help you get up a bit so you can take them with ease"

Susan leaned over to pull Abby up; Jake stepped in to ruffles the pillows and positioned them. They carefully lay her back down.

"Oh! So sore" Abby winced.

Susan handed the pills and water over to her. Abby popped one in her mouth and taking a sip of water to wash it down but she struggled to swallow them. She nearly gagged because she got the bitter taste, didn't down them quick enough.

"Thanks"

"No worries, I'll check on you again in a couple of hours" Susan said, she waved as she walked out through the door. "Buzz if need anything"

"Look Jake, I think you're a really great guy but…"

"Ah!" He interrupted "Is it the 8-year age gap?"

"No… I wouldn't have got involved with you in the first place if that wasn't the issue"

"So what is it then?"

"I don't think were compatible enough"

"But I really like you very much"

"Jake, you have a new career life ahead of you, you go ahead take that road, maybe one day you'll meet a beautiful girl and settle down with her…"

"But you're the beautiful…"

Abby closed her eyes for a second, looked away sighing at his response.

"Why are you making this hard for me?"

"I know what your problem is…"

He caught her attention; she pricked up her ears and looked at him.

"You're still in love with someone else and you can't seem to let go of him…"

She looked at Jake with a deadpan expression, knowing that he is absolutely right and too cowardly to admit it.

"I… I… need to rest, I can't believe we're having this conversation," She said turning her head away again and closed her eyes

Jake stood beside Abby for a minute and leaned over to kiss her cheek.

"I guess I'll see you around" He said taking one last look at her, he turned to the door and saw Carter standing in the way.

"Jake" He nodded gently "I hope you're not harassing her"

"I'm not" Jake replied in a low tone. "Yeah don't give me that lost puppy bullshit thinking I wouldn't stand a chance with her"

Carter chuckled at him

"Well I've already had the chance, ok"

That wiped his smile of his face.

"You're telling me you and Abby were together?" Carter asked looking shocked and confused. "No one mentioned it"

"We kept it quiet"

"Ah I see, now I know why…"

"Well it's over now, she's all yours, happy now?" Jake nodded at Carter and walked out of the room.

Carter sat down in a chair next to the bed, he picked up a magazine left on the bedside, and it is a woman's magazine. He carried on reading with curiosity of its contents.

6.34 am - Abby woke up with a coughing fit. Carter jumped out of his chair, the magazine on his chest fell to the floor. He was trying to figure out where he was, only realising he fell asleep on the chair. He leaned over to her to see if she was ok.

"John?" Abby coughed again. "How long have you been here?"

"Since Jake left," he replied, "Are you ok? Do you need any analgesia?"

"I'm ok," She answered reaching over to the bedside to get her drink. "My lungs are irritable at the moment"

"Why's that? From the icy waters or smoking?" He said sarcastically, still wound up with the truth about Abby with Jake.

She gave him a forced smile and lays back onto the mound of pillows.

"Very funny" She croaked, "Don't you start as well? I had enough of Jake making comments"

"Hmm… I see you two were very cosy then?"

She turned to him quickly in surprised "You know?"

"He told me"

"I might have known" She rolled her eyes

"So that explains why you have been avoiding me or being uncomfortable"

"Yes but it's not you" she said dryly "It's just… I don't know"

Abby rubbed her head trying to concentrate on what she is trying say, she still the effect of her meds.

"I guess you disapprove of me now?"

"I am shocked but…" He replied. "You're only human"

"Oops my halo's slipped," She said putting her hand in front of her mouth. "In fact I don't think I've ever had one!"

They both laughed and Abby goes into another coughing fit.