There was an awkward silence. It was Abby who broke it.

"I should go…" She staggered out of the door before Carter could say anything... she slammed the door and then he opened it.

"Abby wait -- I don't know… Just come back and we can talk!"

She put a hand up... but she didn't turn around. She kept walking. To afraid to cry, she tried to keep him out of her head.

He stood there and watched her walk away... he didn't know what to do. He loved her... but nevertheless he went back inside.

"John... what was that?" Kem actually had the nerve to sound upset.

"Do not start with me... you walked out."

"You flew back to Chicago over a stupid fight about your old girlfriend!" She was yelling. "When I walked out that night I didn't go far. You, however, flew halfway around the damn world. You didn't call or anything. I didn't know where the hell you were!"

"The fight helped me see something. You know what? You were right. I am in love with Abby. I was thinking about her that night."

Tears streamed down Kem's face... she couldn't look at him. He walked up to her and held her. He wiped away a tear with his thumb.

"I don't want to hurt you... and it may be selfish but I'm not in love with you. I'm sorry... I truly am... but I love her."

She embraced him for a second, but then pulled away; and, without saying anything, gathered her things and left.

-------

Abby sat up in her bed. How could she let this happen again? She thought about what Carter and Kem were doing right that second. She couldn't bear to think of Kem touching him… Carter was hers. She pictured his face. She looked at the clock… it was late. She had just fallen asleep when there was a pounding on the door.

She got up. She opened the door a bit, but she kept the chain in place. She slammed it when she saw who it was.

"Go back to her Carter. I'm ok."

"Abby open up the door." His voice was firm.

"What do you want?" She opened the door and stood in the doorway with her arms folded.

"Can we just talk?" He pleaded.

"What is there to talk about?" She walked out of the doorway and poured herself a cup of cold leftover coffee from that morning. The kitchen was still dark… she didn't bother to turn off the light. "She came back. Go to her. I will be ok." She said it with the tiniest bit of sarcasm.

"No. I don't want to be with her. I want to be with you."

She laughed. "Well… maybe you should've thought of that somewhere in-between the minutes of silence and me walking out… see then it would have been a good time to tell me that. Now? Not so much. Just go home Carter… I really don't want to go through tonight again. I really, really don't." She took a drink of her coffee and set it on the counter. She stood with her arms folded, not daring to look at him because if she did... she might give in.

"Can I just have a cup of coffee? We can talk this out... I know we can…" He walked up to her and pulled her in. She froze for a second as she always did when he touched her, but the she pulled away.

"Get out." A tear escaped and ran down her face, but it was too dark for him to see.

"No Abby I'm not leaving you." He tried to hold her again.

She pushed away. "If you love me like you say you do… then you should know I don't need you to be here right now. Get out." He could tell she was holding tears back.

"This isn't over." He kissed her forehead. She turned away from him, and he walked out of the apartment. She put her back to the door and slowly fell against it, still holding back the tears.

On the other side of the door, Carter did the same thing. He, however, couldn't hold the tears back.