Standard disclaimers applied. See Parts I and II for further details.

Author's Note: Thank you all for your lovely reviews from the last chapter. Here is another short one, but I promise that there will be longer chapters ahead!

IV. A Note for my Husband

He barely slept that night but when he woke up, Deb had already left. He knew that she was working early that day. Showering and grabbing a coffee on his way out, he was trying to think of a way to talk to Deb.

He missed her for the greater part of the morning. His shift didn't start for a few hours, but Jerry informed him that Deb was off to see Kerry. "Something's up with those two, but who knows."

John nodded and said, "I'm just going to catch a few more hours of shut-eye before my shift starts. Let Deb know that I'm here when she comes out."

It was a few hours before the two women emerged from Kerry's office. Despite what he said to Jerry, John was only tossing around the bed. If he could not sleep at home, he doubt that he could on a standard hospital bed. A series of trauma prevented them from talking and she made sure to stay away from different rooms while treating patient. She was only working half a shift, so he had a chance to corner her in the med room. "Deb."

"I can't stay, John."

She used the same words as she did the night before. "Deb, please."

"Don't do this."

"Do what?"

"This. You can't just expect everything to be ok, just because of a single apology."

"What?"

"John. I have patients waiting for me. I can't stay."

Before he could ask for an explanation, he was already seeing the familiar sight of her back. He didn't see her at the end of her shift. The words 'I can't stay' stuck with him the whole day, until he was so distracted that Kerry sent him home. "Go home, Carter. You're no use to me here. I know that it is a big adjustment with Jing-Mei. I'll miss her too."

He didn't know whether he was more shock as to Kerry's admission or the fact that she knew about their fight. Since when did Deb shared with Kerry her personal issues? Pratt had walked into the lounge at the last part of Kerry's comment. His expression was guarded, but then he made a show of going to his locker to grab his stethoscope.

John was about to follow Kerry when Pratt halted his steps. "Carter."

"Not now, Pratt."

"No, this is important."

"Pratt."

"Carter, this is important."

Pratt insisted, so Carter allowed himself to be led up to County's rooftops. It was a chilly outside but they weren't there to admire the view. "Here," Pratt said as he handed Carter a single white envelope.

"What is it?"

"I had nothing to do with this. I don't know what she said, but Jing-Mei wanted me to give this to you."

"Deb? Why would she give ..."

"Just read it, Carter. This is between you and her. I'm just the unwilling messenger in this sorry business."

Pratt stilled whatever words that Carter was about to say by holding up his hand, "Before you ask any questions, just read it."

"Dear John,

By the time that you read this letter, I will probably be on the plane on my way to New York. Before you ask what I'm doing in a different state altogether, let me explain. I have been offered a temporary year-long position as the Chief Resident at the Angel of Mercy Hospital in New York. (1)

You're probably wondering why I never told you. Well, the reason is that you are never there, either physically or emotionally. While I understand that work is stressful and hectic, I can't but feel that I have lost my husband in the process. How often do we sit down together just talking about the mundane without involving work? How often do we kiss, not out of routine but for the very pleasure of kissing? How often do we spend the time just being Mr. and Mrs. Carter?

Every time I try to talk to you, it is always the same. 'Not now Deb. I'll make it up to you, Deb. You understand don't you, Deb?'

I don't understand, John, but I never got the chance to tell you so. I can't even let my husband know how much I love him on our wedding anniversary because he is stuck attending to somebody else's wife's labour. While I don't envy Abby's motherhood, I envy her for the fact that she holds the heart of two men who obviously love her very much.

I do love you, John, but I can't compete with the unattainable. Perhaps, it is best that we put some physical distance between us, as we bring our marriage back into perspective.

Yours, Deb."

End of IV

AN: Angel of Mercy Hospital - I think this is the name for the fictional hospital featured in the show, "Third Watch." I know for sure that it was called Mercy Hospital ... but anyways Third Watch doesn't belong to me. The reason that I have it is because ER and TW are set within the same timelines and I'm thinking of doing a brief TW and ER crossover.