Chapter 2

Abby kept her eyes on John but as he got closer she began to feel uncomfortable. He continued to lean towards her, making her feel very nervous. Abby turned her eyes away from his as she pushed him away.
"John! Just, don't…" She said, confused.

Carter was also confused by this.

"What?" He asked, somewhat shocked.

"I'm getting married John! You can't…you just can't do this!" She pleaded. Abby then walked away from Carter and made her way into the kitchen and sat at the table.

"Oh god, you're right!" Carter said as he turned around and flung his hands up in the air. "I'm sorry…" he began as he made his way over to Abby. "…I am, I just…I don't know what's going on with me." He said sitting down.

Abby placed her head in her hand as she looked at Carter.

"Are you ok?" She asked, concerned.

Carter looked around him before he answered her. "Yeah! I'm fine." His over-exaggerated tone caused Abby to dig deeper.

"Carter!" She exclaimed. "Don't lie" she shook her head. Carter diverted his eyes from her.

"You can talk to me…you know that?" Abby asked.

Carter hung his head and laughed gently. "Right" he muttered under his breath.

Abby tilted her head so she could see his face, if only a little bit.
"John, what's going?" Abby enquired.

"nothing is going on…it's nothing" He replied.
Abby sensed a doubtful tone in his voice and glared at him in an attempt to show him that she knew he was lying. Carter only shook his head at her.

Defeated, Abby stood up from the table and turned around to her kitchen. She slowly began to make some coffee, beginning by taking two cups from her cupboard and placing them on the counter. As she carried out this routine set of events her mind slowly drifted away thinking of the man sitting mere inches away from her. She found herself worried for him for the first time in almost three years. Her gut feeling knew there was something going on, something wasn't right and since her attempt to find out what it was had failed so miserably she needed a new plan. Abby couldn't interpret the moment they almost had, she couldn't work out what would have happened had she not stopped it, nor could she work out why it almost happened. She began to speculate that his advances were born out of his separation from Kem, but Abby didn't know how long her mother had been ill or even how long Kem had been in Paris; hell for all Abby knew Carter could have been in Paris with her. Things weren't making sense. It was far too unlike John to be unfaithful, especially now he was married. Within moments Abby was greeted by her favourite feeling, confusion.

Unfortunately for Abby, her lack of knowledge on the subject would make it very hard to understand John's presence and also his state of mind. She would now have believe his lies and hope for the truth. Maybe John will catch himself up and everything will unravel, or once and again they will go their separate ways still wondering about the what ifs. I suppose, in a way it was these "what ifs" that has caused Carter's early arrival by triggering his heart to yearn for its poison…

"…And I now pronounce you man and wife" Spoke the elderly priest.

Carter and Kem kept their eyes fixated on each other as they anxiously awaited the next line.

"You may now kiss the bride" He said looking at Carter.

Slowly, and happily Carter and Kem sealed their wedding vows. Together they turned and faced the busy room, toward a sea of smiles and faces of delight. Kem put her hand in Carter's and they walked back up the isle as "man and wife" – ready for their future.

Naturally, both Carter and Kem found themselves peering into the audience and greeting the guests they recognised. Kem turned to her right and smiled at her mother as she reached out and grabbed her hand. Carter peered to the left and caught a glimpse of Susan holding Cosmo on her lap as she turned to face Carter. He smiled at her and carried on walking. John Carter kept his gaze to his left hand side until his eyes met their target. He caught her looking behind her shoulder and watched as she dropped her purse onto the floor. Abby reacted and turned back to pick it up and as she brought her head back up from the floor she caught eyes with Carter. She smiled at him as he, and his new wife, walked towards where she was seated. Jake caught Carter looking at Abby and in his usual protective manner he slid his arm over her shoulders. Abby turned her head and smiled at Jake then quickly glanced back at Carter. As Carter and Kem made their way past Abby and Jake, Abby found herself placing her head on Jake's arm in her attempt to show to Carter that she was happy, and that she'd be ok.

Carter and Kem then made their way out of the hall and a brief reception followed during which time, Carter's head was plagued with thoughts – the worst thoughts to have at your own wedding reception. He had been married for no less than an hour and John Carter was already having doubts.

"Here you go" Abby said, handing Carter a cup of coffee and she sat back down.

"Thanks" He replied.

"Are you sure you're okay John?" Abby asked again.

"Yeah…I am, it's just…"
"Is everything ok with you and Kem?" She interrupted.

Carter stopped in his tracks. He couldn't tell her the truth; he wasn't in the mood for a confrontation nor was he in the mood to think about why things with Kem weren't ok, so he lied.
"Yeah, it's just her mom. I dunno, she should be okay though" Carter smiled.

Abby, now fully in "friend-mode" continued.

"Well, if you ever want to, or need to phone her…uhh you know" she said as she pointed at her own phone.

Carter smiled warmly at her. "Thanks."

"No problem" She reassured him.

A silence followed. Neither one could work out what to say so instead they both stared into their coffee cups and continued drinking. After several moments Abby spoke.

"So how is Africa?"
Carter lifted his head and smiled, thankful for an end to the silence.
"I would say it's great, but it's the Congo, so…you know?" He laughed a little at the end. Abby smiled and nodded her head.
"But uhh…money is coming through and people are getting help, so in those terms it's doing really good." Carter now nodded his head.

"That's great John." Abby smiled back at him. "Don't you ever miss the states?" She asked him.

Carter laughed a little. "Hah, of course I do! Everything is so much easier back here."

Abby laughed in surprise. "I'll be sure to tell Susan you said that"

Carter smiled briefly at Abby's comment. "But uhh…" Carter breathed deeply. "My life is in Africa now" he spoke this last part with a nostalgic tone to his voice.

"Right?" He asked Abby as he turned to face her. Abby was taken aback and confused, and with that a knock escaped from the front door.

Thanks.