Chapter 17

Carter needed to find Abby, he was mad and hurt, and he still wanted them as friends. He just needed to talk to her. He saw her at the desk. "Hey."

Doug walked into the lounge. today had been a bad day. he laid down on the couch and closed his eyes. he wished he had Carol to talk to...at least he had Anna. he wondered if he should tell Anna what was going on with him and Carol; after all it might be nice to get a woman's point of view on it all. he pulled out the prescription she had given him. the last thing he needed was for anyone else to know about that.

Abby looked up, "hey Carter." She said picking up a chart from the nurses' rack. "Did you need something?"

"Yea could we talk" He asked her

Doug stuffed the prescription back in his pocket. He knew he couldn't do anything about Carter until he had a chance to cool off, but he could try to fix the situation with Carol. Doug got up off the couch and walked back by the admit desk. He looked around and didn't see anyone but Carter and Abby. Walking down the hall he spotted Anna. "Hey, have you seen Carol." he asked in a soft voice. He still felt bad about what he and Anna had done, but she looked like it was affecting her more. "You ok?"

"Sure Carter." Abby said looking at him.

Anna looked up at Doug and shrugged her shoulders, "yeah I'm okay. How are you holding up, but I haven't seen Carol."

"I might of taken a joke to seriously" he told her. "Doug and Anna the two other doctors played a joke on me, with me taking a dead guy down to the morgue, and well I got scared and turned all white. I was thinking of Lucy. "Does it sound like a sick joke or not, or did I do the right thing by running away" he told her.

"Sounds like you might have over reacted a little Carter. I can't say what I would have done if it had been me. To them it was a harmless prank, but to you it was something more." Abby said to him, "we all see things differently. I am sure that they didn't mean any harm by it."

Carter listened to her. Somehow Abby always seem to make sense. "Thanks" he said to her. "I know, and I yelled at Doug after that" he told her "I'm such a idiot" he said to her

"I'm fine." he said, walking closer to her. he leaned against the wall next to her and smiled. "he'll get over it. our shift is almost over; you still want to get dinner?"

"I wouldn't say you're an idiot Carter, just sensitive." She said to him. "You'll all get over it eventually."

"Yeah dinner would be great Doug; I'd love to have the company." Anna said to him.

Doug let out a deep sigh. "yeah me too." he looked at his watch, although they still had another half an hour the ER was vacant. "hey, why don't you let me finish some charts and then we can go cause I'm really hungry. what are you in the mood for?" he asked standing up. he was glad that Anna wanted company. he didn't want to go over to carter's house until john had a chance to settle down, and he hating eating by himself.

"Guess I got to sensitive, with there prank" he told her. "Anyways, what are you doing later after you get off" he asked her

"Beer and burgers." Anna said smiling, "go finish your charts, nothing like finishing the day off with a mountain of paperwork. I'll meet up with you in the lounge in a half hour."

"After work I have a date with Mr. Bubbles and Ben and Jerry." Abby said smiling at Carter, "nothing special."

"Well instead of your Mr. Bubbles and Ben and jerry, want to go on a date with me" he asked her

"Hmm, that's a tough decision, Mr. Bubbles or a late night with John Carter." Abby said letting out a small chuckle. "I'm not off until 8."

"Ah come on Abby, I'm off at the same time" He said to her jokingly back

She smiled softly at Carter cocking her head to one side, "what are you offering that will beat bubbles and Ben?"

Doug smiled. "It's on me too, as long as you let me beat you in darts." he said joking. he rubbed the bridge of his nose, it had been such a long day and his head was pounding. sitting up again he said, "yeah, I should have these done soon. I'll meet you in there." Bringing his head back down he tried to focus on his write ups.

"How about Dinner and a Movie with me, I basically get off the same time as you" He told her.

Carol had walked into docs for a much needed break, she spotted Anna and Doug talking, it was hard not to ignore him. She went over and walked to them "Hey Anna Welcome back," She said. She turned to Doug. "Hi," She said it was the first time she said something to him all day, but she hated ignoring him.

"Hi Carol." Anna said looking back to Doug, "things are looking up already. Page me when you're ready."

With her hand on the lounge door Abby looked back at Carter, "dinner and a movie it is. I'll find you when my shift is over."

Carol smiled back her and waited for Doug to answer her.

Carter smiled at her. "that's great" he said to Abby

Doug watched Anna get up and leave. "Yeah, I'll page you soon." gradually his gaze drifted from Anna leaving to Carol who was standing in front of him. "hey yourself." he said in a voice barley above a whisper. he didn't quite know how to react. he couldn't tell if she wanted to talk to him or if she was still pissed off. he looked at her for a second and then brought his eyes back to his paperwork and waited for her to leave or sit down.