Sorry that it's taken forever to get this chapter finished. I've just started Uni so I've been really busy. Then I hit a few plot holes that just wouldn't go away. I think that I must have written a few different drafts of this chapter. Anyway, I plan to get the next couple of chapters wrote soon. Thanks to anyone who has reviewed so far. This fic has kinda gone in a slightly different direction then it started off in, so I'm not sure how it's gonna end. I'm not sure if it will be a Carby after all. I'll know once I get around to writing Carter's return.



"Dr Weaver!" Spotting Kerry heading into the lounge, Abby decided that she could not keep the truth from her any longer. "Have you got a minute? I was wondering if I could have a word in private?"

"Now? I was just gonna grab a quick coffee and then get straight back. We're getting swamped out there. Can't it wait?"

"Not really."

Seeing the serious expression on Abby's face, Weaver agreed. "Ok." Kerry held the door open for Abby, and motioned for the nurse to sit at the table. "What's the problem?"



When he woke up, it took Malucci a moment to realise that it was his phone ringing that had disturbed him. He stumbled out of the bedroom and promptly stubbed his toe on the sofa. Trying and failing to find the light switch, he gave up and continued in the dark. Finally he made it to the phone. "Hello?"

"I told Weaver!"

He took him a minute to gather his thoughts. "Abby, do ya know what time it is?"

"Half past three!"

"And you're calling at this time because?" he asked harshly.

She was silent for a moment. "Sorry. I'll leave you alone."

"No, Abby. It's ok!" Sighing, he moved over to the sofa and sat down. Glancing back towards the bedroom, he noticed that he had left the door open. He could see the doctor from OB still fast asleep, and hoped that she didn't wake up and catch him on the phone with another woman. Not that it would matter if she did. She was fun but he wasn't looking for a serious relationship with her. Or anyone else for that matter. "What did Weaver say?"

"Not much. There wasn't really anything to say."

"Guess not." He rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "Did she ask who the father is?"

"No. But she didn't exactly need to, did she?"

"She can't be sure it's Carter's. Anyone could be the father!"

"Thanks!" she laughed.

"I didn't mean it like that!"

"Well, if you did, then two words. Pot. Kettle."

Dave smiled. "Can't really argue with that!"

"Have you got someone there now?"

Now it was Dave's turn to laugh. "Since when were you so nosy?"

"Since I need some gossip to take the heat off me!"

"No-one's gonna be gossiping about you! Everyone at County'll give you loads of support, you know that."

"Maybe."

Hearing movement behind him, he asked Abby "Can you just hold on a minute?" and turned around. "Hey. I wake you?"

The doctor nodded sleepily. "Yeah. Who's phoning at this time?"

"A friend." He covered the mouthpiece of the receiver. "She's having a bad time lately. She needs someone to talk to."

"Fine. I'm going back to sleep."

"Keep the bed warm for me. I won't be long."

"Whatever!"

He watched her disappear into the other room, shutting the door behind her. His pride was a little bit wounded by her indifference but he quickly shook it off. "Sorry about that."

"Anyone I know?"

"No, don't think so."

"Do you even know her name?"

"I do actually! Remember me telling you bout that OB doc?"

"Wow. Still interested in her after how long has it been? All of three days?"

"Funny! I'm dying of laughter here!" he muttered. He could hear her laughing, and couldn't help smiling himself.

"Anyway, I can see you've got things to do."

"You trying for a career change? Becoming a stand-up comic? Cause I don't think you'll manage to feed that bambino if you do."

"I'll let you go."

"Thankyou, Miss Lockhart."

"You're welcome."

Before she could hang up, he added "Hey, Abby. You wanna meet up tomorrow? Have this conversation when I'm properly awake?"

"Yeah. That'd be good! I start work at twelve, so meet for breakfast?"

"Yeah, ok. Bout half ten? At Doc's? Or not want to be seen there with me again?"

"No. Doc's is fine. See you then."



Dave nervously tapped a beat on the table with his fingertips. He glanced at his watch. It was already five minutes to eleven and there was no sign of Abby. He had phoned her apartment but had just got the answer machine. He wished that he had her mobile number. It was possible that she had overslept, or the El was running late, but something had him worried. He decided to give her ten more minutes and then head over to her place. Just as he got up to leave, he saw her come in. She wasn't alone though. A woman in her forties with three young kids in tow, stood anxiously at her side. He crossed over to them. "You ok?"

"This your friend?" the woman asked.

Abby nodded. "I'm fine. Really."

The woman turned to Dave. "You should take better care of her!"

"What happened?"

The question was directed at Abby, but the woman answered. "She fainted on the El. I wanted her to go to the hospital but she refused. Said she was just gonna come here."

"I'm ok. I don't need to go to the ER."

"You really should. My husband's friend kept passing out like that. When he finally did go to a doctor, they found out he had a brain tumour."

Abby turned to Dave and shot him a pointed look. "She'll be ok. I'm a doctor. Thanks for looking after her."

"I only wanted to make sure she got here. Didn't want her fainting again."

"Yeah, thanks." Abby muttered then headed across to one of the booths.

Dave stood awkwardly. "Seriously, thanks. She's just a bit." He sighed. "I'll make sure that she gets checked out. Thanks!"

The woman stared at him for a moment, then grabbed the smallest child by the hand and headed out the door.

Dave didn't say anything as he sat down across from Abby. He just waited for her to break the silence. She sighed in frustration. "I don't know what happened, ok? I honestly don't know!"

"Then let's go across the road and get someone to examine you."

Abby shook her head. "No. No way!"

"Abby, you've got to." Again she simply shook her head. "Do you want to keep this kid?" Abby looked down at the table. "Do you want to keep it?"

She looked up at him. "Yeah."

"Then we need to go across to the ER."



"Hey Abby. What's with you being here half an hour early?"

"Hey Chuny." Abby glanced at Dave.

"Hey Dave."

"Chuny." He pushed Abby gently in the back.

"Erm, Chuny, is Weaver working today?" Abby asked.

"No, she's not in 'til this afternoon, I think. Why?"

Abby turned back to Dave and gave him a look that told him that she wouldn't see anyone but Weaver about this. "Nothing. It doesn't matter."

Dave blocked her way. She stepped to the side to move past him, but he stayed with her. "For Godssake, Dave. Let me go."

He shook his head forcefully. "Tell them. Abby." He gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "Please?"

Surprised by the concern in his eyes, Abby relented and turned back to Chuny. "Is there a free exam room somewhere?"

"Probably. It's really quiet so far today. What's going on?"



Ten minutes later, Abby found herself sitting in an exam room waiting for Chuny to return. Dave had stayed in chairs. She hadn't told Chuny that she was pregnant, just that she had fainted. Giving her a gown the other nurse had gone to find a doctor. Abby knew that she would have to tell whoever examined her though. It would have been simpler if Weaver had been on, but everyone would have found out eventually so she prepared herself. When Susan entered the room though, she nearly made a run for the door. "Are you ok? Chuny said that you fainted." Susan joined Abby sitting on the edge of the gurney. Abby could tell that Susan was really worried; their argument completely forgotten.

"I collapsed on the El."

"Did you lose consciousness?"

"For a minute or so."

"Ok." Susan stood up and began to examine her.

"I wouldn't have bothered to come in, it's just that."

"Just that what?"

"I was worried that I could have a miscarriage!"

Susan stood in shock. "You're pregnant? Abby nodded. "But. pregnant? Is it Carter's?"

"No, it was an Immaculate Conception." Abby rolled her eyes. "Of course it's Carter's."

"How did it happen?"

"I thought you were a doctor?"

"Very funny! I know how women get pregnant, but how did you.actually, never mind. I don't want to know."

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner."

"I'll do an ultrasound, then order some tests. I'm sure everything's fine."



"How you feeling?" Chuny had stopped by to check on Abby as soon as she had got the chance.

"Tired of waiting. The lab results back yet?" The ultrasound had been fine and there had been a strong foetal heart rate but Susan had wanted to be sure everything was ok and insisted Abby wait for the test results.

Chuny shook her head. "We had a multiple MVA come in."

Abby groaned. "Is Dave still here?"

"Yeah. You want me to go get him?"

Abby shook her head. "Can you tell him that he can go though?"

Chuny grinned mischievously. "Are you and him."

"No! We're just friends! That's it!"

"If you say so!" Chuny turned to leave. "I'll give him the message."

Abby got up and got dressed quickly. She wanted to get out of the room. She was really starting to crave a drink. She had managed to stay sober since finding out she was pregnant but now it was quickly becoming more difficult. Before she could make her escape though, Susan returned. "Sorry. We got buried out there." Abby folded her arms nervously. "Well, results all came back negative. You're slightly anaemic though. Might want to take some iron supplements." Abby nodded, sitting back down on the bed. "Are you taking care of yourself? You need to take it easy, you know. You worked in OB, you know al this."

"Yeah."

Susan took a deep breath. "Are you gonna tell Carter?"

"No."

"I think that you should!"

"I don't want him to know. I don't want him to come back here because of this baby. And that's what he'd do. You know he would."

"You shouldn't have to do this alone. He'd help you out financially."

"I don't want his money."

"He can afford it!"

"That's not the point."

"I really think that he has a right to know."

"You can't tell him! Susan, I swear if you do, then I'll leave! I'll just take off! And I won't be coming back."

"I'm not gonna tell him. I think that you should, but I won't say anything." Abby studied her for a moment, but didn't respond. "Abby, I promise you, I won't say anything!"

"Ok, ok. Now I just have to hope that no-one else will."