Chapter 12: I Won't Live Without You
"Abby! What a surprise!" – Eric hugged me.
Maggie heard the noise he made and couldn't believe seeing her daughter. She ran and hugged me.
"Hi mom"
"What are you doing here?"
"I quit County. I couldn't stay there anymore. So I came back"
Maggie looked at her with a doubtful look.
"You can't fool me"
"What? I really quit"
They face each other.
"Ok, you won. I'm running away"
"Of what?"
"Carter"
"Why? What did he do to you?"
"He wants to try again"
"So do you. Give him one more chance"
"Yeah, but it's complicated, mom. I just catch him with his ex on his bed, in Congo"
"You went to Congo? Don't you know how dangerous is there?"
"I was running away"
Emma hid behind me.
"Honey, that's your grandma. And that's your uncle. Eric, mom, this is my daughter, Emma"
"My grandchild!"
"Let me guess. She's John's daughter, right?"
I nodded.
"I could know. She looks like him very much"
"So, I still have my bedroom?" – She smiled.
Carter had just got back to Chicago and went straight to County, hoping he could find me. He walked in running.
"Hey, Frank. Have you seen Abby?"
"It's nice to see you too, Dr. Carter"
"Sorry. It's good to see you. Have you seen Abby?"
"She didn't show up here today"
"That's impossible! And have you seen Dr. Lewis?"
"Trauma two"
Carter rushes to the room where Susan is.
"Susan, where's Abby?"
"I don't know. I haven't seen her"
"Something happened"
"Catheter. I thought she had already arrived"
"But she didn't. I'm worried. I left before her and arrived first"
"Relax, she probably went to her house before coming here"
"Maybe you're right. I'm going over there"
"Start compressions. Call me when you get there. Charge 100. Ok. Clear"
"You got it"
Carter rushes to my place, but saw nobody.
"County"
"Frank, call Dr. Lewis"
"Dr. Lewis, Dr. Carter wants to talk to you"
"Oh, hey Carter"
"Susan, she's not here"
"She isn't?"
"See, I told you something happened"
Susan noticed that there was an angry and disappointed tone in Carter's voice.
"Ok, calm down. Come back here and we'll think about what to do"
"I need her, Susan"
"I know, Carter. But give her some time. You screwed it all up before and is making her be afraid that it happens again"
"But it won't. I won't let her run away, Susan. I'll chase her wherever she goes and I won't stop until I find her"
"Wow, you're really willing to have her!"
"I am"
"Ok, come here. I'll try to reach her and then we talk"
"Ok"
Susan calls me.
"Hello?"
"Abby, it's me. Hi, I thought you were coming back to Chicago"
"Well, I was. But I decided to come back to my house"
"You should have told me"
"I'm sorry, but I decided on the plane"
"Carter's looking for you every where"
"I knew it. That was the mainly reason I came home"
"Give him a chance. He's in love with you"
"Is he? If he really were, he wouldn't have had sex with Kem"
"But he didn't!"
"Oh really? He said that?"
"Yes, and I believe he was totally honest"
I laughed.
"I can't believe this!"
"I'll tell him where you are and he's going there to talk to you"
"No Susan. Carter…"
I interrupt.
"Wait a second, Abby" – She puts the pone down – "What happened, Neela?"
"Morris put a tube on your patient"
"What? Get Carter" – She puts the phone back in her ear – "Done"
"I might be pregnant again"
"What? That's great! You should tell Carter"
"No. Please don't tell him"
"Ok, I won't. I need to go now"
"I won't hold you anymore"
They hang up and Susan goes to see her patient.
"Morris screwed it up again?"
Carter lifted his head and nodded.
"Did you find Abby?"
"Yes, but she begged me not to tell"
"C'mon! You know I'm desperate. Just tell me where she is and I'll go after her"
"Ok, ok. I'm gonna regret this but she's in Minnesota. She went back to her mother's house"
"Great. I'll go there. You take this?"
"Yes. Now go and bring her back, with a ring in her finger"
They smile at each other and he leaves. He's ready to go when Weaver stops him.
"Where are you going?"
"Minnesota"
"Excuse me?"
"Susan is covering me. I'll be back when I can"
"No, you're not going anywhere. You missed many work days already and you need to cover your absence"
"How long?"
"Five days"
"You've got to be kidding"
"I'm not"
"C'mon! I'll cover when I come back, I have to bring Abby back"
"I'm sure she knows her way back"
"She won't come back"
"It's not my business. Nor yours"
"Yes, it is mine. I'm in love with her"
He stopped walking and turned to face me.
"I really need to go" – He turned and started walking.
"So can I fire you?"
He stopped, but didn't turn.
"You know what? Do what you want. Fire me if you want to. You're not making me stay"
He continued walking and soon disappeared. He didn't know what he was doing for a moment. But then he realized how much I had changed him. He was giving up of everything for me. But nothing else mattered if he had me by his side forever. He got home and packed, but the flight would be only tomorrow.
I got home after a full day looking for a job. I was more tired than the usual.
"How did it go, honey?"
"Exhausted. I'm glad it's over" – I buried myself on the couch.
"Are you hungry?"
"Yeah, I could eat for two"
Her mother made a face.
"Abby, are you pregnant?"
"I don't know. I'm tired and starving. So, maybe I am" – I got up – "I'll stop by the pharmacy and buy a test. I'll be right back"
I couldn't believe I was pregnant again. Not that I really was but all the signs said so. I bought the test and soon came home. And I quickly headed to the bathroom and did it. Although I wanted it was pink, a part of me wished it were blue. And that part won.
"That's great! I'm pregnant"
I came out of the bathroom and Maggie was curious to know what it was.
"Congratulations. You're becoming a grandma again"
"Oh Abby. I am so happy for you"
Maggie ran and hugged her daughter.
"Well, you know that these tests can't be true sometimes"
Next night… somebody knocked on the door and Maggie went to answer it.
"John… what a surprise"
"Hi Maggie. Is Abby here?"
"Yes, she's in her room. Abby, someone's looking for you"
I come out of the room and see him. He walks over to me.
"What are you doing here?"
"I came to take you back"
"What?"
"I'm not leaving without you and I don't even think about living without you"