MADISON'S POV
I entered the ER that day, wishing I could keep my birthday a secret, but it would be impossible.
I went into the lounge and changed into scrubs and grabbed my lab coat. I was another year older, but because of the craziness of the last few months, felt several years older.
Dave had remembered, but knew me well enough to know I'd shun the big celebration at work. I'd gotten up that morning to find a small box on my kitchen table. I opened it and found two tickets to a Blackhawks game along with a note. 'Happy Birthday. Hope you remember who gave these to you when it's game time. Unfortunately, I'm working, but a certain someone isn't. Love, Dave.'
If he had been home, I'd have killed him with my bare hands and I don't think anyone would have blamed me. I caught his subtle meaning and got ready for work.
I caught the EL that morning because I was working a 24 hour shift and knew I wouldn't be able to drive myself home at the end of it.
As I entered Admit, Randi handed me a bunch of flowers.
"These arrived for you a little while ago. Malucci said you were on at 9," Randi said.
"Thanks, Randi. I'm going to put these in the lounge before they get destroyed," I said, pulling the card out of the flowers.
'I know you're hoping everyone would forget, but I couldn't forget today. It's the day my favorite sister was born. Love you, sis! Happy Birthday, Doug.'
I immediately grabbed the phone and called Doug.
"I take it you got them," he said without so much as a hello.
"Yes and thanks for remembering, even though you know I hate birthdays," I said.
"That's only because dad managed to ruin them all for us as kids. Now you have a bunch of friends that can celebrate with you," he said.
"Thanks for the flowers," I said, grateful to have such a wonderful brother and suddenly wishing he was back in Chicago.
"You going back out with Carter," he asked.
"Subtle, bro. No, Carter and I aren't back together, but I got Blackhawks tickets for my birthday," I said.
"You sure Dave doesn't want something? Getting you tickets to your favorite sport," Doug said.
"He was trying to be nice. I think he wants me to ask Carter so the two of us can get back together. Do I really need help," I asked.
Doug's warm laughter filled the line. "He's trying to meddle, isn't he," Doug asked.
"Yeah. He reminds me of you. I'd better get to work. Love you and we'll talk about visiting soon," I said.
"You better believe it. Love you, too, sis," he said.
I hung up the phone and grabbed a chart and the flowers.
"Oh, flowers! He did good this year," Chuni said.
"Yeah, he's getting much better. He probably had the florist pick those out," I said, opening the lounge door.
Carol was there, putting her breast pump in her locker.
"Hey," I said.
"Hi, Madison. Happy Birthday," she said.
"Thanks. So, when do I get to babysit again," I asked, leaning against my locker.
"Whenever you want. You know, you CAN come over to the house just to see them, you know. You are their aunt," Carol said, putting her bag in her locker.
"I know, but I know how busy you are and I like to help, not add to it," I said.
"Well, anytime you want to come, just come by," she said, sitting down.
I looked at her. Despite how she and Doug left things, I knew they loved each other. "Did he ask you to come to Seattle," I asked.
She sighed. "Yes. I don't know what to do. I can figure out most things, but your brother," she said, trailing off.
"Don't bother to explain to me. He's been my brother my whole life and I'd be lying if I said I understood him. He loves you, you love him. You have the girls. Maybe you should think about it," I said.
"I don't know what I'll do. I've got to do some thinking," she said.
"Let me know what I can do. I'm your friend, too, Carol," I said.
"Thanks," she said.
I exited the lounge and ran right into Dave. "Easy, Bitsy. Your eyesight going as you get older," he asked.
"Don't you have a patient to annoy," I asked.
"Get my gift," he asked, following me to curtain 3.
"Yes, and I don't like you meddling. I can handle things," I said.
"I have no doubt about that, but you are pretty stubborn. Love ya, Bitsy," he said, heading into the exam room to see a patient.
I headed into curtain 3 and saw my first patient of the day.
I exited the room and handed a chart to Haleh. "Can you give them 1 gram of Rocephin and send them off for a chest x-ray. I know they have pneumonia, but I need the xray for comparison. Then give them 600 of Motrin. Then a teaspoon of Tussinex for the cough. His wife is with him, so I feel OK giving him the medicine. I'll discharge after the xray," I said.
"Sure thing, Madison," she said.
I saw two more patients before heading to the lounge for coffee. I was surprised to find Carter there waiting for me.
"Carter," I said.
"Hey, Sonny," he said, coming over to me. He handed me a card. "Happy Birthday."
I eyed the card and then looked at him. I opened the card and, while I was expecting a typical 'Happy Birthday' card, I was surprised to read the contents.
'Madison, Happy Birthday. I had to let you know that, despite everything we've said to each other and everything I've tried to do to prove it wasn't true, I love you. You are my Sun. I miss having you to talk to at the end of the day. I miss everything about you. The only thing I can say to you is 'I love you.' Will you let me take you out to dinner for your birthday tomorrow night? Love, Carter.'
If Carter had stayed in the lounge, I would have probably slapped him, then kissed him. As it was, the only thing I could do was head out to find him.
I exited the lounge and found Mark waiting for me. "What did I do now," I asked.
"Nothing. Happy birthday," he said, giving me a hug.
"Thank you," I said. He handed me a card and I opened it to find a gift card to my favorite store. "Thank you. Thank Elizabeth, too," I said, smiling at Mark. I kissed his cheek and gave him a hug.
"Didn't want you to think I'd forgotten about you. You are my little sister," he said, smiling.
"You never change. Have you seen Carter," I asked.
"Trauma 3. He's helping Malucci with a central line. You going to hurt him," Mark asked.
"Nope, but I might perform a bit of sexual harassment, so could you turn your head," I asked, winking as I headed to the room.
Mark stood in the doorway, shaking his head and smiling.
"Dr. Carter! Could I have a word with you when you're finished bailing out the residents," I asked.
"Of course, Dr. Ross," Carter said.
I headed into the vacant suture room. I was wondering if he'd come in at all. I just couldn't believe what I had just read. It was almost too much to hope that Carter still cared. Hell, it seemed unfathomable that he still loved me.
Carter headed to the suture room.
"Yes, Dr. Ross," he asked as he opened the door.
"What exactly is this," I asked, holding up the card from Carter.
"Looks like a birthday card," he said, stepping toward me.
"You give me a generic birthday card for my birthday and profess your love to me inside of it," I said.
"I offered you dinner. You take me up on the offer, you could have another present waiting for you," Carter said.
"Do you mean it," I asked.
"About taking you to dinner," he asked, smiling.
"You know what, forget it," I said, heading toward the door.
Carter wrapped his arms around my waist and stopped my movement. "Sonny," he said, whispering in my ear.
Before I could say anything, Carter kissed me and, like the first time it happened, I forgot everything around me. He wrapped his arms around me and I ran my fingers through his hair. It was like we were never apart.
When he pulled away and placed his forehead against mine, he asked, "Are we back," he asked.
"Yeah. But don't do that again. I mean it," I said.
"Dinner tomorrow," he asked.
"Yeah," I replied.
"Perfect. I love you, Maddie," he said.
"I love you, too. Hey, are you working next Tuesday," I asked.
"An eight, I think, 7 to 3," he said.
"Well, I'm off so how would you like to go to a Blackhawks game," I asked.
"Sure. You got Blackhawks tickets," he said.
"I got them as a birthday present," I said.
"Ah. Well, you're off at 9 tomorrow, right," he asked.
"Yeah. You want to meet me at home," I asked.
He nodded. He kissed me again and we headed out of the room. He went back to Admit and I went to check on Dave.
"How's the patient," I asked, checking over the chart.
"Holding his own. Carter need medical attention," he asked, smiling at me.
"Very funny," I said.
"So, what did he give you for your birthday or do I not want to know," Dave asked, writing on the chart.
"I got a card and dinner tomorrow night," I said.
"Let me guess, someplace really expensive and exclusive," Dave said.
I shook my head. "I have no idea," I said.
"Well, at least you're both be seeing eye to eye with each other tomorrow night," Dave said.
"Get back to work! My love life isn't your concern," I said.
As I exited the room, Dave laughed at my back. "Let me know when you get one," he said.
I let the door swing shut behind me and shook my head. Dave loved to tease me, especially about Carter.
I headed back to admit and there was a crowd gathered. "What's going on," I asked.
They moved out of the way and, sitting on the Admit desk was a giant teddy bear holding a bouquet of flowers and an envelope.
"It's for you," Carol said.
Puzzled I walked to the bear and removed the card.
It had one sentence: Check your locker.
"What, Maddie," Carol asked.
"I'm not sure," I said, taking the bear, flowers and card and headed into the lounge.
I sat the bear on the table and opened my locker.
A bag with a bow hung next to my coat. A card dangled from a ribbon the on the bag handles.
"Your dinner attire," it said.
I pulled the bag down and pulled out a strapless black mini dress. There were silver strapped sandals in the bottom of the bag. A velvet box sat in the bottom.
I pulled it out, intrigued.
When it opened, I was staring at a gorgeous diamond tennis bracelet.
"Please wear this, too," a note attached to the top of the box said.
I put the dress and bracelet back into my locker and wondered what was happening.
The I noticed the box on the table. It was small and had my name on the top.
I opened the lid and found my favorite Godiva chocolates inside.
Another note fell out of the box. "I'll meet you at the marina at 7 tomorrow night. Please, don't be late," it said.
Laughing, I popped a chocolate into my mouth and headed back out. Everyone was gathered around admit, watching.
"Chocolate," I asked, setting the box on the table.
Carter was standing next to a bed, filling out the chart. He handed it to Lily and turned around.
Not saying a word, I rushed to him and kissed him. "Thank you," I said.
"Happy Birthday," he said.
A clearing throat brought as back to the real world. "If you two are finished making up, we have a full board to clear," Mark said.
"Sorry," Carter and I said at the same time.
Carter finished his shift at 9 that night. I gave him the key and settled in for the last twelve hours of my shift.
CARTER'S POV
It was Maddie's birthday. I'd been trying to figure out for weeks how I was going to get her back. What shocked me was to find out that she had been seeing Dave.
That, once again, brought out the protective nature in me.
Knowing that the woman I loved with my whole heart could possibly be putting someone else in that place in her heart, drew out protective feelings in me I had thought were gone. I might as well admit it, I was jealous.
I knew I had to tell her how I felt. I had to tell her that no one completed me; no one understood me as well as she. I loved her.
After my talk with Dave and finding out that, despite everything I had done, she still loved me, I knew I had to tell her I still loved her, too.
Then, I just had to prove that I did.
I saw her heading into the lounge and decided now was the time.
"Carter," she said.
"Hey, Sonny," I said, coming over to her. I handed her a card. "Happy Birthday."
She eyed me suspiciously before looking at the card. As she opened it, I slipped out of the lounge, fearing her reaction.
Dave called for me and I went into the trauma room to assist with a central line.
"So, did you pull your head out of your ass," Dave asked.
I glared at him. "What are you talking about," I asked.
"Come on, Carter. Did you finally tell Mads you were an idiot and that you still loved her," he asked, slipping in the central line.
"Dave, my relationship with Madison is none of your business," I said, watching his technique.
"Line's in. You can start fluids," Dave told the nurses. He turned to me. "You might be right, but that woman has become something special to me and I want to see her happy. While I think she could do better, she loves you. The least you could do is either tell her how you feel or tell her to get lost," Dave said.
Before I could respond, Madison entered the trauma room.
"Dr. Carter! Could I have a word with you when you're finished bailing out the residents," she asked.
"Of course, Dr. Ross," I said.
Dave turned to me. "Are you a dead man," he asked.
"We'll find out. If you see her in five minutes, come in with a crash cart. If not, then don't come in at all," I said, heading to the suture room.
"Yes, Dr. Ross," I asked as I opened the door.
"What exactly is this," she asked, holding up the card from me.
"Looks like a birthday card," I said, stepping toward her.
"You give me a generic birthday card for my birthday and profess your love to me inside of it," she said.
"I offered you dinner. You take me up on the offer, you could have another present waiting for you," I said.
"Do you mean it," she asked, hope in her eyes.
Deciding to have a little fun with her I asked. "About taking you to dinner?"
"You know what, forget it," she said, heading toward the door.
I wrapped my arms around her waist and stopped her movement. The embrace brought up so much desire, love and want in me. "Sonny," I said, whispering in her ear. I knew she couldn't resist that.
Before she could say anything, I kissed her. It was so wonderful.
She responded by putting her arms around my neck and playing with my hair. I nearly lost it right there because I couldn't believe how right everything felt. How right SHE felt.
When we broke apart and put my forehead against her. "Are we back," I asked, barely able to catch my breath.
"Yeah. But don't do that again. I mean it," she said.
"Dinner tomorrow," I asked.
"Yeah," she replied.
"Perfect. I love you, Maddie," I said and I meant every single word.
I watched her walk to find Dave and I made a quick phone call. Gamma's driver was waiting to deliver the gigantic bear I'd picked out for her birthday. I slipped into the lounge and put the dress in her locker and a box of chocolates on the table.
I exited the lounge and went to the phone. I made sure the yacht would be ready and we'd have the boat all to ourselves. I picked up a chart and headed to see a patient.
A few minutes later, Madison exited the lounge and walked straight toward me. Before I could react, she kissed me. Right in the middle of the ER. I knew we wouldn't be able to keep our getting back together a secret now.
"Thank you," she said.
"Happy Birthday," I said.
A clearing throat brought as back to the real world. "If you two are finished making up, we have a full board to clear," Mark said.
"Sorry," Madison and I said at the same time.
When I finished my shift at 9 that night, I got the key from Madison. I kissed her and wished her a good shift. I headed out the door and thought about having breakfast for her when she came home.