The clock is ticking on Carter and Abby's relationship as coworkers and now, friends. When Carter takes off for Africa to rescue Luka, what happens when Abby follows him to the Congo? Set during 10.1, 'Now What?'. Potential Carby.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the ER characters. No infringement intended. Just borrowing.
A/N: Yes, I am a Carby fan, but not as much as I used to be. I was just generally annoyed with them towards the very end of last season and the beginning of this season. I do like Abby's character much better now in Season 10 then I did in Season 9, though and that will be reflected in this fic. I don't really know where this story came from, but it starts during episode 10.01 of season 10, "Now What?". Basically an alternate take on what happens when Carter returns from the Congo the first time.
Reviews are much appreciated!
xo; Mari
Carter hesitated, placing his hand on the doorknob of Abby's bedroom. His plane had landed at O'Hare two hours before—delayed because of the stormy Chicago weather. And without hesitation, he had headed straight back to the person who he had left behind to find himself. Find himself. Here he was, six months short of his thirty-fifth birthday, trying to figure out what was supposed to become of his life by leaving his girlfriend of almost a year behind without a good reason. Didn't this sort of thing happen in a person's early twenties? Carter remembered vaguely how he had avoided Abby, first telling her that he wasn't planning on joining Luka in Africa, but then weeks later, coincidentally bumping into her and spilling the news. That led into a heated argument with both parties separating on a bad note. A bad note that whether or not Abby would believe, ended up staying on Carter's mind for the two weeks he was in the Congo.
Who was he kidding, really? He knew Abby. She was more than upset with him right now. Their relationship had been falling apart, perhaps willingly, long since he had left for Africa. The matter now was, could it be saved, and did they both want it to be?
Letting out a long sigh, Carter pushed open the bedroom door. It gave way with a little creak, and immediately he saw Abby. She was asleep on her side, the sheets bunched around her shoulders. The moonlight was flooding through the window, catching her hair in a soft glow as it fanned around the pillow. She looked peaceful but worried even in her sleep.
He sat down on the edge of her bed and raised his hand, running it gently down her side. He had missed this—had missed her, even through all of their problems, her problems, his problems. He had told Maggie once that he could spend twenty three out of twenty four hours thinking about the reasons why they were completely wrong for each other, baggage included. But in that twenty fourth hour, everything he thought about her just wanted to make him love her more.
Now he had to know. He had come here for a reason, and whatever the outcome, good or bad, he'd take it and move from there. He hadn't showered in over two days. He was exhausted. He was hungry. But he had to know what they were before he could and do any of that. With that, Carter leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on Abby's forehead. He almost held his breath when her brown eyes fluttered opened and she glanced at him groggily. This was it. It was a win or lose situation, and he couldn't run from it anymore.
"Hi." The words had left his mouth mechanically, as if he had planned on saying them all along.
"Hi," Abby whispered back. She sat up in the bed and gathered the loose sheets around her, not quite awake yet. "When…did you get back?" She broke their gaze and opened her nightstand drawer, pulling out a cigarette and lighter. She lit it and inhaled quickly, sliding the cigarette in between her slim fingers.
"Just now," Carter answered, just watching her.
Abby turned her head to the side and glanced at her illuminated alarm clock. "It's five thirty in the morning."
He nodded and looked at the bedspread. "My flight was delayed because of the storm." Carter watched her take another drag of her cigarette and tuck a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "I…missed you."
She blinked at him, almost as if she had no recollection of what those words meant at all, but Carter saw her half nod. "Did you just let yourself in?"
He didn't know what to say. He had been right about one thing, though. She wasn't going to let him off the hook easily. "I'm sorry about how I left. I didn't--."
Abby said nothing. Instead she crushed out her cigarette in the ashtray and got out of the bed, clad in a tank top and pajama bottoms. "You didn't think, right?"
Now it was Carter's turn to say nothing. "I'm sorry."
She brushed past him and walked out into the hall. Carter got up off of the bed and followed her, not sure if this was what she wanted him to do, or the right thing to do. He was a little stunned when he realized what she was doing. Abby was pulling a spare blanket and pillow out of the linen closet. "You can sleep on the couch, if you want. Or you can leave. That's fine too."
"…Can I stay?"
She nodded and walked into the living room, where she removed the large throw pillows and started making up the couch into a temporary bed. She tried turning on the lamp, and silently cursed. A crack of thunder emitted over the building, and Abby heard the whir of the refrigerator stop. The power had gone out.
"Power's out," Carter stated. "Do you have a shift tomorrow?"
Abby nodded slowly. "Ten to ten."
Carter felt his way over to the couch and sat down to take off his shoes. "Can we get something to eat in the morning? Just so we can talk? Or, I can make breakfast."
"You don't have to do me any favors," she replied softly. "But if you want to, we can. I'm sure you'll be tired though. You might want to just sleep."
He was getting the hint that Abby didn't want to discuss anything with him—that she was trying to avoid the topic. "I'm okay. I slept a lot on the plane."
"Okay. Well…if you need anything, you know where it all is. Take a shower."
"Why, do I smell?" Carter cracked. Okay, potentially a lethal time for a joke, but he had to try. He saw Abby's eyes light up, almost as if she wanted to smile but didn't want to forgive him that quickly.
"No, but you look like hell." Abby started backing out of the room carefully, so as not to collide with anything in the dark. "Goodnight. Good morning. Whatever."
"Night Abby." Carter watched her retreat back into her bedroom, where the door softly closed, only left open a crack. He stretched out onto the couch, trying to find a comfortable position. Although he had a lot on his mind, he quickly fell asleep, not even bothering to move the blanket over himself.
He was definitely in the doghouse. But had he really expected any better?
Short, but it is sort of a prologue/starter. Continuation will depend on reviews, I think. Let me know what you think. =]
Opening lyrics credited to Michelle Branch.