"Hey Randi. What's going on?" John asked as he started his shift. He glanced at the board briefly and then did a double take. "Randi, is that a joke?"
"You mean the patient in three? No, it's not. Abby's a real patient."
"What happened?"
"It's Friday, Malucci's shift is almost over, and Abby was the nurse who helped him."
"Ah, the curse."
"Dr. Carter, there's no such thing as a curse." Kerry stated plainly. "I see no reason to feed rumors."
"You gotta admit, it's a little strange."
"Run of bad luck."
"Bad luck usually doesn't happen in a specific time frame."
"All the same, I have a hard enough time getting some of the nurses to work with Dr. Malucci. Telling people there's some sort of curse attached to his patients won't help."
"I think Kerry's right, but I sort of have to agree with you Carter." Carol spoke up. "Last week one of Dave's patients bit Chuny and the week before one of them vomited on Haleh."
"We get those every day." Kerry brushed it off.
"But do any of them drop fifteen pound weights on your foot?" Abby asked as she limped out, assisted by Luka.
"What's the verdict?" Randi rolled a stool over.
"It's not broken but it will bruise." Luka said. "I can call Susan and she can come in and drive you home."
"I've had enough pain for the day. Susan is not driving my car."
"She's a good driver."
"Not when it comes to my car. It's like Dave and Fridays. Bad luck just seems to follow her and my car. She nearly hit some woman last time, and the time before that she was almost hit by a bus of kids. No. If I can't find someone to drive it, I'll take the El."
"And walk two blocks home? That won't do you much good." Carol said. "If you don't mind some company for a few hours, I'll drive you and your car home and Doug can pick me up."
"Sold. When are you off?"
"An hour."
"I was off ten minutes ago. Chuny punched out for me."
"You wanna go in the lounge?" Luka asked.
"No. I'll stay out here. I'll help Randi cover the phones."
"Thank you God." The brunette said as everyone around the desk got back to work.
"Hey Luka, tell Susan to call me later. I have to reschedule for tomorrow's trip." Abby said.
"Sure." Luka said taking a chart and heading off.
"Abby I'll be right back." Randi said.
"Okay."
"Going somewhere good?" John asked.
"Mall. I feel kinda bad about rescheduling."
"Why don't I take them?" Carter asked spontaneously.
Abby stared. "Um, well, I don't know. I mean, you have been hanging around them a lot lately but I don't think the mall is the best place for your first solo outing."
"Susan can come with us if you want."
"You wouldn't be mad?" Abby asked.
"No. It'd probably help to take Susan with us. Keep me in line."
"Keep you from buying out stores, right?" Abby teased. "It's just a shoe trip and some fall clothes."
"Okay." John nodded. "You wanna call Susan or should I?"
Abby picked up the phone. "I'll do it. Go find someone sick and cure them."
"Yes ma'am." John smiled.
"I'm coming. Hold on." Abby yelled to whoever was ringing her doorbell. "Susan, I swear if that's you, I'm going to hurt you for not using your key." She said, limping as fast as she could. She swung the door open. It was Carter. "Hi. You're early."
"Sorry."
"It's okay. Come in."
"How's the foot?" John asked as he came in and shut the door behind him.
"Bruising." Abby said as she hobbled to the couch and sat down putting her foot up on the coffee table.
"Who wrapped it?"
"Carol did last night before she left."
"Can I take a look?"
"By law there's supposed to be a nurse present when you're doing an exam." Abby teased.
"You're a nurse. You'll do." John said as he slowly unwrapped Abby's foot. "How's it feel?"
"Better then it looks at the moment." Abby frowned at the dark purplish bruise covering most of her foot.
"Dave owes you big time."
"He knows. I'm not mad at him. I'm mad at his patient. Ow! What are you doing, you sadist?" Abby yanked her foot away.
"Sorry." John bit back a grin.
"Do not laugh."
"You're a whiner. How did I not know that?"
"There's a lot you don't know about me John." Abby grinned.
"Really? Such as?"
Abby leaned forward. "If I tell you, I'll have to kill you." She said with a grin.
"Very funny." John smiled. He sniffed the air. "Nice perfume."
"Thank you." She smiled at him.
John leaned forward a little. Another few millimeters and he'd touch her lips with his own. Something he realized that he desperately wanted to do that moment. Just a little further�
"Al? I'm here." Susan said as she opened the door.
Abby pulled back. "Right here Susan."
Susan smiled as she came in. "Hi. Am I late?"
"I was early." John said.
"Oh. Are the girls ready?"
"Hope? Faith? Where are you?" Abby called.
Faith came running from the direction of the bedrooms while Hope sprinted in from the laundry room.
"Hi Aunt Susan." Faith said hugging the blonde woman.
"Hi John." Hope said with a smile.
He smiled at the little girl. He didn't need to bend down since he was still sitting on the coffee table. "Hey Hope. Ready to go?"
"Uh-huh." She nodded.
"Uh-uh." Abby said. "Your shoes don't match."
"Oops." Hope said sheepishly. She went back towards the laundry room.
"Aunt Susan, can we ride on the carousel?" Faith asked.
"Please?" Hope chimed in.
"Okay." Susan bought them tickets and then sat down on a bench watching them.
"Hey, where are the girls?" John asked as he rejoined her after visiting the men's room.
"Taking a ride." Susan nodded to the carousel. "Sit down."
John took a seat beside her. "Thanks for coming with me. I don't think Abby would have let me do this without you."
"You're not mad about that?"
"No, not really. She's letting me in. I don't wanna wreck that by asking for too much to soon."
Susan smiled.
"What?"
"You're definitely unique, Carter. Any other guy would've called a lawyer by now."
"I don't want to do that to them. Abby's their mother. I'd never take them away from her."
Susan kissed his cheek impulsively.
"What was that for?"
"Being the Carter I've always known."
John nodded. "Looks like they're done." He said when the carousel stopped.
Susan checked her watch. "We should get them home. It's been a long day."
"One more stop." John said looking over Susan's shoulder.
Susan glanced in the direction. "You're going to ruin their dinner and Al is going to hurt you."
"It's ice cream." John said going to meet the girls before Susan had a chance to get them away from the ice cream parlor.
Susan rolled her eyes. It never failed. Get a guy around some kids and he became an overgrown kid himself.
"Al is not going to be happy."
"ER."
"Is John Carter there?"
"Dr. Carter's not on today."
"Oh. Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
"I see. Thank you."
"Can I take-" Randi stopped when she heard a dial tone. "Weird." She hung the phone back up.
Ava Carter balled her hand into a fist.
John Carter had lied to her for the last time. It was time to find out exactly what he was doing.