Disclaimer:Don't own anything.
Summary:Abby left Chicago but now she's home.
Category: Carby.
Author's Notes: Thanks to Linda and Star for their editing expertise. And one more thanks to Star for being a great co-author from Ch 2 on.
Prologue-
October 2001
Abby Lockheart looks at the stick she holds in her hand. Blue. It was definitely blue. She was pregnant.
Oh Lord.
She looks around her bathroom as she crashes onto the edge of the tub. Luka's things were gone now. His tooth brush. Razor. Gone is the blue brush that held the dark brown and gray hairs. The room is empty again. Just she remained. He has been gone for weeks, but the realization suddenly has hit her. Her hand runs through her short brown hair as she tries to catch her breath. He was calm as he tossed his stuff in his bag. Careful and complete. He didn't want to have to come back.
"Where were you last night? You weren't working."
"I was with Carter."
"Oh," he says wounded. His eyes don't meet hers. Instead he takes a long drink from his brandy. "All night."
"Luka, we slept together."
John. She hadn't spoken to him in almost a month. She asked for some time and some space. He'd taken it badly and had left her apartment in a fit of rage. Instead, he'd avoided her like the plague since then. Which, in retrospect, was probably a good thing, she mused. The last thing she needed was John Carter breathing down her neck right now. She had decisions to make.
Not about the baby. She had known from the moment she first suspected that she was pregnant that she'd be keeping it. One abortion had been enough for this lifetime. No, her decision was about where she'd be when she had the baby.
Abby rises and went into the kitchen after disposing of the pregnancy test. She rifled through the mail that had come that day and picked up a letter to open it.
Dear Miss Lockheart,
We are pleased to accept your application for Amnesty International. Please contact our offices to discuss your future with us.
Abby puts the letter back down. She wondered how pleased they'd be when they found out about her blessed event.
Only one way to find out.
Abby picks up the phone and dialed.
John Carter lays a chart down on the admittance desk and pinches the bridge of his nose. It has been a long and hectic night and he is beginning to feel the onset of a migraine.
"Hey Dr. Carter. Here are those x-rays on the woman in exam three," Randy says handing over an envelope.
"Thanks Randy. Hey, where's the nurses' schedule?"
"Over there with Haleh." She said before raising an eyebrow at him. "Why?"
"I just want to check on something."
"Whatever," she replies before picking up a ringing phone. "ER."
John walked over to Haleh. "Haleh."
"Carter."
"Can I take a look at the schedule? I wanted to check on who I'm going to be working with."
"Go right ahead. I'm outta here."
"Night Haleh," John says.
He hears other people call various farewells as he checks the schedule for Abby's name. His brow furrows when he doesn't see it.
"Everything all right Carter?" Kerry Weaver's voice asks.
"I'm not sure. I was wondering when Abby would be working but I can't find her name." He looks up. "Dr. Weaver?"
"You don't know?" Kerry looks surprised.
"Know what?"
"Abby quit."
"What?"
"Two weeks ago. She said she'd applied to Amnesty International and her acceptance had come through."
"She's gone?" John looks stunned.
"She left on a plane this morning. I'm sorry John." Kerry walks away from him, avoiding an emotional outburst or scene that she knew that she wasn't prepared to handle.
John puts down the schedule and makes his way through the hospital to the roof. Glancing around, he half expects to find her there, sneaking a cigarette. He leans heavily against the fencing that surrounds the helicopter pad.
"I need time." Abby expresses calmly.
"Time for what Abby?"
"To figure things out so I know what I want. Can't you understand that?"
"No. Because I already know what I want." He advances toward her, pulling her close into his arms. "I want you Abby," he husks.
"John, please just give me some time," she protests, looking up at his large brown eyes. As much as she wants to remain in his arms and not consider anything but the next few hours, she pushes him away. Rejected, Carter moves toward the door.
"I don't think so," he coldly replies as he slams out of her apartment.
He'd avoided her for weeks after that. When he'd finally cooled off, she'd been the one avoiding him. Now she was gone.
"Abby," he whispered brokenly into the night.