Notes: Set post "Walk in the Woods". I liked the episode and was happy to see Chen return, but the way Carter treated her during the trauma, and the writers' handling of it, irked me. It's out of character for Chen to not call Carter on his behavior. (e.g. What right did he have to push her aside and take over without even giving her a chance to do the procedure?) Just as it was out of character for Carter not to apologize for his behavior. I guess if you want something done, you gotta do it yourself. ;o) This is just a short little piece tying up the loose ends.
Dedication: For Jessica, who begged me to write it and gave me some great ideas.
Disclaimer: ER and its characters are the property of John Wells, Michael Crichton, Constant C. Productions and Amblin Television. No copyright infringement intended, no money being made, don't sue me, etc. etc.
Rating: PG-ish. If you can watch the show, you can read the fic.
Three words she'd never expected him to say to her. Her rival. Her colleague. Her friend. She tried to protest, but he'd already pushed her unceremoniously to the side, proceeding to intubate the child on the gurney before them. She fixed him with a glare that went unnoticed, and remembering that the patient was the top priority at present, assisted him. But make no mistake, he'd be hearing about this when they were through.
Carter concentrated on feeding the tube down the child's throat. He was having a little trouble, and all he could think was that he was glad it was him instead of Deb. The first day back could be rough, he knew from several first-hand experiences. He'd hoped to spare her that, especially when the child was a little boy, and probably made her think of the son she'd given away just two short months before.
After stabilizing the child for transport, they moved out of the way so he could be wheeled upstairs to the PICU. Jing-Mei stood in the hall, stripping off her gloves and other trauma gear. John could tell from her body language that she was angry. He figured she must be thinking about the child she gave away, wondering if he'd end up like the boy they'd just treated.
He couldn't have been more wrong.
She was fuming. So much so that she was certain she must have steam coming out of her ears. Fine, he outranked her in terms of what year resident he was, but that didn't mean he could push her aside and take over without giving her a chance to do it. She hadn't forgotten how to intubate in the eight weeks she'd been away. She'd expected some professional courtesy from him, but she guessed he didn't respect her as a professional anymore.
"Can you believe some parents?" he asked shaking his head.
He got no answer from her and found her glaring at him. It was a harsh look, and it didn't suit her warm and caring personality, marring her pretty face so much that it hurt to look at her.
"The next time you want to run a trauma, *Dr. Carter*, notify me so I can remember to stay the hell out of your way."
Carter cringed inwardly, and opened his mouth to apologize, only to find that she was long gone. He made a move to go after her, but Chuni called him to check on a patient and his opening was gone. Sighing heavily, he jogged off toward the appropriate room. It looked as though his days of screwing up weren't over yet.
~*~*~* *~*~*~
"Hey," Dave greeted John later that evening, "how's it goin'?"
"It's fine," Carter replied unconvincingly. "Have you seen Chen?"
Dave shook his head. "Nope. C'mon, Carter, tell me what's really goin' on."
Carter frowned. "It's nothing, Dave. Just a disagreement over a trauma, that's all. If you see her, tell her I'm looking for her, okay?"
Dave downed the last of his coffee and headed toward the door. "Sure," he replied, giving Carter a thumbs up and a trademark Malucci grin.
Alone in the lounge, Carter sank down onto the sofa, pulling his hand across his face. He'd really screwed things up this time around. He no longer had Abby as a sponsor, and now he wasn't even sure he had her as a friend. Weaver seemed more concerned about his ability to perform his duties as a doctor than she was about John Carter, the human being. Greene had his own problems to deal with, and Benton had taken his momentary relapse as a personal affront. He could count his true friends on one hand. Maybe one finger after the stunt he'd pulled with Deb before. His thoughts were interrupted by Haleh peeking her head in the door.
"Slip and fall coming in, Carter. Weaver said you should take it."
"Okay," he sighed, "I'll be right there."
~*~*~* *~*~*~
Three long hours later, he finally found her sitting at Doc's nursing a coffee. Sucking in a deep breath, he headed over to her table.
"Dave said I'd find you here. I've been looking for you for hours."
"Well, you found me," she replied, her voice tinged with fatigue.
He gestured to the seat across from her. "Do you mind?"
She shrugged. "Does it matter? You'll just do what you want anyway."
He folded himself into the booth. "I'm sorry about earlier. I was out of line and I apologize."
"You're damn right you were," she replied, raising her head to meet his eyes. "I'm not a wet-behind-the-ears medical student, John. I'm a resident, just like you."
"I know."
"Why, John? It's not like you to do that."
He sighed. "I thought I was protecting you. First days back can be rough, especially when they remind you of something you might not be ready to face. I guess I figured that you'd look down at that little boy and see your baby. I didn't want you to have to go through that."
She smiled, finding it hard to stay mad at him when he was being so incredibly sincere. "I appreciate you looking out for me, John. You're the best friend I have and I can always count on you for anything, but I know what I can and can't handle. I might be a little out of practice, but I wouldn't forget how to intubate in eight weeks. Let me decide next time, okay?"
He smiled. "You got it. So, you need a ride home?"
"Yeah, actually, if it's not too much trouble."
"No trouble at all."
They exited the building, pulling their coats tighter around them as they walked toward his car.
"So, we're okay again?" he inquired, draping an arm over her shoulders.
She smiled up at him. "Yeah."
"Good," he replied, dropping a kiss atop her forehead, "because you're my best friend in the world and I don't ever want to lose that."
She leaned into him. "You won't. You're not getting rid of me that easily."
John chuckled as they continued their trek toward his car. "I wouldn't dream of trying."
