A New Start-Chapter 2aA New Start-Chapter 2a
By: Vicki [email protected]
As John and Harper approach, Lucy becomes acutely aware of her own short comings. Where Harper was neatly dressed, Lucy was in the scrubs she had been in all day. Harper's hair was perfect, where hers was barely in the ponytail she had put in earlier. If this wasn't enough to bother her, the obvious attraction between her and John did.
"How do you know her?" Lucy asks, curiously.
"Well... she and Carter were med students together," Susan answers hesitantly, not offering any other explanation.
"Susan, you remember Harper, don't you?" John asks, smiling.
"Of course, "Susan says, forcing a smile.
"And this is Lucy," John says, pulling the ponytail out of her hair and letting it fall. She then extends her hand, which Harper ignores.
"John, I need to talk to you, if you have a few minutes."
"Sorry, I'm showing Harper around, I'll catch up with you later."
"Whatever, see ya," Lucy whispers, turning to leave.
"First year Resident�s, calling the Chief Resident by his first name? At
Parkland, they wouldn't dare," Harper chastises.
"Well, Lucy�s been around for a long time, one of the best damn doctors
we've got," John defends, as they continue their tour. Running into the lounge, Lucy is followed by several nurses, who had seen the whole thing.
"I must really look horrible," she cries, looking at her reflection.
"No you don't, you've just came back from maternity leave after having
twins no less," Haleh says, sympathetically putting an arm around her
shoulder.
"Man, did they have a "hot" history together when they were med students or what?" Chunni pipes up.
"You don't go around telling the new wife about her husband's former girlfriend, especially that one," Susan cautions.
Unfortunately Lucy's curiosity and pregnancy hormones got the best of her and before she could stop the words from coming out of her mouth, she heard herself ask- "How serious were they?"
"Do you remember the time I told you about his extended lunch break after getting his match?"
"Yeah."
"Well...guess who that was with?" she smiles.
"What about that time when they thought Harper was...oops!" Connie says, stopping before she finished.
"What?" Lucy insists.
"They thought she was pregnant," she replies quietly.
"Hey don't worry, I know he had that kind of a life before me, its only natural. I had fun too, you know," she grins.
"Like with Dr. Edison?" Lydia smirks.
"Are you kidding, all that was entirely for John's benefit," Lucy laughs.
"Man once 'you' guy's got it together, no empty exam room or supply closet was off limits as far as 'that' goes," Lydia laughs. Which causes everyone to do the same. However, the mood drastically changes when Jerry, who had been listening with great interest, decides to offer his information.
"Well, Carter told me a long time ago, he and Harper even 'did' it in the chapel."
"Jerry SHUT UP!!!" everyone yells.
"Susan, we got married there, �she whispers.
"It's okay, don�t get upset," she whispers back. �Guy�s let's give her
some space to get calmed down."
Turning to Jerry, �I hope you're proud of yourself, now get the hell out!"
" I can't take anymore of this shit today, I'm going to get the kids and go home!" she sobs.
"Hey calm down, you've been on edge ever since you've come back from upstairs. What's wrong?"
Not hesitating to tell Susan, who had become like an older sister to her. �I�m pregnant," she whispers with tears filling her eyes.
"Phew!" Susan comments. �Are you guy's okay with it?"
"Yeah, kind of surprised, but yeah, we're both okay with it, �she sighs.
"That's not the problem is it?"
"No," she says, trying to control her emotions, but having no luck. �I saw Coburn earlier, and she said, I probably won't be able to carry it to term," Lucy manages to say between sobs.
Giving Lucy a sisterly hug, Susan says, �When you off?"
"In fifteen minutes."
"Why don't you get yourself together, then you and Carter can go home and talk about everything that has happened today?"
"Sounds good Susan, thanks,� Lucy sighs.
As Susan leaves, Lucy goes to her locker to get her things and tries to calm herself down. Leaving the lounge, she heads to the admit desk, where she sees several of the staff hanging around to clock in or out. As she joins them, Frank hands her a note.
"From your husband," he says, not looking up from the desk.
"Gee thanks," Lucy groans, as she opens the note and reading it, wads it up and throws it back, accidentally hitting Randi.
"SON OF A BITCH! I'm going to get 'my' kids, she yells and storms off.
"What was that all about?" Randi asks, as she unravels the paper. As she reads the note, "Carter's in some deep shit!" she grimaces.
After picking up the kids from day care, she waits patiently for the elevator, when she hears a familiar voice, "So, these are these are the famous Carter twins, huh?"
Turning around she sees Dale Edison, bending down and looking at the kids.
"Yeah I guess so," she sighs.
"At least they've got your good looks, instead of ...hey where's daddy anyway?"
"Working late, there's a visiting Resident downstairs."
"Harper Tracy, right?"
"God. Does everybody know about her? �Lucy complains as they enter the elevator for the ride downstairs.
"You know, she was a med student the same time John and I were."
"Yeah, yeah, I've heard all about it," she moans. "So, what's your opinion of her?"
"You really want to know?"
"Yeah, I do."
"Let's just put it this way, once she sets her mind on something, she usually gets it."
"And that's supposed to make me feel better? I think she's here because of John," she sighs.
"I wouldn't worry, the two of you have been through too much to let anything or anyone come between you," he tries to reassure her.
"I don't know," she sighs.
Pushing the stroller through the ER, on the way to Doc Magoo's, she stops and gently puts her hand on his shoulder.
"You know, it's nice..."
"Not pretending anymore, right?"
"Yeah, I think we we're both using each other to get to John in different ways, weren't we?"
"You know that's right," he smiles. "I'll walk you over to Doc's."
"Thanks, that'll be nice," she smiles.
"See, I can be charming, let's go."
This friendly exchange didn't go unnoticed by John, who had been discussing a case with Luka and Harper.
Wheeling the twins into Doc Magoo's, the waitress at the counter, acknowledges her.
"Good evening, Dr. Carter, can I get you anything?" she asks, in a tired, but friendly voice.
"Yeah, just a salad and tea please, thanks," Lucy answers just as tired. Sitting down in a booth with the twins in their stroller, Lucy contemplates what had taken place and how she and John were going to deal with this problem. Was she right about Harper's motives, or was she just being jealous and letting her imagination and pregnancy get the best of her.
"Is the other Dr. Carter joining you?" the waitress asks, as she brings Lucy her food.
"Yeah, but I don't know when," she sighs, as she picks at her salad.
Her thoughts again wander back to the events that had happened her first day back. The only bright spot in the entire day was the thought of the two precious babies sleeping in front of her.
After an hour, John finally joins her, looking forward to finally be spending time with his family.
"Man, what a day!" he sighs, sitting down and looking at a menu.
"Whatever!" she sighs, rolling her eyes.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm tired okay, I just want to go home, put the kids to bed, and go to bed myself."
"Okay, I guess I'll just grab something when we get home," he sighs, helping her up and leaving Magoo's.
All the way home, Lucy stares blankly out of the window, not listening to John's conversation, until- "Earth to Lucy? You okay?"
"Just tired, that's all," she sighs, knowing if she said what was on her mind, they both might regret their words, so instead of saying anything, just let her feelings eat away inside of her.
Arriving home, John helps Lucy take the babies to the nursery, so she could get them ready for bed.
"Do you want anything from downstairs?" he asks.
"Naw, I'm going to put them to bed, take a fast shower, and then head to bed myself " she says, half heartily.
"Okay, I'll be up soon," he says, trying to give her a kiss, but she unconsciously moves away.
"Sorry," she lies," Just really wiped out."
After feeding and putting Beth and Bobby to bed, Lucy takes a fast shower and goes to bed, hoping to be asleep before John comes to bed.
Getting into bed John snuggles up to her and begins nuzzling the back of her neck, after getting no response, he gives her a kiss on the cheek and whispers,
"I love you Luce," in her ear, and turns over to go to sleep, not realizing she was wide awake with tears in her eyes.
After several hours of tossing and turning, Lucy decides, it's useless to sleep. Quietly getting out of bed, she goes to the nursery, and seeing that Bobby was stirring, gently picks him up and begins rocking him. Coming up behind her, John gently puts his hand on her shoulders.
"Is he okay?" he asks quietly.
"Yeah, I just needed to hold him for a little while, that's all," she sighs, closing her eyes and continues to rock him.
"Why's that?" he asks curiously.
"Just a hard day, that's all," Lucy sighs.
"You were quiet all the way home and barely said a word when we did get home. Is there a problem?"
"Not really," she says, trying to ignore the conversation.
"Didn't we make an agreement, not to keep anything from each other?"
"Yeah, but that was a long time ago," she barely whispers.
"Haven't you learned anything from our past mistakes?" he persists.
"Okay, but not in here," she says, getting up and putting Bobby back to bed.
Going back to their bedroom, she doesn't hesitate to begin- "She came back because of you, you know."
"That's ridiculous," he answers, defensively.
"Oh you think so?" she answers sarcastically.
"That was a long time ago, it's over," he says, beginning to get angry.
"Did you tell her you were married?"
"The subject never came up. Why?"
"Let me see, Susan you remember Harper don't you? Oh and yes, this is Lucy."
"I don't know what the difference is, she broke up with me. You know, I did have a 'life' before I met you."
"Give me a break, I know you did, I'm not that stupid John!" she yells.
"What about you and Dale?"
"We've been through that before, you know I was using him to make you jealous, NOTHING ever happened!"
"What about that little 'chat' you had with him this evening, was that for my benefit too?"
"No, he was just trying to be a friend, since you were too 'busy' with Harper to help me pick up your children.
"We were discussing a patient."
"Whatever."
"Let's just go to bed, you've had a hard day once you've gotten some sleep, you'll be able to look at things a bit clearer."
"You're right," she says, gathering her pillow and blanket in her arms.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm going to bed in the other room, I'll see you in the morning," she says, stomping out the door and leaving John at a loss for words.
