NOVEMBER 12th "Happy Birthday," Lucy wished to herself sarcastically. She had been determined to tell John about the baby. Lucy was planning on inviting him over for dinner, but the way he'd been acting towards her lately, that seemed unlikely. So, as a back up plan, she was going to meet Elizabeth and some of the girls at Vinny's for dinner. Everyone, sometime during her shift, wished her a Happy Birthday, except Carter. He continued to work minor emergencies, while she had already been able to run a couple of trauma, she was definitely getting her old confidence back. While doing charts, Kerry approached her, "How are things going?" she asked. "Oh, pretty good." "Seems like you're getting back into the swing of things. Any problems?" "Not really, " she replies with a heavy sigh "Do you want to talk?" Kerry asked Lucy debated about whether to tell Kerry about the baby. She decided, yes. "Yeah, I really do need to talk to you about something." Kerry sits down beside Lucy, giving her, her full attention. With a deep breath, Lucy begins,"Kerry, I'm pregnant. About eight weeks." "That's about the time you came back to work, isn't it?" Lucy just nods. "Is it John's?" "Yes, but he doesn't know yet. We haven't exactly been on speaking terms, if you haven't noticed. "Noticed? Everyone's been concerned about the both of you, but we didn't want to say anything. We were wondering if John is having problems again?" "No, he's not, not that he's letting me know about, he just wants to start getting back into traumas. He's really tired of doing all this minor med stuff. He's a GOOD doctor, and he must be feeling like he's not measuring up to "his" standards. Could you please, give him a chance." "We'll see. Isn't your shift over?" "Yeah, it is, I guess it's a birthday dinner with the girls. See you tomorrow." Lucy gathers her belongings and heads out to the car, where Abby is waiting.
FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER "County this is Unit 51. We're bringing a female;minor MVA. Says she's a doctor in the ER. Name: Knight, ETA-five minutes." "Where's Carter?" yells Kerry "Exam One." "Tell him, he's got a minor MVA coming in, five minutes, if he wants it" Carter, who is anxious to be in charge of his first trauma, since being back to work,begins to get himself "psyched up" for the incoming trauma. All eyes were on him, as everyone was watching to see how he would do, and he knew it too. He only wished Lucy was there so he could show her how a "veteran" did things. As the patient was wheeled in and the paramedics gave him the "bullet"- he was stunned to see who it was. "Restrained passenger, semiconscious at the scene, minor head lac, IV, with ringers lactate administered at the scene. Cater snaps out of his daze and begins to take command, yelling out orders,-" I want a CBC, Chem 7, CAT scan, and chest X-ray." The ER staff were able to stabilize Lucy within a short time, as her injuries weren't too severe, much to everyone's relief, especially Carter's. Lucy was taken to an ICU room, where she was to stay until her lab results came back. "I want to see her results , as soon as you get them,"says Carter to anybody, who would listen. "I'll go get them myself," says Weaver Carter looks puzzled,as to why Kerry would take such an interest in Lucy. But soon realizes that she has taken Lucy under her wing, ever since she's been back. At that moment, he also realizes how they "had" returned to their "old" ways.
LUCY'S ICU ROOM Lucy lay sleeping, with Carter sitting by her bedside, waiting for her to wake up. Feeling bad for the way he had been treating her lately. "John, here are her labs." ""Let me see them," Weaver hands Carter her chart and waits for some a minute to see what his reaction might be. He just stares at the results. "John, you alright?" "Yeah, fine." "Well, I'll just leave you alone." "Thanks Kerry" As John turns back around to Lucy, she begins to wake up, "Hey, how are you feeling?" he asks. "Like I've been hit by a truck, " she laughs. Carter,returns a laugh and forces a small grin. "What's wrong?" she asks "When were you going to tell me?" "I've been trying to tell you for the last couple of weeks,but-" "I know, Ever since mom and dad came back into town, I've been a pain in the ass, haven't I?" She just smiles and nods, and they both share a little laugh about it. "How far along are you?" About eight weeks." Carter thinks for a minute, then smiles,"The first time we--you know." "Or the second, or the third, or the fourth," she says smiling. He playfully pats her on the head and gives her a kiss. "Come on, I'll sign you out and I'll take you home." "I've got clothes in the locker" "Okay, I'll get them, be back soon" Carter opens the locker they share and seeing all the birthday cards, realizes that today was her birthday and he hadn't even acknowledged it. So, before he returns to the ICU room, he makes a fast trip to the hospital gift shop, to pick out a present for Lucy. Not finding anything, he was about to leave, when a necklace catches his eye, on it a small cross. He soon returns to the ICU, with Lucy's clothes and the necklace. After being released from the hospital, Carter drives her home to make sure she gets settled in and comfortable. "You rest on the sofa, while I fix you something to eat, a sandwich, maybe?" "Sure, sounds good." "You wait here, and don't move," says Carter, as he goes into the kitchen. Though they had been together, Carter was still getting use to where everything was, Lucy could her cupboard doors slamming and kitchen cabinets being closed,rather loudly. "Lucy, where's the bread?" "In the bread box." "Where's the meat?" "In the fridge." "Where's the plates?" Walking into the kitchen, "Up there," pointing to the cabinet door right in front of him, "Do you want me to make it?" "Yeah, maybe you'd better," he replies with a grin "Make me one too, if you don't mind" As Lucy makes their sandwiches, Carter hops up on the counter top, and just looks at her. Finally,-"Are you okay, with the baby?" "Yeah, I am," Lucy says, sounding very positive,"What about you?" "I think, I'm still trying to adjust to the news, but the more I keep thinking about it, the more I'm beginning to like the fact that I'm going to be a father and your the mother of my baby." At that moment, Carter gathers Lucy in his arms and holds her closely and whispers- "I love you Lucy" Without any hesitating, she answers,"I love you too, John." All of a sudden the realization that today was still her birthday sets in- "Oh, by the way,Happy Birthday" "Thanks, thought you forgot," she laughs, knowing he actually had. "I got this," and hands her the necklace. "It's beautiful," she says, allowing him to put it on her. Even though Lucy was off,the next day, Carter had an early shift. It had been a long day for both of them, as Carter gently carried Lucy to her room and laid her on the bed, "Stay the night," she asked. "Are you sure, you should really get some rest." "Absolutely," she says with a smile Not taking advantage of the situation, Carter lays beside her, just holding her the entire night. After a good night's sleep, the couple woke early enough to have a bowl of cereal and coffee, before John had to go home to change clothes. Arriving at the hospital, Carter realized how much his life had changed in the last 24 hours. Yesterday, he was mad at the world, and now, thanks to Lucy, there is so much hope for the future. As he arrived for work, he was greeted by whistles and catcalls. Kerry coming up to him and thanked him for the hundred dollars she had won in the Carter/Lucy nurses pool. The day went fast for Carter, all her really wanted to do was finish his shift and return to Lucy. They DEFINITELY had a lot to talk about. After his shift, he hurries back to Lucy's apartment, where she opens the door giving him and him returning a deep passionate kiss. After reluctantly breaking it off, he says- "I'm starved." "I am too," she replies with a mischievous grin "Are you really?" "Yeah,you bet!" "That will have to wait" he says, tweaking her nose. Going over to the couch,where she lays her head on John's lap, stretches out her legs, and closes her eyes, "How was work today?" she finally asks "Everybody knows," he says with a smile "And you thought they wouldn't, well, who won the money?" "Weaver" "I wonder how she figured it out?" "Doesn't make any difference does it?" "No not really" Turning serious, John says'"Luce, we really need to talk about us and-" he gently pats her stomach. "I know" "You know,I'll be here for you and the baby, don't you?" "I know you will, I and I appreciate it. Right now, I need to tell mom, and I think I need to do it in person, not with some phone call." "So, when will you go?" "I have next weekend off, I'll call her and see if she's going to be home,then I'll tell her I'm coming for a visit." "Do you want me to come with you?" "You don't have too, if you don't want too, it's my mom, and I'm, the one that should face her." "I had a hand in it too, she might as well take it out on me now, rather than down the road. Try to mend fences, before they fall apart, you know." he volunteers. Completely changing the subject,Lucy asks- "What time are you on tomorrow?" "Seven. You?" "Same...Don't you think we'd better think about going to bed?" "You read my mind" The next day at work, Lucy was besieged with congratulations and people telling her, they ALWAYS knew she and John would get together. Finding a few minutes to herself, she makes the call to her mom and then makes arrangements for her and John to go to Boston on Friday night. The flight was uneventful, John slept, while Lucy was trying to decide exactly, what to say to her mother. She finally, came to the conclusion, she'd just wait and see what happens, when she gets there. BOSTON AIRPORT- Barbara Knight greets her daughter, by commenting how well and happy she looked. "Guess getting back to work agrees with you," she says,smiling at her daughter. "It sure does. Mom, I'd like you to meet John Carter," she replies Barbara's smile disappears from her face, as she realizes he is "the" John Carter. The same person, who should have been looking out for her only child, only a few months ago. The car ride from the airport to the house was uncomfortable for both Lucy and John as Barbara talked about some of the people she had met in the Boston area during her recovery. They both had a "feeling" this was going to be a very long weekend.