Carter laid in his bed, thinking about his encounter with Abby earlier that day. It was complicated to her. How could it be complicated? That night certainly cleared everything up for him. Yet, she couldn’t end it with Luka, and she couldn’t let herself be with him. He sighed. Maybe the feelings weren’t coming from both sides. Somehow, he didn’t think so. Carter tried to go to sleep, but it was all too fresh in his mind.
"Abby, please get it straight soon."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Abby laid in bed with Luka sleeping soundly beside her. She couldn’t fall asleep. She couldn’t get that conversation with Carter out of her head. The look in his eyes. Every time she saw that look, she was ready and willing to be his slave. And she wasn’t. She couldn’t sort out her feelings. She cared about Luka, so much, almost so much, she didn’t want to let him go. There was a much deeper feeling for Carter, but how long would it last? As long as her last marriage? Maybe it wouldn’t even last long enough for them to get married. Carter was the best friend she ever had. She couldn’t lose him. No matter what.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Carter watched Abby all the next day. Nothing. Not a look, not a word, zilch.
"What are you thinking?" Carter asked Abby in his head.
To his surprise, she turned around and walked over to him.
"Can we talk?" Abby asked.
"Sure." Carter replied, and lead her out the doors and into the ambulance bay.
Abby took a deep breath. "Carter, I’m staying with Luka."
"What?" Carter said in astonishment.
"I’m staying with Luka. I can’t be with you. You mean too much to me."
"I don’t understand."
"What if we did get together? How long would it last?"
"Forever." Carter said decidedly.
"No!" Abby cried out. "None of my relationships work out. I’d rather not be with you than have my heart broken. And I’d rather not be with you than be on bad terms with you. You’re my best friend, I can’t lose you."
"I don’t want to be your friend." Carter said quietly.
"You’re going to have to be." Abby responded.
Carter looked at her sadly and walked away.
He couldn’t believe this was happening. He was so sure they were going to be together. It wasn’t fair. Who was Abby to decide whether they’d work out or not? She never wanted to take a risk.
"Or maybe, she just doesn’t really love you." Carter thought to himself. He shook his head. She had to, she just wasn’t seeing it clearly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Abby felt like crying. She could never get what she wanted.
"This is the right thing to do." She tried to convince herself. She couldn’t hurt Carter. Not like that.
"You’re just being a wimp. YOU just don’t want to get hurt."
That’s what she kept thinking, without wanting to. Abby knew it was true.
"Then why is it already hurting?" She asked herself before going back to work.