Here's CHAPTER 18

this story's so long! - i promise 20 chapters will finish it

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Carter walked out of the lift and into the ER. He looked tired. Weary would be a better description thought Kerry as he passed by her.
"Jerry .. can I borrow that phone after you?"
Jerry stuck his thumb up in response.
".. is Abby ok?" asked Chuny
"she will be .." he responded, trying to make his voice sound cheerful ".. she's doing great"
"That's good to hear man" interrupted Jerry, slapping Carter on the back as he handed him the phone.
Carter punched in the number as Susan walked over.
"Hey, what are you doing down here?"
Carter held his hand up to pause the conversation.
"Mom? ... is she there yet? ... well maybe she dyed it ... well she's on that flight, so just keep looking ... call when you've got her ... bye."
He hung up and sighed.
"What's that all about?" asked Susan, rubbing her eyes slowly.
"My mother decided to be "helpful" and pick Abby's mom up from the airport ..."
"Maggie's coming?" interrupted Chuny
"Yep" nodded Carter.
"Hey, Malik, Maggie's coming by today ..."
Malik looked up.
"Maggie ... as in .. Abby's mom?"
Chuny grinned and nodded.
"Oh man" said Malik to himself, remembering how she had propositioned him on her last visit, to put it mildly.
"You can run but you can't hide, pretty boy" shouted Chuny as she walked into the lounge.
"Did I miss something here?" questioned Susan.
Carter was about to explain when Kerry approached the desk.
"Malik, don't you have something to do?"
He disappeared before she even finished the question.
"How is Abby doing, Carter?"
"She's recovering quickly. Dr. Corday's doing the post-op now"
"Is she upto any visitors?"
"Umm, yeah, she is"
His voice tailed off as he remembered something.
"Hey, Jerry? If my mother calls, page me."
"Sure thing Dr. Carter"

Kerry glanced at some charts absent-mindedly, looking up as Susan and Carter made their way out of the ER.
"Jerry, page me if I'm needed - I'll be upstairs"

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"It might not seem like it, but you were very lucky"
Abby laughed almost bitterly.
Elizabeth looked at her seriously.
"It could have been a lot worse."
Abby felt self-conscious suddenly.
" ... anyway ... you checked out fine, we just need to keep that clean, and keep an eye on those stitches. You'll need another head CT - I'll get that
sorted."
Elizabeth put the chart down.
".. otherwise, you need your rest, we'll observe you for at least another week, then you're free to go."
Abby grimaced at the thought of hospital food for a week; glancing sourly at the tray of untouched food by her bed.
Elizabeth caught her gaze.
"You know I have it on good authority that the chicken soup is quite palletable"
Abby smiled.
"You should try the Caribbean peppers" she quipped.
Elizabeth smiled at Abby's characteristically dry humour.

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Kerry smiled at Elizabeth as they passed in the corridor. She paused outside Abby's room before entering.
"Dr. Weaver?"
Abby could barely hide the slight shock and the overwhelming embarrassment from her voice. Kerry knew Abby would hate her seeing her like this. She knew the nurse was very serious; professionally speaking.
"I'm glad you're getting better Abby - you had me worried"
Abby blushed slightly.
Kerry took a seat, placing her crutch on the floor.
"... Abby ... there were ... traces of alcohol in your blood."
Abby felt her head swoon slightly, the blood pounding in her ears.
"I ... I didn't think I was over the limit."
Kerry could hear the tinge of panic in her voice.
"No, no you weren't."
Abby let out a shaky breath, her eyes glazing over slightly.
"How long have you been drinking?"
Kerry spoke very softly, not wanting to come down hard or intimidate Abby in any way.
"I ... I relapsed a few months ago. But .. but I stopped. I had a bad couple of days - yesterday I drank two beers. But I stopped ... it .. it was a
one-off"
Kerry nodded, thinking how to phrase what she knew she had to say.
"You need to consider going back to counseling Abby, especially if you want to come back to work .."
"I do" snapped Abby, and then checking herself "I ... I mean I will, thank you Dr. Weaver."
Just then, Carter entered the room.
"I got pie ... Dr. Weaver?"
"I should really get back to the ER .... take care Abby ..... John."
She nodded at him and then left.

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"We need to talk."
"... I didn't know whether to get apple or blueberry so I ..."
"John, we can't pretend nothing happened. I can't pretend."
He put the food down, talking quietly at the same time.
"I just want you to get better Abby"
"It's not that simple ... you ... you should know that"
He nodded to himself, folding his arms across his chest in a defensive movement.
"I know that you don't WANT to get better"
"Oh please" she spat "don't you start as well"
"well ... the truth hurts" he replied, standing up and turning to look out the window.
Abby breathed out sharply, frustratedly trying to prop herself up on her elbows. She couldn't argue with him lying down.
"I DO want to get better. I want to be ok, and I want to be with you..."
She pointed at him as she said the last word, ripping the pulse-ox from her finger. Carter swiveled round as numerous alarms went off around
them. Abby irritably slumped back into the bed.
"Abby? What's wrong? What happened?"
He was leaning over her, slapping her on the cheek and shaking her by the shoulder. Abby stared at him in disbelief, hitting him in the chest twice.
"Get off me ... it's just the stupid pulse-ox"
He leapt back from the bed.
She clipped it back onto her finger, and then began to smile. The smile turned into a soft chuckle, which soon turned into uncontrollable giggles.
She looked at John - he was a picture, stood there looking so serious and angry.
"It's not funny" he sulked.
"I'm sorry, I know ..." Abby managed to get out before falling into another spat of giggles. "You should have .... seen .... your face when I .... hit
you."
She took a deep breath, trying to control herself, and then looked up at him fondly, speaking softly.
"You know I love you, right?"
He still wore his serious expression, but his posture loosened a bit, his arms dropping to his sides.
"You need help Abby"
She laughed again "That's what I was trying to tell you"
He raised his eyebrows, looking at her pleadingly.
"Really?"
"I'll go to counseling ... I promise .... but I can't get better ... without you"
He knelt by her bed, reaching up to touch her face, smoothing her hair away, searching for words.
"I love you"
She reached up, moving a hand up his neck to the back of his head, pulling him down to her.

Their lips met - tenderly and sweetly.
It was so much like their first kiss, and yet so much more, so full of hope.

As the kiss deepened, the same raw passion, the same mutual need was there between them.
Abby broke away, slightly breathless.
She smiled, running her thumb over his eyebrow and down his cheek.
"We're going to be ok" she whispered, pulling him back down.

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END OF CHAPTER 18

I can't believe I've covered 2 days of narrative in about 16 chapters.
Anyway, I hope you're still enjoying it.
Thank you very much for the helpful and encouraging reviews - they're very
generous.

only 2 chapters to go!