Here With Her
The streets were still dark. As dark as they would have been any night. But with Abby hanging onto his arm contently, it was bliss. The dark was soothing, but not soothing like a gothic, mysterious kind of way. Soothing in the way, where he felt like him and Abby were the only two on the face of the earth. And he didn't mind, because even if it were true, he wouldn't have noticed.
A whole two weeks with Abby. Two wonderful weeks of Abby. He loved being near her. He had never had a real relationship like this one. They hadn't slept together yet, but it had rarely entered his mind. Not that he didn't want it to happen, or some other immediate assumption.
Two weeks of holding hands when they fled the ER for lunch, whispering at the admit desk, and secret make-out sessions that took place in the lounge. Of course, these were hard to find time for, but they had made their way into their schedule a few times.
There were still the scary unexpected appointments between Abby and Luka. He had seen them walking together in the hospital. He didn't know why it bothered him, because he was only jealous before they were together because they weren't together. Just this afternoon, though, they were just giggling away.
He let it leave his mind as they neared the building. He let his thoughts drift back to her hand within his.
They reached his apartment, and Carter fished the keys from his pocket. She grabbed one hand with both of hers as she waited. Carter put the key into the door and let the heavy door fall open with a push. Abby smiled into Carter's sleeve. She kicked the door closed behind her without glancing at it.
Carter turned to her, Abby smiling. She'd smiled a lot lately. "Impressive."
"It's not my first time." They stared and then they giggled. Carter led Abby to the couch, throwing his coat onto a neighboring chair. Abby followed in doing so, and let Carter take her hands, slowly warming from the cold. They were both giggling funnily as they caressed each other. Carter let his lips guide themselves. They left her lips, causing her to groan, still with a laugh. He smiled and kissed her neck. Abby threw her head back in appreciation. She sighed an almost silent agreement and closed her eyes to take it in.
They fell on their backs on the couch, still embracing one another, crowded on the couch. They sat staring out the window, but her dark tresses easily distracted Carter, still somehow shining in the dark. He played with them with his fingers as she rested her head on his chest.
"Want them?" Carter said in the midst of the sea of feelings and silence.
"Want what?" Abby said, keeping her eyes where they had been for the last few minutes, the window.
"The stars," Carter said smiling. "I'll get them if you want them."
"Cliche," she said smiling. "But, sure. I could use some stars."
"I'll get you the kind that you stick on the ceiling."
Abby laughed. "Thanks, Carter." She breathed. Than she giggled again. "Luka has those in his room." She chuckled to herself.
"What a man," Carter said sarcastically. Even Abby laughed at his remark.
"I know."
Carter lay there for a moment, reasoning with himself. Debating whether or not to ask her. "What were you two talking about today in the lounge?"
"Umm," she said, straining to remember. Carter wondered if it was an act. Her 'trying to remember.' He was again stricken with shock at his thoughts. "Oh yeah. Weaver. She had food in her hair, like frosting or something. When Luka took it out, he licked it off his fingers. It was so gross." She laughed. "Why do you ask?"
Carter again didn't know why he was asking her what he was. "You two have been hanging out a lot lately."
Abby sat up over him. "Dr. Carter," she said. "Are you jealous?"
Clearly lying, he sat up and answered her, "No, no. I just, you know." He shook his head quietly. "It's just that, I don't know. It's just that you walk around the hospital with him and we barely talk."
Abby giggled and looked at him. "Yeah, but I only walk with him. I meet up with you in the lounge and make out with you. That's against Weaver code isn't it?" She laughed. "Who do you think is getting the better side now?"
Him. No doubt it was him, Carter thought. "Okay, whatever you say." He couldn't believe he had just said that. He wanted to refrain himself from turning away, looking upset, but he was too late. He cursed himself in his mind for doing any of it.
"What?"
"I didn't mean it that way, Abby." He looked at her. "I meant to say-"
"What about you and Susan?"
He was taken away by this comment. How could she suggest this? He didn't even think of what he had asked her.
"I see you guys walking in the hall all the time." She was right. But all they had done during those times was talk about Abby. Well, Carter would. He would go on forever about her, her touch, her smile, her laugh. Susan would go crazy, into a laughing fit. And that's the only reason he spent time with Susan these days. If he had it his way, he would spend that time with Abby. But that wasn't possible.
"Susan and I are just friends, though."
Abby backed away slightly. If he hadn't added the word 'though,' he might have been okay. But he hadn't listened to himself.
"Luka and I are only friends. He's a very good friend. And if you can't see that," she said, then she paused. She waited for a response from Carter. When there was none, she stood up in anger and took her coat from the chair where it had been thrown just ten minutes before. "I can't believe you."
"Abby, wait-" Just like in the movies. Now the girl would walk out and the guy would be alone for the night.
"No, Carter. I'm out of here." Abby said, removing her hair from the inside of the coat, where it had stayed within the collar. "Good night."
Carter protested, but it didn't do any good. She left, slamming the door behind her. Just like in the movies. Only, he wasn't sure if he knew how to fix this one.
