Coming Home




Chapter 5: The Secret's Out

Carter got Abby to work in record time, with five minutes to spare. "Thanks," Abby said, "I'll call you tomorrow."

"I'll pick you up tomorrow morning. We'll talk over breakfast," he insisted.

"Whatever you say, Carter." Abby gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Everything's going to be okay," she tried to reassure him before she rushed into the hospital. Carter was still worried.

**********

In the lounge, Abby tried to put away her things quickly, while Luka was getting ready to go home. In her efforts to be swift, she ended up dropping quite a few things on the floor. She sighed heavily. Luka came over to help her gather her things. "Thanks," she said.

"What's this?" Luka asked as he flipped over a piece of paper that Abby had dropped. His eyes grew wide as he realized what it was. "Is this yours?" he asked in disbelief.

At first Abby was speechless; however, she soon answered him with a slight nod.

"Congratulations!" Luka said with a smile before he gave her a hug.

"Thank you," she replied quietly.

While they were still hugging, Carter entered the lounge. He couldn't believe his eyes. Abby noticed him and quickly realized what he must be thinking. "John, this isn't what it looks like…"

"Really…" Carter tried very hard to hide the hurt and anger he was feeling. "Is this your big news? You're back with Luka? What was all that back at Susan's?" Carter left the lounge and headed outside. How could she do this to me…he thought.

Abby ran after him. She was not about to lose him again.

"John, wait! John!" she cried. He didn't respond, or even turn around. They both ended up in the ambulance bay. Abby was still way behind Carter. "John!" she shouted at him, "John, I'm pregnant!" Carter stopped dead in his tracks. "Luka saw the ultrasound photo drop out of my locker. He was congratulating me." Carter turned around and slowly began to make his way toward her.

"You're pregnant?" Abby didn't know what to make of his facial expression and tone of voice. She had no idea what he was thinking.

"Almost five months. The baby's yours." He just stared at her. She was starting to get worried. "John, say something!" He said nothing. He just put his hand on her cheek and kissed her. He pulled away slightly, but still remained close to her face.

"I love you," he whispered.

"I love you, too," she answered. Then they kissed again as the snow began to fall.

**********

That night, Abby and Carter lie awake in bed in Abby's apartment. Carter couldn't keep his hands off her stomach. "What are you doing?" she asked.

"I want to feel the baby move," he said, acting like a little kid who had never seen a pregnant woman before.

Abby laughed. There was a moment of quiet. Then, she asked, "What made you decide to come back?"

Carter thought for a minute. He didn't know where to start. "A lot of things really…" he finally said. "I got tired of running away. I decided that it was time to come home and be an adult-to take responsibility for my inheritance, and instead of being ashamed of it, to do something useful with it-to help those in need. And not just by going to fundraisers at museums and charity auctions, but to really get in there and get my hands dirty. I realized that there are people right here in Chicago who need good doctors, and that I don't have to go all the way to Africa to help people. And, of course, I felt horrible for the way that I left you, but I didn't expect you to forgive me…" His voice trailed off.

Abby reached for his hand, gave it a squeeze, and asked, "So, do you have specific plans in mind?"

"Yeah," he answered, "I'd like to open a free clinic for people who are poor and have no insurance, and I want to work in it myself." He paused, and then added, "And I would love for you to help me run it."

"Sure I'd love t-" she started to answer, but stopped mid-word and grabbed Carter's hand to put back on her stomach, so he could feel the baby kick.

"Wow, that is so cool…" he said, mesmerized like a little kid again.

"So what do you want to call him?" she asked.

"Him?" he asked, stunned. "It's a boy?"

Abby nodded in agreement. "I found out at my appointment last week. And just so you know, 'John Truman Carter IV' is out of the question," she smiled.

"No way, I promised myself a long time ago that I would never do that to my son-my son-wow…"

"We could name him after your brother Bobby. I know how much he meant to you."

"Your brother means a lot to you, too. How about we name him 'Robert Eric Carter' after both our brothers? And instead of 'Bobby,' we'll call him 'Robbie.'"

"I like it," said Abby.

"What about you? Are you going to change your name?"

"What?" Abby was confused.

"When we get married…"

"When we what? When?"

"Well, if it's up to me, as soon as possible."

"Wait, John, if this is just because I'm-"

"This," he interrupted her, "is because I love you. The baby is just a bonus." He looked her straight in the eye and took one of her hands in both of his. "Abigail Lockhart, will you marry me? Will you be my wife?"

"Yes," she said simply and gave him a kiss. That night they just held each other, and they both slept more peacefully than either of them had in a long time.



Part 6
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