One Day At A Time

Notes: I want to say a thank you to anyone who has followed this story. I know it's taken me a lengthy amount of time to conclude it, which usually drives me nuts, but unfortunately, real life got in the way of my writing. Thanks to Sharon S. and quite a few fanfic readers, who have regularly e-mailed me to see when the next chapter was coming out, it kept me on my toes, and got me moving to complete this story!


Peter walked into his patient's room, chart in hand, surprised to see him up and moving around. He would have to change his tactic somewhat as to how he approached the insomnia issue. He looked at the chart, making various "hmm, and uh-huh" noises, that any good doctor should, and looked up into the anxious face of John Carter.

"So, your blood pressure is good, labs came back normal..." Peter started.

"Yeah, I know.." John interrupted.

"How do you know that?" Peter asked.

"Looked at the chart, and I just finished taking my blood pressure 15 minutes ago, normal by the way."

"Oh, well, good to see you taking care of yourself."

John was silent, waiting for the verdict as to whether or not he could go home.

Peter finished perusing the chart, and closed it with a slight clicking noise, "you forgot one thing though Carter."

"What's that?"

"I don't see your initials in the QA section of this chart."

John's felt a blush start from his toes and work it's way up rather quickly to redden his cheeks. He grinned rather sheepishly at Peter, "I couldn't sleep, and they were really slammed, I felt fine, still do..." John was talking way too quickly, and he knew it, but was helpless to slow it down. "You know...just wanted to give them a hand."

"Why did you refuse the Ambien?" Peter asked.

"It's makes me too groggy in the morning, I just don't get 'good' sleep from sleeping pills." John was silent for a moment, "I think I'm going to give Northwestern a call when I get home, they have a PTSD clinic there...I think I need to look into it."

"Good....good, I think you do too. You know, no matter how many other people tell you it's not your fault, and no matter how many times you tell yourself it's not your fault, your subconscious doesn't seem to be listening. I'm glad you came to this conclusion on your own Carter." Peter clicked his pen, and wrote the magic words in the chart...patient discharged to home.

************************ John was in the shower when Stephanie knocked on the door. She finished packing up the few items he had brought and waited for him to come out of the bathroom. When the door opened, she couldn't help but stare. He was a bit thinner, but he looked absolutely wonderful, rosy glow to his cheeks, wet hair, jeans and a T-shirt, smiling widely when he saw Stephanie.

"You really look good." Stephanie said.

"Oh, well, so do you...but then again, you always look good!"

John moved across the room toward her and leaned down slightly to kiss her. Stephanie reciprocated, a tingling feeling working it's way down her body. The man could kiss.

As they parted, John ran his fingers through his still wet hair, "I'm so ready to get out of here."

"They let me part right out front, I guess that's one of the perks of being an employee huh?" Stephanie asked.

"No, I think they're just as ready to get rid of me, as I am of them." John laughed, the sound like music to her ears. "I signed everything I needed to about an hour ago, and I really don't want to leave here in a wheelchair, so let's say we get out of here."

***************************

"Where are we going?" John asked as Stephanie passed by the street she needed to exit at to get to his apartment.

"I wanted to go by another building, it's only two streets away, hang on." Stephanie said making a hard right, then coming to a stop by the curb.

"Okay, what's this?" John asked.

"My apartment building, just thought you'd like to know, you know, in case you ever wanted to visit." Stephanie said.

"Your apartment building? As in you own it, or..."

"I'm moving to Chicago. I got an excellent job offer, that I just couldn't refuse. This apartment became available and I took it. I didn't want to trouble my aunt Helen any longer, even though I think she enjoys the company."

"Stephanie that's great! How long have you known this? Why didn't you say anything?" John fired off his questions in rapid succession.

"Only a few weeks, and I didn't say anything because well...I didn't want you...don't take this the wrong way, but I guess I just didn't want you to think I moved her just because of you, I wouldn't want to put that kind of pressure on you. You've been sick, and then, well...I just kind of kept putting it off. I knew about the job months ago, and when they sweetened the offer, I took it, and things just went pretty quickly from there."

"I can walk you home at night." John said taking her hand in his.

"Yes, or in the morning..." Stephanie smiled.

"That too."

***********************

Stephanie carried his bag up the stairs to his apartment, against John's constant complaining that he was perfectly capable of carrying his own bag. She wouldn't hear of it. He opened the door and a shocked expression stole over his face. He looked at his key, then back at the apartment number, then back to the inside.

"Yes, it's yours, Helen and I cleaned up a bit." Stephanie said, putting their task rather mildly.

"Nice, thank you." John said, taking his bag from Stephanie and placing it inside the door.

"Do you need for me to get you anything?" Stephanie asked, not wanting to invite herself in case he was tired or just wanted to be alone for a while.

"Come on in, I need to make a quick phone call." John moved toward the phone in his bedroom, and placed a call to Northwestern. It only took a few minutes to get to the department he needed, and made himself an appointment for next week. He felt a sense of relief, like a burden had been lifted off of his shoulders.

Stephanie was sitting on the couch when he returned to the living room, and he took a seat next to her. "I'm glad you're going to be living a street away." He said, putting Stephanie's mind at ease.

"Me too."

Their lips met briefly at first, and then more passionately.

"Dr. Benton said not to get your blood pressure elevated." Stephanie said between kisses.

"Dr. Benton is not here right now, is he?" John countered, moving his fingers through her hair.

Stephanie moved up tightly against John's body, she could feel the shiver rush through him as she lightly kissed his neck, moving toward his ear. She whispered, "we had better stop this, you need to expend your energy on getting well. I have an appointment at noon, do you want me to call later?"

"Definitely."

Stephanie gave him a kiss good-bye...John curled up on the couch, remote control in hand, and promptly fell asleep, the dreams he had were sweet, and he slept soundly for four hours.

************************** The week flew by quickly, and John was becoming anxious about his appointment. As he walked into the building and consulted the directory, the nervous fluttery feeling in his stomach was replaced by a more calming resolve. He could do this, he would do this.

The elevator doors opened to a number of suites up and down a long hallway. He located the correct door, and as he turned the doorknob, the fluttery feeling returned to his stomach. Not to be outdone by the pounding in his temples. He wasn't so sure he wanted to talk about this after all, maybe it would bring up memories better left forgotten. He argued with himself for a few minutes as he signed himself in and took a seat.

"Mr. Carter?" the office assistant escorted him down another long hallway, decorated in soothing shades of blue.

The session went well, most of the doctors questions were easily answered, about his family, his job, his relationships, but one he consistently came back to in his mind, it stuck with him.

"So, how do you feel you could have personally changed the events that evening?" Dr. Farrin asked calmly.

John had no answer to that, he couldn't think of one thing that he personally could have done to have prevented the fatal attack that evening, he clearly remembered even the most minute details. There was plenty of blame to go around, if he wanted to go that route, which he didn't. The doctor's advise to him was to take life one day at a time, you don't need all the answers now, and some answers you'll never have. Things happen, good and bad, it's how we deal with them that makes us what we are, every one of us. He also asked if he wanted to try an antidepressant, anti-anxiety or a sleep aid, to which John answered no to all, but was assured if he changed his mind, Dr. Farrin would be happy to write him a script, he'd see him next week.

************************ "Dinner and a movie at my place how does that sound?" Stephanie asked.

"Sounds good to me, anything you want me to bring?"

"Just the phone number to the nearest pizza delivery, I'm pooped." Stephanie replied.

John called for the pizza from his apartment, giving them Stephanie's phone number and apartment number, then walked the block to Stephanie's. He was finally able to walk as far as he wanted, without getting winded, and for the first time in weeks felt just fine, better than fine, he felt well.

His knock was answered promptly and Stephanie moved to let him in. She hadn't much furniture yet, actually no living room furniture at all. Her old stuff wasn't worth the cost of moving. She had placed a small table in the bedroom next to the TV and VCR, which shared an equally small table.

"You do look pooped out, are you sure you want me to stay?" John asked.

"You look way to energetic, maybe you can revive me." Stephanie replied.

****************

The movie had ended, and the pizza box lay at the end of the bed, empty. Stephanie's breathing was slow and steady. Her eyes fluttered lightly when John moved to take the movie out of the VCR. He leaned over and kissed her lightly on the cheek. She turned to catch his mouth with hers, pulling him on top of her, moving her hands around his neck. She could feel his response to her pressed against her thigh, and she moved her hands down his back.

"You wake up quick."

"I had the most wonderful dream."

"Tell me about it...."

"Well, we were in bed together and you...here let me show you...."

Stephanie pulled at John's shirt, kissing his chest and neck as she pulled it up and off. She rolled slightly to one side, and removed her own shirt, leaving her lacy bra in place. His hands moved up her back and unhooked the garment, his hands moving forward to cup her ample breasts. He resumed kissing her, his tongue probing her mouth.

Her hand slowly drew a path down his back and around to the front where she unhooked his belt, and slowly unzipped his pants. She pushed his pants and boxers away, tangling his ankles in the process. She used her feet to untangle his pants and remove them completely, as John's mouth moved down her chest, sucking a taut nipple into his mouth. Stephanie moaned softly, running her fingers through his hair, encouraging him further. His licked and sucked his way to the other side, his fingers moving over her as she arched toward him. He moved down her belly, with his hand, removing her pants and panties in one move, his fingers moving over her creating an exquisite friction. They moved together as John slowly entered her, staying very still as Stephanie adjusted herself to take him in fully. They moved as one with each other, Stephanie's breath coming in quick pants as John worked himself within her, setting up a steady rhythm. He nuzzled his face into her neck, concentrating on making this last, knowing that was not going to be the case, he could already feel his climax nearing. It seemed as if it had been such a long time since they had been together. Stephanie moved against him, arching her back to meet his thrusts, as she held him tightly against her. Her hands moved over his back, taking him deeply inside her, with a long, loud sigh she felt her orgasm wash over her. John's breathing suddenly turned to ragged pants as he thrust deeply within her, perspiration rolled down his face and chest and he tried to control the inevitable. He lifted himself up on his hands and knees, moving Stephanie's hips toward him with his hands. Stephanie opened her eyes, and watched as John's eyes closed, mouth opened, breathing hard, "Ohh...ohhhh...." he cried out as he climaxed within her. He semi-collapsed on top of her, still breathing hard, his face against her chest. After a few minutes, he looked up at Stephanie, "that was...."

"Excellent." Stephanie interjected.

"I think I'm going to like you living just around the corner." John said.

"Me too." Stephanie replied.



THE END




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