Part 8

Carter walked slowly down the busy Chicago street. It was almost spring and the sun was shining brightly, a slightly cool breeze floating among the crowd. It had been two days since Deb had told him and two days of sulking. ‘Today will be a good day,’ he whispered to himself. ‘I know it will be...’

~*~*~*~

Deb walked out of her bathroom, dressed for work. Stopping infront of the couch, she saw Abby sacked out, a cup of strong smelling coffee in her hands.

"You working today?" Abby asked casually, sitting straighter although not looking directly into her friend’s face. Deb continued to fill her bag with a few necessities, looking up as Abby spoke.

"Yeah, Weaver called. They need another resident," answered Deb. "It’s been a nice two days though," she said referring to the time they had spent discussing their hopeless love lives and just everything in general.

"Totally," agreed Abby. "I go in at eleven. I get the short shift today."

"Lucky!"

"John’s on today isn’t he?" Abby asked slowly, not wanting to press on an already delicate issue.

"Uh huh," Deb answered nonchanly, quickly applying a bit of lipstick while glancing into the hallway mirror.

"And you are not worried about..." Abby said in surprise. Deb had just complained to her of how hard it world be, yet she seemed like she had all ready gotten over all that... a bit too fast, in Abby’s opinion.

"Look, we are now friends. Co-workers. He understands, I understand- what more do you want?"

"I don’t know..."

"Well I do and I also know that I’m going to be late," said Deb pointedly. Abby saw that this discussion was closed and nodded to herself, understanding that it would be unfair to press further.

"See you at eleven," she called out at after Deb’s waving hand as she rushed out the door.

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"Deb! Hey."

She turned, looking through the mild crowd for who had called her name. A second later, he appeared. His hair was sticking up in the cute little tufts that always seemed to make the corners of her mind watery.

"Hey John," she replied, a grin stretching across her face. "Long time no see."

"You could say that," he joked back.

For a moment they stood staring at each other, their eyes quickly scanning for any pieces of information, trying to gauge where they stood with each other since the last time they met.

"Scuse me," said a no-nonsense woman that brushed passed Deb without a second glance, bringing the two out of their trance.

"Um, you busy tonight?" asked Carter nervously as he took Deb’s arm and led her through the crowd towards the hospital.

‘Is he asking me out?’ "No, I’m not busy. You... you want to do something? You know, as friends or some-" mumbled Deb, processing her thoughts slower than usual, her natural instincts taking over without a moments pause, the rational part of her mind screaming for her to forget it. Everything seemed unrealistic, almost a blur. The only things she could focus on was John’s face, which also had become blurry.

"Yeah, sure. After work?" confirmed Carter before being quickly wisked away by a very confused and bewildered looking Dave.

"After work," Deb repeated with a smile that she didn’t realize she was wearing.

"CHEN!"

"Um, yes Dr Weaver?" asked Deb coming out of her trance.

"Let’s stop day dreaming and get to work, G.S.W to the chest rolling in, E.T.A two minutes and I want you there!" yelled Kerry as she wrote furiously on the board.

"Yes, Dr. Weaver," repeated Deb, decidingvto forget about her ‘friendly’ date with Carter for at least a few hours, however hard that maybe.

~*~*~*~

"Dave let go of me!" John demanded "What are you doing?"

"Saving your ass out there, man," proclaimed Dave. An uncharacteristic look of seriousness was painted on his face as he backed Carter into a row of lockers in the Lounge, a move to prevent Carter from escaping his questions.

"I didn’t need to be saved, Dave," said Carter irritatingly. Pushing past the younger doctor, he opened his locker and took out a lab coat and hurriedly put it on in the hopes that he could avoid him or at least get him to drop the subject.

"So what was that out there?"

"None of your business, Dave."

"Oh, yes it is. Spill it!" said Dave, once again cutting off Carter, this time in front of the coffee machine. Carter sighed, knowing he wouldn’t get a much needed dose of caffeine without adding more fuel to the rumor mill.

"We’re going out together after work."

"What are you, *nuts*?" yelled Dave, finally moving away from the bench.

Carter didn’t say anything and continued to make the hot drink. Dave started to pace the room, shaking his head with each step.

"Aren’t you even worried?"

"No."

"Have you decided where you are going?"

"Not yet..."

"You do now that your going out with a committed woman, right?"

"Yes, Dave I know. Will you leave me alone now so that I can drink in peace?" said Carter, annoyed at all the questions Dave was throwing at him at full speed.

"Okay man, I believe you," answered Dave quietly, finally respecting Carter’s wishes.

"Good luck, you know, ah with everything." he said, his hand on his shoulder as a gesture of support.

Noticing the sincerity of his words, Carter nodded solemnly. With a final glance, Dave left the Lounge, looking over his shoulder before being swept into a place where chaos ruled and where miracles happened.

~*~*~*~

The cheap, fluorescent lights lit the greasy diner, coating the atmosphere with a metallic feel. The smoke from past cigarettes filtered around the tables, creating an almost spooky effect. Yet despite all those influences, Doc Magoos was a friendly place. Filled with many peoples, most of which had entered to buy a quick meal and perhaps, escape from the last of the winters chill.

Deb and John sat in a secluded corner by the window. The hustle and bustle of the traffic could be seen, though not heard through the clear glass that looked onto the street while they sat and talked about everything and anything. Little did they know that someone, or rather some persons were watching, taking in every detail...

*

"Oh my gawd!" whispered Abby excitedly.

"Holy-" Dave said. He was almost speechless, his mouth wide open as he looked to where Abby was pointing, her eyes twinkling in delight.

"You could say that again!"

Ducking her head down quickly, Abby grabbed Dave’s arm and signaling for him to keep quiet, she waited until Carter’s head was turned to face the window before dragging him to the booth next to where the friends were sitting. Pressing their ears as close as it was possible to the booth next door, they waited and listened for whatever pieces of information that they could get.

*

"So, I hear that you’re considering chief resident," said Carter quietly. He toyed nervously with the edge of the table cloth as he waited for a reply.

"Yes, of course. Aren’t you going to put in your application?"

"Decided against it."

Deb lifted her head up quickly in surprise. She had naturally assumed that they would be competing for the position. "Really, why?"

"Wouldn’t stand a chance," Carter said, jokingly. Deb shot him a look that told him she wanted a reason and it better be a good one. "Seriously. I won’t stand a chance with Weaver and the added stress... just doesn’t seem like its worth it."

Deb nodded slowly, understanding where John came from but didn’t comment on his views. "Are you going to see if you could get an attending position at County?"

"Definitely, I’ve always wanted to continue at County. It’s like home there."

"And that practically every nurse just loves you?" Deb said, a trace of mischief in her voice.

"That too."

They lapsed into another silence, this one, however was much more comfortable that those previously shared. The more John thought about it as he sipped his hot coffee, the more he felt like Deb was becoming a part of him. A big part and that, was scary.

"You know there’s a carnival down the road on navy pier." suggested Deb carefully. Her eyes hopefully searching his face for any recognition of what she was trying to say.

"Heard about it. Gamma wanted to take me on my Saturday off," answered Carter rolling his eyes, "but I wouldn’t let her because... I was hoping that you’d go with me."

*

Abby and Dave looked at each other, eyes round. Dave’s hand was pressed at his heart, pretending to have a heart attack at what they had just heard.

"He asked her out!"

"I know that dufus, shut up!" whispered Abby as quietly as possible, not wanting to give away their hiding spot.

"What did you say?" asked Dave louder than was necessary.

"Shhh!!" said a furious Abby before clamping her hand down on Dave’s mouth as he struggled to say something. Using her right hand, she pulled Dave’s head under the table so that even if Deb noticed something she wouldn’t have noticed without doing some extensive searching.

*

Deb looked over at Carter, a bewildered smile on her face. "Did you hear something? I could swear that I heard someone whispering."

"So you think that there we are being spied on?" said Carter shaking his head in mock disbelief.

"You never know-"

"Deb I think you’ve been watching to many Mrs Bradley mysteries on your days off."

"What?"

"Never mind, and the offer still stands if you want to get out of this place..." said Carter, reminding her of his proposition. ‘I don’t expect her to say yes anyway. She must be doing something tonight with that Louie guy.’

"Of course I will go with you. I don’t have anything better to do." Deb said wistfully, but glad that Carter had asked her to go with him.

"No preparations, you know, for the big day ahead?" asked Carter slowly, not wanting to touch the already sore subject, prodding only to make sure that she was not neglecting her home duties or her future husband.

"I’m not really interested in how the wedding is being put together. Its on Sunday, yes, I know that is under two days away but I really couldn’t care less," answered Deb in a rush. "Does that answer your questions?"

Carter nodded quickly, standing up and throwing a few bills onto the table, quickly pulling Deb away before she could add her own money to the pile.

"What did you do that for?" she asked indignantly.

"Yes, well, its my turn to pay," said Carter quickly, leading her towards the door and past the table where Dave and Abby were hiding, completely oblivious to the fact that he was being watched. "I’m taking you out, its like... my duty."

"I don’t believe in that old fashioned rule," said Deb as they stepped out onto the street, the sound of peak hour traffic hitting them as soon as the door had opened, it’s little bell jingling at the sound of two of its customers leaving.

"Well I do."

"John your a sap," said Deb playfully shaking her head in disgust, giving Carter a soft punch in the shoulder.

"Am not."

"Are too..."

*

"Where are they going?" asked Dave in confusion, finally getting the chance to stand up once Abby’s hands had stopped pulling him down, "Ow!"

Abby ignored Dave’s cries of pain from hitting his head on the edge of the table and continued on her way out the door. "You coming Dave or what?"

"Where are you going... Where are you going?" yelled Dave, as he tried to catch up to Abby without killing anyone in his path.

"To the carnival down the road - are you coming or what?" asked Abby finally halting to a slower walk.

"Yeah, yeah whatever. That is where Carter and Chen are headed, right?" said Dave trying to put the pieces of information he had received together as he rubbed the spot on his head that had come in contact with the hard plastic table.

Abby rolled her eyes and reaching out, pulled Dave along faster as she ran, trying to catch up to where their friends were going without being too suspicious.

*

"Wow. Sure isn’t a small carnival."

"Nope," answered Carter. "What do you want to do first?"

Deb looked around the field. It was almost dusk now, pink and orange beginning to appear in beautiful streams across the darkening sky. "The field looks good," she said, gesturing towards the mass of grass that had seemed to be forgotten by those running the carnival.

"The field it is then," Carter answered with a smile before reaching for her hand and leading her gently. Deb smiled back and swung their hands between them in a friendly gesture.

*

"Is that them?"

"Temporary blindness Mallucci?"

"Nah, just didn’t think Carter could get that kinky."

"Trust me, he’s kinky."

"And how would you know?"

"Thats for me to know and you to find out..."

*

"Its a nice night isn’t it?" whispered John softly, pulling Deb closer so that she was facing him directly.

"Mmm...." she whispered back coyly. "Very nice."

Carter shook his head and looked down. "Maybe we shouldn’t be doing this."

Deb immediately looked up at his face which was illuminated by the colours of the sky and the lights that had been turned on from the carnivals rides and assortment of tents. People began to appear, walking around the tents, admiring what they saw. Rides moved into motion, squeals, screams and loud laughter was heard from where they were standing. The night carnival had begun and with it the smells of fried food and the scent of freshly mowed grass played with her senses. John leaned forwards and wrapped his hands around her small figure.

Deb tensed as she felt his arms around her and her eyes popped open.

"I’m sorry-"

"No. It’s okay," she whispered leaning forward. "You feel nice."

"I do, huh?" asked Carter slowly, a pensive smile creeping onto his face as he lifted his head upwards to gaze at the stars

"Yes, you do."

Carter leaned back for a moment, savoring the wonderful feeling that had begun down in his toes. Creeped upwards like warm fingers of happiness, a rush of warm blood to his face, a strange shiver of de ja vu tingling at his spine and he instantly looked away. Pulling his arms from around the one he wanted most he did a quick search of the empty grassy grounds for something which he didn’t know he was looking for.

"John?’

"Wait a second..." with a swift motion he bent down and picked a pretty daisy weed. It was a beautiful bright yellow, it’s stem feeling fuzzy between his shaky fingers. It was then he realized the thin film of sweat that covered the palms to his hands. John quickly wiped his hands against his pants and finally looked up into Deb’s questioning glance.

"John-"

"I, ah, know its stupid and dumb and something that I shouldn’t do but..." he paused mid-sentence, shaking his head in the direction of where the weed had come from. Its ugly green leaves pointy and fuzzy looking just like the stem of the simple yellow flower yet so much different in other respects. He kneeled down on one knee and offered the flower up as though it was an expensive diamond ring, a hopeful expression covering his face as the last of the sun disappeared behind the field of tents

"Will you be my best friend?"

A large giggle exploded from Deb’s mouth, washing away all lines of worry and seriousness that had appeared in just a few short minutes.

Carter looked up as soon as he heard the giggling. Deb quickly tried to cover up her smiles and took the proud flower from between his fingers.

"Yes John, I would love to be your best friend," and with that, she couldn’t hold it anymore and her laughter continued. This time, Carter stood up and realizing the humor in the situation began to laugh too.

"Seriously though," said Deb, a slightly pensive expression on her face as she looked down at the flower that was twirling and twisting slowly in her hand. "I always thought you were my best friend."

"I guess this just makes it official," he whispered back as they began to walk around the field, not really paying much attention to the sights and sounds the carnival had projected into the field. Their eyes only for each other, what they both knew to be, possibly, their last moment they could spend together before it all became akward. Before another man would play a big part in Deb’s life and take her away from John... Forever.

*

"What the hell dose he think he’s doing?" asked Dave his voice thick with wonder.

"I think he’s proposing," whispered back Abby as they looked out from their hiding spot behind a large forgotten piece of rusty galvinated iron.

"Proposing what?" yelled Dave as loud as Abby would let him.

"Do I look like I know?" asked Abby, becoming frustrated with Dave’s endless rhetorical questions. Her hands flew out and before both of them could duck for cover or at least protect themselves, the unstable piece of metal came crashing down on them with a large ‘Whoosh!’

*

"Did you hear something?" asked Carter softly.

"I don’t know. Maybe," said Deb absentmindedly as she felt Carter lead her to where the carnival’s gates were. She held back, unsure of weather or not she felt like having this nice feeling of just being disappear in the large crowds.

"Come on, it’ll be fun!" said Carter, his childlike enthusiasm rubbing off on her, his lower lip and eye brows pushed into an expression that he knew would get her eventually.

"John-"

"Please? You’ll never know if you never go..."

Deb opened her mouth in silent protest but found that she had nothing to say. "Fine," she sighed and this time let him pull her gently towards the crowds, the smells of popcorn and the playful screams becoming louder as they got closer to all the celebration.

*

"Abby."

"What?"

"*Abby*."

"What do you want Dave?"

"Can you get off me, I don’t think I can breathe."

"Oh. Sorry-"

"Dave?"

"Huh."

"Can you quit the staring, please?"

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"Thank you," said Deb softly. Her hands felt sticky from the cotton candy and her hair was tousled from the rides that John had convinced her to go on. Pressed close to her chest was the medium sized, fluffy blue teddy bear that appropriately had a lab coat and tie on. "For... everything."

"It was nothing. Just remember that we can do this anytime you want to, okay?" reminded John. His hands too were sticky and the balloon fish that Deb had won for him was sailing proudly off it’s string. They had once again, arrived in front of Deb’s apartment door. Another good-bye in front of them, the last one before Deb would be officially taken, marked and stamped as property of Louie Chi.

"No, I don’t think we can."

Her words made his blood run cold. John had always thought that he would have someone to go out with, someone he could just be himself with. Deb’s words seemed like he could never have what joy this night had brought him back. "Why not? Come on, Deb. Admit it- you had great fun."

"It’s not that," she said carefully, organizing in her mind what she should say next that would be appropriate for the occasion. Problem being that she had never been in this situation. "I don’t know how he would react-"

"To you having a man for a best friend?" filled in John, his head shaking in disbelief.

"Well, that’s one factor."

"Deb, your just proving to me how much you don’t know the guy."

"I’m not proving anything," hissed back Deb, frustrated at where this conversation was going. "Look John, I don’t know what you are trying to prove here but whatever it is I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want to know about it. I haven’t had a night like this in months and I don’t want it to end this way."

Carter finally realized that what he was saying wouldn’t do anything to change her mind. Her last words told him that this was the end, his last night to at least make an impression on her.

"I’m sorry," he whispered. "I had fun too and it’s a shame that we might not have another carnival to go to."

Deb lowered her head again, this time sighing loudly, intending to say something. However, Carter beat her to it.

"It doesn’t matter. I just want to make sure that you know, know that I will always be there for you and if you feel like having some fun with me again that I am always available," said John quietly, his words like fine spiders web. The thin strands refusing to let go of her, sending chills down her spine and goose bumps along her arms.

Deb thought for a moment and quickly dug around her handbag, looking almost desperately for the flower that he had given her in friendship.

"I won’t forget," Deb whispered, her voice caught in her throat with the unexpected tears that had begun to appear at the edge of her eyes, waiting for the right moment to fall.

John knew that if he didn’t leave right then, he never would and the complications that would arise... He didn’t want to go there.

Lifting his hands towards her face, he placed them on either cheek. His thumbs brush softly inwards, erasing the salty drops with a feather light touch. Deb’s eyes, locked with his gaze and she saw the cloud of emotion that hung over his soul. Her heart gasped and skipped a beat, she couldn’t look away and before she even realized that he had moved, John was halfway down the corridor without a single look in her direction. A numbness came over her and she found her self rooted to the cold, tiled floor. finally regaining her composure, she looked around and found that she still had the blue bear tucked tightly in the crook of her arm.

~*~*~*~

*Thanks once again to Lisa who beated this peice! All feedback on what storyline to take next... comments... critsims... flames... complaints- hey I'm flexible! Send it all to er_aussie@hotmail.com (and remember the more feedback=the faster I write!)

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