Who Am I
Part Five - Weekend Getaway
By Lisa Brown
ERDrLewis@aol.com

This is a Carter/Lucy story, fifth in a series. Parts 1-4 (Who I Am, Lost As Can Be, New Year's Promises, and Transitions) can be found at http://www.dreamwater.com/divette/

Rated PG. Normal disclaimer: I don't own anything, I'm not making money off of this, so everyone at Warner Bros. and their whole menagerie of people over there can just leave me alone. No season six spoilers. Although this takes place in the future, it doesn't give anything away from the new shows. :) Thanks so much to Michelle, my poor, overworked editor. Who knows where I would be without her! Feedback always appreciated. Enjoy!



March 2011

Jack Klein and I have been getting along somewhat better. I still don't agree with him very often, but I've learned to handle it better in the month I've been working with him. He said he wanted to speak to me before I left work. I was off, so I walked up front and asked where he was.

"Hey, Karen, you seen Klein around?" I asked

"He said something about some meeting upstairs he didn't know about. I assume he's still there. But, he said to tell you he'll talk to you on your next shift," she replied. "I guess you know what he's talking about."

My next shift wasn't for a while. Tomorrow was Saturday and I wasn't on until late Sunday. "Yeah. I guess it must not be that important. See you later," I told Karen as I signed out.

I walked out of the building and started the five block walk to Lucy's office. It was a nice day for March. It was sunny and in the upper sixties. It was also after five o'clock and Lucy and I were going to try to catch a movie and dinner before it got too crowded.

I reached the building and took the elevator to the second floor. As I walked to room 204, my thoughts returned to what Dr. Klein had wanted to ask me. My first instinct said I had done something wrong, but I couldn't think of a single incident he could question. I sure knew it wasn't for praise.

"Hey, Joan," I said as I walked into the office.

"Hey. Lucy's on her last patient. She'll be right out."

"Hi, Dr. Carter," some of nurses searching through charts said.

"Hello Vanessa, Jennie, Nancy," I replied, sitting down in a chair in the waiting room. Just as soon as I began to read the newspaper, Lucy came out. She gave me a quick kiss and asked, "Ready to go?"

I nodded and she said, "You'll lock up, right Kate?"

Dr. Jacobs just nodded her head as she scanned over a document on the computer. "Sure thing. Have fun, you two."

"Thanks. Bye everyone," Lucy said before walking out with me."

"So, how was your day?" I asked.

"Slow. Yours?"

"Okay, I guess. Dr. Klein wanted to talk to me before I left, but he was nowhere to be found when I left. Can you think of anything I've done wrong?" I asked.

"You? No!" Lucy said in mock surprise. "No, actually, I can't. Nothing you've mentioned to me anyway. But, we can go over all of your faults at dinner, if you want."

"No thanks. Hey, that reminds me," I said, walking to the other side of Lucy to avoid an oncoming pedestrian. "What do you want to do for your birthday next week?"

"Your faults remind you of my birthday?" Lucy asked skeptically.

"Yeah, I'm forgetful about birthdays. But, I can always remember yours," I said, smiling.

"Good. I don't really want to do anything, though."

"Oh, come on, we have to do something. At least let me take you out to dinner."

"I don't want to go out to dinner, though. I was just hoping for a quiet evening at home."

I sighed. "Fine, then, we'll stay in and order take-out from that great Chinese place we found."

"Eh..." Lucy said.

"Fine, be that way. I'm deciding. I know! I'll make something."

"Carter, you can barely make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. What are you going to make?"

"I'll make something, don't worry."

"Chinese is looking appetizing right now..." Lucy said.

"Too late! I'm making something. I'll find a recipe and make something. All you have to do is show up at my place."

"Why do I get the idea that this was a bad idea...?" Lucy said as we reached the theater.

I just smiled. She had gotten herself into this mess.

"G'morning, Susan," I said as I walked into the ER Sunday morning.

"Morning. Klein's looking for you. He said it's urgent. I think he's in exam two."

I started in the direction of exam two when I ran into the man. "John, just the man I've been looking for. Walk with me," he said. I followed him to the lounge and watched him pour a cup of coffee. After taking a sip, he began talking. "Okay, here's the deal. There's a conference next weekend  in New Jersey. Atlantic City, to be precise. They wanted me to go, but my schedule won't allow it, so I'm sending you."

That's it, he's sending me? Thanks for asking. "What days?" I asked.

"Friday until Monday morning. All expenses paid, no shifts to make up."

Lucy would love to go to New Jersey for her birthday weekend, I thought. "One condition," I said. "Let me fly back Monday night."

"Done. Why?" Dr. Klein asked before pouring a cup of coffee.

"It's my girlfriend's birthday next weekend." Yeah, I considered Thursday part of the weekend. In college, we did. "I'll pay for all of her stuff."

"Wonderful. We're too cheap for extras. Now, if you'll excuse me, we both have patients to get to. I'll get some more info to you before you leave," Klein said as he walked out of the door.

Woo-ho. Partial present for Lucy. Which is good, because between that and dinner, I have no clue what I'm getting her.

"So, where is it again?" Kerry asked, when I spoke to her on the phone that Monday afternoon.

"Atlantic City. The hotel the conference is at is on the beach. I think Lucy will like it. Too bad it's business related. Speaking of Lucy, that reminds me. Can you send me the recipe for that pasta-chicken-thing you make so well?" I asked.

"Why? Lucy wants to try to make it?"

"I was going to try to," I replied. "Kerry?" I asked when all I heard was silence.

"Sorry. I just thought you said you were going to make food."

"C'mon, have a little faith in me!"

"Yes, I'll send it to you. No, I don't have any faith in you. I hope you have back-up plans."

"Thank you for sending the recipe. I won't comment on the rest. Anyway, do you have any suggestions on what to get her?"

"Get her something there."

"But her birthday's before we leave."

"Don't tell her you're going. Call her office and speak to the other doctor. Get her to cancel her appointments and surprise Lucy."

"Okay. I have to go call her, then. Does Sophie want to talk?"

"Yep, here she is."

After a short pause, I heard Sophie's bubbly voice on the line. "Hi, John!"

"Hi, Soph. How are you?"

"Good. I don't have school tomorrow."

"Oh, really? Why?"

"John! I don't know, we just don't."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Okay, well, I have to go. I just wanted to say hi. Have fun on your day off."

"I will! Bye-bye John."

"Bye, Sophie." I clicked the phone and then began to dial Lucy's office number.

"Doctor's office."

"Hey, Joan."

"Lucy's with a patient. Can I have her call you back?"

"Actually, is Kate there? I have to ask her something. It's about Lucy's birthday present."

"Sure, hold on."

"Thanks.  Don't tell Lucy anything!"

After a few more moments, Kate was on the line. I explained the whole New Jersey thing and she said that she'd reschedule Lucy's appointments for the Friday and Monday we would be gone. Lucy sure did have a surprise in store.

"All I have to say, Carter, is don't burn down the building," Lucy said Wednesday night as we walked through the small grocery store. "All of this food looks good. What are you making?"

"Surprise," I said, as I grabbed a box of penne pasta off the shelf.

"Well, I'll try to guess."

"I'm not just making one thing. You'll have to figure out what goes with what." I had settled on Kerry's recipe of the grilled chicken and penne pasta with her special sauce (which I'm sure won't taste as good as hers, but it'll do), a salad, and garlic bread. Most of it was for the main course, but Lucy didn't need to know that. I had gotten a brochure of the hotel and the plane tickets for Lucy's present and I would get her something else there. I wanted to get her something else, but I decided that I'd go poking around after my shift tomorrow. Yes, I'm a procrastinator by heart.

I'm sick of presents. I've run out of good ideas. First it was Christmas, then Valentines, and now Lucy's birthday. I've already gotten her jewelry, so I didn't necessarily want to get her that. I didn't want to get her clothes because I didn't want to insult her with my poor taste. I saw a scarf she had wanted a while ago, but it's too warm for that now. I finally settled on a picture frame. Lame, huh? I really have to make up for it in New Jersey. But, hey, I was pressed for time. I only had four hours before dinner was supposed to be ready, which wasn't very long since I didn't know what I was doing. I know I can do everything fine, except for the sauce. I decided to make that early so I can run out and get some pre-made if I mess up. I picked up Lucy's cake at the ice cream place. I decided to get an ice cream cake because that way, it will still be good to eat when we get back from our trip. I also got her a nice card. One had her age on it (36) and I thought it was funny. I decided against it, though. Instead, I got one of those sweet, sentimental cards. When I got home, I put the cake in the freezer so it wouldn't melt. Then, I started to work on making the sauce.What had I gotten myself into?

It was twenty until seven. Lucy would be here at seven. I still had to reheat the sauce, finish grilling the chicken (which was already prepared, you just have to heat it up. Hey, I don't have a grill!), finish the bread, and make the pasta. Luckily, the salad was ready and everything else that went in the pasta was cut up. You can imagine my surprise when Lucy walked in early.

"You're early," I said as I put the sauce in a pan and on the back burner.

"I couldn't resist the thought that you were in here cooking," Lucy said. "You really are, too. I would have thought that you would have called for take out by now."

"Very funny. I actually made out pretty good. The building's still standing."

"I noticed. The question is though, is it edible?"

I hoped it was. Maybe it would make up for my lame present.


"John Carter, I can't believe it. You actually made an edible meal. It was pretty good, too," Lucy said. "I'm very proud of you."

"Thanks. Don't expect it too often. I had to make the sauce for the pasta two times before it was right," I said as I cleared the plates off the table. "Now, it's time for desert. I didn't make it, though."

"That's okay. What did you get?"

"Just sit there, and you'll find out." I pulled the cake out of the freezer and got the candles out from the drawer. I stuck a few on the cake and lit them before bringing it out to Lucy. "Surprise!" I said, before singing "Happy Birthday" to her.

"Carter!" she exclaimed when I was done. "I haven't had a cake in a long time," she said as I cut her a piece. When I was done with mine, I went to get her presents.

When she saw the two gifts, she said, "John, you didn't have to get me anything. Dinner was enough."

"Too bad. I'm going to spoil you, don't worry."

I handed her the frame first to open. "You read my mind, Carter. I have been looking for a frame to put that picture Jenn McTeering took on New Year's Eve. This one's perfect!"

So, I had done good. "I'm glad you like it," I said before handing her the envelope.

"I thought I was supposed to open the card first," Lucy said, unsealing it.

"Well, this is the Carter way of opening birthday presents. Gifts first."

Lucy read the front of the card and then opened it up finding the brochure and tickets inside. "John!" she exclaimed.

"I have to go to New Jersey this weekend for a conference Jack's sending me on. That's what he wanted to talk to me about. I got an extra ticket for you and got Jack to let me stay an extra day. There are only meetings on Friday afternoon and Saturday and Sunday morning. Oh yea, and some dinner thing tomorrow night, but the rest of the time is ours."

"You really are going to spoil me!" Lucy said before getting up to give me a hug. "I'll have to call and reschedule my appointments tomorrow and Monday."

"Done," I replied.

"You really thought this one out, huh?"

"Yep," I said, smiling. I grabbed the plates from the cake and put them in the sink. "I have more surprises in store for you there, too. And, yes, my objective is to spoil you rotten!"



"Carter, this is such a nice place," Lucy said as she put her suitcase on the bed.

"I'm glad. I was thinking Klein would put us up in some shack," I replied, looking around the room.

"Very funny. When is your meeting?"

"An hour and a half. Want to go walk around a little?"

Lucy smiled, as she put the suitcase on the stand. "I was hoping we could stay in the room a while longer."

"Yeah, but...oh!" I said, not realizing how blasé I was being. "Of course, let's stay in."

"I thought so. Don't forget, this is my birthday present."

"I'm sure you won't let me forget."

Lucy and I stayed at the dinner just long enough to hear the guy in charge talk. Then, we took our walk around. We ended up walking along the beach. Quite odd, since we were dressed so nicely.  Lucy was wearing her black dress I love so much. Luckily, it wasn't long, so it couldn't get wet. Lucy was walking down by the water. I had to stay up on the sand because I had pants on. I didn't really want to get them all wet; I had only brought two pairs. So, I got the job of holding Lucy's shoes.

It wasn't that late, only seven o'clock. "What do you want to do for dinner?" I asked. We had left before food was served.

Lucy walked back up to me and took her shoes. "We could go back to the room and order room service," Lucy said slyly.

"I think I like that idea."

Then, all of the sudden, I heard someone call my name closer to the building.  I turned to look. There was Elizabeth Corday-Greene, waving hysterically.

"Elizabeth?" I called back. What was she doing here?

As from out of nowhere, her daughter, Laurel, ran down past us to the ocean. "Hi, Dr. Carter," she said in her passing.

Elizabeth walked down to us, calling "Be careful, Laurel!" She then came down to give me a hug. "Fancy meeting you here. I haven't seen you in months! What are you doing here?"

"Conference. Elizabeth, you remember Lucy Knight," I said.

"Oh, my, I would have never recognized you!" she exclaimed, shaking Lucy's hand. "Nice to see you again."

"Same here," Lucy said.

"So, what are you doing here?" I asked Elizabeth.

"It's Laurel's spring break and we decided to come on a vacation. Mark's checking in now, but Laurel couldn't wait to see the ocean."

"She's gotten so big," I commented.

"Oh, I know. We're here until Monday morning. We're stopping in Chicago for a few days to see Kerry, Michael, and Sophie.  Excuse me a minute," she said, running after Laurel who was going a bit too far out into the water.

"Surprises all over the place, huh?" Lucy said.

"Yeah. I guess we're not going to get back to the room that quick now."

"I don't mind. Ask them if they've eaten and we'll go to one of the restaurants here."

"You're so considerate, Luce," I said, kissing her forehead.

"Sorry about that," Elizabeth said. "Laurel, stay where I can see you. Oh, there's Mark," she said, waving at him. "Look who I found!"

"Hey, there, Carter. Are you here for that conference?"

"Yep. Mark, you remember Lucy Knight," I said.

"Of course. Nice seeing you again, Lucy."

"Nice seeing you too."

"Have you all eaten?" Elizabeth asked. "Because we haven't and we'd love for you to join us."

"Sure, we would love to," I said, smiling at Lucy.

Dinner wasn't that eventful, just a lot of catching up. How they were doing in St. Louis, how Lucy and I had met up, what we were doing now, etc. "Room service tomorrow night, I promise," I said as we began to get ready for bed.

"It was fun. That Laurel is a handful, though."

"Yeah. She's more like her mother than her father."

"That's for sure," Lucy said, falling on the bed. "I am so tired."

"Well, you better get your beauty rest, then," I said, smiling.

She smiled back. "You better join me in this big bed."

"Of course. It is your birthday after all."

We ended up going out to lunch on Saturday and Sunday with the Greene crew. On Sunday, I pulled Elizabeth and Mark aside while Lucy was in the bathroom. "I have to get Lucy a birthday present and could use some help picking one out. I need a female opinion. I told Lucy that another meeting came up that I have to go to. Is there anyway you guys could come with me to help me find something?"

"Of course!" Elizabeth said. "We could leave Laurel with Lucy. That would give her something to do."

"She'd have plenty to do. Okay, if we leave together it will be too obvious. So, I'll leave when Luce comes back and go check out the gift shops here really quick. I'll meet you up front in fifteen minutes?" I said.

"Great plan. Here she comes," Mark said.

I stood up to greet Lucy. "I have to get going to that meeting. I really am sorry about it," I said. "We'll order in tonight," I whispered.

"Don't be sorry! This is a business trip. See you later tonight. With room service," she said smiling.

So, I was off. I checked the gift shops in the hotel just to find tacky T-shirts and key chains. I walked up front to find Elizabeth and Mark already waiting. "Thanks so much, guys. Someone said that there are some pretty good shops down that way within walking distance.

"Well, then what are we waiting for?" Elizabeth said.  "Let's go!"

I actually did decide on getting her jewelry. I found the most gorgeous earrings that everyone in our group liked. I gave them to Lucy at our room service dinner and she agreed. On the way home, she said that it was the best birthday she's ever had. I'm pretty sure she was exaggerating a bit, but I got the idea. I had done well.