DISCLAIMER: "ER" is a production of Constant c Productions and Amblin Television in association with Warner Bros. Television. All characters, situations, and logos © Constant c, Amblin Entertainment, Warner Bros., or Michael Crichton. No challenge to or infringement of their status is intended. This original work of fan fiction is written for entertainment purposes only, and I am receiving no compensation for it. This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual locations and events, is purely coincidental.

SUMMARY: A series of events draw Carter and Abby closer to each other, and to someone neither ever imagined they'd need.

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As Good As It Gets -=- Prologue (Part I)

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October 11, 2001

The day had started badly. It had gotten worse

First, she had decided that she just had to pick her things up from Luka's apartment. Never mind that her shift was starting in less than an hour and she was in a rush to begin with. Never mind that the breakup had been less than hospitable. Never mind that she had a million other things that she needed to be doing. She had to get her sweater.

Then she had almost forgotten her coat.

And then she'd broken the fish tank.

She hadn't done it on purpose. She'd convinced herself of that. It had been a complete and total accident. Her coat had gotten snagged as she pulled on it, and the coat rack had ended up falling into the tank, cracking the glass. Water had already been dripping onto the floor before she left.

Then she'd left her key behind.

Then she'd gotten Carter involved.

She sighed and leaned back on the couch, pulling her feet up under her as she lit a cigarette. That had to be the worst part of it. He hadn't wanted to do it; that much was certain. He didn't want to get involved in her relationship with Luka. But she'd smiled at him and played helpless, because she'd known he would help her then.

Still, she had to smile at the memories: the jokes, the laughter, the look on his face when the police knocked on the door. His reaction to being arrested certainly wasn't what she'd expected it to be, and part of her didn't believe him when he said he'd never been arrested before. He was just too calm. There was no way he could have teased her like that if he'd never been arrested before.

And then Luka had gotten home.

She closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the couch. 'Stupid, Abby. Just plain stupid.'

The look in Luka's eyes had bordered on murderous. And she was certain that had he come home to find her sitting alone in that squad car, he would have been teasing her in Carter's stead. It was Carter that he'd glared at that way. And it was Carter, she was sure, who was going to have to pay for what they'd done.

For what she'd made him do.

She just hoped that Carter knew enough to stay away from Luka for a while.

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He'd had better days.

Stepping on the glass and making himself look like an idiot in front of Gamma hadn't been enough. No, he had to go and get himself arrested for breaking and entering. Luka hadn't pressed charges, and he was glad for that. But it wasn't how he'd been planning to wrap up his day with Abby.

He sat on the steps in front of the house, with his eyes closed, smiling.

She was free.

She and Luka had broken up.

He'd had a hard time expressing sympathy over it, and he felt horrible about his initial reaction. He'd wanted it, no, wanted her, for so long. And now he had his chance. He just had to play things right.

So when she'd asked him to help her replace the fish tank, he'd had to put effort into seeming to be against it. In truth, his heart had been pounding so loudly from the first moment she'd mentioned the breakup that he was sure she'd see through his act. But she hadn't. She was just too sweet and innocent, and she did need his help.

And he'd been all too glad to give it.

He believed that he could have had a chance with her once before, but he'd lost her to Luka by a matter of minutes. He was not going to let that happen again. If he did everything just perfectly, he would never lose her again.

He had to make sure that everything was in place, and that no one would be there to interfere. Of course, there was only one person who would. Fortunately, that meant he only had to deal with that one person.

Unfortunately, that person was Luka.

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Why had he ever let this day end up the way it had?

He should have been sitting in his apartment with Abby by his side. But instead, he was sitting on his couch, staring at the television, thinking of her. And him.

Abby and Carter.

Carter and Abby.

They'd been together. They'd been in his home together.

Part of him wanted to wish them well. The other part of him just wanted to get his hands around Carter's neck. It was completely irrational. After all, it wasn't exactly Carter's fault that Abby was completely in love with him. Well, at least no more his fault than being alive was.

And so Luka sat alone. Wondering where she was and what she was doing. Were they together? Or was she sitting somewhere thinking of him?

When he heard the light knock on his front door, he thought he had his answer.

Luka opened the door wide, a huge smile on his face. His happiness quickly faded when he saw who was standing on the other side. "Carter."

"Hello, Luka," Carter responded, taking a step forward. "I um...I wanted to talk to you."

Luka's grin had completely vanished, and an angry expression took its place. "It can't wait till morning?"

"No. No, it can't. Look, I wanted to explain to you, in person, about this afternoon. You see..."

"There's nothing to explain," Luka said quickly, pushing the door closed.

"No, Luka, wait!" Carter jumped forward and pressed on the door, holding it open. "I just...I don't want you being angry with her. About this." Carter tried to smile, but the look on Luka's face soon deflated his attempt. "I mean, when you think about it, it's kinda funny."

"No, Carter, it isn't funny. Now will you please leave so I can go to bed?"

"Now wait, Luka. This was an accident. She didn't mean it..."

"You think I'm angry about the fish?"

Carter paused and looked at Luka in confusion. "Well, yeah. You mean you're not?"

"No. I'm not. I'm angry, yes, but not about the fish. I couldn't care less about the fish."

Carter smiled slightly. "So what is it then? What are you angry about?"

"Go away, Carter." Luka tried to close the door again.

"Luka, come on. Tell me. Are you angry with Abby or not?"

"Angry? Yes. At Abby? No. Now go away."

"At me then?" Carter asked, taking another step forward.

Luka felt his heart speeding up in his chest and his face beginning to burn. Damn this annoying little boy. "Carter, get out of my door," he growled.

"No, Luka. If you're angry with me I think I deserve to know..."

Before Carter could finish, Luka's fist slammed into the side of his face, knocking him to the floor. Carter's hand flew to his eye, and he stared up at Luka in shock.

Luka closed his eyes and stepped forward, pulling his door shut behind him. "Damn. Carter, I'm sorry. Here, let me help you." He reached out his hand to help Carter to his feet.

Carter shook his head quickly and backed away, pushing himself along the floor. "No," he began, swallowing hard. "Don't touch me."

"Carter, I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me, I just..."

"Just...stay away from me, okay? Just...stay there."

Luka stepped forward again, ignoring Carter's protests. "Are you all right? Did I hurt you?"

Carter almost laughed at the ridiculousness of the question. "Of course you did! That's the whole reason you hit me!"

"I'm sorry. Just..." Luka stepped forward, and Carter backed away yet again. "Look, I'm not going to do it again, all right? Just let me look at it."

"No!"

Luka ignored him once more, and knelt on the floor beside him. "It's already swelling. Carter, let me see it."

"I said don't touch me! Back off...OW! Damn it!"

Carter smacked Luka's hand away.

Luka sighed in frustration. "Well if you don't want me to look at it, fine. But you probably should go in and have it X-rayed."

"Is that your professional opinion?" Carter asked sourly.

"Yes."

"As a doctor, or as the perpetrator?"

Luka closed his eyes for a second, and then opened them again. "I deserve that."

"Damn right you do."

Luka stood up and looked up at the ceiling. He shrugged, and hesitantly reached out to Carter. When Carter didn't move to accept his offered hand, Luka just looked down at him. After a few seconds, he reached out again.

Carter looked up at the gesture, considering how he should react to it. He glanced up at Luka's face once more, and then grasped his forearm. Luka helped him to his feet, looking closely at the young man's rapidly swelling left eye as he did so.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. You didn't deserve that."

"I came here to apologize to you."

"I know."

Neither of them said a word. They simply stood there in the hallway watching each other. Carter expected another attack at any time and was doing his best to be prepared. Luka, on the other hand, was more worried about Carter's eye, which was rapidly swelling shut.

"Carter, you need to go to the ER." When Carter didn't move, Luka motioned toward his door. "If you're not going to, at least come in and ice that eye."

"I don't think I need any more of your 'help', Luka. One black eye a day is enough for me." Carter turned and started to walk away. The world began to swirl around him as he did, and he swayed on his feet.

Luka ran forward and caught him before he hit the floor. "I think it's more than a black eye."

"Really?" Carter asked, trying his best to sound bitter. "And what makes you think that?" He blinked a couple of times to clear his thoughts. He realized that the only thing keeping him on his feet was Luka's hands under his arms, and he pulled away. "Let go of me! Whoa..." He started to reel once again, reaching out in a vain effort to grab the wall.

"Carter!" Luka grabbed him again, but this time Carter didn't fight him. He even leaned against Luka for support, his shoulders slumping in resignation. "All right," Luka said. "That's it. Let's go."

Luka started down the hall, half-dragging half-carrying Carter with him.

"Go where?"

"You need to go to the hospital, Carter. And you're in no condition to drive." Luka sighed, and looked up at the ceiling. "I just have to figure out how I'm going to explain this to Kerry."