Disclaimer: I own neither Carter or Lucy, and for anyone that I created who cares who owns them.

A Time for Redirection

He looks peaceful sleeping. But that alone aggrivates me. How is it fair that he gets to sleep n this flight yet I don't. I'm sure he did it on purpose. Yes, I Lucy Knight, 2nd year doctor in Emergency Medicine am forced to sit next to the one and only John Carter, the third I might add, 3rd year doctor also in emergency medicine. And I hate him just in case you didn't realie that yet. I've only known him for six months, and I despise him more then any other person I have ever met. Okay so why then did I accompany him to this seminar? Because you don't say no to that women. Also it is a pretty good oppurtunity. Also I don't want Mr. John Truman Carter III to learn anything more then I already know. But is he really peaceful? No, never. He is gaining he strength so that when he wakes up he can strike out at me with full force while I am weary from lack of sleep and shall be defeated. And look, the monsters etes open slightly in an evil slit.

"What?"

All I do is glare at him and then turn away. All rise to the occasion later.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The ride to the hotel had been silent and neither Lucy nor Carter had any wish to break that silence. Even as they walked into the hotel wilence claimed them. Once they had reached the front desk once of them finally spoke.

"We have two seperate reservation for Lucy Knight and John Carter." Carter spoke evenly to the short bald man while watching the short little blond spawn from hell at his side through the corner of his eye.

The clerk typed the names in quickly then looked up to them. "I.D."

They both quickly pulled out their idenification and produced them to the clerk. AFter a quick verification the clerk pulled two keys out form under the counter. "Room 412." He handed a key and Lucy's ID back to her. "Room 416." He then handed Carter and key and his ID. "Your luggage will be brought up to your rooms."

Lucy turned quickly away from both Carter and the clerk and went strait to an elavator. Unfortanetly she heard Carters steps close behind her and when she reached the elevator and pushed the arrow pointing up she saw him stop next to her and look up at the numbers which began blinking down from number 9. In what seemed like the longest few moments of her life the elevator finally dinged and Lucy was the first to step on. Inside the elevator was worse. Lucy could almost feel CArter's nasty vibes. Unfortanetly he beat her in pushing the number four. Bastard she thought, knowing it was childish but unable to stop the thought. Eventually the elevator bell rang again and the doors opened and Lucy almost ran over the people coming in. Glancing at the signs directing to certain room number Lucy soon took off, of course CArter was behind her. Soon though she found her room number and quickly stopped .

"Lucy." Carter forced her name out of his mouth as he stopped behind her.

Lucy spun around, surprised to find him behind her. Looking at him warrily she responded. "What?"

"The introduction dinner is for 7, don't forget about it." After making that short statement Carter turned away from her and walked down the hall.

"Why thank you Dr. Carter, I'll do my best not to disapoint or embarass you." Lucy called after him in a sweet voice.

"Then don't show up." Carter yelled behind .

Lucy glared. That's all she could do was glare. She hated it when he got the last word. Turning back to the door she shoved the key in angrily and gave it a sharp turn. "Well then I'll be sure to show up! I wouldn't want you to actually have a pleasant evening!" Lucy shut the door behind her before he could even have a chance to consider responding.

Carter spun around only to find and empty hall. A few choice of rated R words passed through his head during that short moment and eventually he just turned away and walked to the door with his room number. He hated her, he despised her, he felt threatened be her, and more then often had his pride wounded be her. Walking into his room Carter found his luggage already placed on the floor and a money grubbing man waiting for his tip next to them. Carter yanked his wallet out in frustration and gave the guy a twenty without even realizing it. By the time the man was thanking him Carter had already grabbed his suitcases and was walking to the bedroom. She already had him in a bad mood. He never knew anyone that could get him so riled up like she could. Sure there is always someone you work with that you dislike. Carer could name a couple. But rarely did he hate someone as patiently as he did her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Dinner, was it formal, no, I doubt it." Lucy yanked things out of her bag in frustration as she searched for the paphlet for the seminar. For the life of her she couldn't remember what the book had said to wear and she refused to have to ask Carter. She would rather fake a hear attack to find a doctor just to find out what to wear. "Oh yea, I'm good." Lucy yanked the book out from her back and plopped on the bed and opened it up to the begining. "Dinner, seven, main hall, dress semi-casual." Lucy sighed in relief as she realized she brought something of her wardrobe to fill that requirement. "Of course I'm sure Dr. Carter will be wearing his suspenders." Lucy said in a snotty voice. "Bastard." Throwing the book on the bed she glanced at the alarm clock on the night stand. "Three, good, enough time for a nap." With that deicded Lucy shoved her suit case and the other bags that polluted her bed onto the floor and through herself onto the king size bed. "Oh heaven. I'll have to attempt to get to some more of these seminars." Putting up wtih Carter was almost bearable for the luxury of the hotel. But only almost.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Carter of course made no attempt to check to see if Lucy was almost ready. Instead he just past her door and made his way to the elevator. She wasn't his problem. But she was a problem, a continous one. On more then one occasion had she plagued his thoughts almost throughout a whole day because of the way she got to him. It was even like that before their first blow out. But he hadn't thought of her with annoyance then. He had-. The elevator rang again and the doors slid open to reveal two yound women. A cute short brown headed one that kind of reminded him of Abby. And a tall blond. "What floor?" Carter asked with a smile. He never could resist the blonds.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To Carter's luck they were both headed in the same direction he was going.

"So your from Chicago, wow, I couldn't imagine working there considering the weather. Maybe it's just because I grew up in 90 degree weather, it makes you unable to withstand the cold. But I'm sure you grew up there and are already used to it."

Carter laughed. "Well not really, at least not enough to run out in it without any clothes on." Carter responded to the blond, who's name he had found the be Rene.

Rene laughed. "I would hope not."

"Are you here alone? Usually two are send from a hospital?"

Carter turned to the brunette, or more specifically Megan. "No, I'm not alone. She just isn't down yet. Not surprising though."

"Really?" Rene asked intrigued as she noticed some form of annoyance in her aquintances voice. "if you don't mind my asking, why would that be?"

"Because she would be late just to annoy me." Trying to get off the subject of Lucy, since he didn't think talking about another women would impress his beautiful new friend, Carter pointed to an empty table. "How about you two accompany me then so I won't be by my lonesome."

Rene laughed. "Sure, I think we can do you that favor."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Within the next ten minutes another man and and women seated themselves at their table after asking if they could do so. To Carter's luck it was another blond. Although the groups was soon joined by what seemed to be two other eligable bachelors who made it a point that they must be seated at a table with some many beautiful women. Still, any thoughts of Lucy were gone, and he was now content with the people surrounding him.

"So John, is this your first seminar?" Jennifer, the new blond asked him.

"No, second. My first one was the year before." Carter responded to the women.

Jennifer nodded. "You know I seem to recall someone coming from your hospital last year. The only reason I do is because I think she was British."

"Elizabeth Corday, yea she was here last year. Actaully she was supposed to accompany to this years but the date of her wedding got moved up." Carter explained to teh girl, unfortanetly that brought on the thoughts of her replacement.

"They sent someone with you didn't they?" The other man asked who's name was Jason.

"Yea." Carter looked down to his watch then looked back up with a tight smile. "And she is late."

"Only fashionably my dear Dr. Carter. I'm surprised you are so dissapointed over my not being here."

Carter looked up to his side to find a slightly flushed Lucy with semi damp hair who somehow still looked like she had taken all of the time in the world to arrive.

Carter returned her smile. "Don't worry, if it makes you feel any better I was secretly over joyed on the inside."

Lucy smiled sweetly at him. "I'm ecstatic. And you saved me a seat, I didn't know you cared." Taking her seat next to him Lucy became instantly aware of the six people around her. Bitining her lip to hide the smile seemed to be no use and Lucy looked down at her lap. After a moment she regained her composure and looked back up to find glasses of water being placed in front of everyone.

"My name is Josh, I'm guessing you are also from Chicago."

Lucy turned to the man sitting next to her. His looks were nice and you looked about as young as her. Smiling genuinly Lucy responded. "Lucy, and yes I am from Chicago. And you?"

"Manhattan, as is my friend sitting next to me." Josh turned his head from Lucy and nudged the man next to him. "Michael meet Lucy."

Michael smiled at the blond and held out his hand. "Nice to meet you Lucy. I hope Josh isn't bothering you to much. He's been a doctor for six months and thinks he can take on the world."

"Hey, I resemble that!" Josh smiled at Michael then looked back at Lucy. "I was going to try to convince you I was at least a third year."

Lucy laughed and smiled. "Don't feel bad. I'm only a second year. And anyway, third years can be so stuck up." Lucy said the last statement loudly enough for the man on the other side of her to hear. Turning her head she met eyes with him. "Right Dr. Carter?"

Carter was almost at his breaking point with her. Starting an all out yelling match wtih her would have been easy back in Chicago, but it would hardly be practical there, or at least not infront of people. "Just as much as seond years can be immature."

"Well then I guess you've covered both haven't you?" Lucy knew she was getting to him. He was begining to clench his jaw just like he always did when he'd had enough and was going to began yelling which he coudln't do this time so it was even more perfect seeing him have to keep control.

"Well I guess it's a good thing you don't plan on making it to a third year isn't it Dr. Knight?" Carter voice suprisingly sounded polite, very much unlike his words.

"Why Dr. Carter, whatever could you mean. I would never miss a day if that meant surpassing you in anyway possible." The sweet smile had never left Lucy's face she had been enjoying their conversation way to much then she normally would.

Carter breathed in and just smiled. "Well then quit now Lucy because that isn't going to happen."

Seeing a salad placed in front of her Lucy looked around to find the same had been down around the table. "We'll see John." Turning away from Carter Lucy looked towards her salad.

"You know people always say competition is a healthy thing," Michael began, "but I think in the case of you two it is more deadly."

Lucy smiled and took a bite of her salad before she once again ventured into a conversation with Josh and his companion Michael, while she noticed Carter do the same with his blonds.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The rest of the night had went off without incident. The dinner lasted a couple of hourse after that with all of the introductions and speeches that were made after everyone ate. Once Lucy had gotten up from the table and stretched her legs to once again talked with her two friends as they all made they're way out of the main hall. If she were to look behind her she wouldn't have been surprised to see the two blonds on either side of Carter. "Well I had fun, even though the stuck up third year was sitting next to me." Lucy said wtih a smile.

Josh laughed at her. "Well that's good to know. I hope I can provide the service again tomorow when I see you."

"If your lucy." Lucy smiled when he laughed then she took her leave of him and Michael and walked towards to closest elevator. She shared it with four other people but luckily none of them were Carter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Carter said goodbye to Rene and Megan as they stepped off the elevator then he waited silently with three other people who were talking quietly. The elevator came to the fourth floor moments later and Carter stepped off. After a moment he finally figured out which direction to go and once he did he saw Lucy putting her key in the lock. Even as he began walking towards her she looked up only to look back down and finish turning the lock. Carter reached her though before she could open the door and stood at her side. "We're not finished yet."

Lucy sighed. "I'm tired." Smiling tightly Lucy looking up at him. "How about we get rest so we will both be fresh in the morning to yell as much as we want."

"That's what I am talking about, there will be no sort of arguement." Carter voice was demanding, he wasn't in the mood to take anything from her, but he suspected he would.

"It takes two people to argue. And I didn't notice you ever shying away from any arguement since we arrived on the plane."

"I know how many people it takes to argue. I'm saying their will be no more arguing. What happened back there was totally uncalled for and immature." If Lucy had been tired she was full awake now Carter new, her face seemed to explode at his words.

Lucy threw her key down and cursed herself mentally for throwing that small tantrum and proving him right. Leaning down Lucy picked up her key. "Well then Dr. Carter I better get to bad so I'm not all bad and cranky tomorrow morning, I wouldn't want to embarass or dissapoint you again now would I?" The whole conversation was upsetting her. She hated people talking down to her.

"Lucy stop being ridiculous your acting like a child." Although seeming like he was talking down to her Carter knew he was fighting just as low as she was, he was pressing every button he knew pushed her over the edge. And he knew why, just so that she would get angry and prove him right.

"A child!" Lucy screamed and pushed him back roughly. "You know what I do hate you! How is that for childish!"

"Lucy be quite!" Carter hadn't done any better he yelled even louder and after the realization hit him he pushed open her door and walked in pulling her with him.

"Let go of me!" Lucy screamed.

"Jesus Lucy, what the hell is your problem?!" Carter yelled back just as loud.

"You! What the hell do you think. It's always you. The way you think you're better then me, smarter then me, more mature then me, jeez even neather then me after that comment you made a couple of weeks ago about me being a slob. Let me guess irresponsable is among them too after me being late!" Never had it been like this, never had they both openly critiscized the other. Normally it was just proving each other wrong or smart as remarks. This was totally different and Lucy hadn't been prepared to all out fight with him because she knew what he would say back to her would hurt for the stupidest reasons she knew.

"Me? And what about you? Let's see, I'm up tight, snotty, think I'm better then everyone else. You don't ever think your wrong and think everyone should be nice to you and if they aren't then they are then one with the problem. So because I didn't support your every decision I'm wrong, you know damn well I have no damn reason to have any faith in you!" Carter stood their like stone and stared down at her doing his best to show that he wasn't apolegetic for what he said, he had went to far this time.

Lucy dug her naild into the palms of her hands as she made tight fists. Her whole face was tight with anger and she had no words to respond to his comment. So nothing was said and he never spoke again because he turned around and walked out the door. Once it shut, surprising not loudly, Lucy blinked once to release the tears that had been building. Sighing to herself Lucy did her best to convince herself that it was all in the past.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~