Work Text:
- Susan Lewis
When John finally returned from his escapades across the country (his fleeting time off between his internship), no one was expecting him to come back with news of a boyfriend. Not that he’d meant to reveal that detail, still, the second it came out on a Wednesday night shift. It caught everyone’s attention.
“Sorry I can’t! My boyfrien-“ his jaw had snapped shut. Every head that was passing by the admit desk turned to attention.
“Your who now is doing what, being the reason you can’t stay?” Perhaps it was cruel of Susan to drag it out but c’mon! No one had heard Carter was dating, let alone a man. Him not blabbing about it was a feat of will. Which meant it was probably something serious.
“Nothing. I just have plans that rely on me leaving mostly on time,” he replied amicably.
“Hmm, to see your sexy boy thing?” She teased, pretending to flip through a chart with any vested interest. The colour Carter turned was one for the memory book.
“Yeah man. No judgement. Just on a scale of 1-10 how would you rate him as a sexy boy thing?” Jerry joked over his shoulder. Scratch her previous statement. This shade was one for the ages.
“I’ve got a patient to attend to. Thank you so much,” he scowled, grabbing a chart and speeding away. Lewis and Jerry shared a chuckle before they got back to it. She still needed someone to stay back.
Later on, at 7 on the dot she watched the boy rush out the doors with a knowing look on her face.
- Carol Hathaway
It wasn’t often that Carol found the boy miserable. It was a feat to completely clip his wings. She did find that it was usually his high expectations (or more accurately Peter Benton) were to blame for his sour mood.
“What did Benton say now?” She sighed. Filling up her third cup of coffee.
“Nothing,” he huffed. That made her brows raise. Not just a sour mood. A full mope. Red alert. She poured another cup and brought it over. Shaking it above his head where he was completely flattened into every corner of the couch.
“Then what’s with this cloud over your head?” She chuckled as Carter reached out for her offering.
“It’s just my… friend,” the admission felt like Christmas had arrived on her lap. She certainly heard of a slip up involving Carter’s use of ‘boyfriend’ from the town gossips only a few months ago.
“What did he do?” He didn’t seem to clock the pronoun. Only sipping from his mug.
“Nothing. We had a great time. Haven’t seen each other in like a month. So it was like a really great time. Then this morning I woke up alone! No message,” her heart does wilt for the kid. Plus, knowing the early hours he would’ve been up by it’s hard to think of any reason someone would need to be running an errand.
“I’m sure he had his reasons,” it’s weak against whatever is rolling through Carter’s mind.
“Whatever. I need to get back to work,” he drinks the rest of the cup before disappearing.
She tries keeping an eye out for the rest of the day.
Just after midday Carter comes back from a rare lunch. In no short words. Beaming. Carol watches the pep in his step with a grin. Whatever it was sure was worth it. Not just from the grin, but the absurd hickey peaking from the collar of his shirt.
“Carter?” She intercepted on his way back in. “Maybe tell your friend to go easy with the teeth,” her eyes pointing to the mark. The pep in his step becomes a dash to the nearest men’s bathroom.
- Peter Benton
Peter doesn’t have a habit of loitering in the ER. In fact he hates it. The amount of things he has to do is not cohesive with waiting around. So it’s a complete surprise when he stops on his way back to the surgical floor. It’s the sight of Carter. Or more accurately the poor concealment of the boy. He’s half hanging out of a supply closet, the wire of a work phone leading in with him. For what Peter suspects is definitely not work related. He moves closer. The urge to yell at him never more justified.
He reaches the door and his ears clue in to the conversation.
“- may need a doctor Andrew. I love you, you know that - no! No I won’t. Are you sure you’re okay? -“
Peter presses on the receiver. Cutting the call.
“Hello? Andrew,” he watches the moment Carter moves to the wall mount and makes eye contact with Benton. He physically jumps.
“B-Benton! Sir wha- hi…” he fumbles with the phone, trying to hang it up. Peter says nothing. After the third failed attempt he takes it from him. Hanging it up himself.
“Want to explain why you are taking a personal call on a work phone?” His voice hums with thinly veiled sarcasm. Knowing whatever answer wouldn’t be enough.
“Well!” He seems to turn a shade of white. “I guess- you see,”
“Carter!” He snaps. Arms tightening in their cross. He’s ready to start his tirade.
“My boyfriend might be hurt!” He blurts. Hands shooting up to cover his face. “He said he’d been attacked. I needed to know I’m so sorry it’s unprofessional but he wouldn’t answer,” the kid seems to deflate so heavily Benton jolts to prepare to catch him.
“Was he?” He asks when he’s sure enough Carter won’t collapse on him.
“I don’t know! You hung up on him,” he scowls. It’s how he knows he’s serious. Peter sighs.
“Take 10. Call him back from the break room and get back to me,” Carter nods. Rushing down the hall to the break room.
Closer to 20 Carter jogs his way back. He looks stressed but better. Peter stares him down.
“He’s fine enough,” Carter scowls “from what little he told me on the phone,”
Peter still chews him out but the worry on his face seems punishment enough.
- Mark Greene
“Can I get some advice?” The words are not what Mark expected from the intern. They’d been catching up on their charting in silence together. He was still getting used to seeing Carter more often after switching over from surgery.
“Sure bud,” Mark said, not taking his eye off his pile of papers.
“Do you think long distance can work?” Mark’s eyes tear themselves from where they’ve been boring holes, to drag them to his intern and stare. Like he’d grown a whole second head.
“I really don’t think I’m the one to ask. Long distance lead to my divorce,” which does nothing for what Mark is now clear, the nervous look on Carter’s face. “Is this about Andrew?” He blurts. It has got to have been over a year now since that bomb had been dropped. Plenty of time for consideration.
“Yeah it is,” he twiddled with his pen. Deflect and denial had seemed to be the strategy anytime someone tried to bring up this fact with Carter. Someone nearly ordered a cake when the name ‘Andrew’ was revealed. No less from Peter Benton who had grown irritated at the nameless gossip and told them to at least use his name. “I don’t think I can do it anymore either,”
“Who would be doing the moving?” He was trying to be subtle but the thought of losing Carter from this hospital family was nerve wracking.
“Oh not me. Andrew’s family are certified assholes,” he practically growled. “But he has this stupid sense of responsibility even though they are constantly kicking him around,” he was worried the pen John was holding would snap under the pressure he was putting it through.
“And you have asked him?” The shifty look he gave back was enough confirmation. “Carter…”
“I carefully suggested some alternatives to his living situation. Namely moving over here,” he diplomatically explained. Mark got the feeling he’d been media trained by the Carters at some point.
“And…?” Mark sighed.
“He said he had too much going on to think about moving anywhere else,” he slunk into his pile of charts.
“Did the words ‘I love you and want to live together’ come out of your mouth at any point?” He watched Carter’s head shake. “Try that before you contemplate the end of the world,”
- Kerry Weaver
Kerry was stood in the kitchen when Carter made his appearance from the depths of her basement. She cast a glance over her shoulder and he awkwardly waved back. A very odd display seeing as they’ve been living together for a while now.
“Coffee?” She offered.
“No- no thanks,” he swallowed “actually yes please,”
“What’s wrong?” She turned to face him. Pushing his designated cup to the side while she sipped hers. He walked over taking it with both hands.
“I’m moving out,” Kerry gave him a look.
“Andrew finally get sorted out,” John grinned into his mug. If Kerry looked smug it’s because she was. “Finally, if I have to accidentally pick up the phone when you two are calling one more time, I was going to kick you out myself “
John spluttered. Attempting to salvage his dignity by hacking into the crook of his elbow.
“I’m still so sorry about that,” he whined hoarsely.
“Well I’m happy for you two at least. I still need to search for a roommate. Maybe the next one knows how to cut a cucumber,” John rolled his eyes, deeming it safe to take another sip.
“We’ve found a place that we can afford to split so I’ll be out of your hair by the end of the month,” it’s almost a surprise that it’s that soon. She’d been at the mercy of both first and second hand conversations about the trials and tribulations of this move. Speculations for delay included Andrew having a secret family, or that John had made the whole thing up. No one had ever actually seen the man. Peter could not confirm or deny whether or not he’d heard a voice on the other end of the line (not that anyone would push him for that information). Kerry however knew that the man existed. Her ears had rung all night after accidentally eavesdropping a late night call between the two. What the actual problem was, wasn’t her business to know.
“Well then hopefully I’ll be able to meet the mystery boyfriend I’ve been subjected to,” John grinned.
“Of course,”
- Everyone
The ER was hushed in an unnerving silence. They were moving Carter out of surgery. The damage was extensive but it was nothing compared to… Lucy. Jerry had been ringing for his parents. The only ones listed as his emergency contact. After the third time receiving someone who was decidedly not Carter’s parents, they stopped picking up.
“Does anyone know Andrew’s number?” He asked. The meandering hoard of nurses and doctors froze. Eyes flashing between each other in a resounding no.
“I might,” Kerry’s voice waved through the silence, parting the sea as she took the phone. She knew the number to John’s place. Andrew was never the one to pick up the call but she at least hoped there was an answering machine he’d listen to.
The number rang and connected to the machine.
“Andrew?” She asked into silence. “It’s Kerry, from County. We’re calling because John has been-“ she tried to find the words to describe what was burned in the back of her eyes. “He’s been stabbed and-“
The phone picked up.
“I’m on my way,” The call disconnected.
“Andrew’s coming,” The relief was palpable in the room.
-
The man who rushed into the ER had such a frenzied look to him that Carol tensed. A slick pool of fear tightened in her stomach. It set her alarms off. All night she’d been hyper aware of every look, mutter and turn from the patients around her. Trying to find signs that others had missed. What Carter had missed. His eyes locked with hers behind the admit and he bulleted over. It took a concerted effort to not run. Her whole body clenched in anticipation for a fight.
“Carter- John he-“ the realisation shocked her. The man facing her, suddenly harmless. He couldn’t even look at her, speaking from the side with such frantic energy.
“Andrew?” She hushed. He nodded, sharply and once. “He’s out of surgery in the SICU. I can take you okay?” He nodded again. Staring down at her with such effort she wondered if it hurt. Whatever she expected from Carter’s boyfriend, this was not it. Then again. This whole thing was incomprehensible. “Someone page Benton were on our way up,”
He followed her no more than a step behind. She could feel his presence. Making it to the elevator she found Mark.
“Carol they said Andrew-“ he paused taking note of the man beside her.
“I’m seeing him up now. Benton should be aware by now,” Mark nodded. Noting the way the man next to him seemed to stare daggers for interrupting their progress. He couldn’t blame him. The way his fist clenched and unclenched like they didn’t know what they were doing.
“I’m on my way too,” he sighed, falling in line with Carol. When the doors opened Benton spotted them right away. His face pale and pinched. The lack of confidence was nerve wracking. If she didn’t know Carter was stable and out of surgery she would’ve feared the worst.
Peter spotted the quickly forming hoard and more shockingly, Andrew. He showed little emotion on his face but Benton knew the signs. The tension in his shoulders. The pinch in his brow. The look of wanting to burn the place down. They had more in common than he’d ever expect. This man was devastated.
“Andrew?” He stepped forward. The man looked at him, unblinking. He nodded. “Carter is stable for now but I need to tell you the damage is extensive,”
He was beginning to wonder if anything he said was being processed. At some point his attention had shifted to the linoleum of the tiles.
“But he’s alive. Right?” He gritted out like it hurt him. Carol and Mark turned to look at him. Hunched over. His hands were clenching the air again.
“He’s alive but he’s not awake now,” Andrew scoffed.
“Then just let me see him,” he practically barked. Eyes scanning the hallway like John would be one of the faces walking by. Benton stepped back, letting Carol and Mark through to the room.
Opening the door it was dark but Kerry sat still. The light from the hall cut through. She turned, shocked to find an unfamiliar man stood in the doorway. She knew. His back was straight. Paying her no mind. Like she wasn’t even in the room. Giving Carter’s hand one last squeeze she stood up. Leaning on her crutches.
“Here, seat’s free,” she said, walking over to where he seemed unable to do anything but stare. “He seems to be enjoying a hand to hold and a voice to listen to,” she not so subtly said. She knew it would be a shock. It was hard even for the people who knew what the result of a surgery like this would look like. It just didn’t prepare you for what it looks like on someone you know. The cables, the tubes, the machines. Swallowing up Carter who looked helpless against the swarm.
Andrew nodded, finally clearing the doorway to find Carter’s bedside. Hesitantly brushing his fingers against the back of Carter’s hand. Like he was testing it out. Then their hands slipped together as if it was the most natural thing to happen in the room. He sat down but he didn’t speak.
Kerry left the room. Closing the door behind her. She was greeted by a gaggle of her coworkers. Lingering.
“Not the kind of guy I expected,” Carol hummed, an attempt to brighten the mood, only dampened by her voice low and wet.
“Not the way I hoped to meet him,” Mark agreed. They stood there for a moment. Then without a word trailed back down to the ER. Although their thoughts remained in that hall.
- On a brighter note
When Carter had invited them over. He’d told them it was for his 50th and he was doing something special. It was the first get together post covid. However, when everyone was packed into the lovingly set up backyard it was surprising to note that neither John nor Andrew had made an appearance. Instead being ushered in by a member of their help. Tiffany, if memory served correct (which it did). More surprising was the lack of Lena, who had been adopted coming up 5 years now.
People gathered around the tables. Being served wine and treats. A jazz band was playing on a pergola turned stage. Seeing people they hadn’t in many years. Carol and Doug mingled with Elizabeth. Luka seemed content in his own conversation with Jing Mei as Abby grazed the tables. Even Reese was there, grown as ever. It was a melting pot of County history. Nearly everyone there once worked there. Notably no one seemed to be related to Andrew.
Finally the doors opened and everyone turned. It didn’t take long for realisation to strike. The men were well dressed. Pressed suits with matching accessories. A deep green that matched Lena’s stunning dress. What sealed the deal was the gold band on each of their ring fingers. John flashing his with great pride whereas Andrew seemed happy to let the excitement pass by. Lena gripped onto him. Holding him with such joy that a smile seemed to rub off on him.
Susan, Carol, Peter and Kerry all looked at each other. There was a certainty that Mark wouldn’t have missed this moment either.
