The rest of the day wasn't any better. He had been following her round like a puppy dog, one that she would quite cheerfully put down at this moment in time. Her day had consisted of "Not now Carter" "Leave me alone Carter" "Go away Carter". Still he didn't seem to listen. She knew she'd have to talk to him eventually, but it would be when she

was ready.

She brought her cigarette back up to her lips and inhaled. Her shift had finished fifteen minutes ago but she didn't feel like going home. No matter how pissed off she was at Carter, it didn't change the fact that her apartment felt empty when he wasn't there. So she stood on the roof, a cigarette and her thoughts her only companions.

She heard the door open and sure enough here he came, wagging his tail. Someone really should call the animal shelter. She didn't bother turning round,

"Stalking's a criminal offence you know." She snapped, rolling her eyes.

"Funny"

"Who's joking," she shot back. Boy was she good at this. Being a bitch came so naturally.

"Abby, we have to talk about this..." He whined.

"I did want to talk. Two weeks ago."

"I know you're hurt..." He knew just the right buttons to press. How dare he assume he had hurt her - even if it was true. She turned to face him, narrowing her eyes,

"No, you don't. I'm way passed hurt right now. Two weeks ago I was hurt. Now I'm just pissed!" She said, the anger behind her words beginning to show.

"Why?" She raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"You wanna know why? Yeah, well I wanted to know why you walked away two weeks ago. That's why!"

He just looked at her, his eyes full of regret. She started speaking again, not bothering to contain her anger anymore.

"I'm angry because you did it again. You dumped all your feelings on me then ran away, just like in May. And I let you!" She began poking her finger into his chest, "I'm angry because you disappeared for two weeks, *two weeks* and you didn't even have the decency to tell me where you were." Her voice became louder, "I'm angry because all I've done for the past two weeks is worry about *you*. I'm angry because every time my phone rang or someone knocked on my door I hoped it was you and I'm angry because it never was" Her anger became so intense she began to shake. She threw her hand in the air,

"Two weeks! You could've called. Let me know you were okay, that you were alive. But no! You had to call Miss Peppy instead! Do you have any idea how much of an asshole you are? You're a big freakin' asshole. I don't think I've ever been as mad at anyone as I am right now." She turned her back to him.

Carter stood watching her. This was pretty much what he'd expected. So she knew he called Susan. Is that why she was angry? "So... All this is because you are jealous that I called Susan instead of you?" She spun back round pointing,

"Don't you dare do that! Don't make me out to be petty. Think about it Carter. How would you feel if I disappeared for two weeks, without calling? How would you feel if...Luka...casually mentioned I called him instead?"

"Point taken," he knew he should have called her instead, "I just wanted to give you some time to think."

"Yeah, well I've had plenty of time! I realised that me and you would be a mistake! I wanna be with someone I trust. Someone who won't just disappear on me. And that isn't you."

"Ab..."

"I don't want to hear it Carter! Just go away!"

He stood for a few seconds just looking at her. He could see the hurt and disappointment in her eyes.. He saw her shaking with anger, but beneath that he say that she was going to break. He didn't want to be the one to break her. He wanted to hold her and tell her he was sorry. She broke eye contact with him and turned round, looking out over the city.

She didn't want him to see her cry. Big, fat tears rolled down her face. She didn't think she had any tears left. She heard him sigh and turn to leave,

"You want to know the big irony in all of this?" She heard him stop, and continued without turning to face him. "None of this would have happened if you hadn't spent the night flirting with that blond thing at the party."

"Come on Abby, I couldn't have held my feelings in any longer. It would have happened eventually,"

"You remember I ran up to you saying I had to talk? Yeah, well I had just spoken to Richard. He'd seen us together earlier and for the first time ever, he saw me, what I was feeling, and he knew what I'd been trying to deny for months."

Did he want to hear this? Did he really want to hear her say she was still in love with her ex? Probably not, but some twisted part of him had to hear her say it, to know that there was no chance for them,

"What?" Abby took a deep breath.

"He could see how I felt about you. He told me to tell you before it was too late. When I came over, that's what I was gonna do. Tell you how I felt about you, me...us."

Carter was taken aback. This he hadn't expected. So maybe there was still some hope.

"What would you have said?" He asked softly.

"It doesn't matter now. I left it too late." She turned her back to him again. She couldn't watch him walk away...not after last time. He walked to the door and as he walked through it he whispered,

"It's never too late."

And she broke. She let all the tears fall. Why did she do this every time? She never told him what she wanted to. She told him the opposite. She didn't want him to leave. She wanted him to stay, to force her to admit that she loved him. But he didn't, so she stood on the roof and cried. Maybe he wasn't strong enough. Was she?

She stood there thinking 'til no more tears would fall. Maybe he was right. Maybe it wasn't too late. The only thing stopping her from telling him was her pride. But he had taken the first step...he had told her how he felt. Maybe it was her turn. She wiped her eyes with her sleeve and ran towards the door. His shift finished in ten minutes. Carter wasn't going to walk out of her life...she wouldn't let him.

A/N: I'd like to apologise! I've been reading over my fic and basically I think I've drawn it out way too much! So sorry, if it got boring! You'll all be happy to know that the next chapter will be the last. After that I'm going to read all the fuzz infested stories to make up for all the chapters of angst I've written. The last chapter should be up tomorrow. So...will Abby get Carter? Or will it be too late? Next chapter you find out if they really are meant to be!

Theresa