Chapter One: Knight and Day

Author Note: Hey everyone, I'm glad to see some good traffic for this story. And I want to thank Dinkyboo for their review. It's awesome to receive reviews. It lets me know what you think of the story and what you think might happen next. So any and all reviews are appreciated. Okay, time for me to get off my soap box and let you actually start reading the story. Hope you enjoy it.

Lucy Pov

I've heard once when life gives you lemons make lemonade. But how can you do that when all you want to do is scream? My life truly began at Cook County General Hospital. It almost ended there as well when I was stabbed by a psychic patient name Paul Sobricki. To be honest I should have died that day. How I survived is still a mystery to me. It's one mystery I'm grateful for.

Now nine years later here I sit at Northwestern Hospital waiting on word of my husband's surgery. My five year old son sleeps peacefully in my lap while his unborn siblings decide now is a good time to stir in my belly. Noah has his father's dark brown hair and gorgeous chocolate brown eyes. He was a welcomed surprise and one that set my life. I sigh and kiss Noah's head as a doctor walks slowly toward me. It isn't until he removes his mask that I recognize him.

"Dr. Benton, I didn't know you would be working on John. How is he?"

"Lucy..., I'm sorry to tell you this, but John didn't make it."

"What? I don't understand. John was healthy..."

"I know. I'm so sorry, Lucy. There was a complication with the kidney, and once it was fixed the kidney was no longer viable. John arrested and they weren't able to get him back."

"Oh, God, what am I going to do? How am I going to tell Noah?"

"I'm sorry."

I nod my head as I wipe away my tears. "It's not your fault, Dr. Benton. And John wouldn't want you to blame yourself."

"Yeah, he was good like that. How is the Carter Center coming? Are you going to finish it?"

"I will finish it. That's what John would want me to do. The city of Chicago needs it. Can I see him?"

"Yeah, they should have him in the morgue."

I take a big calming breath as I try to calm my nerves. This was not something I was prepared to do, but I needed to say goodbye to John. "Would you mind staying here with Noah? I don't want his last memory of his Daddy to be..."

"Say no more Lucy, I'd be honored. I know John wouldn't want him to see him like that either."

"Thanks, Dr. Benton."

"Please call me Peter, and your welcome."

I smile slightly as I stand up. The fact I was almost nine months pregnant didn't help with mobility. I make the long walk to the elevator that would take me down to the morgue. Working at County I found going to the morgue to be a very unpleasant experience on many levels. But the fact that I was going to say goodbye to my husband here at Northwestern made this journey all the harder.

I step into the cold room and tears instantly begin to slide down my face. He is so still. I just want to shake him awake and say the joke is over, but this would never be over. This is real, and it is forever.

"Goodbye John, I love you."

I kiss his cold forehead as sobs rack my body. I have to be strong for the kids. They needed me now more than ever. I make my way back to Noah and Peter wondering how I was going to get through this by myself. God, I miss him all ready.

"Mommy, where's Daddy?"

"Noah, Daddy isn't coming home with us." I sit down beside my exhausted five year old.

"Why?"

"Because God said he needed Daddy in Heaven with him."

"Daddy's dead..."

"Yes, Noah... Daddy's dead. But he'll be able to watch over us from Heaven."

"But I won't see him anymore."

"No, you won't see him anymore. At least you won't see him until God calls us to Heaven." How could my five year old possibly understand what I was saying to him?

"Daddy said I might have to take care of you and my sisters. I can do that."

I smile as I nod my head. John always thought of the family first before himself. To be fair, he always thought of everyone else before himself whether it be friend, family, or patient. I was going to miss him so much.

"Well, for right now how about I take care of you and your sisters? That's what Mommy's are supposed to do."

"Okay, Mommy. I miss Daddy."

"I know you do, Noah. I miss him too. It's time to go. Thank you for everything, Peter."

"You're not working tonight are you, Lucy?"

"Not tonight no, but I do have to be in at 8 tomorrow morning."

"Lucy, you need to take some time off to grieve. You have to think about Noah and the babies."

"That's exactly what I'm doing, Peter. I'll grieve later. Right now I have to work." I climb slowly to my feet, take my son's hand, and walk toward the front door. This would be the last time I would ever enter this hospital.

Noah and I walk to the car in silence. I knew my son was hurting, but for the life of me I didn't know what to say to comfort him. I guess it's true what they say. It's easier to comfort strangers than your own family. I get Noah secured in his car seat when the first pain hits. It's sharp and sudden but more than that it's very clear.

My daughters have made the decision to come into the world the same day their father died. I make my way through the crowded streets of Chicago. By the time I reach County, my contractions are coming every five minutes. I park the car then grab my cell phone to call the front desk. I knew I wouldn't be able to walk inside the hospital.

"Hey, Jerry, it's Lucy. I need a wheelchair out in the parking lot. Why... because I'm in labor and can't walk in. That's why."

The wheelchair arrives and we're inside in no time. Noah leans gently against my body watching everyone around us. It's a flurry of activity that is interrupted by my sudden intake of breath. The look on Morris's face is priceless. If I wasn't hurting so bad I might tease him.

"Lucy, how far apart are your contractions?"

"About five minutes. I don't think I'm going to make it upstairs, Morris."

"I don't think you are either. Okay, lets take you to trauma room three. I want an infant monitor on her ASAP."

"Mommy..."

"Come here, Noah. Your Mommy is going to be just fine. Do you want to lay on the bed with her?" Morris smiled at my son as Noah nodded his head in response. "All right buddy, you keep Mommy company," he said as he placed Noah on the bed beside me.

"Thanks..."

"No problem... How's John doing?"

I take a shuddering breath as I shake my head. "He didn't make it. It's just us now."

"Oh, God, Lucy, I'm so sorry. You just sit tight. We're going to take care of you."

"I know you will, Morris."

Morris nodded his head as he left the room. The moment Noah and I were alone the room began spinning. I close my eyes to the sudden onset of nausea. I hear Noah beside me, and I realize it's not just me who is feeling sick to my stomach.

"Noah, close your eyes. That should help your tummy."

"Why is the room spinning, Mommy?"

"I don't know, Baby." I wrap my arms around Noah's small body and kiss the top of his head.

"Carter, I need you here in trauma three."

"Yeah, I'm coming."

"John...No, it can't be you."

"Mommy, that sounded like Daddy."

"You heard him?"

"Uh huh... Mommy, my tummy still feels sick."

"Just keep your eyes closed, Noah. It'll pass," I say opening my eyes.

What the heck was going on? How was it that both Noah and I could hear John's voice? The scene before me took my breath away. A clear mist separated Noah and I from the active trauma. A burned man was on a gurney being worked on on all sides, but it was his head that held my attention. The man standing there with an intabation tube is John.

How was this possible that I was watching my dead husband working on another patient? A sudden contraction hits causing me to bite my lip mumbling under my breath as I breath through the pain. I continue breathing through the contraction, but I notice that John appears spooked. Could he hear me breathing? I glance down at Noah...would he be able to see John as well?

"Noah, open your eyes."

"Noah..."

"Dr. Carter, are you all right?"

"Yeah, I just thought I heard something."

"I hope you do hear something, John. Like the monitor going off," Morris said as he entered the trauma room.

"Yeah, Morris, I can hear that."

"Daddy...Mommy, it's daddy. But I thought Daddy died."

"I'm in... Daddy... Can anyone else hear that?"

"John, are you going senile on me?"

"What...no, I just hear a little boy wanting his daddy."

"There aren't any little boys here, John."

"I know that, Morris. I'm sorry. I guess I'm just thinking about Joshua. He'd be five now."

"God, John, I'm sorry. Why don't you take some time. We've got this covered. Let's get him up to the burn unit."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I'm positive. We've got this covered. Thanks for the help. I'll see you in the morning."

"Yeah... Rachel, I think they are done with us for tonight. Let me get you a taxi."

"Sounds good... Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I will be."

"No, don't go, Daddy... Mommy needs you."

"I don't think he can see us, Noah. I don't know how we can see him. Ow...big contraction."

"Um, Rachel, I'm sorry. I think I'm going to stay here for a while..."

"Say no more, Dr. Carter. I can find my way. I'll see you soon."

"Yeah, I'll see you."

"Mommy, he's staying."

"I can see that... Ah..."

"Mommy..."

"It's all right, Noah. Mommy is just going have your sisters very soon," I say gripping the bed with my hands.

"But you need help. You can't do it alone. Where's Uncle Archie?"

"I don't know, Noah... I don't know."

"Hello...is anyone there?"

Noah looks at me then looks at John. I can see the wheels turning in his head. He is his father's son after all. "Daddy, Mommy needs your help. Can't you see us? We're right in front of you."

"He can't see us because of the mist or veil or whatever this is separating us," I say as I feel a gush of water soak me and the bed.

"Mommy..."

"It's okay... Mommy's water just broke."

"That means the babies are coming now," Noah said looking up at me with John's chocolate brown eyes.

"That's right, but how do you know that?"

"Daddy told me..." I watch Noah turn back around and stretch out his little hand. What would happen? Would his hand simply pass right through John's hand? Would John disappear leaving us all alone again? I had no answers, but I couldn't lose my son.

I reach out grabbing Noah at the same time his hand grabbed the front of John's shirt. "Noah, don't..." My eyes slam shut as I hear a loud ripping sound, then my nose is engulfed in the smell of burned flesh. God, I think I'm going to be sick. "Noah, breath through your mouth not your nose. I don't want you to get sick."

"Oh, my God...Lucy."