to Part 13

Mike and Carrie Saga by Bradygirl Part 12 Austin was still reeling from what he'd overheard. Carrie was so excited that Mike was alive. He wondered what else had happened in the secret room besides the kiss Mike told Laura about. He may have lost Carrie for good now. Why wouldn't she just tell him it was over? That would be better than waiting for the other shoe to drop. He saw Carrie walking through the park towards him, but he wasn't in the mood for another fight. He needed to think and he needed to do it without Carrie around. __________ Carrie needed to talk to Austin. She had to get these doubts about their relationship out of her head. She saw Austin across the park, and she knew he had seen her too. So why was he walking away? Nothing was making sense anymore. She had more than friendly feelings for Mike, and now Austin was treating her like she had done something to him. What was going on? Suddenly, Carrie had a bad thought. What if Austin had really fallen in love with Sami and wanted to keep his family together. The annulment wouldn't happen and everything they'd worked for would be lost. That couldn't be it, could it? Could Sami have really won him over with that sweet act of hers? Carrie sat on a nearby park bench. People walked by with smiles on their faces, laughing. How long had it been since she'd really laughed? She couldn't remember the last time when she and Austin had done that. The months without Austin had made her stronger but not happier. These days she only enjoyed the time she shared with Mike. He made her laugh. Always keeping her spirits up and her faith in Austin alive. Always supporting her. Now that she thought about it, she realized something. Wasn't that Austin's job? How had they grown so far apart? ___________ The lights in Mike's room were dim, and the entire hospital was quiet. The only murmur was that of distant medical equipment. Mike was restless, and he walked over and opened the window. Every star was shining down tonight. There was something special about gazing up at the stars with someone you loved. He'd like to be under these stars with Carrie somewhere in the middle of a field with a bottle of wine and ... "Oh, God." Mike ran his hands through his blond hair. Why was he doing this to himself? Carrie had no idea he felt this way about her and probably never would. ___________ Eric found Carrie sitting on a bench in the middle of Salem Park. A box with a medical emblem sat on the ground next to her feet. "My, don't we look depressed." Eric always did have the knack for understatement. "Oh, Eric." Carrie ran up and hugged her younger brother. "I'm so glad you're here." "What's that troubled look on you face about? Or should I say who put that look on your face?" Eric had a feeling he knew the answer but he wanted to hear it from her. "It's Austin. I saw him in the park earlier. And I know he saw me too. I called out to him but he turned and walked away. I don't know what's happening. We used to be so happy." "I think you're growing apart. All the time he's been spending with Sami has changed him." Carrie hated to admit that Eric was right. But she couldn't get the sarcasm out of her voice. "Nah, really?" It wasn't like Carrie to make that kind of remark. This situation with Austin must have been going on for a while. Eric knew this conversation was going no where fast. A change of subject was a quick fix. "I saw Mike earlier. He looks pretty good for someone so close to death." "We were really lucky Lucas showed up when he did." Eric flashed back to the scene outside Mike's room with Sami and Lucas. Could Sami have something to do with Mike being in the hospital? "You care about Mike a lot, don't you?" "He's been a great friend. I don't think I could have gone through this without his support." "I talked to Mike earlier, and sis... He has eyes for you. Oh, he wouldn't admit it, but that man is falling in love with you. And you know what I think?" "I'm afraid to ask?" "I think you are starting to feel the same way. And it's scaring you." Carrie couldn't believe this. "So what, you're a psychiatrist now. You know how we both are feeling by only one conversation? That's rich." "No, I just meant..." "Drop it, Eric." In a strange way, Carrie knew he was right. She looked up at the sky. Even the stars seemed to agree as they twinkled a little brighter down onto them. When Mike was around, she felt only good. When Austin was around, she felt left out and unloved. It was time to make a decision. Carrie picked up the box of antibiotics and threw it in Eric's direction. "Take this to Marlena." Eric was caught off guard and nearly dropped it. "Why, where are you going?" "I need to talk to Mike." ___________ Mike was still standing at the window. The air outside felt cool on his skin and somehow the stars had almost a hypnotic effect. He couldn't take his eyes off of them. The walk from the park hadn't taken long and Carrie watched Mike as he reached over and turned on the radio. Bryan Adams started singing "When you love a woman, tell her that she's really wanted. When you love a woman, tell her that she's the one..." A hurt look crossed Mike's face. He started to turn off the radio but decided against it and leaned back against the wall. "Oh, Carrie," he whispered. "I wish you were here right now." Carrie could barely hear Mike's words over the music. Mike still hadn't seen her. So Carrie quietly walked over to him, the music working its magic on her. "I am here, Mike," Carrie whispered. Mike tried to speak but Carrie put her finger to his lips. "Don't talk. We've done enough talking." top to Part 13 Copyright © 1998, w3PG, inc