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"Our last doctor up for bid is also from the emergency department here at County General." The announcer said. Abby made her way back to where the nurses were sitting. Everyone looked so pretty in his or her best clothes.



"How is he?" Haleh asked, being the self appointed mother of all her 'babies'.



"Terrified." Abby joked although not far from the truth. Haleh laughed. She remembered the first day Carter had come to the ER, all-nervous, looking right out of grade school. He'd matured and grown over the years and was like one of her own sons.



"This young man is offspring to one of Chicago's wealthiest families, the Carters. Ladies, open your wallets now because I am about to introduce someone that we all expect to bring in quite a sum tonight. May I offer to you, our very own Chief Resident of the Emergency Department, Dr. John Truman Carter, the Third!" He announced.



The stage went black as Falco's 'Rock Me Amadeus!' blasted on the loudspeakers. The pulse of the music brought on the anticipation as all eyes were drawn to the stage. Suddenly, just as the intro ended, a sole spotlight came on, illuminating John's face, head cocked, hat tilted, and the crowd went wild. He smiled and began to walk the runway, no need for a smoke machine or any other prop. John commanded the entire room's attention and he got what he'd come after. He walking with such cockiness that Abby was actually surprised that this hunk of a man was the same one that a few minutes ago would lose his lunch because he was so scared. Not now. He looked full of confidence and power.



"Oh, my sweet Jesus!" Chuni laughed, taken back by how good Carter looked up on that stage, prancing like a runway model. Dr. Weaver whistled like a sailor, fingers perched between her lips and Randi screamed at the top of her lungs.



The crowd was yelling and applauding and John figured he'd just let everything go and really get into this. At the end of the runway, he smiled at the nurses from his department, one of the louder tables, cocked his head, and flipped his hat out to his department's table. Abby caught it. His smile showed he was having fun.



The announcer was rattling off some history of John's career and some prepared presentation of him written by the marketing department as Carter returned to the stage. Bids were being yelled out left and right and the announcer was having trouble keeping up with all of them. He caught John's attention.



"Dr. Carter, we're having many requests for you to take off your jacket. Do you think you can give the ladies what they're asking for?" He asked. Carter smiled and turned to the crowd. He walked back down the runway while slowly slipping his jacket off of his shoulders. The crowd was in frenzy now, laughing and cheering him along. John could hear somewhere far off that his bidding was now up to eighteen thousand dollars, having begun at five hundred. He reached the end of the runway and turned his back on the crowd, allowing the jacket to slowly fall down his back revealing his strong shoulders and the object of everyone's desire, his tight, perfectly formed backside. That shot the bidding up to twenty four thousand. He hung the jacket off his shoulder like a professional model and he walked back up to where the announcer stood. It seemed that John had done this before. From being the bumbling, klutzy med student to tonight, where he moved with gracefulness and power was quite a change.



"Alright, Dr. Carter had received the highest bid of the night. His bid stands at twenty four thousand dollars. Do I hear twenty five?" He said. John couldn't help but to laugh. This did feel good. He couldn't see much because of the lights but he could hear voices and he could tell his friends, his 'family' was there, supporting and encouraging him as they always were. He could clearly hear Kerry, Elizabeth, Chuny, Abby, and Randi catcalling to him. The announcer leaned to the side as someone whispered something in his ear. The announcer looked shocked when he returned to the microphone.



"Well, this is a bit unexpected. Dr. Carter, I'm not sure if you know but we are accepting anonymous bids tonight for those wishing to keep their identities a secret." He explained to John and the crowd. The room seemed to quiet down a bit. Carter nodded. "I believe that we can call this entire evening a success because we have just received an anonymous bid from someone in the room. I believe that you have just broken all the records, Doctor. The bidding is now at two hundred and fifty thousand dollars!" He said. John's jaw dropped as the crowd went wild!



"Someone bid two hundred and fifty thousand dollars for me?" Carter asked, his voice cracking at the end. The announcer laughed, John's voice having carried out on the loud system. Carter could hear Kerry yelling "Alright, John!"



"We have verified the bid to be true and valid." The announcer nodded, looking at the surprised face on the young doctor. "I believe we have a winner! Dr. Carter, you have just been won for two hundred and fifty thousand dollars!" John walked backstage in a daze. "Thank you folks for coming and making this night a success!"



********************

Abby ran backstage to find John. Several well-wishers congratulating him on bringing in the highest dollar, were flanking him. He still had a stunned look on his face when Abby finally reached him.



"Nice job!" She laughed, pulling him through the crowd.



"Abby, that can't be for real. Why would someone pay that much money for me?" He asked, shell-shocked.



"I told you that you were worth it." She laughed, carrying his tuxedo for him along with his hat. They made their way out to the ballroom where all his friends were.



"Well, well. My six doesn't quite rate up there with your two hundred and fifty. You can bet there'll be a bit more expected from you that just dinner for that price. I wish you well, Dr. Carter. I just hope you have the stamina to perform for that price." Romano gave his own brand of congratulations.



"Nice suit." Luka said, shaking John's hand. "That's a lot of money, Carter. Better be a very good dinner." He smiled, feeling a bit jealous but he'd get over it.



"Wow." Elizabeth kissed him on the cheek. "You did look smashing up there, John." She said as Mark shook his hand.



"I, uh, I can't, uh." He mumbled.



"Well, you always knew the Carter's were worth a small fortune." His Gamma said, taking his face in her hands and giving him a kiss.



"It wasn't you?" He asked, hopeful.



"Oh, no dear. I'm afraid it's a bit out of even my price range for dinner. I've made inquiries with everyone I know and no one seems to know the bidder." She joked.



"I need a drink." Carter walked away from the crowd but was quickly flanked by yet another group of well-wishers, everyone wanting to talk to the quarter of a million dollar man.



********************

"Hey." He joined Abby, who was sitting alone at the table waiting for him. His grandmother had long since left and she was giving him a ride home.



"So, how's it feel?" She asked, seeing that he had a drink and probably had already finished several by the look in his eyes.



"I have been propositioned several times tonight, thank you. What were you saying about the fact that I needed to get laid?" He laughed, thankful to finally be free from his entourage.



"So, what are you doing here?" She asked, surprised. He made a face.



"That's not for me. With my luck, I'd be the talk of the hospital tomorrow if I did."



"I hate to tell you this but you're going to be the talk of the hospital tomorrow anyway." She smiled.



"Where is everyone?" He looked around and they were the only ones at the table.



"It's late. They went home. How much have you had to drink?" She asked, concerned that he was even drinking. After all, he knew the rules.



"Too much." He stated, noticing the concerned look in her eyes. "Give me a break, Abby."



"Do we need to go over the steps?" She asked, not really serious. She knew that this night was an exception and that John knew he shouldn't drink.



"It's not like I do this very much, ok? Can we go now?" He asked, looking all innocent. Abby helped him up and placed his arm heavily over her shoulder. They said a few more goodbyes and thank you's and finally, she poured him into her car. Within seconds, he passed out in the front seat.



Instead of taking him to his apartment, which was another several miles, she decided it would be better if she let him crash at her place. That way, she could help him if he got sick during the night. She was, after all, the expert on alcohol consumption and she wanted to make sure he didn't have alcohol poisoning with as much as she figured he had. Besides, they were on for the same twelve-hour shift tomorrow, which made the whole thing very convenient.



********************

John and Abby walked in the bay doors together and instantly received a round of applause. Carter had on dark glasses and looked like he was in quite a bit of pain but Abby seemed to be enjoying the whole show. She logged them into the computer as Carter made his way to the lounge.



Dr. Weaver was in the lounge and upon seeing his sunglasses; she conveniently dropped her thick notebook onto the table, making a very loud crashing sound. John cringed, leaning his throbbing head against the coolness of the lockers, hoping to block out the reverb in his head.



"Why, good morning, Dr. Carter. I'm so happy that even after last night's festivities, you are still able to make it to work on time." She said in a louder than necessary voice. Kerry had only seen him this bad once and John did not do hangovers well.



"Just doing my job, Dr. Weaver." He mumbled in barely above a whisper. He opened his locker after finally getting his fingers to work and took his sunglasses off, squinting from the florescent lights. He looked much worse than she expected and Kerry felt bad for him. She knew that Abby had taken him home after the fundraiser and that he'd been safe. She had also seen just a portion of how many drinks that had been bought for him after his successful win. She watched him drop his bag into the locker and attempt to put his lab coat on with little success. He was still drunk, she thought. Visions of Doug flashed through her head but Doug had never looked this bad.



"Hasn't anyone told you drinking is bad for your health?" She said softly, helping him with his lab jacket.



"Yeah. Me." He tried to smile but his face turned green. "Oh, man." He leaned heavily against the lockers. Kerry pulled his arm around her shoulders.



"Come on, John. I have just the cure." She walked him out of the lounge and into exam room eight. "Mark, can you give me a hand?" She called.



"What's wrong with Carter?" He asked. Kerry laid him onto the bed and got an emesis basin ready.



"Mark, do me a favor and give him the Ross treatment, ok? Last night is catching up with him and he's not feeling too well right now." She said sympathetically.



"Sure, Kerry. Had one too many last night, Carter?" Mark went to work running an IV line.
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