#er x reader

contains : seasonal depression, longing for the sun and ocean, australian!reader, race neutral but Im white so writing reflects that experience, long distance John and reader, late s2!john/early season!3, modern au cause I can’t write for the 90s, self indulgent, John calls reader ‘starfish’, autistic!reader x autistic!John, non accurate American gas bills, John being a silver spoon and lower middle class reader

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Summary -

At County General, being a nurse is hard enough without John Carter making every shift worse. He’s confident, annoyingly smug, and always ready to argue with you over just about anything.

From the start, you clash. You think he’s impossible. He thinks you’re stubborn. Everyone else just rolls their eyes and watches. The problem is, beneath all the bickering, there’s a chemistry neither of you wants to admit.

It doesn’t help that Carter lives in the same apartment building, making him impossible to avoid. Or that he has a smile that makes you go weak at the knees. Between late-night run-ins and long shifts, the line between rivalry and something more starts to blur.

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https://archiveofourown.org/works/86113951

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Warnings: Explicit Content, Enemies to Friends, Rivals, Explicit Sexual Content.

“well don’t let me interrupt.”

carter pulls himself away from abby at the sound of your voice, and his eyes widen when he sees you standing there. you blink back the tears welling in your eyes as you let out a humourless laugh, before walking away.

“(y/n)!” carter jogs after you, catching the attention of some of the nosey nurses you know will probably be having a field day with this.

“you’re bleeding,” you tell him. “you should go clean yourself up.”

he ignores your comment, grabbing your hand and turning you around to face him, “(y/n), i—“

“save it,” you tug your hand out of his grip. “cancel our dinner reservation.”

“wait a minute—“

“i’m done waiting for you!” you yell and carter’s eyes soften at your words. “it’s like waiting for a train that won’t ever come. i can’t do it anymore, carter, so just cut me loose and let me go.”

you leave without another word. carter’s so engrossed in watching you walk away that he doesn’t realise carol has handed him a tissue for his bloody nose until she clears her throat.

“thanks.” he says softly.

You've found the position in the car that offers you the most comfort. Head in Carter's lap, and feet in Luka's. Sure, you'd be in some kind of trouble if anybody were to pull you over.

But this is Route 66. You can go for miles without seeing a single other car.

Your fingers are intertwined with John's, drawing light patterns onto his skin as you all work out where to stop for the night. You're trying to pay attention, but the lull of the car is proving too much, and you find your eyes fluttering closed.

"You feeling camping or motel tonight, pretty girl?" Carter asks.

"Mhm, what's the forecast?" You mumble sleepily.

"Clear skies, warm. The usual out here." Luka's reply.

"I'm happy to camp," You shrug. Long as I get to sleep between you both. Keep me cosy, and all that."

"Sweetheart, there's never been a night where you haven't been between the two of us," Luka says, voice deadpan. "What makes you think that's going to change?"

“very funny,” carter bangs on the door. “let us out! we have patients!”

“not until the two of you figure out whatever the hell this is.” doug says through the door, before the three of you leave you to it.

you sit on the couch, avoiding carter’s eye. he’s pacing the room and you’re two seconds away from snapping at him, the sound of his footsteps giving you a headache.

“will you stop that?” you break. “you’re gonna burn a hole in the floor.”

“i don’t see you trying to think of a way to get us out of here.” he snaps in return.

“there is no way out of here, einstein. mark has the key.”

silence fills the room as the two of you begin to acknowledge your situation. after about an hour of you flipping magazines and carter pretending to read a medical journal, he breaks the silence.

“what i said the other day,” he begins and for the first time all day, you look over at him. “it was a stupid thing to say.”

“it was,” you agree. “i don’t make a habit of bringing your personal life into the hospital, so it was disappointing that you did that to me in a room full of my superiors.”

“i had my reasons.”

you scoff, “so you apologised and then doubled down on it.”

“that’s not—“ john pinches the bridge of his nose, letting out a sigh. “it doesn’t matter.”

“no,” you turn to face him. “enlighten me.”

“(y/n)—“

“if your reasons were so great, why can’t you tell me them?”

“because i was fucking jealous, okay.”

you lean back against the couch cushions, taken by surprise. john stands up from his spot at the table, clasping his hands behind his neck and looking at you with complete sincerity.

“i was jealous,” he admits, softer this time. “and i embarrassed you and it was a dick move, but i was jealous of the thought of you with him. knowing i could treat you so much better than him.”

“this is what treating me better looks like?” you raise your eyebrows.

“i know,” carter sounds defeated, nodding to himself. “and i know i’ve probably ruined any chance i had with you, even though there likely wasn’t that much of one—“

“i’m not seeing him anymore.” you say.

carter’s eyes snap to yours, “you’re not?”

you shake your head, “turns out he’s a bigger dick than you. who’d have thought?”

that gets a laugh out of carter and you can’t help your own smile that’s threatening to take over your features.

“i am sorry, (y/n),” he tells you. “i didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

“you’re forgiven.” you respond.

a silence falls between the two of you. carter risks a glance at the door, “do you think they’ve forgotten we’re in here.”

“either that or they’re waiting for us to kiss and make up.”

“i wouldn’t be opposed.”

“shut up, carter.”

“you got plans tonight?” carol asks as she hands carter something to sign, a smile growing on her face at the blush that tints his features at her words.

“something like that.” he hands her the pen, picking up the flowers from the counter.

“must be someone special.” she continues, catching the attention of her fellow nurses.

“yeah,” carter smiles to himself. “she is.”

he doesn’t stick around to listen to the nurses gossip, but he stops in his tracks when he realises you’re walking towards him.

“hey!” you beam at him, leaning forward to press a gentle kiss to his cheek.

“hi,” he responds, pulling back to admire the dress you’re wearing. “wow. you’re gorgeous.”

“thanks, john,” your smile grows wider. “i hope it’s okay i met you here. i didn’t know if you’d be late—

“my surgery finished early,” he explains. “but no, all good. ready to go? these are for you, by the way.”

carter hands you the flowers and you can’t stop yourself from leaning forward and giving him a real kiss.

posting a moodboard every hour or so until my inbox is empty! (also they literally never mention that plot again lol)

You hate coming to County. Knowing that Doug works there, it's just a recipe for disaster. But after your son had gotten his arm broken at soccer practice, the coach had brought him here without asking.

Of course, it's just your luck when you arrive, and he's already been taken by the paediatrician. You ask one of the nurses to show you, but you know what's coming.

You're led to one of the examination rooms, only to be greeted by a sight you never thought you'd see. Doug Ross and his son.

As soon as you step inside, your focus is entirely on the little boy. "Honey! What happened?"

"I fell," He mumbles sadly, lip quivering as he glances up at you.

"Oh, sweetheart. But I'm sure Dr. Ross is taking good care of you."

Finally, you allow yourself to look at Doug. His jaw is dropped a little, clearly putting the pieces together.

"How do you know Dr. Ross, mommy?" Your son asks.