Let It Rain
Part Eight
By Kitty
angelpixiedust@bolt.com

DISCLAMER: "ER," the characters and situations depicted within are the property of Warner Brothers Television, Amblin Entertainment, Constant c Productions, NBC, etc. They are borrowed without permission, but without the intent of infringement. The story presented here is written solely for entertainment purposes, and the author is making no profit.

This takes place a few weeks after "May Day". John Carter is in Rehab in Atlanta, GA: Let it Rain

Rated R for consentual heterosexual situations.

John Carter is still asleep the night before he is to return to work in the ER. His dreams were filled with the memories of Ash and their last few weeks in Atlanta.



Early Saturday Morning at Ashley Manor just south of Atlanta.

The morning sunlight woke John from his slumber as he rolled over in a bed unfamiliar to him. Remembering where he was and the events of the previous evening, a wide grin broke out across his face as he stretched. ‘Wonder where Ash is?’ he thought to himself as he rose from the bed. Hearing a noise out on the veranda, John walked towards the door.

When he opened the door, he saw Ash standing by the railing looking out into the direction of the rising sun. She was wearing the thinnest white cotton nightgown that showed her figure as the sun rose in front of her. He quietly eased up behind her and placed his arms around her waist.

“Good morning, my love.” I whispered in Ash’s ear as I kissed her softly on the cheek. “Did you sleep well.”

“Mmmmmmm Yes. I’ve not slept that soundly in many years.” Ash replied as she turned to face me and returned my gentle embrace. “How did you rest? Did the country air help you sleep?”

“Oh yeah. That and other things helped as well.” I said with a grin of satisfaction.

“About last night...” I put a finger to her soft, pouting lips.

“No regrets. OK? We agreed, remember?” I said.

I took her face in my hands, caressed it gently. Never having seen her in the morning, I studied her true perfection. My finger traced the outline of her mouth as my eyes searched every feature of her face. She seemed uncomfortable with my silence so started talking about what had happened between us the night before.

“When I realized that we have a very long time to discover everything about each other, I knew I had to put on the breaks. The first time we are together, I want us to MAKE LOVE, not just get it on in the swimming pool like a couple of horny teenagers <John and Ash grin wickedly>. Don’t get me wrong, I want you so much. You know that. I want you now but I want you in the future even more. We’ll both know when the time is right.” her sweet lips silenced my words and I put up no defense. During our kisses, breathing deeply through my nose, the smell hit me.

“Man, what’s that smell?” I said with great interest as I wrinkled up my nose.

“You smell breakfast. Bacon, eggs, ham, biscuits, coffee, juice, melon and grits. Lucia sent it up before she and the others were off for the rest of the weekend.” Ashley told me as she pointed at the table.

“Grits? What the heck are grits?” I inquired.

“I keep forgetting about you and your lack of culture!” Ash said sarcastically as she laughed a little. “Try them. You might like them.”

“Sounds like something I don’t want to get in my bathing suit at the beach!” I retorted as I laughed at myself.

We sat down and I tried grits for the first time. “Well, I dunno, maybe with some butter and sugar?”

“Hush your mouth, honey! You sound just like a Yankee. They all say that!” she giggled at this suggestion.

We laughed, ate and played with our food and each other. Finally, we were both relaxed and letting go of the things that weighed us down and troubled our minds. I felt so comfortable with this woman. I sat there in the early morning light and imagined myself with her for a very long time and was beginning to wonder if I could picture myself without her. Although we had only know each other a little over two months, I felt like she had become part of me that I never want to lose. It’s much to soon to talk about marriage but I felt that if she’d say yes, I’d ask her now. But in time, just like everything else. All in sweet time.

Picking at her food, Ash began to speak, “Did you tell me once that you ride?”

“Yes. Actually, if I do say so, I’m quite good.” I bragged a bit.

“Uh huh, I just bet you are! Anyway, would you like to go riding this morning?” Ash asked.

“Oh yeah. But won’t it be too hot soon? This place is like a little piece of heaven but it’s hot as hell in the summer!” I said.

“Normally, it would be but a small cold front has moved in and it will not be nearly as warm as it was yesterday. Besides, I mean to go before it gets too hot anyway under other conditions. So are you in, or are you out?” Ash inquired.

“Yes. I’d love to.” I replied.

“Great. I’ll call down to the stables to have my horse and another for you saddled up and ready when we get down there. When you are ready, why don’t you go get a shower and I’ll meet you in the living room.” she said as she rose, leaned over, kissed me on the cheek and went inside to make our arrangements.

45 minutes later, I was waiting for Ash downstairs in the living room. While I was waiting, I decided to look at a picture album that lay on a table near the window. Many of the pictures it contained were similar to the ones in the book Ash had already shown me in Atlanta. Ash was truly a beautiful little girl. Even though they were only photographs, I could see the delightful, happy, carefree child that Lucia told me Ash had been before the accident. Then it dawned on me that Ash had become so much more like the person Lucia described over the weeks and especially since we set foot on this property. Perhaps she was finally letting go of the pain, like I was doing, and returning to her true self.

“Well, I’m ready to go. How about you?” she said as she walked in the room. Ash was wearing faded blue jeans that couldn’t have fit better, a crisp white cotton shirt and brown riding boots. I admired her as we made out way to the back door. I placed my arm around her shoulder as we made our way down to the stables. Arm in arm, we walked out into the bright sunlight.

Just as expected, there were two horses saddled up and ready. Ash broke away from me and ran into the arms of the man holding their reigns. He was young, sandy-haired and good looking with a body full of muscles. I have to admit that I started to feel the pangs of jealousy as I saw Ash run into the arms of another man and especially one that looked the way he did.

“Jake! Jake! Oh honey! How are ya?” Ash squealed as he swung her around in circles effortlessly.

Kissing her right on the lips with a noisy smack he replied “Oh just fine now that you’ve come home! How long you stayin’?” Ash stood there right in front of me admiring this man and gazing into his eyes as he was running his hands through her hair and admiring her right back. I was starting to get hot under the collar.

“Just until tomorrow. Oh yeah, this is John. John this is Jake.” I shook his hand in a quick, obligatory manner.

“Well, Princess, they are ready to go. You cool ‘em down proper, ya hear? Or I’ll pull you over my knee and that’s a promise!” he shouted playfully as he made his way back into the stable.

“John, this is my mare, Faery Whim. I just call her Fae. You’ll be riding Mystic Rain. Isn’t he just magnificent?” she said while stroking and admiring him.

“Yes.” I said half-heartedly as I mounted the beautiful horse.

She got in the saddle and we rode off to the meadow just below the first hill. We hadn’t been riding long when she asked about my strange behavior.

“John, you’ve gotten awfully quiet. Is everything OK?”

“Yeah, I’m just great.” I pouted and averted her gaze. Then I thought, ‘this is no way to start a relationship. I can’t bottle it up inside and let it fester’. “What was all that about back there with Jake. I hate to sound like a jealous bore but Ash; you were all over him and flirting like a sorority girl. All that honey, darlin’ and princess talk really pissed me off!”

“It’s not what you think, I promise! Yeah, of course I do care about Jake a lot. He’s been around for a long time and I guess you could say he broke my heart once.”

“Ash you are not helping. I don’t want to hear about you and your past romance with that designer cowboy!” I had almost worked myself into a jealous fit.

“John, you are getting all worked up over nothing.”

“Don’t tell me it’s nothing. I know what I saw!”

“John. Jake is gay! He is and has been for as long as I’ve know him.”

“Really? Sorry. I guess I’m coming to the wrong conclusions once again. I’m sorry. I should give you more credit. I’m an idiot. Forgive me?” I said sheepishly and began to laugh nervously at myself.

Ash leaned over to me, gave me a small kiss and whispered in my ear “Yes, on one condition. You’ve got to beat me to the other side of the hill!” and she and Fae were off like the wind.

“Hey! Wait up!” I shouted as I slapped Mystic Fire with the reigns as I urged the horse to catch up to them.

When I had cleared the top of the hill, my breath was taken away by the beauty I saw. There was Ash on top of her brilliant white mare in front of a small sun-glistening lake. I guided the misty gray horse to gallop up to her side. Really, all I wanted to be was the Knight in the service of this Princess I found so enchanting. Not that she needed me to save her or come to her rescue. In many respects, I had but she had come into my life to rescue me as well. We sat in silence, not needing to exchange a single word. Our vows were too deeply felt to put them into words and were declared with a pure and passionate kiss.

Then Ash drew back from me and asked,“John, I need your help with something. Will you go somewhere with me late this afternoon?”

“Yes, of course. Where?”

“Beyond the lake, lie the graves of my family. I’d like to go there to finally say goodbye. I’d go alone but I don’t know if I can. Would you please help me?”

“Why don’t we go now?”

“I would like to go at twilight. Remember I told you about that time of the day here? Well, I feel like I need the spirits on with me and they seem to make their appearance around sunset. I know that sounds bizarre but you will see what I mean.”

“O Kayyyyyyyyyy - Sure. OK but I don’t believe in those sort of things Ash.” I said skeptically.

“You will.” Ash replied in a matter of fact way that made me wonder if I was wrong about this too.

It was almost 1:30 in the afternoon when we arrived back at the main house. Ash had taken me all over the property with the exception of one spot just past the lake. Of course, we were both starving so we went to the kitchen to see what we could find. After fixing some plates of cold fried chicken, fresh fruit, and of course iced tea, we sat on the veranda in the back and ate.

“I didn’t think this chicken could get any better but I think it’s even better cold.” I said in between stuffing it in my mouth. I noticed that Ash wasn’t eating much. “Hey, what’s wrong? Aren’t you hungry?” asking about her pensive mood.

“I will be OK. I promise. When what I have to do is done, I’ll feel better. I’m just starting to feel a little, I dunno, a bit scared.”

I reached over and took her hands, “Come here” I said as I drew her to me and sat her down on my lap. “You know I’ll never let anything or anyone hurt you, don’t you? As long as I live and breathe, I’ll always take care of you.” I rocked her in my arms as if she were my child. Stroking her hair and kissing her forehead, I soothed her rattled nerves. “Now you be a good girl and eat just a little for me.” I said as I fed her some chicken.

She accepted my babying and was thankful for the affection. After feeding her a small morsel, she kissed my fingers and said “Thank you John. I don’t know if I’d be able to be this strong without you. I know that you have your own problems. How can I help but know. If you hadn’t we may have never have met. Anyway, you are such a pillar of strength and I thank God everyday for bringing you into my life.” With that she was silently pressed against my chest with her arms hugging me tightly.

After a while and several glasses of tea, I needed to excuse myself. Ash went into the kitchen and began washing the dishes. When I returned, I began to dry the dishes she had washed. This felt like home and we were just like an old married couple doing the routine acts of housekeeping. It felt so good to feel so normal.

Ash began to yawn and I suggested that she go take a nap. She did not protest. We walked up the stairs and I opened the door to her room. “Will I keep you awake if I take a shower while you sleep?”

“I’m so tired, I seriously doubt it. You go ahead. I’ll clean up before we.... well.....later.” Ash said sleepily as she began to remove her clothes and climb into bed.

I took a long, hot shower. Feeling clean and refreshed, I checked in on Ash. She was still sleeping and looked like and angel wrapped in her white bedclothes. I walked over and quietly pulled the sheets up to cover her as I gave her a gentle kiss. “Sleep well, I love you.”

Not having anything better to do I went downstairs and watched a bit if TV. There wasn’t anything particularly interesting to watch so I began reading a book. After a few hours, I became worried about how long Ash had been sleeping so I decided to go check on her. I walked out of the den and made my way to the stairs. As I stepped into the entrance hall, I stopped dead in my tracks. Unable to move, I simply stood at the bottom of the stairs with my heart racing like the wind and unable to breathe.

Ash was slowly making her descent the winding staircase. She had never looked lovelier than she did at that moment wearing a long, straight dress made of delicate layers of the sheerest pale lavender-blue. Her long dark blonde hair was pinned up on top of her head with small, delicate clips. A few strands had fallen loose and framed her exquisite face. I stood mesmerized and amazed at the sight of her.

“You look...ummmmm I can’t put it into words. I don’t think I know any words that are adequate.” I said as I took her hand in mine.

“Thank you” she replied softly as she stroked my cheek. “We need to get started as the sun will be setting soon. Twilight is almost upon us.”

We walked hand in hand but I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Almost at the door, she turned around and went back to the refrigerator and removed a few things and rejoined me. She grasped three pure white roses in her hand. Each was wrapped together with a sprig of lavender bound by thin silver ribbons. Assuming these were for her family’s grave, I was touched at her choice of offerings.

The evening air was dry and warm with the sweet scent of magnolia carried on the breeze. The branches of the trees rustled making a magical music with the cooing of the mourning doves in the dusk. I was beginning to see exactly what Ash meant by “You will.” and I did. Seeing her in the light of the setting sun, looking as beautiful as she did, carrying the flowers clasped in her hand and walking arm in arm, I envisioned her as my bride.

We had made it almost all the way to the lake when the fireflies began to appear. “I haven’t seen these since I was a kid in summer camp!” I said in wonderment.

“What? Oh yes, the lightning bugs. Yes, as a child I was convinced that they were faeries, not mere insects.” she replied.

We were only fifty feet away from the graves. Standing above the three small headstones was a statue of an angel with her wings outstretched watching over her loved ones. Ash let go of my hand and continued walking to where the angel kept eternal vigil over her them. I took this as a sign that she must perform this final act alone and felt myself getting choked up as she stopped right in front of where they lay.

Gently, she lay a flower on each headstone. Peacefully and slowly she knelt, made the sign of the cross and bowed her head. After her prayer, she looked up into the face of the angel and rose to her feet again. She turned and did not look back as she walked back to where I stood. I felt so honored to have shared this ritual with her. She took my hand and led me away from this place.

There was a new quality to Ash’s face that I could see in the light of the setting sun. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was but I knew somehow in those few precious moments, she had changed. Strangely, a glorious smile transformed this beautiful creature next to me into the carefree, joyful child I had seen in the pictures and Lucia had described to me.

I had a difficult time believing what I was seeing. I rubbed my eyes to clear away this illusion. As the image of Ash as a little girl giggled and broke free from me, I heard the echoes of the words “You willlllllll........ You will believe!” I stood there for a moment with the wind picking up and blowing through my hair, not knowing what to do to break this enchanting spell.

‘What the hell is going on here?’ I thought as I began to chase this faery child through the growing darkness. “Hey wait up!” I gasped for air as I tried to keep up.

“Catch me! Catch me if you can!” a tiny voice trailed off into an area thick with trees.

As I ran through the wooded area I shouted, “Where are you Ash?” I could hear her calling out to me just beyond the trees. “I’m here John.................”

When I made my way out of the woods, I saw her waiting for me. No longer was she the little girl that emerged from her sorrow, but a woman strengthened by surviving the test of fire. Her hair had come undone and spilled down her back with the moonlight illuminating her from above. I walked slowly towards her to determine if what I was seeing was real; if the spell was now broken. As I did, I could smell the faint fragrance of lavender and knew this was no longer an illusion. She was quite real and alive. Ash turned away from me and pointed up to the sky as the first evening stars emerged, glittering in the sky.

“John, do you see it? The moon is full tonight.”

“Yes. I do.” I whispered in her ear as I caressed and kissed the soft skin of her exposed shoulders. “I also see the lightning in the distance. We should probably start our way back to the house before it starts raining on us.”

“That’s heat lightning. There won’t be any rain.” she explained.

“What’s heat lightning?” I asked.

“Well, it is actually an electric discharge from very distant storms. But here in the South, people believe that when the heat builds up in the summer, the atmosphere can no longer contain it and flashes of light are created to disperse the power...” she said as she turned to face me.

We both knew that she was explaining not only the old Southern folklore but was describing the passion that had become too much to contain. She gazed into my eyes as she reached up slowly pulling the straps of her dress off her shoulders. As they fell away, her dress began to slip down her body. Her bare shoulders invited my soft kisses and gentle caress. I knew at that moment, she was finally ready to give herself to me; we were ready to give ourselves to each other.

At that moment the entire universe stood still. Only she and I existed for that was all we needed. My heart pounding was the only sound I could hear as I felt Ash unbuttoned my shirt and put her hands on the heated skin of my chest. When she made contact with her hands and lips, it was like static electricity followed every place her feathery touch did. When she reached up to push the remains of my shirt away, her dress fell away exposing her entire body to me. I knelt down before her as if to worship her as an earthly goddess. As I looked up to see her face, I saw the full moon had risen above us and looked down from the heavens giving her blessing to our union. Ash also knelt down; I took her in my arms as she wrapped hers around my body. I could no longer remain silent as I gazed into her eyes sparkling from the pale light of the moon and her womanly desire. “I love you” I heard my own voice declare as a tear of happiness rolled down my cheek.

Ash took my face in her delicate hands and kissed my tear away and looked deeply into my eyes and whispered softly “I love you.” Her words ceased when my lips met hers in a sacred and passionate kiss.

Laying her down gently on the cool deep green grass, I began to cover her entire body with kisses. I wanted to taste every sweet inch of her body. She, in return, left no part of my body untouched by her lips and she removed the rest of my clothing. Together, we lay in that meadow, under the watch of the glorious moon and heavenly stars above.

At last, we had become one in body and soul. Our lovemaking had an emotional and spiritual quality that I had never experienced before. Although I had been reserved when with other women the first time, I found myself completely uninhibited and enraptured by every sound and movement. Both of us were absolutely unrestrained and tender at the same time as we evoked intense responses from one other. When at last in a flash of light, the earth moved underneath us in a crescendo of consummate desire and celestial love.

I lay there utterly and completely speechless looking down at Ash. She at a loss for any words spoke to me by staring deeply into my eyes. Overcome by the sheer emotion of making love together for the first time, we collapsed into each other’s arms, body pressed against body and wept tears of joy as we over and over again whispered the words “I love you.”

To be continued........