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During Season 9, Carter begins sleeping with Abby after they were quarantined in the ER for two weeks because of the outbreak of monkeypox.

However, Abby's brother Eric is diagnosed with bipolar disorder ( like their mother ) and his behavior becomes erratic.

He then disappears.

Meanwhile, the health of Carter's grandmother, Millicent ( Gamma ), continues to decline, and his mother, Eleanor, has difficulty accepting her divorce from Carter's father, Jack.

Worse, Abby and Carter continue to disagree over whether or not Abby ( a recovering alcoholic ) should be drinking at all, even moderately.

These personal issues come to a head when Eric reappears the same day Gamma dies.

Carter is broken by his grief, yet Abby feels it is her duty to go and get her destitute brother, essentially leaving Carter alone to grieve.

When the uninvited Eric behaves inappropriately at the funeral, even falling into her open grave, it marks the beginning of the end of Carter and Abby's relationship.

About a month later, Carter cannot shake his grief or his troubles with Abby, and agrees to go to the Congo ( without Abby's agreement ) to join Dr. Kovač.

While there, he is threatened by guerrilla soldiers.

He returns after two weeks.

When Kovač is reported killed in Africa, Carter goes back to retrieve his body at the beginning of Season 10, bringing some hospital supplies with him.

To his surprise, he finds Kovač still alive, but ill with malaria.

He arranges for Kovač to be sent home, and he gives Kovač a " Dear Abby letter " for Abby that ends their relationship.

Dr Carter remains in Africa for several months.

He primarily works in Kem's AIDS clinic.

They initially differ on approaches to treatment, but come to respect and end up in love with each other ( see more about Kem below under " Related Characters: Romantic ")