Walking into the doctors lounge, Sam made her way to the bathroom. She hated taking showers at work but decided that tonight was a must. After hanging her dress up on a hook she closed the door and took off her scrubs and long sleeve cotton shirt then hopped into the shower. The warm water felt good as it poured over her face and down her body.

Sam couldn't stop thinking about Tony. That day at work had been tense between them. She hadn't felt this way about anyone since Luka, which was too long ago. The familiar feeling scared her and she couldn't help it if she wanted to take things slow. Besides, she went into this thing they had expecting to have a little fun. She had had some fun with Ben and it wasn't hard to say goodbye to him. And she had been having a little fun with County General's electrician and it wasn't hard to let him off either. How could it be that Tony Gates, the cocky ass Tony Gates, could make her feel this way? Sam knew it wasn't love, it was too soon for love, but she was definitely in like with him.

The way he didn't take any of her bullshit and called things like they were. That's one thing she liked about him. He didn't beat around the bush, he straight up told things like they were. Sam couldn't help but think how complicated her and Luka's relationship had been. There was always something that wasn't being said. He was wounded and just wanted a family again. She was complicated and had too much baggage and they just didn't want what the other did. Sam thought how incredibly sad she had felt during that break up. It wasn't like she didn't love him anymore, is was just that they weren't at the same place in life, and it would never work out between them. And then, what seemed like right after the break up, he was with Abby. And now they were married with a little one of their own, just what Luka wanted. He was happy, didn't she deserve to be too?

Finishing up her shower, Sam squeezed her hair out in a towel and then dried off and wrapped the towel around her body. She felt bad how she had acted toward Tony that day. She just felt so open and vulnerable around him and it felt like everyone in the ER could tell. How rude she had been to him, scolding him for offering her a donut. It was only a donut and it wasn't like he had bought them just for her. Sam felt like a fool and just really wanted to make it up to him.

After blow drying her hair, curling it, and applying some makeup, Sam took her pink dress out of the dry cleaning bag and slid into it. Jesus! I forgot that this fits me like a sausage casing! Struggling to zip up the dress, she bent her body all different ways, trying to pull the zipper up but it would not budge. Just then the bathroom door burst open.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Sam shot straight up to see Abby standing in the doorway just as shocked as she was. Sam smiled slightly but rolled her eyes.

"Haven't you ever heard of knocking?"

"I just, have a lot on my mind. Sorry." She trailed off as she noticed Sam's predicament. "Here let me help you." Sam let out an exasperated breath, but held her arms above her head as Abby easily zipped up her dress.

"Thanks. You know, I could have gotten it by myself." Sam turned to the mirror to apply a thin layer of lip gloss.

"You know, it's ok to ask for help sometimes." Sam just looked at her in the mirror. "No really Sam. I had to learn that the hard way."

"I don't need a lecture right now," Sam started but Abby cut her off.

"I'm not lecturing you, I just want a chance to explain myself! Dammit Sam not everyone can get through shit in their life without having a hard time like you did." Sam turned around and just stared at her.

"Fine, talk then."

"I know I was unprofessional. I was a bad mother, I was a bad wife, I was a bad friend. And I was a bad me. I did things I can't even explain and I'm not making any excuses for the way I chose to handle what was happening in my life. But I'm better now, and all I'm asking is that you understand that I'm trying here. I'm trying to get back to being myself; a good mother, a good wife," Abby walked up to Sam and gripped her shoulders with both hands, "and believe it or not I'm trying to be a better friend." Sam saw right then and there the determination gleaming in Abby's eyes. All she could do was sigh and let a small smile show on her face.

"I'm sorry. I just grew up around alot of people with alot of problems that just dug themselves into a hole and never really tried to get out." Abby smiled sympathetically. "But I can tell you're trying. You just proved that to me." She hugged Abby. "Just know that if you're having a hard time you can always talk to me. I've been there, I can help you." The two women pulled apart.

"Thanks Sam, that means alot to me." Abby wiped away a single tear that made a trail down her face and changed the subject. "Well you look hot, what's the occasion?" Sam blushed slightly and ran her hands down the front of her dress.

"I just, um, I just have to make something up to someone." She knitted her hands together in an uncomfortable sort of way.

"Alright alright, I won't ask any more questions. But Gates is one lucky man." Abby smiled slyly as she started to back out the door.

"What?! How did you... who told... where did you hear that?!" Sam was in shock that Abby knew about the two of them.

"Ha, so it is true!"

"No! Well, I don't know. But who else knows?" Sam was praying that her and Tony's relationship was not the new story circling the gossip mill at County.

"Oh don't worry, I am really really good at guessing these things. And trust me, no one else knows and no one else is going to know." And with that she walked out of the bathroom.

"Thanks." Sam called out to her just before the door closed. Whoo! That was a close one!