Disclaimer: I do not own ER, I do not own the characters, basically, I own nothing, so please do not sue! Much obliged!
Note: I have not posted here in a really, really long time, so yes, reviews are very welcome. I am a little rusty as well, so constructive criticism is also welcome. Oh yeah, and there seems to be more chapters that I originally intended to post at one time, but it was because I was inspired and it took too long to register. So yes, I apologize for the longness of it.
Synopsis: Abby and Ray are always at each other's throats. Is it because they genuinely dislike each other or is it something more? Can Abby break down the wall that she has put up and let someone in?
Rating: PG-13
Warning: Some objectionable words and phrases.
We all Cry Sometimes
Chapter 1-
Outside, the snow was gently the falling, the air was crisp, and the lights below made the snow sparkle before it touched the ground. Abby Lockhart sighed; it had been a long day at County Hospital. She had witnessed the death of a little boy, no more than the age of 12. He had been playing ice hockey outside with some friends when a drunk driver skidded on some ice and hit the boy, driving away soon after. A hit and run. None of the other children had gotten the license plate, which frustrated Abby. She knew that they were only children, but there had been no one else around to identify the car. She knew that the driver would eventually be caught, but it broke her heart to know that another parent had lost a child and that another child had lost his life because of a stupid accident. These were the cases that took their toll on her.
"Are you OK Abby?" Neela, Abby's roommate and colleague asked her.
"Hmm? Oh yeah, I'm fine." She answered, suddenly awoken from her daydream.
Neela frowned, "Are you sure you don't want me to stay? I know you've had a hard day, and if you need to talk to someoneā¦"
"No it's OK, I'll be fine, you go. Have fun. I think I'm just going to go for a walk, or a run, or something. Get some fresh air. I don't want you to be late for dinner with your family." Abby forced a smile.
"Trust me, there are many things I would much rather be doing than having dinner with my parents. I really don't mind staying if you need me. I can keep you company," Neela frowned, concerned for her friend.
Abby walked towards the door and held it open, "Really. I'm fine." Neela frowned, put on her coat and walked to the door, looking concerned for her friend, "Go." Abby urged. Neela sighed and finally left. Abby closed the door behind her, and leaned against it, closing her eyes. She hated herself for showing her emotions. It was just days like these that made her question her career choice, but then she remembered all of those she was able to save today, and while the memory of the little boy was still fresh, she attempted to push it to the back of her mind. She decided that she would go for a run to try to take her mind off things. She grabbed her jacket and left her apartment building.
Once outside, Abby took a deep breath of the cold winter air. It stung her lungs and made it hard to breath, but she welcomed the feeling. She took off on an even paced jog, not really paying any attention to where she was going. At one point, she was so into her jog that she bumped into someone standing on the sidewalk, "Hey! Watch it!"
"Sorry," Abby mumbled under her breath, but continued running, she soon heard the rhythm of footsteps behind her and began to pick up the pace. This was exactly what she needed right now, a stalker, wonderful, she thought.
"Abby? Abby wait up!" a familiar voice called breathlessly from behind her. Abby rolled her eyes and slowed down to a walk. This was not what she needed right now. "Geez Abby? What are you trying to do? Run a marathon or something?" Ray Barnett wheezed, placing his hands on his thighs while trying to catch his breath.
"No Ray, it's called exercise. You know, it's good for you? I thought you were supposed to be a doctor." Abby retorted.
"Ha ha, very funny. No seriously though, what are you doing out so late?" the young doctor asked.
"It's only 11:00 o'clock, Ray, I'm not some spinster who stays locked up in her apartment every night. Besides, isn't it passed your bedtime?" Abby turned, and began to jog again in the opposite direction.
Ray came up beside her, "For your information, I had a gig tonight."
"Where? At Chucky Cheese? Don't those kind of things go a little later than 11?" Abby said looking straight ahead.
Ray snorted, "You really think you're something else don't you Lockhart? And for God's sake! Would you slow down?" he wheezed.
Abby slowed to a walk, "What do you want Ray? I'm really not in the mood for this."
Ray grabbed her arm, forcing her to stop, and turned her to face him, "Listen, I heard what happened today; I just wanted to know if you wanted to talk about it. I may not be your favorite doctor, but I know that it helps to talk about it sometimes."
Abby became angry, "How Ray? How would you know this? Have you ever had a case worse than a nosebleed? Have you ever seen the face of a mother when you have to tell her that her child is dead? Have you? You are only concerned with yourself and goddamned reputation as a bad ass! You never finish a case when it gets hard, you always hand it off to someone else. How in God's name would you know anything about this kind of thing? Please! Tell me! I would really like to know!" Ray, just looked at her, eyes wide. "That's what I thought." Abby turned away and began walking back to her apartment. Ray didn't follow her this time, instead he just stood where he was, still shocked by Abby's outburst.
Abby was angry with herself for allowing her emotions to get the best of her. She had trained herself for years not to show that much emotion, but there was just something about Ray Barnett. He always seemed to be able to push her buttons. Once she reached her apartment, all the emotions that she had been feeling throughout the day overwhelmed her. Sadness for the death of a child and the loss of an innocent life, anger towards the driver that took it away from him, and anger at herself for letting her emotions control her the way they did. Moreover, something else that she could not quite put her finger on when she thought about Ray. She went to bed, still in her jogging clothes, too exhausted to bother changing into pajamas.
