Whenever You Need Me

Summary: Abby gets the results from her mammogram back, and it's not good. Luby friendship. Picks up from the end of "Wake Up".

Spoilers: Up to "Wake Up" I suppose.

Author's Note: I do love Abby. I really do, but this struck me, and I have that wild imagination that won't rest until I complete something. Or at least attempt to complete something. I'm doing that rambling thing again, aren't I?

Disclaimer: ER started when I was five years old. I could not have created such characters at that age, and I still can't create many of my own now, so don't sue me for stealing other people's.

Chapter One

The elevator doors opened on the ER floor with a ding. Luka Kovac was walking past them without glancing over at the elevator itself. Why would he? He had a patient for which he must provide care. That was more important than looking at whatever could be in that elevator. Or so he thought.

She had to respect that. Did she even want him to notice her? Could she deal with talking to anyone right now? She highly doubted it.

She glanced down at her watch. There was only half an hour left on her shift. When she had gone upstairs, there were no incoming traumas. That seemed to be true for the present. Nothing seemed to have changed. Nothing at all down here.

Eerie, she thought. How could things be essentially back to normal down here when her whole life could be changed?

Her mind was made up. She could not stay at the hospital. She had to get back to her apartment. She knew it. It was safe there.

"There you are," Neela Rasgotra began as she walked down the hallway towards the elevators. She noticed Abby Lockhart standing there. Abby was not doing anything else. She was just standing, deep in thought.

Neela waved her hands in front of Abby's face, and Abby seemed to immediately jump out of her trance-like state. "I have a patient with--" Neela began as she handed a chart to Abby.

"You're an R-2," Abby pointed out crossly. "I still think of you as the smart one in the ER. You can figure it out."

"But Dr. Clemente--"

"Is an ass who is not hot," Abby interrupted. "Besides, Luka is here, and Morris probably." She thought about it again. "Ok, maybe not Morris, but I saw Luka."

"Are you ok?" Neela asked. Her tone of voice shifted from that of a meek, insecure child to one of concern for her friend.

Abby let out a small chill from that question.

Neela knew the situation was not good. "Abby?" she asked again.

Abby's mouth went dry. The words would not form. It was stupid. Why was she worrying over something she could not even prove existed? At least, she could not prove it yet. Again, she shuddered.

Neela placed a caring hand on Abby's right shoulder. "You have my number," she said. "Call me absolutely any time." She did not need to know what was going on right now. Judging by Abby's appearance, the older resident could not even grasp it yet. When Abby could and if she wanted to talk about it, Neela would listen.

Abby nodded and mouthed a small "Thanks". She started walking towards the exit. She had to get out of that hospital. Her patient, Stephanie, was right. She could not grasp the situation completely until she went through it herself. She could tell herself any number of medical clichés, but that would not comfort her right now. She could not rest at ease until those results came back.

The doors to the ambulance bay were within plain sight. She did not have far to go.

Luka noticed her. He knew her. With just one glance, he could tell that something was not right. He walked over to her. "This isn't about a patient is it?"

"Kind of," Abby began. "Well, maybe."

"Kind of and maybe?" Luka asked. "As in…"

Abby exhaled. She could trust Luka. "As in the patient could be me."