Disclaimer: I do not own ER nor any of its characters. I do not promise satisfaction nor enjoyment, although an author can hope.

Here Again

Chapter One: Tuesdays

Springvale, Georgia, 7:55 AM

From the waiting room of the doctor's office, which was once a small home, she heard the back door creak as Kelly Roberts, a nurse, came in.

"Kelly." She said loudly.

"Abby." The slim brown haired twenty five year old answered sarcastically.

"You're going to be upset." Abby added as she made her way into the back room that had slowly been transformed into a rather comfortable break room.

"What?" Kelly asked, bracing herself for what was sure to ruin her hopes for a smooth Tuesday.

"Lauren called." Abby stated as she handed a cup of coffee to Kelly.

"No…"

"Travis has the flu and she won't be in today."

"You're kidding, she can't…not today…it's a clinic day."

"Looks like we're going to have to pull double duty." Abby said with a smile as she sat on the couch.

Secretly she knew that she would enjoy today. People waiting, a hurried pace, it would all, in a small way, remind her of her days in the ER. There would be no traumas, more than likely no psychotic patients, but in some small way it would be like those days spent with long shifts in high stress situations.

11:07 AM

"How long is the list?" Abby asked as she hung up the phone and reached for a new chart.

"Five pages so far." Kelly answered as finished reading a name off of the first page.

"You should order us sandwiches." Abby said as she left the room.

"In between answering phones, getting files, and prepping patients?"

Popping her head back in Abby had a wry smile as she said "Sounds good."

"Go back to work." Kelly said as she returned the smile as she stood to go get the next in line.

"And I thought I was the boss." Abby replied as she walked down the hall.

"Simple misconception." Kelly yelled.

"Uh huh." Abby sarcastically stated as she continued down the hall towards an exam room.

8:32 PM

"Come back in two weeks, I'll see how you are doing."

"Thanks Doc."

"Bye Mr. Halliner."

"Night." He said as he walked out the door.

"Kelly." Abby yelled.

"Do we dare say it?"

"I think we dare." Abby replied.

"We're done." Kelle sighed.

"Yes." Abby said as she locked the door. Walking to the backroom she found Kelly already lying on the couch.

"Scoot."

"I might be able to muster the strength."

"You'll get used to it." Abby stated.

"Was Chicago like this?" Kelly asked.

"Kind of…" Abby replied as her mind ran backward. "It was always this busy, but more was happening."

"Oh."

"Traumas rolling in, homeless people, child abuse, patients with mental problems, plus your everyday broken bones, surgical cases, and a million other things that take you by surprise every time." Abby explained with a slightly nostalgic tone.

"I guess you get to help more people there, huh?"

"In some ways. We'd do everything we could, but in the ER it's treat 'em and street 'em. You have to live with that."

Kelly sat next to Abby as silence engulfed the room. "It just makes for some pretty large cracks you know. Here we see the same people, if they don't come in we can call them, go by and see them if we have to. We get to emotionally connect as well as physically help them."

"Is that why you left?" Kelly asked. Abby had never told anyone why she left Chicago and decided to start a new life in such a small town. Most of the time she didn't speak of Chicago, and no one pressed the issue. Mostly because they liked Abby. She fit the town, and the town fit her. For most of the people it was as if she had been there for longer than the two years since her practice had opened. Sitting at Flora's for lunch or going to one of Larry's big barbeques, she was part of the town.

Abby sat there silent. She knew that they gave her space when it came to her past. Kelly was one of her best friends, and she knew she would tell her. Now was a better time than any. "I had been on since noon, I was covering for a friend, Susan Lewis, and…"

From the backroom Kelly and Abby could both hear a loud thud and the squealing of tires. Exchanging a puzzled glance they both stood and made there way to the front porch of the office. Opening the door Kelly was shocked to see a man, close to her age, lying on the porch covered in blood.

"Shit." Abby stated. "Kelly stabilize his neck, we need to roll him over. On my count, one two three." Abby stated out of second nature.

Kelly did exactly what Abby said without hesitation.

Ripping his shirt Abby quickly assessed the situation. "Looks like stab wounds, four to the torso. Kelly check his pulse."

"Uhh…I…" Kelly began to stutter.

"Kelly, look at me." Abby stated, as Kelly moved her glance to Abby. Looking into her eyes she realized this was a first for Kelly, and though Abby knew exactly what to do Kelly would probably have nightmares for months about what was unfolding. "Okay, go call EMS."

Without a sound Kelly stood and quickly moved inside to the phone.

As Abby continued to asses the situation she checked his pulse. "Kelly tell them to hurry." She yelled as she began to breathe for the man.

"They're on their way." Kelly said as she emerged from the building.

"Okay, go get some gauze, a lot." Abby could hear Kelly running to the supply closet. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. She knew she would have to be the one to get all three of them through this. As she continued mouth to mouth a second car pulled into the small paved parking lot. Within seconds four, maybe five, large men were standing at the foot of the porch.

Looking up Abby knew what she was in the middle of. "No! Just leave." She yelled as she continued breathing.

"Listen here you…" Kelly could hear the man yelling from inside. She was unnoticed until the man who seemed to be the leader advanced toward Abby. Screaming, she gave herself away.

"Call 911!" Abby yelled as the man who was headed towards her shoved her. "No!" She yelled again.

"Just get out of the way." The man angrily stated as he pulled his gun and finished his thought with a slew of profanities.

As Abby stood to her feet and began stand her ground on the porch the other men had already headed inside to stop Kelly who was on the phone and in the middle of a frantic sentence that no one could understand. With in seven seconds she was on the ground, being beaten.

Outside on the porch the man was yelling for Abby to leave him alone and let them have him. Seemingly unafraid Abby refused. The man grabbed Abby and threw her to the side of the porch. Trying to regain her balance Abby stood and jumped on the man. Before she knew it she was on the ground, but had managed to also bring him down. With a few kicks and jabs the gun was free and two feet away. Realizing the plight of the situation she fought like never before. Every ounce of strength went towards beating this man. His hundred pound advantage quickly began to over power her.

There was once chance, and it was two feet away. Punching him in the face she began to squirm towards the gun. Trying with all her might to be the first one to it, to break free of the man who was trying to keep her from it.

"Son of a…" She yelled as she managed to grab the gun. As she tried to turn her body a sharp pain vibrated through her body. The man was now standing over her and was reaching for the gun. Mustering everything she had she began one final assault. "No!" She yelled again. He was beginning to over power her.

"Shut up!" He yelled back.

"Get off." She said in angry frustration, but it was too late. He already had the gun. A loud pop and crack echoed through the office and neighborhood.

Kelly began to cry as the men continued to kick her. Four more loud pops rang out followed by silence. Until an angry voice yelled for them to get back into the car.

The sound of squealing tires and revving engines faded. Leaving Kelly alone lying on the floor. Trying to pick herself up pain shot through her body. "Abby!" She yelled as tears flowed down her face washing away tiny portions of blood. "Abby!" She yelled again as she continued to try to move towards the porch. "Don't do this…You can't…Abby stay with me." She continued until she couldn't anymore. With their attackers gone and Kelly's strength fading silence once again filled the air. As Kelly struggled to breath on the waiting room floor, Abby lay motionless on the porch , a foot away from the man that now had four bullets lodged in his body.