"Bound New York"
Summary:Abby's mission is to find Susan who has been missing for two weeks and tries to persuade her to come back to Chicago.
Rated: F/F sexual content.
For AP...
-I-
Previously… "Bound to Shock" Kerry Weaver harassed Susan again in the drug lock-up.
"Susan, you can't leave us, you're the best ER chief we've had since Mark Greene and wonderful teacher too. Can't we talk about this problem of yours?" Abby said worriedly.
Just before Susan left the room and she shook her head "What problem? There is no problem now. Weaver has won her game. It hurts like hell. The whole thing in my life at the minute is like a roller coaster of emotions, one minute were high in love and another were low because of something negative happens like rejecting one or another. I can't do this anymore, especially there's a baby on the way. I'm gone for good… bye…"
---
Two weeks later…
Abby hammered on the door. A woman opened the door and looked down at Abby's petite frame.
"Hello? Can I help you?" She said peering through her sleepy eyes. "You realized what time it is?
"Hi, Yes it is a matter of urgency. I was wondering if you are Susan Lewis's landlady?" Abby asked with a smile.
"Yes I am and may I ask who are you?" The landlady asked.
She replied, "I am Susan's friend and colleague Abby."
"Oh yes I have seen you with her on odd occasion."
"Yes."
"You're a Doctor." She smiled
"Yes," Abby smiled back "I was wondering if I could have access to her apartment please?"
The landlady frowned at Abby's request.
She continued "Susan hasn't been here for two weeks now."
"Yes I haven't seen her myself, for a while." The woman coughed violently. Abby winced at the rattling noise from that woman's chest. She asked "Is she ok?"
"I am not really sure. She's having family problems and I need to get in her place to deal with things like the post, messages and so on"
"Oh dear…"
"So we are unsure when she will be coming back so I am very kindly checking her place. She would greatly appreciate me going in"
"Well I don't normally do this"
"I don't normally ask but…" Abby looked down in her pocket and pulled out her hospital I.D. tag and waved it under the landlady's nose. "Here you here's my name and my picture in case of any repercussions."
The lady looked down her nose trying to focus on the tag. "Poor Dr Lewis I hope she is ok?"
Abby pursed her lips and raised her brows.
"Oh she's such a lovely kind woman." She commented.
"Yes she is." The brunette answered. She glanced at her watch, puffed out her cheeks and started to feel anxious whether the landlady would let her in and running out of time, as she was due for work soon.
"Wait one minute I get you the keys, I suppose I can trust you but…" She pointed her finger up "I will need you to sign a form for my legal reasons."
"Sure no problem," Abby shook her head with excitement, as she is one step closer to find where Susan has disappeared to. Before Abby walked away she said, "I think you should get your chest checked out by your doctor."
---
Abby swung the keys round her finger as she walked along the hallway heading towards Susan's apartment.
Unlocked the door and entered Susan's home. She pushed the door open with a struggle and popped her head round to look down, two weeks worth of mail wedged beneath. Abby bent over to gather the mail together and gagged as a strong rotting smell assaulted her nostrils coming from the kitchen. She grabbed the dishevelled bit of her scarf, covered her mouth and nose to mask out the offending smell. She headed to the fridge and opened the door.
"Jeez ugh!" Abby groaned looking at the rotting content of the fridge. The milk had curdled into yoghurt like texture. Mouldy cheese and leftover Chinese food in cartons formed a bacteria kingdom.
She spun round to look in the drawers for a garbage bag. Shook the bag open and shoved all the decomposing contents from the fridge in to the bag. Abby heaved and puffed out her cheeks trying not to vomit. Tied up the bag and walked out of the apartment to the garbage chute in the hallway. Opened the flap, threw it in and headed back to Susan's stinking home.
Abby opened all the windows to let in fresh air and glanced round for the telephone. She spotted it sitting on the PC desk. Abby stepped forward and picked the phone up, pressed redial and looked at the caller I.D. She studied the code and not familiar with the numbers. Abby saw the telephone address book underneath the PC keyboard and flipped it open. She automatically turned to page to look for Susan's sister Chloe as her best guess that she may have gone there.
She opened the book and found Chloe's number that matched with hers. Abby blew out a sigh of relief, hoping that Susan was definitely there. She grabbed a pen and took a sheet of paper from the printer and jotted the details. Folded it up and shoved it in her pocket. Abby glanced down at her watch, shut the windows and left the apartment.
---
Abby strode through the sliding doors of the ambulance bay and headed towards the lounge.
"Have you heard from Susan?" Kerry asked leaning against the counter.
Abby swung on her heels to glare at the chief of staff "What you care about Susan?"
"A great deal actually."
"Oh well you have a funny way of showing it especially that I think you drove the vulnerable woman away." Abby walked up to the admit desk to position herself in front of Kerry.
"Susan, vulnerable?" Kerry forced a laugh "Susan is a big girl she's strong enough to deal with things otherwise she wouldn't be chief of ER"
Abby tugged the red head's elbow and moved her to one side. This took Kerry by surprise
"Well you are gonna know sooner or later. Susan is pregnant, that's why she's vulnerable."
Kerry's gasped and her mouth hanging wide open. Her complexion turned in to a whiter shade of pale. "I-I erm… had no idea Abby."
"No you wouldn't. I'm the only one Susan has told."
"I did wonder why she was glowing so much that I found her gratifying."
"Ugh!" Abby scoffed in disbelief at Kerry persistent fascination about Susan. "I would like to request something that I wouldn't ever do and it is very short notice."
"And what's that Abby?"
"An annual leave."
"Well I could let you have it as we are well staffed at the moment and considering that I don't remember when you last had one. How short notice?"
"Today…" Abby answered short sharply.
"Today? Why?" Kerry frowned.
"Because I want to find Susan as I am deeply concerned about her."
Kerry forced a laugh again "Abby you know how big America is?"
"Oh gee I don't know, that's good one..." Abby said sarcastically and pouted at her boss. She continued "I know where she is and I need to fly over there as soon as poss…"
"Give me hour as I need to look at the rota chart to see who can cover you? How long do you need?" She asked
"Two weeks max."
"What?"
"I will be more likely to be back within a week I just want to cover it just in case." Abby shrugged. "I could even be back in a few days… I don't know."
"It's a lot to ask for in short notice."
"Yes it is and maybe I could blackmail you Kerry as I know everything what you have done with my best friend."
Kerry froze on the spot after hearing this. She relaxed her shoulders and said "Your best friend? You mean your lover."
"Whatever," Abby walked away towards the lounge "Let me know soon please."
"Erm… Abby," Kerry waved her back. "If you find Susan, tell her that her position hasn't been filled in."
"What are trying to tell me Kerry, You have a guilty conscience, all the sudden?"
---
Abby fiddled with her locker combination, took off her coat, shoved it in and slammed the door shut. Turned to the PC in the corner and clicked on the Internet Explorer icon. She headed to the sink, grabbed a mug and poured coffee in to it. She turned back to seat herself in front of the PC and typed in the appropriate keywords in the search engine. She found a flight site and inputted the details required. Abby waited a few seconds until the information she needed came up… Flight UA 296 Chicago to New York departs 6.00 pm $322 per person. Abby raised her brows at the price, but Susan is worth it.
"I thought you were working?" Kerry asked as she strode in to the lounge.
Abby looked up "I'm having a coffee, my shift isn't on for another ten minutes," She replied "and I was looking at the available flights."
"Abby I came in to say that you are granted for annual leave."
"Really?" She chirped "Well… I appreciate it thank you."
"Look. I'm sorry about Susan."
"You are apologizing to the wrong person Dr. Weaver," Abby turned to face the screen. "I guess I'll book the flight tickets now."
"When are you planning going?"
"Tonight…" Abby answered typing away.
"Oh that soon, I thought you were going tomorrow."
"Nope." Abby shook her head.
"Well good luck Abby finding her. I am really truly sorry what I've done," Kerry smiled painfully and limped towards the door. Abby doesn't reply. Kerry pulled open the door. "When you find Susan, make sure to send her straight back in here."
---
Abby rushed home after finishing her shift to gather her things and packed her clothes. Headed off to check in at the airport for her flight to New York…