Disclaimers: All characters property of Michael Crichton, NBC, Wb, etc except for the patients.

Note: Review please! Suggestions and constructive criticism are welcome, help me improve!

Part 1

Carter leaned in and kissed her forehead, then sat on her bed slowly. He watched her sleep, and stroked her hair softly until he saw her eyelids fluttering. As she opened her eyes, she realized who was there; she stared at him for a long time before closing her eyes again and sitting up.

"What are you doing here?" Abby asked him coldly.

"Abby... I... I'm sorry" Carter said to her. He looked down, avoiding eye contact. He was too embarrassed to look at her. Abby slowly lowered her head to the side so that she was looking directly into his eyes.

"What?" she asked, barely above a whisper. He looked at her.

"I'm sorry... You were right, it was my fault and I..." he trailed off.

"Carter, I never said it was your fault" she chuckled. "I never said that. I just asked you to stay." She looked deeply into his eyes with a pained look. Then she shook her head and got out of bed, turning on the lamp on her night desk.

"What?" John asked as she put a hand to her forehead and covered her eyes, then her mouth and finally taking her hand to her neck.

"It's complicated" she rubbed her eyes, blinded by the light. "It's complicated" she repeated.

"What is complicated?" he asked, confusion written all over his face. She looked down at him and crossed her arms over her chest.

"You're asking for forgiveness as if you were a lost child, I don't want that John. I think we just need time to collect ourselves, to get our lives back on track..."

"Don't you think that being able to forgive is a step closer to getting along okay?" he asked solemnly. She sneered.

"This conversation is stupid. John, it's not always forgiving what it's needed. Sometimes it's just something else. Sometimes it's just time" she threw her hands to her sides and shrugged her shoulders.

"What do you mean?" he asked, standing up and putting his hands to his hips.

"I mean that... I certainly could do with a spare key" Abby said, stretching her hand out at him.

"What?!" he asked. "Wh... Wait, what did you just say?" he frowned. Abby just kept her hand stretched out at him, waiting. He tossed the keys at her angrily and left the apartment, slamming the door behind him.

Abby slowly approached to the side of her bed where they keys layed on the floor. She leaned over and grabbed them tightly. She clenched her fists and gritted her teeth, trying hard to hold back her tears. She swallowed hard and got back into bed. She just needed to sleep.

"Hey Abby, what's up?" Susan joined her during her break, the following day in the hospital.

"Not much..." she mumbled. Abby grabbed a cup of coffee and offered one to Susan.

"Yeah, thanks" she said. "So, not much. And what are those... things, doing in the lounge?" Susan asked, pointing at the place they'd just left. Abby came to a halt and sighed.

"Just some of Carter's stuff..."

"What? Why?" Susan asked, already knowing the answer. Abby looked at her mournfully. "He dumped you?" she asked. Abby shook her head.

"I kicked him out."

"What?! Now you're really driving me crazy. Some weeks ago, you were begging for him to stay here and praying to God that he would be safe. Now, he comes back and you kick him out?" Susan was in hysterics.

"Susan, it's not what it seems... It's complicated" Abby said, shaking her head.

"Well it doesn't seem easy, so don't tell me it's harder than it seems!" Susan tried to smile.

"I don't want to talk about it, okay?" Abby snapped. Susan was taken aback by her reaction.

"Okay... But you'll fill me in later, right?" she said as Abby started to walk away.

"Yea, right..."