Softly Awaken
Chapter Three
*****
There is a time for everything…
Ecc. 3:1
*****
"Are you sure this is the right thing to do?" Luka hovered over the kitchen counter. He looked at Derek nervously. "Maybe this isn't the right way to help her?" Luka suggested.
He'd been having his doubts during the next few days when Luka had managed to get Abby to come over to his apartment. Actually, she'd asked to come over.
Derek was silent as he shrugged the worries off his shoulders. He flipped to look at a few pages on his clipboard. Luka had managed to compile a few facts and items on Abby for Derek. Now Luka was having second thoughts and he didn't know how to equate those with the strong understanding of what needed to be done.
"You're doing the right think Luka," Jing Mei reassured as she appeared from behind the calm and dimly lit aquarium. "Although I don't think that I'm exactly the best person to volunteer. I mean we don't exactly get along."
In the distance the trio heard the flush of a toilet and the running of water. Down a short dark corridor, a dirty blonde-haired woman appeared, shaking her hands fervently. "You're out of toilet paper Luka…and you need to put a hand towel in the bathroom," Susan informed as she wiped her wet hands down the length of her faded jeans.
"Oh, and Jing Mei, it's a good thing that you're here. I don't know how many times I've done this with Chloe and it's always easier to have some support," she explained. "As if any of this could be easier."
Jing Mei smiled half-heartedly. "I'm just glad I could help," she sighed. "Even though I'm sure Abby will wonder why I even bothered."
Susan smiled sympathetically. "Let me let you in on a little secret guys, "Susan smirked. "No one leading or participating in one of these things will come out with a Ms. Popularity award…or Mr. Popularity for that matter."
Luka felt the bottom drop out of his stomach. "Okay, let's just say this was a bad idea and figure another way to convince her…"
"Convince who of what?" Abby asked curiously.
Luka and the rest of the intervention group were speechless. They hadn't heard the door open and were stunned. Luka rubbed the back of his neck. Too late.
~~~
Abby fingered the yellow note that Luka had posted on his door, inviting her in. It surprised Abby to find Susan and Dr. Chen in Luka's apartment, along with an older and strangely quiet man.
"I hope I'm not interrupting?" Abby chuckled uneasily. "I just came to pick up those shoes and my toothbrush."
"You did say I could pick them up tonight right?" Abby asked confused. "I'm not making things up or going senile or something?"
The attempt at humor failed. Every instinct told her to leave, but curiosity won out. Besides, she really wanted her good pair of sneakers. Luka nodded, motioning her to go find her lost items. Abby padded across Luka's apartment wearily, keeping somewhat of an eye on her colleagues. During her collection of the misplaced items, Abby caught nervous glances and intense moments between the guests and host. Curiously though, the older stranger appeared quite calm and composed.
When Abby had found her shoes, toothbrush, and a few other small items she'd spotted, Abby moved to leave. Suddenly the stranger stopped her. "Excuse me? What do you think you're doing" Abby glared at the man. "Luka, who is this guy?"
Luka swallowed and introduced Derek. "Derek Shannon, Abby. Abby, Derek Shannon."
The stranger looked at Luka. "You have to decide how much you care about this woman Luka," Derek challenged.
As Abby looked at Susan and then Jing Mei for answers, her fellow colleagues shied away. "Will someone tell me what the heck is going on?" Abby exclaimed.
Finally Luka pulled her to his side. "Abby we're worried about you. I know you think you've got this under control, but we're here for an intervention."
His accent seemed to make everything so much more surreal. "You're here for a what?" Abby choked. "I have a problem?"
Abby shook her head in disbelief. "Who do you think you are?" Abby laughed. She'd had a beer tonight, but Abby had made sure she'd taken a Tic Tac before coming over. "You told them about it too?"
Abby studied the looks of pity coming from Susan and Dr. Chen's faces. Shaking her head, she laughed to herself. "You really went all out for this Luka…is he the sponsor?" Abby pointed to the grave looking man who had come up along side Luka.
Finally Jing Mei protested. "Luka didn't tell me Abby. Don't put everything on him. He's worried about you and so are we!"
Abby bit her lip. She felt trapped. They had slowly closed ranks until there was no escape. "You guys don't even know what this is about!" Abby cried. "If Luka hadn't opened his big mouth about my drinking, you wouldn't have even cared."
Forcing Jing Mei and Susan aside, Abby headed for the door. "Butt out! Stick your nose somewhere else. I'm not a drunk."
Susan grabbed her upper arm until they were standing nose to nose. "Come on Abby," Susan grimaced, slowly letting go of her grip on Abby. "You went to AA. You've admitted you have a problem."
Abby frowned. "You wouldn't have even known I was a drunk until Luka. I mean, I know I'm an alcoholic. I know I can get carried away. But this is not about me. It's about Luka hating the fact that I'm dating John and is using this excuse to put me in my place." Abby took a deep breath and exhaled.
"You know that it's not Abby," Derek challenged. "You're an alcoholic. You've probably been through this before. You know the drill. In fact you know exactly what we're probably going to say, right?"
Abby's gaze fell on the imposing stranger. "What do you know?"
Derek hopped onto Luka's kitchen counter and sighed. "You were an abused child. Neglected, raised by a mother who is bipolar. You've recently gotten divorced and have been consistently been going to AA until a few weeks ago, when you were beaten by an abusive boyfriend, not yours of course…do I need to go on?"
Abby was stunned. He had her autobiography. "Who the hell told you all of that? It's none of your business."
Derek shrugged and motioned Susan and Jing Mei. After that signal, the two women doctors spoke up again. "Abby, you're right. We probably wouldn't have caught you or even cared to see you with a beer. But you know that now we know, we can't just let you self-destruct," Susan stated calmly. "I've just gotten to know you. And I'd like to think we've become close friends. Listen to me. My sister has gone through all of this, with drugs."
Abby licked her lips and exhaled. "Susan, alcohol and drugs are different. Have you seen anything in my work begin to fail or lapse? Have I been stumbling, slurring my speech? No!" Abby exclaimed. "Because I don't drink all the time. I've had a couple of beers, grant it. But that's it!"
She was growing tired of the 'crisis' group. Abby just wanted to go home. Exhausted, she slumped onto the couch, a few feet away, clutching at her bag full of possessions. Maybe she could phone John? He would understand.
"Listen to us. I know you haven't come to work drunk or even slightly inebriated, but it's gonna happen Abby!" Jing Mei stated. "We did this, because we didn't want you to have to go through that. You know and understand what being an alcoholic is like. It's not like you're in control."
Abby glared at the well-kept and well-groomed doctor. "Obviously not, when there's an intervention group banging down my door. Can I go guys?"
Luka, who had been standing a few feet back in the shadows, replied, "No."
The room seemed to fade and no one existed except her ex. "What are you wanting from me?" Abby pleaded.
"I want you to admit you're an alcoholic who knows she cannot drink from time to time!" he said somberly.
"Fine. I admit it. Now can I leave?" Abby rose to leave.
Luka reached out and lightly pushed her down back onto the couch. "I need you to see that this is for the best. I need you to see that you're not making the most rational choices. When you feel the most in control, is when you're least in control. I know from experience Abby."
Abby looked away. "You don't know what I'm feeling Luka. No idea!"
Luka touched her reddened cheek. "Then tell me," he replied softly.
"Luka," Abby whispered. "I…"
Suddenly the room came back into focus and she was vividly aware of the other people in the room, staring intently at the tender moment. "I gotta go," Abby declared, as she jumped up from the couch and ran out of the apartment.
She didn't stop until the fresh breeze of the fall wind hit her face.
Were they right? All these little voices had been whirling around in her head, saying the same things, but tonight they raged.
Abby knew that this wasn't some hateful vindictive plot against her, yet part of her just didn't know what to think.
Was she spiraling into some rocky place? A place she swore she'd never go again?
