Susan looked at her watch for the third time in as many minutes. She nudged Luka with her elbow when she noticed he was actually asleep. He looked at her with a tired smile and Susan just chuckled - meetings at seven sharp in the morning did that to a person.

"Anything you care to share with us, Dr Lewis?", Romano glared at her and she just shook her head "Sorry".

He clearly enjoyed listening to himself as he went into detail about each page of his powerpoint presentation. Donald Anspaugh seemed to agree with Susan's line of thought, he actually took off his glasses and asked plainly "Do you think you could fast-forward to the key points, Robert? I already missed morning rounds and I'm sure the ER could use an attending right now...".

Everyone nodded at the senior surgeon's words and Romano finally announced the budget cuts for each department - it had been the purpose of the meeting after all.

Luka and Susan returned to the ER, the daytime shift was already waiting for them in the lounge for the pass-ons. Luka handed his cases to Jing-Mei and they went to admit to update the board. Susan was finishing signing her charts under Weaver's scrutinizing eye.

She decided to throw her out of her game just for fun, they were alone in the lounge. "So, hot date or what?", she quipped, raising her eyes from the last chart so that she could see Weaver's face giving her away completely.

"Uh, sorry?".

"You asked so nicely if I could cover your shift. Luka and I were swamped all night and we still had to endure a meeting with Romano first thing in the morning... Please tell me my efforts weren't in vain", she smirked playfully at her boss.

Weaver blushed furiously "Sandy took me to Tampolobampo... I'd been wanting to try it out for some time now...".

"Oh, I heard the food is divine, but it's impossible to get a table in the damn place". Susan loved mexican food and had tried to make reservations more than once.

"Lieutenant Lopez has her ways...", the redhead gushed and Susan noticed how her eyes lit up at the mere mention of her lover's name.

It would have creeped her out in the past, but Weaver was simply in love. And that made her human, not just some paperwork tyrant with an incredibly nerve-racking voice. Love was what was turning her from Weaver to Kerry.

"I hope things work out with you two. You look happy", she nodded and Kerry smiled with all her teeth "Thank you, Susan".

As Susan watched her gathering her charts and limping towards the lounge door, she mused about her own colorful personal life. She wasn't in love with Carter, but she loved him, the bond they shared. He reminded her of a time when she was so happy.

She thought that she might be a little infatuated with Abby but it was probably just a crush - she was that silly, still having crushes on people, at her age. She wondered if she could ever love her. Like Sandy and Kerry, together, facing the world like that.

Susan blocked her mind from wandering even further.

It was not going to happen.


A patient had given Abby two tickets to see the Blackhawks and she'd accepted them only because he was dying and it was insensitive to say no. When she'd casually slipped in to the other two that she had game tickets for the following day, Susan's head immediately jerked " Hawks vs Blues?!".

Abby looked on mildly amused "I'd never peg you as a hockey fan…". The blonde was already ogling the tickets "I dated a guy in Phoenix with season tickets… But I never stopped supporting the Hawks. Oh, my God. 2nd deck, center ice!". Carter crossed the living room in a single stride "Really? Are you sure they're not stolen or something?".

"A patient gave them to me on his deathbed…", Abby almost rolled her eyes at him.

They looked like schoolkids yapping around her, it was kind of cute.

Susan swayed around the kitchen island "I never got tickets from a patient…".

"Neither did I… but nurses are sweet angels of mercy…", Carter joined her on the couch and nuzzled her neck with his lips. His stubble tickled her and Abby warned him in jest "Mocking me is not going to get you in my pants, mister…".

Susan handed Abby a mug of ginger tea "Drink this, it'll help with the headache". Carter locked his fingers behind his head and quipped skeptically "What's wrong with good ol' Tylenol?". Susan faced him with a hand on her hip and a smirk on her lips "Ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory. Besides, it boosts the immune system and is good for your skin".

Abby nodded her appreciation before taking a sip "Thank you…".

It was nice having them looking out for her.

Susan perched herself on the arm of the couch and Carter teased her "You're not going to start prescribing herbs to patients, are you? It's not good for the business".

She retorted "You should drink it too, it's good for other stuff". Carter noticed Abby chuckling quietly, her trademark smirk on full display. He looked at the two women and noticed their knowing smiles. "What stuff?", he asked curiously.

Abby nodded at him "It's a natural aphrodisiac…" and Carter's eyes went round. He sat straighter "What's that supposed to mean? You're saying I need it?". He looked at Susan eagerly but she just plopped herself next to Abby, her hand reaching for the remote. She knew he expected an answer from her but she enjoyed teasing him "Well, you know. Women reach their sexual peak in their mid-thirties. Men... don't".

Abby giggled between them, she loved these moments when they just hung out and laughed at each other. Carter had been her best friend for the last couple of years and she was satisfied at how their relationship was progressing.

Susan was the glue that stuck them together, her joyful approach at life keeping the others' demons at bay.

She tried to keep a straight face when she noticed his eyes on her - she knew it was a very sensitive subject for guys, after all. He leaned closer "Would you concur with Dr. Lewis' assessment?".

Abby raised her palm in defense "Don't put me in the middle here, that's between you two".

Her eyes narrowed at the screen - Susan was currently hooked on CSI and they always tried to catch up on their time off. "Have you ever seen anyone perform an autopsy without a gown?".

The blonde chuckled "And all that glossy hair hovering over a decomposing body…".

"I love her hair color, though", Abby nodded.

"It's gorgeous, isn't it?", Susan contemplated a new haircut for a second but then decided against it. It had taken so long to let it grow back.

Carter was still expecting them to say something "Hello? We were having a conversation?".

Susan sighed almost in despair "It was a joke, Carter! You're fine". She returned her full attention to the TV screen but he didn't let go.

"Just fine? How fine? In a scale of 1 to 10?", he looked at her over Abby's head. Susan bobbed her head back, laughing heartily, and Abby tried to reassure him with gentle eyes "Why are you so unsure of yourself, sweetie? You're actually sleeping with two women".

Susan feigned innocence and nodded "Yeah. I bet Kovac would never be so self-conscious if he had the opportunity…".

Abby couldn't hold it anymore and laughed out loud, her headache pounding in her temple.

Carter stood up and waggled a finger at the blonde "Ok, that's it. You're so going to regret your words…". She tried to escape from him, running away to the hall, but he reached her in just seconds and grabbed her by the waist, maneuvering her to the bedroom.

Abby could hear her shrieks and it didn't take long before her bed creaked outrageously and Susan's giggles turned into low groans.

She finished her tea, turned off the TV and left her empty mug in the sink. Abby stopped at the doorway and shook her head at all the clothes scattered around her room. Carter had pinned her hands above her head, his full weight keeping her still as he teased her nipples with his teeth. She moaned at that and his head rose from her chest, to make eye contact with her "And don't tell me you're faking it now… You're wet".

His words combined the view in front of her aroused Abby. She leaned against the door frame and bit her lower lip when he thrust into the blonde for the first time. She could tell Susan was holding back just so that Carter wouldn't get too smug.

These two taunted each other even in bed.

He kept a steady rhythm and questioned her with a smirk on his face "So?". Susan tried to shrug but she couldn't because he was still holding her wrists. She gave him a pseudo innocent smile "You're doing fine, Dr. Carter".

Carter loved that Susan was so hard to break. He disengaged for a second, gesturing so she would get her on her knees and took her from behind slowly. If Abby didn't know it was his favorite position, she'd know by now. The way he tilted his head just slightly, how he furrowed his brow and how he allowed a smile to creep up his face when Susan's resolve faltered and she groaned in delight.

Abby worried for a second that her neighbors might hear them. She kept silent herself and could feel her desire pooling between her legs. She mused if this was how she and Carter looked when they had sex.

He bent and said something in Susan's ear that she couldn't make out but made the blonde chuckle. Abby could see how hard he gripped Susan's waist - his knuckles were white and she was sure she'd have bruises later. Abby admired his lean body, the scars standing out on his back. As he pounded into the other woman, she knew he would be sore afterwards.

She'd rub his back if he wanted.

Abby realized she was walking towards them, hopelessly drawn to what was happening in front of her eyes. She'd never believe if someone had told her that she'd get so turned on by her boyfriend having sex with another woman. That she'd encourage it.

But this wasn't just another woman, this was Susan and Susan was… - she had no idea what Susan was.

Abby sat on the edge of the bed and watched her quivering. Her flushed skin, her perfect teeth, the breasts that she now knew were impossibly soft… She jerked out of her daydreaming when she realized that a pair of green eyes had caught her staring.

She gulped down an imperceptible moan when said eyes fluttered closed again and the pleasure coursed through her. Carter climaxed immediately after Susan, proud to have drawn yet another orgasm from her, even after all the teasing.

He rolled on his back and closed his eyes - he hoped he hadn't thrown out his back again. Sex with Abby was passionate but gentle, they made love. Sex with Susan was fiery and almost desperate. Even if they did care a lot about each other, what they did was plain fucking. He knew he was one lucky bastard and he couldn't help the smile on his face when he felt Abby's hand rubbing his foot. "Have you two kissed and made up?", she smirked.

Susan caught herself before she actually said out loud that she'd rather kiss her. It's just all the pheromones wearing off.

"Were you watching us?", Carter was still trying to catch his breath. At Abby's direct answer "It was difficult not to", he winked "Did you like?". She smiled almost coyly and nodded. He chuckled low in his throat and stroked her thigh "Well, just give me a minute… or maybe two". He tied a knot in the condom and made his way to the bathroom to discard it.

Susan stretched her limbs languidly and threw her a conspiratorial smile "Were you checking me out, before?".

"Was I?", Abby tried to sound casual as she pursed her lips, her eyes unable to ignore the naked presence on her bed. She started crawling on her hands and knees, the sound of water running from the shower providing the perfect soundtrack. Abby stopped just inches away from Susan's face, her eyes dropping deliberately to her chest.

Susan's eyes watched her lips as she whispered "You're doing it again...".

"So, what are you gonna do about that?"Abby smiled cheekily before capturing the smooth lips in front of her.