Disclaimers: The usual

Note: Sorry that it took me so long to update, the thing is that I only got one review for the last chapter ( :( sad me) so that's why. Here you are, if anyone's reading!

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Part 10

Abby's POV

I opened my eyes carefully and slowly, trying to see what was going on around me. It took a few minutes for me to get used to the light, but although I couldn't identify the people in the room, sure enough I recognized the silhouettes of two. They were sitting next to my bed, and I could hear them murmuring. I think they didn't realize I was awake until I coughed and gagged, becoming aware that there was a tube going down my throat.

One of them, a woman, started moving around the room; while the other person, a man, grabbed my hand tightly. I blinked a couple of times and I could finally see clearly the faces of my friends, Carter and Susan. They seemed worried.

As I tried to talk, I remembered about the tube, and squeezed Carter's hand in pain. He said something to Susan and she came closer. She sat down next to me again and spoke softly.

"Do you want me to take the tube out?" I nodded. "Are you sure?" I nodded again. Carter sighed as Susan counted to three and I coughed, letting the tube slide out.

"Hi" I whispered shyly, looking away from them.

"Hi" they said back. Susan rubbed my arm.

"How are you feeling?"

"I've been better" I smiled faintly, still not looking at any of them. Carter was totally silent. He seemed really upset about something; I just wished it wasn't because of what I did, I was so embarrassed. Suddenly, Susan's pager went off.

"Oh... Abby, I was looking forward to talking to you but there's an emergency. I guess I'll see you later. Sorry!" Susan said, heading out of the room. Before the door closed, she popped her head in. "Carter, page me if anything happens." He nodded and gave her a thumbs up.

"Great" I thought. "Carter and I, alone, immersed in awkward silence until Susan comes back." But it wasn't like that.

"You scared me" Carter said softly. I bit my lip and stared at the ceiling. "I mean it" he said after a pause. He weas pushing me. He wanted me to talk, and I knew it.

"You shouldn't be involved in this I shook my head.

"What?" he smiled in disbelief. "Shouldn't be involved? Abby, I found you lying on the bathroom floor, overdosed, not breathing, and with the weakest pulse ever possible! You were almost dead!" he said. I looked at him right in the eye for the first time.

"It shouldn't bother you, you said you didn't love me." As the words escaped my mouth, I saw something changing in the look of his deep brown eyes. There was anger, sadness, fear.

"Oh you're so wrong... You've never been so wrong. I never said I didn't love you, I wouldn't EVER say that cause it would be a damn lie! But I never told you whether I love you like a friend or not" Carter answered, almost yelling.

"I..."

"And of course it bothers me, Abby, because I care about you more than I would want to, but I can't help it. Cause you're my friend. And it makes me feel committed, although I don't know why."

"Carter, I'm so sorry, I really am..." I stuttered.

"No, no you're not. You'll be really sorry the day you realize how much you're hurting me! And the worst thing of all is that I can't do anything about it because even if I wanted to, I couldn't be angry at you" he said, standing up.

"Come on, Carter, don't say you're not angry. That would be a lie" I told him, always talking barely above a whisper.

"No, I'm not angry, I'm just glad you're okay" he said to me. With that, he left the room.

I looked around with tears in my eyes and spotted my pager on the night table. I stretched my arm and, with a little effort, grabbed it and paged Susan. The tears started streaming down my cheeks and I felt my face get hot. I was feeling somewhat nauseated and dizzy. I just hoped Susan would get there soon.