Sorry I didn't get this posted earlier. We had a half day at school today and then I went out with my friends and didn't get home til late this afternoon. I was watching the Olympics last night and then I walked out of the room and missed the preview for ER. I went running back into the room but it was already over and I was really upset. So since then, I've vowed not to leave the room while the Olympics are on because I know they have to play the ad again at some point. No, I'm not as retarded as I sound. Haha. Enjoy this chapter!

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One week later, the swelling on Abby's face was a little better. The large bruise was still visibly obvious, but her eye and nose were almost their usual size. Abby woke up and glanced at the alarm clock that was blaring beside her bed. She had moved back into her apartment two days before and she still had two more days until her first shift back in the ER. As Abby got out of bed, she quickly glanced at her calender. February 14. Only two years ago Carter and Lucy had been stabbed and Lucy had died. Abby felt goosebumps starting to form on her arms and legs. She slid on her slippers and walked towards her bathroom.

She shed her clothing as she reached the shower and quietly turned on the water and then stepped in. The water stung at first as it hit her face, then she closed her eyes and let the water envelope her body. She got out fifteen minutes later and wrapped a towel around her body. After pulling her hair back into a ponytail, she walked into her closet and got dressed. Deciding she had nothing else to do, Abby decided to go into the hospital a few days early and see if there was anything she could do to help out.

Abby pulled on her coat and stepped outside her apartmentment building into the frigid air. It was the middle of February but the weather still seemed the same as it did in December. She stopped into Doc Magoo's to get a cup of coffee before heading across the street and into the hospital. As she walked through the ambulance bay doors, she got swept into the circle that was the ER. She took off her scarf as she walked towards the main desk.

"Abby!" Randi squealed. "What are you doing here?"

"I got bored sitting around doing nothing. You can only clean out your apartment so many times." Abby said smiling at the desk clerk's enthusiasm.

"Abby." A voice called from down the hallway. "You aren't supposed to be back for another couple of days."

"I'm sorry, Dr. Weaver. I should have called first. I was wondering if there was anything I could do to help out." Abby said cautiously.

"Sure. Put your stuff in the lounge and find a doctor." Kerry said smiling. "You're looking much better. Welcome back."

"Thanks." Abby said as the older doctor walk away. She walked into the lounge and hoped that it would be empty. She wasn't that fortunate however. As she stepped into the lounge she saw Carter putting something away in his locker. Abby quickly walked to her own locker and opened it. She didn't even look in John's direction as she quietly put away her coat and grabbed her hospital identification. She started to leave when Carter finally spoke.

"How are you?" John said slowly. "You're obviously fine since you're back and you're probably sick of everyone asking you that, but it just seems like the only polite thing I can think to say."

Abby didn't answer, but continued to leave the room.

"Abby..." Carter called.

"Look, I don't really want to talk about anything you said the other night and I don't think you really do either. So why won't we each just mind our own business and keep out of each other's lives." Abby said cooly.

"Fine. If that's what you want." Carter said and Abby stomped out of the room. She hurried towards an exam room and opened the door and saw Dr. Lewis with a teenage girl.

"Hey. Need any help?" Abby said with a small smile.

"Uh no thanks. I got it here." Susan said without looking up from the chart she was holding.

"Oh ok." Abby said and started out of the room.

"Oh Abby! I'm sorry. I didn't see it was you." Susan finally looked up from her chart.

"Yeah. I came back a few days early."

"Well it's good to see you back." Susan gave her a big smile. "Um, I really don't need any help here. Do you want to go get coffee or something later?"

"Uh, maybe. I'm not sure how long I'm going to be staying."

"Oh. Okay. Well just find me if you do." Susan smiled again as Abby left the room.

Four hours later, Abby finished with a patient and walked exhausted back into the lounge. Once again it was not empty.

"First day back tough?" Jing-Mei asked politely.

"Uch. I had just forgotten what it was like and I was only out one week!" Abby exclaimed.

"Try coming back after maternity leave. That's even more fun." Chen joked. "You off?"

"Yeah. I just finished. Weaver didn't really want me on the entire shift." Abby explained.

"Well go home and rest. That's the best advice I can give you." Jing-Mei said and left the room.

Abby opened her locker and pulled her things out and wrapped her coat around her body. It had actually been somewhat soothing coming back. She shut the locker and sighed a breath of relief that she had made it through the day.