Sorry about the delay but my computer had a virus and we couldn't get it off so we had to get someone to fix it. Anyway thanks to Fiona for being a brilliant BETA and thanks to everyone who r&r. Please r&r so I can see what you think and I hope you like…….

Abby yawned as the alarm clock went off, putting her hands over her ears. She had a massive headache. She slammed her hand down on the alarm clock to stop it and attempted to stand up but failed. Feeling dizzy and sick, she fell back onto her bed.

"How much did I drink last night?" she whispered aloud as she turned over to look at the time, but as she turned over she noticed an envelope addressed to her. What was that doing there? Carter, damn she had forgotten he had slept the night. He had seen her drunk! She had seen the disappointment in his eyes when he asked her if she had been drinking. Why the hell was he at the apartment anyway? Why was he nearly banging my door down? Maybe the letter will explain.

She picked up the letter and opened it and out fell two painkillers and two small notes. The first note said, "These might help that splitting headache you probably have!" the second note read "Meet me near the river on the bench at 4pm. We need to talk!"


Need to talk? What does he mean 'we need to talk'? What have we got to talk about? We talked yesterday in Docs, what was he going to say that was new? He's with Susan, not me, why do we need to talk more about that? Wait a minute last night I remember him saying he wasn't with Susan anymore or was that in my dream? Oh my god, its true. He split up with Susan! But why? Why had he split up with Susan? That's probably what he wants to talk to talk to me about, or he wants to talk about me getting drunk something to make me feel even worse than I already do.


She attempted to get up out of bed again this time with more caution and after two attempts finally succeeded. She tossed the painkillers into her mouth had a small glass of water and headed towards the shower. She had two more hours before she had to be at work then twelve more hours before she had to meet Carter. Oh the fun she was going to have.


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"Abby should be in by now her shift started at 4am and it was now 7am she must be here somewhere." Carter said aloud
"Frank has Abby come in yet?"
"Yeah she came in at four, you know the time her shift started!"
"Yeah I know what time her shift started it's just I haven't seen her yet!"
"Have you tried looking for her?"
"Frank have you seen her or not?"
"Not recently"
"Thank you"

Carter seemed to lose patience with Frank everyday I mean how much coffee and doughnuts can one man eat and drink in a day?


He walked over to the board and cleared off one of the patients that he had just discharged and saw her name she was in curtain .3., with Mrs Connell a regular at the hospital for all kinds of illnesses. He decided to go over there and ask if she wanted any assistance, whether she would except it or not was a different matter.


"Hi Abby do you need any help?"
"Carter!!!" she jumped at the sound of his voice "Pardon?"
"I said do you need any help?"
"Erm no I don't think so, we are perfectly fine"


He was looking into her eyes and could tell something was wrong, he always could, it was like she was a book to him, he could easily of read her. It was getting her to open up which was the problem. Her defenses always sprung into action whenever someone tried to help her, or get her to talk to them every time, you could bet the weak Abby would be forced aside or barricaded in so only the strong Abby was showing.

She had done this so often with her mom and her brother always being strong for Eric but deep down inside crying for someone to look after her, she had done it with Richard, forcing herself to be strong so she wouldn't have to cope with the heart ache, this is what caused her to drink, it numbed her feelings it helped her feel secure. Then she stopped drinking, got a divorce from Richard. Then Luka, he never really paid much attention to her which in away suited Abby, as she never really loved him. It was just physical and he was safe. It was himself, John Truman Carter III, he loved her and he knew that she loved him and she told him so that night on the bridge, but he still persisted that she still had feelings for Luka which now he knew she didn't. Yeah he liked Susan, she was funny, smart and kind but it was the same, as with Abby and Luka, well not exactly the same, Susan and he never had sex.

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Why does he do this to me? Abby stared into his eyes, she could tell what he was thinking, she could tell he didn't believe her, then someone shouted something that pulled both of them out of there trances.


"HELLO WHEN WILL I GET TREATED BEFORE OR AFTER YOU BOTH DECIDED TO STOP LOOKING IN EACH OTHERS EYES?"


"Sorry Mrs Connell. I'll get Dr Carter to sign this prescription form then I will give you your medicine ok?"


"ANYTHING TO GET OUT OF HERE!"


"Mrs Connell you don't need to shout, Carter would you sign this please?"


"Sure thing" she handed him the prescription and walked off to get the medicine.


Only 4 more hours till I have to meet and talk to Carter great!!

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There ya go my long awaited 7th chapter how thrilling was that!!(Sarcastic voice) Anyhow please read and review as I love to know what you think about it good and bad reviews are welcome with open arms. Please let me know if you want more writing as well as it is fun to know that somebody reads this!!!! If you don't want to forward a review on the site please email me at skeggy4@aol.com and tell me what you think about it there.

Laura