Susan's POV
"Hey Dr Lewis, your labs are back for the patient in exam 2."
"Thanks Randi"
Hmm her labs are inconclusive. I suppose that's good as it rues out most things, but she won't be best pleased staying here while I run more tests. I suppose I'd better go and tell them the news.
As I walk in I see them asleep Abby in John's lap so I leave them. They need the sleep so I won't wake them to tell them my findings, one of them will come and find me. They just look so cute together I'd take a photo but one, I don't have a camera and two, I think they'd kill me later.
Abby's POV
At first I wonder where I am then I remember. I wonder how long I've been asleep for so I look at the watch on John's arm in front of me, it reads 2:06, but that doesn't help as I can't remember what time I fell asleep, I turn to ask John but see he's asleep. I won't wake him as he still looks tired, well I suppose it can't be the most comfortable place for him. As I look around the room I see my chart and it makes me wonder if my test results are back. The labs weren't very busy earlier so I bet they're back by now. I try to move John's arms so I can get up and go find Susan but every time I try he just holds me tighter. When I turn to look at his face I realise he's woken up too.
He's got that look in his eye which means I'm not going anywhere. I'd stay like this forever in his arms but I'm getting impatient.
"I'm to go find out if my test results are back yet."
"No stay here, I'll go find them and I promise I'll be straight back. Anyway you need some more rest you still look like you need sleep." How did I know he was going to say something like that.
"Ok fine but be quick about it I don't want to be stuck here forever."
"I know" He kisses me on the forehead and leaves, I see him walk past the window through the blinds. He looks so cute, I wonder if he's noticed that he's got his buttons done up wrong at the bottom of his shirt.
Susan's POV
"John, John wait." He looks better for his sleep, I just hope Abby is the same.
"I was just looking for you. Have Abby's labs come back yet?"
"Yeah sure but first I want to ask you a few questions so can you meet me in the lounge I just have to sign off Mrs Tearne in curtain 2."
"Fine I'll meet you there."
"Ok Mrs Tearne here are some antibiotics for your infection and if the pain doesn't decrease in the next 5 days come back and we'll take another look."
"Thanks Doctor." Ok Carter. I hope he knows what's wrong because I sure as hell don't have a clue. I grab Abby's chart an meet Carter in the lounge he's sat with a cup of coffee talking to Deb about some prank she played on Pratt the other day.
"Mmm Deb could you give us a minute I want a word with Carter."
"Sure I'll be back in a bit." She winks at Carter and walks out of the room.
"So basically it's good news as her tests were all negative but that means we have no idea what made her collapse. Have you noticed anything different about her lately?"
"Not really but I found her crying about something the other night, which she won't tell me about." That sounds like Abby never wanting to share her problems.
"Have you fought lately and has she been sleeping at all."
"Do you think there's something psychologically wrong with her."
"I'm just checking everything I can think of, but yes there is a chance she could be going through some kind of breakdown." I wish I hadn't mentioned it when I saw his face but he would have guessed anyway soon enough he is a doctor after all. He looks like he's ready to deny it all but then his face changes as though he's just realised something that's in front, staring him in the face. He stares at the ground for a while before he faces me again, I sit there waiting for him to talk.
"We fought yesterday but I thought nothing of it. It was just a silly fight due to bad communication and stress. I know she hasn't been sleeping. I've woken up a few times and she's been sitting on the balcony smoking a cigarette, or just staring at the ceiling. I've tried to get her to talk to me about what's worrying her but she won't answer me as she feels it's her problem and no one else's. I think she also believes I'll leave her if she does say something." I knew it was coming so I start to comfort him as he tries not to cry.
"Have you contacted her family yet?"
"No she's having problems with them and they'd probably make her worse. I'll phone her Mom later though."
"Ok but go sort yourself out and come and find me in a few minutes, so we can go and tell Abby what's happened." I comfort him a little more and leave him.
Abby's POV
He's been ages now, I swear John's disappeared off the face of the earth. Just as I contemplate going and finding Susan myself, I see them both go past my window and then open the door. If I wasn't so sure that John would never cry, I could have sworn he'd been crying, his eyes are red and puffy. I look at him worried, surly this means my results give bad news. Susan also looks guilty and won't look me in the face. John takes my hand in his it helps but it's not enough.
"So what's up with me then?"
"We think your suffering from a nervous breakdown Abby. Due to excess stress probably due to your family problems and the conflict you had with John last night probably pushed you over the edge and made you collapse."
I immediately remove my hand from John's how much had he told her, I feel betrayed and how could I be suffering from a breakdown. Things like that happen to other people not me.
"How could you tell her about last night" he just looks at me.
"She had to know we were worried as your tests came back inconclusive, so Susan asked if anything had changed recently, so I mentioned that you hadn't been talking much lately and we fought last night. She doesn't know much else ok."
"What do you mean much."
"Abby calm down Susan's a friend and what I told her won't get put on the gossip train ok." He looks to Susan who nods and then back to me. I can see in his eyes that he's telling the truth. So when he reaches for my hand again I let it stay there. Seeing that the drama was over Susan says " Abby you'll be taken up to the ward overnight just to make sure nothing was damaged when you fell. You should be seen by a Doctor tomorrow who will decide on the best course of action and then they will discharge you ."
I hardly heard any of it I just sat and stared at John. I'd guessed I'd be kept overnight being a nurse for so many years means you get to know the basic principles.
Susan left the room but John and I just stayed as we were taking in what we'd heard I could feel the tears welling up inside me again, but this time I held the off.
"I think it's time I told you what that conversation was about."
"Only if you feel ready ok." He squeezes my hand a little tighter, it helps a lot actually, I decided I've started now so I might as well carry on.
"It was my Mom, she called to tell me my brother's disappeared again. I couldn't handle it myself at first that's why I didn't tell you." Now I do start to cry so he moves closer and pulls me onto his knee and holds me there.
"I would have told you last night but I was scared." He wipes the tears from my eyes so I can continue. "I don't want to loose you and I thought if you knew how bad things really were you'd leave me. I don't know how I'd cope without you. I need you."
John's POV
I guess what she told me was to be expected, but why she couldn't tell me before I'll never understand. At least she seems to be over the worst, she's cried a lot, but she's also got most of her troubles off her chest at last. Now she's asked for the help she can start to sort out her problems. I'm not going anywhere I never would, as long as she wants me I'll be here for her, I lover her and have loved her for too long now not to.
I still can't believe how close she was to suffering from a total breakdown, it's scary but it's been caught in time so she can heal herself. I just hope Kerry will give me the time off with her, I know it's short notice but I don't want to think of her at home, alone and isolated like she thought she was.
It's good to know she feels the same way about me though because I do I need her as much as she needs me now if not more. The best thing though is I can have her, as she wants me here with her.
"Hey Dr Lewis, your labs are back for the patient in exam 2."
"Thanks Randi"
Hmm her labs are inconclusive. I suppose that's good as it rues out most things, but she won't be best pleased staying here while I run more tests. I suppose I'd better go and tell them the news.
As I walk in I see them asleep Abby in John's lap so I leave them. They need the sleep so I won't wake them to tell them my findings, one of them will come and find me. They just look so cute together I'd take a photo but one, I don't have a camera and two, I think they'd kill me later.
Abby's POV
At first I wonder where I am then I remember. I wonder how long I've been asleep for so I look at the watch on John's arm in front of me, it reads 2:06, but that doesn't help as I can't remember what time I fell asleep, I turn to ask John but see he's asleep. I won't wake him as he still looks tired, well I suppose it can't be the most comfortable place for him. As I look around the room I see my chart and it makes me wonder if my test results are back. The labs weren't very busy earlier so I bet they're back by now. I try to move John's arms so I can get up and go find Susan but every time I try he just holds me tighter. When I turn to look at his face I realise he's woken up too.
He's got that look in his eye which means I'm not going anywhere. I'd stay like this forever in his arms but I'm getting impatient.
"I'm to go find out if my test results are back yet."
"No stay here, I'll go find them and I promise I'll be straight back. Anyway you need some more rest you still look like you need sleep." How did I know he was going to say something like that.
"Ok fine but be quick about it I don't want to be stuck here forever."
"I know" He kisses me on the forehead and leaves, I see him walk past the window through the blinds. He looks so cute, I wonder if he's noticed that he's got his buttons done up wrong at the bottom of his shirt.
Susan's POV
"John, John wait." He looks better for his sleep, I just hope Abby is the same.
"I was just looking for you. Have Abby's labs come back yet?"
"Yeah sure but first I want to ask you a few questions so can you meet me in the lounge I just have to sign off Mrs Tearne in curtain 2."
"Fine I'll meet you there."
"Ok Mrs Tearne here are some antibiotics for your infection and if the pain doesn't decrease in the next 5 days come back and we'll take another look."
"Thanks Doctor." Ok Carter. I hope he knows what's wrong because I sure as hell don't have a clue. I grab Abby's chart an meet Carter in the lounge he's sat with a cup of coffee talking to Deb about some prank she played on Pratt the other day.
"Mmm Deb could you give us a minute I want a word with Carter."
"Sure I'll be back in a bit." She winks at Carter and walks out of the room.
"So basically it's good news as her tests were all negative but that means we have no idea what made her collapse. Have you noticed anything different about her lately?"
"Not really but I found her crying about something the other night, which she won't tell me about." That sounds like Abby never wanting to share her problems.
"Have you fought lately and has she been sleeping at all."
"Do you think there's something psychologically wrong with her."
"I'm just checking everything I can think of, but yes there is a chance she could be going through some kind of breakdown." I wish I hadn't mentioned it when I saw his face but he would have guessed anyway soon enough he is a doctor after all. He looks like he's ready to deny it all but then his face changes as though he's just realised something that's in front, staring him in the face. He stares at the ground for a while before he faces me again, I sit there waiting for him to talk.
"We fought yesterday but I thought nothing of it. It was just a silly fight due to bad communication and stress. I know she hasn't been sleeping. I've woken up a few times and she's been sitting on the balcony smoking a cigarette, or just staring at the ceiling. I've tried to get her to talk to me about what's worrying her but she won't answer me as she feels it's her problem and no one else's. I think she also believes I'll leave her if she does say something." I knew it was coming so I start to comfort him as he tries not to cry.
"Have you contacted her family yet?"
"No she's having problems with them and they'd probably make her worse. I'll phone her Mom later though."
"Ok but go sort yourself out and come and find me in a few minutes, so we can go and tell Abby what's happened." I comfort him a little more and leave him.
Abby's POV
He's been ages now, I swear John's disappeared off the face of the earth. Just as I contemplate going and finding Susan myself, I see them both go past my window and then open the door. If I wasn't so sure that John would never cry, I could have sworn he'd been crying, his eyes are red and puffy. I look at him worried, surly this means my results give bad news. Susan also looks guilty and won't look me in the face. John takes my hand in his it helps but it's not enough.
"So what's up with me then?"
"We think your suffering from a nervous breakdown Abby. Due to excess stress probably due to your family problems and the conflict you had with John last night probably pushed you over the edge and made you collapse."
I immediately remove my hand from John's how much had he told her, I feel betrayed and how could I be suffering from a breakdown. Things like that happen to other people not me.
"How could you tell her about last night" he just looks at me.
"She had to know we were worried as your tests came back inconclusive, so Susan asked if anything had changed recently, so I mentioned that you hadn't been talking much lately and we fought last night. She doesn't know much else ok."
"What do you mean much."
"Abby calm down Susan's a friend and what I told her won't get put on the gossip train ok." He looks to Susan who nods and then back to me. I can see in his eyes that he's telling the truth. So when he reaches for my hand again I let it stay there. Seeing that the drama was over Susan says " Abby you'll be taken up to the ward overnight just to make sure nothing was damaged when you fell. You should be seen by a Doctor tomorrow who will decide on the best course of action and then they will discharge you ."
I hardly heard any of it I just sat and stared at John. I'd guessed I'd be kept overnight being a nurse for so many years means you get to know the basic principles.
Susan left the room but John and I just stayed as we were taking in what we'd heard I could feel the tears welling up inside me again, but this time I held the off.
"I think it's time I told you what that conversation was about."
"Only if you feel ready ok." He squeezes my hand a little tighter, it helps a lot actually, I decided I've started now so I might as well carry on.
"It was my Mom, she called to tell me my brother's disappeared again. I couldn't handle it myself at first that's why I didn't tell you." Now I do start to cry so he moves closer and pulls me onto his knee and holds me there.
"I would have told you last night but I was scared." He wipes the tears from my eyes so I can continue. "I don't want to loose you and I thought if you knew how bad things really were you'd leave me. I don't know how I'd cope without you. I need you."
John's POV
I guess what she told me was to be expected, but why she couldn't tell me before I'll never understand. At least she seems to be over the worst, she's cried a lot, but she's also got most of her troubles off her chest at last. Now she's asked for the help she can start to sort out her problems. I'm not going anywhere I never would, as long as she wants me I'll be here for her, I lover her and have loved her for too long now not to.
I still can't believe how close she was to suffering from a total breakdown, it's scary but it's been caught in time so she can heal herself. I just hope Kerry will give me the time off with her, I know it's short notice but I don't want to think of her at home, alone and isolated like she thought she was.
It's good to know she feels the same way about me though because I do I need her as much as she needs me now if not more. The best thing though is I can have her, as she wants me here with her.