Abby stood at the ER doors. She had promised Carter that she would stay home today, call in
sick, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. She didn't not want anyone taking control over her
while she was at work. She slowly walked through the doors and slid quietly into the lounge.
Keeping her head down, she walked straight to her locker.

"Good Morning Abby," Kerry was sitting at the table. "I'm glad you're here. I want to introduce
you to the new attending, Cr. Johanssen."

Abby froze. She slowly looked over and seen him sitting at the table with a smug look on his
face. Abby managed to smile. "We've met," she turned back to her locker.

"Abby is the Nurse Manager down here. She does a fine job. If you need anything, you let her
know."

"Oh, I will definitely do that," he answered. Abby felt chills rise up her spine. She knew she
should have listened to Carter, so why didn't she? Why was she here? She slammed her locker
closed and rushed out of the lounge before anyone would see her cry.
"Hey, Kerry, I wanted to let you know that Abby was going to stay home today, she wasn't feeling
well," John caught up with Kerry as she and Dr. Johanssen exited the lounge.

"No, we just spoke with her. She was right on time, although she did seem a little off."

"She's here?' John asked.

"Yes, anyways, have you met the new attending, Dr. Thomas Johanssen." Kerry stepped aside
and Dr. Johanssen held his hand out to him.

"Dr. Johanssen?" Carter was surprised.

"Yes, I have heard a lot of great things about you John. I look forward to working with you."

John made a face at the guy and walked away.

"John!" Kerry called out after him. He continued walking as if he could not here her. "I'm sorry, I
don't know what that was all about."

"That's okay. He'll come around and get used to me being here. How 'bout that tour now."
"Carter! We got a trauma coming in!" Randi called out from behind the desk.

"What is it?" He ran over pulling on his yellow gown.

"GSW."

Carter waited by the ambulance doors. He saw Abby walk out of Exam 1 and made eye contact
with her. She had to walk over. He had finally seen her so now she needed to talk to him.

"I thought you were going to stay home today,"

"I couldn't."

"What are you telling people?"

"I started telling them that you beat me up," she smiled, "But no one believed it, so I had a fight
with my door and the door won."

"Abby, are you okay?"

"As long as I don't have to see him."

"I met him today. He's an asshole."

"You're telling me," The ambulance pulled up, "You need a hand?"

He nodded at her as he ran over.

"What do you got?" He asked to medic.

"GSW to left temple. Full arrest when we arrived. Intubated, IV wide open. 3 rounds epi, 2
lidocaine."

"Take him to Trauma 1."

They all walked into the trauma room, including Dr. Johanssen. Abby took one look at him and
froze. She couldn't think. People were yelling at her and she couldn't here them. Finally Chuny
pushed her out of the way and started another line.

Carter was doing compressions when Dr. Johanssen told him to stop.

"Have you had a shockable rhythm?" He asked Carter.

"Asystole,"

"How longs he been down?"

"38 minutes,"

"Call it," Susan said from behind. "He's got brain matter all over."

Carter stopped and pulled off his gloves. "Time of Death 11:59."

Chuny turned off the machines and Carter looked around for Abby. She was no where to be
seen. He looked over at Thomas, who was staring at her intently. Everyone had walked out
except Kerry.

"Kerry," Thomas cleared his throat, "Why don't you go see if he as any family that we need to
notify."

Kerry nodded and left the room.

"Does Abby always do that?" Thomas spoke. John glared at him. "I mean run out on a trauma.
I heard she does excellent work and that was very unprofessional."

"And what you did was so professional," John muttered under his breath.

"I'm sorry, I didn't catch that."

"Stay away from her." He said louder.

"And if I don't?"

"Don't try me." Carter walked away.
Carter finally found Abby hiding in the lounge.

"You should go home," He sat down next to her.

"I can't. I am not going to let him take me over."

"Abby, he's interfering in your work. You need to file a complaint against him."

"Look, John, do not tell me what I need to do. I will do what I want to do and I do not need a
baby-sitter!" She got up and stormed out of the Lounge. Cater sat there dumbfounded. He didn't
know what to do. He wanted to help her through this, but she wouldn't let him.

"Abby, can you give the patient in Exam 2 another 5 migs of morphine," Susan called over to her.

"Sure," She grabbed the chart and walked into Exam 2. "How are you," She looks at the chart,
"Jason?"

"My leg hurts." The 12-year-old said to her.

"Don't worry kiddo, I'm going to give you something to make that all better." She injected the
morphine into the IV.

"Abby, may I speak to you for a second?" Thomas poked his head in the door. She looked at
him and didn't answer.

"Yes, j-just a minute," she whispered.

"Are you a nurse here?" Jason asked her.

"Yes, I am. How did you break your leg?"

"I like to skateboard and I took a hard landing today."

"Ouch. Okay, all set, you should start to feel better in a little bit. I'll be back to check on you."
Abby set the chart on the end of his bed and walked out of the room.

"What is it?" She asked Thomas.

"I had a little chat with someone today."

"That's usually something that you do when people are around."

Thomas grabbed her arm tightly. "Do not get smart with me little girl. Carter knows and you told
him."

"I don't really expect how you could think that I could hide it." She could feel herself getting
angry, but not scared. How dare he put his hands on her in public like this. "If you don't leave me
alone, I will file a complaint, and you will go down."

"Go ahead and file one. Who's going to believe an alcoholic nurse that drinks on the job?"

"That's not true!" She exclaimed. He squeezed her arm tighter and leaned down into her face.

"Try me. We'll see how many people believe you."

"Carter will believe me."

"Keep it up bitch and I will take care of him too."

"Leave him alone." A tear fell down her cheek.

"I love it when you cry."

"Fuck you," His hand reached up and slapped her right in the face, sending her crashing to the
floor. The commotion caused Carter, Susan, Chen, and Pratt to look over. They saw Dr.
Johanssen bending over to pick her up. Carter and Susan ran over to her.

"She must have tripped over that cord. Anyone could have done that, Come on now. I've got
you," He pulled her up from the floor. John looked at her and saw the blood coming from her lip.

"Tripped over a cord, huh? Let me ask you something, did you hit her before or after she fell?"
Carter was furious and pulled Abby away from him.

"John, please," she whispered.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Dr. Johanssen straightened his tie. "I saw her fall and I
was simply helping her up. She's fine, not I suggest the rest of you get back to work." He walked
away slowly. Abby stared at him as he left and he gave her a wink……………..