"Damn it!" I muttered as I glanced at the clock to my right.  It read 6am and my shift started in an hour.  I got out of bed groggily before I realized that there was no way I would be able to take a shower and get ready in 20 minutes unless I hurried up.  It took me at least 35 minutes to get to Northwestern by train and I did not want to be late for work and piss off Gosselin… he is always an ass when it comes to tardiness in his ER.  Besides, I needed to ask him for a day off next week.

As I ran around grabbing my clothes, which were thrown haphazardly around the room, I looked over my shoulder and contemplated whether or not I should wake him up. 

Blake and I have been together for almost six months and we've been moving relatively slowly as relationships go.  I was already starting to get the feeling that he was getting tired of me and my problems and was therefore not willing to take this to the next level.  He hadn't even been to my place yet, I always have to make the sacrifice by practically living at his house. 

Blake owns his own little business (a small café) and is free to get up and go to work whenever he wants; no shifts, no schedules.  He looked so sweet lying there, half naked under the sheets that I decided against waking him in his deep slumber and jumped in the shower.

As I ran out the door (now half past), I scribbled a note on the kitchen table:

Shift ends at 7, patients depending.  You know how it can get.

We'll grab something to eat when I manage to break free.

-Abby

* * * * * * * * *

"Piece of crap!" I screamed out, thoroughly agitated.  Of all days, my car decided to break down today.  I was already running late and Weaver was probably going to kill me or else give me one of her domineering and withering looks which is somehow even worse. 

"Dr. Carter," I turned around and spotted my next door neighbour poking her head out of her front door still in pajamas and bending down to grab the paper, "Do you need a hand?"

"Morning Bridget, no it's fine, I guess it's just my car's way of telling me that I need to take it for a tune-up."

"Do you need a ride to work? I could hurry up and give you a lift; I drive by County on the way to work anyway."

I sighed inwardly.  I knew that she was just trying to be nice but Bridget's been hitting on me and hinting that I should ask her out ever since she moved in next door a couple of months ago.  While I appreciate the ride, I decided that I'd better not lead her on, so I smiled politely and said, "No, it's okay.  I'm sure I can manage to get to work on time.  Thanks for the offer."

"Oh, okay," she replied, looking slightly disappointed as she turned around and closed the door behind her.

I stared at my car for a couple of minutes, analyzing my options before, disgusted, I decided that I was not even going to attempt to fix it.  I opted instead to walk towards the El station and take the train. 

At this rate, I'll get to County by 7:30. 

"Damn it," I cursed, as I broke into a run.

* * * * * * *

I felt so sticky and gross, it was not even funny.  I had no time to dry my hair after my shower and the humidity was really starting to do funny things to it.  Besides the fact that my hair was sticking to the back of my neck, it felt like a hundred degrees outside.  This is added to the fact that crowds of people were surrounding me, all trying to achieve the same goal.

Getting on the train at rush hour is like fighting your way through a battlefield at war.  People pushing and shoving, you'd think we were a herd of animals instead of an intellectual and civilized race.  But no, we continue to step on others feet and elbow each other in the face, this one guy actually slammed into me not even bothering to apologize, giving me a dirty look instead.

I finally managed to make it onto a train and was even lucky enough to find a seat (getting another half dozen nasty looks from the unfortunate people who were too slow coming in after me).  I had picked up a paper before mounting the stairs and now flipped it open to the comics section.

* * * * * * *

"Watch it!" I shouted, as I was literally pushed through the door.  I regained my composure and held onto the pole in the middle of the train.

"Of course there would be no seats," I thought to myself, "Stupid rush hour."

I was glad of one thing though, taking the El meant salvation from the heat outside, which was almost suffocating.  Thank god summer was almost over; September was just a week away.

My thoughts were interrupted by the abrupt stop at the next station and the man in the seat in front of me got up to exit.  I cheered silently and sat down next to a woman reading a newspaper.  I almost felt ashamed since I hadn't picked up a paper in more than a month, until I saw what section she was reading… comics.  I chuckled and she heard me.

Looking up, I noticed that she was actually quite attractive, easily stunning with brown hair (slightly damp at the moment) reaching past her shoulders, sparkling brown eyes and a mouth that twisted into a charming smile as she looked from the paper to my eyes.  Laughing, she said, "Guilty.  I don't really read the news; I pick up the paper just to read the comics."

"Well, you're better than me," I confessed, "At least you pick up the paper; I haven't touched one in months!"

"It's official.  We both know nothing about world events," she said, eyes twinkling even more.

I smiled widely and felt brave enough to introduce myself, "Hi, my name is John Carter."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Abby," We shook hands awkwardly and as we settled back in our seats, she asked, "What do you do for a living?"

I started to answer, "I wo-" when she interrupted me and added with mock sarcasm, "I hope you're not involved in international affairs."

I laughed and answered, "No, I'm a doctor.  I work at County General."

"Ah, so I should really refer to you as Dr. Carter," she said with a wink.

I groaned, "I hear enough of that at work.  My name is being worn out, but seriously, John's fine.  How about you? What do you do?"

"Well," she began, "As luck would have it, I am in the same line of work as well.  I'm a nurse at Northwestern."

I raised my eyebrows and was just about to reply when I suddenly heard a shriek from the other end of the train section that we were in, "Help! Help! This little boy! He just fainted!"

I got up quickly and tried to push my way through the crowd of people, repeatedly saying, "Excuse me, excuse me…"

I didn't realize that Abby had followed me until I heard her say with concern, "Hold on, I'm coming too!"

As I walked through, the people parted a little, creating a slight path that made it easier for Abby to make her way through.  The train made a sudden lurch forward and Abby almost crashed into me, "Sorry," she muttered, as she attempted to walk steadily and regain her balance.

"It's fine," I replied, reaching out my hand to help her.  She grabbed it and for a second all I noticed was how cool her skin felt, even in the hot weather. 

I re-focused and we finally made it to the back where a boy of about 8 or 9 years old was lying unconscious on the floor.  "I'm a doctor," I said, trying to reassure the panicked faces around me.  Nodding towards Abby, I added, "She's a nurse and we'll try to take care of this little boy."  Abby and I knelt down beside the boy and upon examination I noticed several bruises on his arm.  "Who are his parents?" I asked.

When nobody answered, I exclaimed in disbelief, "You mean he came onto the train all by himself?"

A lady fearfully spoke up, "He was just sitting on that seat, right there," she pointed to the last one by the window, "I assumed he was with one of these other people."

By this time, Abby had already confirmed a pulse and a quick glance out the window notified me that my stop was approaching.  I turned to Abby, "Okay, I might as well just carry him to the hospital.  The next stop is County."

"Are you sure it's safe to move him?" She asked hesitantly.

"I don't think his neck or anything is broken, he just fainted.  It's faster this way and if we don't properly check him out soon, this could develop into something worse," I replied.

She nodded, "Alright, yeah, I'll come with you." 

This time it was Abby who led the way as I gently picked up the little boy.  However, most people had already noticed the commotion and moved out of the way as we came towards them.  As we rushed out the door, the lady who had spoken yelled to us, "I hope he's okay!"

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I have a bunch of ideas on how to continue this story but please review! I need to know if anybody actually wants me to continue or if I should just abandon this story ;)