**********************************

Abby only had to wait in the lounge for a few minutes before Susan appeared.

"Hey, Abby!" Susan beamed. "How are you feeling?" They embraced, and Susan squeezed her tight.

"Better, thanks. I just wanted to say, um, thanks, for standing up for me, with Luka. And for sitting with me while Carter was out." Abby smiled, grateful.

Susan squeezed her elbow affectionately.

"No problem. You had us all worried! Listen, I'm off now, so if you want to go somewhere, grab a bite to eat, talk a little?"

"Well, Carter and I just ate…" It was half true.

Susan looked deflated.

"But I could sure use some talking." Maybe Susan could help her sort her muddled head out.

Susan's expression sky-rocketed in an instant.

"Do you want to get a drink?

"I wouldn't say no to a coffee…"

"Ok." She took off her white coat and threw on a heavy grey jacket. They started for the door, but Abby paused. Susan turned and looked at her, frowning.

"What is it?"

 She jerked her thumb in the direction of the door. "Should I go tell Carter?" Seeing the puzzled look on Susan's face, she explained.

"He wanted to walk me home in his break. I should tell him what's happening."

"Sure. I'll wait."

"Only… I don't want to go out there. Would you…?"

"No problem. What do you want me to say?"

"Just tell him what's happening, and to call me when his shift finishes."

"Got it. I'll be two seconds."

**********************************

Susan found him treating a little girl with a broken leg.

"Hey, Susan! Annie, this is Susan."

Susan smiled, and waved. "Hi Annie, How're you?"

The little girl waved back, said nothing.

Carter said in a stage whisper, "She's shy.", and the little girl giggled.

"Carter, Abby and I are going out for coffee. She said for you to call her when your shift finishes."

"Annie, can you hold on for one minute?"

The little girl nodded.

They walked a little way away.

"I was supposed to walk her home on my break. Is she ok?"

"She's fine. I'll make sure that she gets home safe."

Carter was reluctant, but if that's what Abby wanted. "Ok. Look after her?"

"Sure, Carter."

Carter returned to the little girl, and Susan walked, bemused, back to the lounge.

**********************************

"What happened?" Sitting in Doc Magoo's, across from Abby, Susan held the coffee cup in her hands.

"Where do you want me to begin? It's such a mess, Susan." Abby swirled the black liquid in front of her with a spoon.

"How about, you start at the beginning. What happened with Luka?"

Abby dropped the spoon into the cup, linked her fingers together, rested her elbows on the table, and began to talk. She explained about how she had found Luka with Rose, how Luka had attacked Carter because he was protecting her.

"So that's what happened between Luka and me…"

Susan sat, stunned into silence.

"Wow."

"I know."

"Are you ok? I mean, with all this?"

Abby shrugged.

"Do you want me to talk to Luka? Get him to leave you alone?"

"I don't think that's a good idea. Carter tried, and look at what happened."

Susan sighed.

"How's the-" Susan nodded towards Abby's stomach.

"It's much better. Carter wanted to give me pain meds but I wouldn't let him."

Susan half smiled. "Ok, give it up. What's the deal with you and Carter?"

"I have no idea what you are talking about." Abby stated, unconvincingly.

Susan pressed further.

"Well, you two arrived together earlier. He barely left your side when you were in the ER,-"

Abby interrupted her. "He's a friend…"

"Uh huh." Susan was sarcastic.

"He is!" She paused, and took a deep breath. "But…"

"But…?"

Abby exhaled slowly. "Ok. Here's how it is. Luka and I split up less than a week ago. And now…This is totally unlike me…I think that…maybe…"

"Come on Abby, what is it?"

"Maybe…I might be falling in love with him…"

Susan was confused. "Who… Luka?"

Abby shook her head. Her eyes stared straight at Susan.

"Oh my god…Carter?"

Abby nodded this time, the corner of her mouth twitching a little.

"What?" Susan was trying hard not to smile.

"I'm hopeless."

They laughed together for a moment.

"What are you going to do? Does he know?"

"Why, do you think I should tell him?"

Susan nodded. "I think it might be a start."

"Well, what happens if he doesn't feel the same?"

"You'll spend your life thinking 'what if?' if you don't do something."

Abby looked at Susan, and sighed.

"I know you're right, I honestly do, but…I think that I'd rather have Carter as a friend, than jeopardise that by telling him how I feel."

Susan considered this.

"How do you know he doesn't feel the same?"

Abby gave a small shake of the head.

"He doesn't, Susan."

"Are you sure?"

Abby thought about how he had looked after her, just because it happened to be him she crashed into. She thought about how he had protected her from Luka, about how he had promised he would come back. Always.

"Abby?" Susan tapped her gently on the elbow. "You ok?"

She shook her head and blinked a couple of times. "Yeah. I'm fine. Just, thinking."

Susan smiled and stared out of the window.

"You know, just for the record, I think Carter is madly in love with you." The words rolled off Susan's tongue, almost conversationally. It was like she had said 'Oh look, it's raining,'…or …'Another cup of coffee, please.'

Abby raised a questioning eyebrow. "He is?"

Susan looked Abby square in the face now, and the flippant tone was gone from her voice.

"Totally."

Abby was surprised by her certainty.

"Then you think I should…"

"I think you need to."

Abby resigned herself to her fate.

"Ok."

She yawned. Jeez, being in hospital really took it out of a girl.

"Do you want to go home? I promised Carter I'd walk you."

"You don't have to, you know."

"I don't mind, honestly."

Abby nodded and began to fish around in her pocket for some money, but Susan stopped her.

"It's on me."

"Thanks. My shout next time."

Susan smiled. "I'll hold you to that."

They pulled on their jackets, and headed out the door