Mother Dear part 2
A/N: I know that season ten hasn't aired in some places yet, so beware S10 mentions (but only what has already aired)
DISCLAIMER: Anything you recognize, I don't own.
~*~
The El train came to a halt at their stop. Abby held tight onto the little girl's hand as she led her down the steps and onto the sidewalk of the busy road. The girl skipped to keep up to Abby's quick pace.
Abby dropped her coffee into a trash can they passed and she slowed down as a large hospital came into view.
"Mommy?"
"Hmm?"
"Is this your new work-place?"
"Yeah." They both stood staring at the building for a few moments in silence. Cars passed by and people swerved around them as they rushed down the sidewalk. The little girl began to fidget and Abby grasped her hand tighter.
"Mommy?" Abby snapped back to attention and look into the girls questioning eyes.
"Is my school near here?" Abby nodded and, remembering where they were headed, picked up her pace, leaving the hospital behind for now.
~*~
Abby approached the building for the second time that day. It seemed much more foreboding now that she did not have a reassuring grasp on her daughter's small hand. She hated having to return, she hated that they couldn't afford not to. This was the only place that seemed to need ER nurses. She smiled to herself as she remembered the dangerously low number of nurses and the dangerously high number of hours they were all required to work.
Seven years was a long time. Maybe they wouldn't be there anymore. Maybe they would have forgotten. Maybe HE wouldn't be there anymore. She shrugged her shoulders nervously and approached the ice-covered automatic ER doors.
Abby approached the admit. desk.
"Hi, I'm Abby Lockhart, I'm new here. Is Dr…." She looked at the slip of paper in her hand, "… Dr. Bennings here?" The tall, balding man at the desk glanced at her apathetically.
"Yeah, she's around. I'll give her a page."
"ABBY!??!!" She heard a shriek coming from somewhere behind her and she turned her head quickly in the direction of the noise.
"Susan!" She exclaimed giving Dr. Lewis a big hug. "Long time no see."
"You look great!" Susan said her voice still annoyingly high-pitched in excitement.
"Thanks. You don't look too shabby yourself." Abby smiled.
"So, what are you hear for? Come to tie loose ends?"
"Actually," began Abby, "I got a job here. My daughter and I moved back to Chicago and I needed a job. This was the only place that was hiring ER nurses." The grin wiped itself off Susan's face.
"You're working here? You have a daughter?" Abby glances to her right and then returned eye-contact with Susan.
"Ummm, yeah." She muttered, fidgeting with the zipper on her coat.
"That's great! I didn't know!" Susan exclaimed, "We'll be working together again, it will be just like old times! Who's the lucky man?"
Abby hesitated.
"Um, actually. He and I aren't close anymore."
She smiled again, nervously, and looked just beyond Susan's head, embarrassed she didn't want to make eye-contact. A familiar man was approaching the admit. desk with a chart in one hand and his stethoscope in another. His tall, lean figure and handsome face was such that would make any woman turn to get an extra glance at him.
"Oh my God," said Abby.
"Carter."
