Mother Dear
A/N: Okay, finally, I can start thinking about plot and not background!
DISCLAIMER: Anything you recognize, I don't own.
~*~
"Ashley!" Abby called to the little sleeping figure in the bed. She flicked the light on and the little girl groaned and shifted to turn her face away from the blaring light.
"Ashley! Up! Come on, you have to get ready for school." Abby approached the bed and shook the little girl lightly.
"Mommy, it's too cold to get out of bed." Abby looked at her daughter sympathetically.
"Look, I picked your clothes for you and put them on your bed. You can get dressed under the covers, okay? You can brush your teeth after you're dressed and I'll make you hot chocolate." The little girl apparently found this rather tempting as she began to dress quietly beneath the heavy pink covers. Abby sighed loudly and headed towards the kitchen.
~*~
After dropping Ashley off at school, she headed back towards the hospital. She kicked the snow around as she trudged along, dreading returning to the hospital. If last night's lack of sleep had told her anything, it was that she was crazy to return.
She looked up only to find herself right in front of the hospital. She had been so lost in thought that she hadn't noticed.
She entered the empty doctor's lounge and found the locker with the post-it that said 'Abby Lockhart' on it. After changing into her scrubs, she shrugged off any doubts she may have and walked out into the hall waiting for instruction.
The old man at admit. - Brian, was that his name? Abby couldn't remember - called her over.
"Hey, Lockhart, multiple MVA coming in. Four victims. ETA 2 minutes. Bennings wants you on this one." Abby groaned to herself and went to fetch a trauma gown and a pair of gloves and wait for the incoming patients.
A minute later, Abby heard the sirens out in the ambulance bay and she went to meet it. She had forgotten how quickly everything seemed to move at a county hospital. The paramedics were reciting their quickly gathered patient stats and Abby found herself becoming more familiar with it. It was like recalling an old dream.
***
In New York, Abby had returned to Obstetrics. Being an OB nurse gave her more flexibility in her schedule and also a very much appreciated lack of traumas. She just delivered the babies. The NICU team would take care of all of the problems.
***
Abby turned her attention to the man on the gurney.
"We need an attending!" the doctor who was pushing the gurney alongside her called out. She felt the pace of the gurney quicken as another set of arms joined to help them push it. She was still staring at the patient's bloody face and body, at his arm that had been slashed and broken in the accident and that the paramedics had placed into a make-shift splint.
"My stomach!" The patient groaned and cried out as they pushed the gurney into trauma green and she finally took a second to look at her surroundings. She did a double take. She was face-to-face with John Carter.
Carter had either not recognized her or he had pretended not to know her. He was barking orders like an angry hound and Abby was quickly trying to obey. This was not the sweet-tempered man she had fallen in love with so long ago. Of course, his fiancé and child were dead and, as far as she knew, he had not gotten into a relationship since. She stared at him sympathetically for a second before he turned to look at her and she quickly and quietly returned her attention to compressing the bag that was keeping the intubated patient alive.
~*~
After the patient had been wheeled up to surgery, Abby stood at the door of the trauma room.
"Yes," a voice whispered in her ear, "I do remember you, Abigail Lockhart."
Abby turned around, startled and Carter was looking at her, his eyes alive with an emotion that Abby could not quite put her finger on.
