AN: Thanks for your comments.
The Rainbow After The Storm
Chapter Three
The ER was busy as Abby entered it that lunchtime. She felt rather tired but better than she imagined. Last night had been good, worthwhile, productive but she had found it all exhausting emotionally. She walked into the lounge to prepare for her shift. There she came across Susan who was, Abby noted crying. Abby tipped her head up to the ceiling to summon the strength to help Susan and back down again before she moved over to where her friend sat at the table.
Pulling out a chair Abby sat down next to Susan.
'What's wrong?' she asked putting her hand on Susan's arm
Susan sniffed and looked up. 'Hey' she said 'Hormones probably'
Abby looked at her not entirely convinced, Susan seeing this said 'Oh okay. I had a fight with Chuck'
'Just now?' Abby asked
'Yeah, he came in with a patient. You know Abby, I just don't think it's going to work. Me and Chuck. We should have left it at that when we got the annulment'
Abby sighed and sat up straight in the chair. 'Oh, that bad?'
Susan looked at her and nodded.
'You know I would come and cheer you up later, but I'm on tonight 'til midnight, tomorrow evening?' Abby suggested 'I could make it after eight'
'I thought you got off a six tomorrow?'
'I do, but I need to go to a meeting.'
Susan looked at blankly.
'AA'
'Oh right, sure'
'Are you two here to work or spend the day gossiping' Weaver snapped coming into the lounge, assessing the situation before her she added 'Now Abby'
Susan looked apologetically at Abby who rose from the table to start her shift.
'Susan' said Weaver after Abby had changed and left 'Everything alright, not finding work too much'
'Oh no. I'm just having a bad day'
'Remember to come and talk to me if you need to' she said before heading out with her coffee.
'Great' said Susan propping her head up with the palm of her hand as she continued her break.
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Abby was glad that her shift was coming to an end, it had been manic as usual and she had a med student shift to look forward to the next day. She realised thinking about it that she would only get a few hours sleep, as she had to be in at six am tomorrow.
'Abby?' asked Yosh
'Yeah'
'Have you seen where Jerry put the nurses schedules for next week?'
'No, but that's only because I'm know I'm not pulling any nurse shifts next week, try under that pile of stuff' she pointed to a pile of work Jerry had been dealing with before he had mysteriously disappeared.
'Hey Abby'
'Carter, what can I do for you? Please don't say a trauma's coming in I want to go home to sleep I'm back at six' Abby said turning round to see him.
'Errr no, no trauma, can I have a word, I wanted to catch you before.... It's been busy'
'Tell me about it' she replied as they walked down the corridor together and came to a stop beside some medical supplies waiting to be stored.
He looked at the ground finding his feet extremely interesting.
'Carter?' she prompted, thinking that at least he looked a bit better than he had done yesterday, not quite so drawn, but it was still there.
He looked up 'You left?'
She shook her head questioningly.
''Last night, this morning?'
'You were sleeping, I went home to catch up on some sleep, you look like you managed some too'
'Ten hours'
'On that sofa?'
'Yeah, my back's been telling me about that since'
They grinned.
'Thank you' he said putting a hand on her shoulder as she prepared to move away.
''You're welcome' she replied
'Abby?'
'What?'
'You mean it? About helping?'
She nodded
'Will you come with me to the lawyer?'
'When?'
'Soon? Tomorrow?'
'No can do. Day after I'm off after three pm?'
'Ah working, the day after the day after?'
'Okay, it's my rest day pick a time, not too early though'
'Great I'll call you, if I don't catch up with you here'
It was a bit awkward for a moment and Abby finally said 'I just have to go to give Pratt's patient in one another IV' and she headed off.
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Susan was wondering where Abby had got to, it was way after eight. When suddenly the door bell rang.
'I thought you'd forgotten and had a hot date or something'
Abby frowned at her friend and produced a small bunch of flowers, 'To cheer you up' she explained 'And healthier than chocolate'
'Oh Abby you know eating flowers is not my thing' off Abby's exasperated look Susan added 'just teasing, they're great, thank you, so what kept you'
'Carter'
'You had a hot date with Carter?' Susan said still in a teasing tone.
'No, I had to talk to him briefly about something'
'Oh, what?' Susan said pressing for gossip
'Confidential'
'Really, I thought you were going to tell me something interesting'
'He needed my advice'
'Wow he asked you for advice he must have been desperate'
As Abby frowned again Susan said 'Kidding, you're great at advice'
Abby made a non-committal sound and headed into the lounge and sat down.
'You seem happier today?' Abby said to Susan
'It's my day off, I'm not stuck in the hell hole we call work'
'What's up?' Abby asked deciding that she seemed like an agony aunt recently and maybe she should take that up as a third job, the money would certainly be handy.
'I told you, Chuck, or me and Chuck, he called round yesterday'
'And?'
'Tried to sort out things'
'Successfully?'
Susan sighed 'Oh I don't know; I just stalled him at bit. He wants to get married again, but I don't know. It's not something I really want'
'You're happy for him to be part of the baby's life?'
'Oh yeah'
'That's good' Abby replied thinking about Carter and his problems.
'Coffee?' Susan asked
'Sure, want me to make it?'
'I'm pregnant not sick'
'Sorry'
'Have you eaten?'
'No. Have you?'
'No, I thought we could order Chinese or something'
'Chinese?'
'Yeah can't stop eating the stuff'
'Sounds good'
'What you want?'
'Whatever you're having's fine' Abby answered, too tired to really care.
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Susan bustled about the kitchen for a bit and then ordered the food. They both enjoyed a girly night in, Susan was an outstanding source of gossip, Abby wondered when Susan managed to fit working in as she hadn't heard half of it. It was getting late and Susan had just paid another visit to the bathroom on her return she came upon Abby who exhausted from the events of the last few days, had fallen asleep on the couch.
'And here was I about to offer to call you a cab' Susan said quietly, finding something to cover her friend, whom she didn't have, the heart to wake.
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