AN: Okay carterfan1 I will put you out of your misery and you can read who was at the door.

The Rainbow After The Storm

Chapter Eight

Abby turned round to look at him, squinting in the early morning light.

'Abby, I just wasn't ready to go home' he said

She sighed; wishing that she had today off and could sort out this mess which stood before her.

'Can I stay?' he asked

'How long for?' she replied

He shrugged and plopped down on the sofa.

'Oh no' she said to him 'You can't go to sleep yet, I want some answers first? Where have you been all this time Eric?'

He stared up at her, 'I need to sleep'

'So I see, okay sleep, we'll talk when I get back tomorrow'

'Tomorrow?'

'Yeah I have a long shift. Promise me one thing, that you'll ring Maggie, she's frantic'

'Yeah, whatever' he managed, just before he started snoring.

She sighed exasperated and made a mental note to ring her mother.

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'Abby you're slacking' said Pratt 'You need to work faster, look' he said pointing to triage 'We need to clear this'

'Okay'

'Whatever is on you mind you need to forget about 'til this lot have gone' he continued 'You hear what I'm saying Abby?'

She nodded.

'Good' he replied

She watched him saunter off to the admit desk and then much to her amazement informed Jerry that he was taking a break. Which left her to all the patients she had already plus the ones in triage and wondering where Luka was as he was supposed to be working too. She knew he was here, but she hadn't seen him for a least half an hour.

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Abby had started clock watching at twenty-three hours and five minutes into her shift. From a busy early evening it had slowed right down and now at just after seven am was a slow trickle of patients. She thought about ringing home to see if Eric was in, but decided that he would either be sleeping or out getting drunk or something similar.

'Cleared the patients yet Abby?' Pratt asked coming up to the desk

'More or less, no one's waiting' she answered.

'Good morning' said Weaver in a brisk fashion stopping opposite Pratt and Abby. 'We need to look organised this morning, I'm showing some perspective candidates around for the vacancy'

' 'Bout time' said Jerry eating a doughnut.

Kerry looked at him disapprovingly.

'Gotta eat breakfast before all the sick people rush back in' he explained

She grunted as he answered the telephone, still with a mouthful of doughnut.

'Dr Weaver' he said 'Morris just called in sick'

'Abby?' said Weaver

'What?' Abby replied then seeing Kerry's expression Abby added 'Oh no. I've just worked a twenty four hour shift, I didn't get any sleep'

'How many hours was he on for Jerry?'

''Twelve'

'There that's not too bad' Kerry told her

'But Dr Weaver, I .....'

'Abby...' she started

Abby replied 'Oh okay' then to Pratt she said 'Why couldn't you do it?'

'I have far more important things to do, like catching up with sleep'

'What exactly have you been doing all night anyway?' she asked

'As your superior....' he started

'Thank you, I don't want to hear anymore' she replied heading off to the lounge to grab a much needed coffee.

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'Abby's in a funny mood today' Susan commented to Carter at the admit desk.

'Lack of sleep' said Randi butting in 'She worked all night. Jerry said Weaver made her take an extra shift'

'Still' said Susan, 'She seems a bit odd, I tried to talk to her but, no go'

'I go have a chat with her' Carter offered

'Yeah maybe she'll talk to you'

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'Abby!' called Carter catching up with her in the corridor. 'Hey'

'You're bright and breezy' she commented

'Been sleeping better lately'

'Sorry I didn't come round the other night, I kinda felt bad after our talk'

'It's okay, it was good to hear you voice'

'I've got to go' she said edging away from him 'I'm running around after at least ten patients'

He touched her arm to prevent her walking away and said 'You okay?' His eyes searched hers and she could see the concern there.

'Just tired' she replied, which was partly the truth.

'What's Weaver up to?' Carter said as they watched as she led a handful of smartly dressed people around.

'They're after Romano's job' she replied

'Really!' he continued to stare at them until Kerry caught his eye and glared at him, a glare which said he better start getting on with his job.

'Catch you later' Abby said thankfully having an excuse to walk away, she didn't know if she should tell anyone that Eric was staying. Sometimes things were better if other people were oblivious.

'Ummm, what? Yeah?' he replied, still staring at the candidates for the chief position.

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Later however Abby went home alone, she opened the door cautiously, the apartment was still, she noticed her spare key was missing from it's hook. The place was messy, but at this point she was too tired to care and within ten minutes was in bed asleep.

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The next morning Abby took a shower, which left her feeling refreshed. Dressed she walked out of her bedroom. Eric was sleeping on the sofa, snoring loudly, she didn't know when she would get an opportunity to talk to him, but had found the time whilst at work yesterday to give Maggie a quick call.

She quickly had breakfast and was just heading out when she noticed a baseball bat and what she could only describe as a horse whip one in either of Eric's hands as he slept.

She shook her head inwardly thinking that she did not want to know what he was doing with either of those objects.

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Work was frantic as usual, which meant the time passed quickly. Abby stood watching Carter and Susan talk, Carter seemed much more relaxed than before and they were obviously sharing a joke, which Abby thought was a great improvement.

Meanwhile Carter was watching her out of the corner of his eye. Susan knew something was bothering her, he knew something was bothering her and he had a sneaky suspicion that somehow it involved Eric.

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Later Abby was getting ready to leave when Carter approached her.

'I'm off in ten, want coffee and pie, on me?' he asked

'Sounds good, but...'

'I knew that was coming' he replied

'It's Susan's baby shower tonight, it's my job to get her there'

'Oh. Have fun. Another time?'

'Sure' she answered, partly wishing that she could have seen him then, especially when a new nurse called Caroline stopped him in the hall and started flirting with him. She sighed heavily feeling a large pang of jealously, before walking out the door.

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