She had already decided to let the answering machine get the call, but by the fifth ring, she got tired of listening to it and finally picked it up.

"Hello?"

"You don't sound good at all." Susan's way too cheerful, but still concerned voice responded.

"Tell me something I didn't already know." Abby took the cordless phone and went back to her spot on the sofa.

"Are you feeling any better?"

"I was and then I felt worse." She sniffled for effect.

"I'm sorry. Do you want me to bring you anything? Soup? A hot guy?"

"You got me a stripper for my birthday last year. No thanks, I think I'll skip this time."

"That guy was cute. What was his name? Some kind of dinosaur or something...T-bone?" Abby rolled her eyes as she listened to her friend.

"I believe it was Rex."

"I was close." Susan sighed. "So you're sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. This cold just sucks. I haven't left my apartment in two days."

"Some might consider that a good thing."

"Not when I'm by myself and I feel like crap!"

"Okay, I was just calling to check in. I'll talk to you later. Feel better."

"Thanks." Abby replied, and hung up after she heard Susan do the same. She walked over to a cabinet and grabbed a glass and filled it with water. She set the glass onto the counter and opened another cabinet. Pulling out a bottle and opening the lid, she turned it to pour the contents into her hand, but instead nothing came out. Looking inside, she found the bottle empty. She rolled her eyes and then walked into her bedroom to find her shoes. After putting on the shoes, she grabbed her purse, sweater, and keys and exited the apartment. The drug store was only a couple blocks away, so she slid her sweater on as she went down the stairs of her building.

As she walked, she noticed something hitting her in the side with every stride she took. Curious, she dug her hand into the pocket and frowned as she realized what it was she was now looking at. She quickly reached into her purse and pulled out her cell phone and dialed a once familiar number.

"Hello?"

"I have something of yours."

"You don't sound good. Are you sick?"

"Yeah. I'm actually on my way to the store to get more Advil and some cough medicine. I hadn't even realized I was out. I must be delirious. And way to change the subject!"

"I'm sorry. Please continue."

"I forgot to give you back your ring. I just found it in my pocket."

"You want me to come get it?"

"You don't have to do that, Carter. I'll just bring it to the hospital when I go in. I just didn't want you to worry when you couldn't find it."

"Okay. Well thanks." The conversation suddenly became oddly awkward.

"Um, I guess I'll see you later then."

"Bye."

She made it to the drug store and back home in about twenty minutes and crashed onto the sofa as soon as she made it through the door. She hadn't realized exactly how exhausted she was until she was up and moving. This was when it paid to have a boyfriend or a husband to take care of you, or just anyone. This was the single most reason why is sucked to be single, especially when the people around you all have someone to go home to at night.

Abby sat back up and opened the plastic bag containing her medicine and grabbed it and walked into the kitchen. She peeled the wrapper off of the Advil container and pulled out the cotton and threw it into the trashcan before shaking three tablets into her hand. Taking the already filled water glass that was still sitting on the counter, she popped the pills into her mouth and took a sip of the water, swishing it in her mouth before tipping her head back and swallowing. Then she unscrewed the lid of the Ny- quil that she had also purchased at the drug store. She took a spoon out of a drawer and poured a teaspoon of the green liquid. As the flavor took effect in her mouth, she wrinkled her face and tried not to think about the disgusting taste. She rinsed the spoon off and set it in the sink and kicked off her shoes before returning to the sofa. She pulled the blanket up around her as she picked up the television remote and turned on the TV. The last thing she remembered as she faded into a deep sleep was the voice on the television announcing the time.

The next thing she was aware of was a knock on her door. Looking quickly at her watch she realized only about an hour had passed. She stood up and headed towards the door and then ran her hand over her head and realized it was all over the place. She pulled it out of the disheveled ponytail before glancing through the peephole.

"Hey." Carter said as the door he was standing in front of opened slowly and her face appeared behind it.

"What are you doing here?"

"I brought you some soup." He held up a bag and walked in the door and placed it on the counter. "It's chicken noodle, I know you like that."

"You didn't have to do that."

"You don't have anyone to take care of you." Carter shrugged and pulled the container out of the bag.

"I don't need anyone to take care of me." Abby shot back quickly, knowing full well that less than an hour ago she had thought differently to herself.

"You're right, you don't." He nodded, as if defeated. "Well I have to get going."

"Thank you." She called as he neared the door. "For the soup."

He shot her a sad smile as he opened the door, but as he was about to leave, she remembered something and called out his name before rushing into her bedroom quickly and emerging again with something in her hand.

"As long as you're here you might as well take it."

"Yeah. Right." Carter nodded and took the box from her hand and shoved it in his pocket. "Bye."

She watched as he left and then walked towards the container sitting on her counter. She pulled off the top and sighed as the smell quickly snaked its way through the apartment. She grabbed a spoon out of a drawer and took a sip of the soup. It tasted good and warm in her cold ridden body. Suddenly she felt guilty for snapping at Carter. She picked up the phone and dialed his number, however after waiting for ten rings without him picking up, she hung up. Grabbing the container and the spoon, she plopped back onto the sofa and curled her legs under her. She'd have to wait and talk to him tomorrow.