Return

Carter looked down at the small sleeping figure. He brushed the hair away from her forehead. Leaning into the darkness, he planted a small kiss on her forehead.

'I love you,' he whispered.

~*~

"Mom!"

Abby was startled out of sleep. She glanced at the alarm clock next to her bed.

"Damn," she muttered. She must have drifted off after her alarm sounded.

"I don't have an ironed blouse!" the girl screamed from downstairs. Abby pulled herself out of bed. She descended the stairs quickly, pulling her robe around her and tying it over her pajamas.  She practically flew into the laundry room to iron a blouse hastily. A thin, brown-haired pre-teen stood expectantly in the doorway clad in a short gray pleated skirt, knee socks and black shoes. She was slightly more scantily dressed on top in a mere tank top. Abby thrust the shirt at her.

"Put this on, I'll make breakfast," she said.

"Thanks."

Abby rushed to the kitchen. How could she possibly be so late? She'd be late to work now.  She had just put the milk on the table when the girl entered the kitchen.

"Sara, that tie is dirty, put it in the hamper and get another one."

"I like it dirty."

"That's a shame. I thought I'd taught you about hygiene by now." The girl ignored Abby and slinked into her place at the table, picked up a piece of toast and had it propped just in front of her opened mouth when Abby snatched it.

"Change your tie," she stated.

Sara rolled her eyes and headed off to her room.  She returned a few seconds later, tying a striped burgundy and gray tie and pulling down her collar once again.

"Happy?" she muttered as she took her seat and picked up the toast again.

"Very," Abby said with a sly grin as she took her place across from her daughter.

"This coming from the woman in her pajamas and a robe." Abby glared at her.

"I slept through my alarm," she muttered. Sara chuckled.

"Right."

~*~

"Hey, Abby," Susan called to Abby as the doors swung open and Abby entered.

"Hi," Abby greeted and she headed toward the lounge. At passing the admit. lounge, all the gossiping nurses immediately quieted and stared at her. She watched them curiously for a few seconds, but then shrugged it off and continued of her way to the lounge to change into your scrubs.

"Abby! You're late!" Weaver screeched as Abby returned from changing. Abby cringed and turned to face the hot-tempered red head.

"Sorry."

"Not good enough. Get to work!" Abby hurried to it, rushing to admit. to pick up a chart.

~

"…. yeah, tomorrow. But don't tell Abby," she heard Chuny whisper to Malik.

"Don't tell Abby what?" she asked, hands on hips.

They both swung around to look at her.

"Not you, Abby. My cousin, Abby," Chuny said quickly.

"Really? I wasn't aware that Malik was close with your cousin," Abby said angrily.

"Yeah, I am," Malik piped up.

"So, what can't we tell her? I'd like to be let in on the secret," Abby stated.

"Nothing."

"Yeah, nothing."

Abby shook her head, not wanting to deal with any gossip that related to her. She picked up a chart and hurried off to attend to a patient.

~

Abby walked by admit. again later that day and a new group of nurses and doctors were huddled around. She took a place at the back of the crowd and listened, tying to stay inconspicuous.

"He's really coming back?"

Abby strained to hear more.

"Yeah, but don't tell Abby. She'll flip."

"It'll be worse if he just shows up."

"Yeah, but then she'll be mad at him and not at us."

"I can't believe that Carter would dare – "

Abby didn't hear anymore.

It was if her ears turned off.

Carter couldn't be coming back. She backed away from the crowd, colliding with the desk behind her. She clutched onto it for support and everyone turned around to face her.

"God, Abby," Susan was the first to talk, "You didn't just hear that…?" She stopped suddenly and everyone quickly dispersed.

Susan approached Abby.

"No one even told me!" Abby hissed.

"We didn't think you should know because…"

"I know. I heard you all gossiping evilly about me. I know. Trust me, I know."

Susan looked at her regretfully, not saying anything. Abby let some steam off by clenching her hands and breathing heavily and was slightly calmer after a few seconds.

"When?" she asked finally.

"Tomorrow," Susan answered meekly.

"Oh my God. I think I'm going to be sick."

Susan put a reassuring arm on Abby's shoulder.

"It's been so long," Abby continued, cupping her hot face in her hands.

"Ten years," Susan reaffirmed.

"Why?"

Susan shrugged and pulled Abby into a comforting hug.

~*~

Abby sat at the table at dinner that night. She was staring blankly at the wall, not really eating anything… just remembering.

"Mom!" Sara said harshly. Abby faced her.

"I asked you three times, pass the milk, please." Abby consented and passed the desired item across the table.

"How as school?" she asked blankly and Sara shrugged.

"It was okay," The girl pulled on her tied and loosened it around her neck.

"Mom, are you okay?" she asked finally, looking skeptically at Abby.

"I'm… yeah. I'm fine."

"You don't look fine. Maybe you should lie down. I'll do the dishes." Abby smiled appreciatively, but shook her head.

"Thank you, though, hun. Nice of you to offer."

They ate in silence for a few more minutes.

"You like me to tell you when I'm upset," Sara muttered finally. Abby looked up at her thoughtfully.

"John's back," she said quietly and she heard Sara's fork clatter against her plate, "I'm sorry, honey, I didn't find out until today."

"When?"

"Tomorrow."

Abby watched the girl's face fall.

"You can't make me see him! You can't!" she yelled as she pushed her chair away from the table and scurried up the stairs.

"God-damned you, Carter," Abby said to no one as she followed her daughter up the staircase to her room.

Sara was strewn across her bed, sobbing. Abby took a seat on the bed next to her, rubbing the girl's back comfortingly.

"I know, Sara. You don't have to. I won't him come here until you're ready to see him."

"Why is he suddenly coming back? He left so suddenly, does he think that we'll just let him back into our lives? I'm happy without him. He hurt you, Mom. He upset you so much when he left. He hurt me when he left. I don't want to see him again. EVER!"

Abby sighed and hugged Sara.

"To tell you the truth, neither do I, but we have to face our problems and he'll want to see you. You don't have to talk to him until you're ready. God knows I'm not going to force you to see him."

Sara nodded and wiped her tears on her sleeve.

"Do you want to finish your dinner?" Abby asked; tired. Sara shook her head and Abby sighed again, getting up to tend to the dishes.