"Hey, Abby," Susan smiled as she stepped into work the next morning. Abby grinned back at her before taking one last sip of coffee, throwing out the cup and heading for the lounge to put her stuff away.
She swung open the door labeled 'Doctors' Lounge' and was met face-to-face with Carter.
"Sorry," she muttered as she stepped aside to let him by.
"It's okay," he said and turned to her, "Actually, perfect timing. I have to talk to you anyway."
Abby groaned inwardly. What did he want?
She stepped up to her locker and made a lopsided hand gesture signifying that she was paying attention.
He was looking kind of nervous when Abby turned to face him. He still hadn't said anything.
"Did you talk to Sara?" his voice was low.
Abby nodded and placed her stethoscope around her neck.
"And…?"
Abby looked at his strained face and shook her head apologetically.
"Sorry, John," she said finally.
She watched as he hunched over with his face in his hands and she wished that she could be thinking something other than, "this is all your fault, man."
--OoOoOoO--
Abby stepped into the house that night and Sara was watching TV in the family room. Abby walked into the room and plopped down on the couch next to her daughter.
"We have to talk," she said as she placed an arm over Sara's shoulder. Sara flicked the television off and faced Abby curiously.
"Yeah?"
"Your Dad has been asking about you a lot lately. He really wants to see you."
Sara looked at her hands.
"I know," she said and Abby raised and eyebrow, "Grandma Eleanor called while you were at work."
Abby felt a flicker of anger shoot through her, but it disappeared quickly and she found herself feeling bad for the old woman – torn between her granddaughter and son.
"And…?" Abby prompted her, looking imploringly into the girl's eyes. Sick of the conflict Carter was creating. Why did he have to come back and throw everything off course?
"And I told her that we would go for dinner on Thursday."
Abby faced the girl seriously.
"Are you sure?"
Sara shrugged and finally nodded.
"I'm sure."