Carter took the stairs two at a time. "John, wait." Susan called from behind. "I'm no that quick anymore." She attempted to joke. Susan had been at Carter's house when the phone call about Holly had come through. She had never seen anyone move as quickly. He was up and straight towards the door without an explanation or a look back.
Upon reaching the NICU Carter went straight to Doctor Neilson. "Doctor Carter, Doctor Lewis, I only wish that it was under better circumstances that I called you here. I have already explained everything to Abby but I am unsure of what she actually heard. I didn't think she was up to telling you."
"Where is Abby?" Susan interrupted the doctor.
"She's in the family waiting room, pretty distressed. Not long after you left to take her home, the tests results on Holly arrived back. They show that Holly has a right ventricle weakness. Right now we are trying medication, but it looks like she may need surgery." Doctor Neilson explained as he led them to Holly.
Susan and John both gasped as they reached the incubator. Seeing such a tiny body attached to so many machines was heart breaking. "When do you think surgery might be?" John slowly asked the doctor.
"It could be as early as this afternoon, we won't know until the scans come back. You can wait here beside her or head to the lounge with Abby. Completely up to yourselves. I would say that Abby needs you. If that's not out of place to say."
John smiled a little. "It's not out of place Doctor. Thank you for all you are doing." John reached across and shook the young doctor's hand. He slipped his hand into the incubator before leaving the NICU.
Opening the door to the family room, they couldn't see anyone sitting. "She'll be on the roof." John said, knowing it was the only place she ever felt safe. His voice seemed void of emotion to Susan, but then he had just been told his week old daughter needed life saving surgery.
"John, look." Susan pointed to the dark corner of the room where a figure was huddled in the corner.
"Oh Abby." He whispered, crossing the room in four strides till he was by her side. "I'm here gorgeous. I'm right here." He tried to get her to look at him, but she was being defiant. Her body began to shake as her cries got louder. "Abby, it's all right, I'm here now. We'll get through this." He repeated over and over again until eventually she collapsed into his arms.
Susan surveyed the scene in front of her. She knew it sounded silly but it reminded of a scene from the movie Ransom. It was the scene near the end when Mel Gibson thinks his son has just been shot and he and Rene Russo are out on the terrace. She could only hope that good news came to her best friends as well.
An hour later, Abby was asleep. She had cried herself out finally falling asleep with her head in John's lap. Susan sat off to one side, her hand touching the bump that held her child. She glanced back at Abby. Susan couldn't bear to think what Abby was going through. Sounding selfish she prayed her baby was okay.
The door to the waiting room opened. John and Susan looked up to see Sam and Alex standing by the door. Alex looking overawed by all her had seen in his walk up to the NICU. When he laid eyes on Abby, Susan could clearly see tears in his eyes. John placed his finger at his lips indicating that Abby was asleep.
"How are they both doing?" Sam asked quietly as she took the seat beside Susan. Alex sitting on the other side.
"Not so great." Susan answered in a hushed voice. "We are waiting on Doctor Neilson to return to tell us when Holly will need surgery." Both women fell into an eerie silence. Not looking at anything.
Alex was looking all around the room, his eyes always landing on Abby. John was running his hands through her hair in a comforting way, just the same as she did to him. He hadn't seen Abby in ages and all he wanted to do was give her a hug. His mom had told him little of what was going on. He only knew that little baby Holly was ill. When he heard Susan say surgery, he knew it was serious. Surgery meant getting cut open and something done. If Holly was so small could she fight it, would she survive? Alex contemplated the answers in his head as everyone else did the same.
After another hour, Doctor Neilson appeared back at the door. Elizabeth Corday was standing behind him. John knew that only meant one thing. Holly was going to surgery. He gave Abby's shoulder a shake. Abby began to stir before remembering where she was. She jumped from where she lay. She saw Elizabeth standing. "She's going to surgery isn't she?" Abby nodding, already knowing the answer.
Elizabeth walked across beside her. "Abby, John, Holly's heart isn't functioning properly. She has to go into surgery so we can correct it." John could hear the sadness in Elizabeth's voice. Since Abby had gone back to school he knew Elizabeth had become a friend. He could also see the tears in her eyes as she spoke. "I am going to be with her the entire time."
"Thank you." Was all Abby could say. Tears began to fall from her eyes again. Elizabeth gave her a hug, whispering something only Abby could hear. Abby turned to Doctor Neilson. "Can we see her before she goes down?"
"Of course." He opened the door signally them to follow him. Susan, Sam and Alex hung back. As much as Alex wanted to go, he seemed to know what was going on. John and Abby needed this time.
Alex turned to his mom. "Could Holly die?" His question, so serious but full of emotion.
"Yeah baby." Sam said running her hand over Alex's head before pulling him into a hug. Alex wrapped his arms around his mom before noticing Susan standing outside the hug, with tears in her eyes. He reached over and put his arm around Susan too. She gave him a watery smile, placing her arm around him too.

Two chapters in one day. How am I doing? Were these chapters okay? Please let me know