Ok, Chapter 6 is up. I hope you've been enjoying the angst so far and don't worry there is still plenty more to come. Thanks so much to all those that have reviewed I really love having feedback.

I won't be able to update for a few days after this as I am away, but please be patient. Please, please read and review.

Four days later

"Susan slammed the locker door shut "My god, I thought this shift would never end!

Abby glanced over at her from the lounge table where she was seated reading through a pile of charts.

"Going home?"

"No actually, Chuck's Mum is visiting this week and she's got Lucy. See, I knew there was an up side to having your Mother in law staying with you. No, I'm off for some therapy, retail therapy you can't beat it and anyway I need to go get a gift for the party tomorrow night" She paused pulling on her jacket, a thought coming to her, "Hey why don't you join me?"

"I can't, I need to get home"

"What? What for? Come on Abby it will be fun and I need your helping choosing a gift for the soon to be thirty four year old Luka"

Abby sighed, why the hell not? She was off in a few minutes and maybe a shopping trip with a friend was just what she needed to take her mind off things.

"Ok. Give me ten minutes; I just need to hand over a couple of patients" she said standing and heading for the door.

"Sure" she said smiling "Don't forget your credit card"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Following Day

Carter shifted in his seat. He was nervous. He stared across the waiting room at the picture on the opposite wall. The painting featured a family by a lake. Two small children were feeding swans. He couldn't see there faces but the father was smiling and seemed to be starring right at him.

He looked away and sighed. He knew he was doing the right thing coming here. And no matter how difficult it was to take that first step, he knew full well he had to face up to the things that were haunting him. Maybe now things would get better. He had seen Abby twice since the night at her apartment. There shifts had crossed over yesterday and she had had to join him in a trauma, then later she had had to consult with him on an end stage cancer patient. She had been civil but distant. He hadn't known what to say, how to be around her. He knew he had messed up.

"Dr Carter, Dr Andrews will see you now" the petite receptionist said.

"Thanks" he replied. He stood up and walked towards her, following her to the door marked

'Dr Andrews, Psychiatry'

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sam's Apartment, later that night

Abby glanced at the table, it was piled high with gifts still untouched. The music pounded out of the speakers on the opposite side of the room and Abby could feel the vibrations through the floor boards under her feet.

She hadn't been sure that she would come to the party but Susan had persuaded her during their shopping trip yesterday.

"So have you decided yet?" she had said

"What?"

"Whether you're coming tomorrow night"

Abby hadn't said anything hoping Susan would drop the subject.

"He won't be there you know".

"Who?"

"You know who". Susan had said not buying Abby's nonchalant attitude for a minute. "I asked him and he said he had an appointment that he couldn't miss".

Abby had given Susan the edited hi-lights of what had happened with Carter at her apartment and Susan knew she was keen to avoid him as much as possible.

"Come on it'll be fun." She had said

And now here she was.

She took a sip of her soda and sat down next to Chuney and a new nurse she recognised but couldn't remember her name. The party was really filling up now and they had cleared a space in the middle of the room which was now full of people dancing.

She watched Sam, Susan and Mallike dancing amongst the crowd. Maybe she shouldn't have come. It seemed a good idea at the time, a chance to relax, have fun and take her mind off things. The truth was she didn't really have an excuse not to be there. She wasn't working, she'd spoken to Maggie and Eric seemed to be doing ok and as Susan had promised Carter wasn't there.

Her thoughts were interrupted by something Chuney was saying to the nurse next to her. The music was loud and she had to strain to hear.

"Carter? No he's not here"

"Shame, he's cute"

"You think?"

"Definitely, is he single?"

"Yes, I think so"

Abby bit her lip and continued to stare at the group on the dance floor. Luka had joined the dance floor and was wrapping his arms around Sam's waist. Sam smiled at him and stood on her tip toes to whisper into his ear and they both laughed.

Abby took a deep breath and stood, deciding she didn't care to hear anymore of Chuney's conversation and besides it was rude to eavesdrop. She headed for the dance floor. And as she approached her friends she had almost convinced herself she was glad that Carter wasn't there. Almost.