A Horrible Episode – Part 14.

Disclaimer – I own nothing, still.

A/N – Once again, thanks to my reviewers.Somebody asked if it was ever gonna get happier - well, not for a while, but maybe!

AnnaSun – You made my day, thanks!!

Chapter 14 – Slow Progress.

Carter's POV.

Abby has been on the psych ward for a week. She is slowly making progress. She has been unable to attend her rehab sessions, which has been getting her down. Dr Legaspi has been working with her everyday. Abby has begun to talk a little. She still won't look at me or acknowledge me but I can't blame her for that. I'll keep trying. I will not lose her.

Abby's POV

I'm going crazy up here. Well, I guess that's about right considering I'm on the crazy ward. After all, I am my mother's daughter. Gee, what a scary thought. I know what I did was wrong, but it wasn't me, I couldn't control myself. I don't know what happened. Dr Legaspi tells me its delayed shock triggered by what happened the other day. I just wish I could have stopped myself from doing the things I've done. I've let everyone down.

Dr Legaspi was on her way to see Abby. She couldn't believe what had happened to Abby and was determined to get her on the right path again. Abby had been doing so well and it was distressing to see her like this. She walked up to Abby's door and with a deep breath she walked in.

"Hey Abby, how are you doing today?"

"Ok"

"Listen Abby. You've made really good progress over the last few days. But your problem is that you lock everything away too much. You have to try and open up a bit. We need to get you out of here. You don't want to be on this ward Abby, but until we're sure that you're mentally stable, I can't release you"

"I know, it's just hard"

"Of course it is Abby. Nothing that you have had to deal with over the past month or so has been easy. But you were almost there. Take this as a blip on your recovery path"

"I'll try"

"Ok, good. I want you to go through your feelings Abby. How did you feel when you realised you were at the place of the attack?"

"I was scared. All I had wanted was some air and I never thought that going outside would do this to me. It all came flooding back. I panicked and then I went crazy"

"Abby. You didn't go crazy. Not in that way. When something like this happens to you, your body has to find a way to deal with it. In your case, your body has suffered a delayed shock reaction. It could have reacted in several ways, but your body chose to react first through withdrawal, then through extreme emotional expression. I believe you are now returning to your normal state, but we still need to make sure you don't wander off that path"

"I feel a little better. I find it incredibly difficult to talk to anyone about what I'm feeling. I know I need to do that in order to get better, but I find it hard. But thank-you for persevering"

"Abby, it's my job. We all want you to get better and you will. You just have to try and face your problems and talk them through. Even if it's not with me. How are things with Carter?"

"Not good. He thinks I blame him for what happened and on some level I do. But, I know he would never mean to hurt me and I need to sort things out"

"Well perhaps this is your chance" Kim said, nodding towards the door. Carter was waiting outside.

"Kim, I really want to go home. I need to work things out for myself. I really don't want to be here"

"I agree with you Abby. I don't think you're a danger to yourself anymore. I'll see what I can do"

"Thank-you"

Dr Legaspi left the room and Carter walked in.

Abby's POV

Oh God, he's here already. I'd already made my mind up to talk to him today but I wanted to think about what I was going to say. Now I'm gonna have to think on the spot. Damn it. I've never been too good at doing that. It's like being back in math class. I always used to daydream about what my mother would be doing when I got home from school. Perhaps she would be having a party with all her psycho friends. Huh, psycho, good word choice Abby. Or maybe she'd be stalking around the house with a knife. And then my teacher would be standing in front of my desk demanding the answer to some stupid math problem and I'd sit there dumb until someone rescued me. I need someone to rescue me. Carter?

Carter's POV

Something tells me she's going to talk to me today. Here goes.

"Hey Abby. How are you feeling?"

"I think you know. Listen Carter, I've treated you badly this week. I've blamed you for something that wasn't your fault. I know this could have happened at anytime. What happened the other day acted as the trigger"

"I know but.." Carter interrupted.

"Carter, you have to listen to me. I can't change what happened the other day. I didn't want to kill myself and I didn't want to hurt anyone, I just lost it for a while and I thought I couldn't cope anymore. But I want to get better and I can only do that if I have you by my side"

"Abby. I'll always be there. I want to put this all behind us. I want to help you and support you. I'd do anything for you Abby. We can do this"

"Thank-you Carter"

"So, are you still my fiancée?"

"Of course I am. I can't survive without the Carter millions!"

Carter laughed. He had to admit it had been a rough week and he thought he had lost Abby forever.

"Oh Abs. I spoke to Romano today and he wants you to start rehab tomorrow"

"Will they let me go from here? Or am I listed as some dangerous monster or something!"

"Abby, you're not dangerous. You were sick"

Dr Legaspi came back in the room.

"Abby, I have been speaking to my attending and we're quite happy for you to be discharged. You will have to take some medication just to keep you balanced. I have also spoken to Dr Romano and he will be up to talk to you in a minute. Are you happy about this?"

"I have to admit, I'm a little scared and I'm not sure about the medication, but I trust your judgement and I do want to go home"

"Okay Abby. Carter, can I have a word outside please?"

Abby was too happy about going home to be bothered by this request. Carter followed Kim out of the room.

"What is it Kim?" Carter asked.

"I'm happy for Abby to go home and I'm confident that she will recover fully, but I need to know that there will be someone there with her at all times to keep an eye on her and make sure she takes her meds. I'm not saying that Abby will have a relapse but it's a possibility"

"I'll see if I can get some time off work"

"Ok, take care Carter"

Romano came up to see Abby. He explained that Abby was to be fully discharged from the hospital but was to return daily for rehab, and to see Kim. He gave her some pain medication and wished her well.

Carter packed Abby's things up and then lifted her into her wheel chair.

"Sure you're ready for this" Carter asked.

"I'm sure. I've got to come and see Kim everyday so I've got all the support I need"

"Ok, lets go"

Carter wheeled Abby out of her room. He wheeled her out through the ER where everybody wished her the best of luck with her recovery. Carter loaded the bags into his jeep and lifted Abby in. he packed the wheel chair in, started the engine and they began to drive home. They were on a roller coaster of a ride and both hoped that there would be no more traumas for them to have to face. But you never know what's round the corner.