Chapter 2:

Abby stood outside the ER, waiting for Susan. She was late, but that wasn't something out of the ordinary. They usually brought in a patient in critical condition, just when one was about the leave home after a long shift. She supposed Susan was a victim of such a happening at the moment. Abby didn't mind about waiting. She wasn't in a hurry. What would she do at home anyway? Dwell on her misery? Drink the only wine bottle she had left in her apartment? It was a tempting idea, but she knew she shouldn't touch the bottle. Carter had thrown away all the alcoholic drinks he had found in her apartment, except for that one wine bottle. Abby had been able to hide it well enough from him. She wanted to keep it for a rainy day – just in case she would ever need it.

She had fallen so deep in her thoughts that she didn't notice Susan, who had walked next to her.

"Abby! Drop that cigarette! You know it isn't good for you," Susan commented intentionally loud.

"Susan! Are you trying to kill me or what?! I didn't hear you coming."

"Well, from what I can see, you are already off to a good start yourself. If you continue that way, you will get a screaming baby, who won't shut up without a nicotine shot," she said seriously.

"I know, I know, but who says I'm even going to have this baby?"

"Abby, what the hell are you talking about? Of course you are! Quit with the nonsense, please."

"Why should I bring yet another fatherless child into this world? Tell me one good reason."

"I can hardly believe what I'm hearing," Susan said letting out a deep sigh. "I thought you would have been happy about this. And what are you talking about a fatherless child? Of course your child would have a father. Do you think Carter would deny his child?" She continued.

"He made it pretty clear to me that we have no future together, when he returned back to Africa. Honestly said, I think he is right. I wouldn't like him to come back only, because my lousy birth control pills failed me."

"This is going to take more than just one cup of coffee. What do you say if I cook us a dinner? Chuck isn't at home today, so we could talk in peace and quiet."

"Well, I don't have any better ideas at the moment, so why not. I'm not so much looking forward to going home anyway."

"Let's walk to my car then," Susan said, already half across the street.

Susan's apartment:

"Excuse me for the mess. Chuck has a bad habit of leaving everything lying around," Susan said apologetically while she was picking up Chuck's dirty shirts from the couch.

"It doesn't matter. I'm not one of the tidiest people on earth either," Abby admitted.

"Please, sit down. Would you like to drink something? It is going to take a while with the dinner."

"A glass of orange juice would do miracles right now."

"Coming right up!" Susan answered and rushed into the kitchen.

Abby sat on the corner of the couch. Susan had a nice home. The way it was decorated made it seem warm and cozy. She especially liked the light green curtains Susan had in the living room.

It didn't take long before Susan showed up with two big glasses of orange juice.

"Here you are," she said offering one of the glasses to Abby.

"Thanks," Abby said.

"You know... I was thinking while I was in the kitchen... I was thinking that I should tell you something as well," Susan cautiously started.

"Oh? What is it then?"

"Well... Chuck and I... we are going to have a baby too," Susan confessed.

"What? Really? That is nice to hear!" Abby said happily, forgetting her own situation for a brief moment.

"Yeah... I just thought you should know about it... since we are kind of in the same situation."

"How far along are you?"

"About 14 weeks now. It is still kind of new to me. I'm only slowly starting to realize it that I'm pregnant."

"Wow. This really was a surprise," Abby smiled.

"I wish you could be happy about your pregnancy too," Susan said trying to change the focus back on Abby.

"If it was under other kind of circumstances, I know I would be happy. There is no doubt about it, but if I went to Carter now... telling that I'm going to have his baby... I would just mess up his life."

"I know Carter for a long time. I think he would be a great father. Even if it would first come as a shock to him. I seriously think he would never let you end this pregnancy. Abby, he has the right to know..."

"Even if he has, I also have the right to decide what happens to my body."

"I'm almost starting to wish you never showed me that pregnancy test. If you feel like this, why did you even end up telling me about it? Wouldn't it have been the best not to tell anyone? Then you could have done whatever you wanted and no-one would ever have known."

"I wasn't planning to tell anyone, but then you showed up there. I just got a sudden feeling that I have to tell about it. If you had showed up a few minutes later, I think I wouldn't have told anything. It was just a fragile moment at that time... Susan, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have messed you up on this. It is not your problem anyway."

"Well, there is no way back anymore. I know and that won't change. I just wish I could help you somehow," Susan sighed.

"Believe it or not, you have already helped by listening me. I may not take the advice in very fast, but you have at least given me a few good points to think about."

"So do you promise to think about your situation a little more?"

"I think I have no other choice at the moment."

"Will you tell Carter?"

"No, not now at least. He is so far away that I think I can't even reach him. Besides, what could he do about it? It isn't like he would fly back to Chicago in an instant. I suppose Weaver knows when he is coming back. I might just as well wait until he is here again."

"Do what you think is the best. Just don't end this pregnancy too hastily. I know how you feel about it right now, but maybe you will change your mind after a few days of thinking. Give it some time, Abby. Please?" Susan asked with a slightly pleading voice.

"Yes, ok. I promise to think about it, but please don't ask me to promise anything else."

"This is fine for now. It wasn't for nothing then, this conversation we had," Susan said smiling.

Abby answered her with a small smile as well. She felt better than she did in the afternoon. She didn't regret it that she had decided to tell Susan about the pregnancy. Susan was a friend she could trust. She knew she wouldn't tell a soul about her secret.