Memory Lane

- part 3 -

I just want to thank you all so much for reviewing. It means a lot to me and I really appreciate that you all took the few seconds to consider my story and tell me what you thought. Thanks a ton… you guys rock!

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John walked into the lounge and she was sitting on the couch, her elbows resting on her knees and her head nuzzled in his hands.

She was crying.

He glanced around the room, trying to find a distraction, anything that would save him from discomfort.

There was nothing.

He sighed and approached her, really not knowing what to say but knowing that he couldn't leave it at that. Knowing that he had to do something.

"What's wrong?" he asked, taking a seat beside her on the couch, "I mean, I know that it's probably none of my business, but care to talk about it?"

She looked up at him for a second and she seemed to be registering information in her head.

John had been working at County for a week now and he still felt out of the loop. It was beginning to frustrate him now – the fact that everybody seemed to be best friends, sharing inside jokes and grinning at each other in the halls – it was upsetting because no one seemed to be accepting him.

He wasn't really trying to get her to talk. He knew she wouldn't. He remembered their lunch that day at Doc Magoo's. The strained conversation, the uncomfortable silences, the distance. He had been hoping so hard when he followed her into the small restaurant that he had found a friend, but he had been distant and she hadn't pushed him to open up, so nothing had come of it. Nothing at all.

"How much does life suck?" she said finally, pulling herself up and resting against the back of the couch, "I mean, as a kid, I used to think that life was supposed to be fair. But now… nope. I mean, I don't deserve this."

He was surprised she had said anything at all and he didn't know how to respond.

"I know what you mean," he said finally, surprising even himself with his verbalization, "Life is the pits."

She nodded.

"What happened?" she asked finally, taking a moment to look at him.

"You first," he said.

John wanted to smile, but it seemed the wrong time. He wanted to give her a pat on the back, but it seemed the wrong time. Finally, he settled with just listening.

It was the most welcome he'd felt since his first day here and he didn't want to spoil it.

"I'm two months behind on my rent, I'm housing my bi-polar mother whose crazy antics are threatening to have me kicked out of the building anyway, I've totally screwed up my love life and this job sucks." On the last note, she grinned at him ruefully, "You? How did you end up at County?"

He looked down at his shoes, "My wife passed away and I couldn't bear to live in New York anymore… that and I couldn't raise my kids on my own. So I picked up and did the only thing I could think of… move back home with good 'ole Mom and Dad."

Abby looked at him for a few seconds.

"I'm sorry," she said hesitantly, "And I'm sorry I've been in such a crappy mood lately. This whole hospital's been tense since Mercy closed down for ER renovations… you know, the onset of emergency victims has been killing us."

He nodded and sighed.

"Well," he said, "I guess I should get going. I hope everything gets better for you and your Mom. It'll be okay."

"You too," she said, nodding.

He turned to leave the lounge, not even remembering what he had come for in the first place.
"Hey," said Abby as he opened the door, "I'm off at seven, want to catch a late dinner or something?"

John thought about it momentarily, considering his own schedule before nodding.

"Sure, that sounds great," he said finally, hoping that this meal would be slightly less catastrophic than the last.