Disclaimer: I don't own ER or its characters.
Chapter Two: From The Outside
"What about this?" Susan asked as she held up a pair of Capri pants and a stripped shirt.
"I think we should just avoid clothes all together." Abby replied.
"What's wrong with this?"
"For you…nothing. For your soon to be thirteen year old niece, I'm willing to bet a lot."
"Okay, I have no idea what to get her."
"What were you into when you were thirteen?" Abby asked.
"I'm sure that my answer would be total different from hers."
"In general." Abby sarcastically replied.
"Okay smart-aleck…CLOTHES, boys, music…"
"Music! That's what you should get her."
"You think?"
"Yes. Does she have a portable cd player?"
"No."
"There you go. Susie will love it. Get her a cd player and two or three cd's."
"How am I suppose to know what cd's?" Susan asked as she held up the Capri's.
"Get her a gift certificate then." Abby said with a smile. "With the portable player. You can take her down here and she can pick out her own, she'll love it."
"Maybe you're right."
"I know I'm right." Abby replied as she took the clothes out of Susan's hands. "And besides if we don't leave now we'll be late for work."
"We have over an hour?"
"Yes, but I'm starving."
The room was cold and silent. Susan looked around to see Luka, Neela and Chuck asleep. Glancing at the clock she shut her eyes as she read 1:37 am.
She knew operations took several hours, but she also knew the relationship between extensive injuries and long operations. Seven hours had passed. Susan figured around six of them had been in surgery.
Sitting in the waiting room, essentially alone, she couldn't help but feel responsible. Responsible for Abby, for Chloe, for how Susie would have to deal with this. She remembers telling her that she wouldn't have to worry anymore, that she was there to take care of her. She and Abby had formed a bond too.
"Your up?" Neela asked from the row behind Susan
"Yeah." Susan replied, continuing to stare at the wall. "I must have dosed off."
"Only for an hour or two." Neela explained.
"Yeah."
"Susan." Neela stated in a different tone, causing Susan to turn and face her.
"This isn't your fault." Susan was amazed at how good she was at reading people.
"I know."
"Susan, this isn't your fault." She continued.
"Not directly." She replied.
"Not in anyway."
Susan remained silent.
"You know she's going to make it." Neela added.
"None of us know that."
"Yes we do."
With no response Neela sat back down. "Anyway, if you want to talk about…any of it."
"Talk about what?" Susan replied strongly. "The fact that my best friend is in surgery because my sister shot her because she's a drug addict and I took her daughter away?"
"Because you loved your niece enough to save her life, because you've tried to help your sister until you couldn't anymore, because you and Abby are more like sisters and would do whatever the other needed?" Neela countered, saying the other part of the story that Susan was neglecting.
Susan once again didn't respond. "Abby is going to get through this, you and your family are going to get through this, we're all going to make sure that we do."
"Yeah." Susan replied, still thinking.
"We got you some scrubs to change into." Neela said as she pointed to the chair next to Susan.
Picking them up Susan stood. "Any news?"
"No."
Susan didn't respond. Instead, she silently headed towards the bathroom.
Looking in the mirror Susan couldn't help but see the evenings events written on her face, the puffy eyes, the messy makeup, and pulled back hair. She sighed as she thought about Abby lying on the table. Battling a fight that was meant for her.
"I think I'm going to have the turkey club." Abby told the waitress.
"I'll take the California burger."
"I'll bring your order right out."
"Thank you." Susan stated as she smiled at the young waitress.
"I didn't think we were going to get it done." Abby joked.
"Me either." Susan confessed.
"How is she?"
"Doing better, the nightmares have stopped. Chloe stopped calling."
"It's got to be hard." Abby added.
"Susie understands, as much as she can."
"She knows you and Chuck love her."
"She knows Abby will take her out and let her have as much sugar as she likes." Susan stated.
"Come on, I'm the fun one." Abby defended.
" You do know that makes me the mean one."
"You're the parent, you're suppose to be mean." Abby said in a witty tone.
"Sure." Susan rebutted as she sipped her ice tea.
"Since you're not going to ask…I guess I'll have to bring it up."
"What?"
"My date."
"That's right, with…what's his name?"
"Keith."
"So how was it?"
"You could have told me he was a dork."
"I don't know him."
"It was horrible, a disaster from beginning to end. And then he asked for my number."
"What did you do?" Susan asked curiously.
"I lied, and a very bad lie at that. I can't believe I'm that bad at thinking on my feet."
"You're an ER doctor, it doesn't get more quick on your feet."
"Totally different." Abby defended.
Neela knocked on the door "Susan."
"I'm almost done, I'll be right out." Susan replied as she stopped leaning on the counter and began to undress.
"Dr. Corday is waiting for you. She's out of surgery."