They stood there, next to admin staring at each other, just waiting for someone to speak.
"Where is Ashley, I know she stayed with you last night", she asked in a calmer state but with a distinct quiver in her voice. Abby shrugged her shoulders slightly she didn't know if Ashley was still at her home. Ashley's mum was dressed in a business suit with a name tag printed across her chest; it read Gillian McNeil in big bold letters. Abby shuddered off a feeling of déjà vu, when Joyce, her neighbour, who was a victim of an abusive marriage had taking refuge in Abby's apartment Brian had come into her work demanding where his wife was. "Always me", Abby thought glumly to herself.
"Gillian, is it? I'm sorry I don't want to interfere with you and your daughter's situation but she came to me last night in a bit of a state and…"
"Oh last night", Gillian almost spat out the words, "She got in a huff because I brought back a man and she started acting like a little brat yelling at me and embarrassing me in front of him".
"So you hit her?" Abby questioned angrily.
Gillian paused and collected herself, "Listen last night shouldn't have happened I'm very sorry about what I did and that's why I want to know where she is so I can apologise and take her home."
"What meds are you taking right now, Prozac?"
"No", Gillian hissed out the word, "My doctor advised me not to take Prozac, but I've calmed down I'm not nearly as bad as I used to be".
"Did Ashley give you the prescription?"
"She did but I'm not taking anything at the moment because I can't work properly, I can't concentrate when I'm on meds."
"You need to stay medicated."
Gillian's eyes flared up at her and Abby suddenly realised that a couple of the nurses were watching their little scene.
"Why don't you go home and I'll come round with her when my shift ends, if she's still at my apartment".
Gillian shook her head, "No you phone her now and tell her that I'm picking her up, what's your apartment number?"
"Go home", Abby said sternly, she wasn't about to give in.
"Hey Abby trauma rolling in I need you and Lewis to take it", for the first time Abby thanked Weaver for demanding her to take a trauma. Abby, relieved, turned away, but to her surprise Gillian grabbed her arm and viciously dug her nails into Abby's skin, "Do not get involved in this you little bitch", she hissed into Abby's ear. Abby yelped out in pain and tried to grab her arm away from the woman's clutch. Gillian shoved Abby away from her and stormed out of the hospital. Abby watched in amaze and cradled her arm as it had started to bleed from the indent of nails.
"Hey Abby come on", Abby turned to see Lewis beckoning at her to help bring in gurneys from the ambulances parked outside.
"I'm coming", Abby groaned.
Abby unlocked her door and entered a dark living room which was lighted slightly by the flickering shadows created by the TV. Ashley was curled up on her settee fast asleep. Abby sighed and pondered on what she should do. After today's incident she felt obliged to take Ashley home back to her mother as she had no business keeping her in her apartment. However what today showed Abby was a different side of the disease, Maggie had never intentionally been that cruel towards Abby or Eric, there had been times where she was violent but Abby knew that she still loved them, however she got the impression that Mrs McNeil felt differently towards Ashley. Abby crashed out on the settee beside Ashley and grabbed the channel changer, flicking absently through the channels, Ashley stirred and opened her eyes.
"Hi", she whispered hoarsely.
"Hi, how are you feeling?"
"Tired, how was your day?"
"I had a visit from your mother"
Ashley groaned and sat up, bringing her knees to her chest she put her head down and avoided eye contact with Abby.
"I'm sorry, she phoned one of my friends at school who knew I was here and demanded to know where I was". The sentence was muffled and Abby sensed she was about to cry again.
"Ashley you need to go home".
"I'm sorry I know I've outstayed my welcome but I'd rather not go home"
"Just go up and speak to her, she knows you're in the building so she'll find you sooner or later"
Ashley stood up slowly, her eye was still puffy and bruised and tears began to roll down her face.
"Will you come with me?"
"I'll come up with you but I'm not coming in or anything I think you need to hear what she says by yourself." Ashley felt torn, she didn't want to leave Abby as she preferred staying here than her own house but she also felt intrusive as she had only known her for a week. Abby stood up and put her arm around Ashley bringing her small body closer to her in an affectionate squeeze. Ashley responded by bursting into tears.
"Hey come on its not that bad!"
"It is that bad!" Ashley gulped between tears, "It's so unfair I wish I had a proper family all I have is her and she isn't even a mother to me! My friends have these fun loving parents and at Christmas time they do all these family things like having Christmas dinner together with relatives over and I wish I had that."
Abby thought for a minute, "One Christmas my mum took off for the day and left me and my little brother alone in the house, I think I was eleven or something and Eric, my brother, still believed in Santa Claus. So I told him that because we had moved house Maggie left us to find Santa and tell him our new address so he wouldn't get lost when delivering the presents." Despite the situation, and even though Abby had a young girl crying on her shoulder Abby burst into a fit of giggles at the scenario. Ashley sniffed and looked surprised at Abby's hysterics.
"I'm sorry, I just remembered that story I shouldn't even be laughing".
"When I was eight, my mum was so off her meds she dressed up as Santa Claus and tried to get up on the roof. However half way up the drain pipe she fell and broke her leg". Ashley sniffed back her tears and giggled.
"She broke her leg! Oh god."
"It could have been worse but the fat suit broke her fall". Abby couldn't control it any longer she burst out laughing and almost doubled over at the thought. Ashley joined in and there they stood uncontrollably laughing in the living-room. After they'd calmed down Abby walked in the direction of the door and beckoned Ashley to follow her.
"Come on it'll be fine".
Ashley reluctantly followed her and they walked up a flight of stairs and along the corridor until reaching Ashley's door.
"I wonder what state she'll be in"
"You're going to have to persuade her to get some more medication to control this, she appeared to be manic at the hospital."
"When isn't she manic" Ashley muttered sarcastically.
The door flew open startling them both, a middle-aged man stood in the doorway with one arm lent against the wall. His eyes wondered over Abby and she felt uncomfortable from his stare. "Hey Gill", he hollered into the apartment. A strong smell of alcohol emerged from his lips and Abby groaned quietly to herself she did not want Ashley to go in if they were both drunk. Gill staggered towards both of them and grabbed Ashley pulling her inwards. Before Abby had a chance to say anything the door was slammed shut in her face.