Abby walked up to the desk and set her chart down. Looking up at the clock, she smiled
'One more hour and I'm off. I have so much to do before Ray picks me up tonight.'
"ABBY!"
She turned to see Susan running down the hall, holding a gown while trying to pull one on. As she passed by Abby, she threw her the gown and ran towards the door. Abby grabbed the gown and started to pull it on while chasing after Susan. They ran out the door and into the ambulance bay.
"What's going on?" she asked Susan
"Multiple car pile up." She said, "We're getting 15, maybe more."
'So much for getting out of here in an hour.'
The next few hours were a blur for Abby. She ran back and forth from so many different rooms that she lost count. In total, they ended up with 20 patients, not including the ones sent up to the surgical floor. Finally when Abby saw a break, she made her way to the doctors' lounge and got her cell phone from her locker. Dialing his number, she waited until he picked up.
"Abby what's going in." he said, "I've been calling your place for over two hours."
"I'm still at the hospital." She said, "There was a bad car accident on the freeway and I ended up staying so…"
"You're going to cancel tonight."
"I'm sorry." She said, "All I want to do is go home, take a warm bath and crawl into bed."
"All right." He said, "Do you know when you're getting off?"
"Well its slowed down." She said, "So I'm gonna see if Susan will let me go."
"Call me later if you change your mind."
"Okay."
She closed her phone and walked out of the lounge. Susan was standing at the admitting desk. She looked up as Abby approached the desk.
"Abby thanks for staying." She said, "Its pretty slow now so why don't you take off."
"Thanks."
Abby walked back to the lounge. Opening her locker again, she hung up her lab coat and grabbed her bag. Slinging it over her shoulder, she shut her locker and walked out of the lounge. Waving to Susan and Jerry, she walked out of the hospital and towards the EL Train platform. While she waited for the train, she pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and dialed his number again. His machine picked up so she waited until the message finished and she said
"Hey its me. I'm just leaving the hospital. Call me later and we can reschedule dinner."
She saw the train coming down the track so she closed the phone and slipped it back in her pocket.
15 minutes later, she walked into her building. Pulling out her keys, she unlocked her door and stepped inside. She dropped her bag on the floor and walked over to the couch. Sitting down, she leaned her head back against the couch and closed her eyes. She just started to relax when there was a knock on the door.
"Not possible" she groaned.
Pushing herself up, she dragged herself over to the door. When she looked through the peephole, a smile crossed her face. Reaching for the lock, she turned it and pulled the door open. There stood Ray, holding a brown grocery bag. Abby opened the door a little wider, allowing him to come inside.
"What are you doing here." She said
"I know you said you were tired but you have to eat." He said
"You didn't have to."
"I wanted to." He said, "Now if I remember correctly, you said something about wanting to take a bath."
"I was but it can wait."
"Why don't you do that." He said, "I'll have everything ready when you get back."
"Thanks Ray." She said, turning and headed for her bedroom.
Abby walked into her bedroom and closed the door. Pulling off her clothes, she grabbed her robe from the bed and wrapped it around herself. Walking over to the dresser, she pulled out a pair of pajama pants and a tank top. Opening her bedroom door, she walked down the hall and into the bathroom.
She walked over to the tub and turned on the water. Holding her hand under water, she waited until it was the right temperature and the she put the plug in the drain. Grabbing her favorite bath oil from the shelf, she poured some in the water and waited.
When the water was the right level, she turned off the water and slipped off her robe. Stepping into the water, she slowly sank down into the warm, scented water. Leaning her head back, she felt her eyes close as the warm water relaxed her.
"Abby?" a voice called, followed by a knock.
Abby's eyes opened slowly. Sitting up slowly, she said
"Yeah Ray."
"Are you all right?" he asked, "You've been in there a while."
"I'm fine." She said, "I'll be right out."
"Okay."
She stood up, grabbed a towel from the rack. Wrapping it around herself, she stepped out of the tub. After drying off, she slipped on her tank top and pajama pants. She pulled her hair into a ponytail and made her way out of the bathroom.
She walked down the hall and towards the living room. As she stepped into the room, her eyes widened. The lights were dimmed; there were 2 lit candles on the table and a vase with a single red rose. A moment later, Ray walked out of the kitchen holding two bottles of water.
"You ready."
Abby nodded and made her way to the couch and sat down. Ray set the bottles of water on the table and turned back to the kitchen. A few minutes later, he came back with two bowls. He handed one to her and set the other on the table. Abby looked in the bowl.
"What is this?"
"Pasta with tomato and basil." He said, "My mom used to make it all the time."
Abby scooped a little up with the fork and took a bite. After she swallowed it, she said
"Its very good."
"Thank you." He said, picking up his bowl.
They ate in silence. When they finished, Ray took their bowls into the kitchen. A moment later, Abby heard water running in the kitchen.
"I can do those later."
He emerged a few minutes later.
"All done."
"What about the pots."
He walked back over to the couch and sat down.
"Did them already." He said, then turned to her, "So are you ready for your next surprise?"
"There's more."
"Yes." He said, "But I need you to come with me."
He stood up and held out his hand to her. Abby slipped her hand in his.
"Which way to your the bedroom." He asked
Abby looked at him.
"Trust me."
Abby let him down the hall to the bedroom. He opened the door and said
"Go lie down on your stomach."
Abby started to say something but he placed a finger against her lips.
"Trust me."
Abby walked into the bedroom and climbed on the bed, lying on her stomach. A few minutes later, Ray walked in holding a bottle in his hand. He took a seat beside her on the bed.
"Have you ever had a massage before?" he asked.
She shook her head. A moment later, she could smell the faint aroma of roses. Looking over her shoulder, she watched as he poured a small amount of oil into his hands and rubbed them together.
Slowly he began to work the oil into her skin with long, smooth strokes. His touch was firm and assured but at the same time, incredibly gentle. Slowly he lowered the straps on her tank top and went to work on her shoulders.
"How ya feeling'?" Ray asked after several minutes of silence.
Abby let out a sound halfway between a purr and a moan.
"That's good; shows that you really are letting yourself relax."
He moved down towards her back. Slowly he lifted her tank top up and over her head. He slid down the bed as his hands went to work on her back. His touch soon became featherlight, just the tips of his fingers on her back, until her breathing evened out. Moving up, he saw that her eyes were closed. Carefully he got up, so not to disturb her. Picking up a blanket from the floor, he draped it lightly over her. Leaning down, he kissed her forehead.
"Good night Abby." He whispered
Turning, he slowly walked out of the room and into the living room. Looking at the clock, he saw that it was a little after midnight.
'I could leave now and take 40 minutes to get home or…'
Grabbing a blanket from the back of the couch, he sat down, then slowly stretched out on the couch. Covering himself with the blanket, he closed his eyes and soon fell asleep.