Susan looked at the clock. Five minutes to go, then she was outta here. Well, not quite. She was going to visit Abby upstairs first. She went over to reception, hoping to find some charts to look through to fill the remaining minutes of her shift.

'You're off in a minute aren't you?' Kerry was already at the desk. 'Are you going upstairs?'

'Yes, I thought I'd just go and say hi, see how she is.'

'Give her my best would you?'

'Of course.' Susan smiled. 'Ok, we've got asthma attack and abdominal pain in three and a kid with chicken pox in 1. That's me done for the day.'

'See you tomorrow Susan. Tell Abby we're all thinking of her.' Kerry walked off with an armful of charts.

'Man what a day' Susan said to herself as she walked into the doctor's lounge. As she was taking off her white coat and hanging it up in her locker, Carter walked in.

'Hey Dr. Lewis. Abby's awake now. She's still exhausted though. But she looks a lot better.' Carter looked exhausted himself. 'I talked to her for a little bit…it was weird, I didn't really know what to say to her. I could say more to her while she was asleep…I could say what I really wanted to.'

Susan sighed. 'Yea, I don't know what I'm going to say either. I'm sure she'll get tired of people telling her they're there for her and supporting her.'

'I think she'd probably appreciate knowing that.' Carter sat down in one of the comfy chairs and stretched. 'She needs her friends. And you know Abby…she's not one to come asking for help.'

'Yea…I guess this never would have happened if she was. Do Maggie and Eric know?'

'The nurse couldn't track them down. I said I'd try and do something. I'll go and make some calls later.' Carter closed his eyes, trying to block out the confusing and worrying day.

'Ok. Well…I'm going to go upstairs. I'll see you tomorrow Carter.'

'Abby…are you awake?' Susan quietly entered Abby's ward. Abby opened her eyes slowly.

'Susan…' she smiled, glad to see her friend.

'Hey Abby…how you doing?' Susan sat by her friend's bed.

'Been better I guess…shouldn't have to stay in here too much longer though.' She took a deep breath.

'We've all been so worried about you downstairs…Kerry said to give you her best.'

Abby looked up. 'Kerry said that?'

'Yea…what an honour huh?' Abby smiled a little.

'Susan...I'm so sorry. I've been so selfish.'

'Abby, it's ok. Really. You're ok now, that's what matters.'

'Yea. I feel so…stupid though. So ashamed.'

'What happened Abby? To make you do this?'

'You know, I don't really remember. I think it started when…well, I had a bottle in the house and…I guess my rational thought just went down the drain. I started feeling worse and worse. Then it started again in the morning…I felt so stupid for what I'd done the night before I figured what the hell, if it blocked things out last night…then it just overwhelmed me. Doing what I did seemed like the only option at the time.' Abby put her face in her hands. She felt so stupid.

Susan looked on sympathetically. 'Well now you can start moving in the right direction. No one had a clue things were this bad Abby. You kept it so well hidden.' Abby just looked at the floor. 'You can make things better for yourself now. You've got to have the courage to move on from this. You have a lot of friends downstairs who love you…' Susan saw Abby give her a sceptical look from the corner of her eye. 'Abby, I'm serious. We care about you a lot. When you came in this morning…I couldn't work on you, you know.' Looking her straight in the eye, she continued. 'I couldn't do it. I was too shocked.' Abby's face softened at hearing this. 'Look Abby…Carter, Luka…me…we all care about you and love you. Please, get yourself some help. We'll do all we can to support you, but only you can sort this out.'

'Yea. You're right, of course.'

'Carter is trying to track down Maggie and Eric…'

'No. Absolutely not. I don't want to see them.'

'Abby, are you sure? It might do some good…'

'No. No way. I don't want them seeing me like this.'

'Ok well…they should still know. They need to be told.'

Abby shrugged. 'Whatever, Susan.'

'Abby, ignoring things won't make them go away. Whatever it is that made this happen – and that's your business and no one else's – you have got to get it sorted. Don't give your friends another scare like you did this time. We deserve more than that and so do you.'

Sighing, Susan stood up. 'Abby, I have to go. I really wish I could stay longer but I think the nurses will throw me out if I do…no more visitors tonight.'

Abby looked up at her friend with a small smile of gratitude. 'Thank you, Susan. Thank you for everything you've done for me today.'

'Hey no sweat. It's my job after all. Take care, you hear? I'll come and see you before my shift tomorrow.' She reached down and held her friend in her arms. 'It's going to work Abby. You've just got to be willing to work at it.' Giving her a quick kiss on the forehead, Susan turned and walked back down the corridor.