"I'm taking my break Susan!" Abby yells as she walks into of the lounge.
"I'm going with you," Susan calls back, "Frank, I'm going on break, I'll be back in fifteen." Susan joins Abby in the lounge. "So," she says pouring two cups of coffee, "Seeing as you won't be in the ER on New Years Eve, what do you have planned?"
"Susan, I work until eleven on New Years," Abby says, "And Ray and I are going to hang out and watch some movies."
"I knew it!" Susan exclaims, handing the cup of coffee to Abby, "There is something going on between the two of you."
"Susan you have gone mad," Abby says taking a sip of her coffee, "Ray has a girlfriend."
Susan shakes her head. "Rumor has it they broke up. You know, can't handle the whole long distance thing."
"I thought you didn't listen to all the rumors that circulate, Susan."
"Oh I listen to them, I just choose not to believe the majority of them." Susan replies.
"Well don't tell me that you believe the one about Ray," Abby says.
"Sorry to disappoint you Abby, it's kind of hard not to believe it when Ray was the one who told me about it." There's a bit of silence between the two. "I did hear something else this morning that I really don't know if I should believe or not."
"What?" Abby asks.
"Well someone told me that she saw you and Ray leave your apartment together this morning."
"Susan!" Abby exclaims, "All we did was watch movies and then he slept on my couch. It was a completely innocent evening." She sighs loudly and puts her head in her hands.
"Abby, he's cute, and young, and-,"
"And I'm old!" Abby interjects.
"You are not," Susan says, "Come on Abby, he obviously wants you. I think this is something you should pursue."
"Susan, the man is obsessed with Johnny Depp! I don't want to interfere with that."
"Abby, tell me something," Susan says, "How do you feel when Ray is around you?"
"Well I feel happy," Abby smiles, "Like at the Christmas party, I had a lot of fun because of him. He knows how to cheer me up."
Susan smiles at her. "I think you want him," she says, " Maybe you just don't realize it yet." Abby shrugs at Susan's comment. "Well maybe you'll figure it out on New Years Eve," Susan offers. She looks at her watch. "Are you ready to go back?"
"Susan, am I ever ready to go back?" Abby asks. They laugh as they leave the lounge.
By the end of her shift, Abby is completely worn out and has practically passed out on the couch next to Susan.
" What time are you on 'til?" Abby asks.
"Two," Susan answers rubbing her eyes.
"I'm glad I'm not you, a fourteen hour shift is good enough for me," Abby says.
"Well I do get to have a few days off for working all of these odd hours," Susan says, "Lucky me." They laugh together.
"I just want to go home, take a shower and crawl into my nice warm bed," Abby says stretching her arms over her head.
"You know Abby, you really need to start dating again. You have no life right now. Who was the last guy you were with?" Abby just looks at Susan. "Oh, that's right," Susan says. There's a long, uncomfortable silence between them. "You know it really wouldn't hurt to give Ray a try."
"Susan, I've heard enough of this. I really just need to go home right now and relax," Abby says as she stands up and goes to her locker. Ray enters the lounge.
"Hello ladies," he says.
"Hi Ray," they both reply.
Ray takes Abby's coat from her and helps her put it on. "Thanks Ray," she says. Ray gives her a sweet smile.
"So, are you up to hanging out again tonight?" he asks. Abby thinks for a moment and then nods. "Well then, shall we go?" Abby nods again and looks over at Susan who has a huge grin on her face.
"Have fun you two," she says as they walk out the door.
"So do you want to go to your place or mine?" Ray asks as they leave the ER.
"It doesn't matter to me," Abby smiles.
"Well then, I'll take you to my place," Ray says, "All of my movies are there anyway." Abby laughs.
"Well here we are," Ray says when they finally reach the apartment building. They walk to his apartment and go inside. Abby looks around as she steps in.
"Wow, this is a lot nicer than I expected."
"What did you expect? Pizza boxes piled to the ceiling and dirty laundry everywhere?"
"Well, yeah basically," Abby answers taking her coat off. Ray laughs.
"So what do you want to?" Ray asks. Abby shrugs and collapses on the couch.
"I don't know, do you have anything in mind?" she glances over at Ray. He smirks at her and raises his eyebrows. "Not that Ray!" Abby laughs.
"Well, I have board games," Ray says.
Four hours, five games of Trouble, five rounds of Chutes and Ladder, and three games of Candyland later, Ray and Abby are sitting around the Life game board.
"Holy crap Ray," Abby says, "You're going to need a second car for all those kids."
"How is it that I have managed to land on every baby space on this board so far?" Ray asks. Abby shrugs and laughs. "This game is rigged."
Abby stretches her arms over her head and lies down on the floor.
"Getting tired?" Ray asks. Abby nods. "Well I can wake you up." He crawls over next to her and starts tickling her sides.
"Ray stop it!" Abby screams as she squirms, "I mean it. If you don't stop I'll-,"
Ray rolls over and pulls Abby on top of him; their faces are inches away.
"Umm Ray, I think I'm going to get going; it's getting late." Abby stands up and straightens her shirt. She quickly walks to the door and steps outside.
"Abby wait," Ray says, "I'm not sorry for what happened in there."
"Me either," Abby says with a smile as she turns and walks away. Ray stares as her figure grows smaller and smaller. A smile creeps on his face.