Chapter 10 -Skin II

Abby strode along the corridor muttering to herself with her head looking down at the clipboard. She is unaware that Jake is standing at the other end the near the nurses station, finishing his conversation with the new chief resident Archie Morris and notices Abby heading towards the area.

"See you Morris," Jake said, swinging his rucksack onto his shoulders then starts walking towards her and he stepped aside purposely barging into Abby, almost knocking her off her feet.

"Ugh!" Abby yelped, winded by the impact. The clipboard in her hand goes flying up in the air and clattered when it hits the ground. "Jesus! Watch it!" The startled brunette winced when she rubbed her rib where he had hit her. She was shocked realising who had bumped into her "Oh…? Hi… I didn't realise that you were still here?"

Jake doesn't reply, looking up and down Abby, giving her a cold, disapproving look and walked away forcefully nudging his shoulder against hers.

"Uh" Abby moaned, closing her eyes and clenched her teeth when her small frame stumbled off balance again.

"Jake? Jake! What's wrong?"

He continues to walk, ignoring her. She is standing there with her mouth slightly opened, narrowing her eyes, stunned at his behaviour. She shook her head thinking 'Jeez… what's the hell up with him?'

Abby squatted down to pick up the paper work scattered around on the floor.

"Let me help you with this" Neela said, bending over beside her "What was that about?"

"God knows Neela, sometimes I can't work men out"

"Hmm" Neela nodded and gave her a sympathetic smile. "Abby"

"Yup" Abby turning her head looking at the young doctor.

"Are you doing anything after work?"

"Yes I am… I'm meeting Susan at Ike's"

"Oh…ok" Neela nodded, gave a disappointed look.

Abby carried on picking up the paper and cocked her head to look at Neela

"Are things still that bad at Ray's?"

Neela nodded again

"Hey… why don't you join us? I'm sure Susan wouldn't mind"

"Really? Are you sure?" Her face brightened up.

Abby nodded

"Great, I'll be there"

"You look like you're desperate to get away from the place!"

The two interns got up and headed to the admit desk. Susan, Kovac and Sam standing about discussing about a patient. Morris still gloating about his promotion to Pratt, who is shaking his head in disbelief and Jerry is frantically trying to answer all the phones.

"Jerry where's Frank?" Susan asked in a whiny voice.

"Code Brown Dr Lewis"

"What?" She replied giving a sour expression. Susan shook her head and walked over to the board checking the admissions. Susan glanced at Abby, who is waving the clipboard and placed it in the drugs tray. Susan walked over to the two interns, carrying a big wad of files under her arm and handed over them one each.

"Abby, there's a patient needs suturing in Treatment Room 3, bring Jane along with you and Neela, patient in curtain 4 – Hypertension"

Abby walked into the treatment room and froze on the spot after recognizing the patient. Jane bumped into her from behind.

It is CJ, the teenage boy involved in her abduction, which took place a month ago. He was laid on the gurney with laceration on his cheek. He looked on in her direction.

"How ya doin' bitch?"

Abby stood by his side, snapping on the surgical gloves and leaned over to examine the wound ignoring his greeting.

"How this happen?"

"Some sucker slashed my fuckin' face, ma'am" C.J. replied, "You don't remember me do ya?"

Abby paused and pulled herself away from the gurney and turned to Jane.

"Can you get me the suturing kit please?"

"Sure Dr Lockhart" the medical student replied. She walked out of the room.

Abby again turned to the boy and placed both hands on her hip looking assertive.

"How can I ever forget you?" She snapped, frowning and pouting her lips "You and your so called buddy put me through hell that night!"

"What ya expect bitch, you couldn't save my bro!"

"Your brother may still be alive now if you guys weren't so fucking proud to bring him in!" Abby protested.

The teen snapped, "Fuck you bitch!"

Abby flinched and shuts her eyes tight; C.J.'s voice gave her a flashback of that night.

Flashback: Abby in the back of the SUV, in her scrubs, covered in blood… A young man with gunshot wounds bleeding to death, lying in front of her… She is exhausted, performing CPR for over an hour, trying her best to revive him… She fears they will kill her if he dies… C.J. waving his gun at her…He yells at her "He ain't dying bitch!" Abby frantically giving chest reps…

Jane walked back in to the room with the suturing kit and arched her brows at C.J.'s attitude towards her supervisor.

"Here you are Dr Lockhart…"

Abby doesn't hear her.

"Dr Lockhart? Hello?"

Jane puts her hand on her shoulder to get her attention. Abby jumped out of her seat, as she is woken from the flashback.

"Oh yes…" Shaking her head and took in a deep breath, blew it out from her mouth. "Thank you"

"Oh damn, I've forgotten the local anaesthetic!" Jane slapped her forehead.

"It's ok Jane, I don't need it" Abby whispered, giving an evil smile. She knows its time to get even with C.J., by stitching his face without numbing the wounded area!

"Eh? What she say?" C.J. asked, leaning forward screwing up this face.

"Nothing C.J… I'm going to do some stitches on your face and you're a tough little guy, so you should stand a little pain…"

Abby leaned over to the patient again and started suturing the wound. The boy gritted his teeth trying to withhold the pain when she pierced his skin with the thread.

"Ow! You're hurting me bitch, you're hurting me!"