Chapter 33 – Road Trip Part I

Disclaimer: Lyrics "If it Makes You Happy" – Sheryl Crow, "The Way I Am" – Eminem & "Here with Me"- Dido

The sun shone through the clear February morning sky, the air is fresh. The Jeep is pacing along the deserted road in the middle of nowhere. Abby laughed out loud, she just had wild thought. Susan looked at her, wondering what she was laughing about. The brunette presses the electric window buttons on her armrest, on the door panel. She wound down all the windows to let the outside breeze circulate inside the vehicle. Both females hair are blowing and flapping all over the place. Susan started to shudder and puffed out her cheeks to fight the coolness. Abby leaned over to place a compilation CD into the player on the dash and turns the volume up full.

The blonde jumped out of her seat when heavy guitar riffs started blaring out of the speakers. Abby started to nod her head, with her lips pouted and banging her hand on the steering with the rhythm.

Well, o.k. I made this up
I promised you I'd never give up

If it makes you happy
It can't be that bad
If it makes you happy
Then why the hell are you so sad

Abby leaned over again to turn the volume down to low and presses the door button to wind up all the windows.

Well, o.k. I still get stoned
I'm not the kind of girl you'd take home

"Thank god for that" Susan praised rubbing her temples. "You crazy girl!"

"You don't like that one?" Abby laughed out loud.

"Yes I like the record, it's just the volume is a bit on the loud side"

If it makes you happy
It can't be that bad
If it makes you happy
Then why the hell are you so sad

"Oh Susie since when you've turned into a goody goody in your old age?"

"I haven't!" Susan shakes her head defensively

"Whatever Saint Matron…" Abby said looking down at the dashboard to check the speed she is driving at and how many miles she has driven.

Susan scoffed at her friend's name-calling and sits back sulking, with her arms folded.

"Ok this is the plan, I'll drive the first 150 miles, then we stop for a pee break and you do the next 150" said Abby stating the routine of the driving matters.

"Ok" Susan winced rubbing her ears; they are ringing from the blaring music.

"Then I'll do the last 100 miles"

"Ok… Can we include breakfast with the pee break?" Susan asked

"Huh? You haven't eaten?"

"No, I didn't have time juggling about getting myself and Cosmo ready"

"Well can you wait…" Abby leaned forward to look at the odometer on the dashboard to see how many miles she had already done, she had reset it to zero when they left Chuck's place. "120 miles?"

"No" Susan answered in a low tone.

"That's no problem, there's a drive thru about 30 miles down this road" Then Abby chuckled at herself and confessed, "I have a craving…"

"Really? What?" Susan replied in amusement; she folded her arms again and cocked her head, as she is intrigued to hear what Abby's craving is.

"Hash Browns" Abby said then she laughed out loud "with chocolate sauce!"

"Eww Abby, that's gross!" Susan laughed pulling her face in disgust. "Mind you I have no room to talk, mine was banana dipped in teriyaki sauce"

"Bluurrrgh!" Abby pulled out her tongue, pretending to throw up.

They both shake their heads chuckling to each other then they sat in silence listening to the music.

And I am, whatever you say I am
If I wasn't, then why would I say I am?
In the paper, the news everyday I am
Radio won't even play my jam
Cause I am, whatever you say I am

"I don't like this one" Susan grumbled, opinionating at the rap music and leaned over to skip on to the next track. She nodded gently "This one's nice"

"Susan I was listening to that!" Abby protested.

"Tough" She answered assertively.

I didn't hear you leave
I wonder how am I still here
And I don't want to move a thing
It might change my memory

Oh I am what I am
I'll do what I want
But I can't hide
I won't go
I won't sleep
I can't breathe
Until you're resting here with me

"Where exactly are we staying in Minneapolis?" Susan asked, trying to make conversation to break the silence between them even though the music is playing.

I won't leave
I can't hide
I cannot be
Until you're resting here with me

"Near St Paul's, where I grew up"

"Ok" She nodded "And maybe we should hit the bars tonight"

"Yeah good idea, I'll take you to my hang out bars" Abby suggested "That's if they are still there?"

I don't want to call my friends
They might wake me from this dream
And I can't leave this bed
Risk forgetting all that's been

Abby's cell phone shrilled the ring tone. She looked down to get hold of it from the phone holder on the dash. She flipped the phone open and looked at the screen to see who is calling 'Neela'

"Hello?" Abby answered, she winced trying to hear what Neela is saying, resting the phone between her ear and shoulder to reach the CD player button, to turn the volume down "Can you slow down, I can't understand a word you are saying, are you ok?"

"No… I am not… ok," Neela said, stuttering in a distraught broken voice.

"What's wrong?" Abby asked being concerned about the tone of her voice.

"I'm sorry to ring you on your trip, I needed someone to talk to"

"No worries, what's bothering you?"

Susan leaned forward to wave to get her attention. Abby double looked at the distraction her friend is giving her. Susan mouths, "Who's that?"

"Neela…"Abby mouthed, "She's upset"

"Pratt have just given me a right rollicking for something that he made in error" Neela broke down in tears "and he's giving me the blame for his actions!"

The blonde tapped on Abby's shoulder again and asked. "Why she upset? Is she at work?"

Abby flinched as she is getting agitated trying to listen to a distraught Neela with Susan interrupting tapping on her shoulder and driving.

"Will you stop that?" She snaps at Susan who is again tapping away, jumps in surprise at her friend's abrupt reaction. "Neela, you cannot let him do that to you, you need to report it"

Susan sat back frowning at the brunette trying to work out the conversation, she can guess it's work related. She started to feel frustrated and curious about that she is suspecting that an incident has happened and she's outside of the loop which she needs to be aware what's going on, her role as the Chief of ER.

"I don't know why I'm giving you advice where I have our boss sitting to here eavesdropping!" Abby said, putting on a forced laugh "Do you want to speak to Susan?"

"Ok, I'm sure she will understand and believe me"

"Yes I can assure you, she will" Abby thrusts her phone at Susan "Neela"

Susan takes the phone and answered. She sat back in her seat listening to Neela telling her side of the story about Pratt's error. Abby listened to their conversation, while watching the road. Abby took a few glances at Susan.

"Hey don't worry, I'll sort this out when I get back on Monday" Susan said, reassuring her colleague "Hey don't let him upset you, ok? You take care bye"

Susan flipped the phone shut and puts it back in the phone holder on the dash.

"Uhhhhhhhhhh" Susan lets out a long groan, sinking back into her seat and muttered. "Why can't I have five frigging minutes peace without ER phoning up with some sort of crisis they can't deal with?"

"Because" Abby smiled wryly "You handle them brilliantly"

Susan rolled her eyes, and sticks her tongue out, blows a raspberry… Leaned over to her friend and asked "Are we nearly there yet?"

They both laugh…