A/N: I got no reviews on my last chapter but I've decided to post this chapter anyway. This is the last one I've written so far and I really like this one. Please let me know if you do too. If nobody likes this story anymore I won't bother continuing… so, review, and let me know what you all think…

Helping out

Chapter 4

We're sitting in the car back to Chicago now and it's actually a quite peaceful ride. I'm behind the wheel, Abby is sitting next to me, either listening to the lines of the song intensely or very deep in thoughts, and Maggie is sitting in the backseat, silently humming along with the music. I'm almost beginning to find it sad that in 8 hours or so, this trip will be over. Once we're back in Chicago again, I won't see Abby outside of work - except maybe for our regular coffee and pie's after a meeting, but not like this. In Chicago, we'll just be friends, when here, I had the feeling we were almost something more. I know now that I definitely feel more for her than just friendship, and if she weren't with Luka, I would've sworn she felt the same. Well, maybe not the same, because I care so very much for her that I can't get my head around it, let alone that she can, but I think we do have that chemistry. I think we always did, but this trip made it obvious, I think for the both of us. Although, if Abby's feeling what I'm feeling, she's probably in denial. She's been very grateful towards me this whole trip. She's said that a couple of times and I can tell she really means it, but there was something else. On the balcony. There was definitely this tension between us, but I can't really describe it. It wasn't a sexual tension, but it wasn't a purely friendly tension either. I was looking at her then, when she was staring at the stars, and I couldn't take my eyes off of her. She looked so beautiful, and with the moon shining on her hair, she looked like an angel. I wanted to reassure her that everything was going to be okay. I wanted to hug her and keep her safe, but I knew that I couldn't. I probably would've shocked her and she would've pushed me away. So I've decided to let her relax a little - without any side meanings, just let her relax. I wanted it to be about her, not about me. So we sat down in that chair and when I noticed she started to fall asleep, I couldn't maintain myself anymore and I pulled her to me, just to make sure she was comfortable. I think she really needed it at that moment. But it felt so good that we both fell asleep, and later when I woke up – well, I've been there with my thinking already, a few times actually. Well, to be honest, all the time. That night had been on my mind ever since I'd put Abby to bed and went to bed myself. I even had a dream about it last night, and it was so great. I felt so happy. It's hard to imagine that that night was only last night. It feels like so much has happened since then. Maybe it's because I've lived that night a million times, just like now, or maybe it's because I now know what I want; I want her.

I'm pulled from my thoughts when I hear a cell phone ringing. It's Abby's and she answers it. I can only hear her side of the conversation, and it doesn't sound happy. I can see Maggie in my back-mirror looking concerned at Abby too.

'I'll call you right back, I can't hear you too well over the noise from the car. Yes, I promise, bye!' I hear Abby say angrily, and then she flips her phone shut.

'John, can we pull over somewhere. I have to call Luka back' she asks me. She doesn't look happy at all, more like agitated.

'Yeah sure. There's a rest stop about 2 miles away' I say. She looks at me thankfully and then starts looking out of the window. She looks really sad. I don't know what Luka has said to her, but I feel really bad for her. I put my hand on her upper leg and give it a light squeeze, silently telling her that it'll be okay. She turns her head to me and gives me the best smile she can muster and then looks out the window again. Two minutes later we reach our stop and I park the car. We all sit still for a moment. Abby then looks at me and Maggie with an apologetic look.

'I'm sorry I have to call Luka back, I won't be long, I promise'

She gets out of the car and walks away 'till she's out of earshot. Maggie and I look at each other. I don't really know what to say, but apparently Maggie does.

'I don't like that Luka' she says and she sighs, 'he really isn't good for Abby'

I look at her, stunned. I never thought Maggie would say something like that. All the times I've spoken to her when she was normal, as in not-bipolar, I've always found her the person who's looking for the best in people.

'Do you like him?' She than asks me.

I don't really know what to say. Well, just be honest I guess. I think for a minute on how to put it. 'Well, he's a good doctor and he's my college, but he's not really my friend. We have a different way of… handling things'

'What kind of things?'

'Ehh… persons I guess. I'm more of a listener, and he's more of a just-do-don't-think kind of guy' Maggie looks at me weird and really not understanding what I'm saying, so I try to explain. 'When someone comes to me with a problem, I believe that it helps if they talk about it and then find out on their own what they want, but Luka tries to solve it for them, even if no one asks him to and that collides with peoples feelings sometimes. Most people want to solve their own problems, and not depend on others to do it for them. It makes them feel weak'

She looks at me like she understands me now. Then suddenly there's a question I wasn't expecting… at all.

'You're talking about Abby, aren't you? The people you're talking about… you mean Abby right?'

I don't know where to look. Now that I think about it, I was in fact talking about Abby. I look at Maggie, who's smiling at me. I don't know what to say. I open my mouth to say something, but she beats me to it.

'I know, John. I know how much you care about my daughter and I'm really glad you do. I think you're a wonderful friend to her and she needs that. She's never had a mother she could depend on, and I know that she seems strong, but I also know that that is just an act. She's a strong person, but she needs to be loved and cared for also, even if she says that that's not true. I don't think Luka is the right person for her to be with. I'm sure he's a good doctor and a good person at heart, but he's not the right guy for her… I think you are…'

She adds that last part under her breath, but I heard it nonetheless and she knows it. I look at her as if she's kidding, but she just gives me a reassuring smile. Once again, I don't know what to say.

'It's okay' Maggie says as she sees me looking helpless, 'you don't have to say anything. Just think about it. I see the way you look at her when she isn't looking; it's the same way she looks at you when you aren't watching'

I have the feeling there's more she's wanted to say, but out of the corner of my eye I see Abby walking towards us, so we leave it at that. Maggie smiles at me one more time and then I turn around in my seat so I'm sitting in the right direction again. Well, she really has given me something to think about. I hope that Abby isn't going to ask what we'd talked about while she was away, because I don't know what I'd say. I hear the door open and Abby gets into the seat next to me. I look at her and I'm about to ask what Luka had to say, when I see that she's been crying. Her eyes are slightly swollen and still a little red. I think Maggie saw it too, but she doesn't say anything. I think she knows that she probably isn't the person Abby wants to talk to right now. I look at Abby again, she's just staring straight forward.

'Abby, are you okay? Should we go outside for a second?' I ask her as gently as possible.

'No thanks, just drive' she says without any emotion. I look at her for a second longer and then start the car. It's now really silent and no one is saying anything, so I turn up the music a little louder. Maybe that'll take some of the tension that is now in the car away and make Abby more comfortable. It seems like it works. Maggie once again starts humming along with the music and I look at Abby one last time, put my hand on her leg again but leave it there. She looks at me and I can see tears forming in her eyes again. I squeeze her leg and give her a reassuring smile that we'll talk later. She nods that she understands and so we keep driving, Chicago still 6 hours away…

A/N: Continue or not? Let me know!!