A/N: Hey peoples! Thanks for all the lovely reviews. I've been really busy so it took me a while and I really need to get to bed (Holland; stupid time difference) but I really wanted to post it, so here is chapter 5. I hope you like it… It may be a while before I upload the next chapter,because I really have a lot to do for school and it's almost Christmas,so; busy busy busy.. but I'll post again as soon as I can.. well anyway, let me know what you think about this chapter...

Helping out

Chapter 5

The rest of the ride was uneventful. Except for stopping for gas we drove all the way without stopping. Maggie and Abby both feel asleep soon after our short stop at the rest stop where Abby had made that phone call with Luka and I had that conversation with Maggie. That conversation has been on my mind ever since, but it's not what had occupied my thoughts the most. It was that call. I still don't know what has been said in that call, but Abby was really upset. We haven't had a chance to talk about it and I don't even know if she wants to talk to me about it, but I really want to know what's been said. I can understand that she didn't want to talk about it in front of Maggie, so when Maggie fell asleep I thought we had a chance to have a conversation, but Abby looked still really sad and tired, and she eventually feel asleep too. I still had my hand on her leg to provide some reassurance and I smiled when in her sleep, she reached for my hand. I hadn't let it go until it was really necessary. It felt good to know that she apparently found some comfort in me and it felt great to have her hand in my hand. They fitted so perfectly, like they were made to be hold by each other. But sadly enough, eventually I had to let go. Now we're about 1 hour away from Chicago and I see Abby stirring. She slowly opens her eyes and looks around, her eyes slowly adjusting to the light. She stretches herself and then looks at me, giving me a smile. It's the first real smile since we've driven away from Oklahoma and I'm glad to know she still can smile. I guess that sleep just now has done her some good.

'Hey' she says, in the cutest sleepy voice.

'Hey,' I say back. 'Sleep well?'

'Yeah, it was great. How long was I out?'

'About 5 hours,' I say, smiling at her surprised face.

'Oh, I'm sorry John. You come all the way with me and then I fall asleep; some company am I. I'm sorry…'

I cut her off.

'Abby, it's okay really. I guess you needed it – like your mom' I add smiling.

Abby looks over her left shoulder and sees Maggie still asleep, curled up on the backseat. She lets out a little laugh and turns back to me. She keeps staring at me, and I'm trying really hard to focus on the road and not to look at her. I can feel her gaze burning on the side of my head. I don't want to look at her because I'm afraid that when I look, I can't keep my eyes of her and that wouldn't be the safest thing to do on the road. I can still feel her staring. I'm not going to look… I'm not going to look…

'John,' she says softly, then pausing, waiting for me to look at her. I guess I have no choice. I take my eyes of the road for a second, looking at her, letting her know that I'm listening. Then I quickly focus on the road again. I can hear her sigh. 'Thanks, for everything, really. And for not asking any questions' she adds quietly.

I now don't even think but just turn my head to look at her. She knows I heard her, so she quickly averts her eyes again, looking anywhere but at me.

'Do you want to talk about it?' I ask her carefully. I can see her swallow and then shake her head no.

'I'm not ready to talk about it yet. I'm sorry John, I really am, but-' and before she can even finish that sentence I hear the tears in her voice before I see them appear on her cheeks. I see a stop half a mile down the road and decide to pull over. As the car stands still now I turn to Abby. The tears are still silently falling, though she's trying her best to hold them in. I lift my thumb to her cheek and wipe them gently away. Now she starts to sob even harder. I get out of the car and walk to her side. I open her door and pull her out of the car and into my arms. I suddenly don't care anymore, about anything. All I want is for her to feel safe and comforted. I sneak my arms around her waist and I'm surprised when she puts her arms through mine, linking them behind my back and leaning her head against my chest. I half expected her to push me away. Apparently she needed this more then I thought. With my hand I draw circles on her back, hoping that that'll calm her down a bit. My shirt is now actually drenched with her tears. Not that I care about that, I have a dozen of these shirts at home, I just want her to cry it all out. I don't know how long we stand here. It must look really weird to all the cars driving by us, but I don't care. I couldn't care less. Eventually I feel Abby calm down and she then lifts her head from my chest, but she keeps her arms encircled around my waist, so I do that too. I look down to find her looking up at me, her chin resting on my chest. We look into each others eyes, hers still wet with tears, mine full of love and concern. She takes a deep breath and then gives me a small smile. Never breaking eye contact she stands on her tiptoes and gives me a small kiss on my cheek. She then lets go of my waist, taking my hand instead… 'Come on, let's go back' and she leads me back to the car. It's good she doesn't look back at me, because I probably have a stupid grin on my face and my hand is on the place where her lips had touched my skin. I can still feel them and it feels great.

Abby gets into the car and I walk around to my side and then get in. I find Abby covering Maggie with the blanket that was apparently on the backseat or something. She then turns around and fastens her seatbelt. I start the car and we drive. Abby turns up the music a little when a song that she likes comes on and she starts to sing along with it. I chuckle to myself. Abby looks at me and gives me a questioning look.

'I wouldn't consider a career change if I were you' I say. She looks at me, faking offended, but I can see her smile.

'Well, lucky for me then that I wasn't planning on leaving the hospital'

'Lucky for me too then, because I couldn't miss you at the hospital' Oops, did I really just say that? I was only supposed to think it. I look quickly at Abby, but it doesn't seem she took it the way I meant it.

'No of course not, I'm the best nurse in the ER' she happily replies.

'Yeah, you are. You are…' I say, still a little thrown of guard by my own statement. I then turn my head back and focus on the road once again, not knowing if I'm happy or disappointed that she didn't catch the true meaning behind my words. Maybe it would be best for the both of us if my feelings were just out in the open, but I don't want to tell her directly how I feel because as far as I know, she's still with Luka, and then I would probably only confuse her, and that's definitely not what she needs right now.

I've been so deep in thoughts that I hadn't even noticed we were already in Chicago and almost at Abby's house. I look at Abby who's staring out of the side window with a smile on her face. Apparently she hasn't noticed it either. I turn the music down and Abby looks at me with a questioning face. Guess she'd been listening to that.

'We're almost there. Maybe you should wake Maggie' I say. She nods and takes the seatbelt off and turns around.

'Mom… mom, we're almost there. You have to wake up…' I hear her say. I hear Maggie murmur something in return but I don't get the idea she's really waking up. Suddenly I have an idea.

'Abby, leave it. I'll carry her upstairs, let her sleep' I say.

'Are you sure? Can you handle that with your back?' Oh, she's concerned about my back, how sweet.

'Yeah, I'm sure. I've carried her before, didn't I? It'll be easier for you and for her too' I reason.

'Okay thanks' Abby says, and she turns back in her seat. I'm very proud of myself; now I get to spent a little bit more time with her. We reach her house and I park the car. She gets out and grabs the bags while I get out and gently lift Maggie from the backseat. Abby walks ahead of me and opens the door to let me in, and together with Maggie we enter her house.

A/N: I've decided to end this chapter here. First I wanted it to be longer, but I think the next part is better told from Abby's POV, I hope you agree.

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