A/N: This takes place a week later. So Abby has been drinking in secret from Carter, but she has just started going back to work. How long will she be able to keep it a secret?
"Its nice to have you back Mr. Taggart." Principle McChristie said, welcoming Sam, Luka and Alex into his office. Luka and Sam shook his hand before taking a seat. "Now I understand the situation between you and Max Graham, and I also understand that he was the one who started the fight." Principle McChristie started. "But its no excuse for fighting, is it Alex?"
Alex Sheepishly looked down at his shoes and shook his head.
"Okay now if anything else is said, don't lash out, either come to me or one of the other teachers. Understand?"
"Yes Principle McChristie." Alex replied.
"Okay run along to your class now."
Alex got up and scurried off to his classroom.
"Thank you for both coming in." Principle McChristie said to Sam and Luka. "I know you are both extremely busy people. I just wanted to talk to you about Alex's school work. He has been falling behind for a couple of weeks now."
'A couple of weeks' Sam thought to herself. 'That's when Steve last showed his face.' Sam smiled at him. "I think I know why. Don't worry I'll talk to him tonight."
Both Sam and Luka stood up from their seats.
"Okay. Thank you Miss Taggart. Mr. Kovac." Principle McChristie rose from his seat and shook both of their hands again as they left.
Luka looked down at Sam. "So?"
"I'll tell you when we get in the car." Sam said smiling at Principle McChristie's secretary. When they got out of her office Sam noticed Abby and Emily sat on the bench outside of the office.
"Hey Abby. What are you doing here." Sam smiled.
"I'm enrolling Emily. We've been staying with Carter and this school is so much closer than her old one." Abby said standing up.
"Well it'll be nice to see a familiar face when it comes to picking them up." Sam laughed. "Anyway we'd better get going, Weaver will kill me if I'm late again."
"See ya Sam. Bye Luka." Abby said sitting back down.
"Bye Ab, by Emily."
Emily grinned at Luka and coyly waved at them both.
"How somebody can beat on someone as nice at Abby I'll never know ." Sam clasped Luka's hand in her own as they walked out of the school building.
"Okay Morris, Ray and Neela." Susan yelled out. Each doctor made their way over to Susan who handed them each a chart. "Ray you get an old lady complaining of hip pain. Neela, a greasy teenager who I think has a fractured wrist. And Morris, you have a four year old who has a marble stuck up his nose. Attractive." Susan laughed.
"Why do I always get the gross ones?" Morris complained.
"Because you're the lucky one." Susan said patting him on the back and walking in the direction of chairs. Her eyes then caught the entrance and a familiar face. "Abby! How have you been? I haven't seen you since last week"
"Yeah, I've been good. Glad to be back at work thought…..Kinda anyway." Abby laughed.
They both made their way into the lounge.
"So where's Emily?" Susan asked pouring herself and Abby a cup of coffee.
"School. Well this is just a trial day to see how she likes it." Abby took the coffee from Susan and took a sip. "It's a lot closer than her other school, and Sam's kid goes there too. So if I need someone to pick her up hopefully Sam or Luka can do it. So I just hope she likes it."
"So your staying with Carter then?" Susan winked at Abby.
Abby could feel her cheeks starting to burn up, and bowed her head.
"I always said that you two make a cute couple."
"Susan! We are not dating." Abby said slightly shocked at what her friend was insinuating.
"Okay!" Susan said putting her hands up defensively, then Weaver burst in through the doors.
"Susan aren't you supposed to be…" She stopped when she noticed Abby stood there. "Hey Abby, how are you holding up?" Her tone instantly changing.
"I'm good thanks Kerry. Life goes one, and I'm getting on with mine." Abby smiled.
Kerry smiled sympathetically at Abby. "Well there are people out there in need of care assistance. So chop chop!"
Abby and Susan turned and laughed at one another before following Kerry out.
It was recess at Chicago Elementary School, Alex was stood by the school building with two of his friends idly kicking a ball around.
"Man I can't believe that Principle McChristie suspended you from school even though you didn't do anything." Travis said sitting down next to the wall."
"I know , but everyone's afraid of Mad Max. Life sucks." Alex sighed. "But my Dad said that once he's found somewhere permanent to stay I can go live with him."
"Man you are so lucky!" Dean said
The three boys sat there just looking around the playground for something else to do.
"Look at that, Mad Max has found someone new to pick on." Dean said pointing at a few first graders. Usually Alex didn't care, Max never actually hurt them, just taunted them. But at a closer glance he recognized the girl he was picking on.
"Whatsa matter little girl? haven't you got anything to say?" Max said as he held Emily's jacket above her head. Emily stood there almost in tears. "What don't you speak?" Max poked her shoulder, making Emily stumble back slightly.
Alex immediately stood up and ran over. "Hey leave her alone!"
"Awww Taggart is this your little girlfriend?" Max said holding up one of Emily's pigtails. Emily closed her eyes and instantly tensed up her body. Visions of her father hitting her mother going around in her head.
"Keep your hands off of her!" Alex took Emily's hand and began to lead her inside.
"Look their holding hands." Max said following behind very closely. "How cute." He pushed Alex, which consequently caused Emily to fall down too. Alex stood up and went to hit Max back, but remembered what Principle McChristie had said. He left Emily crying on the floor and turned round to go back in. Just as he went to open the door to the school building, Principle McChristie opened the door. Alex froze, sure he was going to get told off.
"Max Graham, I suggest you come with me. Alex if you would be as kind as to take Emily to see the school nurse please." Principle McChristie took Max inside, followed by Alex and Emily.
By the time three O'clock came Max had been excluded again. Alex waited for either his Mom or Luka to pick him up. Seeing his Mom come round the corner he sighed and walked over.
"Hey buddy how was school?" Sam said draping her arm over Alex's shoulder.
"It was okay." Alex said smiling.
"Shit." Richard muttered as he stubbed his toe on one of Emily's toys as he stumbled in through the front door at two O'clock in the morning.
"Hey bro." Ben said. He was sat on the couch watching a movie and eating popcorn.
"What are you doing?" Richard asked, his words slurred. "You were supposed to have tidied up this shit hole."
"I've been busy, I haven't had time. Anyway its your house. You do it."
Richard stumbled over to Ben and pulled him up by the collar of his shirt. Pinning him against the wall he started to shout at him. His breath wreaked of alcohol. "When I tell you to do something. You do it. Don't mess me around Ben, I've put you in hospital once and I can do it again."
Richard let go of Ben and stumbled into his room, leaving Ben on his own. Frightened of what his brother might do Ben decided to begin tidying.
