Abby hurried through the ambulance bay doors. Dave struggled to keep up with her, carrying Ryan. "Hey, slow down, will ya?"

Abby threw him a look, sighed, then stopped. "I'm late, and you do remember what Weaver's like as a boss?"

Dave shuddered. "Yeah, right. Go. I'll get him up to day-care." 

"Thanks." Abby kissed him quickly and then disappeared into the lounge.

"Well, just you and me, champ." Dave made a start towards the elevators, when he noticed Kerry heading straight towards him. He glanced around, looking for somewhere to hide, but she had already seen him.

"Malucci." She walked over to him.

He put on his best fake smile, normally enough to charm any woman, but not Weaver. "Dr Weaver." Be polite. Otherwise she'll take it out on Abby. "How are things?"

"Not too bad. You?"

"Yeah, good. Things are good." He stood there awkwardly. "Well, I'm just gonna get Ryan up to day-care and then get off to work." He moved past her, not bothering to look back.

Kerry watched him go, then headed over to the desk. "Where's Abby?"

Frank kept his eyes on the computer screen. "In the lounge."

 Kerry, nodded, then looked over to Chen who was filling in a chart. "Are other people still helping her take care of Ryan?"

Chen didn't look up. "Only Dave."

"They're going out." Chuny caught the conversation as she passed by.

"Abby and Malucci? Since when?" Malik joined them, placing a chart in the rack. He leant against the counter.

Chen put down the chart and walked over to the board, wiping her name off. "I'm not sure."

Weaver shook her head, and began to go through the rack.

"He's been dropping her off at work every morning for the past three weeks." Frank dodged around Chen, picking up a pile of paperwork and then walking back to the computer.

"Thanks, Frank." Chen muttered sarcastically.

Chuny came back across. "According to a friend that works at Northwestern, he's had Abby's home number added to his contact numbers."

"So he's moved in?" Malik grinned. "He's fast, I'll give the guy that."

"Who's fast?" No one noticed Abby appear from out of the lounge.

"No one." Malik mumbled, then headed for triage.

Abby turned to Chuny who just shook her head. "I have no idea. You know Malik." She disappeared down the corridor.

Before Abby could say anything else, Luka entered with the paramedics and a gurney. "Frank, what's open?"

"Trauma two."

Luka called "Abby, can you help with a GSW?"

With a last suspicious glance at Chen and Frank, she followed Luka.

"Abby, you got a minute?"

Abby sighed. Finally finished her shift, twenty minutes later than she should have, and she can't even escape the ER then. Instead collared by Weaver. She closed her locker and slowly turned around. "Yeah, sure. What's up?"

Weaver pointed towards the sofa. "Come and sit down."

Abby rolled her eyes, expecting a warning about her being late that morning.

Weaver sat beside her, studying her hands. She looked up. "You know I don't approve of gossiping and I'll put a stop to it."

Abby nodded.

"It's just that I'm a little concerned about you."

"Why?" Abby folded her arms, not sure where this was going.

"Well, I've just heard that you're dating Malucci…"

Abby frowned at her. "And?"

"It's just, I had one nurse here who risked her career over a doctor who practised cowboy medicine, a guy took chances and didn't care who they took down with them. Malucci's just the same as he was."

"We're not even working together." Abby stood up and picked up her bag and started to walk out.

"Abby, I know it's none of my business…" 

Abby pushed open the door and then paused. "Look, Dr Weaver, I appreciate your concern, but you don't need to worry. It's not like Dave works at County. Having a relationship with him isn't gonna affect my work."

"Ok." Weaver nodded. After Abby had left, she muttered "It's not just your job I'm worried about."

"You fancy getting some Chinese in for dinner? Save cooking." Dave closed the freezer and glanced over to the sofa. He frowned to see that Abby had disappeared on him. He found her in Ryan's room, stood over his cot, watching him sleep.

"You ok?" he asked, standing behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Yeah." She turned around and moved her hands behind his neck, resting her head against his chest.

"What's wrong?"

"What was your dad like?"

"My old man?" Dave shrugged. He seemed to consider the question for a moment, but then simply said "Not like me."

"You didn't get along?"

Dave sighed. "Let's just say you're not the only one who had a hard time when they were a kid."

Sensing that it wasn't a topic he wanted to talk about, Abby let it go. "I don't remember too much bout my dad. He left when I was still a kid. And I'm just thinking about Ryan having to grow up without a father, all because of a choice that I made."

She felt Dave tense slightly. "He doesn't have to be without a dad."

"Why you after the job?" she laughed.

"I wouldn't turn it down."

Abby looked away sharply.

"I didn't mean making it official or anything. Carter will always be his dad, but I'm around, you know."

"I know." Abby smiled and hugged him. Unnoticed by Dave though, the smile quickly disappeared.

Susan found herself talking under her breath as she entered the lounge. She headed straight for the coffee and began pouring a cup.

"You know, they'll lock you up for less than that."

She spun around sharply, somehow managing not to spill the mug. "Jesus." She shook her head at Chen, sat at the table reading. "You trying to kill me?"

Chen laughed. "Sorry."

Susan finished getting her drink, then joined her at the table. "How come you get to hide out in here? It's chaos out there."

Chen glanced at her watch. "Cause I'm not on for another ten minutes and fortunately no one saw me sneak in."

"Lucky you."

"What time you on til?"

"Eight."

"Ouch. You working a double?"

Susan nodded, then buried her head in her hands. "I swear this place'll be the death of me. Remind me again why I came back here?"

"I think it's because you're clinically insane."

"Thanks." Susan looked up, and took a sip of her drink.

"Well, you were just talking to yourself."

"Ranting to myself. There's a difference. And what's your excuse for still working here?"

Chen stood up and moved over to her locker. "I'd miss Weaver too much."

Susan stared at her. "And you say I'm mad." She shook her head.

Chen sat back at the table. "You seen Abby lately?"

"Only at work. Why?"

"Just wondering how things are going with her and Dave."

 Susan stood up and began to search the fridge for anything edible. "Last I heard, they were getting on well."

"You don't sound happy about that?"

Susan gave up her quest and closed the door. "I just don't think they're right for each other. And that they're getting involved for the wrong reasons."

"And what are the right reasons for going out with someone?"

Susan sighed. "I just think Dave's…he's…"

"Not Carter?"

The lounge door suddenly opened and Frank stuck his head in the room. "Dr Chen, Dr Weaver's looking for you. And Dr Lewis, we got a GSW five minutes out."

Susan tipped the rest of her coffee down the sink. "Why do I think today will never end?"

"Hey."

"Hey. How did your shift go?" After a quick glance over to the front door, Abby carried on feeding Ryan.

Dave crossed straight over to the couch and lay down. "Busy."

Abby smiled. "It's always busy."

"Really busy." Dave rubbed his neck. "How bout you?"

"Same. Must be the weather. Making people crazy." Abby gave up trying to force Ryan to eat and lifted him out of his highchair.

"Could be. Gotta be some explanation for it."

Abby placed Ryan on the floor in front of the sofa and made Dave move up, so she could sit down. "Chinese again tonight?"

Dave nodded. "Yeah. Sounds good."

"Think we should worry we're living off takeout?"

"No." Dave turned his head to look at her. "It's how I survived college."

"And why you can't cook now."

"So what's your excuse?"

"I can cook." Abby leant back and closed her eyes. "I just can't be bothered."

"And you call me lazy." Dave laughed. He quickly nudged Abby in the ribs.

"Hey." She opened her eyes and glared at him.

He pointed at Ryan who had begun to crawl towards the kitchen. "Is that new?"

Abby sat forward and nodded. "Yeah. First time."

"Oh, man. How cool is this?" Dave grinned.

"Notice how he's crawling away from us though?" Abby frowned. "Aren't babies normally supposed to go towards the parents?"

When Ryan stopped and sat back up, Dave went to him. "I wouldn't worry about…parents plural?" Dave looked back at her.

Abby stood up and walked over to join them. She shrugged. "I was thinking about what you said, and I guess that Ryan is gonna grow up seeing you as his dad." She paused. "I mean, if you stick around."

"I plan to." Dave assured her.

"Then nothing official of course, but he's bound to see you as his father."

"We could make it official." Dave studied her waiting for a response.

"What do you mean?"

Dave hesitated, glancing from her to Ryan, then back. "You could marry me."

Abby stared at him for a while, mouth open, then she burst into laughter. "For a moment there I thought you were serious." When Dave didn't share the joke, she frowned. "Oh god, you're serious." She walked over to the couch and sat down.

Dave picked up Ryan. "I know it seems like it's come from no where…"

"Seems like?" Abby asked incredulously.

"But I've been giving it a lot of thought." He placed Ryan in his playpen, then knelt down in front of Abby.

"This is insane."

"Must be the weather."

"Dave, we've been dating for all of six weeks."

"I know. But I also know I've never felt about anyone like I do you." He paused and took a deep breath.  "I'm in love with you, Abby."

Abby held her head in her hands. "Dave, don't do this."

He laughed. "Do you know that's the first time I've said that to a woman? Because I've never wanted to before. It's never been true before."

Abby studied her hands, not being able to look him in the eye.

"I know I've thrown you with this, but it feels right, Abby." Dave took hold of her hands. "If you need time to think about this, then I'll go to my apartment, stay there til you've decided."

He started to stand up, but Abby kept hold of his hands. "No. I don't need time to think about it." She looked up at him. She studied him in silence for a minute, then looked over to Ryan. Eventually, she turned back to Dave. "Yes."

"Yes?" He knelt back down. He grinned slightly. "Yes for real?"

Abby nodded. "Let's do it. Let's get married."