Abby Lockhart sighed and went over the charts of her patients. She liked OB. She'd put in a year and a half doing scut work with the elderly patients on the geriatric floor. Being there made her even more grateful for the nurses that liked it. Some people were cut out for different things. They'd liked her. Really, really wanted her to stay on their floor. But she had transferred as soon as it was humanly possible. The dementia really got to her. It was too much like what she'd grown up with. OB was better. It was joyous. Occasionally it was tragic...but most of the time there were happy endings and happy families.

Happy families. Her thoughts meandered to Richard. They were happy too, weren't they? They were meeting friends at a bar after she was done with her shift. Young couples. Like them. Med students mostly. She felt kind of out of the loop when she was with them. They were all dealing with internships and residencies. She was dealing with interns and residents. Whole different stories to tell. If anyone was really interested. Mostly she sat and listened...and drank. Richard was a part of it all. He laughed and joked and traded stories. He hugged her, teased her and tried to draw her into it too but it only made her more aware of the differences. He saw them too. She knew he did. She was 'just a nurse'...and they were all...well...something different. Something more.

"Abby...your patient in three is calling for you," an aide said as she passed the desk. Abby sighed and picked up her stethescope. She headed toward the labor room and opened the door. A very young...too young...father to be looked up at her with a worried look.

"Something's happening," he said as his girl friend groaned form the bed. Abby looked at the fetal monitor and then smiled patiently. She pulled back the blankets and looked at the boy across the bed.

"She's in transition," she said. "This is really the toughest part. Wanna help me move her to her side?" He nodded quickly and stood up.

"Sarah?" she said to the girl whose eyes were squeezed shut. "You'll be more comfortable if we move you on your side and prop some pillows here and there." The girl groaned in response but let them turn her on her side. Abby plumped a pillow and slipped it between the bed rail and the patient. She gestured to the boy and he hurried around the side of the bed.

"She's having some pretty intense back labor," she said. "It might help if you rub her back like this...right here." He nodded and grimaced worriedly as he pressed a hand gently to Sarah's back.

"No...like this." Abby pressed her hand against his and demonstrated for him. She patted his shoulder and nodded as her rubbed her back.

"It's going to be a little while yet," she said. His face fell and he rolled his eyes. Abby chuckled. She leaned over the bed.

"Sarah," she said. "I'm going to get you some ice chips. I'll be right back." The girl nodded and groaned again. Abby smiled encouragingly and left the room. She sighed heavily and then went to the phone. He answered on the first ring.

"Richard..." she said.

"Oh don't say it..." he moaned. Abby grimaced and rolled her eyes.

"I have a patient..."

"And you can't leave..." he interrupted. "You know, Abby, I am getting pretty tired of this."

"So, go without me."

"I feel like a third wheel. There are other nurses," he pleaded. "Get someone else to take the patient."

"It's not like that on OB," she said. "You know that. I can't leave them. Just go without me. Maybe I'll be able to come later."

"Yeah...sure." She heard the disappointment in his voice. Somehow it kind of pleased her. They were so busy sometimes and went their separate ways. It was nice to know that he was missing her. Like she was missing him? She didn't know if she really did anymore. Most of the time she came home to a quiet apartment and she was dead tired. It was pleasant to pour a drink and relax...alone. For now.