Dialog between Abby and Richard is from Season 10's 'Shifts Happen'. I do not own this dialog, these characters or anything else from 'ER'. I just borrow them on occasion.

Why did people expect you to change so much when you loved them? She didn't think that it affected her like it did. It wasn't like she had had a lot of serious relationships in her life anyway. There were just three... Richard...John Carter...and Luka. Three men in her life.

With Carter she had thought about it a lot. She felt like he wanted her to change. He said he wanted to 'help' her. They had fun together usually. It was so...white bread. Sheesh. What did that really mean anyway? She was never quite sure what he wanted her to be. She tried to fit into his world and still retain who she was. She thought he liked that. He'd said he even wanted to marry her...one night on top of the roof. There was a helicopter coming in, it was freezing and he'd shouted it at her. She had even seen the ring in the pocket of his jacket later. And she probably would have said yes. But in the end it didn't work for either of them. He'd found his heart working in Africa. He was still there.

And Luka. Sometimes it felt as if she were attached to him by some kind of rubber band. She would meander off to find a new point in her life and snap right back to him. Then off she would go again. Kind of like one of those paddle ball toys that she and Eric played with when they were little. They could talk to one another...sort of. She could scold him and he listened...sort of. But he hadn't listened when she asked him not to go to Africa. She had been so devastated when they heard he'd been killed. Only Susan really know how much that had affected her. And now that he was back...well...it was back to the same. He had other women in his life now. But they were still friends.

She had given a huge part of her life to Richard. They had been young and in love. She had been naive. She never thought she could ever be described as 'naive'. Especially having grown up with Maggie in the house. But she had been exactly that with Richard. She actually thought there was the possibility of a 'happily ever after' with him. She had loved him. She had had a life with him like she thought 'normal' people did. They planned together, worked together...and for what? Whose fault had it been that it hadn't worked? His? Hers? Theirs? Probably. Well, there was one last thing he was going to have to do for her.

She almost turned back. She stood for a moment and looked up that the elegant front stoop of Richard's home. She took a deep breath and headed up the steps. She pushed the doorbell and waited. She turned away as the door opened and his wife stood in front of her. She had the baby balanced on her hip.

"Uh...hi," Abby said. "Is Richard home?" Corrine didn't smile. She just called for him over her shoulder and then glared at her.

"It's your ex wife," she said. Abby tried smiling and then sighed.

"How old is he now?" she asked as she tipped her head toward the baby.

"Sixteen months," his mother said. They both looked up as Richard plodded toward the door and then Corrine carried the baby away.

"Abby," Richard groaned. "It's eight o'clock in the morning."

"I know and I'm sorry," she said. "I just finished a night shift and I need to have you sign this." She handed the loan application papers to him. Richard glanced at them and then back at her.

"Why don't you just file for bankruptcy?"

"I am not in trouble," she said. "I just want your signature."

"Abby..."

"Look, I didn't take anything." she said. "I didn't take the house or the furniture..."

"You could have."

"But I didn't," she said. "You have gotta know how hard this is for me, Richard. I just... want... your... signature." He scowled and then looked at her for a long moment. He took the pen that she held out and signed the papers.

"Thank you," she said quietly and turned away from him. He watched as she hurried down the steps and up the sidewalk away from him. There was a determined bounce to her step. Richard chuckled a little bit and shook his head. She wasn't a part of his life any more but she would never cease to intrigue him.

It didn't take much to get back in the program. She wrote a check to the registrar and she was assigned to a rotations cycle. Surgery this time. Under Dr. Corday. Her very first day she was sent down to the ER for a consult. Alone. And it was exhilarating. Especially to see their faces when they found out. Susan Lewis was thrilled. Pratt was approving. Dr. Romano was horrified. And Luka? He had grinned. Had told her that the white coat looked good on her. But there had been something else in his eyes that she couldn't quite pin down.

He was waiting for her in the ambulance bay when she signed out. He was sitting on the bench by the back door... just waiting.

"Hey... " he said as she shuffled into her jacket and jumped.

"'Ah! You scared me!" she laughed. Luka stood up and chuckled as he straightened the jacket collar closer around her neck.

"How was your first shift?" Abby snorted as they turned toward the ambulance bay entrance to the street.

"In surgery or in the ER?" Luka shook his head and chuckled a little.

"Don't let Romano get to you. You're going to do great." Abby looked up at him and shook her head.

"It's going to take a while...but I feel good about it. It's the right time." She took a deep breath and smiled a little as she let it out. Luka reached back and drew her pony tail from the back of the jacket and let his fingers linger on the silky softness.

"Can I take you somewhere? For a... celebration...dinner?" he asked. She grimaced and slowly shook her head.

"I have to study tonight. I was just going to get some take out and go home," she said. "Another time maybe?" He frowned in disappointment and then nodded.

"Sure," he sighed.

"You can walk me to the el..." she offered. He chuckled and took her hand firmly in his. Abby wasn't quite sure what to make of him at the moment. He was quiet as they walked out onto the darkened street toward the steps to the el. He didn't talk at all and when she stepped up on the el station steps they were eye level with one another. His dark eyes searched her face in the dim light.

"I was...uh...thinking...remembering, really," he began. She stopped and leaned back against the staircase railing.

"Remember that day...when we...uh...welll...uh...in the ambulance bay?" Abby laughed and nodded.

"Oh, yeah...how could I forget?" She blushed slightly. She had kissed him then. For the first time.

"Before that...when I asked you if Lockhart was your name or his?" She nodded.

"DOCTOR Lockhart has a nicer sound to it," he smiled affectionately. Abby grinned at him and leaned in to kiss his cheek. Now she knew what she had seen in his eyes before. It was pride. Simple and pure pride. In her.

"You owe me a dinner," she said softly.

"Have your secretary call mine," he replied as he caressed her cheek. She grinned and watched as he turned to walk down the street to the public garage where his car was parked and waved back at her.

"Dr. Lockhart..." she grinned and shook her head. Jacqueline had been right about making a decision that would change her life. She straightened her shoulders and hurried up the steps to the el station. She had a long night of books ahead of her. Might as well get started.

Thus this story comes to an end. I like to bring things full circle and have enjoyed exploring Abby's relationship and life with Richard. Thank you for your diligent support and reviews. It's the only thing that keeps me writing!