Month Five
"Jackson, do you have Mrs. Montera's charts?"
Abby turned around in her chair in Jackson's direction as she glanced down at the five assorted charts in her hands.
"Yes, Dr. Griffin, right here," Jackson replied quickly, grabbing the chart in front of him. He all but sprinted to Abby in eagerness, the pages fluttering in the wind.
Abby laughed. "Slow down, Jackson! I wouldn't want my newest intern to run out of steam so soon."
He looked down at his shoes, smiling. "Yes, Dr. Griffin."
Abby turned back to face the desk, setting aside the five charts to concentrate on Mrs. Montera's chart.
"Uh...also. Dr. Griffin. I was wondering...perhaps if...I know that I am quite new..." Jackson paused and cleared his throat. "I mean...really new..."
Abby looked up at Jackson, putting down her pen to listen.
"But I was hoping to have the opportunity to watch your work in any upcoming surgeries," Jackson quickly asked. "I-I am really eager to learn anything and everything, and...and I want to become a medical assistant someday...and-"
"Jackson," Abby said, cutting him off. Jackson looked at her with the wide eyes of a young medical student.
"Mr. Erikson has a hip fusion surgery coming up in two weeks. Perhaps instead of just sitting in, you would like to assist me instead?" Abby offered.
The door to the medical office slid open and Kane stepped in.
"Thank you Dr. Griffin! I would very much like to be your assistant!" Jackson exclaimed, nodding his head. "I'll go get his charts now to prepare for it."
Jackson turned on his heels and was met face to face with Kane. Dodging him quickly, Jackson ran out the door, the sound his footsteps dissipating.
"Who's the kid?" Kane asked, his eyes following the boy out the door.
Abby flipped a page in the chart, jotting down notes in her worn out notebook. "He's my newest intern," she replied simply.
"Intern? He seems pretty young." Kane leaned up against Abby's desk with his arms crossed. He looked down at Abby as she spoke.
"Jackson's very bright. He's certainly shown himself well," Abby replied. She finished the final sentence she was writing and put down her pen. Abby reached both her hands up above her head and stretched out her weary muscles.
Kane's eyes flickered for a split second to the sliver of stomach just below the hem of Abby's shirt. Abby released her hands and Kane's eyes trailed back up to her face. She looked so different in his mind, yet the same. Abby's eyes and her lips were the same. Her nose and her cheeks were the same. Yet, she seemed to glow with delight wherever she went. Her intoxicating character dispersing throughout the room...even during the moments when they argued with each other.
Abby stood up and Kane watched her, lost in his own thoughts. She reached up to open the cupboard above her desk and then stopped.
Kane.
He saw her yesterday, was she... 'glowing' then? Maybe he hadn't been looking...well he shouldn't have been looking...
"Kane."
No he definitely should not be looking. Although it's bound to happen seeing they serve on the Council together- but not like that! No, definitely not like that...why couldn't he get even his thoughts together, it's like-
"Marcus!"
Kane blinked once and focused on the picture before him. Abby stood beside him with one hand resting on the cupboard ledge, and the other on her hip. She looked quite annoyed.
"Did you hear anything I just said?" Abby chided in disbelief.
Just as Kane opened his mouth in protest, Abby cut him off.
"This is why we never see eye to eye, Marcus," Abby said. She stretched a hand upwards, reaching for a jar filled with latex gloves. "It's like anything I say has no weight to it."
"You're right, Abby. I'm sorry," Kane said hastily.
Abby said nothing, her lips parted in surprise that Kane had actually apologized. And so promptly, as well.
"Apology accepted..." Abby trailed off. Abby reached up to the top of the cupboard, just inches shy of her goal. She stood up on her tip toes, waving her hand slightly in vain. "Marcus, could you?" Abby asked, motioning to the jar of latex gloves at the top of the cupboard.
Kane shook off his thoughts. "Of course," he said, pulling the jar down onto the counter. "I didn't think. You shouldn't..." Kane trailed off as he realized what he was about to say. Nobody tells Abby Griffin that she shouldn't do something.
Abby gave him a sideward glance and raised an eyebrow questioningly. She would let it slide this time...
"Apparently pregnant women shouldn't stand on chairs. At least, that's what I heard from some doctor around here," Abby smiled.
This is what Kane had been missing these past few years. The light banter between the two of them had slowly died down and had been replaced with constant arguments after their recent promotions into the Council.
"Were you looking for something, Marcus?" Abby asked, pulling out two pairs of latex gloves.
"For you, actually," Kane said. "It's about the containment breach last month. We can't have friends and relatives visiting the sick, Abby. It would be putting residents of the Ark at risk, surely you know that?"
"I do know that, Marcus. However, I told Commander Marques that although those people were ill, that particular strain of pneumonia was not contagious. I saw no threat."
Kane replied, "Even so, Abby, it was dangerous to go against the Commander's orders. The -"
Abby cut him off abruptly, "The Commander isn't a doctor." She looked into Kane's eyes, "I wasn't going to keep families from each other, Marcus. They were concerned and there was no threat of contamination."
Kane released the breath he didn't know he was holding. "I understand that...it's just...Commander Marques isn't happy with your decision."
"I'm pregnant, Marcus, not inept," Abby shot back.
"I don't want to see you in handcuffs, Abby. Just be careful. Please?"
A beat of silence filled the room as a wash of remorse feel over Abby. Perhaps she shouldn't have been so harsh with him.
Abby whispered, "Yes. I will."
Kane took a deep breath in, straightening out his back. He cleared his throat, silently nodded once to Abby, and quickly strode out the room without so much as a glance backwards.
This time, it was Abby that released the breath she didn't know she held.
Only four months to go.
