A/N: Okay I know I said this before lol, but I mean it for real this time: one or two chapters left. Semi-off topic, but I seriously need some 911 friends. Tweet me, PM me, anything… just don't judge how overly invested I am in this ship lmao.

Buck had only been home from the gym for about 10 minutes when his phone started to ring, and he was relieved to see it was a FaceTime call from Abby. She had seemed a little subdued in their last couple conversations and he was getting progressively more concerned. It was such a marked difference from the first couple times she had called from Ireland. She wasn't very forthcoming with anything either; she seemed far more interested in hearing about what he was doing than in talking about her trip, which he thought was strange. Yesterday she had texted to say she would be driving for a couple days, so not to worry if he didn't hear from her. But now here she was, calling.

He answered immediately. "Hey."

"Hey."

His worry intensified the moment he saw her. She looked completely drained, and she sounded down.

"Everything okay?" he asked.

She bit her lip and shook her head, closing her eyes as tears started falling.

"Abby, what's wrong? Did something happen?"

She shook her head again, completely dissolving into sobs. It broke his heart to see her like this; especially after all she had gone through before she left. He had hoped, for her sake, that this trip was what she needed to heal, but it sure wasn't looking that way right now.

"Abbs, I can't help if you don't talk to me, okay? Take a few deep breaths and try to calm down."

She did as instructed and within a couple minutes, she was starting to gather some measure of composure.

"Where are you right now?" Buck asked gently.

"In my hotel."

"In Killarney?"

"No, some little town. Waterville or Waterford or something."

"Okay. You're safe though, right?"

She nodded.

"And you're not hurt?"

"No."

"Okay good. Can you tell me what's going on?"

She took a deep breath and nodded again.

"Take your time, okay? I'm not going anywhere."

"I just… I don't even know what to say. I'm so confused."

"About what?"

"Me. I don't know what's wrong with me. It's like no matter how hard I try, I just keep falling down, and I don't know how to stop it. I don't know how to be by myself anymore. I don't even know myself anymore. I don't know who this person is, but it's not me. I'm not the kind of person who can't stand on her own two feet. I thought if I had a clean slate, I would be able to see myself again, but I can't. And I feel awful always lying and telling you everything is fine when I know it's not. I didn't want to admit it that I'm failing, because I didn't want to feel like I left and came here for nothing, but I can't get that thought out of my head. I wanted to feel whole again, I wanted to have something good to give again, but I've never felt more empty in my entire life. I justified leaving by thinking I would be in a better place when I came back, but it just keeps getting worse. I look around, and everything is so beautiful, but all I feel is cold and alone. What's wrong with me, Buck? Why can't I do this anymore?"

The tears were flowing again by the time she finished, and he wanted nothing more than to dry them for her, but he couldn't. She was out of his reach.

"Abby, there's nothing wrong with you. And there's nothing you can't do. Just because it's not happening like you thought it would, doesn't mean it's a lost cause. Not every path is a straight line from A to B. Maybe you just have to go through a few bends before you can see where you're going. You've been through a lot, and your life has changed a lot. I think it's normal to struggle with that."

She sniffled and wiped her eyes. "I guess you're right."

"It's going to be okay, I promise." In all honesty, he was worried as hell about her, but he didn't want her to know that. "I tell you what, I have something I'm going to send you. I think it might cheer you up."

"Yeah?" She looked hopeful, which he took as a good sign.

"Are you gonna be staying in this 'Water' place for a while?"

"No, I'm leaving in the morning. I should be back in Killarney late tomorrow."

"Okay, what hotel are you staying in there? So I know where to ship it."

"I haven't actually booked anything yet. I could do it online when we hang up and text it to you?"

"Yeah that works. I'll expedite it, so it shouldn't take too long to get there."

"Okay... do I get a hint?" There was a ghost of a smile on her face now, and it was all he needed to be sure he was doing the right thing.

"Well, I can tell you that it's cute and you'll like it, but that's about it."

"That's not much of a hint."

"I know: that's the point."

She rolled her eyes. "Fine, but it better be good."

"Oh it is."

Abby woke to a find a dreary day waiting outside, but as she climbed back in her car, she tried her best not to let it dampen her spirits. She felt a little better after talking to Buck last night, and truth be told, she was actually really excited to find out what he was sending her. But driving straight back to Killarney wouldn't make it arrive any sooner, so she was still going to make the most of the drive. She wouldn't be deterred by a little rain… at least, not right away. After checking out most of the stone ruins along the route, she was started to get a chill and her jacket was almost soaked through. She decided Moll's Gap would be her last stop for the day, and she would double back to see the National Park tomorrow.

After checking into her hotel and donning her new green sweater, she made the quick walk around the corner to a little pub for dinner. She was just paying her bill when she got a text from Buck.

[Text] Hey, tracking info says your package arrived. Let me know how you like it.

She hurried back to the hotel, but when she checked with the front desk, they said they didn't have anything for her. It must just have arrived in Killarney, she thought, not delivered yet. Phone in hand, she headed back to room and was just about to send off a reply text when she opened the door and saw Buck right there in front of her, sitting on her bed.