Dear Abby
Part Eight
By Carolina
super_carolina1@yahoo.com

Disclaimer: None of the characters belong to me. Although there's an old piece of cake on my fridge which in the right angle, kinda looks like Romano. This story is coming to an end, so it's taking me a while to figure out what I'm gonna do with it, be patient :) Any comments can be sent to super_carolina1@yahoo.com

Three months had passed after that eventful night. Abby had graduated from medical school and was now doing the pediatric internship. Neither of them talked much about what they left in the past but if they did, the scars didn't hurt as much. Things went on about as normally as they could. Whatever feelings were surfacing, were being forced to remain inactive

A Wednesday afternoon. Abby was on the fourth floor about to clock out.

Lydia: Abby!

Abby: Lydia. What are you doing up here?

Lydia: We're having one of our ladies night after our shift. Wanna come?

Abby: Sure. Where are you going?

Lydia: Well, we always start in a bar, but after that, who knows. Last time Randi woke up in Maine with a guy named Bubba next to her.

Abby: Sound like fun. What time are you leaving?

Lydia: Half an hour (They start to walk back down)

Abby: Great, I've been dying for a night out

Lydia: Well, after tonight you'll be dying for a week off.

That same night. The nurses plus Abby and Randi are in some bar in the middle of Chicago. They're visibly drunk and laughing at every single thing the others say.

Chuny: Mine would be at the beach in the middle of the day, with a guy named Fernando

All: Oooh

Randi: That's nothing. I did it once in a Merry-go-round, while it was on

Haleh: How?

Randi: Oh, there's a how. Only that cheery music kept messing my concentration

Chuny: How about you Abby?

Abby: Oh, I'm afraid my sexual experiences aren't as adventurous as yours

Lydia: Oh. Don't give us that now

Chuny: Come on

Abby: Ok. This one time me and my ex were visiting his parents in Oklahoma City. We were looking for one of his baby albums in a small closet in the living room and his parents came in. So ... we did it in the closet while his parents were watching television in the same room

Randi: Wow

Heleh: We have a new winner! Another round please!

Chuny: Oh I don't know. I'm pretty sure you've done nastier things with Dr. Kovac, you know, on account of the Euro styles

Abby: Oh, come on. Don't start that now

Randi: Seriously though

Abby: Seriously, there's nothing going on

Lydia: Ok, well. Whatever you say. But if something were to happen, you wouldn't leave out any details right?

Chuny: I once walked into the lounge and he was changing shirts

All (minus Abby): Wow

Chuny: Yeah. I couldn't move. By the time I said "I'm sorry" he was seeing his third patient

Haleh: Yeah, this coming from a woman who had sex with Mark 27 times.

Abby: You dated Dr Greene?!

Chuny: Briefly

Abby: Wow, is there other gossip I'm not aware of?

Randi: We'll bring you up to speed some other time. Tonight ... we go CRAZY!!

Randi gets on the counter of the bar and starts dancing with a bottle of beer on her hand while everyone in the bar starts screaming to encourage her. Cut to Abby's apartment, next morning. All of the girls are in Abby's living room on the floor. They start waking up one by one.

Chuny: Oh, my head

Abby: How did we get here?

Haleh: I have no idea

Lydia: Where's Randi?

Abby: I think she went some place, with some human being

Chuny: She'll turn out

Abby: Oh shit, I have to go to work

Lydia: You're working today?

Abby: Of course

Chuny: You never work after girls night, we all switched our schedules today

Abby: Well why didn't you tell me that?!

Chuny: I don't know, thinking hurts right now. Do you have some aspirin?

Abby: Check the kitchen cabinets. I have to go, lock the door when you leave.

The nurses just look at each other and then start racing for Abby's bed. Abby was headed for the 4th floor when she felt a great yearning for some coffee, so she decided to enter the hospital through the er. She walked past the front desk and turned around when someone called out her name

Abby: Randi? What are you doing here?

Randi: It takes more than that to get me into a serious hangover

Abby: We lost you last night, where did you go?

Randi: That part's still a little unclear.

Abby laughed and continued her path. She walked into the lounge and headed towards the coffee machine, almost missing a dark figure sitting on the couch. She had to adjust her eyes to realize that it was Luka, who had his head buried in his hands and hadn't heard her come in

Abby: Hey, are you ok?

He looked up when he recognized her voice and snapped.

Luka: Where were you last night?

Abby: Oh, me and the girls went out for a while

Luka: For a while?! I kept calling you all night, I even went to your apartment and you weren't there!

Abby: You went to my apartment?

Luka: Yes. I was worried sick

Abby: Sorry, I guess we got a little carried away

Luka: A little! You have no idea how dangerous this city is. Not to mention the place you live in

Abby: Look, I'm fine. Why are you being so nasty about this?

Luka: Maybe because you seem to have no consideration for others

Abby: Consideration?! I don't need to tell you or anyone what I do or don't do. I can take care of myself and last time I checked, I was an adult

Luka: Well maybe if you acted like one, I wouldn't have to worry about you running around the city like an irresponsible teenager.

Abby stared at him in disbelief and only whispered "Fuck you" before she stormed out of the lounge and almost knocked Dave down, who was entering the at the same time. Dave looked at Abby walk away and then at Luka.

Dave: Trouble in paradise?

Luka stared at Dave and just chose to walk away before he hurt him. He walked towards the desk and immediately started working on charts, scribbling on them a little two hard. On the 4th floor Abby was working on her rounds. Working with kids was a great way to bring happiness into one's hearts. The fatal cases were heartbreaking. But the satisfaction of seeing the kids smile and play made it all worth it. She had been trying not to think about her disagreement with Luka that morning, she had never seen him so upset. Not with her anyway. In the past they had always been able to resolve their problems just talking. What was different now? She tried to shake those thoughts out of her head and concentrate on her job. Despite the popularity of the pediatric program, the people who were actually participating were just a few. Dr. Matthews had been a great teacher to her, always willing to stay extra hours for his patients or when she needed help. She walked into her patient's room to see him singing 'Old Mc Donald' with the little boy, the scene made her smile.

Phil: Well, look who's here. Ms Lockhart? Would you like to join us?

Abby: No, I think I'll pass

Phil: Ok. Josh? why don't you stay here with your Mom and we'll continue the song later?

Kid: Ok

Phil: Ok, Abby? Can I talk to you outside?

Abby: Sure

Abby knew what was coming. He took her arm and guided her outside

Phil: Is everything ok?

Abby: Yeah

Phil: Are you sure? You don't seem like your usual self?

Abby: And what would that be?

Phil: Happy? Energetic? On this planet?

Abby: Sorry, I just have a lot to think right now, that's all

Phil: Ok (he said sympathetically) Well, if you ever need to talk, you know where to find me

Abby: Thanks (she smiled)

Phil: Listen, um, I was wondering if you'd like to get some dinner some time

Abby thought hard on that one, almost turning him down: Umm, ok.

Phil: Great, how's tomorrow?

Abby: Sounds good (she said, not really looking at him)

Phil: Ok, I'll see you around then

Abby: Bye

'What was that all about' Abby thought to herself 'And since when did I decided to start dating again?' But whatever it was, it was done, so there. She tried to just concentrate on surviving a day at work with the biggest hangover she'd ever had. Besides, she thought going out with someone might do her good. God knows it's been light years since she had someone interested in her, let alone a date. She called her own apartment to check up on the girls, but guessed they had gone home already since no one answered the phone. Soon it was time for her to do the same. The day had started out well, weather-wise. But now it was raining cats and dogs and mice and the whole animal kingdom, it seemed. Luckily she had money on her and was able to take a cab for once. She reached her place and threw herself and her bag on the couch and just stared at the eiling for a while. Her thoughts drifted back to the events of the morning, thoughts that were later interrupted by a loud thunder that made her jump up. She walked slowly into her room and took her clothes off slowly, the summer heat making her skin perspire a little. She put on a pair of jeans and a tank top, leaving her feet bare. Letting out a sigh of frustration when she found her kitchen cabinets empty, she picked up the phone to order some Italian food. She picked up a book, poured herself a glass of wine and put on some soft music while the rain poured outside and she waited patiently for her food to arrive. Tired of waiting, she stood up and walked to her bathroom. Looking at herself in the mirror was a habit that only appeared at a moment of stress. It was a ritual made to reassure herself that everything was going to be ok. A soft sound coming from the living room made her turn around and walk over. She looked outside the window to make sure it wasn't a cat or another softer thunder. The repetition of the sound made her realize that it was the door. A smile appeared in her face as she anticipated the taste of the food in her mouth. She opened the door and rested her face on the edge of it when she saw Luka instead, looking incredibly disturbed, with a bag of food on his hand and soaked to the bone. He wouldn't look at her, but kept his stare on her knees. They remained silent for a moment, Luka's almost inaudible voice breaking the ice

Luka: I don't think you're irresponsible. And I know you can take care of yourself. It's just that...

He looked at her for the first time and looked down again, as if he was being scolded at. She tried to find his stare with her own, all the while resting her body against the door frame. She found it resting on the floor and with just one look they were able to go back to that safe place in which they both rejoiced all these months. The soft sound of the music and the rain brought Abby back to reality as she also broke the silence softly.

Abby: Do you want some food?

She said pointing to what she assumed was her delivery on his hands. He looked up and gave her that look which made him look like he was home again. She opened the door completely to welcome him in. He walked in slowly, closing the door behind him.

To be continued...