Author's notes: Huge thanks to my beta reader Jen. You rock!
"Hey Randy, do you know where I can get a catalogue for P.T. equipment?" Abby asks as she comes on for the morning shift.
"I can call up to P.T. and ask them to send one down." The clerk says as she looks up.
"Could you? That'd be great."
"Sure, no problem. Are you okay?"
"Fine, why?" Abby asks as she grabs a chart.
"Why do you need P.T. equipment?"
"I need a new punching bag. I managed to bust mine open last night."
"How?"
"Spinning kick to what would have been the stomach."
Randy raises her eyebrows. "Carter must really be ticking you off."
"Carter who?" Abby says innocently. "Let me know if they can't spare anyone to drop off a catalogue. I can go get it during my break."
"Sure." The brunette said with a grin.
"You busted your punching bag?" Dave said as Abby set up an I.V. for him on an elderly patient.
"Yes. I told Randy and she said that Carter must really be ticking me off."
"Is he?"
"Not in the way you mean." She said. "Chem panel for Mrs. Babbcock here?" she asked after taking some blood.
"Yeah. Cardiac enzymes too."
"Lytes?"
"Yeah." Dave signed off on it and then gave it to Abby. They walked out with the draw Abby had done. "I think Yosh is on lab duty today."
"You think right." The Asian man said. "Got something for me?"
"Blood draw." Abby handed it over after she labeled it. "Watch out for vampires."
Yosh smiled and left Abby and Dave by the desk.
"So in what way is he ticking you off?" Dave asked.
"He's trying to hard you know? It's like he's trying to make up for something."
"Maybe he is. Maybe he's trying to make up for being a jerk when you first got back."
"I don't want him to make up for it. At least not in the way he tried yesterday."
"Are you gonna tell me or are you gonna make me guess?"
Abby shrugged. "I don't feel like talking about it right now. Sorry."
"It's okay."
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!" They heard from behind them. Both turned to see a paramedic walking in.
"Doris? What's wrong?"
"My rig won't start. I just got it serviced too." She replied in an agitated tone. "I need the phone."
"Lemme take a look first." Abby said coming around the counter. "I got pretty good at ambulance repair."
"Really?" The medic asked.
"Yep. Besides I owe you one for the other day. You have any tools?"
"Yeah."
"So do we." Dave said. "I'll grab the kit from the lounge and meet you in the bay."
John stepped out the double doors into the ambulance bay. He frowned when he saw an ambulance sitting there. He knew the rig belonged to Doris and her partner but they should've been gone hours ago. He walked over and headed to the front.
"Okay try it again Doris." He heard Abby say.
The ambulance started up and Doris poked her head out of the window. "Thanks Abby."
"No problem. I'd get it looked at by the mechanic back at the squad house though."
"Trust me I will."
Abby shut the hood, handed the medic some tools, and stepped aside as Doris pulled out. She started to walk back towards the hospital but stopped short when she saw Carter.
"Hi." She said quietly. "Something coming in?"
"What? No. I was just taking a breather. I didn't know you knew anything about auto repair."
"A lot of things change in four years John. I'm sorry, I mean Dr. Carter." Abby said simply. "I better go change." She walked past him, the edge of her scrub top sleeve just lightly touching his. Once Abby was back in the hospital, she let out a breath. One step at a time Abby.she reminded herself. She could do this. She would do this. Carter was not going to get to her. Not this time.
"Excuse me?" A voice said.
She looked up to see a blonde with brown eyes standing near her. "Can I help you?"
"I hope so. Do you know where John Carter is?"
Abby looked her over. She didn't look psychotic so she said, "Dr. Carter's in the ambulance bay."
"Thanks." She said going in the direction of the ambulance bay.
"You're welcome." She said. Blonde. Why wasn't she surprised? Oh well at least she's not a teenager. She went to change and put the toolbox away.
John stared at the sky silently.
A lot of things change in four years John.
You got that right Abby.
"Hey stranger."
He looked over his shoulder. Speaking of things that change. "Hi. What are you doing down here?"
"I wanted to see if I could convince my handsome husband to have lunch with me."
John nodded. "I'd like that. Doc's okay?"
"Sounds good."
"Lemme just go grab my wallet."
"I'll wait here." Ava smiled.
"Hey Deb. What's that?" John asked as he opened his locker to get his wallet.
"Oh a picture. Abby must have dropped it."
"Why do you say that?"
"Cause it's of her and her daughters."
"Oh." John smiled sheepishly. "I'll see you in a few."
"Going for lunch?"
"Yeah. Ava's waiting for me."
Jing-Mei nodded. "Tell her I said hi."
"Will do." John said as he left the lounge again.
She watched her friend go and then looked back at the picture again. She agreed with Susan's assessment of Faith. She looked like Abby. Hope on the other hand was a different story. She had Abby's nose but that was it. She knew those eyes. She'd seen them every day for the past seven years.
They were John's.