Author's notes: Huge thanks to my beta reader Jen. You rock!
"I didn't think it was possible for someone to be that clumsy."
"You should have seen Carter as a med student."
"Bad?"
"Oh yeah. Course Jing-Mei was no slouch either."
"I shocked him once. That was the extent of my clumsiness. John, on the other hand, tripped over everything and everyone."
"Well at least this time it wasn't Carter, but I definitely wouldn't want to be that med student when Romano wakes up." Abby said to Susan.
"By the way, has anyone seen Miss Porter since she tripped over Romano and then tripped Romano?" Jing-Mei asked.
"I think she's in the lounge talking to Michael." Susan said.
"I thought she was Dave's student." Jing-Mei said.
"She is but Dave's in there with the older Romano."
"Ladies, what are we looking at?" John asked as he walked up behind them.
"Looks like you've been relieved of the "Klutz of the ER" title for the time being John." Jing-Mei said. "Dave's new med student has you beat for now."
"Why don't you fill him in Dr. Chen? I have to go change an I.V. bag." Abby said.
"And I have lab results to check on." Susan said.
"Lunch later?" Abby said to Susan.
"Sounds good to me. Doc's?"
"Roach coach."
"Okay." Susan went one way and Abby went the other.
John looked up when he heard Abby giggling. She was sitting on the edge of the desk and Dave was in a chair looking up at her with a grin.
"That was the worst joke I've ever heard. Truly painful."
"But you laughed." Dave pointed out.
"Yes I laughed. But that's only because in some strange way it was so bad that it was funny."
"Yeah, yeah."
Abby shook her head and that sent her ponytail swinging.
She wore her hair back a lot; he'd noticed that. He supposed it was just a way of not having it in her face. He wondered if her daughters would pull it when they were babies and that's why she pulled it back.
He realized that he wondered a lot when it came to Abby's life.
Jing-Mei watched John watch Dave and Abby talking. She frowned before she looked back at the phone number she'd managed to acquire during her lunch break. Truman Memorial Army Hospital. Inchon, South Korea, was scribbled above it. Maybe she shouldn't call. Maybe she should just tell John about her suspicions and give him the phone number. Put the choice in his hands.
But what if she was wrong? If she was, she'd be putting John through this process for nothing. But if she were right and she told John after making the call then he'd just have the confronting Abby portion of the process left to do.
Jing-Mei wondered idly what would happen if she were the one to confront Abby. Would Abby deny it or would she own up to it?
Her train of thought was broken when she heard Abby's laughter ring out again. Jing-Mei looked at John. He didn't look to happy as he turned and walked down the hall.
Jing-Mei waited a second before heading for the lounge. She quickly made sure she was alone before picking up the phone. "Hi, I need an international operator�Where? Inchon, South Korea."
"Sure I can't talk you into the mall?" Abby asked Carol at the end of their shift. "You and the girls could meet us there."
"Kate has been on a royal tear lately. I'm not taking her to the mall."
Abby grinned. "Okay. God it's hard to believe they're five years old already."
"Tell me about it. I still remember them as these teeny tiny babies."
"Me too." Abby nodded and both women smiled remembering a long ago Thanksgiving. Abby checked her watch. "Val should be here soon with them but I've got a minute or two. I'll walk you to the elevators."
"Okay." They headed down the hall. "I have to confess, I miss the age your girls are at now."
"Funny I was just thinking that I wish they were older. I mean I love how this is all so new to them but I can't wait for them to get a little independence."
"Don't wish to hard. It goes by so fast and you'll wish they were just little ones again."
"Do you and Doug ever talk about having more?"
"Um well-"
"Right. None of my business." Abby said as Carol stalled while pushing the up button.
"No, that's not it. I was pregnant when the girls were two. I miscarried."
"Carol, I'm sorry."
"Thanks. Guess we're still a little scared to try again."
"I can see where you might be." Abby said. The elevator dinged. "See you tomorrow."
"Night." Carol got onto the elevator.
Abby went back down towards admit. She was about halfway there when a purple whirlwind came at her.
"Mommy!" Hope said happily as Abby scooped her up.
"Hello my munchkin. Did you have fun today?"
"Uh-huh. Val taught me and Faith how to do the Electric Slide. It was fun." Hope smiled.
Abby laughed a little. "Cool. Speaking of Faith where is she?"
"At the desk with Randi."
"And Val?"
"She left cause Randi said she'd watch us till you got back from the 'vator."
"Elevator, sweetie." Abby said as they arrived back at the desk. "Hey Randi, where's Faith?" She said looking around.
"Right there�." Randi turned around. "No she's not. She was here a second ago."
"Faith?" Abby set Hope down. "Hope is this a trick?"
"No. I swear Mommy."
"Okay. I believe you sweetie. I want you to stay right here with Randi. Don't go anywhere without asking."
"I won't." Hope promised her brown eyes wide.
"Okay." Abby started to search the ER.
John was working on a chart when he felt a pair of eyes watching him. He looked up and around before he spotted his observer. She was a little girl with dark hair and brown eyes. She was wearing a pair of denim overalls with a light pink shirt.
"Hi there." He said quietly so as not to spook her.
She smiled a little.
"Are you okay?"
She nodded quickly.
"Are you lost?"
She shook her head no.
"Can you talk?"
Another nod.
"Good. My name's John, what's yours?"
"Faith." She said softly.
"It's nice to meet you Faith." He got up slowly and knelt down in front of her. "Can you tell me where your mom is?"
"She's walking Kate and Tess' mommy to the elevators."
Kate and Tess' mommy? Carter thought before it dawned suddenly. "Is your last name Lockhart?"
"No. It's Wyczenski." She said carefully.
That had been Maggie's last name. "Is your mom's name Abby?"
"Uh-huh. She's a nurse here. My aunt Susan is a doctor."
"You know what? I bet your mom is looking for you right now."
"Faith?" they heard from the hall.
"Bet that's her." John smiled. "Abby?"
"Yeah?" Abby said as she stuck her head in. "Faith. Oh thank God." She rushed forward and scooped up the little girl.
"Hi Mommy."
"What have I told you about wandering away?"
"I'm sorry but one of the sick people dropped this." Faith held up a lighter. "But I couldn't find them."
"Okay sweetie. We'll talk more tonight. For now we'll put the lighter in the lost and found." Abby smiled before she looked at John. "Thanks. I'm so glad it wasn't a stranger that found her."
"No problem. I think Faith's learned her lesson about running off, right Faith?" John smiled at her.
"Yep." Faith nodded.
"Good. Night John."
"Night." He watched them leave. Before they were out of earshot he heard Faith's voice.
"He's nice Mommy."
"Yeah he is." Abby agreed.
John smiled and went back to his charts. He felt kinda warm and fuzzy inside. He went to write something on his chart but he stopped suddenly. Abby's daughters were three years old. His brow furrowed as he calculated the timing. It fit but John dismissed his thoughts. No matter what their differences Abby wouldn't lie to him about something as important as children.
Jing-Mei looked at her fax machine for the umpteenth time that night. How long did it take to fax medical records, she idly wondered. Maybe they were checking on the story she'd given about being Abby's family physician. She was about to go into the kitchen and make herself some tea when the machine started to make noise. She raced over to it and impatiently waited. As soon as the first sheet was done she impatiently grabbed it up. There it was clear as day. Name: Lockhart, Abigail. October 23, 2001. Patient found to be approximately fourteen weeks upon examination. Records from doctor in Chicago show healthy woman and strong fetal heartbeat.
Abby was pregnant before she left Chicago. Jing-Mei started to do the math. Fourteen weeks back from the end of October was early July. John had told her that he and Abby had slept together about the seventh of July. Oh good God. They were his. They had to be. Neither girl looked anything like Luka. The fax machine started to make noise again. Two more sheets printed out and Jing-Mei picked them up. They were birth certificates. Hope Elisabeth Wyczenski. Born April 10, 2002. Time of Birth: 12:02. Jing-Mei looked at the other one. Faith Lucille Wyczenski. Born April 10, 2002. Time of Birth: 11:42. She did a double take. Faith Lucille? She closed her eyes. Lucy.
John was going to hurt someone when he found out.