CHAPTER 16

first Abby dialogue for .... HOW many chapters!?!
hope you're still interested.

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John paused outside Abby's room, resting his head against the glass. Even now, seeing her took his breath away. He hadn't seen her in twenty four
hours, and it seemed like an eternity.
Elizabeth held the door open for him to enter.
All he could hear was the monotonous bleeping of the heart monitor, and the rasping mechanical noise of the ventilator.
He HATED that sound.

**She looks so small.....and pale - she's looks pale**

She had a large dressing on the side of her head, and a few cuts on her face.
Otherwise, she looked ... untouched.
He reached out, brushing her mouth with his hand, as if making sure she was real, that THIS was real.

"ok...Carter? if you'd get the oxygen mask....?"

It was all done so quietly.

Elizabeth gently, almost tenderly removed the tape from around Abby mouth that held the tube in place.
She motioned for Carter to switch the ventilator off as she pulled the tube out in a swift, fluid movement.
He put the O2 mask gently in place over her mouth, hooking the elastic around her ears.

They watched her SATs.

".....we're fine above ninety.." commented Elizabeth, as much to herself as to him.

They both watched in silence as her oxygen saturation levels slowly fell.

** 100% ** 96% ** 94% ** 90% ** 88% **

John shook his head, looking at Elizabeth who kept her eyes fixed on the screen.

"let's just give the oxygen a chance to kick in"

** 84% ** 83% ** 85% ** 88% ** 92% ** 95% **

Elizabeth smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I'll be back when she wakes up to give the post-op exam .... call me if you need anything"
She gave his shoulder a tight squeeze, and then got up and left.

John took Abby's hand and held it up to his face.
She was so weak, so ... poorly, and yet her touch was still like oxygen to him.
It felt so good just to be near to her again.

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Susan tapped lightly on the window and walked in.
"Hey" she whispered "How's she doing?"
John looked at his friend.
"She's breathing ok"
They sat in silence for a moment.
"Oh, here's her mom's number"
He took the piece of paper from her, unfolding it.
"I forgot ... I really should have called her already" he said, standing up to leave.
"Do you mind if I stay with her?" asked Susan.
He looked at her for a second.
"Sure, she'd like that"

He left the room quietly, Eleanor was waiting in the corridor for him.
"They said she was getting better."
He scratched his head, choosing to nod at her rather that explain the complexity of the situation.
"You should go home, you look tired"
Eleanor embraced her son tightly.
"You need anything .... anything ... call me"
"Thank you"
She put a hand to his face.
"I love you, take care"
and then she left.

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Susan sat in the room, just watching Abby. She knew she wanted to be here, but she felt awkward somehow - almost embarrassed.
She had grown to care very much for Abby, but their friendship was still very much undefined.

Susan was startled out of her thoughts by a small wheeze.
And then another one, this time louder.
Abby's face slowly contorted into a frown as she coughed - a dry, painful cough.
Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting, searching for something to focus on.
"Abby .... Abby, it's Susan"
Abby barely responded.
"...you're at the hospital ... do you know what happened to you?"
Abby shook her head slightly.
"..you were in a car accident ..."
Abby nodded suddenly, tears spilling over her eyes and down her cheeks.
"hey .. it's ok ... you're gonna be ok"

Abby lifted a hand to remove her mask.
Susan anticipated her
"here ..... I got it"
She lifted the mask off and let it hang down beneath Abby's chin.
Abby tried to wipe a tear away.
It amazed Susan how even now, even after the last two days, Abby was still ashamed to cry in front of her.
Her eyes closed for a second, and Susan thought she'd drifted back.

Abby was concentrating on her breathing - inhaling long, laboured breaths that came out in short, sharp bursts of pain.
Susan could tell she was struggling, and went to put the mask back on, but Abby raised a hand to stop her.
"Does he know?" her voice came out deep and hoarse
"Sure he does - he's been here all night - he just went to go phone you mom"
Abby let out two short, sharp gasps that passed for laughter.
"Great" she coughed "that's all I need"
Susan slipped the mask back over her face before Abby could resist.
"you need to take it easy ....... besides ..... you owe me ........... guess who had to baby-sit Mrs. Carter all evening?"
Susan could tell by her eyes that Abby was smiling at the thought.
She watched as they appeared to get heavier and heavier, until they finally closed.

"She's sleeping"  she whispered, to no one but herself

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I hope you liked this chapter

I gave you some ABBY but you still missing your CARBY !

next chapter - I promise

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