Abby wasn't at work. She was still sitting on the balcony at Cait's. Not doing anything, just sitting. Sitting and trying not to think. Willing herself to be numb.

Then the phone rang. She must have ended the previous call out of habit, she didn't recall actually disconnecting. Lifting her cell to her ear, she didn't bother looking at the display before hitting the green 'send' button that would let her pick up the new call. "Yeah...?"

The word was rasped, her throat dry from too many cigarettes smoked and not enough tears shed. "I thought you were taking him up to surgery?"

She assumed it was someone from Chicago calling her back, as promised.