“Visiting Hours”

by Layne and Stacey

Even though Cal had decided to cover much of the current news going on at the hospital himself, he realized he couldn't keep Libby in the office once she'd heard about Abby.  So, he'd sent her to the hospital right after they'd both received calls from Marie regarding Abby.

Libby sped off toward Coffs Harbour going twice the speed she normally would.   She'd been so worried about Abby for so long!  Arriving at the hospital, she parked in a hurry and rushed in, going straight to the room where Marie had said Abby would be.

Abby had been admitted to a room by now, having spent a good part of the night before down in the emergency room being treated for shock. She was still pretty out of it, though - partly due to the medication the hospital had given her to help her rest and partly because of everything she'd gone through. Even after he talk with Marie, she was still feeling guilty for what she'd done to Ross and for everything that happened afterwards with Alistair. If she'd been stronger, if she'd let someone know... if she hadn't pushed Colin away the way she did... all this swirled around in her mind... was still swirling around, in fact, that she barely registered the door to her room opening.

"Abby!"  Libby rushed over toward the hospital bed.  "I'm so happy to see you!  I've been so worried!"

Stopping short at the rather strange expression on her friend's face, Libby said, "My God!  What did that man do to you?  Are you all right?"

"I'm fine... really...," Abby tried to assure her friend. "But... Dwayne... he's... dead! They shot him! And...and... I think I killed Alex Ross!" she began to cry again, covering her face with her left hand. "I stabbed him... in the chest! And then Alistair was there... and... oh Libby! It was awful! Dwayne hit him on the head really hard and I still don't know why! And then... then there was this shoot-out... and... and... Dwayne's... dead!"

 "Oh, Abby!"  Libby hugged the other girl, being careful not to hurt her.  "I'm sorry about Dwayne.  So sorry you had to go through all this, and that you had to see what you did."  Libby had heard that Dwayne had been shot right in front of Abby.  Privately, she thought that Abby was much better off, but it had to have been horrible to witness your husband being killed.

She pushed Abby's hair back from her face.  "You didn't kill Alex Ross, though," she reassured Abby.  "I asked about him on the way in.  He's not dead.  He's in serious condition, but he's alive."

"He's... alive?" Abby asked, "Oh thank God! I was so worried I'd killed him! He was so pale... had lost so much blood... And poor Alistair... Oh Libby, if it weren't for me, none of this would ever have happened."

"Now, that's just nonsense, Abby!  You're not responsible for any of this.  It was Dwayne."  Libby drew a chair up to the side of the bed and sat down.

"He kidnapped you.  He held you hostage.  He's the one who brought Alistair to your house."  She held Abby's hand.  "I've heard about most of it now, and it was Dwayne not you!"

Abby wiped at her tears, sighed, "That's what Marie told me, too, but it wasn't Dwayne that plunged that knife into Ross! It was... me..." she looked up at Libby, couldn't quite make eye-contact. "I... I... want to... see him. Ross, I mean. I need to tell him I'm sorry, need to explain. I wouldn't blame him if he won't see me, but I'd like to try. Will you find out if he's able to receive visitors? Ask him if he'll talk to me? Please?"

"It was you, but only because Dwayne had drugged you and terrified you," Libby told her, squeezing her hand.  From the look on Abby's face, though, Libby knew she wouldn't rest until she'd seen Alex Ross.

Sighing, she told Abby, "I'll go find a nurse.  Ask if you can see him.  Now, you just rest until I get back."

Abby nodded, laid back on her bed. She couldn't rest, though, until she talked to Ross - knew he was okay and that he'd forgive her.

Libby found Alex's room down another hall and peeked in at the door to see if he was awake.

Alex's eyes were closed, but fluttered open when he heard someone enter his room. He couldn't quite tell who was there, thought it must be the nurse again. "Pain's better... thanks... meds doing their job..." he slurred, grinning slightly.

"That's good," Libby said softly, not sure what to say to him.  She stepped closer to the bed, giving him a chance to see her.

"It's me.  Libby Tyler," she told him hesitantly.  "Abby sent me.  She was hoping she could talk to  you."

"Oh... hey doll," Alex said, his words still quite slurred. "She didn't send you to finish the job on me, did she?" she chuckled, "If she didn't like me startin' my own paper, she just shoulda told me... didn't hafta go and try ta kill off the competition..." he tried to chuckle again, let out a moan and grabbed his chest.

"Oh, God-!"  Libby pushed the button for the nurse and then grabbed his other hand.  "Someone'll be here in a minute.  I'm sorry.  I shouldn't have tried to talk  to you-"

"Is... alright..." Alex told her, "Only hurts when I... laugh." He paused a moment, opened his eyes wider to get a better look at Libby, "Well... hel-lo... you're lookin' pretty...fuckin'... hot... um... Libby, was it?" A sloppy grin spread across his face.

"Is everything okay in here? Mr. Ross?" the nurse asked, as she rushed into the room.

"Fine... jus... pea-chy," Alex told her, smiling.

Indignantly, Libby pulled her hand away.  "He's definitely gonna make it," she told the nurse huffily.  "He's feeling good enough to embarrass me!"

The nurse smiled and nodded, then gave Alex an admonishing look and left the room.

"Well..."  She looked at him questioningly.  "Do you think you feel like speaking to Abby?"

"Depends...," he said, "she packin' heat this time? Cuz I don think I'd be up fer tha..." a boyish grin spread across his face, then he added, "she... okay... then? I... saved her?"

Libby calmed down then.  "Yes, she's okay.  She's shaken up and it may take her awhile to get over everything that's happened, but you did save her."  There was gratitude on her face.  "Thank you."

Alex smiled, "Good...umm... yeah... send her in... tha more tha merrier, I al-ways say..."

Abby insisted that she could walk just fine, but Libby got a wheelchair and pushed her down the hall to Alex Ross' room.  She sat in one corner while the two of them talked.

Alex had dozed off again by the time Libby returned with Abby.

"Oh Alex...," Abby sighed, trying her best not to start crying again, "I'm SO sorry..."

Alex's eyes fluttered open, a grin spread across his face, "Jus couldn't stay away, huh doll?" he told Libby, then opened his eyes wider, noticing Abby's grim expression. "Sorry... I... um... couldn't be much use, slim."

"Oh Alex, I'm the one that's sorry," Abby wailed, "I didn't mean to... to hurt you... I thought... I thought you were Dwayne."

Alex smiled, "Yeah, I kinda figured that." He closed his eyes again, moaned a bit.

"I won't bother you any more, I just wanted to make sure you're okay, and to let you know how very sorry I am and... oh Alex! If there's anyway I can make this up to you... to repay you for putting your life in danger on account of me..." she began to cry again, not able to hold back the tears any longer. Seeing Alex like this... knowing she'd caused him to nearly die... she just couldn't deal with it.

The corners of Alex's lips curved up slightly, "I think maybe I can come up with something... some way..."

Abby chuckled, wiped at her tears. "Even in a near death situation he's a incorrigible," she told Libby, then placed a hand ontop of Alex's, "I'm sure you can, Ross. And you know, if you get outta here I may just take you up on that."

"Yeah, incorrigible," Libby echoed her, grinning at both of them.  It was so good to see Abby laughing and feeling better.

"I should get you back to your room now," she told Abby.  "We'll leave Ross to rest.  He's gonna need it.  Having you repay him will take a lot of strength.  And don't forget, Ross, you still owe me a drink!"

She laughed at the expression on his face, as they headed for the door.

"Thanks, Libby," Abby told her, as her friend wheeled her back to the elevator and up to her floor. "I feel much better knowing he's gonna be alright."

As the two of them walked into Abby's room, they were shocked to see Colin sitting in there waiting.

Her eyes moving from Abby to Colin, Libby could take a hint.  She needed to leave now.

"Well-  I guess you two have a lot to talk about," she said, giving Abby a hug and edging toward the door.  "If you need anything at all, Abby, you just call me.  And get well soon!  So you can come back to work.  Cal has me doing absolutely everything around there!"

"Give Cal my love," Abby told her, "Let him know I'll be back on the job just as soon as I can."

As Libby made her exit, Abby turned back to Colin and frowned.