Smashed

A/N: This is my first ER FanFic ever, so it's probably really awful! It's silly actually, I've been a fan of ER for like forever… and only now I decide to do a fic lol. It takes place about a year and a half after Season 11. Bear in mind I haven't actually seen all of Season 11 yet. Oh yeah, and it's probably a lot like most of my WaT fics lol.

Disclaimer: Don't own any of it… not a sausage… zilch! Except of course Bryony, and any other characters you don't recognise!

"Tell me about it," Sam sighed, fiddling with a strand of slightly curly hair, "I've covered for what… 4 different nurses today?"

"Exactly what I used to have to do," Abby joined in the conversation, grabbing some notes from the reception desk which hadn't been filed properly.

The day had been pretty average, or at least as average as it got in an ER, with no major accidents happening in Chicago, which was something that the staff at County were very grateful for. On the other hand, they were 5 nurses down from a flu which was going around; meaning Sam Taggart had had to work extra. A lot extra. Not that she didn't work hard or anything; she was one of the most relied on nurses at the hospital, as well as one of the feistiest. Then again, you have to be feisty to put up with Luka Kovac.

Not that Luka was always bad. No way, she couldn't say that since she was engaged to the man! He was sweet, even if he had been with practically every attractive woman in the whole of Chicago… at least once.

Sam's thoughts were interrupted by the phone, "Is someone going to get that?"

Nobody answered, and nobody made any move to get the phone.

"Hello," Sam picked up the phone, "Chicago County…"

"Mom?"

Crap. "Yes Alex," Sighing, she rested the phone between her ear and shoulder, picking up the medical supplies somebody had left scattered across the counter.

"Mom, you have to come home," The voice of her 12 (A/N: Is this about right? Hope it is, remember he's had a birthday since s11) year old son floated down the line.

"What's wrong this time?"

Sam was getting sick of this. She'd only been back to work for about 6 months, and she'd received at least 20 calls from Alex of this kind. Just because he now had a little sister, he'd decided to be even more attention seeking than usual.

"Bryony's smashed my 'Dead Zone…'"

Sam sighed again, "I am not coming all the way home just because one of your precious Playstation games has been broken. Bye Alex…"

"No wait, Mom, it's not about that!" It was too late, she'd hung up.

Looking up from the pile of paperwork in front of him, Ray winked at Sam. She frowned. When he'd first come to the ER, everyone had thought Ray was… well… slightly odd! But now that she'd got to know him a bit, Sam knew he wasn't odd as such, just a little too big headed.

"What was that for?" She walked away, not waiting for an answer.

Unusually of a winter Saturday evening, the sun was shining strongly as Sam and Luka strolled out from the hospital, both wrapped up in warm coats. They said goodbye to Abby, Neela and Ray, walking out to the car lot where Luka had parked his much loved car. Sam's gloved hand fell to her side.

"Have a good day?" Luka asked, taking his fiancée's hand.

Sam shrugged. The day had been… eventful to say the least. Since Alex's phone call, which she had only just remembered, she'd been puked on twice, had one drunk guy ask her out on a date, and that's not even mentioning the emergencies she'd had to deal with as one of the only nurses at each case.

"It was alright… Alex phoned again,"

Luka shook his head, "Oh what was it this time?"

Ever since Luka had first met his step-son it had been one completely made up or over-emphasized situation after the next and he was sort of getting sick of it. Alex was a great kid, he had to admit that, but he was an attention seeker, and for the past year he'd gotten completely out of hand.

"Oh just to say Bryony sat on one of his PS2 games or something," She shrugged again.

Luka looked at her, "Couldn't he have told Clare that?"

"Apparently not,"

Even before they'd unlocked the door, they could hear loud music and shouting inside, not to mention the screaming of their daughter. Looking at Sam with the 'oh-great-guess-who-drank-too-much-coke?' look on his face, Luka turned the key in the door, and opened up. Immediately, they were greeted by heavy-metal music turned up as far as possible, with Alex trying to play the electric guitar Luka had given him for his birthday and Bryony screaming as loud as she could, sitting in the middle of the floor.

"ALEX!" Angrily, Sam scooped her crying daughter up, and pulled the plug on the stereo.

"Oh hey Mom,"

"Don't you dare 'hey mom' me!" Luka followed Sam in but stood back as she argued with Alex, "Look at your sister! She's not even a year old! You've probably busted her ear drums!"

Alex thought for a moment, "Hey Luka, can I learn to play the drums too?"

"NO!" Luka and Sam both said at the same time.

Handing Luka his daughter, who had now stopped crying; Sam pulled her son by the arm. He muttered something, before following her into his room, and slamming his door. Luka could still hear Sam's voice, though Alex's was more muffled. Even through the hall walls and Alex's bedroom door, he could hear her shouting about responsibilities and how she didn't want to come back to this ever again, or she'd send him to boarding school. Luka had heard it all before, but admired his fiancée's determination. It wasn't long before she came out again, rubbing her face with one hand.

She was just about to ask Luka whether he'd seen the nanny, when she spotted Clare lying on the couch behind him. They'd been so busy yelling at Alex that they hadn't noticed her fast asleep. Shaking her head, she shook the young woman's arm. Looks like we need a new nanny again.

"Clare?" Shutting out Bryony, who was screaming again, Sam bent over the nanny, one hand to her neck, "She's cold…"

Luka's eyes immediately dodged to the bottle of pills next to the couch, the bottle which was now empty, "Oh god!"

To Be Continued…