[AUTHOR'S NOTE: I don't like Alex. I really don't like Alex. I could never understand why Luka likes Alex so much. Which is the inspiration for this fic, in which we all get to find out if Naomi can write humor as well as she writes angst and misery. I was going to wait a few days to post this ... seeing as I just finished my last one, but ... what the hell.]

[Disclaimer stuff: I don't own ER or any of the characters featured here. I do own this story, so please do not do anything but read it or print it out for your own enjoyment without getting permission from me first.]

--------------

"Come on, Alex, decide already!" grumbled Sam.

"I can't make up my mind between "Halloween 17 -- The Shriek of Shrek and Nightmare on Mulberry Street -- What They Saw. They both look so good."

"Well, just pick one. Whichever one we don't watch tonight, you can rent another day."

Sam had already made her selection, and Luka was still browsing around somewhere in the back of the store.

"Which would you rather see?" asked Alex.

Sam just shrugged. "I'm indifferent. Blood is blood as far as I'm concerned."

"Ok. Halloween 17, I guess. What do you have, Mom?"

Sam showed him the box, and Alex made a face. "Impractical Magic? Isn't that, like ... a chick flick?"

"So? I'm a chick, aren't I?" Sam scanned the store. "Luka! We're ready."

Luka's long legs carried him to the check-out area in a moment. Sam couldn't help noticing that he was holding his choice close to his leg. He took the other two boxes from Sam and said, "Alex, you go get us some popcorn while I pay for these."

After Alex had scurried off to the popcorn machine at the front of the store Sam said, "So, what did you get?" Luka put the DVD box on the counter, and Sam felt herself turn bright red. "Nurse Nancy and Latex Larry in 'A Spanking Good Time?'" she whispered, her voice a horrified squeak. "I don't think that's exactly appropriate for Alex, do you?"

Luka shrugged. "It isn't for Alex, it's for us. He'll be going to bed eventually, right? And so will we. Eventually." He handed the clerk his rental card and payment, and went on, "I was going to get Velma and Daphne Go to the Dogs, but this one looked a little more educational. And you know, there's a whole series of these Nurse Nancy stories. If we like this one..."

"Enough!" whispered Sam. "Alex is coming back."

The clerk put the DVDs into a bag, and Luka quickly stuck it into his pocket. "Ok," he said brightly to Alex. "We're all set."

"Which one did you get this time?" Alex asked, his mouth full of popcorn.

"You won't like it," Luka said. "It's one of those boring chick flicks that you always complain about."

"Two chick flicks? I'll bet this one has lots of kissing and stuff in it too." Alex grumbled.

"And stuff," Luka agreed good-naturedly. His eyes sparkled at Sam over the top of Alex's head, and it was all she could do to keep from laughing.

"By the time Halloween is over, it will be your bedtime anyway," she reminded Alex. "Let's go, Luka. I'm starving."

Twenty minutes later, after a quick visit to a drive through, the three of them were settled in Sam's living room, watching Halloween 17. Alex was sprawled across the floor with his burger and fries, while Sam and Luka snuggled together on the sofa. The company was nice, but Sam just picked at her dinner. Funny how she could deal with blood and gore all day in the ER, and eat a hearty lunch in the process -- but all the fake blood on the tv screen just turned her stomach.

"This is so cool!" cried Alex. "Did you see that, Luka!"

"It's so unrealistic," complained Luka. "They need to hire technical advisors to help them with the medical stuff in these movies."

"Like Nurse Nancy, maybe?" Sam whispered in his ear.

"Really, Sam. Is this realistic? At all? When people are cut in half, the blood doesn't ...." He was interrupted by the telephone ringing.

Sam sighed and reached over to pick it up. "Hello? Hi, Mom. Yeah, I'm fine. Alex is fine too. And Luka's fine .... oh, I'm sorry, Mom. When? ... I can't, Mom. Alex has school ... I'll see what I can do, Mom ... I said I'll try, ok?" Sam hung up the phone and shook her head.

"What's wrong?" asked Luka.

"My Great-aunt Maude died this morning."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

Sam took a french fry. "Don't be. I haven't seen her since I was about 5. She was 97, had Alzheimer's and cancer and heart disease. Should've died years ago, but seemed determined to prove to everyone what a stubborn cuss she was. But ... Mom is insisting that I go to the funeral. She apparently told everyone that I'd be there. Maude adored me, I guess. All these years when she didn't know who anyone was, she still had very vivid memories of me. She used to baby-sit me while Mom worked. To the day she died she thought I was still two years old and potty training."

"So you should go. It will make everyone happy."

"I can't, Luka. The funeral is the day after tomorrow. Alex can't miss that much school. And he's never met her, so it would be ridiculous..."

"Where is it?"

"St. Petersburg, Florida. It will take me all day tomorrow to get there, and another whole day to drive home again. It's like a 22 hour drive or something."

"Can't you fly?"

"I don't fly. I've always been terrified of flying. I could drive it ... but Alex ..."

"So, go by yourself."

"What will I do about Alex?" Sam repeated.

"I can take care of Alex for a few days. I'm off tomorrow, and on days for the rest of the week."

"I can't ask you to do that," Sam said dubiously.

"You didn't ask me. I offered."

"I'd have to leave ... like ... now .. if I'm going to get there at a reasonable hour tomorrow."

"So do it. You pack what you need for the trip. I'll run home and get some stuff for myself. It won't take me more than an hour or so. By the time I get back, you should be ready. I'll stay with Alex until you get back." He grinned at Alex. "We'll have fun, right?"

"And I'll just be having a blast ..." Sam said with a sigh. "But if you're sure it's ok ..."