Heh, so this is my first attempt at an ER fanfic. Huh.
Disclaimer : I do not own these characters, they are not mine though I love them dearly. (Apart from Rose, who is my own, based on a friend…)
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Carter strode briskly into the ER.
"Good morning Carter…" Weaver barely glanced at him, but her tone was pleasant. As pleasant as Kerry Weaver could be, that is.
The shorter doctor was Carter's senior, and had been long enough for Carter to become accustomed to her cool manner, even understand it. She had short, coppery, almost red hair, and walked with a crutch.
No-one - not even Carter - knew why, because no-one had ever asked her. They just accepted it, mainly because she could be so fearsome. Most of the staff at county had had a run in with her at some point, and she had quite a reputation for being ruthless, but this was part of the reason that Carter liked her.
Carter raised a hand in greeting and entered the small but cosy doctor's lounge. Susan Lewis sat cradling a lukewarm cup of coffee at the empty table.
"Hey Carter." Susan sounded tired.
"Hey Susan, what's up?"
Susan was a colleague, and a friend. Her blonde hair, usually straight and pulled back into a pony tail, hung around her cheeks in waves and curls. Her eyes, usually dancing, were dull, and her face was pale.
"Two GSW's and One RTA. I'm exhausted." It was an understatement.
"Just another busy night in the ER" Carter's enthusiasm made Susan wince. Damn him! She watched him turn on his heels and return to the admin desk.
Carter picked up his charts and began to leaf through them. Deciding to start on the little boy with chronic stomach pain, he walked in the direction of exam four. Too late.
"Carter! Bridge collapse, three major traumas on way. ETA Five minutes."
As he stood out in the ambulance bay, waiting for the traumas, his life changed forever.
He felt someone crash into his arm. Loosing his balance momentarily, he sought to steady himself. He looked around for his mystery assailant.
"Down here…"
She was petite; her wavy dark hair fell about her shoulders. Dressed in scrubs, Carter assumed she was a new Intern. Her soft brown eyes gave away her nerves, and sent a shiver down Carter's spine.
"First day?" Carter offered her his hand to help her up. She took it gratefully. Remembering his time as an Intern, Carter mentally cringed at his mistakes. Jeez. On his first day he was so nervous he tripped and fell, sending a tray of instruments crashing to the floor. The ER was silent as he knelt to pick them up.
She returned to her feet, embarrassed, and attempted to bring Carter back to the real world.
"Yeah. Abby Lockhart…" She offered her name, and noticing that they were still holding hands, she attempted to disguise this fact by shaking it vigorously. He replied "John Carter" and appeared not to notice his hands.
"Can you tell me where the chief of staff is? I'm meant to start at -" Abby glanced at her watch "- Five minutes ago"
"Through the door, ask for Kerry Weaver"
"Thanks" She whirled around and headed for the big double doors.
"Abby -" Carter called after her, but she was gone. He was going to warn her about Weaver's temper. "Be nice, Kerry" He said, to no-one in particular.
**********************************
Abby decided that Weaver was someone to steer clear of. No, she thought. Make that avoid at all costs. Bitch. She insisted that she had no knowledge of Abby's transfer, and then, after checking her records and finding out that actually Abby was right, she gave her the homeless man in exam two with fleas, and the woman in five with a chronic stomach bug.
Vomit wasn't a good look, Abby mused, as she cleaned herself up in the ladies. "Eugh" She gagged. Being a nurse wasn't all it was cracked up to be.
**********************************
What a shift! Carter slumped into the lounge's worn couch. Clasping the coffee cup, he took a long drink. After treating the traumas from the bridge collapse, Carter returned to his rounds. He had the boy with stomach pain, a broken hip, a heart attack, and a little girl who had swallowed a dime. And then there was that Intern who crashed into him that morning. For some reason, he couldn't shake her eyes from his mind.
"…Carter?"
Carter nearly jumped out of his skin.
"Hey Mark!"
"Girl troubles?" Mark grinned mischievously and headed for his locker.
"…Mark, do you know her?" Carter caught a glimpse of Abby through the windows and pointed her out to the chief resident.
"Um, yeah, she's the new nurse. Abby-something…"
"Lockhart" Carter answered quickly, without thinking. "She's a nurse? I thought…"
"She was an intern?"
"…yeah"
"Its ok, Doctors are allowed to date nurses" Mark gave Carter a sly wink and a smile.
Carter looked at him with surprise "I never said anything about dating her…"
Mark gave him a knowing look and walked out.
**********************************
"How did you do this?" Luka Kovac gently examined the deep cut in his patient's hand.
"I fell on some glass. My son broke a window and I tripped"
"Ok, well, I can't see any glass in the cut, but you will need to get some stitches. I'll call a nurse to do that for you, and then you can go home."
"Thank you, Doc."
Luka stuck his head out around the curtain.
"Excuse me…"
"Yeah?" Abby turned around and looked at him.
"You're new, aren't you?"
"First day today"
He looked her up and down. His eyes settled on her face, and he smiled.
Abby blushed.
"Dr Luka Kovac" He offered his hand, and she took it.
"Abby Lockhart"
"Abby, Mr Anderson has a laceration that needs some sutures. Could you take a look?"
"Sure, give me a minute."
"Thanks"
The tall Croatian smiled again, and moved onto his next patient, Abby's blush still playing on his mind.
**********************************
What a day. Abby twisted the key in the door of her apartment, and pushed it open. The front room was still cluttered with boxes, though she'd lived there nearly three weeks. Throwing her keys on the small table beside the door, she walked into the kitchen to make herself some coffee.
Settling into a large, comfy arm chair, she curled her feet beneath her and took a long sip. That's better, she thought.
She felt such an idiot. She'd made so many mistakes that day; she thought she was going to get fired. The most embarrassing though, by far, was the collision she had with the doctor in the ambulance bay. She felt her cheeks burn just thinking about it. She liked him though. "Wish he'd warned me about Weaver…" Abby chuckled to herself.
But with Luka though, she blushed for a different reason. He was… She couldn't put her finger on it. Maybe it was his smile… Yes, she thought. That smile. Abby began to giggle, and then remembered something. Last time she felt like this, it was for Richard. She understood now. She understood how he had hurt her so much. It was because she loved him. She recalled all the things he did to her, the things she let him do. He beat her. He drove her to drink.
She sat, lost in thought, barely noticing the glassy beads rolling down her face.
That seemed like forever ago.
Some time later, wiping her eyes, Abby stood up. She glanced at the clock, and, seeing that it was late, headed for bed.
**********************************
It seemed like she'd been there forever, she fitted in so perfectly.
In fact it had only been a few weeks. Luka watched the petite nurse from the doctor's lounge window. She was chatting to Carter.
He felt a wave of jealousy cloud his vision. He shook his head vigorously, and told himself not to be so stupid. There was nothing between them, he knew.
Maybe he would go and ask her to go for a drink with him.
No, that just made him sound stupid. What about a meal? Was a meal good for a first date?
He was so bemused by American customs he settled on a good old fashioned movie.
He began to rehearse what he would say to her. "Hey Abby-" No, No. He paused, and began to pace the Lounge. "Abby, Hi, Would you like to go to a movie?" No, that wasn't right either.
"Yo, Abby!"
No, no, no. Was he insane? He was so lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice Susan walk in and stand behind him. A look of bemusement crossed her face.
"Abby, what are you doing Friday night? – no, no, too American" Luka smacked his hand to his head. "Oh, what am I going to do?"
"… You could try having a conversation with her first…"
Luka spun around and Susan laughed.
"The look on your face! Didn't mean to make you jump. What exactly were you doing?" Susan smirked, and tried to control her laughter. Luka reluctantly explained.
"That's sweet! I knew you liked her, but -"
"- You knew? How did you know?" Luka could feel his ears pinking.
"Oh, come on Luka, the whole ER knows you like her!"
"What?!?"
"Well, it's so obvious! Would you like my advice?"
Luka felt that whatever he said, he was going to get it, so he nodded.
"Coffee?" Susan was at the machine before he answered.
"Please…" Luka sat at the table, and put his head in his hands.
In moments, Susan had placed a small polystyrene cup in front of him and a friendly, comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Tell her how you feel. Ask her to go for coffee after work."
Luka smiled "I never thought of that"
"And one more thing…"
"Yeah?"
"Steer clear of 'Yo'. It might work if you were Will Smith, and she was your 'Homie' but you? No. Just- No."
"You heard that?" He stared into his coffee.
"All of it…" Susan grinned, and then started to laugh. "Yo?!?"
Luka couldn't help himself, and began to laugh with her.
**********************************
Abby was getting some benzocaine from the drug storeroom when he next saw her. In the tiny space they were forced together. She could feel electricity in the air.
"Uh, Abby-"
"Yeah?" She looked up at him and smiled. He returned her gaze, but his eyes were full of torment. Her smile faded. "What is it?"
"I was wondering - if maybe you'd like to – I mean it's ok if you don't–" He looked at his feet. "- Would you come out for coffee with me?"
"I'd like that" She could barely hide her excitement.
Luka looked pleasantly surprised. "You would?"
"How about tonight? I get off at six."
"Yeah – I mean, that'll be great"
"So I'll see you then, yeah?" She ran her hand through her hair, pulling it off her face. Luka saw how beautiful she was.
"Sure."
Abby signed off the benzocaine, and almost skipped from the storeroom.
When she was out of earshot she let out a little whoop of delight, and almost crashed into Carter - again. "We've got to stop meeting like this" He grinned. "What's up?"
Abby suddenly felt very awkward.
She almost thanked Weaver when she interrupted.
"Carter, Abby, I need you. Young boy, hit by a bus, ETA two minutes."
Carter and Abby donned the yellow scrub aprons and arrived in the ambulance bay just in time to see the ambulance appear around the corner.
**********************************
Luka and Abby met outside the lounge.
"Hey. Ready?" Luka smiled expectantly.
"Yeah." Abby beamed, and pulled on his arm. "Come on" He looked puzzled, and laughed as she almost dragged him out of the ER.
Abby wasn't sure why she was so eager to leave the ER. It made her uneasy to think that she might not want to be seen with Luka. There was something at the back of her mind that she couldn't quite reach, but she knew that it had something to do with their quick exit.
Walking along the street, with moist clouds of steam coming from their mouths and coffee warming their hands, Abby almost forgot about it. "So, how come you came to America?" Abby was curious. She knew little of Luka's past, but was certainly unprepared for what came next. She took a long gulp of her coffee and threw the cup away.
"When I lived in Croatia, my wife and I were very happy."
"Wife?" Abby had no idea Luka was married "You're married? What are you playing at?" She was confused. And angry.
"Calm down. Let me finish."
Abby relaxed a little, but realised luka was patronising her. God, she needed a cigarette.
"I was married." Luka saw the anger fade from Abby's features.
"She died."
Abby placed her hand on his cheek, and brushed it gently with her thumb. His glazed eyes fell upon her soft features, and he placed his hand upon hers.
"What happened?" She spoke softly, her eyes searching his.
Luka stared up at the sky, then down to the floor. He shifted his weight from foot to foot, then back again. Should he tell her? Would she believe him?
"It's ok, if you don't want to talk about it. If it's too hard"
"Thank you." He pulled her close and held her.
They stood in silence for what seemed like ages, their arms entwined.
**********************************
Breaking her grip, Abby looked at her watch. "It's getting late. Do you want to walk me home?"
Luka smiled that smile and took her hand.
They began to walk towards Abby's apartment. Their slow steps echoed on the quiet street.
Staring at the ground, Abby asked the inevitable question.
"Do you miss her?"
"Every day."
Luka told the truth.
They reached Abby's apartment almost in silence.
"This is me. Goodnight"
He leant in close, and she tilted her head. He kissed her cheek.
"Goodnight Abby"
She turned to her door, and disappointment flitted across her face.
**********************************
Luka flicked his eyes over his clipboards. His mind was elsewhere. He slouched back into the desk chair and sighed. He and Abby had been dating for a month. Her toothbrush had taken up residence in his bathroom. He had a change of clothes in her drawers. They were a couple. He was happy.
Or so he thought.
"Hi, I'm looking for Dr Weaver… Do you know where I can find her?"
Luka looked up from his charts, into the cool green eyes of a stranger. Suddenly he forgot what he was doing, where he was, what he was thinking about.
"Um…yeah…no…um…" He shook his head, trying to re-arrange his thoughts into some kind of order. Right.
"She isn't here at the moment. She's on a break"
"Oh, right. Is it ok if I hang around?" She smiled, showing a row of pearly white teeth.
"Sure" Standing, Luka motioned to the waiting area.
"So, you a friend of hers?" He smiled, and not just because of the thought of Weaver having friends.
"I'm hoping to work here." This job wasn't going to be half bad, she thought. "Rose McKenzie" Her Scottish accent finally struck him. Leaning on the Admin Desk, She held out her hand. He took it.
"Luka Kovac" He replied, without taking his eyes from hers. "Are you new in America?"
"Been here a year."
Just then, Abby came up and stood by his side. She started to say something to luka but noticed the tall blonde standing with him.
"Well, aren't you going to introduce me to your new friend?" she tried to make her tone seem polite, but feared she'd failed.
"Abby, this is Rose. She's hoping to work here." Luka appeared not to notice.
"Hey, Abby" Rose offered her hand, and Abby reluctantly took it.
"So, are you a nurse?"
Ouch, Abby thought. She liked being a nurse. Or that's what she told herself.
"Yeah, and unlike you doctors, apparently, I have things to do. So, if you'll excuse me…" With that, she stormed off.
Rose leaned closer to Luka and whispered "I don't think she likes me…"
"Nonsense. She's just tired. I have to see some patients now. Would you like me to page Weaver for you?"
"No, it's ok. Do you mind if I tag along with you? I could use a good look around before I start."
"Sure"
They walked off smiling and chatting and Luka didn't notice as Abby passed him in the hall.
**********************************
Who was she? An old flame? A new one?
Abby drove herself crazy all day thinking about the new girl.
"What are you doing?" Carter's eyes widened as Abby filled the syringe with a clear liquid.
"You said twenty mills of Adrenaline…"
"No, Abby, I said twenty mills of heparin."
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry." Abby almost dropped the syringe. She was really off her game.
"Go, take a break, you look exhausted. I'll finish here"
She looked up at him with tired eyes. "Thanks, Carter" She dropped the syringe and bottle into the bin and turned and walked away.
**********************************
It was killing him, Abby and Luka being together.
He finished up with the patient, and went to get some lunch. He reached the cafeteria and realised that he wasn't that hungry. He got a coffee and sat at one of the rickety plastic tables, lost in thought. It wasn't as if he didn't like Luka. Well, he didn't dislike him.
And they were happy.
A thought crossed his mind.
Or were they? Was Abby just exhausted? Had they had a fight? Carter couldn't help but wish they had.
"Bad Carter" he said aloud, and then looked furtively around to see if anyone had heard him.
**********************************
Abby wandered into the ladies, and leant on the sink. Catching her reflection in the mirror she winced. She did look exhausted. Splashing water onto her face in an attempt to make her more awake, she made a decision.
She dried her face and went to find Luka. She wanted to know who Rose was. She saw Luka entering the Lounge and followed him inside, closing the door behind her.
"…Luka…"
"Oh, Hi Abby"
"Can we talk?"
"Sure"
Abby paused. What was she doing? Luka was her boyfriend! She was just being stupid. There was nothing going on. Luka was with her. It was none of her business if Luka had female friends. She chose to let it go.
"Actually, you know what? It doesn't matter."
Luka looked puzzled, but nodded.
"…Ok. See you later then?"
"Yeah." Abby turned and walked out.
Luka watched her go. What was all that about?
**********************************
Rose picked up her charts from the rack and flicked through them.
She'd been here a week now. Weaver was only too happy to have her in the ER, understaffed as they were. It was certainly hectic here, she thought, as Abby pushed past her to use the phone.
Eyeing the nurse warily, she moved off to her first patient of the shift.
As she walked across reception, she caught Luka watching her from the lounge window. Giving a tiny flirtatious wave and flashing a sweet smile his way, she strode to exam three.
**********************************
Carter dumped his charts back into the rack with a sigh. Seeing Abby, he thought how much happier she looked. It was a week, surely, since the incident with the heparin, and she was smiling again. Must've been something to do with all the attention Luka was giving the new girl. If he'd noticed it, surely she had.
"You off, Carter?" Abby saw him watching her. She could make out the tiredness etched onto his kind face.
He smiled at her, nodding.
"Was supposed to get off two hours ago. This place is bedlam. When'd you finish?" Abby checked her watch. "Now. Just gotta to do this, then I'm outta here. Thank god I'm not in tomorrow."
"Want to grab some dinner?" Carter couldn't stop himself.
"Um, actually, I'm going to dinner with Luka" Abby felt guilty for turning Carter down. Or was it regret? A small frown brushed her features, but she hid it well.
Carter kicked himself. "Some other time then…"
Of course she would be having breakfast with Luka. They were still together, he knew, and he hated it.
Abby hung up the phone and walked the short walk to the lounge to get her coat. The blinds were shut. That was odd. The blinds were seldom shut. Maybe someone was taking a nap, Abby deduced.
Careful to be quiet in case she woke whoever was sleeping, Abby pushed open the door. The fluorescent light of the hall reached into the lounge, casting harsh yellow beams onto the lockers. Abby threw her eyes around the scene and froze, rooted to the spot.
Unsure of what to do, she just stood in the doorway, bewildered and broken hearted.