"Life's Little Surprises"
By: Adrienne
Rating: PG
Summary: A cheesy and highly unlikely Luka and Abby story.
Abby Lockhart moaned and slowly opened her eyes as the alarm clock went off. Five am is too early to get up, she thought.
"Morning," a voice beside her said. Abby rolled over to face Luka Kovac.
"Hi," she replied. He leaned in and kissed her.
"Did you sleep well?" Luka asked.
"Can't complain," Abby replied with another kiss. They had been living together for nearly six months now and their relationship was much changed since that fateful first date.
"If we don't get up now, we'll be late," she said.
"Kerry can wait," he replied as he kissed her neck and pulled her close.
"No, she's been on the warpath lately, and we were already late once this week."
"Okay," he replied with a last kiss. Abby got out of bed and stood up, but was immediately overcome with dizziness and fell to the floor.
"Abby? What's the matter? Are you sick?" Luka asked, hovering over her.
"No, I'm fine," she told him as he helped her up.
"Are you sure?" he asked with concern.
"Yes," Abby insisted, and slowly walked into the bathroom.
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Abby stepped out of the shower and went through her routine of getting ready for work. When she got to the kitchen, she went over to the coffee machine, but didn't hear Luka sneak up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her cheek.
"Hey." She turned around and kissed him. "Ready to go?"
"Almost," he replied and kissed her again.
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Abby and Luka walked home that night, as usual. It was the beginning of October, and only a slight chill was entering the air. They held hands, both lost in their own thoughts. A young family was in front of them on the sidewalk. The mother held her daughter's hand and the father carried the toddler son. They were laughing and making jokes, not a care in the world. Abby smiled at the sight, and glanced over at Luka. He was staring at the family with sad eyes, and when he noticed Abby looking at him, he began concentrating on the pavement.
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The next day Abby woke up with a headache that continued all day. Along with the persistent headache, she felt an incredible annoyance whenever someone asked her to do something. She snapped at patients and the other nurses. Later Carter approached her.
"Are you okay, Abby?" he asked.
"I'm fine, Carter," she replied testily.
"Because you seem upset about something."
"I'm fine, just leave me alone!" Abby practically yelled. Then she realized what she had just done and looked shocked. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry, Carter," she began weeping. "I don't know what's wrong with me lately…"
"Shh, no. It's okay," he said and put an arm around her. "You've been under a lot of stress lately. I'm just surprised it took so long to catch up with you…Do you want me to talk to Weaver? I'm sure she'd let you off early."
"No, no," Abby said, wiping her eyes. "I'm fine now."
"Abby," Carter said quietly, "it's okay if you need to cry."
"I feel better now, actually. Thanks."
"Okay," Carter said, still concerned.
Abby walked into the lounge completely exhausted. She had been so tired the past few weeks. Carter was sitting at the table having lunch.
"Hey Abby," Carter said as she sat down across from him. "It's been a slow day," he remarked.
"Yeah, it's a nice change."
"You know Abby, maybe you should go take a nap in the on-call room or something. You look like hell."
"Gee, thanks," she replied sarcastically.
"I'm sorry, but you've been like this for a while."
"I don't know what's wrong with me. I almost never get sick."
"Maybe you just caught a really strong strain of the flu."
"Maybe."
"Is it something else? Did you hear from your mother again?"
"No."
Carter hesitated. "Is it Luka?"
Abby raised her eyebrows. "Why would you think that?"
"I see the way you are around each other, and I'm sure he's not the easiest person to live with…"
"That's not fair, Carter," she told him quietly. "You only see us at work…you don't know him."
"I'm sorry, I just worry. I don't want to see you get hurt."
"You don't have to worry about me, I've never been happier," Abby told him sincerely.
"Okay," he replied, somewhat relieved. "Do you want some?" Carter asked, holding out part of his sandwich.
"No thanks. What is that anyway?"
"Egg salad. Gamma made it for me. You sure you don't want any?"
"That's okay," Abby replied as nausea set in. She went very pale and then ran to the bathroom, getting there just in time. Carter went after her, but Kerry Weaver spotted him first.
"Carter, where do you think you're going?" she asked.
"Umm…the bathroom?"
"That's the women's bathroom."
"Right. Actually Abby was in the lounge and got sick. I was just going in to check on her."
"Okay," she relented, and Carter walked in. Abby was at the sink running cold water over her face.
"You all right?"
"Yeah."
"Want me to examine you?"
"Why not?" she said and they walked into exam 1.
----------------------------------
"How long have you had these symptoms?" Carter asked in a professional manner.
"About three weeks."
"Are you on any medications?"
"No."
"When was your last period?"
"Probably two months ago, I've never really been regular."
"Any chance that you're pregnant?" At that moment it hit Abby. Of course! The headaches, nausea, irritability, mood swings. She couldn't believe she hadn't realized it before.
"Yes," she replied to Carter.
"Do you use birth control?"
"We try to."
"Okay. Why don't we run a pregnancy test and find out," Carter said with an encouraging smile.
Carter walked back into the room with the test results.
"What is it?" Abby asked.
"You're pregnant."
Abby looked at him, not sure if she should be happy or not.
"Are you going to keep the baby?"
"I don't know…Luka and I never really discussed it…"
"Well, we can do a sonogram, see how far along you are."
"Okay."
On the monitor was a distinct heartbeat; Abby was nearly twelve weeks. After he was finished she sat up, and Carter sat next to her.
"What are you thinking?" he asked and Abby began crying.
"How am I going to tell him…He loved his children so much, and it hurts him whenever he sees a family together…he always looks away…It's not that I don't want the baby; I do…and I'm just so scared…I mean, my mother…I don't want to hurt my baby like she hurt me."
"Abby, listen to me. You will be a wonderful mother. You will. You're caring and sweet, I don't know anyone who is so compassionate…and if Luka doesn't want the baby; I don't know. Leave him, stay with him. But if you want this baby and Luka can't see how wonderful you are and how lucky he is, then you need to decide what's best for you and for your baby."
Carter held her and when Abby stopped crying she looked up at him. "Come on, let me take you home."
They sat in Carter's car outside of Abby's apartment building.
"Are you going to tell him tonight?" Carter asked.
"Might as well get it over with."
"Good."
"Thank you for everything today, Carter," Abby said.
"Abby, if you need me, call and I can be over in five minutes." They embraced, Abby took a deep breath and got out of the car.
"Abby, I almost forgot!" he called after her.
"Yeah?"
"Congratulations."