AUTHOR: Em
CATEGORY: A bit of everything
SPOILERS: Tiny one for Season 8 but we've all seen that anyway so it's hardly worth mentioning.
ARCHIVE: Just ask
DISCLAIMER: I own none of the characters of ER.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Second in a series I'm writing which I think will be called "Moonstruck" unless there are any better suggestions. Written after realising that I've never written anything other than Carby and I wanted to try something different. Runs concurrently with "Cosmo's Moon", taking place on the same night, but you don't necessarily have to have read that to read this.
AUTHOR'S APOLOGIES: I was watching Absolutely Fabulous whilst writing this chapter so I apologise for the use of the endearment "sweetie" where it occurs. I know it's probably out of place, but we can all blame Jennifer Saunders for being so funny.
AUTHOR'S INDEBTEDNESS: Big thanks for this story should go to Joycelyn Solo, who as ever has helped me come up with the best ideas when I'm tearing my hair out, and to Viki who has been a wonderful sounding board and had the good judgement to dissuade me for the few brief moments I was considering making this a Susan/Luka pairing!
SUMMARY: Susan Lewis goes for a night out with some of her colleagues and encounters a little moonstruck magic.
~~~~~
Susan Lewis sat at the admit desk with her chin in her hands and stared into space. The ER had been hectic all day but now, with an hour left of her shift, everything seemed to have died down. Labs were all back, she was up to date with her charts, the board was practically empty…and she was bored out of her mind.
She couldn't get the image of the little girl from earlier out of her head. She had reminded her so much of little Suzie…of course this was nothing new. It seemed like lately every young patient she treated reminded her of her young niece, of the time she was missing with her, but this particular girl was different. There was something about her eyes, an age and knowingness that was sad in one so young, and she didn't know if she would forget it in a hurry.
Thank goodness for tonight. She and some of the nurses had arranged to have a night out, and Lord knows she needed it. It felt like she had lived in the hospital for the last few weeks, so she was looking forward to going home, relaxing in a nice warm bath, going out with her friends, and getting so drunk she could forget that she was a doctor.
Her mission now, besides getting through the rest of her shift, was to get as many people as possible in on this little excursion. She couldn't remember the last time the staff had all gone out for a drink together…probably that night at The Lava Lounge after they had heard about Mark Greene's death…and she missed this interaction outside of the workplace. She liked these people, and for once she wanted to have a conversation with them that didn't involve the words "blood" or "vomit." Just as she was thinking who else she could talk into coming along she saw Carter emerge from the lounge carrying his bag on his shoulder and with his coat folded over his arm. He walked over to the desk to sign out, smiling sympathetically at Susan's tired face.
"They're keeping you busy," he teased.
"Don't even joke about it," she groaned. "I only have another hour and I don't want to spend it with sick people!"
"Spoken like a true doctor," he chuckled, running his hands through his hair and closing his eyes. "God, I'm exhausted. I haven't seen that many people with food poisoning since I was in Med School." Susan gave a little laugh at the memory.
"You know what you need? A night out on the town with your good friends from the ER!"
"Susan…" Carter started, obviously not too enamoured of the idea of going out that night.
"Oh come on, don't be such a spoil-sport. It will be fun!"
"What will?" a voice asked from behind them. Turning around Susan could see Abby Lockhart coming towards them. "Hey sweetie," she said, walking over to Carter and kissing his cheek, then turned her attention back to Susan. "What will be fun?"
"A complete booze-up at the bar with your friends from the ER tonight? A whole bunch of us are going: me, Deb, Chuny, Malik…Should be fun!" she added in a sing-song tone, trying to cajole them into coming along with her.
"I don't know," Carter replied hesitantly, as if he was trying to come up with a convincing excuse for why they couldn't go out with Susan. "It's been a really long day, and I'm not sure if we're up to going out…Abby?" he asked, turning to his girlfriend of six months and silently asking her to make their excuses for him.
"You know Susan, I think we were just going to go home and crash in front of the TV, maybe make some popcorn and put a video on…just veg out and forget this place exists for a couple of hours! Maybe some other time?"
"Yeah, sure, you guys should go spend time with each other. We'll do it another time." She tried to sound cheerful and almost succeeded, but there was a little tinge in her voice that belied her disappointment. Carter and Abby, however, remained too wrapped up in each other to notice.
"Thanks Susan. You're the best!" Carter gave her one of his biggest grins and placed his arm around Abby's shoulder, pulling her closer to his side.
"Don't I know it," Susan said wryly, "why else to I spend every waking hour in this place? That's why tonight is going to be such a blast. All the ER staff together, doctors and nurses relaxing and enjoying each other in a social capacity…"
"Come on, Susan! You're making me feel guilty, and I really am tired." Carter used the little-boy voice that Abby was well acquainted with, and was rewarded with a gentle elbow in the stomach as a reward. "What? What did I say?" he asked incredulously. Abby widened her eyes, silently telling him to shut up. Susan witnessed this silent exchange and decided not to attempt to persuade them any further.
"Okay, okay, that's all I've got. Cross my heart." She straightened up and made a gesture of drawing a cross across her heart with her forefinger, then leaned back down against the desk. "So what are you guys going to watch?" she asked, trying to make conversation and hopefully bring the end of her shift that little bit nearer.
"I'm not quite sure…something disgustingly romantic and sweet probably," Abby mused. "What about 'Sleepless in Seattle' or 'While You Were Sleeping'? They're pretty fluffy films."
"How about 'Moonstruck'?" Susan asked. "It always cheers me up when I've had a bit of a long day."
"Oh I love that film!" Abby replied. "Don't you love the part where Loretta makes Jonny get down on his knees and propose in front of everybody in the restaurant."
"How about the bit where she and Ronny meet at the Opera and meet her father and his girlfriend," Susan joined in enthusiastically. "I've got it at home if you ever want to borrow it?" she offered.
"Thanks, but I think I've actually got a copy somewhere. I'll have to search it out when we get back. What do you think, sweetie?" Abby asked, turning to Carter. "Do you want to watch Moonstruck?"
"Sounds like a chick flick," Carter said disparagingly. "Do I have to sit through it as well?"
"Not if you never want to get lucky again," Abby said pointedly.
"Well, when you put it like that…" Carter said, raising his eyebrows. "Listen, we should really get going if we want miss rush hour. Are you ready Abby?"
"Just let me grab my purse." She left his side and walked away to the lounge, emerging moments later with her purse over her shoulder and Carter's keys in her hand. "You left these in the locker," she said, handing the keys to him.
"Oops…wonder how I could forget them. So we're good to go?"
"Yep," she said, taking his hand and turning to go. "Bye Susan!" she called out over her shoulder as they reached the double doors into the ambulance bay.
"Yeah, bye Susan!" Carter turned and called out. "Have fun tonight."
"You too," she called out to their retreating figures. Watching them in the ambulance bay, laughing and hugging and kissing, she felt all the more isolated, and again she found herself thinking about little Suzie.
Suddenly, however, she became aware of somebody standing next to her at the desk, and a quick glance told her it was Luka. At first she thought that he must have come over to discuss a patient since he was gripping a chart in his hands, but he just stared straight ahead and didn't speak. Curious she followed his line of sight to see that he was also watching the retreating forms of Carter and Abby, lost in his thoughts. Susan straightened up from her leaning position and looked over at Luka.
"They look good together, don't they?" she asked.
"Excuse me?" He turned to her quickly as she pulled him from his thoughts.
"Carter and Abby. They make a nice couple."
"I've not thought about it," he said dismissively, looking down at the chart in front of him and jotting some notes down. "I suppose so."
"I see the two of them together and it makes me wonder…you know, if there is such a thing as the perfect person for you. If there is one person that you are meant to meet and grow old with. What do you think?"
"I suppose so," he repeated, placing the completed chart in the rack and pulling a new one.
"You used to go out with Abby, didn't you?" He didn't answer but instead just gave her a look before returning his attention to the chart, so she continued. "I think that was the problem when Carter and I were going out. Nothing was ever going to really come between those two, was it?"
"No," he answered shortly. "If you'll excuse me…" He picked up the phone and dialled a number, then proceeded to have a conversation with somebody on the other end. From what Susan could gather it was about some discrepancies in a patients records sent over from Mercy, but she wasn't really listening. She waited until he had hung up the phone and then tried to draw him into conversation again.
"Are you going to the bar tonight?" she asked. "Because if you are we could maybe get a drink together, talk about our mutual lack of a love life."
"I'm afraid I've not been on that long. I'm on until midnight."
"You could always meet us afterwards. I think we're going to be making a night of it."
"Thank you, but no. I don't think I'll be very good company for anybody today. Another time perhaps."
"Sure…Luka!" she stopped him as he started to walk away. "The offer's always there. Anytime you want to talk about something, *anything*, just come around. We all need somebody to talk to sometimes."
He didn't answer, but smiled and nodded acknowledgement as he walked away. Susan watched him walk away, puzzled. Luka was not the most communicative man at the best of times, but something seemed to be bothering him and it was making him even more withdrawn than usual. She was about to follow after him to see if she could get him to open up a little when she found her path blocked.
"Dr Lewis?"
"Yes Mr…?"
"Harris. Michael Harris. My daughter broke her arm ice skating today and you just discharged her."
"Yes Mr Harris. What's the problem?"
"Well, she's hell bent on going back to the rink to catch the end of the party. I wanted to know if that was okay, or should I take her straight home and keep her rested up?"
"Children are more resilient than you would think, Mr Harris," Susan said, smiling to herself at the anxious father in front of her. "If your daughter feels up to returning to the party then I'd let her, and if she gets tired then take her home. It will only be more difficult for you if you take her straight home; there's nothing worse than a seven year old who hasn't had her own way, believe me," she added, thinking of Suzie.
"You have kids yourself?" The man was obviously trying to draw her into conversation, she couldn't think why, but his question floored her. Thoughts of Suzie flooded her head and she didn't know how to reply. Luckily she was saved by Chuni, who happened to be passing by at the time and called out to her.
"Hey Susan, are we still on for tonight?"
"Um, yeah, I'm off in an hour."
"Okay, we'll meet you there at eight. It's the Irish Bar by the riverfront. You know the one?"
"Yeah I know it. I'll see you there."
"Great," Chuni started to walk away but then remembered something, and turned back to hand Susan a chart. "Projectile vomiting in four."
"Did I ever tell you you're my favourite nurse," she called out to the nurse's receding figure.
"No," she called back over her shoulder.
"Funny thing!" Susan laughed and walked off to treat the patient Chuni had handed her, but she was surprised to find that the anxious father was standing where she had left him.
"Mr Harris. Was there something else?"
"Um, no…well, yes. I was wondering…I couldn't help but hear that you're going out tonight...and I'm going to be at that bar myself so I was thinking…that is if you didn't mind…maybe I could buy you a drink later? Or sometime. Maybe. One day." He took a deep breath and waited for her reply.
"I don't think your wife would be too pleased with that," she said pointedly, gesturing to the ring on his finger with her eyes. "Take your daughter skating, Mr Harris, then take her home to her mother. I'm sure she's worried."
"No, it's not…" he started, but Susan had already walked away to treat her patient. He sighed and went to collect his daughter from where she was patiently sitting in Chairs. "This used to be easier," he said to himself. "Come on honey, let's see if we can make the end of the party."
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(This was originally going to be one long story, but once I hit ten pages I realised that "long" really was the operative word so I split it up into two parts. If you don't think my attempts to write Susan are laughable, or if you want to know what effect the moon has on Susan, or if you just plain want the second part, then please review and let me know what you thought, and I will put it up. Thanks for reading. Em)
CATEGORY: A bit of everything
SPOILERS: Tiny one for Season 8 but we've all seen that anyway so it's hardly worth mentioning.
ARCHIVE: Just ask
DISCLAIMER: I own none of the characters of ER.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Second in a series I'm writing which I think will be called "Moonstruck" unless there are any better suggestions. Written after realising that I've never written anything other than Carby and I wanted to try something different. Runs concurrently with "Cosmo's Moon", taking place on the same night, but you don't necessarily have to have read that to read this.
AUTHOR'S APOLOGIES: I was watching Absolutely Fabulous whilst writing this chapter so I apologise for the use of the endearment "sweetie" where it occurs. I know it's probably out of place, but we can all blame Jennifer Saunders for being so funny.
AUTHOR'S INDEBTEDNESS: Big thanks for this story should go to Joycelyn Solo, who as ever has helped me come up with the best ideas when I'm tearing my hair out, and to Viki who has been a wonderful sounding board and had the good judgement to dissuade me for the few brief moments I was considering making this a Susan/Luka pairing!
SUMMARY: Susan Lewis goes for a night out with some of her colleagues and encounters a little moonstruck magic.
~~~~~
Susan Lewis sat at the admit desk with her chin in her hands and stared into space. The ER had been hectic all day but now, with an hour left of her shift, everything seemed to have died down. Labs were all back, she was up to date with her charts, the board was practically empty…and she was bored out of her mind.
She couldn't get the image of the little girl from earlier out of her head. She had reminded her so much of little Suzie…of course this was nothing new. It seemed like lately every young patient she treated reminded her of her young niece, of the time she was missing with her, but this particular girl was different. There was something about her eyes, an age and knowingness that was sad in one so young, and she didn't know if she would forget it in a hurry.
Thank goodness for tonight. She and some of the nurses had arranged to have a night out, and Lord knows she needed it. It felt like she had lived in the hospital for the last few weeks, so she was looking forward to going home, relaxing in a nice warm bath, going out with her friends, and getting so drunk she could forget that she was a doctor.
Her mission now, besides getting through the rest of her shift, was to get as many people as possible in on this little excursion. She couldn't remember the last time the staff had all gone out for a drink together…probably that night at The Lava Lounge after they had heard about Mark Greene's death…and she missed this interaction outside of the workplace. She liked these people, and for once she wanted to have a conversation with them that didn't involve the words "blood" or "vomit." Just as she was thinking who else she could talk into coming along she saw Carter emerge from the lounge carrying his bag on his shoulder and with his coat folded over his arm. He walked over to the desk to sign out, smiling sympathetically at Susan's tired face.
"They're keeping you busy," he teased.
"Don't even joke about it," she groaned. "I only have another hour and I don't want to spend it with sick people!"
"Spoken like a true doctor," he chuckled, running his hands through his hair and closing his eyes. "God, I'm exhausted. I haven't seen that many people with food poisoning since I was in Med School." Susan gave a little laugh at the memory.
"You know what you need? A night out on the town with your good friends from the ER!"
"Susan…" Carter started, obviously not too enamoured of the idea of going out that night.
"Oh come on, don't be such a spoil-sport. It will be fun!"
"What will?" a voice asked from behind them. Turning around Susan could see Abby Lockhart coming towards them. "Hey sweetie," she said, walking over to Carter and kissing his cheek, then turned her attention back to Susan. "What will be fun?"
"A complete booze-up at the bar with your friends from the ER tonight? A whole bunch of us are going: me, Deb, Chuny, Malik…Should be fun!" she added in a sing-song tone, trying to cajole them into coming along with her.
"I don't know," Carter replied hesitantly, as if he was trying to come up with a convincing excuse for why they couldn't go out with Susan. "It's been a really long day, and I'm not sure if we're up to going out…Abby?" he asked, turning to his girlfriend of six months and silently asking her to make their excuses for him.
"You know Susan, I think we were just going to go home and crash in front of the TV, maybe make some popcorn and put a video on…just veg out and forget this place exists for a couple of hours! Maybe some other time?"
"Yeah, sure, you guys should go spend time with each other. We'll do it another time." She tried to sound cheerful and almost succeeded, but there was a little tinge in her voice that belied her disappointment. Carter and Abby, however, remained too wrapped up in each other to notice.
"Thanks Susan. You're the best!" Carter gave her one of his biggest grins and placed his arm around Abby's shoulder, pulling her closer to his side.
"Don't I know it," Susan said wryly, "why else to I spend every waking hour in this place? That's why tonight is going to be such a blast. All the ER staff together, doctors and nurses relaxing and enjoying each other in a social capacity…"
"Come on, Susan! You're making me feel guilty, and I really am tired." Carter used the little-boy voice that Abby was well acquainted with, and was rewarded with a gentle elbow in the stomach as a reward. "What? What did I say?" he asked incredulously. Abby widened her eyes, silently telling him to shut up. Susan witnessed this silent exchange and decided not to attempt to persuade them any further.
"Okay, okay, that's all I've got. Cross my heart." She straightened up and made a gesture of drawing a cross across her heart with her forefinger, then leaned back down against the desk. "So what are you guys going to watch?" she asked, trying to make conversation and hopefully bring the end of her shift that little bit nearer.
"I'm not quite sure…something disgustingly romantic and sweet probably," Abby mused. "What about 'Sleepless in Seattle' or 'While You Were Sleeping'? They're pretty fluffy films."
"How about 'Moonstruck'?" Susan asked. "It always cheers me up when I've had a bit of a long day."
"Oh I love that film!" Abby replied. "Don't you love the part where Loretta makes Jonny get down on his knees and propose in front of everybody in the restaurant."
"How about the bit where she and Ronny meet at the Opera and meet her father and his girlfriend," Susan joined in enthusiastically. "I've got it at home if you ever want to borrow it?" she offered.
"Thanks, but I think I've actually got a copy somewhere. I'll have to search it out when we get back. What do you think, sweetie?" Abby asked, turning to Carter. "Do you want to watch Moonstruck?"
"Sounds like a chick flick," Carter said disparagingly. "Do I have to sit through it as well?"
"Not if you never want to get lucky again," Abby said pointedly.
"Well, when you put it like that…" Carter said, raising his eyebrows. "Listen, we should really get going if we want miss rush hour. Are you ready Abby?"
"Just let me grab my purse." She left his side and walked away to the lounge, emerging moments later with her purse over her shoulder and Carter's keys in her hand. "You left these in the locker," she said, handing the keys to him.
"Oops…wonder how I could forget them. So we're good to go?"
"Yep," she said, taking his hand and turning to go. "Bye Susan!" she called out over her shoulder as they reached the double doors into the ambulance bay.
"Yeah, bye Susan!" Carter turned and called out. "Have fun tonight."
"You too," she called out to their retreating figures. Watching them in the ambulance bay, laughing and hugging and kissing, she felt all the more isolated, and again she found herself thinking about little Suzie.
Suddenly, however, she became aware of somebody standing next to her at the desk, and a quick glance told her it was Luka. At first she thought that he must have come over to discuss a patient since he was gripping a chart in his hands, but he just stared straight ahead and didn't speak. Curious she followed his line of sight to see that he was also watching the retreating forms of Carter and Abby, lost in his thoughts. Susan straightened up from her leaning position and looked over at Luka.
"They look good together, don't they?" she asked.
"Excuse me?" He turned to her quickly as she pulled him from his thoughts.
"Carter and Abby. They make a nice couple."
"I've not thought about it," he said dismissively, looking down at the chart in front of him and jotting some notes down. "I suppose so."
"I see the two of them together and it makes me wonder…you know, if there is such a thing as the perfect person for you. If there is one person that you are meant to meet and grow old with. What do you think?"
"I suppose so," he repeated, placing the completed chart in the rack and pulling a new one.
"You used to go out with Abby, didn't you?" He didn't answer but instead just gave her a look before returning his attention to the chart, so she continued. "I think that was the problem when Carter and I were going out. Nothing was ever going to really come between those two, was it?"
"No," he answered shortly. "If you'll excuse me…" He picked up the phone and dialled a number, then proceeded to have a conversation with somebody on the other end. From what Susan could gather it was about some discrepancies in a patients records sent over from Mercy, but she wasn't really listening. She waited until he had hung up the phone and then tried to draw him into conversation again.
"Are you going to the bar tonight?" she asked. "Because if you are we could maybe get a drink together, talk about our mutual lack of a love life."
"I'm afraid I've not been on that long. I'm on until midnight."
"You could always meet us afterwards. I think we're going to be making a night of it."
"Thank you, but no. I don't think I'll be very good company for anybody today. Another time perhaps."
"Sure…Luka!" she stopped him as he started to walk away. "The offer's always there. Anytime you want to talk about something, *anything*, just come around. We all need somebody to talk to sometimes."
He didn't answer, but smiled and nodded acknowledgement as he walked away. Susan watched him walk away, puzzled. Luka was not the most communicative man at the best of times, but something seemed to be bothering him and it was making him even more withdrawn than usual. She was about to follow after him to see if she could get him to open up a little when she found her path blocked.
"Dr Lewis?"
"Yes Mr…?"
"Harris. Michael Harris. My daughter broke her arm ice skating today and you just discharged her."
"Yes Mr Harris. What's the problem?"
"Well, she's hell bent on going back to the rink to catch the end of the party. I wanted to know if that was okay, or should I take her straight home and keep her rested up?"
"Children are more resilient than you would think, Mr Harris," Susan said, smiling to herself at the anxious father in front of her. "If your daughter feels up to returning to the party then I'd let her, and if she gets tired then take her home. It will only be more difficult for you if you take her straight home; there's nothing worse than a seven year old who hasn't had her own way, believe me," she added, thinking of Suzie.
"You have kids yourself?" The man was obviously trying to draw her into conversation, she couldn't think why, but his question floored her. Thoughts of Suzie flooded her head and she didn't know how to reply. Luckily she was saved by Chuni, who happened to be passing by at the time and called out to her.
"Hey Susan, are we still on for tonight?"
"Um, yeah, I'm off in an hour."
"Okay, we'll meet you there at eight. It's the Irish Bar by the riverfront. You know the one?"
"Yeah I know it. I'll see you there."
"Great," Chuni started to walk away but then remembered something, and turned back to hand Susan a chart. "Projectile vomiting in four."
"Did I ever tell you you're my favourite nurse," she called out to the nurse's receding figure.
"No," she called back over her shoulder.
"Funny thing!" Susan laughed and walked off to treat the patient Chuni had handed her, but she was surprised to find that the anxious father was standing where she had left him.
"Mr Harris. Was there something else?"
"Um, no…well, yes. I was wondering…I couldn't help but hear that you're going out tonight...and I'm going to be at that bar myself so I was thinking…that is if you didn't mind…maybe I could buy you a drink later? Or sometime. Maybe. One day." He took a deep breath and waited for her reply.
"I don't think your wife would be too pleased with that," she said pointedly, gesturing to the ring on his finger with her eyes. "Take your daughter skating, Mr Harris, then take her home to her mother. I'm sure she's worried."
"No, it's not…" he started, but Susan had already walked away to treat her patient. He sighed and went to collect his daughter from where she was patiently sitting in Chairs. "This used to be easier," he said to himself. "Come on honey, let's see if we can make the end of the party."
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(This was originally going to be one long story, but once I hit ten pages I realised that "long" really was the operative word so I split it up into two parts. If you don't think my attempts to write Susan are laughable, or if you want to know what effect the moon has on Susan, or if you just plain want the second part, then please review and let me know what you thought, and I will put it up. Thanks for reading. Em)