"Ruthie Pooler?" Abby nodded and watched the social worker intently. Just beyond the woman she could see Ruthie sitting in a chair in the outer office. Her nose was buried in a book as she feigned reading. Abby knew she was straining within an inch of her life to hear what was being said through the open door. Abby had done it herself in the very same situation. More than once in fact.
"Ruthie was my original patient," Abby said. "She presented with minor injuries from a car accident and then the Grandmother had this aggravated cough and showed some signs of dementia, so I ordered tests for her." The social worker glanced up at her over the rims of her glasses.
"And you remember all of this from…three…years ago?" Abby shrugged. No one had to know about the call she had made to County or the fact that Frank had pulled the file and given her a quick run down of the contents. The woman studied Abby for a long moment and Abby smiled.
"So what happens now?" Abby's eyes shifted to Ruthie again and the girl ducked her face back into the book.
"She goes to our juvenile lock up until someone gets here from Chicago to take her back." Abby's mouth dropped open.
"But those papers kind of give me guardianship, don't they?"
"Papers you didn't know about till tonight, Dr. Kovac. The girl is still under the jurisdiction of the Chicago DCFS. You need to work it out with them."
"But juvenile lock up?" Abby was aghast. "Don't you have a foster home or something……" The social worker shook her head and started to gather up the papers on the desk in front of her.
"The girl is a runaway, Doctor," she said dismissively and stood up. "I can't take the chance that she will do it again before they get here." Abby stood up quickly and moved to the door.
"But she came here to find me!" she exclaimed. "To give me that letter. She won't run away again. I know she won't." The woman grimaced and pressed the folded papers back into Abby's hands. She eased her way through the door toward Ruthie. Abby swung around.
"What if she stays with me?" Abby blurted suddenly as she swung around. She shrugged as all eyes turned to her.
"I'm off for the next couple of days," she said. "She can stay with me until someone comes to escort her." Abby took a step forward as Ruthie clutched her book to her chest.
"I'll give you all of our phone numbers…." Abby said emphatically. "You will be able to reach us at any time. I absolutely promise." Ruthie gazed at her hopefully and Abby smiled crookedly.
"Us?" the social worker asked.
"Uh, yes," Abby squared her shoulders and turned to the social worker again. "Ruthie can stay with my husband and me. He's a doctor as well. And we have an almost three year old son. We're both off for the next couple of days. She'll be fine with us. Really." The social worker frowned and glanced from Abby to Ruthie to the papers Abby held in her hands. She sighed heavily.
There were phone calls to make and papers to sign and it was two hours later Abby turned the key in the front door and pushed it open. Ruthie followed her inside and closed the door.
"Hey." She lifted her head with a smile as Luka made his way toward the couch with an armful of blankets, sheets and a pillow. He dropped the bedding into a neat pile on the couch and bent to kiss Abby's lips. His fingers traced her cheek for a second and then he straightened.
"Long day?" Abby sighed and dropped her bag on a nearby chair.
"I am so ready for bed," she chuckled. Luka nodded slightly and held out his hand to Ruthie.
"I'm Luka," he said as the girl slowly shook his hand. "I hope you don't mind sleeping on the couch."
"Its fine," Ruthie murmured. "Can I take a shower first? It's been a while."
"Not a problem," Abby said. "Come on with me and I'll show you where the bathroom is. Do you have anything clean to put on? I can loan you something till we get your things washed." Luka took a deep breath and watched as Ruthie followed Abby toward the bathroom.
He was stretched out on the bed reading a medical journal when Abby finally came to their bedroom.
"Is she settled?" Abby nodded.
"Poor kid," she sighed. "She was exhausted." She tugged her shirt over her head and tossed in the general direction of the clothes hamper. She stretched out on the bed next to him and Luka frowned a little as he put the magazine on the bedside table. He turned on his side to look at his wife. Her head rested on her folded arms and her eyes were closed. He carefully drew a finger through the shoulder length hair and brushed it aside from the back of her neck. He frowned. Her shoulders were tight. Really tight. She moaned just a little and he smiled again at the wordless invitation. He drew himself to a sitting position and began to knead her shoulders and the back of her neck.
"I smelled candles in the bathroom," she sighed as he undid the clasp on her bra and worked his fingers down her spine. "Did you have…..plans?" Luka leaned down to her ear.
"I always have….plans," he whispered. Abby chortled softly and turned her head to look up at him. Luka was concentrated on the muscles along her rib cage. She sighed happily and closed her eyes again.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly.
"You should be," he said. "When was the last time we had days and nights off like this….together…at the same time?" She frowned and turned on her side, propping her head up on her elbow to look at him. Luka grimaced. Now he'd done it.
"I couldn't let her go to lock up, Luka."
"She's a runaway, Abby." Her head dropped and her eyes closed in exasperation.
"Why does everyone keep saying that? She was trying to get to me." Her eyes opened and her lips pursed a bit.
"I know what its like," she said. "To be all alone, I mean." She watched as her husband shook his head and leaned back against the pillows again. She sat up suddenly and pulled her arms out of her bra and tossed it into the hamper as she stood up.
"I don't want to talk about it any more tonight," she said as she unfastened the button and zipper in her slacks and stepped out of them on her way to their bathroom. "I'm too tired." She closed the door behind her and he frowned.
Luka knew what it was like to be alone too. But he liked what they had here together in Boston. He liked the newness of it…depending on just each other. He liked the new friends they were making and the life they were building here. The three of them. The girl was Chicago and he didn't like Chicago infringing on their life in Boston. He wasn't ready for that yet. He shook his head as he heard the shower running and reached for his magazine….again.