A/N You have all been so encouraging that I've decided to try to move forward. As the first two chapters were truly meant to be a one shot, I'm not sure how it will all go. This chapter is a decided change of pace. We move from the serious to the rather silly. I do like writing conversations that I really want to see that we never will, so that's the first part. But, the second part is pure luby silliness and I hope you take it in the spirit of fun it's intended.
Disclaimers: I don't own the characters.
Warning: Croatian swear words and non-explicit sexual content
"Chaos vs. Control"
Abby sank into the warm water. She couldn't take the really hot baths she loved anymore, but this felt good on her aching legs and feet. Then she heard the door and Luka moving around downstairs. Suddenly the only ache that mattered was the one in her stomach. Food. She dried off, slipped on her robe and headed down.
"Hey" she said and kissed him lightly. "Did you get it?"
"Did I get it? Of course I got it."
"Mu Shu and those pot stickers and that chicken . . .you did get the chicken?"
"I did. Just how many babies do you have in there?"
"I thought we had this discussion. Just one, one very hungry baby."
They sat down to heaping plates. After she had satisfied her hunger, Abby remembered she had some interesting news to get the low down on.
"So, I heard a rumor?"
"You did?"
"Yes, rumor has it Pratt is going to Africa on your orders."
"My orders?"
"Something like that, coercion was implied so what gives."
"I can be persuasive."
"Yeah I know, but I don't think that's going to work on Pratt."
"Let's just say I made him an offer he couldn't refuse."
"So, you work for the mafia now?"
"Don't ask, don't tell."
"Oh, the government then. Rumor has it it's a punishment."
"A punishment? Noooooo, I wouldn't say that."
She disregarded his denial. "For what – what did he do?"
"Can't tell."
"Oh, Chief stuff. Okay. So . . if I'm bad are you going to send me to Africa?" She leaned in a bit, flirting with him now.
"Noooooo – if you're bad you get an entirely different punishment." He was more than ready to flirt back.
"Aren't you afraid I'll sue you for sexual harassment?"
"Aren't you afraid I'll stop sexually harassing you?'
"Good point. So this whole Africa business got me thinking."
"Yes?"
"You know how one thing leads to another – chaos theory. If Carter and I hadn't fought, and he hadn't gone back for you none of this would have happened"
"None of this? You mean the mu shu?"
"I mean the baby."
"That's not chaos theory."
"It's not?"
"No, it has to be more random, more obscure."
After a pause, "Well, maybe Eric then."
"Eric? Your brother Eric?"
"Yes, if he hadn't fallen into Carter's grandmother's grave, Carter might not have been so angry with me."
"He fell into Carter's grandmother's grave?" Luka tried not to do it, but it was a rather useless battle. "he. ..heheheheheh"
"It's not funny." It really hadn't been but she found herself laughing with him anyway.
"How did it happen?"
"Well, it's a long story. He showed up at my place off his meds, and I couldn't leave him alone. So, I brought him with me and it went down hill from there."
"Why didn't you call Carter and tell him you couldn't come?"
"I couldn't, he was already mad at me."
"For what?"
"For leaving him to get Eric in the first place. I got a call from Eric the same day he found out his grandmother died. He wanted me to stay and help him with the plans, but I felt I should get Eric before he disappeared again."
"He was angry at you for going to your brother who had been missing for what . . weeks?"
"Yes. But you have to understand he was . .. . .disappointed in me even before then."
"Disappointed in you?"
"Well, the . . . . the drinking . . . smoking . .my general sunny disposition. You know."
"You drank while you were with Carter?"
"Some, not all the time. I was in relapse."
"Wow."
"What? Now you're disappointed."
"Disappointed? Why would I be disappointed? I'm surprised."
"About what?"
"I thought he'd make you happy."
"No one can make another person happy."
"Sorry, I meant I thought you'd be happy together."
"It didn't work out that way. Hey, you told me you didn't think I was happy."
"You told me you were."
"Ha" She pointed her finger at him like a good trial lawyer. "You do remember – you liar, you acted like you didn't remember."
"I was embarrassed."
"Why? Because . . .you'd made a drunken pass at me?"
"Yeah, pretty much"
"So, what if I had told you I wasn't happy?" They got up to clear the table.
"I don't know."
"Come on, what?" She looked up at him expectantly.
Damn, she was cute and her robe was slipping open in a rather becoming way, and he could smell the lavender from her bath. Perhaps his response reflected his current state of mind. He winked, "Well then I would have taken you on Susan's bed."
"You would not have." She smacked him with the dish towel.
"Oh okay, okay." He paused looking at her seriously, "I would have told you that it didn't matter that I was drunk. That I missed you twice as much sober. And, that I wanted to us to try again."
He looked down after he said it, and she watched him, surprise then understanding etched on her face. She reached up to touch his cheek. "I didn't know . . .. . . .I hurt you. I'm sorry. I really didn't think you . . . . wanted me."
He shrugged looking at her from under his bangs. "My own fault."
"In a lot of ways it was for the best. I couldn't have made it work with anyone then. I was a mess. I had to be on my own. Figure myself out first."
"Yeah . . all for the best." He reached out stroked her belly and gave her a smile. She felt another ache, and it wasn't for food.
"Still . . .. I'm kind of looking forward to the next Christmas party."
He smiled at her and reaching out pulled her to him kissing her as her arms wound around his neck. After a moment, he lifted her placing her on the counter so they were eye level, or rather lip level. She pulled off his tie and unbuttoned his shirt the rest of the way. A few minutes later found clothing askew or removed and lips locked. And so, when the phone rang it happened that she had just unbuttoned his pants. They looked at each other and said in unison.
"Machine."
However, the voice on the machine that echoed back made Luka think twice.
"Hi, Luka . . . and Abby. It's Carter, sorry I missed you I was just hoping . . .."
This was problematic as his pants were now down around his ankles leading to a misfortunate accident when he lunged for the receiver.
"Jebiga"
"Luka?"
"Yeah. Govno"
"Are you okay?"
"I . . . .banged my . . . toe."
"Oh sorry. Thought I'd call earlier, catch you at a more . . .convenient time."
"Yeah thanks. Give me a minute." Luka took some deep breaths and the pain subsided. Abby held up an ice pack wincing for him, but he shook his head. "We were just . . . finishing dinner."
Abby came up behind him and wrapped her arms around him whispering, trying not to laugh. "Are you sure you're okay?" He nodded. Feeling both amorous and that Luka needed ministering, she let her hands roam over his chest as she pressed into him. As Luka's pain subsided, he found this increasingly distracting.
"I'm glad you called. I . .. ."
"Luka? You okay?"
"What? Oh yeah. " Covering the phone he pleaded "Abby . .. "
"So were you able to find anyone who could come?"
"Anyone to come?"
"To Africa – are you sure you're alright?" With this Luka put the phone under his ear and removed Abby's hands from his chest. Pulling her around to face him seemed like a good idea, but it was a tactical error because it merely gave her better ground for her benevolent assault upon his person. The mischievous glint in her eye let him know he was in a great deal of trouble.
"I'm fine. And I did find someone to help oooouuuuutttt." He looked at her with a combination of apprehension and anticipation.
"Luka?"
"Burned my hand."
"I thought you were finished with dinner."
"Stove's still hot . .no,. . no. . . no .. "
"Luka?"
"Sorry Abby's . . . . . . .using the wrong dish soap." Oh what the hell? Luka gave up the battle but won the war so to speak
'What? Your voice sounds kind of strange Luka."
"Head cold."
"You should take something for that."
"Yessss"
"So, you were saying you have someone who can help."
"Oh definitely very . . . .talented." Was that Abby giggling? No, Abby didn't giggle, must be static.
"Who?"
"Ppppratt."
"Who?"
"Pratt" It burst out like an expletive.
"You're kidding."'
"No . . . .no . .. he . . .he . . .he . . . he'll be great."
"If you think so."
'Oh yeah." There was something weird about Luka's tone of voice Carter thought, it was almost like a . . . .a . . . a . . moan? That toe must really be bothering him.
"Well you sound enthusiastic about it, if you think he's matured enough?"
"Enough." He was almost pleading.
"Okay, okay, if you think so. You sure you're alright?"
"Yup."
"I better let you go, you must be tired."
"Luka?"
"Luka?"
"Yeah. . . . . ..yeah we'll talk soon . … . later . . . . soon . . .. "
"Give my best to Abby."
"Mmmm Abby. Take,. . . care of . . . . yourself . . .Carter." Boy, Luka sounded kind of choked up. Carter was touched.
"Thanks. Bye. Oh Luka?"
But he was already gone.
