Chapter 12 - Recovery is a team effort

The nurse had come into Luka just as Sam arrived. She pushed his morphine, checked his vitals and left them alone.

"So, what was that about with Susan, earlier?" asked Sam

"You never mentioned what happened with Steve," Luka counteracted, trying to change the subject.

"Ah, ah, ah! You first. I know what you're trying to do," she replied.

"Okay. She and Lydia were coming to see me and they caught me freaking out because I read my chart,"

"What do you mean freaking out?"

"I guess ... I ... I panicked. I was already hot from the fever and I needed more pain meds and I read the details of all this and I had a panic attack," he said sounding rather ashamed.

"So, Susan told you off," Sam guessed.

"Yeah, you could say that. But I'm fine now and ... like she said, one day at a time, one step at a time. So ... was Steve caught?"

"Yes and arrested for drunk driving, attempted kidnapping and attempted murder. He can't post bail so he's behind bars hopefully for good. The police took your statement right?"

"Yeah. So what you're saying is that he can't hurt us anymore? I mean look at what he's done to us. I don't want him near us ever again. I don't want to worry that he's going to kidnap Alex or try to hurt you. I don't want him to ever have a second chance at harming this family!"

Sam smiled.

"What? Why are you smiling?"

"Kovac, do you have something to say to me?"

"Like what?"

"Nothing. Never mind. You're sickeningly adorable you know that?"

"How could I be both?" he asked, truly confused.

"We have to work on your English in ways that matter. Now, I came to check on you. Hmm.... Lose the fever already, will you? It's hard to have visitors in ICU,"

"I'll see what I can do. Sam? ... How bad is it?" He gestured towards his leg.

"Well, it's not pretty but that's because there's still a lot of swelling. But, on the bright side by next week the pins will be out and you'll get it casted and then you can start your therapy," She stroked his hair and noticed how worried he looked.

"Listen, it's gonna be okay. We're gonna get you through this. It's not going to be easy but it's not impossible, okay?"

Luka nodded and tried his best to smile.

"I'm really tired and I think the morphine is finally kicking in. See you later?"

"You bet!" said Sam and she gave him a kiss on the forehead and left.

He lied. He actually wasn't tired. In fact, his mind was racing. He knew what he wanted and for the first time in a long time he felt good about himself, good about friendship, good about God and good about love. But Steve just put a wrench in things and he had to change his plans. The pain ripping through his body was hard to bear and he worried how he'd make it through rehab. He knew the drugs worked but he knew how easy it could be to become dependant on them. He wanted to start his life with Sam and now it was all going to be delayed. He needed a plan. He needed to figure out a way to get through his recovery and start working again and start their lives together.

A different nurse came to his bedside to check on him.

" Feeling a bit better, doctor?" she smiled. Sensing he was surprised to see her she said, "Shift change. It's noon,"

"Oh ... yes, and thank you, I'm feeling a little better. Ah....Stephanie?" he asked, as he tilted his head to read her name badge.

"Yes, Dr. Kovac,"

"Can you do me a favor and page Dr. Carter and Dr. Weaver? It's not urgent but I need to speak with them,"

"Certainly,"

"Thanks,"

'Support from family friends and for some, religion can make the impossible, possible,' "Now those are words I can live by," he thought aloud, as his mind drifted again to his med school days.

"I can do this but it might take a team effort," he sighed.

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Later that afternoon, Kerry and John came to see Luka.

"You look a hell of a lot better than you did last week," said Kerry, her tone blunt as usual, taking his hand. She grabbed his chart and checked his meds.

"I'm finding that doctors can't just visit," he said to Carter, with a smile.

"Everyone checks the chart before they chat with you!"

"Well, considering you weren't even conscious when I saw you, you can wait for me to check to see if you're well enough for me to yell at you for getting into this mess!" Kerry teased. "You're doing well. Fever's down, pneumonia subsiding... so, what do you want?"

"I want to know how long my benefits will carry me while I'm recuperating?" said Luka

"Geeze, I give you two weeks off and you nearly get yourself killed the first day and now you're implying you need time to heal,"

Kerry was always Kerry.

"Are you done?" Luka asked.

"Sure. I just had to get that in there. You will be paid as per usual because of the circumstances. It wasn't your fault you got run down by a maniac. Your benefits cover all your treatments and physical therapy and you're already insured for the emergency care and extended medical care and the bed,"

"Good, I wanted to be sure. I have an agenda and I need to get back on my feet as fast as I can,"

"What's the rush?" asked Carter.

"Well, I'm not rushing but a lot has become really clear to me because of this and Africa and you know, I've wasted a lot of time. So now, I want to get my life with Sam and Alex on track and if you don't mind, I could use some help,"

"Okay Mr. Epiphany, I'm in," said Kerry.

"Me too," said Carter.

Luka asked Kerry if it was okay for Sam to have her job back when Alex returned to school in three weeks. Kerry said that she would look past Sam's taking off and offer her her job back since they really needed the help and Sam was an excellent addition to the team.

"Kerry, thanks ... for everything,"

"Don't mention it. Just get well, okay?" she replied. "When are your brother and sister-in-law going home?"

"At the end of the week. Rahela wanted to stay on longer but I think they realize that I'm in good hands. They've got their jobs and their kids. They don't need to babysit me,"

"No, because Sam's going to do that," said Carter, grinning.

Luka shook his head. "You do know it hurts when I laugh, right Carter?" Then glancing over to Kerry who was about to leave he asked, "Kerry, before you go, tell me ... how's it going with Henry's custody?"

Kerry was touched that he asked. It was so Luka to ask about the well being of everyone's family.

"I'm not down yet!" she said then she turned, waved her arm high and went back to work.

Carter pulled up a chair. "So ... What's really on your mind?"

"Marriage," Luka said bluntly, looking John straight in the eye.

"Whoa! When did you decide this?"

"When Gillian was here, actually. I hated what happened then. When Sam wanted to take it slow because she wanted to protect Alex, I didn't see it that way. So ... in comes Gillian and all I wanted was Sam. I didn't want to go back to complicated relationships, sneaking, lying. I knew then I wanted to marry her and I started making plans and now I'm stuck here. So ... I need your help,"

"What can I do?"

"Well, for starters I need help with physical therapy and pain management if that's okay with you. I know it's not easy and I understand if it's too personal,"

"No, I've been there and no one should ever have to be at risk for dependency on pain meds. I'll help you,"

"I need a couple other things too," Luka seemed hesitant to ask "And again, given the breakup with Kem, if you don't want to ..."

"Luka, I have to stay busy. You'll be helping me out if you let me help you. So ... tell me what you need,"

"I need you to go to my place. The keys are in my locker since I have no idea where my car or my original keys are ... anyway, in the top drawer in my desk at home there are some blueprints for a house I am having renovated. I bought it when I patched things up with Sam. She and Alex have no idea I've done this and I want it kept a secret. I need you to make sure it's all going as planned and on schedule. I'll call the contractor to tell him who you are. The address is on the blueprints,"

"I'm speechless. I didn't know you were doing this," Carter said with a grin.

"It's long overdue. I had it all planned for the end of June and I think if I work hard enough, I can still do it. Didn't foresee Steve trying to kill me. And who knows how long I'm going to be stuck in here," Luka smirked.

"Well, if you want to do it by next June, we're going to do it by next June. I'll be your eyes and your legs until you're able," said Carter patting him on the shoulder. "I'm off now, so I'm gonna get right on this. So physical therapy starts in 2 weeks?"

Luka nodded.

"I'll be there," assured Carter. "We'll get this done together,"