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Title: Fade To Blue - Part IV

Author: Abilene Keegan

Email: Abilene_Keegan@hotmail.com

Rating: PG

Synopsis: Abby has a surprise planned for Luka... but how will he react? Carter/Abby; Luka/Abby.

Disclaimer: The following is a story of fiction based on characters created and owned by Michael Crichton and NBC.

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P a r t I V

Abby glanced down at the vanilla folder that was in her hands. Leaning back against her locker she slowly opened the folder and smiled down at what was inside. She still couldn't believe she'd managed to obtain the item, which at first she hadn't even been certain existed. It certainly hadn't been easy to get. It had taken a lot of long distance phone calls, a lot of conniving, a few sob stories here and there, an understanding and sympathetic records employee and then finally she'd gotten what she wanted. All together it had taken the better part of a month to talk them into sending it and for it to arrive. Running her fingers lightly over the item Abby knew it had been worth all the time and effort.

It had only taken a week of Luka pretending she no longer existed for Abby to realize she had to do something. He was miserable and most of all he hated her. She didn't blame him. She had, after all, broken his heart once again. He wouldn't talk to her, he avoided working with her whenever possible, and if they'd pass in the halls he wouldn't even look at her. She was miserable. So she'd decided she had to come up with something. She finally figured out the best thing she could possibly do for him. She didn't know if it would cause him to acknowledge her existence again but it would, at least, make him happier. It would make him feel a little better. She hoped.

Abby turned around and opened her locker. She took out a small maroon box that was inside and gently placed the item from the folder into the box. She then sealed the package by placing a lid over it. Reaching into her locker she pulled out some green ribbon and wrapped it around the gift creatively before finally making a bow on the top of the lid. Smiling down at her work she gently placed the box back into her locker and then closed the door tightly. She was almost afraid that something might happen to it. The door to the room opened and Kerry walked in. She smiled over at Abby politely and Abby returned the gesture.

"Hi, Kerry. Everything still on for tonight?" She asked a little nervously. She didn't want anything to go wrong. This had to work out and it had to be perfect.

"Of course. And don't worry about it Abby, I've got everything covered." Abby smiled over at her boss once again before heading towards the door.

"Thanks Kerry!" She spoke on her way out.

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"Hey John." Abby greeted her boyfriend as she walked up to the admit desk. Her feelings for Carter where still somewhat hazy. Though she was becoming more and more certain with each passing day that they had no future together. She knew it wasn't fare to keep seeing him like this, still she couldn't bring herself to let him go. She was still afraid of hurting him. She was also afraid of admitting to him how much of a jerk she'd been in letting him believe all this time that they really had something going. She wondered if he'd ever forgive her if the time when she'd have to tell him all this did indeed come.

Things had been okay between them though. She'd been talking to him more again. Opening up, though not about Luka of course. The odd thing was that their relationship was pretty much still the same friendship they'd had before. That is if you neglected the fact that they now kissed once in a while. It had never gone beyond that though. In the three months they'd been dating they hadn't once slept together. That was solely due to Abby. And she knew John was becoming antsy in that area. She'd have to do something soon. Either break up with him or sleep with him. Just that last thought alone told her that this wasn't love.

"Hi Abby. Say you want to get some dinner tonight?" Abby smiled at this as she walked over to where Carter was standing.

"Well I get dinner every night John." Carter smiled back at her and leaned down to kiss her. Unintentional reflex had Abby stepping away from him. Where'd that come from, she wondered. By the look on his face, Carter was wondering the same thing. "Um, sure." Abby quickly tried to get his mind off of what had just occurred. "I'd love to have dinner with you tonight."

"Okay, great. We go after work then?" Good, it worked.

"Yeah." Abby nodded her head and smiled. Just then Luka walked up to admit.

"I need a nurse to assist in three." He obviously hadn't noticed them otherwise he would have grabbed a nurse instead of asking for any available nurse, leaving an opening for Abby. Which she gratefully took.

"I'll assist." Luka only glanced at her for a second before looking away.

"Chuni, you free?" Chuni looked at Abby curiously before nodding her head.

"Sure." Abby watched them walk away, all the while her heart filling with a familiar ache.

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Luka looked down at the patient's chart once again, trying in vain to concentrate on it. His mind was just on to many other things. Mostly Abby. It had been nearly six months now since they'd broken up. And one month since she'd decided to make him look the fool by kissing him back out of sympathy. Why had he kissed her? He still wasn't sure. Whether he'd thought something might come out of it or not remained a mystery to him. Maybe he had just needed to convince himself that she felt nothing for him. Maybe that's why he'd kissed her. Or maybe he'd needed to convince himself that he felt nothing for her. That sure hadn't been achieved. Kissing her had only made things worse for him. If he'd gotten over anything in the four months since they'd been apart it sure had come rushing right back.

He'd spoken to her all but six words since that incident. He believed those words were 'patient in one needs an IV'. Pathetic. Especially for two people who had once been so close. Of course that was the problem. They really hadn't been that close. And when he'd attempted to do something about it, she'd broken up with him. He guessed that's the way love worked these days. You try and get the other to open up to you so that you can get closer to that person, and that person dumps you. Wasn't love sweet?

"Luka?" Luka looked up from his seat in the suture room and over at Kerry.

"Yes?" He asked not at all pleased to see her. Isn't that why people came into the suture room? To get away from other employs? Didn't Kerry know this?

"You have a patient in curtain two complaining of abdominal pains." Luka only shook his head and looked back down at his chart wishing Kerry would pay more attention to who was whose patient.

"No, my patient in curtain two had a sprained wrist, nothing else. I released her. Must be somebody else's patient in there now."

"No, she specifically asked for Dr. Kovac. Unless you know another..." Before she could get any further Luka was already standing up and retrieving his scattered charts.

"I'm coming already. But she's not my patient." Luka walked out of the suture room and followed Kerry down the hall. He was not happy. Why couldn't the world just leave him alone fore two measly...

"Happy birthday to you..." The song cut off Luka's train of thought as they neared admit. It only took him a few seconds to see the cake that two of the nurses were holding. A few seconds more and he realized they were singing to him. So Luka did the only thing he knew to do. He smiled at them all very politely and prayed this torture would end very soon.

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Luka had to admit that he was having a good time. He'd never really been involved in an ER party before let alone been the focus of one. It was proving to be a lot of fun. The staff was great as they kept teasing him trying to figure out how old he really was since nobody had told them. He wouldn't either. Not really because he didn't want to admit to his age more because it was fun to keep it a mystery from them. They seemed to be enjoying the game as well.

"Oh, come on Dr. Kovac." One of the nurses complained. "You tell us your age and we'll let you take home the left over birthday cake." Luka smiled down at her sweetly.

"That's okay. I'll just let you take it home instead." She smiled back at him and was about to say something more but Luka wasn't listening to her anymore. He was watching as Abby and Carter walked up to the desk that everybody was surrounding. Luka totally missed the scornful look the nurse gave Abby before marching off in another direction.

"Hey, what's going on here?" Carter asked Chen as he was sitting some charts down on the counter. Chen seemed uncertain but finally answered anyhow.

"Dr. Kovac's birthday. We're celebrating." Carter only nodded.

"Carter your patient in three is looking for you." Kerry walked up to the admit desk stepping in front of Luka who quickly turned his attention away. Out of the corner of his eye he saw as Abby and Carter exchanged words before Carter quickly dashed off in the direction of exam three. Abby walked away from the desk and out the emergency doors. She seemed sad, Luka thought.

"She set this up, you know?" Luka looked over at Kerry astounded.

"She what?" He asked a little unbelieving now that Kerry's words had sank in a little deeper.

"Abby, she set up this whole party. Who else would have known that today was your birthday Luka?" Truth was, Luka hadn't even remembered that today was his birthday until he'd seen the celebration. "She came to me about a week ago and we arranged for the party. I don't think she really wanted you to know that it was her but hey she didn't say I couldn't tell you either." Kerry smiled up at him and walked away. Luka suddenly had the distinct impression that she was trying to get them back together.

Excusing himself from the party Luka quickly made his way to the emergency doors and out into the ambulance bay. He saw Abby seated on a bench they both knew well. They'd spent much time on it together. Heck, it had been the spot of their first kiss together. He walked over and slyly sat beside her. She looked over at him astonished.

"Hey." Was all she said and Luka smiled. Which seemed to surprise her all the more.

"Kerry told me you set this up." Abby nodded and looked away.

"Figured you wouldn't be to happy about it. But maybe you'd have a good time." Luka watched as she looked over at an unknown point somewhere in front of her. He wanted her to look at him again. Slowly he reached out and brought his hand to her face. Gently he turned it till he could once again see her eyes and she his.

"I did have a good time Abby." He whispered. All the emotions of that day a month ago in the examining room were coming back. Luka quickly lowered his hand again and looked away himself. He couldn't let this happen again. He couldn't handle being hurt by her anymore. A few minutes pasted in silence before Luka threw caution to the wind.

"You have any plans tonight Abby?" He asked quickly before he could stop himself. He knew this was stupid. She didn't want anything to do with him. Not like that anyways. However the look she gave him warmed his heart. It was joy. Then her face fell once again and Luka noticed Carter standing in the emergency doors looking out at them. She didn't have to say anything. He already knew. "Of course. You two have a date?" He smiled, trying to sound unhurt.

"Luka." He didn't let her finish. He had to know. He had to ask.

"Does he make you happy Abby?" His gaze was on Carter, now talking to somebody just inside the emergency doors. Slowly he looked back at Abby and she nodded her head. "Good." He smiled. An actual genuine smile. "Cause I want you to be happy. And if he makes you happy then I wish you two all the luck in the world. I really do." Luka stood up tears brimming his eyes. But he refused to let them fall. He'd be happy for her and he'd let her know that. "Just don't invite me to the wedding, okay?" He started to walk away.

"Luka wait." He stood still about ten feet away from the bench and slowly turned around. She was standing in front of him. She wanted to say something. To tell him something. He knew her well enough to perceive that much from her right now. She didn't say anything though. At least not what she'd wanted to say. Luka wondered what it was she'd really been thinking.

"Here." She reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a small box. Handing it to him she smiled nervously. "Your birthday gift."

"Abby, you didn't-" She smiled again laughing slightly.

"I wanted to Luka." He just looked into her eyes for a moment. The look they shared seemed to be that of two lovers lost, but both ignored it.

"Thanks." He said and she quickly walked away. He watched sadly as her and Carter disappear into the hospital. Looking at the box Luka sat back down on the bench and proceeded to open it. Carefully pulling off the ribbon wrapped around it Luka opened the lid. The unshed tears immediately began to fall down his cheeks as he saw what was inside.

It was a photograph of a baby boy. But not just any baby boy. It was his baby. A child he'd long ago lost along with his wife and daughter. He'd thought there were no remaining photos of him. And until then had figured he'd never lay eyes on his son again.

"Marko." Luka whispered the word into the night as he gently removed the photograph from the box. Tears were still in his eyes as he stood up and began walking out of the ambulance bay. Memories of a once happy life following him.

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