"Mixed Emotions"
By Adrienne
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters.
Spoilers: Everything through season six and a few things from season seven.
Luka walked into work with butterflies in his stomach. He had stayed up most of the night trying to decide if he should ask Abby out. He felt a definite attraction, but wasn't sure if she felt the same. When he entered the lounge and saw her standing there, a rush of adrenaline shot through his body.
"Hi Abby," he began timidly.
"Oh, hey," she replied with a bright smile.
"Are you okay? You seemed a little upset the other night after the trauma with the pregnant mother."
"Yeah, I'm fine…You?"
"I'm okay."
"Good." They stood in an awkward silence.
"Listen, Abby," Luka said uncertainly, "I was wondering if maybe you would want to…go out…on a date sometime?"
"I'd like that," Abby told him, hardly believing this was happening.
"Is this Friday okay?" he asked.
"Sure," she said.
"Okay, I'll see you then," Luka replied and walked out into the ER as Elizabeth Corday walked in.
"Hello, Abby," she said and noticed the euphoric expression on the young nurse's face. "You're looking awfully happy today."
"I have a date," Abby said, floating around on cloud nine, a dreamy expression on her face.
"Ah, that would account for the smile on Dr. Kovac's face," Elizabeth commented. Abby blushed slightly and Elizabeth continued, "He is quite handsome. If it weren't for Mark, I'd be all over him."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The week sailed by for both Luka and Abby and soon it was Friday. After work Abby was in the lounge getting ready to go home when Carter walked in.
"Hi Abby," he said when he saw her.
"Oh, hi Carter.'
"Busy day."
"Yeah, could've been worse though."
"I suppose it could've been…so you want to catch a movie tonight or something?"
Abby then remembered she still hadn't told Carter about her date with Luka. This was exactly the awkward situation she was hoping to avoid. "Umm…actually, I have a date tonight."
Carter's face fell with that. "Oh…with who?" he inquired.
"Luka," Abby said, noticing Carter's hurt expression.
"Well, have fun," he told her and walked out. Abby stood at her locker for a moment, contemplating Carter's reaction. Did he really see them as more than just friends? She regretted having hurt him, but what was done could not be undone. Abby sighed and went home, determined to have a good time on her date, regardless of the damper Carter'' reaction may have put on it.
Abby tried on about ten different outfits, before deciding on what she should wear. Usually she didn't spend this much time getting ready, but tonight was special.
The doorbell rang and Abby's stomach jumped. When she opened the door, Luka was standing there, gorgeous as always.
"You…you look beautiful," he stammered.
"Thanks…so do you," she replied awkwardly and mentally kicked herself. 'So do you?' she thought.
"Ready to go?"
"Absolutely."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
First dates were almost always awkward for Abby, but with Luka, she felt at ease. He made her laugh and seemed so much different than the serious and quiet Luka she knew from work. For Luka it was a relief not to be alone for once. He spent most of the time he wasn't at work in his hotel room watching TV or reading medical journals. Seeing Abby's smile filled him with joy.
"So one time when I was about ten, my brother and I decided it would be fun to see if we could fly. We went up to the roof of a barn and jumped, expecting to soar, but we both broke out legs instead," Luka told her.
Abby laughed. "You thought you could fly?"
Luka shrugged. "I was ten, kids think silly things."
"I think the craziest thing my brother and I ever did was trying to run away from home."
"Why did you do that?"
"My mother was in one of her manic stages, and she showed up at school, screaming, claiming that our teachers were corrupting us…we just couldn't take it anymore."
"Are you and your brother close?"
"We used to be. As kids we were inseparable, but now he lives in Florida and I don't see him that often."
"Do you see your mother much?" Luka inquired.
"She comes and she goes, sometimes I don't see her for as long as a year, but she always shows up again," Abby told him with a sort of knowing exhaustion. He sensed this wasn't a very comfortable subject for her, so he talked about something else.
"So, why did you decide to go to med school?"
"As an OB nurse, I would do the same thing everyday and could only do so much to help a patient. I guess I just wanted to be able to do more…How did you know you wanted to be a doctor?
"My father wanted me to be a doctor, and I guess I just grew up knowing that's what I would become."
"Do you go back to Croatia to see your family?"
"A few times a year I go to visit my father and brother…it's different now though…so many of the people I knew before the war are dead, entire cities that were destroyed in the bombing have been rebuilt…it's just not the same."
"I can't imagine going through something like that."
"I don't think anyone can…it's just something that happens and you have to deal with it as it comes."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Luka walked her home that night, and when they got to the door of her apartment, they stood awkwardly, waiting for the other to make the first move.
"I had a great time tonight," Abby told him.
"'So did I," Luka replied, not sure if he should kiss her or not. "Well…good night."
"Bye," Abby replied, but they still stood there, looking into each other's eyes, as if there was a magnetic force binding them together. Luka leaned in slowly and Abby met him halfway. Her heart jumped when their lips met, the kiss was so soft and gentle. Luka pulled back and opened his eyes, seeing a smile on Abby's face. He leaned in again, this time slowly massaging her lips. He wrapped his arms around her tiny waist, and felt her hands fasten themselves behind his neck.
Abby sighed softly, enjoying his kiss, and parted her lips slightly when she felt his tongue probing. Their tongues danced together, and then he continued to explore every inch of her mouth. She ran her hands through is hair and pushed her tongue into his mouth. They stood there in the dim hallway for what seemed like an eternity, enjoying this intimacy. When the couple finally broke apart, they were breathless, and Luka rested his forehead on Abby's.
"I should go," he whispered.
"Okay," she said, not wanting him to go, but also not wanting to move too quickly.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Luka told her and gave her one last kiss before letting go of her waist and walking away.
Abby unlocked her door and walked into her apartment. She couldn't stop grinning. Lying in bed that night, she fell asleep thinking about Luka and that incredible kiss they had shared.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Luka walked away from Abby's door, amazed by what had just happened. He laughed to himself softly, as giddy as a teenager who had just experienced his first kiss. As he walked home that night all he could think about was Abby, and how wonderful she made him feel. Her smile, her laugh, and most of all how she felt in his arms.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Abby went into work the next morning, excited but nervous. She couldn't wait to see Luka, but what would she say? Would he kiss her? Would he ask her out again? Abby didn't have a lot of time to ponder these questions though, because just as she hung up her coat, Luka walked into the lounge.
He smiled as soon as he saw her. "Hi."
"Hey," she replied, blushing slightly.
Luka pulled flowers out from behind his back and presented them to Abby. "These are for you."
She was surprised, and could barely believe how wonderful this man was. "Thank you," she said, and leaned up on her tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek, but afterwards his hand caught her face and their lips met.
"I thought about you all night," he whispered between kisses.
"What a coincidence," she replied, and he chuckled in response.
Their kiss was interrupted by Carter, who walked into the room. When he saw the couple and realized who it was, he tried to make a hasty exit. "Oh! I'm sorry, I'll just—"
"No, Carter, it's okay!" Abby assured him.
"I should get out there," Luka said. "Meet you for lunch?"
"Sure," Abby replied, as he walked out the door.
When Luka left, Carter and Abby exchanged awkward glances.
"Umm…I'm sorry about walking in like that."
"Don't worry about it, John, we shouldn't have been doing that in here anyway."
"…So, I take it the date went well?"
Abby blushed. "Yes, it did."
"Good…I'm glad," he told her, but his expression said something different altogether.
Abby sighed. She had finally found a wonderful man in Luka, but it was at the risk of hurting her best friend. She wanted both and wished there was an easy answer.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~