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Chapter Two
Whispered I Love You
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May 06, 2004
2:46 am
SHE LOOKED incredibly
fragile. That wasn't helping the situation much. To see his wife
lying in a hospital bed, after having undergone life saving surgery, was not
helping the anger inside him. He wanted to lash out at somebody. He
wanted to find her attacker and he wanted to kill him. He wanted to blame
Kerry for having let her off early. He wanted to blame his job for
keeping him from taking her home. He wanted, or more like he did, blame
himself for letting her leave the hospital alone. But she said she'd be
okay.
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"Maybe I should take you
home." Luka stated but all the while he kept looking over his
shoulder at the trauma that had just come in. A little girl that had
gotten into her mother's medication. Abby hadn't missed the reluctance in
his statement. She smiled up at him sweetly.
"No, it's okay. I'll just
take the El home." Luka looked down at her uncertainly. It was
almost eleven o'clock. The walk to the train was a dark and somewhat long
one.
"She's going into
v-fib!" He heard Carter call from behind them and he glanced over in
time to see the doctor take out the paddles.
"You
sure?" She gave him an amused look.
"I used to take
it all the time Luka. I'm sure. I'll be fine. Go on. Go
back to work. Go help Carter." He nodded his head, leaned down
and kissed her quickly on the lips, then rushed into the trauma room.
Abby smiled at his retreating form then walked out into the night.
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"I'm so sorry
Abby." He whispered the words so softly that he knew, had she been
awake, she most likely never would have heard them. Either way it didn't
matter, because she wasn't awake. And it wasn't an anesthetic that was
keeping her asleep. She was in a sort of coma. Though nobody was
quite sure why. Medically she seemed fine. Dr. Benton had had only
good news to report after the surgery had been completed. Luka had
reviewed her CAT scan confirming for himself that it showed no damage so it
wasn't due to head trauma. She should
be fine. She just wouldn't wake up.
Luka looked over at the monitor
charting her heart rate. He found himself doing that often. Making
sure she was still alive. Still with him. The monitor showed that
her heart was still beating normally. He wondered if the machine could
ever lie. Would it pretend that she was still alive, even if she really
wasn't?
"Luka." Luka jumped and looked over at the door. Kerry
was standing there holding an unmistakable white box in her hands. The
rape kit. He looked away from her and back at his wife. Maybe if he
ignored it then it wouldn't be real.
"What?" His voice was cold. He hadn't meant for it to
be. It had just come out that way.
"I need to...
and those detectives really need to speak with you now. They're waiting
outside." Luka looked back at her harshly.
"You brought
them up here?" Kerry nodded her head. Behind her a nurse
stepped into the room looking rather uncomfortable. Most likely she was
there to assist Kerry.
"They only want
to help Luka. To find out who did this." Yes, and then I can
kill him, Luka thought bitterly. Glancing down at Abby once more he
quickly walked past Kerry and the nurse then stepped out into the hall.
He was hoping he could sidestep the detectives and make his way back to the
ER. No such luck. They were standing there waiting for him the
second the door opened.
"Dr.
Kovac?" Why did they need to talk to him anyways? He didn't
know anything.
"Yes." He answered tiredly. It was nearly three in the
morning. He should be at home. Asleep with his wife in his
arms. She should be safe. She shouldn't be in a room with a doctor
and a nurse about to perform a rape kit on her. She shouldn't be in a
coma. She should just be asleep. If his heart could still feel he
was certain those thoughts would have caused it much pain.
"We need to ask
you a few questions. Dr. Weaver has already filled us in on most of what
we need to know." The detective, whom had earlier identified himself
as Randy Thompson, looked down at a pad of paper in his hands. Luka
watched as the other detective, George Hays, stood to the side seemingly
observing the interview. "At what time did you last see your wife
last night?"
"It was close to
eleven." Luka didn't want to remember that departure again.
Why had they brought it up? Of course he knew why. He just really
didn't want to talk to them. Even if they were there to help.
"That's
consistent with what the other doctor told us." Thompson seemed to
be saying this to himself and his partner more then anything. The
statement shocked Luka.
"You think I'd
lie!" He accused them harshly. He decided he didn't care for
these two at all.
"Of course
not. Dr. Weaver told me that nurse Kovac left the hospital earlier then
her schedule had her down for. Was she upset when you last saw her?
You two have a fight?" Luka couldn't believe this. What
exactly was he getting at?
"When Abby and I
fight we certainly do not let it get in the way of out professional
lives. No, she was not upset. She was feeling sick so she left
early." The detective looked back down at his pad.
"And where was
she going from here?"
"To the subway
station to take the El home." Thompson nodded his head and looked
back up at Luka.
"She do that
often?"
"No, normally
she'd go home with me."
"Does your wife
have any enemies Dr. Kovac?" Luka's interest was suddenly, fully,
peaked. He hadn't thought of that. He had just assumed that whoever
had done this to Abby had been a random attacker. Of course Luka realized
that a random attacker would make more sense. Why would anybody that knew
Abby want to hurt her? And like this?
"You think
whoever did this knows her?"
"We can't be
sure. Perhaps not. But that is always a possibility." He
looked at Luka intently before re-asking his question. "Does she
have any enemies?"
"No. Abby's
a nurse. She helps people. She doesn't make enemies very
easily." Luka honestly couldn't think of anybody who would want to
hurt her. No disgruntle patients, nobody.
"Any patients
that might not be happy with her treatment?" It was as if the
detective had read his mind. Luka only shook his head, already having
answered the question for himself. "How long have you two been
married?"
"A little over a
year."
"So, no chance
of any ex boyfriends, ex husbands..."
"Yeah, she has
an ex husband but no. This wouldn't be him. That was too long
ago. Abby hasn't even seen him in over three years."
"Okay, what's
him name?" Luka was annoyed. While they go hunting her ex down
they'll be distracting themselves from finding the real perpetrator.
"Richard
Lockhart." Before anything else could be said between them there was
some commotion in the hallway. Then a group of doctors and nurses were
running into Abby's room. Luka immediately followed, his heart
racing. When he entered the room he felt his world falling apart all over
again. Abby was seizing then suddenly she stopped moving and fell
disturbingly limp. Luka glanced at the heart monitor, he wasn't sure if
it was out of habit or if he'd really expect there to be a change, to his utter
dismay there was. The line was flat and the monitor began to beep
loudly. A sound that penetrated his very soul. A sound he'd never
again forget.
"Abby." He tried going to her but two arms were already pulling
him back. He looked over to see a man he didn't recognize. He tried
escaping his grip but failed as he found the man to be surprisingly
strong. Probably had to do this a lot. Fend off hysterical family
members.
"Sir you'll have
to leave." Luka looked at him like he was crazy.
"Kerry what
happened?" He yelled over the shouting of the medical staff.
"Luka get out of
here now! We'll help her, just leave!" He couldn't believe
this. How could she expect him to leave? He needed to be with
Abby. If she died he needed to be with her. He tried once more,
unsuccessfully, to pull himself away from his captures' grip. Instead he
found himself being pushed out into the hallway as the door was shut in his
face. Suddenly everything was silent.
Luka just stood
staring at the door for a few seconds. He was certain that the next time
it opened he'd be told his wife was dead. Same speech he himself had
given too many times to count. "We're so sorry. We did all
we could but it just didn't work. Your wife didn't make it."
Luka knew that if he had to listen to that speech his life would truly be
over. There'd be no reason left to go on. He'd done that once and
look at what happened. It was about to end in another tragic death.
He wouldn't move on. He'd give up. He'd do whatever it took to be
with Abby again.
Luka stepped away
from the door and backed up against the wall opposite it. He found
himself now alone in the hallway. The detectives must have made a quick
getaway. Seeing that their only witness was about to die, why would they
want to stick around? Suddenly it was just all too much. Everything
had been happening so quickly. One thing immediately after another.
The baby, the surgery, the coma, the detectives, now this. Luka sank to
the floor and placed his head between his knees that were bent forward in front
of him. And for the first time since Abby had been rushed into the ER he
really cried. His body shook with the sobs and the hallway echoed with
their noise. Luka felt as the numbness washed away from him only to be
replaced with extreme pain. A hurt he knew would stay with him always.
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Abby
looked around at her surroundings and saw the same thing for as far as her
vision would allow. Water. She was on some soft of island. It reminded her of the island you always see
depicted in a cartoon or comic strip.
It was so small that all she had to do was take about fifteen steps
before she reached the other side of it.
And, ironically enough, there was even a palm tree right in the center
of it. Only it was the weirdest palm
tree she'd ever seen. It's leafs were
all pink. She looked down at the ground
beneath her and discovered that the island floor was covered in a white layer
of grass. The sun shined off the grass
as it flowed slightly in the gentle breeze.
She found this odd as well, not only that the grass was white but that
there was grass at all. Shouldn't there
be sand?
"Hello." Abby jumped at the voice and looked behind
her. Sitting beneath the tree was a man
she'd never seen before. He had black
hair and black clothes, which were both a very odd contrast against the
brightness of their surroundings. His
features were light though, not too light as to be pale, but just light enough
to stand out against his clothing.
"Who are you?" The man shrugged and stood up. To Abby's surprise he was only a few inches
taller then she.
"I don't know." He answered in a light playful voice. Abby took a step back. The word crazy sprang quickly to mind. "Don't go to far you might
fall." Realizing he was right she
glanced behind her, she still had a few feet between her and the water.
"Who are you?" She demanded again, this time a little more
harshly.
"I said I don't know." Unbelievable, she was trapped on a deserted
island with a man who was insane. Not
to mention a man who hadn't been there a few minutes ago. She looked around for a boat. Maybe she could get off of this island after
all.
"Watcha looking for?" He asked her in his continued
playfulness. Abby just glared at him.
"How'd you get here? Who are you?" Her voice was very stern, demanding answers. They wouldn't be force coming.
"I don't know." He smiled at her, not a scary smile but a
good-natured one. "But you
do."
"I do what?" She asked a little despairingly.
"Know who I am silly… and where I
came from." He spoke as if this
were everyday knowledge. As if she should
suddenly remember something and then know exactly what he was talking
about. She took another step back. "You really shouldn't. You don't want to fall in." Abby was actually beginning to think the
opposite. Maybe she should swim for
it. She looked down at the water trying
to decide which was more dangerous, it or him.
His laughing distracted her and she looked back over at him.
"What's so funny?"
"You think you're
dangerous." Abby was very
confused.
"What?" He laughed some more. His laughter was surprisingly kind and
mellow, not taunting or cruel.
"Trust me," He stopped for a
moment and started to laugh even harder. "Or should I say trust you? That water is the only thing of any danger
to you right now." Abby looked at
it again. All it appeared to be was
clear, beautiful water. It almost
reminded her of the Adriatic Ocean. The
thought of her honeymoon saddened her and she had to wonder where Luka was. Was he okay?
"Please just tell me who you
are." Abby spoke softly, almost
sadly. She suddenly missed Luka very
much. The man shook his head.
"Like I said you should know, you
brought me here. I am you." She just stared at him in disbelief. Thinking that he really was crazy and
wishing her husband were there with her.
"If I am crazy then so are you." Abby took another step back, this time in shock. He'd read her thoughts. The man reached out and grabbed for her but
it was too late. She fell into the
water and began to drown.
Abby didn't know it but at that very
moment, in a hospital in Chicago, her heart had just stopped beating.
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3:13 am
Luka didn't know how
long it had been. A lifetime seemed to have passed by. He almost wished
that were true. Then nobody he knew would still be alive. They
wouldn't have to watch him wallow in his sorrow at losing yet another wife to
such misfortune. He wouldn't have to watch their pitiful looks as they
asked if he was doing okay. Or worse yet, told him that he'd be okay,
that he'd get through this, he was strong. No he wasn't. Nobody was
this strong. They wouldn't be here to care when he drove his car off the
first bridge he came to. Or swallowed an overdose of the quickest
medication he could find in the ER. Luka realized how comforting that
thought was and stuffed it into the back on his mind as a possible course of
action.
He felt a hand on his
shoulder. He looked up to find Kerry looking down at him. He
noticed the absence of that pitiful look all doctors got when they had to relay
bad news to the family.
"She's
stable." He didn't let her finish. He was on his feat in a
flash and in Abby's room even quicker. A nurse was still in the room
cleaning up some things but other then that the room was now empty. Luka
shook his head trying to figure out how he'd missed an entire medical team
leaving and walking right past him. Oh well, it didn't really matter
right now.
"Abby." He whispered her name softly. More then anything
he simply needed to hear it. He reached out and brushed a few strands of
hair away from her forehead. She was still as beautiful to him as the day
he'd met her... but all the more precious. He felt, more then saw, as
Kerry walked up beside him. "What happened?"
"We're not
really sure. She just started seizing and then..." He looked over at
her and she continued. "Her heart stopped. It's just one of
those things. One of those things that can't be explained. They
just happen." She smiled at him. "But the good news is
that we got her heart started again with nothing other then using the
paddles. It could have been a lot worse Luka."
"Yeah, she could
have died." Luka hadn't actually planned on saying the sentence out
loud. Not that it bothered him much that he had. "Why won't
she wake up?" He didn't really expect Kerry to have an answer and
the truth was he was asking himself more then Kerry.
"I have heard of
such a thing as a mental coma as appose to a physical coma." He
looked at her confused. "Sometimes the patient just doesn't want to
wake up. They like it where they are. More peaceful and they don't
have to deal with what happened to them."
"If that's true
then I'm not sure I want her to wake up. As long as wherever she is she
doesn't have to remember what's been done to her." That seemed to
remind Kerry of something.
"I still have to
finish the rape kit. I think you should go home Luka. Get some
rest. Abby would want it that way." Luka knew the last thing
he wanted to do was leave her now. What if it happened again? What
if next time they couldn't get her back? As a doctor and as a man that
had lost his entire family once before, Luka knew he had to stay open to the
idea that she still might die. And he was determined to be there for her
if it happened. He wouldn't let her die alone thinking he didn't care
enough to be there.
"I can't leave
her."
"Luka you are
exhausted, physically and emotionally, go home and get some sleep. Take a
shower. Get refreshed. That way when Abby does wake up you won't be
falling asleep on her." She gave him a soft smile. He couldn't
bring himself to smile back. There was nothing in his world worth smiling
for right now. But he did, slowly, nod his head.
"Okay. If
anything changes..."
"I'll call or
have somebody call you immediately."
Luka turned back to
Abby, gave her a soft kiss on the lips and whispered. "I love you."
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THE END of Chapter 2
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DISCLAIMER: The above was a story
of fiction based on characters created and owned by Michael Crichton and NBC.