-Chapter Twelve-
Luka's secret sharer
I try to avoid Romano as much as possible but that's not as easy as one could think since I am Acting Chief of Emergency services and Morgenstern is still sick. Didn't know management involved taking part to so many meetings. He looks at me with a strange expression I can only catalog as guilty. That's so odd. I didn't actually think Romano had a conscience. But after his newfound paternal instinct I can expect anything.
He takes me to the side "Listen, Susan, I think we can stop playing hide and seek. We had a great time together but it was just a one night stand, so let's just forget about it, ok?"
"Sure Robert, okay."
That's good. Problem number one is solved. Problem number two still stands, though: avoiding Luka. After going to bed with Romano I couldn't quite look him in the eye. I know it's so silly because we're not together but I still think like I somewhat cheated on him. My Luka radar starts beeping loudly.
"Susan, I need a second opinion. Would you look at this, please?"
"Sure. Looks definitely like a Marfan syndrome case to me, Luka."
"I thought so. Thanks a lot Susan." He starts walking away then stops and turns around. "Are you okay, Susan?"
"You been acting strangely lately. I'd almost say you've been avoiding me."
"No, it's just that you've been spending an awful lot of time with Elizabeth and I-" I trail off, not knowing what else to say.
"Yeah, I know." He says and winks conspiratorially.
Hurgh! Does he find it funny? I certainly don't. This is really what I'd call adding insult to injury. Luckily the ER keeps me busy enough today not to feel sorry about myself and my pathetic so-called love life or lack thereof. I just go about my business. I page someone from surgery. My patient needs a surgical consult. They send me Elizabeth down.
"Hi, Elizabeth, I suspect Mr. Johnson here has calculi. Gallstones to be more specific."
She examines the man and asks him a few questions. "Looks like you're right, Susan. Mr. Johnson, I'm gonna write you down in the waiting list. Calculi removals are done on prescheduled elective surgeries only."
I bit my lip and finally ask "So, how did your cruise with Luka go?"
"We actually didn't make it. The lake was too agitated because of the bad weather."
I nod.
"He did tell me what he had been trying to tell me lately, though. Took him bloody ages. He's such a reserved and timid man. Very jealous of his private life."
"So?"
"So I am not gonna tell you. It's private."
Guess they don't wanna go public yet. Can't blame them, really, the ER is too much of a gossip buffers' maven. I walk away pensively. The nurses are bound to find out about it soon, though. Nothing escapes their hospital grapevine. I go up to yet another management meeting, wondering how Kerry can put up with this all. As I pass by Romano's office I hear Elizabeth's familiar voice. I stop, unable to fight my curiosity.
"The birds are chirping, the flowers budding and the lovers walking hand in hand in the parks. Don't you just love Chicago in the spring, Robert?"
"I certainly do, Lizzie, but why on earth are you so cheerful today?"
"Nothing, nothing, it's just that a friend of mine confessed to me he's in love and what can I say, I am a sucker for romanticism."
"Is he in love with you?"
"No, with another woman. And she loves him back. She just doesn't know her love is reciprocated yet."
My heart skips a beat.
"Well, I hate to do this to you, Lizzie dear, but I have to remind you that when you are done playing cupid you have a colostomy to perform."
I know who she was talking about. Luka. The problem is I'm not sure about who she is. I just hope it's me. I am so wrapped up in my own thoughts that I don't see a sign reading ' slippery floor' so I slip and knock off a mop and bucket a janitor has carelessly left around. The noise attracts Elizabeth and Robert who look at me puzzled.
I smile embarrassedly "These damn janitors. Always leave their stuff around. I should be more careful, though. So silly of me!" I grin nervously and dash away.
As I do so I can hear Elizabeth whispering worriedly to Robert "You think she heard me?"
I smile broadly as I finally know she was talking about me.
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Still thinking about that conversation I eavesdropped before I make my way back to the ER after another mortally boring meeting of Anspaugh. Luka ambushes me and drags me in the drug lockup.
He nervously clears his throat "Susan, I need to talk toy you."
"I'm all ears."
"Uhm, I like you a lot, I really do, Susan."
I smile from ear to ear, enjoying the moment fully.
"I don't see you gaping in surprise. You saw this coming, didn't you?"
"Yeah, let's just say I might have heard something."
"Elizabeth assured me she is the Fort Knocks of secrets, though."
"Even walls have ears here at County, Luka."
"I don't see you jumping with joy, either, and that's so much worse."
"Teasing you is too much fun!"
"You're devil!" he laughs and starts tickling me mercilessly.
"Stop it, Luka! Oh God, what do I have to do to make you stop?"
"Just kiss me."
I gladly comply.
Chuny walks in on us kissing. We pull away and blush. "Ops. I was just looking for some Compazine. Sorry, guys."
"No. We are sorry."
"What for? That was the best kiss I had in a while."
She walks away with a malicious smile.
"We could as well have put it on the bulletin board."
"I am sorry too, Luka, I love secret love affairs."
"You a Rosmunde Pilcher fan, huh?"
Upcoming Luka's secret sharer.review if you want it up sooner!
I try to avoid Romano as much as possible but that's not as easy as one could think since I am Acting Chief of Emergency services and Morgenstern is still sick. Didn't know management involved taking part to so many meetings. He looks at me with a strange expression I can only catalog as guilty. That's so odd. I didn't actually think Romano had a conscience. But after his newfound paternal instinct I can expect anything.
He takes me to the side "Listen, Susan, I think we can stop playing hide and seek. We had a great time together but it was just a one night stand, so let's just forget about it, ok?"
"Sure Robert, okay."
That's good. Problem number one is solved. Problem number two still stands, though: avoiding Luka. After going to bed with Romano I couldn't quite look him in the eye. I know it's so silly because we're not together but I still think like I somewhat cheated on him. My Luka radar starts beeping loudly.
"Susan, I need a second opinion. Would you look at this, please?"
"Sure. Looks definitely like a Marfan syndrome case to me, Luka."
"I thought so. Thanks a lot Susan." He starts walking away then stops and turns around. "Are you okay, Susan?"
"You been acting strangely lately. I'd almost say you've been avoiding me."
"No, it's just that you've been spending an awful lot of time with Elizabeth and I-" I trail off, not knowing what else to say.
"Yeah, I know." He says and winks conspiratorially.
Hurgh! Does he find it funny? I certainly don't. This is really what I'd call adding insult to injury. Luckily the ER keeps me busy enough today not to feel sorry about myself and my pathetic so-called love life or lack thereof. I just go about my business. I page someone from surgery. My patient needs a surgical consult. They send me Elizabeth down.
"Hi, Elizabeth, I suspect Mr. Johnson here has calculi. Gallstones to be more specific."
She examines the man and asks him a few questions. "Looks like you're right, Susan. Mr. Johnson, I'm gonna write you down in the waiting list. Calculi removals are done on prescheduled elective surgeries only."
I bit my lip and finally ask "So, how did your cruise with Luka go?"
"We actually didn't make it. The lake was too agitated because of the bad weather."
I nod.
"He did tell me what he had been trying to tell me lately, though. Took him bloody ages. He's such a reserved and timid man. Very jealous of his private life."
"So?"
"So I am not gonna tell you. It's private."
Guess they don't wanna go public yet. Can't blame them, really, the ER is too much of a gossip buffers' maven. I walk away pensively. The nurses are bound to find out about it soon, though. Nothing escapes their hospital grapevine. I go up to yet another management meeting, wondering how Kerry can put up with this all. As I pass by Romano's office I hear Elizabeth's familiar voice. I stop, unable to fight my curiosity.
"The birds are chirping, the flowers budding and the lovers walking hand in hand in the parks. Don't you just love Chicago in the spring, Robert?"
"I certainly do, Lizzie, but why on earth are you so cheerful today?"
"Nothing, nothing, it's just that a friend of mine confessed to me he's in love and what can I say, I am a sucker for romanticism."
"Is he in love with you?"
"No, with another woman. And she loves him back. She just doesn't know her love is reciprocated yet."
My heart skips a beat.
"Well, I hate to do this to you, Lizzie dear, but I have to remind you that when you are done playing cupid you have a colostomy to perform."
I know who she was talking about. Luka. The problem is I'm not sure about who she is. I just hope it's me. I am so wrapped up in my own thoughts that I don't see a sign reading ' slippery floor' so I slip and knock off a mop and bucket a janitor has carelessly left around. The noise attracts Elizabeth and Robert who look at me puzzled.
I smile embarrassedly "These damn janitors. Always leave their stuff around. I should be more careful, though. So silly of me!" I grin nervously and dash away.
As I do so I can hear Elizabeth whispering worriedly to Robert "You think she heard me?"
I smile broadly as I finally know she was talking about me.
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Still thinking about that conversation I eavesdropped before I make my way back to the ER after another mortally boring meeting of Anspaugh. Luka ambushes me and drags me in the drug lockup.
He nervously clears his throat "Susan, I need to talk toy you."
"I'm all ears."
"Uhm, I like you a lot, I really do, Susan."
I smile from ear to ear, enjoying the moment fully.
"I don't see you gaping in surprise. You saw this coming, didn't you?"
"Yeah, let's just say I might have heard something."
"Elizabeth assured me she is the Fort Knocks of secrets, though."
"Even walls have ears here at County, Luka."
"I don't see you jumping with joy, either, and that's so much worse."
"Teasing you is too much fun!"
"You're devil!" he laughs and starts tickling me mercilessly.
"Stop it, Luka! Oh God, what do I have to do to make you stop?"
"Just kiss me."
I gladly comply.
Chuny walks in on us kissing. We pull away and blush. "Ops. I was just looking for some Compazine. Sorry, guys."
"No. We are sorry."
"What for? That was the best kiss I had in a while."
She walks away with a malicious smile.
"We could as well have put it on the bulletin board."
"I am sorry too, Luka, I love secret love affairs."
"You a Rosmunde Pilcher fan, huh?"
Upcoming Luka's secret sharer.review if you want it up sooner!