"Hey, when are the plane crash victims coming in?" I asked.

         "Umm…now," said Dr. Corday. "Apparently I'm the only surgeon who could get down here on short notice, so I'm hoping it isn't too bad."

         "Yeah, me too," I agreed. "I wasn't actually counting on coming in until tomorrow, and I'm not really in the mood for a mass trauma." Especially not if one of them is Luka, I thought.

         "Oh, that's right, you and Carter went off together over the weekend. So, is the hospital rumor true?"

         I laughed. "If the hospital rumor is that we're engaged, then yeah."

         "Well, congratulations. I'm very happy for you two."

         "Thanks," I replied. "So, how did you know that anyway? I only told one person."

         "You should know by now that nothing is ever really a secret at County," she said.

         "You're one to talk," I retorted. "How long did you and Dr. Romano go out before you told anyone?"

         "It was only about a month and a half!" she protested. We both looked at each other for a moment, then busted up laughing. "Maybe we should both learn something here," she added.

         "Yeah, you're probably right," I answered. "Well, here they come." We both walked quickly out to the ambulance bay, where several traumas were pulling up at once, all from the plane crash. I listened to the paramedics' brief on my patient, but afterwards, I realized I had no idea what they had said. My mind was still reeling with the thought of seeing and talking to Luka for the first time since…well, since reading that letter of his. It shouldn't be this hard- I love John, and I'm going to marry him- but it is. I have no idea what either of us will say or do, and I'm really scared. I wish Carter could be there- I've gotten used to him always being there- but this is something I'm going to have to do alone.

         We rushed into Trauma 1, but as soon as we were done, I walked slowly through the doors to Trauma 2. It was completely free of doctors and nurses, except for Luka, who was lying on the bed.

         "Abby?" he asked, not trying to hide the surprise in his voice.

         "What are you doing here, Luka?"

* * *

         I stopped short outside the doors of Trauma 2. I thought Dr. Kovac was in there by himself, but then I heard Abby's voice. I peered in the windows, only to see her leaning over him, holding his hand. I stepped back quickly, not wanting her to see me spying on her.

         "I couldn't stay over there without you," I heard Luka say.

         "Luka, what are you talking about? I didn't give you any reason to come back," Abby said. What was she talking about, I wondered.

         "I know, I just couldn't be there alone any more."

         "Luka, you can't do this. I can't be with you. I'm with Carter. I love him. I'm marrying him." I barely heard Abby's words. All I saw was Luka lifting Abby's hand up and looking at it.

         "No ring," he said sarcastically. Shit! I cursed myself. Why hadn't I just given her the ring really quick? Then I heard Luka's voice again. "Abby, I love you," he said softly.

         "Luka, I-," Abby began, but I couldn't stay and listen to any more. I ran down the hall blindly, my head in my hands. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes when someone stopped me. I looked up and saw Susan standing there, her eyes full of compassion.

         "She's in there with him," I said.

         "Okay, all confidences are off. Get in here," she said, pulling me into the lounge.

         "He said he loved her!" I screamed. "I took her out, I proposed-,"

         "And she said yes!" Susan interrupted me. "She said yes because she loves you, and she wants to spend the rest of her life with you. Look, don't ever tell her I told you this, but she knew he loved her before he left. He wrote her a letter and told her. She didn't follow him to Croatia, or beg him to stay here- she stayed with you. Did you here her say she loved him back?"

         "No," I admitted sheepishly. "But I didn't stick around very long after he said it," I added.

         "I'm sure she didn't- because she doesn't love him. But you still need to talk to her. Come to think of it, it might not be a bad idea to talk to Luka, either." I must have had a puzzled look on my face, because she added, "Abby and I both went out with you, but yet we managed to become best friends. You and Luka hate each other."

         "Okay, I get the point. I'm going, I'm going," I said as she waved me out of the lounge.

         "Susan," I added, "thanks. For everything."