Notes:

Here's the second part of "Where do we go from here?" and I feel it appropriate to warn you of some Luka/Dave romance coming up within the storyline. If you don't like homosexual relationships then I suggest that you don't read any further. I don't intend to portray anything graphic but if you are uncomfortable about homosexuality in any way, shape or form then turn back now.

Disclaimer:

Surprisingly I still don't own Dave and the rest of the ER (and very sad I am too! *sniffle*)

Where do we go from here?

Chapter Two - Luka's decision

Luka watched the brown liquid swirl around the mug as he stirred the coffee. He was preoccupied. Ever since he'd arrived home he couldn't stop thinking of Dave and how his meeting with Kerry had gone. Luka wished that he had some contact number for Dave, if he'd been fired, he'd definitely need comfort from someone who cared and Luka was confident enough to say that he cared for Dave. He was getting more and more used to the idea of him and Dave being friends. They both had been pretty lonely since joining the staff of County, Dave probably more so. Luka thanked his lucky stars that he at least had Abby. Luka blinked then remembered, of course! Abby! He'd left her in his lounge while he'd gone to make a drink. In all the worry about Dave, he'd completely forgotten that Abby was staying after her neighbour attacked her. Luka took the coffee into the lounge and sat in the chair after handing Abby her mug. "Hey Luka, were you happy in your marriage"? Abby asked.

"What made you ask that"?

"Well the woman my neighbour lived with seemed to be happy with him even though he was violent, it took a lot of pushing to get her to realise what an animal he actually was to her. It made me think, were we really happy in our marriages or were we so blinded by love we couldn't see our partner's faults"? Abby explained, taking a sip from her cup.

"I was happy with Daniella. We didn't really have much money and we didn't live in a big house, but with our children, we wanted for nothing. Daniella was so perfect for me" Luka said with a small sigh.

"I thought that I was happy with Richard but things just didn't work out, I guess I had a fear of commitment" Abby admitted.

"I thought I would be with Daniella forever, there was no doubt in my mind that I loved her, she was the one for me" Luka replied sadly.

"Do you still love her as much"? Abby asked.

"Yes, but I know that she would've wanted me to find someone else, she sometimes said to me, if she ever.died..she would be happy for me whoever I found and she knew it meant I wouldn't love her any less, all she wanted was for me to be happy".

"And are you"? Abby stared at Luka.

"I most ways I am, I must admit sometimes it is sad not to have a special someone in my life, but I am doubting I will ever find what me and Daniella shared ever again"

"Has there been anyone since Daniella, anyone at all"? Abby asked, knowing that Luka would probably refer to their short-lived relationship.

"There was you of course and then just a couple of one night stands...but I'm not that kind of guy. I don't like having one night stands, I'm more into commitment" Luka answered, looking up to meet Abby's eye. The nurse smiled gently.

"Good..I thought we had another Malucci on our hands then, having to hear about *your* wild exploits" She joked. Luka frowned.

"Speaking of Dave...what do you think about him"? Luka asked.

"I've never really given it much thought. He's alright I suppose, in small doses"

"Oh" Luka said distantly. He'd been hoping for a better answer than he had been given.

"Why'd you ask"? Abby questioned. She had wondered how Luka had gone from his relationship to Daniella to thinking about Dave.

"I've been thinking about Dave a lot. The other day we had a talk on the roof at County...he told me a few things. Those things made me realise how alone Dave truly is at the hospital. I've recently started to think that I should make an effort to get to know him. No man deserves to be lonely. I'm starting to care for him." Luka admitted.

"In what sense"? Abby stared at Luka, her expression showed nothing but seriousness. The young nurse decided if her friend was about to 'come out' to her, she shouldn't appear amused. "Just in a friendship sense" Luka said firmly. Abby nodded and a silence fell between the pair. Luka sipped his coffee, wondering if what he'd just said was true.

*~*

Dave threw his backpack on the floor as he entered his apartment. Although his apartment wasn't the cleanest it could be, the odd take-away carton and pile of clothes here and there and the perpetual smell of cheap disinfectant, Dave found it a suitable place to live until he could afford somewhere better. "Dave"? A female voice called. Dave wandered through to the small kitchen and found Mrs Hinton making some hot chocolate. "Hey Mrs Hinton" Dave greeted the older woman. He loved Mrs Hinton. She was the old lady who lived next door. Ever since he'd moved in, Mrs Hinton had been his babysitter for his four year old son, Michael. "How's Mikey"? He asked with a smile. Michael was his beautiful baby boy, who resembled him in both looks and his cheeky disposition. "He's fine. I managed to get him to go to sleep this time. He normally wants to wait up for his daddy" Mrs Hinton replied, returning Dave's smile. "Here's your hot chocolate" She added, handing Dave the steaming mug.

"Thanks Mrs H" Dave replied. "Do you need the money now or can I pay you at the end of the week"?

"Oh don't worry about that dear. You know I love looking after Michael" Mrs Hinton smiled as she put on her coat.

"Mrs H I insist, you do and lot for Mikey and me, we gotta give you something" Dave insisted as he opened the door for the kind woman.

"Ok, then you can pay me at the end of the week, goodnight Dave"

"I'll walk you back to your place" Dave replied.

"I won't hear of it Dave! It's only next door, besides, I'm a tough old boot" She joked. Dave nodded and watched the old woman leave. Dave closed the front door and wandered across the small lounge to Michael's room. He always checked on his son whenever he returned home; it was his way of proving he was doing a better job as a father than his own dad ever did. Dave opened the door quietly and left it ajar, allowing a small amount of light to seep into the room. Dave crept over to his son's bed and in the dim light, could just make out his son's sleeping form, his small chest rising and then falling with each breath. Dave gently tucked the covers around his son and stared down at the small boy.

***flashback***

"Momma"? The tiny, scared voice asked. Everything seemed so dark, so lonely in this cold room.

"I'm here Davey" Mrs Malucci whispered to the seven year old. Her features were outlined in the dark. Little Dave could clearly make out his mother's soft features, that gentle smile and as she leaned in closer, he could smell that familiar powdery, floral scent that was always so comforting. "Momma, why is daddy so mad"? Dave whispered. His eyes darted around the small bedroom checking that the drunken tyrant was nowhere to be seen. "Don't worry about Daddy Davey, just you try and get some sleep" His mother said as she drew the thin covers over her son. She leaned closer and kissed him on the forehead then wrapped her hand around his own tiny hand. "Love you baby" She whispered as she watched her baby drift off to sleep.

"Love you Momma" came the quiet reply.

***end flashback***

Dave stroked Michael's soft, brown hair. Tears glistened in the older man's eyes as, just like his mother had done for him years ago, he bent down and kissed his baby boy's forehead. "Love you Mikey"

*~*

Dead, Dave could barely believe it. For the first time in his short career here, the ER of Cook County General hospital was quiet. There was no screaming from bereaved family members or children with cut knees. There was no shouting from people who had been waiting for hours in chairs. No- one was puking their guts onto the otherwise pristine floor. As much as Dave liked easy days, the whole experience was unsettling. It was almost like the calm before the storm, like everyone was just waiting around for something to happen. "Quiet morning" A gentle voice remarked. Dave looked up from the paperwork he was pretending to do and saw Luka stood by the desk. Dave smiled up at the older man's rugged features. "Yeah, it's a bit un-nerving really" Dave replied.

"How are you this morning Dave"? The Croatian attending asked as he placed his trusty stethoscope around his neck. "I'm fine and you"?

"As well as I can be at this ungodly hour" Luka answered with a smirk.

"Luka, can I count on your attendance"? Carter asked, spinning around in his chair so he faced his co-worker. "My attendance"?

"Drinks at my place tonight, we could all do with the chance to relax" Carter replied. "Plus it gives him the chance to show off the new dining room furniture" Abby added. The nurse was leaning against the desk, a small smile playing on her lips. Carter mockingly rolled his eyes. "You know me too well" He joked.

"I'd love to come" Luka answered. He wasn't particularly on friendly terms with Dr Carter, but drinks did sound like a really good idea. "Great, I've already got Mark and Elizabeth as 'yes's', I'll have to track down Peter, you're coming too aren't you Abby"?

"Wild Weaver's wouldn't keep me away" Abby replied with a hint of sarcasm. "If you'll excuse me, I believe I have a lovely little boy who's eaten too much chocolate to deal with"

"I'll take the chronic back pain in curtain two" Carter said as he grabbed the corresponding chart.

Throughout this exchange, Dave had remained uncharacteristically quiet. When Carter was asking the others he'd felt invisible. Not that he wasn't used to it; all his life Dave had been invisible to others. He sighed and stared at the chart in front of him. "Are you going to come tonight Dave"? A voice asked from behind him. Dave turned around and came face to face with Luka. "Did you hear him invite me Luka"? Dave asked, a bitter tone to his voice.

"No, but I'm sure he won't mind if I bring a guest" The Croatian attending replied with a gentle smile. "It's ok, I don't need your pity" Dave said as he rose from his seat. "I'll probably hook up with some hottie anyway" He added with a cheeky smirk that he didn't really feel.

"Well at least think about it" Luka replied, sounding a little hurt. Although Luka did not know Dave that well, he could easily see when the junior resident was faking. "If it'll make you happy Luka, I'll think about it" Dave answered with that trademark Malucci smile. He grabbed the nearest chart and dashed off to find his patient.

~*~

Luka frowned as he searched through the pairs of scrubs, looking for a set that might possibly fit him. His nostrils twitched from the potent smell of vomit that was emitting from his chest and lap. Luka decided then and there that the next time he had a drunken patient, he would arrange for a bucket to be on hand. Even though the Croatian doctor was used to the smell, he could still feel his own stomach heaving as he searched row after row of scrubs. All he had come up with so far were small sizes and those nasty pink maternity scrubs that no self-respecting guy would wear. The door creaked open making Luka jump. Carter entered mumbling to himself. His own green scrub top was covered in blood, indicating he'd just dealt with a serious trauma. "I take it you need a new top too"? Luka asked, continuing his search.

"Yeah, we had a major MVA come in, and as you can see I caught the worst of the mess" Carter replied, indicating his stained clothing.

"You'll be lucky if you find something in here. This place is such a mess" Luka said, sounding a little frustrated.

"That's why it'll be great to get a break from this place and a chance to relax round at my place tonight" Carter answered. He reached up onto the top shelf and immediately located a new scrub top in his size. Luka frowned and shook his head. "About that..." He started, feeling a little nervous.

"You can't make it"? Carter interrupted.

"No, no of course I can make it, I just hope you don't mind that I'm bringing a guest" Luka continued.

"A guest? Of course you can bring one, I'm sure whoever she is, she's nice" Carter replied with a smirk, nudging Luka a little.

"It's Dave" Luka said simply.

"Dave"? Carter spluttered. "Why did you ask Malucci"?

"Dave isn't that bad you know Carter" Luka replied defensively. He was beginning to dislike the way people reacted when he said Dave's name. "I'm not too sure about that Luka, he seems like a jerk to me" Carter said with a frown.

"Well you'll have a chance to find out what he's really like tonight" Luka replied confidently. He grabbed the nearest scrub top and left the storage closet, leaving Carter staring after him in disbelief.

END OF CHAPTER TWO