Dance Of The Dogs

An ER fan fiction by AbCaLuDa

Chapter 3

She feels like a butterfly in his arms, delicate and fragile. Her head against his shoulder creates a soothing warmth around his head, and for the first time since Carol left, he feels he has a reason to go on. This is the reason he trudged through the days and nights, wandering aimlessly through the shattered remains of his worthless life.

One of his neighbors opens the door to the building and holds the door. Luka Kovac laughs and pretends to kiss the girl in his arms.

"Evenin', Dr. Kovac," the neighbor nods..

Luka nods too. "Night, Jack." He is thankful for the darkness that hides the girl's face.

He carries her up to his apartment, struggles to support her weight and get his key in the lock. He lays her on his couch, then smoothes the hair from her forehead and checks her pulse. Still weak, but stronger. He knows he should take her to the hospital, but she said no. She specifically said no hospitals.

"You're going to be just fine," he tells her. He gets a towel from the bathroom and kneels beside her. He starts with her arms because that is less intrusive than the face, and he knows he needs to gain her trust.

"Stop," she cries and pushes at him. "No hospitals…"

"Shhh. It's all right. I'm a doctor. I can help you."

"No! No doctors! No hospitals!" She lunges up, but falls back against the pillows with a helpless moan.

"It's okay. I'm going to help you. You were beat up pretty bad. Do you remember what happened?"

She shakes her head and brings a hand up to claw at her hair. "Did he…did he…"

Luka nods. "He tried."

"Oh God…"

"You're safe now," he says. "No one will hurt you here."

She sits up suddenly, and looks around the room with wild, unfocused eyes. "Where's Avery? Avery! Avery, baby, where are you?"

"Who's Avery?"

She looks at him, her eyes burning with tears. "What have you done with my baby? Where is she? Where is Avery? Tell me! Tell me where she is!"

He tries to ease her back against the pillows. "It's all right. Avery wasn't with you. You were alone. Do you remember?"

"I want my baby."

"I don't think you would want her to see you like this. Let me clean you up and we'll talk about it when you're stronger."

"Don't you touch me!" She swings her fist at him and the force behind the blow knocks him off balance for a moment. He recovers and circles his arms around her, effectively pinning her arms against her body. She attempts to fight his hold, but after a few seconds she gives up and lets her body fall slack.

He eases her down to the pillows. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"Why? Why are you doing this?"

Dare he tell her that it's because when he saw the attack, his heart started racing and he felt alive for the first time in months? "I couldn't just leave you there to die or wish you were dying. I wish you would let me take you to the hospital. I'm a doctor I can…"

"No. Please. No. No hospital."

"Your injuries could be serious…I need X-rays and blood work ups…"

"I said no."

"What are you afraid of?"

She pushes herself up and cradles her head in her hands. She takes a deep breath. "I just can't go to the hospital, okay? Or the police or anywhere else. I just want to go home."

"If you can stand and walk out to my car on your own I'll take you home."

"I can't."

"I know. So lay back down and let me take care of you."

* * * * * * * *

He watches her sleep and he wonders what her story is. He knows she's a topless dancer, obviously. He's seen her perform more times than he could remember. He always liked her best. She had style, and a wild look in her eye that seemed to match the unsettled rumble in his soul.

Her stage name is Abby Rose, and it fits her. He likes how it sounds. Abby Rose. He wonders if she will tell him her real name. Mostly he wonders where Avery is, and if Avery is the reason she's so afraid to go to the hospital.

Then he wonders what he's gotten himself into.

But it's too late to worry about that. He hasn't wondered about anything for a very long time, and it feels good. It feels very good to care bout something again. Not just something, someone.

* * * * * * * *

This fic is taking quite a different turn…I like it. I hope you do too. So use the review button and let me know. It only takes a second and it makes me feel special…I really want to know what you're thinking…Thanks so much for reading.