Picking Up The Pieces

An ER fan fiction by AbCaLuDa

Chapter 2

**Luka POV**

I pace the hallway outside the room. I should be in there, not out here while he's in there. She's my wife. I should be with her. But she won't talk to m, she won't even look at me or let me touch her. She doesn't realize how much I need her right now. And she needs me.

I can't blame her for not thinking about my needs in all of this. Our son is dead. She's the one who found him, she's the one who couldn't save him. She has a right to be upset and depressed. But so do I. He was my boy too. Another child lost.

I could lose myself so easily in the memories. I only have to stop moving and I see their faces in my mind. I hear Danijela's cried, I see Marko, Jasna in the apartment in Vukovar. All of them lost, and I can do nothing to save them.

I don't want to relive that. I have to stay focused on Abby, and Galen. My beautiful little girl. I glance at my watch. Randi should have her back by now. Why aren't they here? I need to see Galen. I need to hold her and hug her and feel her solid and breathing in my arms.

I wonder what's going on in that room. She's probably talking to Carter She could always talk to Carter. I hate that even now I feel jealous. I want to hate him. He could always get through to her when nothing else could. She could always reach out to him when she turned away from me.

I should have let her marry him…

"Daddy!" I turn to the sound, and Galen running toward me. I kneel to catch her in my arms and she almost knocks both of us down. I catch her and wrap my arms around her. "Aunt Randi picked me up early at school!"

I glace at Randi, she shakes her head. She didn't tell her about Mikhail. Good. I stand with Galen still in my arms. "I bet you were excited."

"Uh-huh. But why are we at the hospital? Is someone sick?"

Just then the door to Trauma Three opens. Carter is holding Mikhail. I turn around so Galen's back is to the door, but it's too late.

"Uncle Carter?" She cocks her head at him.

"I'm sorry, Luka. I…"

"It's all right. I haven't had a chance to tell her." I walk over to sit Galen down in a chair. I sit beside her, and take her hands in mine. "Sweetheart, I have to tell you something."

"Why is Mikey sleeping like that?"

"Your brother isn't sleeping, baby. He died today."

She looks at me, her eyes wide. "Is he in Heaven?"

"I'm sure he is, baby," I tell her.

"Like Jasna and Marko?"

I nod. I'd like to think the three of them are together, and Danijela is there to watch over them.

"Daddy? Am I going to go to Heaven too?"

"Someday, sweetheart. But not for a very long time." I pull her on to my lap and hug her tight. I kiss her forehead. "Not for a very very long time."

Someone is standing a few feet away. I look up and see Carter. I nod, and he kneels in front of Galen. "Hey sweetheart," he says to her. She pulls her legs up onto my lap and burrows against my chest like she wants to get as far away from him as she can. "What do you say we go to the cafeteria and get some ice cream?"

Galen grunts and shakes her head at him.

Carter jerks his head toward the door. "Go talk to her. I'll stay with Galen."

"I don't want to stay with you!" Galen screams.

"Galen, baby. Calm down," I comb my fingers through her hair.

"He killed Mikey!" She jumps off my lap and takes off running down the hall.

"She saw you holding him," I say. That's the only thing that makes sense. But I don't have time to talk about it. I have to catch her before she gets lost. I leave Carter standing there and run after my daughter.

Susan Lewis has cornered her at the end of the hall. I thank her and kneel a few feet from Galen. "You want to tell me what that was all about?"

"He killed Mikey! I saw him!"

She's cowering from me and I don't like that. Not at all. I put my hand out to her, but she only scoots farther into the corner. "Honey, Uncle Carter didn't hurt Mikey. Mikey was already…He was…Baby, I don't know how to explain this to you. Your brother died today at home. Your mother brought him here, but there was nothing the doctors could do."

Her lower lip trembles and I know she's about to cry. I wish she would come to me and let me hold her.

"Do you understand, sweetheart? You know Uncle Carter would never hurt you or your brother. He loves you so much."

She stares at me for a long time. At least it feels like a long time. It's probably only a few seconds. I don't dare move or make a sound. She has to come to me. I have to wait her out, let her feel like she's in control because she must feel like everything else is spinning out of control.

"Volim te, Daddy," she says and moves into my arms. "Sve htijenje biti u redu." I love you, Daddy. Everything will be okay.

"Volim te, Galen," I whisper, and a single tear slips down my cheek.

* * * * * * * *

I am liking this version so much better. Using the third person narrator just kept me too far away from the meat of the story. I hope it's not too confusing to have rotating narrators, but I think it is necessary for this story…

Please use the review option to let me know what *you* think! Thanks so much for reading!