Disclaimer: I do not own the original ER characters, however I have made up a few of my own

Falling Down: Running From the Truth

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Susan walked into the lounge a few hours later to fine Luka finishing his charts.

"Hey," she said opening her locker.

"Hey yourself."

"Glad to be home?" she asked.

"Sometimes. Other times I wish I was still there helping."

"Is that what's wrong with Carter? He really can't stand it here?"

"Is that what he said?" Luka asked.

"Yeah. He said he felt more at home in a foreign country than he did his own hometown. That's the way he's acting too." Luka didn't say anything. "I just thought since you were there and you two are suddenly best friends that maybe you knew more than everyone else."

"Even if I did know what was going on in his head, I'm not about to reveal it to everyone else."

"What you know and what you hide could be important. If he's in trouble we need to help him. He's really good at making people believe he can handle things on his own."

"Maybe he can handle things on his own. It's not my job to be in charge of his problems."

"But if you're his friend then he'll listen to you."

"You aren't his friend?" Luka asked.

"He's my best friend but the truth is he will hide his feelings if it means hurting people close to him."

"Nothing you say is going to make me tell you anything. It's his job to do the telling. I've gained his trust, I'm not going to lose it."

"But if he's in trouble . . ."

"Just leave it alone, Susan," Luka said.

"How'd he hurt his wrist?"

"I don't know."

"Don't lie. Everyone heard you confirm he was injured."

"He's fine. It's nothing that won't be fixed in time."

"Luka . . ."

"The more you bother me, the more I'm denying everything."

"He can't handle everything himself. If he's in trouble at all, if he's having problems, then you need to tell someone."

"Look, the way I see it is, if he wants help, he'll asked for some. Nothing will change."

"You sound like him."

"How's that?"

"He said 'what good is talking when it won't change the inevitable'."

Luka shrugged.

"You're encouraging thins? Can you not see he's a danger to himself?"

"I'm not about to tell him how to live his life. I will make suggestions, but he doesn't listen to me as it is so why should this time be any different?"

The lounge door swung open and Abby stepped in.

"I'm glad you're here. Have either of you seen John?"

"Why?" Susan asked.

"We were finishing a trauma and just out of no where he disappeared."

"Did he say anything?" Luka asked.

"Goodbye."

"This is what I'm talking about, Luka," Susan said.

"He's not answering pages, or his phone. I called his house and the butler said he saw him once right after he got back but he hasn't been there since." She watched as Luka picked up the phone and dialed. His French was quick and fluent. The conversation ended after only a few words before Luka began to dial another number. Frustrated he put down the phone.

"Who'd you call?" Susan asked.

"A mutual friend."

"Twice?" Abby asked.

"No. I called my apartment second."

"Why?" Susan asked.

"Because he's been sleeping here," Luka confessed as he grabbed his coat.

"So, now you're worried?" Susan asked as she followed him out.

"Why is he staying at your place?" Abby called as they disappeared.

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Author's Note: Thank you for all the reviews. Please continue as I develop my story even more. While you're at it, check out my other stories. New chapters are posted regularly.