Chapter 4: Memories
The next morning Luka was up long before Susan. It was his day off and he'd agreed to watch Susie once more, Susan was working another eleven to seven shift and was due to pick up her car that morning at ten 'O' clock. At eight 'O' clock Susie went into the living room to inform Luka that "Auntie Susan's nearly awake". Before proceeding to ask if they could watch cartoons, Luka agreed, as there was nothing interesting on the news and then got up to make Susan a cup of coffee. As he did this he recalled his old routine, the kids getting up early on Saturday morning with him getting up a little later to get a drink and take one in for his wife who would still be dozing. As he entered Susan's room he remembered the way he would kiss his wife gently on the forehead to wake her up. "Susan? Are you awake?" He asked softly standing near the doorway. "Uh huh." Came the muffled reply, Susan was curled up and partially under the covers, "What time is it?" "Just after eight." He told her moving closer to the bed. She was asleep on the side of the bed furthest from the door. "Here, I made you this. You want any breakfast?" Luka asked sitting down on her side of the bed. "Ha, I can't remember the last time a guy woke me up like this." Susan laughed sitting upright and taking the mug, as an afterthought she added "thanks" and did her best to pat her untidy hair into place. "Was Susie okay last night?" She asked trying to draw herself away from those deep, dark, intense eyes. Luka nodded and continued to stare into her eyes, she leaned forward putting her coffee cup on her bedside table. He leaned towards her and still looking deep into each other's eyes their faces moved closer together. Suddenly there was a loud crash from the bathroom, Susan tore herself away from Luka's stare and rushed into the bathroom. Luka followed her. Sat on the bathroom floor was Susie, she was crying hard. Susan knelt beside her. "What happened Honey?" She asked. Between sobs Susie told her that she'd been trying to see into the mirror but couldn't reach so she'd stood on the edge of the bath, then slipped and fell. Luka handed Susan a damp washcloth for Susie's head - which she'd banged when she fell - and within minutes Susie was fine again. "Come on Susie. What do you want for breakfast?" Luka asked as her led her away leaving Susan to clear up the bathroom and wonder to herself 'Woah, what just happened between Luka and me?'
An hour later Susan left her apartment; she kissed Susie goodbye and thanked Luka for watching her. She was catching the El to get to the other side of town where she could pick up her car, she reached the El just a couple of seconds too late so she was forced to sit and contemplate what had happened between her an Luka. If Susie hadn't needed her at that moment would they have kissed? Luka had been awkward around her after that 'non- kiss'. She liked Luka but would they be awkward around each other for always. Susan knew it hadn't been like that with Carter, but it was a matter of chemistry. It wasn't strong between her and Carter, nothing was holding them together, but the way she had been held in Luka's eyes. Was there something there?
Susan continued pondering this all the way to the hospital. A trauma arriving in the ambulance bay briefly interrupted her. A man had been shot three times,; in the abdomen, the chest and once in the neck. It had hit the jugular vein and despite their best efforts they were unable to save him. As she emerged from the Trauma Room Susan was approached by Kerry. "Susan, are you feeling okay?" Kerry asked, Susan detected a hint of concern in her voice. "Mmm. I'm fine." Susan replied, "No, really I am!" She added, more to confirm it in her own mind than for Kerry's benefit. "It's just that you seemed kind of distant in Trauma just now. We all understand you're having some difficulties right now - " "- Kerry! I'm fine! There's nothing wrong with me. Being distant in Trauma had nothing to do with Susie - " Susan interrupted. "- Susan! You really don't look well. Please! Go home and get some rest. I'll see you on Monday!" With that Kerry clicked away. "But I don't want to go home." Susan muttered desperately to no one in particular. "Eh?" Asked Frank who was seated at the admit desk. "Look. If you stay, can I go home?" Susan just signed resignedly and hurriedly walked away.
Luka tidied away the lunch things. He and Susie had had a simple meal of scrambled egg on toast; he was planning to make a more substantial meal for the three of them when Susan returned. Once the kitchen was tidied up he sat down beside Susie on the couch and flicked through the channels to find something to watch. The VCR told Luka the time was 2:39 (which meant that the actual time was one 'O' clock), suddenly there was a lick at the door behind him, as he turned around he saw Susan. Susie spotted her too. "Auntie Susan! You're back, Luka said you wouldn't be back until nearly bed time." She cried happily skipping over to her Aunt. "Susan?" He began. She put Susie down and with a smile and a nod sent her back to watch TV, then gestured to Luka to follow her to her room. "What are you doing back?" He asked closing the door. "Kerry send me home. Said I didn't look right! OHHH!" Angrily she punched her pillow, "I was just distracted during a trauma!" Luka looked at her, she could see he was concerned. He made a soothing noise through his teeth, for the second time that day Susan found herself locked in his gaze. His dark eyes seemed to be willing her forward, urging her to give in to temptation. A tear of frustration rolled down her cheek as Susan remembered what Kerry had told her. Luka leaned closer and brushed it away, Susan allowed him to leave him to his hand lingering on her cheek, with much deliberation she leaned closer to him and gradually their lips met. Without warning Luka pulled away in mid-kiss. "No." muttered Susan reaching up to touch his face, he stroked back a strand of hair. As he looped it behind her ear he kissed her again, this time it was passionate and intense. Finally Susan broke away, they shared a secretive smile for a few long seconds before Luka got up, slapping the bed noisily with his hands. "Have you eaten?" He asked. "Uh huh." Susan smiled quietly. "Then lets go shopping, you said Susie needed new clothes. Come on. My treat." He cocked an eyebrow. "That is, unless you want me to leave." Susan paused, Luka began to pace around the bed, Susan reached out a hand and caught his arm. "Stay." She smiled. "Just stay."
By three 'O' clock Susie, Luka and Susan were wandering round the nearby shopping complex. Luka's bag contained three new books and two video's, Susan's held nightclothes, new shoes for school and an outfit for their visit to see Joe tomorrow, now they were on their way to choose a new bedspread (and bed) for the spare room, which was to become Susie's. As Susie skipped along ahead of Susan and Luka the pair exchanged secretive looks and occasionally Luka would take Susan's hand and squeeze it tight, she would return this action with a smile and an equal squeeze. They had been wandering around a large department store for about half an hour. Susie had spied them holding hands several times and since she had asked no questions they had become more relaxed and less secretive about their glances. In fact they were so relaxed that as they walked along laughing and talking Luka slipped an arm around Susan's shoulder, she leaned in closer to him and looked up to kiss him when he hissed, "Elizabeth!" Susan looked up and sure enough, leading a toddling little girl and carrying a large shopping bag was Elizabeth Corday. By this time Susie had slowed down enough to hold Susan's hand, Luka moved his hand down onto Susan's back. Not wanted to let Susan think he was embarrassed to be seen with her, Susan didn't move away from him and for some reason Susan's laid- back attitude made him feel calm. Elizabeth was the first to acknowledge them. "Hi Susan. Luka." She nodded, "who's this?" She gestured towards Susie. "Oh, Elizabeth, this is my niece Susie. She's living with me right now." She glanced at Ella, "My, aren't you getting big." Ella giggled and Susie crouched down on the floor before her. "So what happened earlier? Carter told me you were sent home." "I was fine. Just a little stressed out - "Luka glanced nervously at her "- and tired out from adjusting to having Susie here. Weaver sent me home so Luka and I decided to grab Susie some new supplies." Susan explained. Elizabeth looked at Susie and Ella, both were giggling mischievously. She smiled, "We'll let you get on now." She told them taking Ella's hand, "we don't want to hold you up." Luka and Susan called Susie and briefly looked back to see Elizabeth striding off purposely with Ella in tow. Susie hurried on to look at dolls and Luka and Susan took each other's hands once more.
As Elizabeth reached the end of the isle she glanced behind her, a slight smile twisted round her lips, sure enough, as they walked casually on down the isle Elizabeth watched, no mistake, she had guessed right. She paused for a moment to turn back but thought of her and Mark; their first kiss, gate-crashing a wedding with a tango, the meals they had shared, the metaphorical mountains they had climbed, their wedding, Ella's birth, the trials and tribulations they had experienced. With a slight laugh and an odd grin, drunk on her love for the man she still saw in her dreams; her husband, she swept up her daughter and looked back once more. Just in time to see Luka and Susan disappear around the corner. Holding hands.
The next morning Luka was up long before Susan. It was his day off and he'd agreed to watch Susie once more, Susan was working another eleven to seven shift and was due to pick up her car that morning at ten 'O' clock. At eight 'O' clock Susie went into the living room to inform Luka that "Auntie Susan's nearly awake". Before proceeding to ask if they could watch cartoons, Luka agreed, as there was nothing interesting on the news and then got up to make Susan a cup of coffee. As he did this he recalled his old routine, the kids getting up early on Saturday morning with him getting up a little later to get a drink and take one in for his wife who would still be dozing. As he entered Susan's room he remembered the way he would kiss his wife gently on the forehead to wake her up. "Susan? Are you awake?" He asked softly standing near the doorway. "Uh huh." Came the muffled reply, Susan was curled up and partially under the covers, "What time is it?" "Just after eight." He told her moving closer to the bed. She was asleep on the side of the bed furthest from the door. "Here, I made you this. You want any breakfast?" Luka asked sitting down on her side of the bed. "Ha, I can't remember the last time a guy woke me up like this." Susan laughed sitting upright and taking the mug, as an afterthought she added "thanks" and did her best to pat her untidy hair into place. "Was Susie okay last night?" She asked trying to draw herself away from those deep, dark, intense eyes. Luka nodded and continued to stare into her eyes, she leaned forward putting her coffee cup on her bedside table. He leaned towards her and still looking deep into each other's eyes their faces moved closer together. Suddenly there was a loud crash from the bathroom, Susan tore herself away from Luka's stare and rushed into the bathroom. Luka followed her. Sat on the bathroom floor was Susie, she was crying hard. Susan knelt beside her. "What happened Honey?" She asked. Between sobs Susie told her that she'd been trying to see into the mirror but couldn't reach so she'd stood on the edge of the bath, then slipped and fell. Luka handed Susan a damp washcloth for Susie's head - which she'd banged when she fell - and within minutes Susie was fine again. "Come on Susie. What do you want for breakfast?" Luka asked as her led her away leaving Susan to clear up the bathroom and wonder to herself 'Woah, what just happened between Luka and me?'
An hour later Susan left her apartment; she kissed Susie goodbye and thanked Luka for watching her. She was catching the El to get to the other side of town where she could pick up her car, she reached the El just a couple of seconds too late so she was forced to sit and contemplate what had happened between her an Luka. If Susie hadn't needed her at that moment would they have kissed? Luka had been awkward around her after that 'non- kiss'. She liked Luka but would they be awkward around each other for always. Susan knew it hadn't been like that with Carter, but it was a matter of chemistry. It wasn't strong between her and Carter, nothing was holding them together, but the way she had been held in Luka's eyes. Was there something there?
Susan continued pondering this all the way to the hospital. A trauma arriving in the ambulance bay briefly interrupted her. A man had been shot three times,; in the abdomen, the chest and once in the neck. It had hit the jugular vein and despite their best efforts they were unable to save him. As she emerged from the Trauma Room Susan was approached by Kerry. "Susan, are you feeling okay?" Kerry asked, Susan detected a hint of concern in her voice. "Mmm. I'm fine." Susan replied, "No, really I am!" She added, more to confirm it in her own mind than for Kerry's benefit. "It's just that you seemed kind of distant in Trauma just now. We all understand you're having some difficulties right now - " "- Kerry! I'm fine! There's nothing wrong with me. Being distant in Trauma had nothing to do with Susie - " Susan interrupted. "- Susan! You really don't look well. Please! Go home and get some rest. I'll see you on Monday!" With that Kerry clicked away. "But I don't want to go home." Susan muttered desperately to no one in particular. "Eh?" Asked Frank who was seated at the admit desk. "Look. If you stay, can I go home?" Susan just signed resignedly and hurriedly walked away.
Luka tidied away the lunch things. He and Susie had had a simple meal of scrambled egg on toast; he was planning to make a more substantial meal for the three of them when Susan returned. Once the kitchen was tidied up he sat down beside Susie on the couch and flicked through the channels to find something to watch. The VCR told Luka the time was 2:39 (which meant that the actual time was one 'O' clock), suddenly there was a lick at the door behind him, as he turned around he saw Susan. Susie spotted her too. "Auntie Susan! You're back, Luka said you wouldn't be back until nearly bed time." She cried happily skipping over to her Aunt. "Susan?" He began. She put Susie down and with a smile and a nod sent her back to watch TV, then gestured to Luka to follow her to her room. "What are you doing back?" He asked closing the door. "Kerry send me home. Said I didn't look right! OHHH!" Angrily she punched her pillow, "I was just distracted during a trauma!" Luka looked at her, she could see he was concerned. He made a soothing noise through his teeth, for the second time that day Susan found herself locked in his gaze. His dark eyes seemed to be willing her forward, urging her to give in to temptation. A tear of frustration rolled down her cheek as Susan remembered what Kerry had told her. Luka leaned closer and brushed it away, Susan allowed him to leave him to his hand lingering on her cheek, with much deliberation she leaned closer to him and gradually their lips met. Without warning Luka pulled away in mid-kiss. "No." muttered Susan reaching up to touch his face, he stroked back a strand of hair. As he looped it behind her ear he kissed her again, this time it was passionate and intense. Finally Susan broke away, they shared a secretive smile for a few long seconds before Luka got up, slapping the bed noisily with his hands. "Have you eaten?" He asked. "Uh huh." Susan smiled quietly. "Then lets go shopping, you said Susie needed new clothes. Come on. My treat." He cocked an eyebrow. "That is, unless you want me to leave." Susan paused, Luka began to pace around the bed, Susan reached out a hand and caught his arm. "Stay." She smiled. "Just stay."
By three 'O' clock Susie, Luka and Susan were wandering round the nearby shopping complex. Luka's bag contained three new books and two video's, Susan's held nightclothes, new shoes for school and an outfit for their visit to see Joe tomorrow, now they were on their way to choose a new bedspread (and bed) for the spare room, which was to become Susie's. As Susie skipped along ahead of Susan and Luka the pair exchanged secretive looks and occasionally Luka would take Susan's hand and squeeze it tight, she would return this action with a smile and an equal squeeze. They had been wandering around a large department store for about half an hour. Susie had spied them holding hands several times and since she had asked no questions they had become more relaxed and less secretive about their glances. In fact they were so relaxed that as they walked along laughing and talking Luka slipped an arm around Susan's shoulder, she leaned in closer to him and looked up to kiss him when he hissed, "Elizabeth!" Susan looked up and sure enough, leading a toddling little girl and carrying a large shopping bag was Elizabeth Corday. By this time Susie had slowed down enough to hold Susan's hand, Luka moved his hand down onto Susan's back. Not wanted to let Susan think he was embarrassed to be seen with her, Susan didn't move away from him and for some reason Susan's laid- back attitude made him feel calm. Elizabeth was the first to acknowledge them. "Hi Susan. Luka." She nodded, "who's this?" She gestured towards Susie. "Oh, Elizabeth, this is my niece Susie. She's living with me right now." She glanced at Ella, "My, aren't you getting big." Ella giggled and Susie crouched down on the floor before her. "So what happened earlier? Carter told me you were sent home." "I was fine. Just a little stressed out - "Luka glanced nervously at her "- and tired out from adjusting to having Susie here. Weaver sent me home so Luka and I decided to grab Susie some new supplies." Susan explained. Elizabeth looked at Susie and Ella, both were giggling mischievously. She smiled, "We'll let you get on now." She told them taking Ella's hand, "we don't want to hold you up." Luka and Susan called Susie and briefly looked back to see Elizabeth striding off purposely with Ella in tow. Susie hurried on to look at dolls and Luka and Susan took each other's hands once more.
As Elizabeth reached the end of the isle she glanced behind her, a slight smile twisted round her lips, sure enough, as they walked casually on down the isle Elizabeth watched, no mistake, she had guessed right. She paused for a moment to turn back but thought of her and Mark; their first kiss, gate-crashing a wedding with a tango, the meals they had shared, the metaphorical mountains they had climbed, their wedding, Ella's birth, the trials and tribulations they had experienced. With a slight laugh and an odd grin, drunk on her love for the man she still saw in her dreams; her husband, she swept up her daughter and looked back once more. Just in time to see Luka and Susan disappear around the corner. Holding hands.