Coming Home
An ER fan fiction by AbCaLuDa
Chapter 11
I think we all know Luka will get worse before he gets better. The first few hours in Kinshasa are the hardest. All we can do is sit with him and wait. We take shifts, making sure someone is always awake and talking to him.
It's not easy. I see the weariness in Carter's eyes. I never would have thought he would be first in line to keep vigil over Luka's bedside. I try not to think about it too much, but I really wonder what happened between them here in Africa. I imagine having guns trained on your heads can create a bond between two people, but it seems like there had to be more for these two in particular, for Carter to be this…I don't know…Involved I guess is the word. They have had such a tumultuous past together…and a lot of the friction was because of me…
The three of us have a tumultuous past together. I guess it started the day I caught Carter shooting fentinol into his wrist at work. He ended up in a drug treatment program in Atlanta, and when he came back he asked me to be his AA sponsor. I never should have accepted, but I did, probably because some part of me felt guilty about ratting him out.
I think Carter expected more out of the relationship, but then I started dating Luka. That's a whole other crazy story. We were attacked on our first date, and Luka ended up killing the guy who mugged us. He wasn't charged for it or anything, but what a way to start a relationship…
Every moment I was with Luka felt like an uphill battle. In the beginning he was obsessed with the mugger, and I know it still bothers him that we never found out who the guy was or where he came from. Then he treated a Bishop who more or less forced Luka to talk about losing his wife and children during the war in Croatia. I have trouble believing Luka could, and should, have a 16 year old daughter and a 14 year old son.
But then, I should have a five year old child.
I look at Carter and wonder how many would-be children he could have. And who knows for sure that he doesn't have any out there somewhere? From what I understand hew as quite the Romeo before I came along.
But I didn't rush right into Carter's arms when Luka and I broke up. By then he was dating Susan Lewis, and I wasn't sure I wanted to date anyone anyway. Then I got beat up by my neighbor, and I ended up staying with Luka until I felt safe going back to my apartment. Even though he was dating Susan, I know the fact I stayed with Luka drove Carter up a wall.
It took a lockdown at the hospital to get us together. We had treated two little kids with a rash…The health department closed us down for two weeks to try to prevent spreading the disease. Since Carter and I treated the kids, we were quarantined, together.
I thought he had a fever, so I put a cold pack on his neck. I didn't want him to know how scared I was, but I asked him tot ell me we were going to be okay. He looked at me for a moment, and I thought he was going to say he didn't know or something like that, but then he kissed me.
I have never felt anything that compared tot hat first kiss. Maybe it was the conditions, the fact I was scared out of my mind and afraid of getting small pox. Whatever it was, that kiss was amazing. I don't think words could ever do it justice.
* * * * * * * *
It's my turn to sit with Luka. Carter and Gillian are asleep sitting up against the wall. Gillian's head is on Carter's shoulder, Carter's head is resting on hers. Good thing I made peace with them being so close, a scene like that might rile me otherwise, but now it doesn't bother me.
"Hey, Luka." I take his hand in mine and bring it up to kiss his knuckles. I never understood why people do that in movies and on TV, but right now it's just something to do. I rub my chin back and forth across his hand.
I haven't said anything for a few minutes when I notice his eyes are open. His mouth twitches like he wants to smile. I instinctively move my fingers to his wrist and check his pulse.
He whispers 'Danijela' and I get a tingly feeling that spreads through every nerve ending in my body. The way he's looking at me, he thinks I'm Danijela.
He says something in Croatian. I just shake my head at him. I'm afraid if I tell him I'm not Danijela he might get agitated and upset and I can't risk that. He needs to stay calm, he needs to lie still.
The Croatian is a concern, though. I don't understand it. Not a word. All those months I was with him, I never learned a single word.
"Luka, I need you to speak English, okay? Can you speak English for me?"
His eyes close, and my body tenses. Please God, don't let him get upset. After a moment, his eyes open. "Are the children safe?"
I feel my hand move to my stomach. I nod. "Everything is fine, Luka."
His eyes close again, and his head turns to the side. "I am so tired."
I reach up to stroke his hair. "You need to rest. Go to sleep, I'll stay right here." I kiss his cheek. He doesn't move, so I know he's asleep already.
* * * * * * *
Please use the review option to leave me your thoughts. As always, I am begging shamelessly for feedback. I can't help it…I crave it. If you write, you know what I'm talking about. Just do it, please. Pretty please? Thanks so much for reading!
An ER fan fiction by AbCaLuDa
Chapter 11
I think we all know Luka will get worse before he gets better. The first few hours in Kinshasa are the hardest. All we can do is sit with him and wait. We take shifts, making sure someone is always awake and talking to him.
It's not easy. I see the weariness in Carter's eyes. I never would have thought he would be first in line to keep vigil over Luka's bedside. I try not to think about it too much, but I really wonder what happened between them here in Africa. I imagine having guns trained on your heads can create a bond between two people, but it seems like there had to be more for these two in particular, for Carter to be this…I don't know…Involved I guess is the word. They have had such a tumultuous past together…and a lot of the friction was because of me…
The three of us have a tumultuous past together. I guess it started the day I caught Carter shooting fentinol into his wrist at work. He ended up in a drug treatment program in Atlanta, and when he came back he asked me to be his AA sponsor. I never should have accepted, but I did, probably because some part of me felt guilty about ratting him out.
I think Carter expected more out of the relationship, but then I started dating Luka. That's a whole other crazy story. We were attacked on our first date, and Luka ended up killing the guy who mugged us. He wasn't charged for it or anything, but what a way to start a relationship…
Every moment I was with Luka felt like an uphill battle. In the beginning he was obsessed with the mugger, and I know it still bothers him that we never found out who the guy was or where he came from. Then he treated a Bishop who more or less forced Luka to talk about losing his wife and children during the war in Croatia. I have trouble believing Luka could, and should, have a 16 year old daughter and a 14 year old son.
But then, I should have a five year old child.
I look at Carter and wonder how many would-be children he could have. And who knows for sure that he doesn't have any out there somewhere? From what I understand hew as quite the Romeo before I came along.
But I didn't rush right into Carter's arms when Luka and I broke up. By then he was dating Susan Lewis, and I wasn't sure I wanted to date anyone anyway. Then I got beat up by my neighbor, and I ended up staying with Luka until I felt safe going back to my apartment. Even though he was dating Susan, I know the fact I stayed with Luka drove Carter up a wall.
It took a lockdown at the hospital to get us together. We had treated two little kids with a rash…The health department closed us down for two weeks to try to prevent spreading the disease. Since Carter and I treated the kids, we were quarantined, together.
I thought he had a fever, so I put a cold pack on his neck. I didn't want him to know how scared I was, but I asked him tot ell me we were going to be okay. He looked at me for a moment, and I thought he was going to say he didn't know or something like that, but then he kissed me.
I have never felt anything that compared tot hat first kiss. Maybe it was the conditions, the fact I was scared out of my mind and afraid of getting small pox. Whatever it was, that kiss was amazing. I don't think words could ever do it justice.
* * * * * * * *
It's my turn to sit with Luka. Carter and Gillian are asleep sitting up against the wall. Gillian's head is on Carter's shoulder, Carter's head is resting on hers. Good thing I made peace with them being so close, a scene like that might rile me otherwise, but now it doesn't bother me.
"Hey, Luka." I take his hand in mine and bring it up to kiss his knuckles. I never understood why people do that in movies and on TV, but right now it's just something to do. I rub my chin back and forth across his hand.
I haven't said anything for a few minutes when I notice his eyes are open. His mouth twitches like he wants to smile. I instinctively move my fingers to his wrist and check his pulse.
He whispers 'Danijela' and I get a tingly feeling that spreads through every nerve ending in my body. The way he's looking at me, he thinks I'm Danijela.
He says something in Croatian. I just shake my head at him. I'm afraid if I tell him I'm not Danijela he might get agitated and upset and I can't risk that. He needs to stay calm, he needs to lie still.
The Croatian is a concern, though. I don't understand it. Not a word. All those months I was with him, I never learned a single word.
"Luka, I need you to speak English, okay? Can you speak English for me?"
His eyes close, and my body tenses. Please God, don't let him get upset. After a moment, his eyes open. "Are the children safe?"
I feel my hand move to my stomach. I nod. "Everything is fine, Luka."
His eyes close again, and his head turns to the side. "I am so tired."
I reach up to stroke his hair. "You need to rest. Go to sleep, I'll stay right here." I kiss his cheek. He doesn't move, so I know he's asleep already.
* * * * * * *
Please use the review option to leave me your thoughts. As always, I am begging shamelessly for feedback. I can't help it…I crave it. If you write, you know what I'm talking about. Just do it, please. Pretty please? Thanks so much for reading!