Chapter 1
It had been three weeks since Carter had returned to Africa to bring Luka home; three long weeks. Now Luka was back, and Carter had stayed.
Abby stared up at his locker from where she sat exhausted on the lounge sofa at County General Hospital. She had just finished a double shift in the craziness of County's ER, on Halloween none the less.
Her thoughts drifted back to Carter and how they had ended their turbulent relationship. She missed him, but somehow, she didn't miss being his girlfriend. She felt a renewed sense of direction and peacefulness within herself, something she hadn't felt in many years.
Abby had decided to return to med school and find her own path towards happiness. Tonight was her first shift as a medical student. Well, actually, the first shift of the day was as a medical student, the second, as a nurse.
She ran her hands through her long chestnut hair and rose off the couch. Opening her locker, Abby pulled out her black fleecy jacket. Pulling it on over her scrubs, Abby shoved her hands inside her gloves and arranged the toque on her head. For the end of October, the air was seasonally brisk, especially at seven in the morning.
She left the lounge, said goodbye to Jerry at the front desk and rushed off to catch the 7:05 train back to her apartment.
* * * * * * * * *
When Abby arrived back home, she immediately plugged the kettle in to make herself a warm mug of green tea and checked her message machine. She was surprised to find she had four new messages. She pushed the play button as she hung up her coat on the rack by her door.
"Hey Abby, its mom. Just checkin' up on you. Call me sweetie, ok, bye."
"BEEP"
"Oh hey, Abby. It's Susan. Don't forget, my place tonight for chick flicks and ice cream. Bring your PJ's!
"BEEP"
"Hello, this is Mr. Graham from Graham's carpet cleaning, just calling to remind you....."
Abby pressed the fast foreword button, skipping to the next message.
"Hey Abby, it's Luka. I just wanted to know how your first shift as Dr. Lockhart went. Listen, I have a lot of Thai food here in the fridge and could use someone to help me eat it up. Give me a call when you get in."
"BEEP"
Abby smiled, Luka and her had been getting along so well since he returned from Africa. It was nice to have a friendship with him that was even stronger than when they had been dating.
Glancing at her watch, she decided that it wasn't too early to call Susan and confirm their movie night. She also gave Luka a call and they agreed to have a late lunch at his apartment, as long as he promised that the Thai wasn't more than two days old.
Abby hung up the phone and dragged herself into the shower. She needed to warm up before going to bed.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Much later that afternoon, Abby knocked on Luka's door. She had slept all through the morning and was surprised to see that her alarm clock read 2:57 when she finally awoke.
After a few minutes Luka opened the door. "Hey," he smiled at her, "I thought you said lunch. Come in, come in." He put his hand on her shoulder and led her into the apartment. "I'll take your coat, go have a seat."
Abby smiled apologetically at him, "I know, I'm sorry. I slept much longer than I had anticipated, I only woke up forty-five minutes ago."
"That's okay, it isn't hard to heat up food. I'm glad you got some rest." Luka disappeared into the kitchen and Abby could hear the sounds of plates being filled with food and being put in the microwave. He returned a few minutes later with two large glasses of ginger ale. "Here you go," he handed her a cold glass.
"Thanks." Abby took an appreciative sip; she hadn't had anything to drink since her green tea hours earlier. "So, how are you feeling?" she questioned. He looked much better than when she had seen him a few days prior.
"Good. I'm continuing to get my strength back and I should be able to go back to work in a week or so." Luka eyed Abby closely, "I should be asking how you are feeling."
Abby raised her eyebrows, "Oh, why is that?"
"I don't know, for some reason you look a little pale. Are you feeling ok?"
Abby was a little taken aback, she hadn't expected him to notice that her colour was off. "Well, I didn't think it was noticeable but I've just been feeling a little tired lately, I guess getting back into school and starting a completely different job gets me a bit more drained than usual. I'll be fine, I just need some more sleep."
Luka nodded, "Go to bed early tonight and sleep in till nine tomorrow, before your shift starts."
"I wish I could, but I'm going to Susan's tonight to watch movies. My shift doesn't start till noon though, so I should be okay."
Just then the microwave beeped, signalling that the food was heated. "I'll get that." Luka went to retrieve the plates and Abby set the table.
It had been three weeks since Carter had returned to Africa to bring Luka home; three long weeks. Now Luka was back, and Carter had stayed.
Abby stared up at his locker from where she sat exhausted on the lounge sofa at County General Hospital. She had just finished a double shift in the craziness of County's ER, on Halloween none the less.
Her thoughts drifted back to Carter and how they had ended their turbulent relationship. She missed him, but somehow, she didn't miss being his girlfriend. She felt a renewed sense of direction and peacefulness within herself, something she hadn't felt in many years.
Abby had decided to return to med school and find her own path towards happiness. Tonight was her first shift as a medical student. Well, actually, the first shift of the day was as a medical student, the second, as a nurse.
She ran her hands through her long chestnut hair and rose off the couch. Opening her locker, Abby pulled out her black fleecy jacket. Pulling it on over her scrubs, Abby shoved her hands inside her gloves and arranged the toque on her head. For the end of October, the air was seasonally brisk, especially at seven in the morning.
She left the lounge, said goodbye to Jerry at the front desk and rushed off to catch the 7:05 train back to her apartment.
* * * * * * * * *
When Abby arrived back home, she immediately plugged the kettle in to make herself a warm mug of green tea and checked her message machine. She was surprised to find she had four new messages. She pushed the play button as she hung up her coat on the rack by her door.
"Hey Abby, its mom. Just checkin' up on you. Call me sweetie, ok, bye."
"BEEP"
"Oh hey, Abby. It's Susan. Don't forget, my place tonight for chick flicks and ice cream. Bring your PJ's!
"BEEP"
"Hello, this is Mr. Graham from Graham's carpet cleaning, just calling to remind you....."
Abby pressed the fast foreword button, skipping to the next message.
"Hey Abby, it's Luka. I just wanted to know how your first shift as Dr. Lockhart went. Listen, I have a lot of Thai food here in the fridge and could use someone to help me eat it up. Give me a call when you get in."
"BEEP"
Abby smiled, Luka and her had been getting along so well since he returned from Africa. It was nice to have a friendship with him that was even stronger than when they had been dating.
Glancing at her watch, she decided that it wasn't too early to call Susan and confirm their movie night. She also gave Luka a call and they agreed to have a late lunch at his apartment, as long as he promised that the Thai wasn't more than two days old.
Abby hung up the phone and dragged herself into the shower. She needed to warm up before going to bed.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Much later that afternoon, Abby knocked on Luka's door. She had slept all through the morning and was surprised to see that her alarm clock read 2:57 when she finally awoke.
After a few minutes Luka opened the door. "Hey," he smiled at her, "I thought you said lunch. Come in, come in." He put his hand on her shoulder and led her into the apartment. "I'll take your coat, go have a seat."
Abby smiled apologetically at him, "I know, I'm sorry. I slept much longer than I had anticipated, I only woke up forty-five minutes ago."
"That's okay, it isn't hard to heat up food. I'm glad you got some rest." Luka disappeared into the kitchen and Abby could hear the sounds of plates being filled with food and being put in the microwave. He returned a few minutes later with two large glasses of ginger ale. "Here you go," he handed her a cold glass.
"Thanks." Abby took an appreciative sip; she hadn't had anything to drink since her green tea hours earlier. "So, how are you feeling?" she questioned. He looked much better than when she had seen him a few days prior.
"Good. I'm continuing to get my strength back and I should be able to go back to work in a week or so." Luka eyed Abby closely, "I should be asking how you are feeling."
Abby raised her eyebrows, "Oh, why is that?"
"I don't know, for some reason you look a little pale. Are you feeling ok?"
Abby was a little taken aback, she hadn't expected him to notice that her colour was off. "Well, I didn't think it was noticeable but I've just been feeling a little tired lately, I guess getting back into school and starting a completely different job gets me a bit more drained than usual. I'll be fine, I just need some more sleep."
Luka nodded, "Go to bed early tonight and sleep in till nine tomorrow, before your shift starts."
"I wish I could, but I'm going to Susan's tonight to watch movies. My shift doesn't start till noon though, so I should be okay."
Just then the microwave beeped, signalling that the food was heated. "I'll get that." Luka went to retrieve the plates and Abby set the table.