Sorry an update took such a long time, I was trying to find some inspiration.

Thanks to: star bright, Celtic Caitlin, girlintheyankeeshat, Caderyn, Katalyn, surfer wanabee  

Chapter 2

Abby padded through her apartment holding a cup of coffee in one hand and her new diploma in her hand. It was dark and so she flipped on the light before sitting down on the sofa. She was a doctor, Dr Lockhart. It didn't seem to quite work in her head, she still felt like a nurse.
Abby sipped her tea and looked at her diploma speculatively. She was wearing huge socks, flannel pyjama bottoms and a big t-shirt. The other med students had gone out to celebrate but Abby had chosen to go home.
She stared through her diploma, not really seeing it but thinking. Two months had passed since Carter had returned from Africa and it had been hectic. Trying to revise for her written exams, and actually be a doctor with other students like Neela around. But she had enjoyed it, it was finished now and she could say that she was a doctor. She had achieved what she had started so long ago.
The phone rang, startling her from her thoughts and she reached over to the table next to the sofa to pick up the cordless.
 "Hello?" she said, putting her diploma down but still clutching her coffee.
 "Abby," a warm voice came down the line through a lot of static and crackling. "How are you?"

 "Luka?" Abby said, and she began to smile. "How are you phoning me? I thought you were in Africa." A warm chuckle came down the line.
 "I am," he confirmed. "But I said I'd phone when you got your results. How did you do?"
 "I passed," she said delightedly.
 "Congratulations Dr Lockhart," he said warmly and Abby laughed. "I knew you could do it."
 "You had faith when I didn't," Abby commented dryly.
 "So have you thought about what I said?" Luka said. "About coming to Africa, we could really use more doctors. It would be great experience." Truth told, Abby hadn't thought about it, the idea had left her mind as abruptly as Luka, to be replaced by medical terms. But now she did think about it. Leaving Chicago, leaving her friends behind, and the ER to go to a different country.
 "I don't know," Abby confessed. "I'm not sure."

 "I think you'd really like it," Luka said honestly. Abby thought some more. A beeping noise came on the line.
 "I've got about thirty seconds left," Luka warned. "Money's running out." Abby closed her eyes and listened to the crackle.
 "I'll come," she said, surprising even herself.
 "Great," Luka said. "Fly out, ask Carter where and I'll have someone meet you at the airport. I'll call in a few days for your flight details. Take care...By-" Luka was cut off as his money ended and Abby replaced the handset onto the phone. She was going to Africa, she thought with a thrill. Going where Luka and Carter had been, where they had found themselves, found something in them that they hadn't known was there before.

Abby got off of the plane and shielded her eyes from the sun that beat down on the runway. It had been a two weeks since she'd spoken to Luka and it had been a crazy two weeks. Kerry had been furious at her request for a sabbatical, proclaiming that she was needed in Chicago but Abby had been firm with her decision and Weaver had no choice but to comply in the end. She had had a small leaving party held for her by Susan, which involved her, Susan, Chen and Elizabeth in a bar toasting Abby with margarita. But she was here, in Africa.
Abby collected her luggage quickly and then stepped outside the airport looking around edgily for someone who looked like they wanted to collect her. Luka had said he would send someone to get her and Abby couldn't help but feel slightly panicky as she didn't see any signs bearing her name.
She relaxed, however, when she saw Luka's familiar smiling face approaching her. She stood still and let him come to her, his arms enveloping her in a crushing hug.
 "I thought you were going to send someone for me," Abby said, looking up at his sun-glassed eyes.
 "I cam instead," he said, looking down at her and still beaming. "It's good to see you. Let's go." He picked up her small suitcase and she followed him across the asphalt to a dilapidated truck. He opened the door for her and she climbed into the passenger seat.
 "Nice truck," she commented as he slid into the driving seat and started the engine.

 "It belongs to the Kinsangani hospital," he said, pulling out of the parking lot and driving down a dirt road.
Abby exulted in the feeling of warm air on her face as they drove in silence for a while through stunning country. She pulled out her own sunglasses and put them on. After a while she turned her attention to Luka, who was driving contentedly, humming a quiet tune. He looked happy but tired and he had obviously not shaved in a while. His oversized t-shirt was dirty but his hands were clean.
 After a short time, they began to talk.
 "How is everyone in Chicago?" Luka asked, eyes fixed on the road.
 "Same as usual," Abby commented dryly. "Weaver's still got a stick up her butt. New med students driving Susan mad. Same old." Luka chuckled and the sound was warm.
 "I don't miss that when I'm out here," he said reflectively. "Chicago is so self-absorbed. Your own problems matter there, here they don't. They don't mean anything here because you are doing something real."

"What will I be doing here?" Abby asked, feeling a tense knot in her stomach. "What will I deal with?"
 "AIDs, Malaria, GSWs, pertusus, diphtheria," Luka listed flatly. "Many more diseases caused by poor diet and water supplies. Scurvy, smallpox, you name it, they've got it. Drugs are limited, penicillin, and some simple vaccines."
 "Carter said it would mess with my head," Abby said listlessly. "He said it was frustrating."

 "It is," Luka said bluntly. "Watching a child die from whooping cough when we could clear it with a ten dollar course of erythromycin. But that's how it is. Prepare yourself."
 "You said I'd have a good time," Abby joked. "Thanks a lot."

 "You will," Luka insisted. "If you appreciate what you are seeing. Humanity at its most basic level, material possessions stripped away and all that's left is real people fighting to live."

He turned the truck off of the dirt track and they appeared to enter a village, many tents were set up, littered around a few buildings. People milled around, many waving at Luka and Abby as they passed through. Finally, Luka stopped the truck and they climbed out.
 "Welcome to Kinsangani Hospital," Luka announced.