Formally this chapter was two different chapters, Crushed Velvet and The Second, however they were so short and it has been so long since I updated that I decided just to put them together and renamed it Tears Fall Freely' which is actually a title I really like. Once more, I apologise for the delay in getting this up, it's been written for a long time now, fanfic.net (as always) has been playing up and it is so disheartening when you cannot post a chapter immediately. The Lusan vibes seem to be wearing away a little, at forums4fans at least, so I would appreciate as many reviews as possible, as always, and hope that this increases the Lusan lurvin a little!

This is for Vincenza, Maddie, Jasna, Norla, daydreamer and all the other lusans that I have forgotten to mention! You guys are the reason I write this story and I feel bad for not contributing as much as I could, keep up the support it is appreciated so much.

As always, please Read and Review!

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Chapter 38: Tears Fall Freely

Carter stood, perfectly still, the wind hitting his face hard. It was hot though and the wind gave him a slight relief that he was grateful for. He pulled at his shirt, it was sticky and at the current moment stuck to his sweaty body.

All around his all he could hear was noise, a huge jumble of various noises and voices. None were recognisable and no conversation interested. So instead he stood, perfectly still, his face expressionless.

The box remained in his hand- as it had done for the past few hours. The velvet scratched at him gently, it was no longer as soft as it had once been but he didn't care- he had barely even noticed. It was still there, still crushed between his palm and his fingers. And at that precise moment in time- that was all that mattered.

He heard the door swish open once again. He stood still for a moment longer, too fatigued to turn. The noise still hammered into his eardrums, a gathering of congo dancing all chanting and beating their drums simultaneously. His head ached and so too did his heart. Just when he thought he couldn't wait a second longer, not even a single second. He stumbled upon the oasis.

A laugh echoed out above the crowds, raising high above them and silencing them all. He recognised that laugh, and suddenly he couldn't turn quickly enough.

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She smiled as Ben pulled the bag from his shoulder, passing it to. She thanked him, smiling broadly at him as she did so. For a moment there was an awkward pause, as both parties wondered what to do.

Ben reached into his pocket rummaging around for a moment before pulling out a pen and taking off the lid. He smiled at Susan, taking her hand and scribbling on it quickly. She looked down, laughing as she spotted the number and the words call me!' scribbled across it.

You promise? She nodded.

Sure- who knows- I might even see you at work sometime! He laughed.

She smiled briefly, feeling a little awkward. Suddenly she felt his moist lips against her cheek, brushing it gently before pulling away. She could feel her cheek warming as she began to blush furiously. I guess I'll see you around sometime. She nodded, smiling again as she watched him signal towards the exit cooly, smiling warmly as he did so.

Have fun. He nodded.

I'll try. picked up his case. I don't think I could ever have fun with my family. She smiled once more.

I know the feeling. A breeze hit her face, cooling it slightly as she waved, watching as Ben headed towards the door, continuously looking back at her to give small grins and loose waves. She smiled to herself as the doors closed behind him, her eyes fixed on the number printed across her hand.

Bye Ben. Susan signed, looking across to her watch and realising she should be going. She looked up, wondering which way she had to exit- it had been a while since she had been here. Finally her eyes landed on the sign she required and she turned, eager to get moving.

Suddenly she saw something that shocked her, something that was the last thing she ever expected to see.

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Abby rubbed her eyes sleepily, praying the ringing she could clearly hear resounding through her ears was simply a figment of her sleep deprived imagination. Perhaps she was dreaming? She could only hope.

The phone rang again, once more interrupting her light slumber, forcing her body to shudder and her mouth to let out a restless groan of injustice. Today was her day off, yet she knew exactly who would be on the other end of the phone. The ER- wasn't it always the ER? She opened her eyes briefly, glancing over at the clock and realising it was just gone eight. She groaned once more, rolling over closing her eyes and letting the answer phone click in.

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Her voice had become deeper, her tone indecisive. It was unsure, wary, perhaps embarrassed, perhaps annoyed. Carter couldn't yet gauge her reaction and he was under the impression she couldn't quite work out his either. She seemed confused, but he was confused also. He couldn't understand his reasons and yet at the same time they were crystal clear. He wanted her, he needed her and more importantly, right this moment, she needed him.

He knew that wasn't exactly true. After all, Susan wasn't craving him as such, just some help. A little love and a little understanding- he had plenty of that to give. It made sense, at least it had a few hours ago when he had stepped onto the plane.

Her voice had become more questioning this time, yet it still couldn't quite awakened him from the daze he had become seemingly trapped in. Her hair blew softly in the wind as she slowly walked towards him, eyeing him up strangely. Today something was different, something was oddly unusual, something had changed. It was remarkable was unease could do to a person. Susan and him had been friends a long time, they had dated for heavens sake, yet at this particular moment it was as if they were almost strangers, as if she didn't trust him at all. It dawned upon him that she probably didn't trust any men these days, especially not the ones she had dated.

She looked beautiful, her hair shiny and her skin tanned. He watched her green eyes sparkle as she frowned, her mouth puckered gently. He tried to smile, yet he found his facial muscles unwilling to co-operate. His cheeks blushed a vivid red and his eye stung brutally, water beginning to fill them.

Oh, Carter. The voice had become softer and comforting. As were the hands that surrounded him and the body that pressed against his own as the tears fell freely. He had no idea what provoked them, or why they fell at this moment in time. But they did, and so he let them.

In that moment, things changed once more. They grew back to the way things were, if only for a second. However, that second would be one he remembered forever. The second in which the world rushed by and people went past, a mass of sound and flashes of colour and light. The second in which he stood still, very still. The second in which he was held in the arms of the woman he loved.

The second in which the world rushed by and people went past, a mass of sound and flashes of colour and light, in which he stood still, very still and was held in the arms of the woman he loved.

The second in which no questions were asked, because no answers were needed.

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Abby lay awake, listening to the voice that came through her answering machine. Booming into her apartment and sending shivers quickly down her spine, keeping her wide awake and stopping her from falling back asleep.

She had worked with people who were suffering every day of her life. She grew up with someone who suffered every day of their life and in away she could argued she too had suffered. Yet the voice that rang through her apartment that day oozed pain like she had never heard before, not even from him. It was a raw pain, an open wound. The pain gleamed through in every word, every sound, every breath. It screeched into her ears, so loud she struggled to keep the tears from piercing her own eyes. So loud she almost forgot she was trying to listen to a message.

I need a favour.

Abby darted out of the bed, tripping over as she did so. She cursed loudly, continuing to run towards the phone. She grabbed it, snatching it as quickly as she could manage and practically shouting breathlessly into it.

She waited, praying he was still there. She didn't know what this favour was, all she knew is that whatever it was she would do it, she had to do it. Luka are you there?

I need your help. She nodded realising full well he couldn't see her.

What do you want me to do?

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