Author's Note: This little idea has been bouncing around in my head for a while. In a previous story I tried my hand at divining how Abby and Dubenko's little "date" may have ended from "Alone in a Crowd." In my version of events, things didn't go so well for the curly haired surgeon, but what if things had ended on a more positive note? I am by nature, not a huge 'shipper in this fandom but I couldn't resist seeing what happened if I put Dubenko together with the scrappy intern after hearing the song 'Let's be Friends (Skin to Skin)' by The Boss. The lyrics describe Dubenko's feelings for Abby to a tee. This story is independent of any others I have written/will write and as such, I have given Dubenko a different first name here.

Let's be Friends (Skin to Skin) Bruce Springsteen

I been watchin' you a long time
Trying to figure out where and when
We been moving down that same line
Time is now maybe we could get skin to skin

Don't know when this chance might come again
Good times got a way of comin' to an end
Don't know when this chance might come again
Good times got a way of slippin' a-way
Let's be friends, baby let's be friends

I know we're different you and me
Got a different way of walkin'
The time has come to let the past be history
Yeah if we could just start talkin'

There's a lot of talk going 'round you
Let them talk you know you're the only one
There's a lot of walls need tearing down
Together we could take them down one by one

"My office at seven." Dr. Dubenko turned and jabbed his index finger at the elevator button just a moment before the doors slid open, almost as if the contraption were merely waiting for him. He turned to look at Abby briefly before getting into the elevator car, giving her the briefest of smiles.

Abby Lockhart watched the surgical attending leave, her eyebrows raised in surprise. What the hell just happened here? And what did I just get myself into? Turning to go back to her patients she couldn't help but wonder if there was an ulterior motive to Dubenko's request. She was aware of the fact that the mopped headed physician had taken a shine to her, despite the fact that she had never encouraged his attentions.

She sighed. Then again, attendings never seem to want to actually write up anything for themselves, they want the peons to do the work and then just take the credit for it. Maybe no one in his department was willing to do the legwork for him. I must have "sucker" written on my forehead. No wonder the guy has me labeled as a submissive little intern, he just managed to bully me into doing what he wanted, didn't he. The thought that the quirky doctor might be right about her did nothing to improve Abby's outlook on the evening's plans.

Trying to look at the bright side of things she told herself that at least she was getting off work a few hours early. That was a few less hours to play "Avoid the Jake" amongst the day's other headaches. While she was attracted to the over-eager medical student and enjoyed spending her free time with him, she didn't want their relationship to be part of the hospital's gossip track.

She'd had enough of that with both Kovac and Carter. What is it with me and the doctors? I marry one, I date several, I become one, I date someone who wants to be one…Lockhart you are one sick puppy. At least this go-round it was purely physical, she had no long-term plans to be with Jake Scanlon. He was fun and a nice diversion and it sure was nice to finally end that unbearably long dry spell but she wasn't ready to commit to anything or anyone other than herself. Her career was finally getting off the ground so many years later than she had ever intended and she wanted to focus on that. Doctor Abigail Lockhart. Those words still gave her a thrill.

She went back to where Ellie, the stroke victim was laying in curtain three. Checking the blonde woman's vitals Abby couldn't help but feel a wave of sympathy for her patient. She's not much older than I am. She was just going about her afternoon and living her life then bam! Now she's here and helpless, trapped in her own mind. I don't think I'd be able to stand it. Not being in control was probably the intern's worst nightmare. "Everything's going to be all right, Ellie. We're going to take you upstairs soon and Dr. Medford and his team are going to do their stuff."

Luka and Sam were currently explaining the complicated new procedure that the radiologist's surgical team was going to perform and hopefully undo the blockage that was keeping Ellie in her current condition. Abby only understood the basics of the procedure herself and as Luka was the attending assigned, it was far more appropriate for him to inform the family. In all honesty, Abby was relieved that the task fell on the Croatian born doctor's shoulder's and not her own.

She knew she was great when it came to empathizing with her patients. She was always willing to advocate on their behalf, even when it was to her own detriment. "You won't get in trouble for doing what's in the best interest for your patient." Dubenko's words suddenly came to mind. At the time he had said them she bit back with a caustic reply. Now, thinking about it she knew he wasn't trying to be condescending, merely letting her know that she'd done the right thing. Reassuring her. That was the one place she felt she failed as a physician. Reassuring families that she was doing her best, even though there were risks that she would do her best to take care of their loved one and return them to their family healthy and whole. Yes, it was better that Luka was talking to Ellie's family.

Abby was still looking at Ellie and thinking when Sam, the ER's head nurse walked up to the gurney. "Earth to Abby? Are you ready to take her upstairs to Medford?"

"Hmm, yeah. Let's go. Ellie, we're taking you upstairs for the MERCI procedure now. Just try to relax." She spoke directly to the patient, making sure to stay in the woman's limited line of sight.

"My office at seven." Dr. Alexi Dubenko told the intern in no uncertain terms as he waited for the elevator to take him back upstairs. He gave her a smile as the doors closed, but he noticed the dubious look on her face. What is it about her that I find so…so…intriguing? Irresistible? Attractive? How about all of the above, Sasha? Admit it, you like the woman. Stop mooning over her, idiot. You have a thyroidectomy to concentrate on and I highly doubt that your patient would be comforted to know that his surgeon is more worried about his social life than actually saving lives. The bespectacled doctor mused and then berated himself as he made his way to the scrub room.

While he diligently washed his hands and forearms with the disinfectant soap he utterly despised, he left his mind wander again. You'd think they could figure out a way to make this stuff smell better and still be effective. Not too mention the fact that it really does dry out the skin. Abby always seems to have such soft smooth skin…God Sasha, get your mind back on task. Lockhart's skin is totally irrelevant to the matter at hand.

Before he ended up once more speculating about the brunette who worked in the ER, Dubenko removed his foot from the peddle on the floor, effectively shutting off the water. He shook his hands as dry as possible while keeping them held up in front of him. Even after being involved in surgery for nearly twenty years he had never gotten used to the way it felt when water got trapped in the fingertips of the latex gloves he wore when practicing his craft.

As he gowned up and put said gloves on, along with a scrub cap and surgical mask he went over the steps necessary for the pending procedure. Seeing as he was the attending all of the prep work was done for him. Dubenko needn't worry about opening the patient or even suturing the site of the operation closed again. He'd be in and out of the OR in relatively little time if things went smoothly. He'd easily be back in his office for his seven o'clock rendezvous with Lockhart. Meeting, you nitwit, it's just a meeting.

True to form, and confirming everything his sizeable ego constantly told him, things went according to plan. No complications and no surprises. It always pleased Dubenko when a surgery went by the book. A textbook example. It let him show off his efficiency and expertise with a blade. He may be a somewhat shy man in social situations, but when it came to medicine Sasha loved being the center of attention. He was confident and well versed in a diverse field of knowledge. It was a matter of principle and even a point of pride for the trauma surgeon that he was always on the forefront of the latest and greatest in the medical world.

Once more in the scrub room, this time to peel off the protective garb, Dubenko gave himself a mental pat on the back for a job well done. Even though it was a fairly basic and routine operation, one he'd done many times over the years he never treated a patient as trivial or took a case lightly. They all deserved the same attention to detail, the same amount of care. He may not have had the social skills to relate to his patients on a personal level, though he always tried, but Sasha always made sure to look out for them and their interests by giving patients the benefit of his talent as a surgeon.

If only he had as much success in his personal life as he did his professional. Dubenko knew his shortcomings well. He wasn't a people person by nature, which seemed at odds with his chosen career as a physician. Then again, one of the aspects of surgery that had appealed to him early on was the fact that his patients would be sedated when he dealt with them. It didn't make them seem like less of a human being, just far less intimidating. Shyness and a stuttering habit caused by nervousness only served to feed his compulsion to avoid social interactions in general. As a result he became more comfortable with books and research. Numbers, statistics and cold hard facts—they made for pleasant companions most of the time.

The rest of the time, Dubenko was forced to admit, he was pretty lonely. He had many professional acquaintances, colleagues who valued and often sought out his medical opinions, but no real close friends. If he were asked to name his best friend he'd honestly admit that his cat was his closest confidant. I'm a winner, aren't I? Schroedinger and I are such a lovely pair. And if I'm honest, he only likes me because I feed him and don't mind that he climbs all over the furniture.

Back in his office the longhaired doctor debated what would be the best use of his time until Abby arrived. He realized that he should probably straighten up his office or at least clear off a place for them to work. Every surface in the expansive office was laden with books and papers. Coffee mugs and paper cups scattered around the room, left wherever the often times absent-minded man abandoned them. Doing his best to hastily pile things together Dubenko decided that he wanted to change out of his scrubs as well.

He was off at seven so there was no chance of being called back in to surgery or to the ER and he'd rather be in his own clothing, which he seldom seemed able to wear due to his work schedule. He quickly threw on the clothing he had worn to the hospital early that morning, now glad that he'd taken the time to stop by the dry cleaners on his last day off. He tended to wear a lot of somber, earth-toned clothing, an old girlfriend once told him that it complimented his coloring and he had taken that advice to heart.

As he sat down at his desk to fiddle with his microscope Sasha calculated how long it had been since he'd had a date let alone someone he'd classify as a girlfriend. Not since before he began working at County. The thought was depressing even given the fact that he tended to be a solitary person. It had been more than a year since he'd had a liaison of any meaning and even that had ended quickly. His unpredictable schedule and therefore lousy lifestyle was difficult for anyone not in the medical field to understand, let alone tolerate. It had cost him more than one relationship.

Why don't you try dating someone who would understand, Sasha? It's not like there's a shortage of nurses and doctors around here that are single. He had always excluded the possibility of getting intimately involved with someone he worked with just on principle. It had never seemed to go smoothly for any of his colleagues who dipped their pens in the company inkwell, so to speak. Not like you've done any better outside of the office, have you? Take a chance for a change. Maybe you should ask Lockhart to dinner. Get to know her better, test the waters a little and see if there's anything worth exploring. It was the perfect opportunity, he realized. The paper was a great excuse to get together and given the hour dinner was a plausible scenario. They could work and eat at the same time. What the hell, he decided. They'd go grab a couple of burgers at Ike Ryan's, get to know each other a little and share some small talk and fries, then they'd get to work on that article.