Thanks to everyone for their reviews – I'm so glad so many people like my fic.
Disclaimer: I do not own this show or these characters. But just give me time…
Notes: The lyrics contained in this chapter are from the song "In A Good Way" by Beady Belle. Also, forgive my ignorance or incorrect use of medical terminology – I'm not a real doctor.
Chapter 6 – Shift
"Have a good day at school, buddy," Sam told Alex as he headed out the door. "Nicole will pick you up this afternoon because I won't finish work in time to come get you."
"I still don't see why I even need a babysitter," Alex whined, pausing at the front door.
"C'mon, kiddo, let's not go through this again. Gina's waiting for you. Be good." She nudged him gently out the door.
"Love you," she called to his retreating figure.
He mumbled something under his breath and kept walking.
Sam sighed and shut the door, locking it behind her. Alex was taking Luka's departure hard. He's been through so much, she thought forlornly. He's a good kid – he doesn't deserve all this.
Sam wandered into the bedroom to get ready for her shift. Rummaging around in her drawer, she located her crumpled scrubs. She pulled the top on over her white Baby-T and quickly changed out of her gray sweatpants. Moving to the bathroom, she began the daily battle to control her wild curls. Struggling to pull them back into a tight ponytail, she mentally cursed genetics. Why couldn't I have been blessed with straight hair? she reflected, frustrated.
Squeezing some toothpaste onto her toothbrush, she began to brush her teeth, trying to eradicate the stale taste that had been in her mouth since she had woken. Suddenly, she heard the doorbell ring.
Who in God's name could that be? she grumbled.
She rinsed and spat before trudging to the front door. It'd be just my luck if it was the landlord, she mused ruefully. In fact, I can almost guarantee it's the landlord.
Unlocking the door and pulling it open she said, "Hasn't the rent…"
Luka was standing on the other side of the door, his eyes cool.
"… been paid," she finished stupidly. Holy shit. I so need another ten hours sleep to even begin to deal with this, she thought wearily.
"Uh, hi," she blurted out. "I'm guessing you forgot your keys?"
Luka held up a hand. "I'm just here to grab some clothes. I'm on today." He pushed past her and headed into the bedroom.
"Oh." The light in her eyes dimmed. "Okay." She stepped back into the apartment, wringing her hands. "So… where are you staying?" she called out meekly.
"Hotel" was the brusque reply. She watched as he came back out into the lounge, one of his duffel bags in hand. "I'm guessing you're on today, too?" he asked, taking in her apparel.
"Yeah," she replied, her heart breaking.
"Well, see you there," he said unenthusiastically, turning to the door.
"Luka, this is stupid," she said bluntly. He turned to face her. "Really, really… stupid," she trailed off lamely.
He looked at her hard. "Yeah," he said softly. "It is."
He turned on his heel and exited, shutting the door behind him.
Sam stood in the apartment, defeated.
Luka rested his back against the front door and sighed.
How can I explain the truth to you
and expect you to believe?
How can I refuse and look down on you?
How am I supposed to leave?
Later that morning...
Sam flew into County General, her mind made up as a result of the morning's events. The time has come, Taggart, she told herself, to learn to live without a guy in your life. You did it for ten years. You can do it again. All men are just… trouble. It's time to move on.
Her resolve shattered when she saw Luka standing at admit, scribbling something on a chart. A lock of dark hair was falling across his eyes, and she yearned to push it back with gentle fingers before running her hand down his strong jaw. That, and a lot of other things, she realized, momentarily distracted at the thought of his hands on her body again.
Oh, who are you kidding? she scolded herself. You might as well tell the earth to stop spinning.
She hurried past admit, hoping that Luka would not see her. But Frank hollered after her. "Taggart!"
She turned, trying to resist the urge to glance at Luka. "Yeah?"
"What happened with that Steve guy? Throw him in jail?" he asked, grinning.
Sam saw Luka flinch out of the corner of her eye and paled. Has Frank ever actually heard of tact? she wondered, peeved.
"Um, no, but everything… everything's fine. Thanks." She avoided eye contact with Luka and hurried down the hall to the lounge.
"Sam!" Chuny emerged from Exam 2. "Pratt needs you in curtain three when you get a sec." She darted back inside, dark ponytail swishing behind her.
"Fantastic," Sam murmured, heading into the lounge. "No worries. But first…"
She spied the familiar black pot.
Coffee.
Later...
"Sam. I'm gonna need a tox screen on my guy in three," Ray told her as she stood at admit, checking lab results. He gave her a lazy smile and kept walking.
Sam nodded and continued to read.
"Sam?" A British accent cut into her thoughts. She looked up and saw Neela standing in front of her, an apprehensive look on her face. "I'm really sorry to bother you but could I get an IV for my patient in curtain one when you get a chance?"
"Of course," Sam replied as politely as she could. Neela smiled and hurried away. I'm not the only nurse on staff, she thought, irritated.
"Sam?" A timid voice interrupted her once again. Sam noticed Penny hovering beside her. "Are those labs on Mr. Krasinski back yet?"
"JUST…" she yelled, much louder than she had intended. A cluster of patients in triage turned to stare at her.
"… a minute," she breathed more softly. She watched guiltily as Penny darted away. Whoops. Well, that wouldn't be the first med student I've scared the living hell out of.
Pratt ambled over to her. "Wow," he said jauntily as he approached her, a swagger in his stride. "PMS, much?"
Sam rolled her eyes heavenward and shot him what she hoped was a thoroughly murderous look.
"I'm guessing that's a no," he chuckled, undeterred. "By the way, Kovac wants those labs for the guy in two."
Well, that'll be an interesting meeting, she sighed. Grabbing the recently returned results, she walked over to curtain two. She saw Luka standing there, deep in conversation with his patient.
"Uh, Luka?" He looked up and she could have sworn she saw a glimmer of hope in his eyes. But it dissipated as soon as it had appeared, leaving Sam to conclude that she had simply imagined it. Fantastic, she thought sarcastically. The hallucinations have started. Next, I'll be looking for hidden meaning in every single thing he says to me.
She reached out to pass him the papers. He took them from her, his hand brushing against her skin as he did so. She looked up and stared into his blue eyes. The world around them seemed to stop. Distantly, she heard a phone ring.
Sam took a deep breath. "Luka, I…"
"Taggart!" Frank called from the admit desk. "Phone!"
Shit! Sam marvelled. That's it. The universe is definitely plotting against me, she decided.
Reluctantly removing her hand and tearing her eyes from Luka's, she marched over to Frank.
Giving him a tight smile, she grabbed the outstretched receiver.
"Hello?" she said.
Her blood ran cold as she listened.
"What do you mean, he wasn't at the school?" she shouted into the phone, her heart in her mouth.
You gotta love a cliffhanger! ;)