Here's the next part. Enjoy!

- - - - - - - - - -

I finish up with Marli and hand her to her worried looking father. He's such a sweet man, a single father of 28 who works all the hours God sends to look after his precious daughter. I can't believe we ever thought he'd harm her.

As I walk up to the locker room door I hear Luka's voice. I think he's on the phone, talking in Croatian. I hear him say his brother's name a few times and he sounds slightly angry. I've never seen Luka angry except the rare moments when something hits a nerve, like cases to dowith children. He snaps something that sounds like goodbye and turns off his cell.

"Luka, Is everything okay?" I push the door open fully and peek inside. He looks up and smiles a little.

"Did you hear all that?"

"Yes, but I couldn't understand a word of it." I laugh softly and walk over to him. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I rest my forehead on his and sigh. "You wanna tell me?"

He shakes his head and pulls away from me. Running his hands through his hair he twists away and gets out of the chair. I'm left standing in the centre of the room, wondering what made him so irate.

After a few seconds he turns to me. He has tears in his eyes and for a second he looks so sad my heart aches to help him.

"Can we go home? And talk." I nod and take his hand.

"Where's Alex?"

"With Carter in sutures." He bites his lip. I know what he isn't saying.

"I'll go. You go and open the car." I put the keys in his hand and go to grab my son.

"Alex, time to go home." I smile at Carter. He's had a tough few months; first his baby dies, then Kem leaves. He would have made a fantastic father, he clearly loves kids and he has enough patience. He entertained Alex for over an hour!

Alex pulls on the coat I hold out to him, waves to Carter and runs off to the car.

"Thanks Carter, he can be a bit of a handful."

"My pleasure." He says with a sad smile. I smile and wave before disappearing through the door. Sometimes being alone is the key.

I get to the car and Luka is in the driver's seat, chattering to Alex who's dangled between the seats playing with the radio.

"Luka, other side."

"It's okay, you're tired…" He looks at me and gets out. I slide in, wait for him to belt up and for Alex to sit down again then I start the engine and pull away. We manage to get home in record time and Alex runs off to take his insulin and do some homework due in the next day.

"You wanna talk now?" I probe gently, sitting down next to him. He turns to me and takes my hand.

"Sam, my father is dying." I gasp.

"I'm so sorry."

"Don't be. We…weren't the best of friends. He was very opinionated about everything. He sort of blamed me for leaving my family the night the shell hit the apartment, he blamed me for giving up on CPR, and he blames me for leaving Croatia to come here." He bites his lip. "My brother called today to tell me Tata was calling for me. I said I didn't want to go."

"Luka, you can't let him die without saying good-bye."

"He told me before I left that he didn't want to see me again if I got on the plane."

"He was angry. He didn't mean it." I hate the idea of Luka not going. I know he'd feel guilty someday and wish I'd pushed him to go.

"You don't know my father."

"But I know you. And I know that if you don't go, you will regret it." I squeeze his hand and trace the lines on his palms. "Please just think about going."

"Okay, I'll ring the airport tomorrow and see if there are any flights." He surrenders, curling his fingers round mine.

"Thank you." I whisper, moving closer to him. I reach up and run my hands through his hair. It's thick and soft like the fur of a new teddy, and it smells like coconuts. I kiss him gently but increase intensity when he responds. Soon our hands are wandering all over each other and we've moved so he's lying on the sofa and I'm lying on top of him. Suddenly the floor creaks and I stop my exploration. Luka's lips trace along my collar bone and I shiver but the sight of Alex's face round the door makes me jump up and straighten my clothes.

"Mom? Can I get a drink?" He says, scratching his leg. Luka coughs behind me and I blush.

"Yeah, go on. Just no coke. Milk or water." He disappears and Luka's arms capture me from behind. He starts to tickle me and I giggle and pull away from him, making him reach out to catch me again. I twist away and run out into the kitchen, with him hot on my heels. Alex looks up from his glass hunt with wide eyes as I tear past him and Luka scoops him up.

"Four arms are better than two. Come on Al, boys against girl. Tickle war."

"Yeah!" He replies. Luka charges after me and Alex runs the opposite way, blocking off my escape route. I back away from them, laughing until I hit the wall. Luka reaches me first and pounces. Alex grabs my feet and tickles them as Luka alternates blowing raspberries on my belly and tickling my ribs.

"I'm. Going. To. Pee. Myself." I gasp between laughs. Alex stops tickling but squirms in so we're one big people sandwich.

"I like you better when you laugh." He states, hugging me. Luka smiles and wraps an arm around Alex and me.

"I like it better when I laugh too." I say, tapping him on the nose. "Now, bed time. You've got school in the morning and I don't wish to be late again; I want to keep my job." Surprisingly Alex gets up and heads towards the door. I cough and he turns round.

"Night." I wrap my arms round him and kiss his cheek. Luka comes over and scoops him up, dangling him upside down.

"I'll take him tonight. Go and put your feet up."

------------------------------------------

As usual, R&R please and make my day! :0) Thanks to the people that reviewed the first chapter!