Chapter 2

-"What are you doing here?" Frank asked suspiciously. "I wasn't the one who said it."

-"Said what?" I couldn't shake off the feeling that it wouldn't take me long to find out, what the new topic of the day was. Well that is for the last 3 and a half months, Luka and I were, but the variations were always interesting. Needless to say the rumor mill wasn't about to stop. These days I can't enter a room without everyone staring and at least stop their conversations for 10 seconds. And 10 seconds can be pretty long.

-"Nothing! I know nothing! Ask Jerry"
What do you answer to that? I shook my head. What was worse than knowing that you're being discussed? Maybe being in an elevator with gossip-loving nurses ? Oh even better, being in an elevator with Luka and gossip-loving nurses! When had it been? Hmm about 2 months ago I guess…

-"Ladies"

-"Dr Kovac!" was the merry answer his greeting got. Their smiles disappeared when I came in. And as usual I just prayed that no personal conversation was going to start in this tiny place. I looked at Luka. Yes sure, he was reading a baby magazine and I knew that within seconds the question that had been bothering him the whole week was going to pop out of his mouth. Only 3 floors to go. Maybe I was going to be lucky. As I was slowly counting, my hopes rose, 10, 9, 8, 7, almost there…, 6, 5, yes…

-"I still think you shouldn't stop breast-feeding so soon." Well that had been close, we were almost there. I left the elevator without answering feeling three pairs of eyes boring into my back. I walked out of their sight, Luka still reading close behind. I quickly checked that the only people present were busy, and decidingly hit my head against the nearest wall.

-"Why did you do that for? Are you crazy?"

-"Oh you noticed that."

-"Of course I noticed that, I'm neither blind nor deaf. The bang was probably heard in the whole hospital. You're going to have a bump on your forehead." Clenching the magazine under is left arm, he was ready to check my 'injury'. I slapped his hand away.

-"Do try to patronize me, I didn't hit myself hard enough." Except ouch! He was maybe right. "Did you also notice that we were not alone in this elevator?"

-"Well yes. But I barely more than whispered. They haven't heard a thing."

-"Oh they heard you very well. I'm still not sure if it has to do with the fact that every single person working here, seems to have only one matter of interest lately, namely us or if I should break it to you that your whispering is pretty loud."

-"You're imagining things."

-"What?" I muffled my cry after realizing that I wasn't doing much better than him. This was not the place for such a discussion. Was he really blind? I looked at him disbelievingly. I was kind of sweet, but hadn't we already discussed that?

-"What?" He asked back.

-"Oh nothing. We'll discuss it at home, when no prying eyes and ears are present. I just want to eat, I'm starving."

-"Okay, so I guess we won't be discussing breast-feeding either ?" I had to chuckle seeing his querying eyes. I caressed his cheek and smiled, all my irritation vanished.

-"Well most definitely not. You know, I think we should define the no-no conversations, when we are at work."

-"But we have lunch-break, this doesn't qualify as..."

-"Don't push your luck, Kovac!"

Sitting down next to Frank, I started to punch the keys of the computer. At least with all the time I had, I wasn't late with my paper job. You have to see the silver lining.

-"Cook County Hospital, Emergency Unit, how… Oh sure, she is here. Abby, it's for you."

I checked my watch, yeah that was about right, 10:02.

-"Yes, Luka?" I teasingly asked

-"How do you know it was me? I never said I would call." I could hear his smile.

-"You are very predictable, that's all."

-"Predictable?"

- "Well you were supposed to have a break at about this time so I figured, that you couldn't resist the temptation to call." He laughed.

-"How are you feeling? Is everything okay?"

-"I'm feeling good, as I felt 3 hours ago when we last saw each other. Moreover you gave your cellphone number to everyone here, if I should feel faint, you'll probably know it before me." He chuckled.

-"Well then, see you tonight"

-"Yes, sure. Have a nice meeting."

-"Hmm nice pecs." Chuny dreamingly muttered.

-"Yeah and a lovely arse." Neela laughed.

-"What are you talking about?" I wondered, turning around to have a look.

-"The new surgeon, he is gorgeous." Inez seemed unable to get her eyes off him. So that was the guy? Well not bad…

-"Nice smile." I added.

-"That's all you have to say about him? Are you blind?"

-"Well, no… I don't know… Sure he is good-looking, just not my style." Inez seemed to snap out of it.

-"Neela, she has Luka at home. And not only with suits and ties like us, I mean she is bound to be blasé."

-"Wait a second, are you discussing stuff like that when I'm not around?"

-"No, …" Neela's answer sure didn't sound very convincing, especially when you saw the bright red spots on her cheeks. "The new guy just came. We didn't have time to talk a lot about him." She innocently added.

-"I'm not talking about the new guy."

-"Car accident, they bring 2 victims in critical condition in." Jerry announced.

-"I take one, Chuny come with me." Neela announced, probably never happier to escape a question. Ray was also rushing, showing me that it was pointless for me to even stand up. Great! I had said the next one was for me… I turned to Inez.

-"I'm sure Ray needs me, sorry!"

Yeah traitors run away… This conversation is not over.