Luka sighed and rifled through the stack of papers and files in front of him on the desk. It had been a slow day. The kind of day which only months ago would have found him bounding up the stairs to NICU at every opportunity. He opened his desk drawer and pulled out the envelope he kept there. He spilled the photo contents onto the pile of papers in front of him and smiled as he picked them up one by one and examined them again. Josip in his incubator...with Abby... with Maggie...with him...intubated...close up...sleeping...in every possible shot he could create with his camera. He hadn't been able to get enough of his little boy. He sighed sadly and then looked up as Abby opened the door and stuck her head in.

"Busy?" she asked. Luka shook his head and gathered up the photos. She crossed the small office and sat on the corner of his desk.

"It's so quiet out there," she complained as she took the pictures from him. "They won't let me do anything."

"They care about you," he said as he watched her flip through the pictures. She smiled slightly and held up one of the prints. It was a picture of Josip nestled on his bare chest. She'd taken it for him one day in NICU.

"Can I have this one?" Luka nodded and took the picture from her. He tapped it on his finger tips and sighed.

"I miss him right now," Luka said quietly. "I really, really miss him." Abby slipped down from her seat on the desk and moved closer to him. Luka wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her nearer till his head rested against her chest. Abby's arms circled his shoulders and she held him close. She leaned her head down on top of his and closed her eyes. It was so easy to get lost in her own feeling and needs...and the care that he lavished on her. But, he'd lost a child too.

Kerry opened the door to the ER Chief's office without thinking. She'd been using it while Luka was gone and had gotten used to just walking right in. They weren't aware of her standing there, they were so lost in each other. She backed out quietly and closed the door again. Budget meeting be damned. They'd gone this long without his presence. What was one more meeting?

It was a long time before Luka's grasp on her relaxed and he looked up at her. His eyes were wet. He sighed and then smiled. Abby pulled a tissue out of her pocket and wiped his eyes. She kissed him and Luka hugged her. Abby's pager beeped and she pulled it out of her pocket and looked at it.

"Neela's out of surgery and she's meeting me in the cafeteria for some lunch. Wanna come?" Luka stood up and shook his head.

"I've got a budget meeting...right now." He checked his watch. "I'll ride up in the elevator with you." She nodded and waited while he gathered up the papers and files he would need for the meeting. They walked to the elevator hand in hand and he dropped her off at the 6th floor. Abby stood on tip toe and kissed his cheek before stepping off the elevator. Luka grinned and lifted his hand in a wave as the doors closed again.

Neela was already seated at a table with two bowls of soup when Abby entered the Physicians' dining area. She waved and Neela stood up.

"I am so glad you're back," Neela said as she embraced Abby warmly. "I've missed you." Abby hugged her and smiled as she sat at the table across from her.

"How does it feel to have actual foreign stamps in your passport?" Neela asked. Abby laughed.

"Scarey..." she said.

"And Luka's family?"

"Wonderful..."

"Dr. Carter?"

"Umm...he's...happy."

"Desert living?" Abby laughed.

"Well, let's just say that desert sands and a thong do not make good partners." Neela chuckled.

"Would you go back?"

"In a heart beat."

"Really? Kerry was quite...perturbed...when Luka called to say you were going to Darfur. I think she was worried about you." Abby laughed again. 'Perturbed' was hardly the word Luka used when he described Kerry's reaction to that telephone call. Neela was smiling at her and took a spoonful of soup in her mouth.

"How are you doing?" Abby asked and broke off a piece of a roll from the plate in the center of their table. Neela shrugged.

"Taking it day by day," she said quietly. "You know..." Abby nodded.

"Surgery is so intense that it helps keep your mind off things," Neela went on. "I;m working all the time." She stopped when she noticed the gold band on Abby's finger. She picked up Abby's hand and tapped the ring with her thumb.

"Abby..." she said. "When did this happen?" Abby's smile broadened.

"In Croatia...just before we left for Darfur."

"And you haven't told anyone?" Abby shrugged.

"I guess we...forgot?" Neela scoffed happily.

"Tell me about it. I want to hear about everything!" Abby sighed and launched into an animated conversation about Croatia, Tata and the rest of Luka's family, Darfur... Neela sat and absorbed it all, just happy to have her friend back again. There was so much they shared.