March

Cook County ER - Chicago, Illinois

Relieved that signs of spring were beginning to manifest themselves in warmer temperatures and melting snow, Amy, who was dressed in jeans and a long-sleeved sweater shirt that matched the white sneakers that she had recently bought, walked into the ER with Joe in her arms.

Kerry came out of the lounge just in time to see Amy approach the desk, "I didn't think you were on until tonight," she commented, smiling at both step-mother and child.

"I have a meeting with a pediatrician about Joe's developmental delays," Amy explained. "Joe's been doing better with words, but his motor skills are still a little shaky..."

Kerry frowned, "Are there going to be long-term issues with that?" she asked in a concerned tone.

"No, it's most likely trauma-induced and with some extra work, Joe should be caught up with his age group by the time he is ready for preschool," Amy replied, gently bouncing him. "Luka wanted to come today, but he couldn't leave Nathan to unpack the house and watch Katie by himself...Katie's cold is slowly going away, but she's not completely better yet."

Just then, Frank, who had been rummaging under the desk, rose and smiled at seeing Amy standing there with Joe, "So, you finally found a place that can fit your large family, huh?" he asked in an amused voice. "Was it hard for Doctor Kovac to sell his apartment?"

Before Amy could reply, Dave, who was dressed in his traditional scrubs and white coat came out of an exam room and came walking down the hall towards the desk with a stack of charts in his hands, "Daeee," Joe shouted, holding out his arms to the approaching Dave.

"Joe's developed special nicknames for people he likes," Amy explained to Kerry as Dave mussed what little hair Joe had and smiled at him. "Anyway, Dave, how are you and Daniel liking the new apartment?"

Dave smiled, "We've been living there for only two weeks, but Daniel already considers it home," he replied, suddenly noticing Kerry's confused look. "Well, it's not exactly a NEW apartment."

Kerry continued giving him a confused look, "When Luka and Amy bought a house, Luka talked with his landlord and the landlord agreed to let me and Daniel stay in the apartment," Dave explained. "After taxes, my salary covers the rent, Daniel's school fees, and decent food...It was really nice of Luka to leave most of the furniture...I only had to buy new beds and sheets...Daniel also needed some new clothes and he talked me into buying a few things for myself..."

"Luka put in a big order to IKEA for new furniture," Amy replied. "It only arrived the other day."

Joe suddenly turned in Amy's arms and extended his arms to Kerry, "Annie Kweee," he said, reaching out to try and grab Kerry. "Annie Kwee..."

Kerry gave Amy and Dave a confused look, "What's he saying?" she asked.

"Joe's decided that you are Auntie Kerry," Amy explained, smiling as she offered Joe to Kerry.

Kerry took Joe in her arms and smiled as Joe placed his tiny hand on her face, "Kerry, if you're not too busy, why don't you come to the appointment with Joe and I?" Amy suggested.

"That would be a good idea, actually," Dave stated. "I wish I could come, but I've got to stay down here to try and help Doctor Greene clear off the board...Frank, let me know when my med-student gets here...I think he was supposed to show up at eight, but it's long past that..."

Frank nodded, "I'll page you when he gets here, Doctor Malucci," he replied.

"All right, I'll come," Kerry finally replied. "I need a break from the ER...Henry's in day care today, so after the appointment, I can check on him..."

As the two women walked down the hallway with Joe, Dave went over to the rack for another chart, exchanging a look with Frank. There was always work to be done.

Relieved that Katie was drinking more fluids and coughing less, Luka gently kissed her forehead and rose from the small chair beside the master bed where she slept.

"I love you Daddy Luka," Katie whispered as she continued to sleep.

Luka smiled and quietly left the bedroom. He walked downstairs and into the living room where Nathan was working on assembling a bookshelf. Pieces and tools were all over the floor.

"You could try reading the instruction manual," Luka commented, seeing that Nathan wasn't making any headway with putting it together. "That might help a lot."

Nathan didn't meet Luka's gaze, "I think you don't have the right tools," he replied. "Is Katie feeling any better than she was yesterday?"

"She just drank a full glass of water and isn't coughing as much," Luka replied, kneeling down so he could look at the tools. "You're right, I should go to the hardware store down the street..."

Luka rose and grabbed his wallet off the ledge, "Will you be all right looking after Katie for a few minutes while I walk down to the hardware store to look at tools?" he asked Nathan.

Nathan nodded, "We'll be fine," he replied as he rose. "I'll lock the door after you leave."

"Katie's asleep right now, but if she wakes up, there's a pitcher of ice water in the fridge," Luka ordered as they reached the front door. "Have her drink at least one full glass of it."

"All right," Nathan replied, watching as Luka opened the door. "Be safe Luka."

As Luka pulled the door closed, Nathan locked it and went upstairs to check on Katie.

From across the street, Elton stepped out of an alley and watched as Luka walked down the street towards a hardware store that was on the corner of the next block.

Gripping the axe that was in his hands, Elton, who had stolen a maintenance uniform from a supply warehouse, crossed the street and walked towards his ex's new family home.

Since trying to kill Dr. Malucci and kidnapping Amy had failed, Elton had helped destroy the clinic and then had disappeared, laying in wait as he constructed a new plan of attack.

After hearing that his ex-wife had married some Croatian doctor and their family had moved into a house that was in a safer part of the city and close to County, Elton had gotten an idea.

With assistance from a friend who hacked into hospital personnel records, Elton had acquired the address and gotten access to several weapons, which were now in the many pockets of his stolen uniform, along with his passport, wallet, and two airline tickets out of the country.

Whoever was home, that would be who Elton took out of the country, as it would torment his ex.

In the kitchen, Nathan opened the fridge and, pulling out a jug of milk, he drank from the jug.

When he had gone upstairs, Katie had been asleep and she seemed a little cooler, so Nathan had gone back downstairs to see what was in the fridge. He was bored out of his mind.

As he put the lid back on the milk and returned it to the fridge, there was a knock at the door.

Figuring that it was just Luka and he wanted to be let back inside, Nathan strode over to the front door and peered through the keyhole. Horrified, he suddenly jumped away from the door.

"OPEN UP!" Elton's angry voice shouted. "I MEAN IT! I KNOW SOMEBODY'S IN THERE!"

His eyes still wide with terror, Nathan ran into the kitchen and, grabbing the cordless phone off the wall, he dialed 9-1-1, "Someone's trying to break into my house-" Nathan gasped, suddenly hearing loud bangs and glass breaking. "I have to go..."

Nathan dropped the phone and ran out of the kitchen just in time to see the door, which had axe marks in it and broken glass littered the window pane. Elton was standing there with an axe in his hand and an infuriated look on his face. He and Nathan stared at one another for a moment.

"Nathan, I'm thirsty," the small voice of Katie suddenly said from upstairs.

Elton grinned maliciously, "So, it's just you and Katie home alone," he hissed, moving towards the stairs. "Tell your witch of a mother that I'm taking Katie on a little plane ride..."

Nathan blocked the stairs and kicked Elton back, causing him to drop the ax, "GET OUT!" he yelled, pushing Elton into the living room. "GET OUT BEFORE I CALL THE COPS!"

Glaring at his impudent waste of sperm, Elton put his hands around Nathan's neck, "You listen here, you little WRETCH!" he hissed angrily. "I NEVER wanted kids and it was only to cause your mother pain that I even wasted my time with her...Now, I hope you die sooner than later."

Elton dropped Nathan on the floor and charged up the stairs as Nathan lay there, coughing.

There was a scream, loud bangs, and Nathan shakily rose just in time to see Elton drag a coughing Katie down the stairs. As he came into view, his jaw met with Nathan's fist.

"Let her go," Nathan whispered angrily as Elton dropped Katie on the bottom stair and glared at him. "I mean it, you cold-hearted..."

Elton stepped over Katie and backed Nathan into the living room, "Now, now, Nathan, watch your language," he hissed, shoving Nathan on to the floor and stepping on his chest.

Fighting to breathe, Nathan grabbed a piece of shelf and hit Elton in the jaw with it. Elton grabbed the shelf and tossed it away. He then moved off Nathan's chest and into the kitchen.

Gasping for air, Nathan shakily rose and moved over to where Katie was laying and coughing.

Unfortunately, before he could do anything, he felt a hand on his collar, pulling him away.

"Now, little Nathan, I'm going to show you what happens to little boys who don't treat adults with proper respect," Elton hissed as Nathan felt himself being pressed up against a wall with his arm being forced behind him and stretched. "I hope you remember every bit of this pain..."

It didn't take long before Nathan heard both a pop and a crack. A moment later, he felt himself being thrown to the ground and saw that Elton had moved back into the kitchen.

Nathan suddenly felt himself being smashed in the face with a board, "Your face will be so disfigured that your own mother won't recognize you," Elton hissed as he tossed the board aside and showed Nathan a knife he had grabbed from the knife block in the kitchen.

"Now, I would like to play with you a little longer, but I have to leave," Elton hissed as he moved over to where Katie was laying and scooped her up. "The Congo is so nice this time of year..."

Katie screamed and Nathan's vision began to blur as Elton hovered over him, "I'm going to teach you one final lesson about respect," Elton hissed as he jammed the knife into Nathan's gut.

As Elton fled with Katie, Nathan fought to stay conscious and used his good arm to drag himself into the kitchen. He pulled himself over to the phone and picked it up off the floor.

"...I've just been beaten up and stabbed," Nathan whispered. "Please send help..."

After having a hard time finding tools and finally receiving help from a clerk, Luka emerged from the hardware store with a portable toolbox in a shopping bag. He started down the sidewalk back towards the house and suddenly frowned at the sight of two police cars in front of his house.

"This is my house," Luka said as he ran over to an officer that was patrolling on the front steps.

The officer gave Luka a look, "The ambulance is about 10 minutes out and there's an officer inside keeping an eye on some kid that was beat up," he said in a sharp tone.

"I'm a doctor," Luka said, concerned that Nathan and Katie had been hurt. "I can help."

The officer hesitated for a moment and nodded, "Are you Luka Kovac?" he asked as the reached the door, which had axe marks in it and was wide open.

"Yes, what happened?" Luka asked, wondering why the officer was acting so strange.

There was silence and Luka followed the officer inside. He was horrified to see blood all over the floor, the stairs, and on a shelf piece. The officer moved past Luka and into the kitchen.

"Doctor Kovac!" Luka suddenly heard an officer say. "There's a kid in here that's waking up!"

Luka frowned and walked into the kitchen, horrified to see that Nathan was pulling himself upright against one of the kitchen cabinets with blood all over his face and shirt and a knife sticking out of his gut. His left arm looked broken and his sleeve had blood all over it,

"Go upstairs to my bedroom and get my first-aid kit out of the closet," Luka ordered the officer who was kneeling near Nathan. "Nathan, can you hear me? It's Luka."

Nathan didn't reply, so Luka took his jacket off and looked at the other officer, "You, go outside and wait for the ambulance," he ordered as he grabbed a dishtowel off the fridge handle and wrapped it around the knife. "Don't come back inside without the paramedics."

Without waiting to see if the officer was going to obey, Luka knelt down and covered Nathan's body with his jacket. "Nathan, can you hear me?" he asked, gazing at Nathan's bloody face.

There was another moment of silence and Nathan opened his eyes to see Luka's face, "Luka," he whispered. "Elton broke into the house...he took Katie...beat me up and stabbed me."

Luka heard footsteps and was relieved when the officer returned with a satchel sized first-aid kit and handed it to Luka, "Is your son going to be okay?" the officer asked.

"M-My shoulder and arm hurt," Nathan whimpered. "I heard a crack and a pop."

Luka opened the first aid kit and pulled out a bottle, "From what I can see, Nathan, you've got a bad wound on your forehead," he explained, opening the bottle. "I'm going to rinse it out with some rubbing alcohol...It might sting a bit, but don't move."

After hesitating for a moment, Luka pulled some goggles out of the bag and put them over Nathan's eyes, "This will keep your eyes protected," he explained. "I want you to stay awake and tell the officer as much as you can remember about what happened..."

Nathan nodded, but before he could reply, he suddenly lurched forward and vomited blood on to Luka's jacket, "I don't feel good, Luka," he whispered. "I need to lie down."

Worried that the kid would pass out, the officer quickly took off his jacket and handed it to Luka, "Here's a pillow," he said in a nervous tone. "Is there anything I can do for you or your son?"

"Help me lay him on top of your jacket," Luka ordered as he quickly folded the officer's jacket and placed it on the floor. "Nathan, this officer and I are going to lay you down on the floor."

As the officer and Luka lay Nathan down so that his head would rest on the jacket, Nathan heard sirens in the distance, "Can you call the ER?" he weakly asked, trying to block out every bit of pain that he was in. "I was supposed to do my Orientation tonight with Frank and Jerry..."

"I'll call from the ambulance," Luka replied. "Do you hurt anywhere else?"

Before Nathan could reply, sirens could be heard outside, as well as shouting.

"Paramedics must be here," the officer said. "I'll go show them where to come."

While the officer rose and walked out of the kitchen, Nathan reached up and pulled the goggles off of his face, "I couldn't do anything else to stop him," he whispered, feeling tears in his eyes.

Unsure of what to say, Luka responded by pulling the jacket higher to keep Nathan warm.

Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa

"Doctor Carter?" an accented female voice said in the darkness.

Realizing that he had fallen asleep, John sat up and immediately felt stiff, "Yes, Doctor Rasgotra, what is it?" he asked, fumbling for his flashlight that was on the floor beside him.

Light suddenly flooded the room as Carter found his flashlight and switched it on, "I told you, John, call me Neela," she replied, as Carter rose shakily from his bed. "Are you still very tired today?"

"I have a low grade fever, but I can pass it off for dehydration and drink fluids," John replied. "Are you ready to be taken to the airport so you can catch your flight?"

Neela nodded, "I just wish that I had heard from Michael before I take off to be part of this medical foreign exchange program," she stated. "I know he's busy in Kinshasa, but I miss him."

"It's understandable why he had to go there, though," John replied. "With the threats, Kem needed more military support at the clinic out there...Michael's a trained soldier, so he was needed."

Neela sighed, "We should get going to the airport," she stated. "The sooner we leave, the sooner you can get back before darkness falls. Abby will want you back in her arms tonight."

As they walked out of the small hut that Carter and Abby called home, John looked around, "Abby's sorry that she couldn't come with us, but Doctor Rogers needed her at the clinic," he explained, walking over to the Humvee. "She's starting to get confident as a doctor again."

"Will the hospital be all right without a surgeon for a few weeks?" Neela asked as they got into the Humvee and John turned the key. "It's bad enough that Greg has to go, but me?"

While he pressed down on the gas and began driving, John sighed, "It'll be a few weeks and then you'll be back here," he said. "Doctor Rogers can do the surgeries until you return."

For the next half hour, there was silence from both driver and passenger.

However, as the vehicle approached the airport parking lot, Neela turned to look at Carter, "If your fever gets any worse, you phone County and ask for me," she said in a stern tone. "I won't tell anyone that you're getting sick, John, but if gets worse, please tell someone."

John nodded and parked the vehicle, "Do you want me to walk you to the plane?" he asked.

"No, I want you to sit here and not drive off again until you drink some of that water in the bottle you are hiding under the seat," Neela firmly replied. "You are seriously at risk for malaria, John."

John replied by reaching under the seat and pulling out a large bottled water. With a sheepish grin, he opened it and began to drink it in absolute silence.

Neela responded by getting out of the vehicle with a small carry-on suitcase in her hand, "Be safe, John," she said in a concerned tone. "Greg's probably waiting at the gate for me."

John watched as Neela closed the door and walked off towards the terminal with her bag.

Taking another sip of water, John couldn't help but be jealous of Neela. He missed Chicago.

However, Chicago was where the past was and both he and Abby had left the past behind.