A Very Odd Couple - 22
--------------------
Previously on ER.
Chris and Luka became very close after Dave's attack, but decided
not to tell him just how involved they were getting. Dave
struggled to deal with the after effects both physical and
emotional, but was looking forward to getting back to work and
hopefully getting his life on an even keel once more. John was
concerned that Dave might be taking on too much too soon and
voiced his worry to Kerry, who had earlier agreed that Dave could
return to work if he was cleared by Elizabeth.
Dave's nervousness about his physical exam weren't helped by the
possibility that he might have picked up an infection. Kerry told
Luka that if Dave was cleared to return to work, she was going to
schedule his return for a time when Luka wouldn't be working.
Elizabeth cleared Dave to work, although not without some
reservations on her part. With mixed feelings, he started back in
the ER.
Note: This fic was started in Summer 2000, so season 7 never
happened. Also, I had named Luka's wife 'Maria' before I saw 'The
Crossing', and I'm not changing it now.
Note: In this fic the only people officially aware of Carter's
addiction are the people involved in the intervention, Abby, Luka
and the other ER attendings.
Also, I have received comments on the fact that Dave doesn't
behave 'in character' in this fic. Well, the reason why is simple...unlike
TPTB, *I* have given Dave some character development, so
naturally he's not the same as he is on the show.
--------------------------
Luka sat gloomily in the car and watched Dave make his way
towards the hospital. He wished that Kerry had allowed him to
work with Dave on his first day back, but he knew that she was
right...Dave needed to prove, both to himself and to his
colleagues, that he was able to do this on his own. It would do
him no good to have someone hovering over his shoulder at all
times...like an over anxious parent.
With a jolt, Luka remembered the last time he had felt this way.
It had been the day that Jasna had first started school. He and
Maria had walked slowly into the classroom with her and had
handed her over into the teacher's care. Spotting some familiar
faces among her classmates, Jasna had raced off happily without a
backwards glance. Luka didn't know what had been more upsetting...the
fact that they had been sending their daughter out on her own...or
the fact that she didn't seem to be unduly fazed by such a
momentous occasion as her first day at school.
He and Maria had done their best to comfort each other, Luka
recalled. He smiled as he remembered what form that 'comfort' had
taken...as he recalled, Marko had been born almost exactly nine
months later. He sighed at the memory of his family, knowing that
he would never forget them. But he also knew that he had to move
on. If he had been the one to die, then he would have not wished
Maria to live out her life clinging to his memory...he would have
wanted her to move on...just as he was doing with Chris. But no
matter how strong his feelings were for Chris Malucci - and they
were growing stronger by the day - a part of his heart would
always belong with Maria.
At the thought of Chris, Luka glanced at his watch. He was going
to have to hurry if he was to get to the train station before her
arrival. Today was going to be the first time they had been alone
together in the house since Dave had been released from hospital,
and it was going to be a relief to be able to talk properly
without worrying about him overhearing them. Chris was still
uncomfortable about letting her brother know about their
relationship, but Luka was hoping to change her mind. He didn't
like the idea of deceiving Dave, even for a benevolent purpose...but
he was willing to abide by her decision.
---------------------------
"You okay Malucci?" Haleh asked, seeing Dave grimace
slightly in pain.
Dave looked up from the chart he was filling out. "What? Oh...no,
I'm fine..."
Haleh regarded him suspiciously.
The day before, Dr. Weaver had approached her, and told her that
Dave was starting back in the ER.
Haleh had been surprised that he was being allowed return so
soon, and had said as much.
"He's been cleared by Doctor Corday," Weaver had said.
Then she had hesitated, almost as if she'd wanted to say
something else.
Haleh had known that something was bothering her. "It'll be
awkward for him...trying to manage stuff 'one-handed'," she
had prompted.
Weaver had nodded, saying, "You're right...perhaps it might
be a good idea if there was a nurse assigned to work with him...at
least for his first few shifts. Just to make sure he takes things
easy." Then she had smiled and said, "Although knowing
Malucci, I don't think there's any danger of him working *too*
hard."
Although she hadn't said as much, Haleh could tell that Dr.
Weaver wasn't entirely happy about Dave returning to work. There
had been 'something' in her manner that Haleh hadn't been able to
put her finger on...or maybe she was just imagining things.
Either way, she was going to keep an eye on Malucci...whether he
liked it or not...nothing was going to happen to him on *her*
watch.
"I have a four year old girl with a stomach ache in curtain
3," she said, holding out a chart to him.
Dave nodded, and followed her to the patient.
"Hey there," he said, with his trademark smile. "I'm
Dr. Dave, and you are?"
"I'm Melissa..." said the girl, staring at his face.
"Why do you have that mark on your face?"
Dave touched his forehead self-consciously. Dr. Corday had told
him that the scar would fade in time...but it was still
noticeable...especially to a four year old.
"Melissa," said a woman standing nervously by the bed.
"Don't be rude." To Dave, she said, "I'm sorry
doctor."
"Hey, it's cool," said Dave, forcing a smile. "I
got this when I...I fell off my bike, and hit my head."
Well, okay, he thought...it wasn't a total lie...and he sure as
hell wasn't going to say that he got it when two junkies beat the
crap out of him. Dave clenched his hand on the chart, trying to
keep it steady.
"So Melissa...what...what seems to be the problem?"
"Excuse me Dr. Dave," said Haleh, pulling up a stool.
"There you go."
Dave opened his mouth to protest, but closed it again, after
seeing the expression on her face. "Thanks," he said,
sinking gratefully onto the stool.
He could see Melissa's mother eyeing him warily as he fumbled
with the chart. "Excuse me, doctor...um, Dave...but are you
all right?"
"I'm fine," said Dave, with more confidence than he
felt. He could see the look in her eyes...the look that said she
wasn't happy letting her daughter be treated by a doctor who
looked like he should be a patient himself. A surge of defiance
swept through him...he was going to prove that he was just as
competent as any of the other docs in the ER. "Just a touch
of backache," he lied smoothly, turning on his winning smile.
"Now...lets see what's wrong with your daughter, okay?"
---------------------------
Luka cursed under his breath as he hurried into the station. The
traffic had slowed him considerably and he had found it difficult
to get a parking space. He looked around the busy concourse, but
was unable to see Chris anywhere.
A pair of hands was suddenly clasped over his eyes and he sucked
in his breath in shock. Fortunately they were accompanied by a
familiar voice saying, "Guess who?"
Luka clasped his large hands over Chris's small ones. "Hmm,
I wonder who that could be," he said out loud. "Dave? I
thought I had dropped you at County."
This earned him a swat on the head from Chris as she pulled her
hands free. "Just for that, I should hop on the next train
back."
"You don't get away *that* easily," said Luka, as he
turned round and put his arms around her. "I have missed
you," he whispered to her.
"Not as much as I've missed you," replied Chris,
kissing him gently on the lips.
They stayed in the embrace for a few minutes before Chris pulled
away slightly. "People are starting to stare at us."
"Let them look," said Luka, still holding on to her.
"I'm serious," said Chris. "What if someone from
County sees us...and tells Dave...I don't want him to hear it
from someone else."
"But when is he going to hear it from us? I'm not trying to
pressure you, little one, but I want to be able to shout it from
the rooftops. I do not like all this sneaking around behind his
back. Do you really think he would take it so badly?"
Chris was silent for a few minutes before replying. "No...I
just...I'm still scared that it won't work out...that we'll end
up hating each other...and Dave will be caught in the middle."
She leaned in against Luka, burying her head in his chest.
"That is a chance that we have to take," said Luka,
dropping a kiss onto the top of her head. "But have you told
*no one* about us?"
"Just Oonagh...she's my closest friend," said Chris,
her voice muffled by Luka's chest.
"I too would like to be able to tell my closest friend,"
said Luka gently.
Chris pulled away and looked up at him. "I'm sorry...I'm
being selfish...it's wrong of me to expect you to keep this
secret...I...I'll tell Dave."
"*We* will tell Dave," Luka corrected her.
------------------------
To be continued
Part XXIII