Merry Christmas, Dr. Kovac
Part One
By Carolina
super_carolina1@yahoo.com

Disclaimer: None of the ER characters belong to me.

Author's notes: This was written for a challenge set by Shannon, the rules being:

It has to be set around or on Christmas. You can use as many ER cast members as you'd like. The more the merrier! It can be set at County, someone's home or another place. You must include these items in your fic: # 1 - mistletoe, # 2 - a Christmas stocking, # 3 - a Christmas tree, # 4 - Christmas cookies and the most important item of all, # 5- SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!

This is my first response to a challenge, so be gentle with me. Watch out for bad characterization. Bad characterization meaning the characters on this story actually smile and laugh.

Rated: N for Not likely to happen on the show.

Set after "The Dance We Do"



Luka stared at the X-Ray in front of him intensely. Ten years of practice and he still had to look twice to these fractures. It wasn't just hard to see, he was just always trying to be too careful about them. Well, this one was definitely broken. He took the X-Ray off the board and put it in the yellow envelope.

"Well, Mr. Parker it looks like your leg is broken," he said as he approached a gurney, where a main laid on his back.

"Do I have to wear a cast?" the man asked.

"Yeah," Luka said and turned to Haleh, "Can you get everything ready?"

Haleh didn't even look at him, but began to do her job. She finally glanced at Luka, who was next to the patient with his hands on his pockets. "Are you gonna stay here?" she asked.

"There's nothing to do out there," Luka said as he looked at the patient, who was falling asleep. He grabbed a stool and sat down to his side, tapping his fingers on the railing.

Haleh looked at him, "Are you ok?" she asked as if she was annoyed by his presence, but just noticing the monotone expression on his face.

Luka looked up in surprise. Normally Haleh was the first one to try and push the doctors down a bridge if she had the chance. "Yeah, why?" he asked.

"Nothing," Haleh said as she got everything ready, "There just seems to be something wrong with you all the time," she said without looking at him. "Just wanted to know about the latest."

Luka frowned, "I'm ok," he said defensively.

"You could smile every once in a while to show it," Haleh said directly.

Luka looked around, weary, "You don't think I smile enough?"

Haleh scoffed, "Honey, I never knew I'd see a doctor who could walk around so miserably until I met you," she said with a little attitude.

Luka flinched his forehead, "Does everyone think that way?"

"Pretty much," she said and put the mix for the cast in front of him, "You're gonna have to do this without me, I'm short one nurse," she said and walked away.

"Who's missing?" Luka asked but it was too late, Haleh was gone. He thought of what she said. Did he really look that miserable in front of people? He wasn't necessarily self conscious about his portrayal of emotions, but he was sure he smiled enough. Well, he tried. He laughed hysterically when Abby made that joke about the Florida recount the night before. Luka shook his head as he began to work, he smiled. Haleh was crazy.



Abby blew off a scented candle her mother had lit before she disappeared. She had wanted to see it burn off, but like her mother's promises, she decided to put a halt on it before it consumed her. Scented candles didn't smell that much when they were almost burnt anyway. She sat back on her couch and looked around. Her eyes were set upon a calendar she had on her desk, it seemed like Christmas was almost here. She loved the holidays, that was true. No matter how many disappointments they brought, she loved them for how much happiness they brought others. This Christmas was going to be most likely like the last, but she had to admit, this year's Christmas commercials were much better than last year's.

She was about to turn on the television when there was a knock at her door. Glancing at her watch suspiciously, she walked over and opened it without looking through the peephole or asking who it was. She raised her eyebrows a little when in front of her stood Luka, removing his gloves.

"Hey," Abby said with that school girl smile she always had when he was around.

"Hi," Luka said and didn't misunderstood the confusion on Abby's face. "I was just in the neighborhood..." he said with a smile.

Abby nodded, but didn't say anything.

"Are you ok?" Luka asked all of a sudden.

Abby raised her eyebrows, "Yeah, why?"

"About your mom," he said hesitantly, "You just never talk about her," he added nervously.

Abby sank that in for a moment and smiled weakly, "Yeah, I'm used to this happening all the time, don't worry about it," she said.

Luka pressed his lips together.

Abby suddenly realized how rude she was being, "Come in," she said and opened the door fully.

"Well, you're gonna have to help me with that," Luka said.

Abby wrinkled her forehead, "What?" she asked, looking at his legs to see if he was hurt.

"Well, I was on my way home, and I saw this," he said and lifted a Christmas tree, which was resting on the wall next to Abby's door, wrapped in a net. He put it in front of Abby, although it was fairly large. "And I just couldn't resist," he added with a smile.

Abby chuckled, "A Christmas tree, wow," she said and put her hands on the sides of her face. "Whatever happened to the traditional flower arrangement?" she joked.

Luka laughed, "Well, you know me."

Abby nodded, "I hope you didn't cut that yourself," she said.

"I wanted to, but then the salesman confiscated my axe," he said jokingly.

Abby laughed, "Oh, well," she said as she looked at it up and down, "It's gorgeous, thank you," she said.

Luka looked at the tree proudly. "Well," he started, "I hadn't bought a tree in years, but I saw this one and I thought it shouldn't be wasted on a happy family," he said. He looked at Abby, "Do you have a stand?"

Abby looked around her apartment, as if there would be one lying around. "No, I don't think so, I haven't had a tree in years either," she added.

Luka lifted the tree and gently laid it on the floor next to the couch, so it wouldn't be on the way, "Well, we can go buy one, if you want, and some ornaments," he said hesitantly and nervously.

Abby looked at him, was this the same Luka she worked with? "Now?"

"Do you have the day shift tomorrow?" he asked.

"Yeah," Abby said.

"Well, we can go after work, and then I thought we could decorate it," he said hesitantly. "Unless you want to do that yourself, which..."

"No, no," Abby said as she interrupted him. "You can't decorate a Christmas tree alone, that's a Christmas rule," she said.

"Is it?" Luka said as he looked at the tree. He looked at her again, "Do you mind if I asked you something?" he asked wearily.

"No," Abby said.

"Well," Luka said and guided her to the couch, and sat down after her. He scratched his head and looked down for a moment. "Um, where are we?" he asked hesitantly.

Abby looked around the room, "Um, Madison Street?" she said, confused.

"No, no," Luka said with laugh, "I mean, you and me, w-what are we," he said nervously.

"Oh," Abby said and looked at him wearily. She thought for a moment and scratched her forehead, "Um, I-I don't, I don't know."

"I mean," Luka jumped in. "When a woman asks me out, should I say: No thanks, I have a girlfriend?" he asked.

Abby looked at him, "Women ask you out?"

Luka blushed a little, "Some patients do."

"Huh," Abby said casually.

"What? Is that weird?" Luka asked.

"No, no, I mean, I asked you out, right?" she said and Luka nodded. "I just didn't know other women did that too," she added.

Luka pressed his lips together, "So..."

Abby looked at him again, "Well, um, it seemed like we were headed that way, but then, you know, so many things happened..."

"Yeah," Luka jumped in. He looked at his fingers and then up at her, "So, you wanna start all over again?"

"Like, um, forget everything that happened?" she asked innocently.

"Well, you can't forget about it, but I guess just get over it," he said.

Abby nodded and half smiled, "Does that mean that beating I gave you at Foosball didn't count?"

Luka laughed, "We'll play again some time, I've been practicing," he said as he raised his eyebrows.

"You're on," Abby said with a chuckle.

Luka smiled and looked at her consciously. "Are you sure you're ok about your mom?"

Abby nodded, "Yeah," she said sincerely. "Like I said, I'm used to it."

Luka nodded, and analyzed her face to see if she was being honest, he still wasn't certain she was. "Well," he said and looked at his watch, "I have to get going, early shift," he said. "Do you... want me to pick you up?"

Three in a row, this would have to go down on the Guinness book. "Well, I have a car," she started.

"Yeah, well, I thought we could drive together, it's easier to get just one parking, and since we'll be going shopping after work..." he said suggestively.

Abby smiled, "Ok," she said, might as well save on gas. "Thanks for the tree," she added, taking deep breaths of pine.

"You're welcome," Luka said and looked at her awkwardly, not knowing how to say good bye. He finally and nervously leaned in and gave her a peck on the lips, thinking they might as well start saying hello and good bye that way.

Abby smiled, a little surprised by his action but certainly pleased. "See you tomorrow," she said and walked him to the door.

"Night, Abby," Luka said and walked out. He followed the trail of fallen green leaves on the floor and walked out of her apartment building. He threw his glove in the air backwards to catch it on his side, but it didn't work, and the glove fell to the floor. A couple of kids who were passing by laughed at his attempt to be cool, and Luka just made a weird face to mock them.

He slept on his side that night, thinking about what Haleh had said. Did people really walk around thinking: What is wrong with Kovac today? He hated when people wanted to know about his personal life, but he hated even more when they tried to guess. He was pretty sure the nurses had a bet on him, how long into the day before Luka Kovac smiled. Well, he would change that now. He would go to work tomorrow and smile like he has never smiled before. He would smile when someone said hi and when someone died. He would smile to his friends, and even to Kerry Weaver. Tomorrow, Luka would wake up in the morning... and smile.



"Son of a bitch!" Luka yelled as he woke up and stubbed his toe on the foot of the bed. Grumping, he walked into his bathroom and quickly got ready for work. He remembered his resolution the night before, and decided to put on something funny. A patient had once given him a Peanuts tie, and he found it and quickly put it on. He wasn't a big fan of cartoons, but he had to admit Snoopy was pretty funny, and his big headed friend, what's his name? Oh, who remembers.

He started his car and a Christmas song came up. Luka tried to sing along, but couldn't remember the lyrics very well, so he settled for just beating on the steering wheel with his fingers up to the tempo of the music. He pulled over in front of Abby's apartment building and stepped outside. The air smelled of humidity, probably there would be snow soon. He looked on the panel for A. Lockhart, and pressed the button. In a matter of seconds, her voice came on.

"Yeah?" Abby said into the intercom.

"Abby? It's me," Luka said.

"Ok, hold on, I'll be right there," Abby said and Luka smiled at the intercom. He put his hands on his pockets and walked up to the sidewalk to take a better look at Abby's neighborhood. Not necessarily a family place, but it was nice enough for a single woman. Well, not so single anymore. Actually, it was a little complicated, so he didn't think about that much. A bunch of kids ran by in scooters. Ah, those scooters. How many broken bones had he fixed because of those things? And they just seemed to get more and more popular. It didn't make sense to Luka, to him they were just a piece of wood on top of two wheels and a stick, he could probably make one himself.

"The taxi cab drivers won't pick you up unless you move forward a couple of feet," Abby said as she walked out of her apartment building.

Luka turned around and smiled, "Morning Abby." He beamed as she approached him, and again found himself nervous as he leaned in and kissed her.

"Nice tie," Abby said as she noticed the Peanuts characters and laughed.

Luka looked at his own tie, "It was a gift from a patient," he commented as he opened the door for her and let her in, walked to his side, and turned on the engine.

Abby looked back at her building and at Luka, "How did you get in last night?"

"One of your neighbors let me in," he said.

"Well, who can resist a man with a Christmas tree," Abby joked.

Luka smiled, "Actually, it was another man," he said.

Abby nodded, "That makes me feel so safe," she said sarcastically. She looked over, noticing Luka's good mood, and couldn't help but wonder. "Can I ask you something?" she said as she turned over.

"Yeah," Luka said, looking straight ahead at the road.

"I just noticed that last night and today you've been in a different mood, I mean, not that I'm complaining, I like it, it's just..."

Luka smiled as he interrupted her, "Well, blame Haleh for that," he said.

"What?" Abby asked, confused.

Luka shook his head, "I guess I'm just in the Christmas spirit," he said.

Abby sat back and looked forward. She would have to bake Haleh a cake and built a shrine for Christmas.



Dave whistled to the tune of Jingle Bell Rock as he tossed Randi a couple of papers and pushed the door to the lounge open. "Hey, Chief!" he said merrily as he walked in.

Kerry looked over her glasses and turned to her locker, "Morning, Malucci," she said. "I hope you're excited about work today, because I'm not in the mood to call your attention twice," she muttered.

"Don't worry, Chief, I'll be pulling out patients out of my ass," Dave said as he got ready for work.

"Just see some patients, Malucci," Kerry said as she walked out of the room.

Dave looked at her as she walked out. Normally he would mock her behind her back, but today he was in a good mood, and he wasn't gonna let Kerry ruin that.

"Morning, Dave," Abby said as she walked into the lounge, followed by Luka.

Dave looked at them and smiled, "Hi, beautiful. You're looking sexier than ever today," he said and winked devilishly.

"Aw, thanks, Dave," Luka said, pretending to blush.

Abby laughed, but Dave did so sarcastically. "Anyway, what are you guys doing for Christmas?" he asked but didn't let them answer. "Because this year I'm going all out and I'm throwing a kick ass Christmas party. My parents are out of town, and let me in charge of the house," he finished and gave them a flyer.

Abby took one and analyzed it carefully, "Thanks, Dave. But I don't wanna spend Christmas playing the 12 Shots of Tequila," she said and gave him the flyer back.

"Oh, come on, Abby, we need someone to wear the sexy Mrs. Claus costume and hand out the condoms," Dave said.

Both Luka and Abby gave him an annoying look.

"I'm just kidding," he said and began to walk out of the lounge. "Just stop by, 5 minutes and I promise you'll wanna stay," he said and walked out.

Luka and Abby looked at each other and Luka spoke, "You're not really going..."

"Not in this lifetime," Abby interrupted him.

"Oh, good," Luka breathed and took off his coat to put it in the locker.

Abby looked his way, "Why?"

Luka shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know. What are you doing for Christmas?"

"I was gonna ask Haleh to give me the night shift," she said as she put her coat inside. "So I guess that means I don't have any plans."

"You're working on Christmas?" Luka asked incredulously.

"Yeah, I do it every year," she said. Luka gave her a look and she tilted her head, as if he didn't do that himself. "What? It's not that bad, there's barely any patients and they have Christmas cookies up in the Atrium," she said defensively.

"Wow, Christmas cookies, that's well worth pulling a 12 hour shift on the happiest day of the year," Luka said sarcastically and leaned on his locker.

"What are you doing?" Abby asked.

"I don't know, that's why I'm trying to talk you out of working," he said with a smile.

Abby shook her head and smiled, "We'll see," she said and closed her locker. The door opened again and in walked Carter. Abby looked at him and smiled, "Morning, Carter," she said and walked out of the room.

"Hey," Carter said as she walked out and looked at Luka. "Morning."

"Hey, Carter," Luka said and tapped his locker door.

"Nice tie," Carter commented.

Luka smiled and stroked his own tie. "Hey," he said and got serious. "How's Abby about her mother?" he suddenly asked.

"Oh, you know," Carter said as he inspected his lab coat to see if it was dirty. "How would you be if your mother was crazy and you had to raise yourself?" he asked and put his lab coat on.

"Yeah," Luka said.

"I mean, I don't know, actually. She just said she's used to it," Carter added and looked at Luka, who seemed lost in thought. Carter looked at a piece of paper on the floor and picked it up. "Malucci's throwing a party?" he asked in awe.

"The Winter Wonderbash," Luka said with a smile.

"Well, now I know what I WON'T be doing on Christmas," Carter said and threw the paper on the trash can.

Luka smirked and walked towards the door. "See you later, Carter."

"Luka," Kerry said as she walked towards him and sort of jumped back when she saw him smiling broadly, "Uh, um, we have a trauma coming in," she said. "5 minutes."

"Thanks, Kerry," Luka said with a smile. He grabbed a box of gloves from the desk and walked out. "Good morning, Haleh, how is your holiday season going?" he asked happily as he stepped out and stood next to the nurse.

Haleh looked at him awkwardly and looked straight into the ambulance bay, "Fake smiles are even worse than a brooding face," she commented.

"This isn't a fake smile, Haleh," Luka said as he paraded in front of her.

"Now you're not sad, that's just pathetic," Haleh said with attitude.

Luka laughed as the ambulance neared. He approached it with Haleh, and Doris walked out.

"62 year old female, fell from a chair, no LOC, BP is 79/50, pulse 120," she said as they wheeled the woman in.

"Ok, ma'am, can you tell me what happened?" Luka asked.

"I just wanted to put the angel on the Christmas tree and I fell down, I'm ok," the woman said lucidly.

"Do you have any pain?" Luka asked as they walked into trauma 1.



Luka approached the front desk, more than ready to clock out and to put a chart back on the rack. Randi was playing Duke Nukem on the computer, and he flinched at all the blood, and at how she smiled every time she knocked someone's head off. He signed his name out and walked into the lounge. "Hey, are you ready?" he asked Abby, who was looking through her locker.

"Have you seen my watch?" she asked him. "It's plastic, creme, kinda big?"

"No, sorry," he said as he opened his locker.

Abby shook her head, "Can't even have a cheap watch without having it stolen," she protested to herself.

Luka smiled, "Where are we going to buy the Christmas lights?" he asked her.

Abby sniffed and cleared her throat, "I think there's a Christmas shop at the mall."

"There's a mall?" Luka asked.

Abby gave him an incredulous look, "Where do you do your shopping?"

Luka turned to her, "I don't have to, I live in a hotel, remember?" he said and tapped her nose with his finger.

Abby shook her head, "Are you sure you're not on smack or something?" she said and Luka smirked. Abby finished putting on her coat and turned to him, "I'm done here then," she said but Luka just stared at her. "What?" she asked with a chuckle of confusion.

Luka smiled bashfully but then turned serious and cupped her face with his hands, leaned in slowly and his lips played with hers for a while before he kissed her more definable, his fingers playing with her hair.

"Hey, hey, hey! People eat in here," Dave said as he walked in.

Luka pulled away and smiled nervously.

Dave walked to his locker and turned to Abby, "Ok, Abby, last chance, I'll give you a tray, a French maid uniform and all you have to do is pass out beer."

"I said no, Dave," Abby said, annoyed and walked off.

"A Spanish maid uniform!" Dave called out to her.

"Cut it out, Dave," Luka said seriously and walked out. Once out of the hospital, he caught up with Abby and grabbed her hand. He looked up, "I think it's going to snow," he said.

Abby turned to him, "How do you know?"

"I can smell it," he said.

Abby nodded, "Can you smell a raise in my future?" she asked jokingly.

"No, but I can smell peace, love and a pepperoni pizza tonight," he said with a smile as they reached his car. A couple of minutes later, they pulled on to the parking lot of the mall.

Abby looked around as they walked in, "I haven't been in a mall in ages," she said.

"Don't you like shopping?" Luka asked as he held her hand and looked at her briefly.

"Not really, I'm too short, so everything's always too big or long, I hate it," she protested. "My mom used to sew my clothes, because even when I was little I was too little." She thought for a moment, "When she was normal, that is," she added.

Luka looked her way, and caught a glimpse of regret on her face, but before he could ask anything, she pointed to a Christmas shop in front of them. They walked in and Luka was immediately overwhelmed by Christmas music, pine smell, Christmas toys, ornaments, lights, Christmas signs, and decorations. "Wow," he said in awe and turned to Abby, "I don't know where to start," he exclaimed.

Abby bit her lower lip and looked around, "Let's get some lights," she said, pointing to the first isle.

"Ok," Luka said and followed her. "White?" he said as he held a pack up.

Abby shook her head, "No way, I hate Martha Stewart Christmas. Christmas is supposed colorful," she said as she picked some lights and put them in a basket. She spotted a Santa Claus hat and put it on. "I think two sets are enough," she added.

"Are you sure?" Luka asked, smiling at the hat she was wearing.

"Yeah, I don't have to decorate the outside or anything," she said and walked to the next isle, where the ornaments were."Ok, since you bought the tree, I'm gonna let you pick the ornaments," she said to Luka.

Luka looked around, confused for a second and then picked up some tinsel and some crystal balls. He turned to Abby, "I don't know, Abby," he said with a chuckle.

Abby smiled, "Ok, how about some, um, elves, and these little musical instruments and a mantle for the bottom," she said and looked around. Her eyes widened, "Oh, look at that angel," she exclaimed as she pointed up.

"Do you want it?" Luka asked.

Abby looked up, the movable angel had candles on each hand and was dressed in a gorgeous velvet robe. It was up in a shelve, but Abby caught a glimpse of the price. She turned around, "Never mind," she said to Luka.

Luka frowned, "No, if you want it, let's get it," he said.

"No, we can just put a star on it or something," she insisted.

"Oh, come on, Abby," Luka said and reached for a box.

Abby shook her head, if she was going to buy something that expensive, it would sure last for at least 55 years.

Luka walked down other isles, even though they were already done. He felt like he had been bitten by the Christmas bug all of a sudden, and for once wished he had a house so he could buy all these feisty decorations. He saw a Santa Claus costume and held it in front of him, then turned to Abby. "Abby, will you still date me if I grew a white beard and put on 200 pounds?" he asked with a smile.

Abby looked at him seriously. "No," she said jokingly.

Luka chuckled, "Thanks," he said and put the costume back as Abby looked at a train which was running around a sample Christmas tree. If this wasn't the happiest store on earth, then the world didn't make sense to him at all. He reached for the bottom of a shelve and grabbed a stand for the tree, then met Abby. "I think we're done here," he said.

"Ok, let's go," Abby said and walked to the register. It took them a while to get to the front, and once they did, they were met by an unenthusiastic cashier.

"Welcome to the Christmas shop, where we're crazy about Christmas," she said in a monotone voice, Luka gave Abby a look. "Would you like to apply for a Jolly Card, and get discounts on your next purchases?"

"No thanks," Abby said.

The casher kept scanning the items until there were none left, she looked at Abby. "That too?" she asked.

Abby looked at her, confused, "What."

The casher pointed to the Santa hat Abby was wearing.

"Oh!" Abby said as she took it off, "N..."

"Yeah," Luka said and gave it to the cashier. He turned to Abby, who was giving him a weird look. "You look nice in it," he said.

"145.95," the cashier mumbled.

Abby wrinkled her nose and reached for her purse.

"Oh, Abby, can you go get me that Christmas sign? I'll hold the line," Luka said and guided her off.

Abby looked around, "Which one?"

"The one in the back," Luka said and once she was off, he took out the credit card and paid the bill.

Abby came back with a Merry Christmas sign, "This one?" she asked.

Luka looked at her, "Ah, I changed my mind," he said and put it away.

"Have a very merry Christmas," the cashier said and gave them the bag.

Abby looked at her and then at Luka.

"Come on, Abby, let's decorate the tree," he said before she could protest and dragged her away.

"I can afford my own shopping, Luka," she said as they walked out of the store.

"Hmm," Luka mumbled as he looked around.

"That's not funny," Abby said and continued to argue her case.

Luka rolled his eyes and then widened them. "Look, Abby, it's Santa Claus."

"Don't change the subject," she scolded.

"No, it really is Santa Claus," Luka said with a laugh, pointing at a man with a kid on his lap.

"So?" Abby said.

"Wanna get a picture?" Luka asked like a kid.

"You're kidding me, right?" Abby said in disbelief.

"No, come on, there's no one in line," Luka said.

"Look, I know you're very excited about your "new you", but I think this borders on mental disorder," Abby said but it was too late, since Luka was already paying for the picture.

"Oh, this is so embarrassing," Abby said as she looked around.

Luka smiled, "Come on, Abby, it's Christmas," he pleaded and guided her into the picture area.

"That's the same phrase that got me in jail when I was 19," she said.

Luka turned to her, "You were in jail?"

"Long story," she said.

"Next?" Santa Claus said and watched wearily as Luka and Abby approached. "Aren't youtwo a little old for this?" the man asked in his normal voice.

"Just smile and let's get this over with," Abby said to the man as she sat on his lap. Abby looked up at Luka, who was just standing next to the chair, "No, no, no, it was your idea to do this, you get to sit on his lap too," she said.

Luka shook his head playfully and sat on the man's other thigh.

"Ok," an elf called out. "Everyone say Merry Christmas!" she said as she stood behind the camera.

"Merry Christmas," the three of them said, some more enthusiastic than others.

Luka stood up and the Santa turned to Abby, "You know, I know some Santas go by the rules, but I'm actually very giving to naughty girls too," he said suggestively.

"Hey, watch it!" Luka thundered as he grabbed Abby and walked to the casher, throwing mean looks at the Santa Claus, who was drinking a shot from a small bottle.

"Ok, here you go, one for mom, one for dad, and another one for gramma," the elf said and gave them three pictures.

"Thanks," Luka said and looked over them, "Not bad," he said and showed them to Abby.

"Yeah, except for the Santa Claus' hand on my ass, it was a magical experience," she said sarcastically.

Luka laughed, "I'm sorry. Let's go to the mall management and get him fired," he said devilishly.

Abby smiled, "Tis' the season."



Continued on next post...