Previously on ER.
Dave was attacked on his way home from work. As well as the physical injuries he suffered as a result, he also started having nightmares. Luka (who Dave was renting a room from) and Chris, Dave's sister, did their best to help him. Dave was finally released from hospital into Luka's care. However, on the way home he was unsettled by the sight of the alley where he had been attacked. The day afterwards, Kerry paid a visit to the house, soon after Dave, Luka and Chris had been involved in a water fight. On the pretence of needing to prepare dinner, Luka and Chris left Dave and Kerry alone to talk.
Note: In this fic (which was started June 2000 and therefore ignores most of season 7) the only people officially aware of Carter's addiction are the people involved in the intervention, Abby, Luka and the other ER attendings.
"Time and talking about it...that's what's going to make the difference." Kerry paused before saying. "I hope you know that if you ever need someone to talk to...I'm only a phone call away."
Dave smiled. "Thanks Chief...it...it's good to know that I've got friends and family looking out for me...Thank you."
Kerry looked searchingly at Dave, "Is there something else bothering you?" she asked, frowning slightly.
Dave shifted uneasily on the couch. "It...it's nothing really..."
"But?" prompted Kerry. "Are you still having nightmares?"
"No..." said Dave, shaking his head. "It's not that...it's just..." he sighed heavily, before continuing. "I...I just sort of figured that once I got out of hospital...once I got home...you know, that everything would be all right...that things would get back to normal..." Dave bit his lip and looked away.
"But they haven't, have they?" asked Kerry gently.
Dave shook his head. "The other day...when Luka brought me home...we stopped...we stopped in front of the alley...where it...where it happened. He didn't realize...he didn't mean to...but for a minute...it was like I was back there again...lying on the ground...feeling the kicks...hearing...hearing them laughing at me."
"Oh Dave," said Kerry softly, seeing the pain in his eyes. "It...it's not surprising that you reacted that way. After what you've been through...the sight of the scene...it's understandable that you'd react badly."
"How do I make it stop?" asked Dave. "How do I get things back to the way they were before? Those bastards...they didn't just take my wallet and bike...they took more than that..." Dave's voice faltered as he continued.
"I...I used to cycle miles to work each day...I'd walk down a dark alley in a rough area without a second thought...now I can't climb the stairs without having to rest half way...I...I jump at sudden noises...last night...I didn't have a nightmare...but I woke up in the dark...and I had to leave the light on...in case I woke up again...and I hate it...I hate feeling this way...it's pathetic...I'm pathetic..."
"You're not pathetic," said Kerry firmly. Moving over to the couch, she put her arm around Dave and squeezed his good hand. "You are recovering from a serious traumatic event. I know this is a cliché, but time does heal all wounds. Your injuries will heal...they *are* healing. It's going to take time and you're going to have to work hard to regain the level of fitness you were at before this happened...but I know that you can do it."
Kerry paused before continuing. "As for the rest...I wish that I could say that it was going to be as straightforward." Kerry thought for a moment. "Have you spoken to Nina about this? Maybe she can prescribe you something..."
"No," said Dave, so vehemently that Kerry looked at him in surprise. "No more drugs...I...I'm already on enough to set up my own pharmacy...I...I don't want any more...I need to deal with this without pills...I don't want to end up like Car..." He shut his mouth firmly as he pulled away from her.
"How did you...no...never mind," said Kerry. She wasn't really surprised that Dave had somehow found out about Carter's addiction. "Dave, your situation and John's are totally different. But I won't pressure you into taking anything that you don't want to."
Dave sighed, "I'll be okay...I...this is just a bad day...tomorrow...maybe tomorrow will be better..."
Kerry sighed. "Psychological traumas are often a lot harder to deal with than physical ones." She put her arm around Dave again and pulled him close to her. "All I can promise you is that you won't have to face it alone...you have a lot of people who care about you and want to help you recover. Luka, Chris, me...all your friends, family, colleagues...we all want to see you get better...both physically and emotionally...it may be a long and difficult road...but we'll get you through it."
"I...I know," said Dave, softly as Kerry gently stroked his hair. "I know...but what I don't know is where I go from here?"
Meanwhile, Chris and Luka were in the kitchen preparing the dinner.
"You should chop the onion a little finer," said Luka as he looked over Chris's shoulder.
Chris rolled her eyes. She was sorely tempted to shove the onion somewhere where it wouldn't be of any use for the dinner...but she nobly resisted the temptation. After all, this was Luka's kitchen...and it was his choice how to prepare the dinner...so if he wanted the onions cut to exact proportions...well she was just going to have to do it.
Sighing, she wiped a tear from her eyes and resumed chopping.
"So, what do you think they're talking about in there?" asked Chris.
"Dave and Kerry? I do not know...but whatever it is, I am sure that Dave will benefit from their conversation."
"Dave's spoken a lot about her...she's been a big influence on him since he came to Chicago," said Chris, as she concentrated on slicing the onions.
"I have always thought that Kerry had a...what is the phrase, 'soft spot' for your brother," observed Luka.
"Yeah?" said Chris, looking up in surprise. Her moment's lack of concentration brought the knife sliding across her finger instead of the onion.
The resulting yelp of pain brought Luka quickly to her side. He quickly hurried her over to the sink and washed the blood off her fingers before examining them carefully.
"It does not look too bad," he said after checking the injury. "I do not think you'll need sutures."
"You sure?" asked Chris, who was carefully not looking at her hand. "Cause it hurts like hell."
"See for yourself," said Luka, as he kept up a steady pressure on the wound.
Chris looked at her hand, just as a trickle of blood escaped from the cut. Closing her eyes, her knees buckled and Luka had to catch her.
Lowering her gently to a stool, he pushed her hair back from her face and said, "Chris? Are you all right?" The concern in his voice was evident.
"Shit shit shit," swore Chris. "I'm fine...it was just the sight of blood...I'm an idiot, I know. I work on patients all day every day...the gorier the better...but one drop of my own blood...and I'm out like a light."
Luka tried unsuccessfully to avoid smiling. "Well you just sit there and don't look at it." Grabbing an unused dishcloth, he wrapped it round Chris's fingers. "Keep applying pressure. I will get the first aid kit."
Returning a few minutes later, he deftly cleaned and dressed the wound. Chris kept her eyes shut throughout the procedure. Finally Luka finished and disposed carefully of the bloodstained cloths and pads that he had used.
Sitting back down in front of Chris, he took a last look at the dressing and nodded approvingly. "Okay, you can open your eyes now," he said with a smile.
Chris smiled ruefully as she looked at the neat dressing. "Thanks Luka," she said. "Man...I feel like such an idiot...I mean it was only a minor lac...hardly any blood..."
"There does not have to be a lot of blood to affect some people," said Luka reassuringly. "Especially when it is their own blood. How does it feel now?"
Chris made a face. "It's a little sore," she said.
"Hmm, perhaps I should kiss it better," said Luka, jokingly as he took her hand.
"Maybe you should," said Chris, as she looked him straight in the eye.
Luka wasn't really sure why he did it, but he found himself raising Chris's fingers to his mouth and brushing them gently with his lips. Looking at her face, he was relieved to see a smile on her face. "Is that better?" he asked softly.
"Much better," replied Chris equally softly.
"And is there any other part of you that is sore?"
Chris smiled at Luka before touching her lips. "Well...these do seem to be a little tender..."
Luka leaned forward slowly and gently brushed his lips against hers. Chris sighed contentedly as he slid his arms around her waist. When their lips parted, Chris said, "Um Luka...I think I should tell you...I didn't really feel faint when I saw my blood...I...I just wanted you to catch me." She frowned as she saw the amused expression on Luka's face.
"I know," said Luka.
"But how?"
"I felt your pulse when I caught you..."
Chris could feel the blush spreading over her face. "Oh crap," she muttered under her breath as Luka chuckled. He gently pushed the hair back from her face and then leaned in to kiss her again. This time the kiss lasted a lot longer. It would have lasted even longer, but Luka suddenly got the smell of burning and jumped up to rescue the frying pan, and for the next few minutes, they were kept busy preparing the meal.
With the last of the pans in the oven and the dishwasher loaded, Luka poured wine for the two of them. "So..." he said, as he raised the glass.
"So?" said Chris.
"So where do we go from here?"
To be continued.