Title: A very odd couple - part 22
Author/pseudonym: ceindreadh
Rating: PG-13
Timeline: Fall 2000
Keywords: Dave & Luka friendship, hurt/comfort and a little romance
Last episode seen: Rampage
Last relevent episode: Mayday
Spoilers: Season 7? What season 7? <g>
Disclaimer: "ER" and all its characters belong to Warner
Bros. No infringement of their copyright is intended. This story
was written for the enjoyment of "ER" fans everywhere, and
may be downloaded for your own pleasure.
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A Very Odd Couple - part 22
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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.
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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.
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To be continued
ceindreadh