Previously on ER
A grateful (and rich) patient invited some of the ER doctors on an all-expenses paid trip to Ireland to attend a conference in Galway. Arriving in Dublin they discovered that they had to drive themselves to Galway. A flat tire forced them to stay overnight in Birr (a small town in the middle of Ireland). Kerry and Luka went to a concert, but Luka was too much of a gentleman for Kerry's liking. Meanwhile, Dave and Carter got chased out a pub (ruining Carter's last suit) after Dave tried out a few Irish phrases he had learned.
Kerry yawned, as she got ready for bed. Maybe it had been a good thing that Luka hadn't accepted her offer of a nightcap. After all it had been a long day. Sighing, she slipped beneath the bedclothes and was soon asleep.
"Kerry," said Luka as he slipped in beside her. "I am sorry I did not say yes earlier. Am I too late?"
A little voice at the back of Kerry's mind told her, "you're only dreaming. He's not really there." Another little voice was saying, "So what. It's as close as I've gotten all year, now shut up and stop annoying me."
"Oh yes," she moaned in her sleep.
Meanwhile back in his room, Luka was trying to mediate between Carter and Dave.
"C'mon Carter, switch the light off. I'm trying to sleep," moaned Dave. Actually he didn't want to sleep, but he wanted Luka and Carter to go to sleep.
"Just a few more pages," said Carter. "This is really good."
"Luka," said Dave plaintively.
Luka sat up in the bed growling under his breath. Grabbing Carter's copy of
'Tara Road', he threw it into the corner of the room. "Now," he growled. "Turn off the lights, and I don't want to hear another word out of either of you until morning. Understood?"
"Yes Luka." "Yes Luka," said Carter and Dave simultaneously.
Carter turned out the lights. "Goodnight Luka. Goodnight Dave."
"Goodnight Carter. Goodnight Dave," said Luka.
"Goodnight John-Boy," said Dave. "Ow," he said in a muffled voice as Luka's pillow hit him in the face.
In spite of his efforts, Dave fell asleep. Waking a few hours later, he debated whether or not to carry out his original scheme for embarrassing Luka and Carter. After all, he was nice and comfortable. Well almost comfortable. Ah screw it. Why should they enjoy the double bed, when he was curled up on the tiny folding bed that creaked every time he moved? Carefully using the sound of Carter's snores as cover he crawled out of his bed and carefully rummaged in his bag for his camera. He congratulated himself on his foresight in bringing the small pencil torch that he now switched on. Not that he had had this scenario in mind when he had packed it.
He hoped that the flash wouldn't wake either Carter or Luka. Thinking quickly, he aimed the camera at the bed, took a quick picture and then hopped back into his bed. Pulling the covers up, he held his breath waiting to hear if either of his roommates were waking up.
After a few minutes had passed he guessed that neither were going to wake. Grinning, he walked over to the bed. Luka had fallen asleep with his arms stretched out above his head. Carter was curled up on his side. It only took a minute for Dave to roll Carter over closer to Luka and move Luka's arm around Carter. Quickly he took the photo.
Dave was about to reposition them for another photo, when Luka stirred in his sleep, put his other arm around Carter pulling him closer. Dave stifled a laugh. Man there was going to be some fun when the pair woke up next morning.
He resisted the temptation to reposition them and contented himself with taking another photo. Chuckling to himself he returned to his own bed and settled himself, content with a job well done.
Kerry woke the next morning with a smile on her face and the memories of a very enjoyable dream.
Carter also woke with a smile on his face. It faded as soon as he realized who his sleeping companion was. With a yelp, he tried to push himself away.
Luka awoke from a dream of being chased by a red-haired woman. Feeling a warm body nestled against him, he instinctively pulled it closer to him. Opening his eyes he looked into Carter's face. Swearing in Croatian he pushed Carter away.
"Morning guys," said Dave walking out of the bathroom, toothbrush in hand. "Did you sleep well?"
Luka and Carter eyed Dave suspiciously. He looked at them innocently. "You guys were certainly making a hell of a lot of noise last night. Man I could hardly sleep for the creaking of bedsprings."
Luka tried to regain his composure. It wasn't easy when he was only wearing boxer shorts. "I apologize if I kept you awake Dave. I did not realize how noisy this bed was."
"Hey, no sweat. Actually it was the talking that annoyed me more."
"Talking?" said Carter. "Uh, which of us was it?"
"Yes," said Luka, "and what were we saying?"
"Well it was very muffled, so I couldn't tell which of you it was. But it sounded very romantic."
Luka and Carter looked at each other, and moved a bit further away.
Dave turned and went back into the bathroom to finish brushing his teeth. Man, the look on their faces. Just a pity he hadn't had the camera handy. Oh well, maybe next time.
Breakfast that morning was a rather subdued affair. Kerry would have commented on the fact that Carter and Luka seemed to be treading on eggshells around each other, but she was too wrapped up in the memories of her dreams. If Luka was even half as competent in real life as in her imagination...
"So John," said Kerry. "Dave told me you got into Luka's pants?"
Luka choked on his tea. Carter spluttered his all over the table. Dave sat back looking smug.
Kerry continued, "You know you really should have brought some casual clothes with you. After all we're not going to be at the conference the whole time."
After breakfast, they replaced the now mended tire, and set off again for Galway. It was now Dave's turn to drive. Before leaving, Kerry had bought a map, and received detailed directions from the receptionist.
"We should be in Galway before lunch," she said as she strapped herself into the back of the car beside Carter. She had intended to sit in the front, to make sure that Dave was following the directions correctly, but Luka had insisted that he sit in the front so that he could stretch his legs. "I will make sure we take the correct road," he said firmly as he strapped himself in.
They were on the road less than ten minutes when they saw the hitchhiker.
"Chief," said Dave, "Can we stop and pick him up, please?"
"No," said Kerry, examining her map. "No hitchhikers. We've no room."
"But he has a fridge," protested Dave.
"Sure he does Dave," said Kerry, not looking up. Dave watched the rearview mirror as the hitchhiker disappeared from view. Man, that would have been cool, picking up a guy with a fridge. Sighing he turned back to the road ahead, thinking that at least he wasn't likely to get travel sick while driving.
To be continued
Next week on Road Trip
They finally reach Galway, but nobody warned the Galwegians.
Author's notes
The hitchhiker with the fridge is the star of a (non-fiction) book called 'Around Ireland with a fridge', in which (as a result of a drunken bet), a man hitchhiked around Ireland, accompanied by a small fridge. (honest)
ceindreadh
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'Ford Prefect weaved his way around the hall. There was no one there, but he weaved his way anyway'
- Douglas Adams
'Three marriages and an adventurous girlhood, had left Nanny Ogg with thigh muscles that could crack coconuts'
- Terry Prachett
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