Timeline: Spring 2001
Last episode seen: Rescue Me
Last relevent episode: Mayday
Keywords: Dave & Luka, Slash
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.
WARNING this fic is rated NC-17 for scenes of consensual MM slash
This part is also rated for offensive language and comments.
Previously on ER
Dave got bitten by a patient and was freaking out about the possibility that he could be infected with HIV. Luka did his best to comfort and reassure him, promising to stand by him, no matter what the results were. Once Dave was calmer, Luka went looking for Kerry, to find out what the results were. Kerry told him that she wouldn't be able to give him the results of Dave's tests without express permission from him.
"No you don't," said Kerry. "I can't tell you, because I don't know...Mr. Harris refuses to perform a HIV test. I'm afraid that Dave is just going to have to wait to be given the 'all-clear'."
Luka stared at Kerry in shock. He did not know how Dave would survive the next few months with this hanging over him.
"Can't you persuade him to reconsider...after all, his health could also be at risk?"
Kerry sighed, "I did what I could to persuade him," she said. "I'm going to talk to him again a little later...maybe when he's had time to think, he'll reconsider...but if he doesn't...I'm afraid that there's not a lot I can do."
Luka was about to say something else when the door opened and Haleh stuck her head in. "Dr. Weaver," she said. "We've got an incoming MVA, one major, two minor."
"Damm," swore Kerry. "Okay, I'll be right with you. Find Carter and Chen."
"Should I get Malucci as well?"
Kerry didn't even hesitate before saying, "No...we can handle it." Haleh nodded and then hurried away. Kerry turned back to Luka. "I'll talk to Harris again. You...you stay with Dave. He's taking it pretty hard."
Luka watched as Kerry limped away towards the trauma room. Quietly he headed for the admit desk.
"Randi, I need to get a few patients charts," he said, nonchalantly. "I'm going to help Dave with some paperwork."
Randi raised an eyebrow but didn't comment as Luka started rummaging through the stack of charts.
Luka pulled out the chart he was looking for, and gave the rest back to Randi. She watched as he walked off down the corridor, and wondered briefly if she should let Dr. Weaver know that Dr. Kovac had taken the chart belonging to the jerk that had bitten Dave...and was now heading for curtain 3 to confront him.
Shrugging, she decided that is was none of her business.
Luka glanced briefly at the chart before walking up to the patient who was no longer in restraints. "Mr. Harris?" he said. "I'm Dr. Kovac...I'd like to have a word with you."
Harris looked at this tall guy who was standing in front of him. "Thought some chick named Weaver was my doctor?"
"Dr. Weaver is busy with a patient," said Luka. "She asked me to take over your treatment," he lied smoothly.
"Yeah? Well, I don't have a problem with that," replied Harris. "To tell you the truth, she gave me the creeps...limping around the place like that."
Luka refrained from commenting. Instead he took another look at the chart. "I see that you are an intravenous drug user," he said casually.
Harris tensed, "Yeah, so? What's it to you anyway?"
"I merely bring it up because it puts you in the 'high risk' category for several infectious diseases. It would be wise if you were tested for Hepatitis and AIDS."
"Hey, I already told that red-headed gimp that I don't need no AIDS test...I'm not a god dammed queer."
"Do you sleep around? Share needles? Because if you do, then it doesn't matter what your sexual preference is...you could still be HIV positive...and you could pass it on to anyone you come in close contact with."
Harris frowned at Luka, "This is all about the guy I bit, right? You don't give a damm about me, you just want to make sure that your precious little doc didn't pick up anything from me...well you can stop worrying...I told you, I ain't gay, so I don't have any of their diseases." Harris stopped as he saw the expression on Luka's face at the mention of Dave.
"We are concerned about your health as well," said Luka, trying not to lose his temper.
"Yeah right," sneered Harris. "If I hadn't a bit him you wouldn't be acting so concerned for my health. It was his own dammed fault anyway...if he hadn't been hurting me...trying to strap me down...I wouldn't have had to bite him..."
"It'd serve him right if I did have something contagious," muttered Harris angrily. Looking up, he caught a flash of anger in Luka's eyes. "Just why the hell are you so concerned?" he asked suspiciously.
"Da...Dr. Malucci is a colleague of mine...and a friend," said Luka, in as neutral a voice as he could muster.
"Yeah right," scoffed Harris, "I'll bet the two of you are 'friends'..." his voice trailed off as he saw the expression on Luka's face. "Shit...you and he...oh fuck...you're a pair of god dammed queers," he said, a look of disgust appearing on his face. "You just stay away from me, okay. I'm straight...you just get the hell away from me."
Luka looked at the man who was frantically pushing at the call button. "Look, all I want to do is persuade you to reconsider getting tested...you could be HIV positive and not even know it...one simple test...it would be to your benefit..."
"Get away from me or I'll break your other arm," said Harris.
Luka was about to say something when the door opened and Yosh walked in. "Is there a problem here, Dr. Kovac?" he asked.
"Dammed right there's a problem," snapped Harris, "And he's it...I want him out of here...now...I don't want no fucking fairy in the same room as me..."
Yosh raised an eyebrow to Luka, who shrugged and said, "I will leave...but I want to ask you one more time to reconsider...please..."
"Just get out," yelled Harris.
Luka bit back an angry retort. He turned and was heading out of the room when he heard Harris yell at Yosh, "And get me the boss around here, I want to make a complaint."
"Oh shit," thought Luka, as he made his way to the lounge. "Kerry is going to be pissed."
"You asked to see me, Mr. Harris?" asked Kerry tiredly.
"Damm right I did," snapped Harris. "I want to complain about one of your so-called 'doctors'...some foreign guy...got his arm in a sling...gave me a hard time."
"Oh God," thought Kerry. "I should have known that Luka wouldn't give up on this."
Out loud, she said, "What do want to complain about?"
"He barges in here and starts going on at me about how I have to get tested...just so his 'boyfriend' can put his mind at ease," sneered Harris.
"If Dr. Kovac wanted you to be tested, then it was for your benefit as well as Dr. Malucci's," said Kerry patiently. "Any sexually active person is at risk...no matter what their sexual preference."
"Yeah well...about that test...I've changed my mind...I want to take it..."
Kerry looked at Harris in surprise, "You do?"
"Too right I do," snapped Harris. "And not cause of anything that that guy said...but God knows what I could have caught from biting that little pervert."
Kerry's face hardened at Harris's comment, but she kept her voice neutral. After all, the important thing was that Harris was agreeing to be tested. The reason for his change of heart didn't matter. "I see," she said. "Well, I'll send a nurse in to draw some blood."
"Yeah, well hurry up with it...the sooner I get out of this godforsaken place, the better."
"My sentiments exactly," thought Kerry. Out loud, she said, "We'll get the tests run as quickly as possible." Turning, she limped out of the room. Once safely in the corridor, she leaned against the wall and closed her eyes.
"You okay Dr. Weaver?"
Kerry opened her eyes to see Haleh standing in front of her. "I'm fine," she said. "Could you draw some more blood from Mr. Harris, please. Send it down to the lab for HIV testing."
"You mean that bastard finally changed his mind?" blurted out Haleh.
Kerry nodded. "And you needn't be too gentle with him," she said as she headed for the Lounge, and her confrontation with Luka.
"Hey," said Dave, as Luka opened the door to the Lounge. "Where've you been?"
"I...I went to talk to Mr. Harris," said Luka as he sat down beside Dave on the couch. He could see Dave's expression change to one of hope. "I...I wanted to try and persuade him to get tested. I...I am sorry Dave...he would not listen." Luka sighed. "I thought that once he heard the risks...that he would agree...I am sorry..."
"It...it's okay, Luka," said Dave, putting his arm around Luka. "I...I guess I'll just have to wait...I...I'll be okay..."
"We will be okay," said Luka, correcting him. "We are in this together...for better or for worse..."
"In sickness and in health?" said Dave, with a wry smile.
Luka sat up straight and looked at Dave. "Yes," he said, an idea forming in his head. "That is what I want...is...is that what you want?"
"What are you saying Luka?" asked Dave, slightly puzzled.
Luka pushed himself up off the couch and pulled Dave to his feet. Dave watched in confusion as Luka sank to his knees in front of him. "Um Luka," he said, "I...I don't think this is the best time or place...I mean apart from the fact that someone could walk in...I...I don't want to risk you..."
"Shhh," said Luka, as he took Dave's hands in his. "Dave. I...I know that we are not the most 'conventional' of couples...and I know that we can't do this in the same manner as a man and woman...but...will...will you marry me?"
To be continued.
--
ceindreadh
"i have never understood why it is necessary to become irrational in order to prove that you care, or why it should be necessary to prove it at all"
Kerr Avon