TITLE: Two's Company part 2/?
AUTHOR: Ceindreadh
EMAIL: cein@eircom.net
CATEGORY: romance/angst
WARNING: none
PAIRING: LKo/CM (created character)
RATING: NC-15
SPOILERS: last relevent episode was 'Mayday'
ARCHIVE: yes
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.

-----------------

Sequel to 'A Very Odd Couple'

Cast of Characters - Dave Malucci, Luka Kovac, Chris Malucci (Dave's
youngest sister), Real Kerry.

Previously on ER.
Dave moved in with Luka and they became good friends.
After Dave was attacked, his sister Chris met Luka and they became even
better friends
;-)
Chris came to visit Luka after being attacked by a patient at work.  Dave -
at Chris's request - made the excuse that he had to return some journals to
Kerry and left them alone together.
Notes - I had called Luka's wife 'Maria' in the previous series before we
found out her real name.  I'm not changing it *now* <g>

---------------------------

 "Anyway...that's enough about that," said Chris, quickly.   "I...my boss was
talking to risk management a few weeks ago.  Apparently some woman tried to
sue the hospital...said she was given an x-ray and it turned out she'd been
pregnant at the time.  Anyway, we've started dipping a urine on all female
patients between ten and fifty before sending them for x-rays...unless it's
an emergency and we can't wait."

"That sounds like a good idea," said Luka, holding another plate under the
tap.  "In fact, I might suggest to Kerry that we do something like that at
County."

"It's just as well they did," said Chris, her voice starting to shake
slightly.  "Because mine turned up positive..."

The plate shattered on the floor.

-----------------------

Dave carefully affixed the U-lock to his bike, securing it tightly to the
County General bicycle rack.

After several months of busses and walking, he had woken up on Christmas
morning to find a brightly wrapped front wheel under the tree...a joint
present from his sisters.  Chris had teased him by saying that if he was
good he'd get the rest of the bike, a piece at a time for his next few
birthday's and Christmases.  A few well-aimed cushions had 'encouraged' her
to admit that the rest of the bike was waiting for him in the trunk of
Luka's car, as it was too large to fit under the tree.

Luka had given him a top of the line helmet to go with the bike, and had
told him that he would be very disappointed if he felt that Dave did not
fully 'appreciate' his gift.

Chris had been less subtle...telling him that if she ever caught him riding
the bike without wearing the helmet, then she'd take a hacksaw to it.  She
*had* been smiling when she'd said this...but Dave knew that she was capable
of carrying out her threat.

So he made sure he was always wearing the helmet.  Of course he hid it in
his backpack before entering the ER...a guy had to keep up his reputation
*somehow*.

"Dr. Dave?" said Yosh in surprise, seeing him walk up to admit.  "I didn't
think you were on tonight."

"I'm not," replied Dave.  "But my sister's in town...and you know what they
say about 'three's a crowd."  He grinned.  "Anyway, I told them I had to
drop some journals back to the Chief.  So is Ke...Dr. Weaver around?"

"I think she's just getting ready to leave," said Carter, lifting his head
from his bundle of charts.

 "Hey, you want to catch a movie or something?" asked Dave, hopefully.
"Cause I can't go back to the house for a couple of hours yet."

Carter shook his head.  "Not tonight Dave, I'm on for another three hours."

"Oh," said Dave.  "Randi?  What about you?"

Randi raised an eyebrow, "I'm painting my nails," she said dryly.

"Ooh, I can't bear all this rejection," said Dave, grinning.  "I'm going to
find the Chief."

"Maybe you'll have better luck with her," smirked Carter.

Dave stuck his tongue out at him before moving away towards the Lounge.

"Yo Chief," he said, sticking his head round the door.

"Dave," said Kerry, in surprise as she pulled her coat around here.   "What
are you doing here?"

"Got kicked out of the house," grinned Dave.  "Chris obviously wants Luka
all to herself for an evening.  So I thought I'd drop you back these."  He
held up the journals.

"I trust you found them interesting," said Kerry, with a wry smile.

Dave grimaced slightly.  "You want to drop them in your locker?" he asked.

Kerry shook her head, "No, I'll take them home with me.  Just in case I ever
have trouble sleeping," she added with a wry smile.  Taking the journals,
she squeezed them into a heavily packed bag, before sliding it onto her
shoulder, grimacing slightly at the weight.

"Here, let me carry it," said Dave, automatically reaching out for it.

"It's okay," said Kerry.  "I only have to go as far as my car."

"I insist," said Dave, with a grin on his face.  "I mean I'm the one who
weighed you down with all the journals and stuff."

Kerry shrugged, then handed him the bag.  "Thanks Dave."

"Whoa, whaddya got in here, rocks?"

"Just some body parts that I 'borrowed' from the morgue," said Kerry, with a
deadpan expression on her face.

Dave did a double take before realizing she was joking.  "Cute," he said, as
he slung the bag over his shoulder.

----------------------

Luka turned slowly around and stared at Chris.  "Chris?  You are pregnant?
You...*we* are going to have a baby?"  His face was a mixture of shock and
delight.  "This...this is wonderful.  Why did you not say something earlier?
Have you had a scan yet?  When are you due?"  He was still mechanically
making drying motions with the towel.

Chris took a deep breath, "Luka...sit down...we...we need to talk about
this."

"But of course," said Luka, dropping the towel and sitting down opposite
Chris.  He took her hands in his.  "There is so much to discuss...to
arrange.  Have you seen an OB yet?  I can arrange for one of the Doctor's at
County to see you, if you wish.  Or perhaps you would prefer to see one of
your own colleagues.  I do not mind traveling to Milwaukee for the
appointment."

"Luka, please listen to me...," began Chris, but Luka was wrapped up in his
plans.

"And for the birth..."

Chris wrenched her hands free from Luka.  "There may not be a birth," she
said.  "I...I don't even know if I want to have this baby."

Luka sat there, the smile fading from his face.  "Chris...you...you cannot
be serious...this is a life...a human life, you cannot simply put it back
because you do not 'want' it."  He reached out to her, but she flinched
away.

"I'm sorry...I'm sorry...I just *can't*," whispered Chris as she pushed away
from the table and ran for the door, barely able to see it through the tears
which were forming in her eyes.

---------------------------

Dave loaded Kerry's bags into the back of her car.

"So where are you heading for the remainder of your 'exile'?" she asked him,
as she sat into the drivers seat.

Dave shrugged.  "Dunno.  Was gonna go to the movies, maybe grab a beer or
two."  The thought of killing time on his own, didn't really appeal to him.
Before he could think twice, he said, "Don't suppose you'd be interested?"

Kerry blinked in surprise.  "Oh...well, actually I *had* planned..."

Dave interrupted her, "It's okay, guess you've got better things to do than
hang around with the likes of me."  He was surprised by how dejected his
voice sounded.

"Don't you start pulling that self-pity crap with *me*," warned Kerry.   "I
was going to say that I had planned to do my months grocery shopping this
evening.  So if you're really bored, you can come along and push the cart
for me.  Okay?"

"Okay," grinned Dave.

-----------------------------

Luka sat at the table, momentarily stunned by Chris's reactions.  How could
she even *think* of not having this child...*his* child.  Surely she wasn't
serious...maybe she just needed a little time to get used to the idea of it
all.  That was it, she was just nervous about it all.  Maria had been the
same when she found out she was pregnant with Jasna...and at least Chris
hadn't started throwing things at him.  No, all she needed was some love and
reassurance that this was a *good* thing to have happened.

Pushing himself up from the table, he followed her out to the hall.

Chris was pulling on her coat.  "Don't," she said, as he reached out to her.
"Please...just let me go.  I shouldn't have come here...I shouldn't have
told you.  I should have just 'dealt with it' myself."  She turned away from
him and moved towards the door.

Luka intercepted her, and blocked her way.  "I am not letting you just walk
out like this.  How can you just tell me I am going to be a father, and then
say that I am not?  Please Chris...don't go.  At least *talk* to
me...explain why you feel you cannot go through with this."

Chris didn't look at Luka, but she didn't try to get past him.  Luka
continued, "I know that there are many reasons why you might wish for this
not to be...but there are so many many reasons why it *should* be.  At least
give me a chance to show you them."  He carefully reached out and raised
Chris's head so she was looking him in the eye.  "Talk to me, my love.
Whatever is troubling you about this...this gift, please let me help you."

Chris's eyes were swimming in tears as she allowed Luka to pull her towards
him.  Letting her head rest against his chest, she whispered, "I...I'm
scared."

Luka wrapped his arms around her and gently stroked her hair.  "I know," he
said softly, dropping a kiss on the top of her head.  "I know."

---------------------

To be continued

Ceindreadh