A Test of Love part 7

Luka broke his arm in an accident involving an attempt to race shopping trolleys. The next day, 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. Kerry told Luka that she wouldn't be able to give him the results of Dave's tests without express permission from him. Luka surprised both himself and Dave by proposing to him. He explained to Dave that although they could not legally be married, they could still become each others 'next of kin', which was what he wanted. To Luka's delight, Dave accepted.

Kerry brought them the news that the patient was going to let his blood be tested and 'suggested' that Dave take a few hours off until the results were back. Luka and Dave decided to go shopping for rings. The shopping excursion was spoiled by a bigoted salesman so they decided to head back to County, discussing 'wedding plans' along the way. On the way back they were struck by another car. Paramedics and firemen were quickly on the scene and were able to cut them free.



"Okay Dave, you're coming with us...Dr. Kovac is going with Lewis. But you'll both be at County soon. Okay?" said Pickman.

Dave nodded wearily, barely able to speak. "Pickman...tell Luka...tell him that I love him..." he closed his eyes.

"Funny," said Pickman. "That's just what he told Zadro to tell you." She patted Dave on the shoulder. "I'll tell him...but you can tell him yourself soon enough."



Dave drifted in and out of consciousness as the ambulance headed for County. He was vaguely aware of being wheeled into the ER and moved onto a trauma bed. Every now and then someone would lean in and ask him if he knew his name and where he was. He knew that this was to ensure that he didn't slip into a coma...but all he wanted was to be left alone. The trauma room faded to be replaced by the shiny insides of a CAT scanner. The noise of the scan disturbed Dave slightly, but soon faded away.

Finally Dave was lifted onto another bed and allowed to rest.



It seemed like only a few minutes before he felt someone gently touch his shoulder and say, "Dave? Can you hear me? I want you to tell me your name."

Dave groaned, wondering just when they were going to leave him alone. Without opening his eyes, he said, "My name...it's Dave 'tricky, dangerous, motor repair' Malucci...Dave the magnificent, the one and only, Dr. Studly McStudmuffin, the Italian Stallion...I'm not unconscious, I'm not altered...I'm just tired as hell, so would you kindly piss off and stop bothering me..."

Kerry chuckled softly at Dave's indignant recitation. Looking at Luka who was sitting in a wheelchair the other side of Dave's bed, she said with a smile, "Well, Dr. Kovac...in your *expert* opinion, is the patient coherent? Or should I order another CT scan and a psych consult?"

"Luka!" gasped Dave, opening his eyes and trying to sit up. He groaned as pain shot through his body and the room started spinning. Kerry caught him as he swayed, and lowered him back to the bed.

"Take it easy Malucci," she ordered. "You have a nasty concussion...you're going to be dizzy for a while."

Dave lay back against the bed. Turning his head, he saw Luka smiling down at him. "Luka," he said softly, reaching out to stroke the side of his lover's face. "Are...are you okay?"

Luka caught Dave's hand against his cheek and turned his head to kiss it softly, before saying, "I am fine little one...well, I have a few broken ribs...cuts...bruises...but I am fine..."

"I...I wrecked your car," said Dave, as tears rolled down his cheeks. "And I nearly killed us both...I...I'm so sorry..."

"Hush," said Luka. "You did no such thing...the other driver...he went through a red light...it wasn't your fault...and as for the car...it is nothing more than glass and metal...it can easily be replaced...but you cannot...we are both alive and safe...and that is all that matters."

Kerry busied herself with preparing the suture tray and tried not to listen to the conversation between Luka and Dave. She, like most of the staff, had been unaware of the depths of the feelings that the two had possessed for each other. Luka and Dave had ensured that their relationship at work had always been kept at a professional level...well, as professional as Dave had been capable of. But for the most part they had displayed no obvious signs of their relationship while they had been on duty. The majority of the time they had behaved as friendly co-workers towards each other...at least in public...and nobody had been able to fault their behavior to each other when they worked on patients together. In fact, Kerry was only able to remember one occasion when the pair had given in to their desires while at work.



It had been the end of a long and busy shift. The influx of patients had dried up to almost a trickle and Kerry was finally able to let her tired staff take their long delayed breaks. As usual, about five minutes after Luka had gone on his break, Dave had asked to take his. Sometimes Kerry toyed with him a little, pretending that things were too busy...but that day she hadn't been in the mood and had simply told him to go.

It had been about ten minutes later when she noticed that all the nurses seemed to be making a point of visiting the 'relatives' toilets...the one with the large 'wheelchair accessible' cubicle in the corner. She had gone to investigate, only to find that Luka and Dave had unknowingly gained a large audience for their break-time activities. Kerry had quietly but firmly ordered everyone out, although on reflection, judging by the moans and groans of pleasure coming from the locked cubicle she could have played the Croatian national anthem on a trumpet at full blast and neither of them would have heard her. After the 'audience' had reluctantly left, Kerry was tempted to knock on the cubicle door with her crutch and hurry away, but she had decided against it. After all, she thought, both Dave and Luka had worked extremely hard all that day. While she did not condone such behavior while on-duty, she wasn't about to interrupt them. Of course the fact that they probably wouldn't have noticed any interruption played some small part in her decision.

She had contented herself with waiting until they had come back on duty and asking them if they had had an 'enjoyable' break. Luka had answered that yes...it had been a most enjoyable break. She had replied, "Yes...I heard" and had been rewarded with Luka blushing profusely and offering his apologies. She had waved him away telling him not to let her catch him a second time, before mentioning off-handedly that there were a lot of disused rooms in the basement.



Kerry had to admit that she would never have believed that their relationship would have lasted this long. Initially when Luka had told her that he was involved with Dave, she had feared that he simply another notch on Malucci's bedpost, and she had feared that he would end up nursing a broken heart.

And she had not been the only skeptical one. Although she was officially unaware of it, Kerry knew that a pool had sprung up soon after Dave and Luka had gone public. The predictions as to how long their relationship would last had ranged from two weeks - a very pessimistic Mark - to six months - a romantic Yosh. But as far as she was aware, nobody had guessed any longer periods.

Kerry cleared her throat to attract Dave and Luka's attention. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but Dave, I just have to put in a few suture's. Once I'm done, I'll leave you alone."

Dave nodded tiredly. "You...you'll need universal precautions," he said as he watched Kerry draw up the lidocaine.

Kerry tapped the syringe. "No I won't," she said gently.

Dave stared at her. "You...you mean?"

Kerry nodded. "The tests came back a few minutes ago. Both you and Harris tested negative. You're going to be fine."

"Oh God," said Dave, as he looked at Luka. "I...I'm okay...I'm not gonna get AIDS."

Luka smiled warmly at Dave. "I heard...you see little one...I told you that everything would be all right." He leaned in to Dave and kissed him softly on the mouth.

Kerry continued speaking. "You have cracked and bruised ribs, a nasty concussion and a few deep lacerations. I'm going to admit you overnight for observation...but that's just a precaution."

"Do I have to stay in hospital?" asked Dave, with a trace of disappointment in his voice. "Can't Luka keep an eye on me? Do all my neuro obs and stuff?"

"Normally I'd say yes...but he's already been admitted for observation as well." Kerry saw Dave shoot a worried glance at Luka. "Again, it's just a precaution...but don't worry...I've made sure you'll be sharing a room."

"Thanks Chief," said Dave with a smile. "Guess it won't be so bad then." He idly stroked Luka's hand.

"Hmph," snorted Kerry. "Well, just remember that you're here to rest...okay? Otherwise I'll have you separated."

"We will be good," promised Luka.

Kerry raised an eyebrow skeptically but refrained from commenting. Quickly she sutured Dave's lacerations and applied a dressing.

"Okay. I'll get the paperwork sorted out and send someone in to bring you upstairs. Do you think you can stay out of trouble for five minutes?"

"Umm, five might be stretching it a bit," grinned Dave. "How about three."

Kerry rolled her eyes. "Perhaps I should tell everyone to knock before entering," she said dryly, before leaving the room.

When they were alone, Luka turned to Dave and gently traced the lines of the dressing on his face. "So my love," he said softly. "Now that it is 'in health' rather than 'in sickness', do you still wish to marry me?"

Dave caught Luka's hand and kissed it softly. "More than ever," he said. "More than ever..."



The End
(Well of this set of chapters anyway...but never fear, I have an idea in the works for the next Dave/Luka installment...and I promise not to be so mean to them in it) <g>