Chapter Text
Luka could still feel the tension in his hands which were holding Abby's arms to keep her still. It broke his heart that he had to restrain her to get the point to stand still. That look she gave him. It was a mix of love and irritation! One of things he loved about Abby was her defiance. She was always tough. Never giving up without a fight.
Once he was out of the apartment and Ames had followed and shut the door, Luka immediately shoved Ames and he lost his balance and fell on the floor. He dropped the gun he was holding.
This is my chance, Luka thought.
Luka easily picked up Ames from the floor and placed him against the wall. He got his hand into a fist and was about to punch Ames in the face.
“Do you think that’s wise?” Ames quickly said. “Remember, the restraining order.”
Luka was hesitating to throw a punch.
“Do you want to get arrested?” Ames continued. “Be away from Abby and Joe.”
Luka keep his fist up, then dropped his hand and his head in defeat. Even if Ames didn’t bring up the restraining order, Luka was already hesitating to punch Ames. He felt pity for this weak, drunk, lonely, even mentally unstable former patient.
“That’s more like it,” Ames said, satisfied.
Ames bent down to pick up his gun. Then gestured it to Luka to leave the building.
&&&&
“No,” Abby said, irritated on the phone. “I only want you to come over when you have Luka with you... No!”
The cop on the other line hung up.
Abby shut her cell phone and placed it back on the table. She tried to take a calm breath. She was already feeling like she was breaking down when she found out Eddie was actually her father. Now, Luka - her companion, her friend, her best mentor starting when she was a wide eyed medical student – is with an armed mentally unstable former patient. She curses that Luka didn’t tell her the police wouldn’t do anything.
She recalled what Luka said, “Look, I didn't know what else to do, okay? I did it because I love you and I love Joe and I wasn't going to let that asshole keep threatening us, okay?”
“I wasn't running away from anything. I was running to you. And I'll never let anything
take this away.”
Abby knew Luka had this urge to protect what he cared for and loved. She wouldn’t have him any other way. But, she wished he spoke about what was happening instead of letting it consumed him.
Abby shook her head to try to get her thoughts out of her head. She looked down at Joe. He was awake but was content to stay lying on his back. Abby couldn’t help but smile at her son.
“Take the baby upstairs,” she remembered Luka telling her just before. But he didn’t seem surprised that Abby stood her ground. She wasn’t going to leave Luka with Ames.
Abby looked at coffee table and saw the glass Ames was drinking from. She quickly picked it up and poured the rest of the bourbon down the sink and then vigorously rinsed the glass under the tap.
She picked up the cloth from the sink, walked back to the coffee table, pick up to photo frame Ames was holding and wiped it over.
Abby then sat down and intently looked at the photo of Luka, herself and Joe. She touched Luka’s imagine with her finger. Did she just call him her husband on the phone just before? Yes, she did. Has she regretted to call him that. No, not in the least.
Joe was starting to whimper. He wanted some cuddling time.
Abby put the phone frame back on the table.
“It’s alright Joe,” Abby quickly walked to the crib and picked Joe up and rested him on her shoulder. “Mummy is here.”
The door bell sounded.
Abby hesitated to open up the door. She wasn’t in the mood to see someone. But she decided maybe it would be good distraction from her thoughts racing about Luka.
“Hi, Louise,” Abby said when she opened up the door. She was not necessarily surprised. Out of all their neighbours in the apartment block, Louise would knock on their door the most.
“Hi Abby. Sorry if I was interrupting. I have just got a cut in my palm from picking up a broken bowl and Luka has said I could pop by your place if I needed some first aid,” Louise noticed Abby was trying her best not to burst into tears. “Is everything okay, Abby?”
Abby was struggling to keep herself together after being reminded of Luka’s tendency for looking after others. But that’s Luka. Even outside the hospital, he would help people who were sick.
She then got herself into ‘doctor’ mode.
“Please, come in Louise and sit at the table. I’ll check your hand soon.”
“Thank you, dear,” Louise walked into the apartment and sat at the table.
Abby placed Joe back into the crib and sat at the table. She lifted up the tissue Louise was holding onto.
“The cut isn’t too deep. You won’t need stitches. I’ll get a gauze pad and some tape. That should be good enough to make it heal.”
Once Abby had got gauze pad and tape Louise’s hand, Louise said, very carefully without being nosy, “Abby, is everything okay?” Louise looked around the apartment. “Where is Luka by the way?”
Abby was getting emotional again. She couldn’t keep it to herself, “He was taken!” Was all Abby could spit out at that moment.
Louise’s eyes widen. Who would take Luka!? She quickly decided she had to make herself useful.
“Have you had a cup of tea?” Louise asked.
Abby shook her head.
“I’ll make one for you and for myself,” Louise said and got water into the kettle and placed onto the stove top.
“You won’t know where everything is,” Abby said. But she was grateful for the tea coming and actually speaking to someone during this time was actually good. Otherwise, she would be constantly thinking that Ames had shot Luka.
“It shouldn’t be too hard to find two mugs and some tea bags,” Louise said purposefully.
&&&&
Abby and Louise were sitting on the couch. Louise was cradling Joe. The mugs of tea were empty.
“So the person I saw looking at our building intently was one of Luka’s patients,” Louise said, digesting this all in.
“Yes, Curtis Ames... I wish he didn’t keep all this to himself,” Abby said, sadly.
“But you’re not surprised.”
“No. Not at all. Him and his thinking that he needs to protect me. Sometimes... it actually makes me angry.”
Louise paused. “I suspect you and Joe are very precious to him.”
There were the sounds of cars driving to the building and stopping their engines. Abby and Louise were feeling hopeful.
The door bell sounded.
Abby quickly walked to the door, saying to Louise, “Well, this time I’m going to take care of him. Thank you so much Louise for the tea and company.”
Louise got up, “Any time Abby.”
Abby opened up the door and saw a plain clothed detective and other policemen.
“Abby Lockhart? You called before about your husband.”
“Yes... Where is he?”
“We’ve come to ask some questions.”
Abby rolled her eyes and walked away from the door so the detective and the other policemen could come inside.
Abby looked over at Louise. She could tell Louise was also distressed that Luka wasn’t back in the apartment.
&&&&
“Get the hell out of here! This is my house! You get the hell out of here!” Ames yells to the policemen from inside the building.
Luka’s right hand was stuck in the vise for so long, the gruelling pain was starting to affect the rest of his body.
Ames looked back at Luka, “You can un tighten the vise now.”
Luka, as quickly as possible, un tightened the vise and removed his right hand when he felt able. He looked over it to assess the damage. It should be fully functional in a week’s time tops.
Luka just them noticed Ames staring at him.
“So,” Ames said, then pointed the gun at Luka. “Are you ready to die then?”
“No,” Luka said quickly.
“You said before that you were nothing and you told me to kill you,” Ames said matter of fact.
“No. I might be nothing and might not be able care for my family, but I love them. Please. Don’t kill me.”
Ames and Luka heard the main door pushed open.
“Move,” Ames demanded. “We’re going up the stairs.”
Luke had had enough of this, “Please Curtis. Leave me here.”
Ames pointed the gun at Luka, “Now!”
&&&&
Deputy Superintendent John Valentine was married, so he fully understood why Mr and Mrs Kovac were still in an embrace. He decided to not be the person to interrupt them and instead ask Mr Kovac questions when they are at the hospital. Valentine was no doctor but Mr Kovac’s right hand did not look good.
He watched two paramedics running to the couple. He walked to the building to see the deceased Curtis Ames.
&&&&
As the two paramedics walked up to the couple, one of them spoke in disbelief, “Dr Kovac? Dr Lockhart?”
Luka lifted his head from Abby’s shoulder and moved his arms from her body. Abby released her hand from the back of his neck and her other hand from his back.
They spoke quickly and quietly to each other before the paramedics got to Luka.
“Joe?”
“He’s with Louise.”
“Did the police bring you here?”
“I drove.”
Luka then saw Abby look down at his right hand. She didn’t say a word as she carefully touched it with both hands.
“Hey, it is you two,” the paramedic finally approached up them. He looked at Luka’s hand, which Abby was assessing. “Appears your hand is crushed. We can take you in County Hospital in the ambulance.”
Abby looked quickly up at Luka.
“It’s okay,” Luka told the paramedic. “Abby will take me there.
Abby smiled a little.
“Okay. Bye,” the paramedic said and walked back to the ambulance.
“I want you with me for the rest of tonight,” Luka said, doing his best to not sound weak.
“I will make sure I do,” Abby said, reassuringly “Come on.” She started to walk to the car. Luka walked on the left side, and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
When they got to the car, Luka was going to try to open the door with his right hand and immediately regretted it. He said something in Croatian, which Abby suspected was a swear word.
Luka opened the door with his left hand and got inside the seat.
Abby walked over to Luka’s side.
“Don’t shut the door Luka. I’ll put your seat belt on from this side.”
It was awkward to do due to Luka’s height, but Abby eventually got Luka’s seat belt to click in. When she slowly got her chest and head nearly out of the car, Luka quickly placed his hand on her head, “Careful.”
“Thanks,” Abby said, quietly.
Abby then shut Luka’s door and then walked to the driver’s door, opened it and got in. She buckled up the seat belt. Then placed her two hands on the steering wheel and took a deep breath. For the moment, she needed to get her emotions together so she could drive to the hospital safely and calmly.
Luka turned her head and looked at Abby. The woman he loved. The woman he called his wife less an hour ago. He then thought how he treated her during the day. He was irritated how concerned she was about this Eddie from the bar. That however was no excuse for being a prick.
Luka lifted his left hand and placed it on Abby’s cheek. She turned her face to him. She didn’t move his hand off.
“I’m sorry,” Luka could only say for the moment.
Luka’s hand on Abby’s cheek, always gave her a warm feeling. It was what she needed at present. What he was sorry for, she guessed it was his behaviour today. He certainly would not have apologised for leaving the apartment with Ames, Abby thought.
Abby then had another thought.
“I need to make a phone call to Louise,” Abby said quickly. She got her cell phone and keyed in the number.
“Put it on speaker, please,” Luka thought for a moment. “How did you get her to look after Joe?”
“Hello,” Louise’s voice came from the phone.
“Hi, Louise, it’s Abby. Luka is okay.”
“Oh, thank goodness,” Louise said, very relieved.
“How is Joe?”
“He’s fine. He’s sleeping.”
“And your hand?”
“What happened to your hand?” Luka butted into the conversation.
“Oh, Luka. I’m so relieved you’re okay.”
“I’m fine. But how are you?”
“I just cut my hand from picking up a broken bowl. It’s feeling okay now. Abby put a gauze pad on it.”
“Okay. Don’t move it too much.”
“I won’t.”
“Louise,” Abby got back into the conversation. She was now feeling okay to drive and she saw Luka was in pain. “We have to go now. We’ll speak to you later.”
“Of course,” Louise picked up Abby’s urgent tone of voice. “Goodbye. And don’t be too angry with Luka.”
“Goodbye Louise,” Luka and Abby said together and Abby hung up.
Abby started the engine. At present, neither of them were going to mention what was on their minds. But it was building up.
&&&&
Pratt was still in a cranky mood as he was now up to the ambulance bay. He considered going home after Pastor William Watkins got him out of the police lock up. But decided to instead go back to work. He wasn’t sure why. Was his work at the ER so important to him now?
“Hey, Greg!” He thought he heard Abby’s voice from behind in the distance.
Pratt turned around.
“Yeah, what...” Then was slightly alarmed. “Hey, Luka. What happened to you?”
He could see a graze on the side of Luka’s mouth and some bruising already appearing. Someone must have hit him with a hard object.
“We need to get some ice packs and a x-ray done,” Abby quickly said. She had her arm locked with Luka’s. She looked pale. Definitely in shock and upset.
“Why do you need a x-ray?” Pratt asked, puzzled. “You would have told me that sort of injury doesn’t need a x-ray.”
Luka and Abby had by now approached up to Pratt.
“For his hand,” Abby lifted up Luka’s hand.
Pratt was now alarmed. Luka’s hand was red, his knuckles seemed to have been almost... crushed.
“Shit, man! Alright, I’ll get things sorted out.”
Pratt rushed into the ER. The place was in a bit of disarray, which is typical. Sam and Neela were walking around upset, both clearly wouldn’t be competent in their jobs. Ray and Morris seemed to have been settling down after a trauma case. One of them will do the job, Pratt thought. He saw Hope at the admit desk, in anticipation for a case.
“Hope, is there a curtain free?”
“Yes,” Hope said, quickly. “Curtain three.”
Luka and Abby finally got into the ER.
“Dr Kovac!” Hope said, alarmed. She didn’t necessarily yell but her voice was loud enough for the other doctors to hear. “Come to curtain three. We’ll get some pain killers for you first.”
Ray and Morris quickly approached up to Luka and Abby.
“Hey, Dr Kovac. What happened to your... oh, shit. How did that happen. Abby?”
“Luka hasn’t told me yet. Hope, you’re not involved in this case,” Abby said, matter of fact. “In fact, we just need Chuny. I can do the rest.”
“I’m sorry?” Hope said, confused.
Morris and Ray looked disappointed.
“Abby...,” Luka said, calmly.
“No!” Abby said, defiantly. “You just need one doctor and one nurse. I can do that and Chuny can assist.”
Hope looked hurt and was about to walk away. Morris and Ray grumble and walk off too.
Luka looked at Abby, sympathetically. Abby looked at Luka, defiant.
“Abby... are you sure you can treat me like any other patient?”
Abby didn’t react. Then shook her head a little.
“Hope!” Luka called. “You can observe. Morris, come back here.”
Hope walked back. “Thank you, Dr Kovac. I promise I will just observe Dr Lockhart.”
Morris quickly came back. He looked at Abby, and said as seriously as possible, “I’ll do my job, Abby. I promise.”
Abby felt a little guilty. Maybe what has happened had got her more distressed than she thought.
“Chuny?” Morris called out. “Can you come over here?” Morris looked directly at Luka. His boss. “Kovac. I know you’ve been stalling to say what happened. Please, tell us.”
Luka took a breath to try to compose himself.
“This,” Luka pointed to the graze on his face. “I was hit by a gun...” Luka looked down at his hand and found it easier to speak than looking at their faces. “My hand was in a vise, and it was tightened to the point it was crushed. Can we get the x-ray done?” Luka tried to sound composed.
Abby put her hand over her mouth.
“Wait a moment. How did your hand get into the vise in first place?” Morris asked, intrigued.
“I was at gun point. I was forced to put my hand in the vise and tighten it. Ames kicked the handle to tighten it more.”
Abby was now struggling to keep herself together. She felt Hope’ s hand placed lightly on her shoulder. She didn’t take it off as she did understand that Hope was trying to be supportive.
“Okay, Kovac. We’ll go to the x-ray room now,” Morris said, professionally.
Luka stood up from the bed. Abby walked next to him.
“Abby, why not stay here?” Morris said, cautiously. He didn’t want the x-ray room to be crowded.
Abby was a little hesitate but then nodded her head.
“We’ll be as quick as possible,” Morris said.
Luka held Abby’s hand with his left hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, then let go and walked to the x-ray room.
“Hey, Kovac, you’re meant to be following me!” Morris said quickly, and walked by Luka’s side. “Hope, are you coming?”
“Sorry, Morris. Habit, I suppose.”
“You’re being very brave, Dr Lockhart,” Hope said, then quickly walked after Luka and Morris.
Abby thought about what Hope said. No, she didn’t think she was brave. It was just who she was because she had to be. Tough.
“Abby.”
Abby looked to the direction of the voice and saw Neela approaching, holding two take away coffee cups. She handed one to Abby.
“Thanks,” Abby took the coffee up and had a sip.
“I didn’t want to interrupt Morris assessing Dr Kovac. What happened?” Neela asked.
“What happened to you?” Abby focused more on her friend and could see she had been crying. “I thought you were off shift.”
“I was,” Neela sniffed. “Tony’s ex Meg took a drug overdose and I came to give Sarah a lift. Meg died. Sarah and Tony have left now. I don’t feel like going home at present so I’ve been just wandering around here. Now what happened to Dr Kovac?”
“Neela... I don’t know if I can tell you... Without getting upset.”
Neela had a concerned face. Abby sat on the bed. Neela sat next to her.
“I would rather we drink our coffees right now.”
“Of course,” Neela said, kindly. She was always a good friend but with the teaching from Luka about empathy and connecting to her patients, it had made her a better listener. Neela and Abby drank their coffees.
The ER doors opened and police officer Hollis walks to the admit desk.
“It’s his fault,” Abby muttered and walked over to admit desk. “Hey!” She said louder.
Hollis looked over to the voice, saw Abby and noticed she was angry.
“Dr Lockhart. I’ve got some questions for Dr Kovac, when he’s ready.”
“Well, I suggest you don’t,” Abby said, firmly. She then paused and decided to talk some more. “If you had arrested Ames before, he wouldn’t have got into our apartment, kidnapped Luka and then killed himself.”
“Ames seemed harmless,” Hollis defended himself.
“That’s not the point!” Abby said louder than she expected she would, to the point that she surprised herself. “The point is you weren’t taking Luka’s concerns seriously.”
By this time, Frank had eventually come to the desk and Neela had come from behind.
“Come on Abby. You’re getting yourself upset.”
Abby nodded her head, then looked at Hollis again. She tried to compose herself, “Do you still have questions?”
Hollis didn’t reply back immediately. “No, I don’t.”
He then walked out of the ER.
Luka, Morris and Hope came back.
“Hey,” Luka approached up to Abby. “Are you okay?”
Abby turned her head and realised how relieved she was to see Luka. She restrained herself from embracing him again.
“Any worst how I was before?” She muttered.
Luka looked at the ER entrance and saw Hollis just leaving. Luka looked back at Abby, “You spoke to Hollis?”
Abby nodded her head. “He won’t be speaking to you again.”
Abby took a deep breath. No, she couldn’t keep herself together. Then she looked at Luka again and noticed again he was in pain.
“I just need a moment alone,” she said quickly. She walked to the doctors lounge.
Luka watched her walk off.
“Dr Kovac,” Morris said quickly. “We can go through the x-ray scan, then strap your hand and check the graze on your face. Then you can leave. Sounds good?”
Luka looked at Morris and nodded his head. He walked back to curtain three.
“Chuny,” Morris called. “Could please clean the graze on Dr Kovac’s face?”
&&&&
Luka walked into the doctor’s lounge. His hand had been finally strapped up and his graze on his chin had been patched up. He was still hurting but not as much as before. So he could finally have a chat with Abby.
Abby was sitting at the table. She looked at the door and smiled a little when she saw Luka.
“Nice to see you patched up. You feeling better? What did the x-ray scan show?”
Luka breathe a sigh of relief. “No fractures. It’s all crushed nerve endings. my hand should heal in a week’s time.”
Luka walked to the table and sat down.
“I’m sorry how I behaved today Abby. I’ll admit I was jealous that you’d taken so much of an interest in Eddie.”
Abby bowed her head. She then looked at Luka, “I don’t know what I was thinking.”
Luka waited for Abby to continue, but he could tell she was resisting.
“I went to see Eddie at the pub,” Abby continued. “He touched me, and I thought he was advancing onto me. So, I quickly got outside to get a taxi. But then he said he was my father.” Abby’s voice started to get shaky, “He just thinks he can come back and see me again. Thirty years of silence and then he pops up.”
Luka places his hands on top of Abby’s and gave them a gentle squeeze.
Abby takes a deep breath and exhales.
“I didn’t want you to go.”
“What else could I do? You weren’t taking Joe upstairs.”
“Did you expect that I would?”
Luka softly chuckled. “No... Abby, I wanted you and Joe to be safe.”
“What about you? Luka, I know you feel the need to protect me and Joe but... we love you. And it would have broken my heart if I lost you.”
Luka took his hands away from Abby. He looked sad. Or distressed.
“Luka. What is it?”
Luka cleared his throat to be able to speak, “When my hand was in the vise... I told Ames to kill me.”
Abby swallowed. She knew she had to be composed here, otherwise Luka would just withhold what had happened with Ames and that would mean him communicating less to her.
“Why would you tell Ames that?”
“If I couldn’t use my right hand again... I wouldn’t be able to work in the ER. I wouldn’t be able to support and look after you and Joe. I would be nothing. What kind of life would that be?”
Abby’s eyes widen in surprise and bewilderment. Again, she knew she had to be composed when replying back. She had to try to calmly convince Luka that losing the ability with his right hand wouldn’t mean he was less of a person.
Abby placed her hands onto Luka’s left hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“Luka, your right hand does not define who you are as a doctor or being my partner or being a father.
“You’ve been one of the best mentors during my time at the ER. I’ve learnt so much from you. Greg, Ray and Neela have too. You could still teach and mentor. The other doctors and students would still listen to you as much as before.
“You could still provide for me and Joe. We would still love you as much as before.”
Luka got up and Abby did the same. They approached to each other and hugged each other. They had both said out loud what was on their minds and now, if words were weren’t enough to comfort, the hug would.
The door opened and Hope came in.
“Dr Kovac?” She said shyly.
Luka and Abby gave each other a little rub on their backs before letting go of each other.
“Yes, Hope?” Luka said, patiently.
“I was hoping before you go home, could you please see a patient. She’s very upset and I figured you could possibly speak to her.”
Luka looked down at Abby. She gave a little smirk. “I told you,” she whispered.
“I won’t be long,” Luka whispered back and gave her peek on the cheek. He then walked to Hope and she opened up the door.
“The main thing is to listen...”
Abby could hear Luka saying to Hope before the door closed.
&&&&
Louise was sitting on her couch. It was pass midnight. She would have been in bed by now but she was determined to stay up until Luka and Abby came to pick up Joe.
The door bell rang.
Louise smiled and walked to the door.