*****

What has been is what will be,

and what has been done is what will be done;

there is nothing new under the sun.

*****

So you have to be getting back?" John asked, setting his napkin on the table. Deb nodded with a wry expression on her face. "Yeah. It's a job," she chuckled.

"Well I'm glad you could come out for lunch." John sat back and studied his longtime rival and friend; she seemed content, even happy at Mercy. He was glad that she had found a place where she felt comfortable and confident, but he would be lying if he didn't admit that he missed their brief passing banter, and having her there when he needed her.

John hated having to make appointments just to be able to have inane conversation with Deb.

"What are you thinking?"

John jerked his head back and met her curious gaze that twinkled as she smiled, which was more of a smirk. "Hmmm?"

"You're hanging around me too much," she teased. "You're picking up my bad habits."

John chuckled as he shook his head. "Sorry."

"Thinking about Abby?"

The question brought their sharp, but cheerful banter to a halt. He tensed a bit at her name, yet he didn't feel the pangs of anger or torment that he would have expected. Licking his lips distractedly, John shrugged self-consciously. Actually he was surprised at her assumption. It was a logical one, but funny enough, he had been enjoying their lunch without having to mull over what he could have done differently with Abby in their relationship or how he could have changed her mind.

"No.," he answered truthfully.

Deb's brow furrowed slightly before she nodded casually and smiled. "Oh, sorry."

It was then he noticed the tension in her body. The slim, tanned Asian doctor seemed unusually on edge. And looking back, John seemed to notice it when she mentioned Abby's name. He frowned. Why did the thought of Deb believing that he was obsessing over Abby irk him so much?

"Really, I wasn't."

Deb shrugged. "That's okay if you were, John. I mean, it's only been a couple of weeks."

John threw his hands up in the air dramatically and rolled his eyes. "I wasn't!"

Deb arched one eyebrow at the melodramatics as a slight smirk began to creep over her face. "Of course," she said with a trace of humorous skepticism.

"If you want to know what I was thinking about, I'll tell you," he exclaimed, a little exasperated. Deb nodded while the smile on her face remained firmly in place, as if playing along with a excitable child. "I was thinking about you and how much I appreciate you being there through the rough spot I've been going through." He exhaled loudly, flinging himself back into his seat. "See? No Abby."

Silence filled the air as he watched Deb sit with a stunned expression on her face; her ruby lips rounded into an unexpected 'oh'.

John folded his arms across his chest, unsure of where to go next with this conversation. "Uh...so do you need a ride back?" He felt a thick cloud of tension settle upon their table. It was something that never usually happened. They were always at ease when they were with each other. John wasn't sure that it was actually happening though, it could have been his imagination.

Deb shook her head and smiled softly. "Uh, no." She wiped the corner of her lips with her linen napkin and placed it carefully on the table. "I actually have a couple of errands downtown before I head back to the ER."

John nodded absentmindedly as he watched her grab her jacket, which was resting on the back of her chair, and purse in preparation for what seemed to be a quick escape. Stop imagining things. John shook his head and smiled. "Sure." He tried to pretend that he didn't feel suddenly uncomfortable sitting there, while she was getting ready to leave. Deb slipped on her jacket and slid her chair under the table. When she reached to grab the check, John placed his hand firmly onto the thin padded booklet, which held the thin slip of paper that detailed their meal. "I've got it," he smiled.

Deb nodded demurely and returned the smile. "O-kay." She arched one brow as if he were overreacting to the attempt to pay for lunch. "I'll...I'll talk to you later?"

John nodded and waved his hand at her, signalling for her to go without feeling like she was leaving him alone. Deb stutter-stepped before finally waving goodbye and walking through the maze of tables and out of sight. What was wrong with him? He turned his gaze towards the usually dark and grey city, clouded by the smog of pollution; but today the sun's rays seemed to pierce the thinly rounded wisps of grey and enlighten the skyline with a startling vision of the city's man-made architecture. Frowning slightly, John rested his elbow against the armrest and stareed into the bustling city.

"I was thinking about you..."

The words made her heart leap. Jing Mei was suprised she hadn't given her feelings away right then and there. No. No you weren't going to do this! Letting out a frustrated sigh, Jing Mei ran through every reason she had come up with over the past few years why it was insanity to even consider having a relationship with John. It could never work...

She would end up alone and without her best friend. Jing Mei couldn't do it, she just couldn't.

The intense pulse of the bass pounded against his body, it felt as if it were coming from within. He had arrived with Susan while Abby had told them that she may be a few minutes late. Luka checked his watch. 7:48 p.m. They had already been here 28 minutes. He sighed. The loud music and the young teenagers trying to pass themselves off as mature women were getting to be a little trying.

Luka peered out onto the dance floor, where Susan was dancing carefree with a tall, muscular blonde who had picked her up immediately, from almost the time they walked into the club and came to the bar for a drink. Susan politely rejected his advances, but Luka could tell she was itching to get onto the dance floor; and while he did not intend on dancing tonight, he did not want Susan to miss out on the chance. It took a few words of reassurance that he would be all right at the bar, but she finally agreed and allowed 'Jerry' to lead her out onto the dance floor. Meanwhile he was having a fabulous time sipping on his second scotch on the rocks. The warm burn that slowly iched its way down his throat sent a shiver down his body as he leaned casually against the clear flowing neon bar. Or at least he thought that had been the reason.

She stood nervously at the top of the staircase, fidgeting with her long, straight, chestnut hair - tucking it several times behind her ear, even though it didn't need it. Glancing briefly down the length of her body, Luka admired the sleek black dress that clung neatly against her petite body, in all the right places. Her eyes darted across the room, as if in search of something.

Luka swallowed hard, not feeling the burn of the last gulp of scotch, as he set down the glass tumbler onto the bar, losing sight of Abby in the crowd. Everytime he saw her, he could have sworn that she was a figment of his imagination. Abby was a vision, in the black evening dress or in her green scrubs.

"Luka." He heard her raspy voice greet him, as she joined him at the bar. Her eyes told a tale of the long day that she had encountered. "I hope I didn't keep you guys waiting." She peered around him, as if looking for someone.

"Where's Susan?"

Luka smirked and lazily pointed to the dance floor, where Susan, who was now dancing with a new partner, spotted Abby and waved. "She's a popular gal," he chuckled dryly. "Can I get you a drink?"

Abby felt uneasy in the overwhelming, unceasing stream of icomprehensible music that pounded in her ears, as she surveyed the crowed bar of teenagers and early twenty-somethings. "Um, a Coke, I guess," she replied, louder than her normal speaking voice. She smiled gratefully at Luka, who took on the task of getting the distracted bartender's attention.

"You look great," Luka yelled over the music.

Abby frowned. "What?" She touched her ear, signalling to Luka that she hadn't heard what he had said.

Luka smiled sheepishly and leaned over, his lips accidentally brushing against her ear. "You look great," he repeated, without yelling into her ear.

Abby felt her face flush at the compliment. "Thanks." She turned towards him and smiled. The bartender slid their drinks towards them and Abby casually gripped the slow moving beverage in her hand. "You too," she yelled, pointing at his usual dark outfit, which consisted of a black button-up shirt, rolled up at the sleeves and a pair of pricey black dress pants.

Luka always looked good though; he could make a pair of sweats look good.

"Do you want to find a table?" Luka gestured to the booths across the room. It was a few feet away from the dance floor, but it seemed a little more condusive to talking.

Abby looked over to where he was pointing and nodded. She felt the warmth of his palm press against the small of her back and allowed him to guide her towards an empty booth. There were a couple of stray glasses, which Luka moved to the table behind them. As she slid into the booth, careful not to spill her drink; Luka slid into the seat across from her. The lighting was dim, but even in the darkness, she could feel Luka's eyes on her. "So how come you're not on the dance floor with Susan?"

Luka shrugged. "Not a dancer," he replied. Glancing out into the crowded room, Luka felt old. He had no desire to jump up and down, as the was the style of dancing nowadays. He rolled his glass inbetween the palms of his hands.

Abby laughed knowingly. "Yeah, I'm not sure bumping into sweaty people on a crowded dance floor is my idea of dancing either." She nodded.

Luka watched her over the rim of his glass,; this time it was just club soda. He couldn't get wrecked tonight since he was the driver.

"So..." Abby found herself at a loss for words as she stared across the table from a man, whom she had shared more intimate moments with, yet was unable to hold a solid conversation. She wondered why that was...

"Uh, so do you have to work..." Before Luka finished the sentence, Abby cut him off.

"I don't want to talk about work when I'm not there," Abby groaned, as she twirled a bright red straw between her index and thumb. She leaned forward, causing her long hair to fall into her eyes.

Luka let out a deep breath. He didn't know what to talk to her about if not work. Since his recent discovery about her break up with John, there was nothing else he could think of. Part of him just wanted to ask her bluntly whether she still had feelings for the 'favorite doctor' at County and whether he might have been part of the reason why they split up. Instead, he sat back and allowed the deafening thumping rhythm of the sound system swallow up any other attempt at a conversation.

Abby bit her lip, knowing that Luka must have taken her refusal to speak about work as a sign that she didn't want to talk to him. She closed her eyes and silently kicked herself for her inept ability to be more diplmatic or senstive about how she worded things. Swallowing hard, she glanced over to the area where she had last seen Susan dancing, but she was nowhere in sight. Abby wished she would get tired and dance her way over to the table and end this awkward silence. However, she spotted the dirty blonde doctor at the bar, with one of her dance partners and seemed to be content to stay there and chat.

Smiling uncomfortably, she lifted the glass up to her lips, capturing the straw in her mouth and sipping slowly.

'You have to say something,' a voice urged.

Can't.

'Well you're gonna look pretty stupid just sitting here the entire night sipping on a drink that will only give you an excuse not to talk to the man for another few minutes.'

Abby groaned inwardly. She didn't want to talk, and by the expression on Luka's face, he didn't quite seem in the mood to talk now either. What to do...what to do.

"Dance!"

Luka jumped at Abby's sudden outburst. He tilted his head slightly and stared curiously at the woman, who seemed content to sit there all night and nurse her Coke.

"What?" he asked, his voice croaking a bit.

"Dance." Abby motioned with a tilt of her head towards the dance floor. "Let's dance."

Luka laughed. "No," he said, sliding back into the comfort of his leather booth. "I don't dance."

Abby rolled her eyes. "Sure you do," she protested, sliding out from under the table and smoothing the wrinkles in her skirt from sitting down. With an outstretched arm, Abby waited patiently for Luka to accept her invitation. She didn't dance much, but it beat just sitting around while everyone else had fun in the place.

Besides, she wasn't adversely affected by 'fun' as some of her colleagues might tell it.

"I don't dance Abby," Luka repeated tentatively. He looked out at the girls and boys rubbing and grinding their bodies against one another and he cringed. "I can't dance like that."

Abby rolled her eyes. "Come on Luka," she sighed. "I'm not asking you to perform brain surgery...although I'm sure you'd much prefer it."

Suddenly the loud rhythmic beat pounding over the speakers was replaced with a slow, soft ballad that filled the four corners of the room. Abby thanked whoever was running the turntable and inched closer to Luka, with her hand still outstretched. "It's a slow one," she challenged. "Even you can dance to that." The corner of her lips curled into a slight smirk.

"I..." Before he could say another word, Luka felt her cool fingers slid into his and tug him towards the dance floor. Reluctantly he allowed Abby to guide him to the once crowded floor. There seemed to be a little more room for manuevering as they began to move tentatively to the slow song.

As her body moved in closer to his, slightly molding to his own frame, Luka felt his heart skip a beat; her head rested comfortably underneath his chin as her hand gripped his shoulder lightly and he allowed his hand to slide slowly around her waist. It had been a while since he had felt her this close to him. The nearness of her always seemed a catalyst to many different reactions in his body. First his heart would begin to race, faster and faster until it pounded against his chest. Then as his heart sped up the flow of the blood in his veins, Luka's face and the rest of his body began to warm, until it felt like his blood was boiling; his palms would begin to sweat and he would find himself completely and totally sensitized to her every touch.

Abby felt his strong arms swaying her body in time with his. His chest felt hard as she slid her left hand down from his shoulder to rest on his chest. Unconsciously she pressed in closer to him as she closed her eyes and allowed herself to immerse herself in the hypnotizing drum of the ballad. His warm hands gripped her waist, pullin her closer to him. The smell of cologne mixed with scotch emanated from every pore of his body. She loved the smell of him. She always had. He always managed to smell good.

Luka wasn't even thinking clearly as he lifted his hand to her face, to caress her cheek with his thumb, causing her to meet his bleary gaze. Swallowing the lump that had formed in his dry throat, Luka nervously lowered his lips to a seemingly spellbound Abby.

Abby licked her lips as she felt the warmth of Luka's breath caress her cheek. The ever-so-soft brush of his lips against hers caused her breath to catch in her throat. She bit her lip in anticipation of the promise of something else, as his strong hands cupped her face and his lips captured hers in a mix of tenderness, passion and need. Abby closed her eyes, caught up in the moment; the feeling of heat and desire that she had felt once before overwhelmed her and she allowed herself to revel in the moment.

With the hand which he had wrapped around her waist to guide her in the slow seductive dance, Luka pulled her closer to him, filled with a driving need to feel her against him. He was incensed as her fingers ran through his hair, as she felt her lips part allowing him access to taste the sweetness of her mouth. Their tongues intermingled and he was undone.

The music began to quicken and suddenly the all encompassing rhythm of drums and wailing guitars filled the room once again. The spell was broken; and as Luka pulled away from Abby, whose face was flushed and her eyes unable to meet his, he knew that the moment which he hadn't realized he needed so much, only brought regret in her eyes.

Abby bit her bottom lip, unable to explain what had just happened. She hadn't intended for the innocent dance to lead to something that both of them knew shouldn't have happened. The taste of scotch lingered on her lips as she licked them in an attempt to regain her wits about her. Nothing had prepared her for this tonight. She knew that the kiss hadn't been instigated by either party - each had lowered their guards and allowed themselves to indulge in something that felt so right in so many ways.

"I'm sorry," Luka whispered, unable to think of anything else to say.

Abby gazed into Luka's searching eyes, knowing that his words were sincere in some form; but behind them, each knew that 'sorry' was not the right word for what had just happened. "Luka..."

"Guys!" Susan's boisterious voice shattered the silence that surrounded them, even though the music blared around them. "Are you having fun?" she giggled, a little tipsy from obviously several drinks. The blue-eyed ER doctor flung her arms around both of their shoulders and grinned like a Cheshire cat.

"Susan," Abby breathed uncomfortably. "You're a little drunk..."

The normally reserved doctor shook her head in protest. "Nohh, 'm chnoot..." she slurred her speech slightly. Susan blinked a couple of times and then giggled. "Okayyy, maybe just...a...little."

Luka studied Susan's swaying demeanor and shook his head. "I think we should get you home," he said knowingly, glancing briefly at Abby, who seemed to agree.

"Ooh, party poopers," Susan pouted. "You guys were supposed to have fun tonight." She pulled away from Luka. "But all you guys ever do is look at each other and never say anything."

Abby raised her eyebrows at Susan's outburst. "You really need to get some sleep," she chuckled, trying to relieve the tension left over from what had happened just minutes ago. "Luka will take you home now, 'kay Susan?" She glanced up at Luka, who nodded with a wry grin.

"But I didn't even get to dance with Luka!"

Luka slipped his arm around Susan's waist and began to guide her off the dance floor. "Come on Dr. Lewis," he said slowly. "We can dance another time."

Abby followed behind slowly, not sure what to do next. The evening had been more...or less? than what she had expected. As she watched Luka slip Susan into the passenger seat, Abby contemplated what she should even say to Luka about what had happened. Thanks for the dance? She closed her eyes, shook her head and groaned. How lame.

"I'd better take her home," Luka said, gesturing to a slightly inebriated Susan, who was making faces against the passenger side window. He stood a couple of feet from Abby, who stood in front of the club entrance with her arms wrapped around herself.

"Yeah." Abby nodded. She hated this feeling.

Luka nodded, as he slipped his hands into his pants' pockets, backing away towards his car. "I'll see you tomorrow?" The question was insipid and completely wrong for the situation. Luka ran his fingers through his hair as he opened the driver side door.

Abby nodded, waving goodbye as Luka pulled away from the sidewalk. Once the red taillights faded into the darkness, she leaned forward and let out a frustrated cry. "Stupid!" She shook her head as she began to walk to the nearest El platform.