Ch 3
"Okay beds?"
"Check for me. I have to buy two for the girls."
"Couch?"
"I gave it to Luka and he said he used it till the springs came through the seat."
"He did." Susan made a face. "Okay. You also need dressers, tables, chairs, and a television."
"Well for now the girls and I have footlockers so we're good without dressers for now."
"I still have mine too." Susan admitted.
"Okay what else?"
"Food, for one. You should also buy some appliances."
"Actual appliances that aren't army issue. Wow. It's like I'm dreaming." Abby said in a mock dreamy voice.
"Snap to it Nurse Lockheart, we've got work to do."
"You know you sounded exactly like Capt. King just now, right?"
"There's no need to be insulting Al."
"Sorry." Abby said before looking into the living room. "It's awfully quiet in there. Should we be worried?"
"Maybe." Susan replied. The two exchanged a look before getting up together and going into the living room doorway. Neither one could hide their smile.
Luka, obviously exhausted, had fallen asleep in the middle of the living room floor. Faith and Hope had covered him with a blanket and then curled up on either side of him, falling asleep as well.
"Aww!" Abby whispered softly. She looked at Susan. Susan's face reflected wistfulness and misery. Abby frowned. "Hey, you okay?"
"Yeah I'm fine." Susan said quietly.
Abby pulled her friend back into the kitchen "You don't look fine. What's up?"
"It's nothing."
"Susan, this is me." Abby reminded her.
"It was seeing Luka with your girls. He just looked so right. So much like a 'dad'."
"But he's not their dad." Abby said quietly.
"I know."
"Have you and he discussed having kids?"
"We've thought about it, talked about it. That's about it."
"Susan I'm gonna tell you something that as a doctor you should know already. It takes more then talking to get a baby."
"I am well aware of that fact Al, but thanks for telling me." Susan rolled her eyes.
"Look if you both want kids, what's stopping you?"
"Honestly? I think it's fear. We've both had children before and we've lost them."
"There's a major difference this time. Any children you have will be yours and no one else's. And your country isn't at war." Abby smiled. "I'm going to tell you something my mother told me once. Risk is all there is. You just have to take a chance and leap into life, otherwise you're going to miss out on all the great things."
"Wise woman your mother."
"She had her moments." Abby smiled.
Dave put down a chart and picked up another one. Just as he turned around Dr. Chen appeared.
"Hey Dave." She greeted.
"Hi."
"Everything okay?"
"Dandy."
Jing-Mei frowned. She knew Dave a little better then either of them cared to admit. "What's wrong?"
"Carter knocked up my sister."
"So I heard." Jing-Mei nods.
"He told you?"
"Yesterday. I asked him about the apartment search and he said it's on hold indefinitely." She frowned. "You're not to happy about this are you?"
"No I'm not. I like Carter, I do, but he is just bad for Ava. He always has been."
Jing-Mei looked down. She knew Dave didn't know the name of the woman John was in love with. Ava had never told him. She looked back up at Dave. "It's her life and it's their marriage. Don't go punching John out again, okay? I doubt Weaver will let it go so easily the next time."
Dave nodded. "Yeah. You're right. It's just that she's my sister. My little sister."
"She's a big girl Dave. I think she can take care of herself."
"Not when it comes to Carter." He said before he walked away.
Jing-Mei bit her lip. Oh John, be careful. Dave's out for blood.
John walked down the street from the hospital towards the El. His jeep was long gone; it had finally stopped running a year ago and he just didn't have the patience to look for a new one though he supposed he should now.
Speaking of cars�. He looked across the street at the car lot that had gone up a couple of years ago. It was mainly for used cars but he figured looking around couldn't hurt so he crossed the street.
"You really like this car?" Luka asked Abby.
"Yes I love it." Abby said as she continued to inspect the engine.
"Do you know what you're doing under there?"
"I made friends with the guys in the motor pool. They had a lot to teach."
"It is a convertible."
"Correction Luka, it's a nineteen fifty Ford convertible. It's a classic."
"You're not gonna start drooling are you?"
"Ha-ha. I am so amused." Abby rolled her eyes. "Now, where is that salesman? I wanna get this over with. I'd like to have transportation before I start work." She closed the hood.
"When do you start?" Luka asked as she leaned against the car next to him.
"A week from Monday." She said.
"So do I get to hear the story?"
She looked at him with confusion on her face. "What story?"
"Behind why this car is so important."
"Oh that. Well it's my mom. In her lucid moments she always talked about the day her neighbor had gotten this car and how jealous she was. She always wanted one. I guess this is my way of giving it to her. Corny, huh?"
"No. Not really."
Abby smiled. "Hey there's the salesman. Let's go." Abby went to grab her purse from atop the trunk of the car and ended up spilling its contents onto the gravel. "Perfect." She muttered as she bent down.
Luka joined her after signaling to the salesman that they'd be a minute.
John heard something hit the pavement as he checked out a large car near the entrance. He looked over just in time to see the back of a man bend down to help his companion pick up whatever had fallen. He saw the car and smiled. His grandfather had had one like it when he was younger. It looked to be in good condition but from the look of the salesman, it was in the process of being sold already. He gave the lot one last look before he turned around and headed back onto the street.
Abby and Luka straightened.
"Thanks." Abby said.
"Sure. You have everything?"
"Yeah. Wait. Sunglasses."
"Behind you." The overweight salesman pointed out. "On the hood."
"Thanks." Abby smiled as she turned and got them. She put them on top of her head and then she froze.
"Abby?" Luka's voice said.
"Huh?"
"You okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine. I could've sworn I just saw John." Abby shook her head. "Which is ridiculous. He's probably already home or still at work. C'mon let's buy me a car."
"Let's go." Luka said.
Dr. Michael Romano grabbed a chart from the admit desk once he came on for the night shift. After checking the board he disappears down the hall.
"Michael, there you are." Kerry Weaver said, coming out of Trauma Two.
"Hey Kerry. I just got on. What's up?" Michael stopped walking out of consideration, knowing that it would have been difficult for Kerry to keep up with his long strides.
"We are backed up with sutures. Can you give Dr. Chen a hand?" Kerry looks up as she adjusts her glasses.
"Headed that way now." Michael says with a pleasant nod.
"Great. I also want to talk to you about next Monday's staff meeting."
"What about it? My father putting in a guest appearance?"
"No I don't think Robert will be there. What I want to talk to you about is giving Carol a hand after the meeting. You see we're getting a new nurse. She starts a week from Monday and I just want you to help her settle in. I won't have the paperwork till the Sunday before she starts cause Administration is a mess so find me Monday morning before the meeting and I'll give you her name."
"Sounds good."
"So you'll do it?"
"Do I have a choice?" Michael smiles, his brown eyes twinkling.
Kerry smiles as well. "I appreciate it Michael."
"Like I said, it's no problem. I'll see you later Kerry."
"Bye." Kerry watches Michael leave and wonders yet again how it was that Michael was so different from his father.
John opens the door to his apartment later that night and backs into the living room while he sorts through the mail. "Ava?" he calls out. "Sorry I'm late. You here?" Finally turning around he realizes that he is not alone but it's not Ava on the couch. It's his mother-in-law. "Grace. What a surprise."
"Hello John." She says without expression.
"Is Steven here?" He asks, referring to his father-in-law.
"No. I'm alone."
"Ava's not home yet?"
"No."
"So what brings you out here?"
"My daughter."
John nods. He should have known this was coming. "She told you about the reconciliation?"
"She did. I have come to talk her back into a divorce."
"She's pregnant."
"People have children without being married John."
"Grace-"
"You and my daughter do not belong together. I think that would be painfully obvious even to you." Grace said in a quiet voice.
John merely sat down. "I love your daughter."
"Not enough."
"That's not your call."
"I'm her mother."
"And I'm her husband. We're married and we're staying that way. If you don't want to lose her, I suggest staying out of it."
"Ava."
Ava turned around. "Hi Kerry, how are you?" She smiled at the shorter red-headed woman before giving her chart to the nurse behind the desk at the admit desk for psych. "Make sure Dr. DeRaad gets that."
"Sure Dr. Carter."
Ava turned to Kerry. "What brings you up here?"
"You actually. Can we talk?"
"Sure. Let's go in here." Ava motioned to an empty room. "So what's up?" she asks once they sit down, Kerry in a chair and Ava perched on a bed.
"I overheard a conversation between Dave and Jing-Mei today. I wanted to talk to you about it."
"Lemme guess, Dave's mad cause John and I aren't divorcing?"
"He's concerned."
"Kerry I love my brother but he doesn't have any reason to be mad."
"What about the reason you're not divorcing Carter?"
"It's true. I'm pregnant."
"And what about the letter you found?"
"What about it?
"Ave you were ready to end your marriage less than three months ago. You tried to kill yourself six months ago. Now suddenly all that isn't important anymore?"
"Circumstances have changed." Ava replied. "Kerry I still love him."
"I know you do. But are you really ready to just forget everything that's happened?"
"I want my marriage to work so I have to do what I have to do." Ava smiled. "You've been a really good friend Kerry; to both me and John. But it's going to be fine, you'll see."
"I hope so Ava. For all your sakes."