TITLE Circles (16)
AUTHOR: Naomi Pardue
GENRE: LKo/AL
RATING: PG-13
TIMELINE: Late S9
DISCLAIMERS: I own the words. They own everything else.
The cab screeched to a stop, and Luka once again regretted having wrecked
his
car. Not that he was sure he'd trust Abby to drive it, of course ....
"Need help inside?" asked the cabbie.
"Nope. We're fine," Luka said. He handed the cabbie the fare and opened
the car
door. A deep breath and he stepped out, then waited for Abby to follow.
She
offered him a hand and he shook his head a little. "I can manage," he said
softly. While it was no secret to the cabbie that he was not in the best
of
shape; he had, after all, picked them up at the hospital, Luka somehow
didn't
want him to see how weak he still was. He'd walk without help, at least
until
they were inside.
Slowly up the stoop, then the wait for Abby to unlock the door. Inside and
up
the short flight of steps to his apartment. And another wait while Abby
unlocked the apartment door. Luka leaned wearily against the wall. It
would be
good to get inside and sit down again.
And suddenly he noticed where he was standing. Just beside the door. He
looked
down, he couldn't help it. Someone had cleaned the floor, and the wall,
but not
perfectly. Blood tended to stain. And there was a dark patch on the floor.
Not
red anymore, but dark. He saw himself sitting there, felt himself sitting
there, leaning against the wall. Felt the warm blood through his fingers.
A
sensation he was familiar with, he had blood on his hands every day at
work.
But it was so different when it was your own.
There would be another blood stain too, he knew. He couldn't remember
exactly
where Brian had been, but he knew that if he looked, somewhere near the
top of
the steps, would be another darkened patch of carpet. He didn't look. He
made
himself not look. But he knew that eventually he would look, or maybe he'd
notice it some day without even realizing it.
"Luka? Are you ok?" He realized that his eyes were closed and he was
trembling
a little. A very gentle touch on his arm. He opened his eyes to see Abby's
worried face.
A faint smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired. This is harder than I thought
it
was going to be."
"I know." And Luka knew that she *did* know that he wasn't just talking
about
the trip home. "Come on, lets go in and you can sit down."
Luka let Abby take his hand; he could have made it on his own, but she did
want
to help, and they went inside. Just a few steps to the couch.
Luka had to smile again as he sat down. Abby had made everything ready for
the
night. Made her intentions very clear. Sheet, blanket and pillow all
neatly
folded along one end of the couch.
"I see you found everything ok," he said.
"I've been here before."
"Not often enough, and not lately." Luka kept his voice light.
"I don't recall you inviting me lately." A smile.
"Would you have accepted if I had?"
"If you'd asked Carter too."
Of course.
A silence. Luka closed his eyes. He was tired. The silence stretched on.
"Do you need anything?" Abby finally asked. "Something to eat, maybe?"
"No. I just had lunch."
"But that was hospital food. Maybe something better?"
"Are we talking about cooking, or calling out for something?"
"Whatever you want. I'm here to serve." Under the lighthearted words, Luka
could hear just a little bit of strain in her voice.
"Maybe a little later."
Luka finally opened his eyes. Abby was fidgeting.
He knew what she was thinking. This had been a mistake. It had seemed like
a
good idea, but now she was regretting it. She was looking ahead to all the
days
they would have to spend together, and she *didn't* look happy.
"How long are you off work?" he asked.
"I took this week off. I told them I might be able to work some half
shifts
next week, if you're feeling up to managing on your own for a little while
by
then."
"I'm sure I'll be able to manage."
"I'll also need to spend some time looking for a new place."
"There's no rush. You can take all the time you need." He meant it.
"You say that now," Abby said. "But you'll be sick of me soon enough, and
when
you kick me out, I'll need to have some place to go." Her voice was light
again, she was teasing him. Or was she?
"Find a place you really like," Luka said.
"I may have to settle for a place I can afford."
The doorbell. Luka jumped a bit. His doorbell never rang very often, and
the
last time it had rung ...
"That's probably Ralene," Abby said. "I asked her to bring me some more of
my
stuff."
"I'll get it," Luka said, and started to rise.
"No, you just take it easy. I'll get it. That's what I'm here for,
remember?"
Abby laid a gentle hand on his arm. It was, of course, intended to keep
him
from trying to get up, to reinforce her words. But Luka suddenly was
trembling
a little. Their eyes met and Luka saw warmth there again. And a brief
smile
crossed her face.
"The intercom's broken," he reminded her, more to say something, to cover
his
sudden discomfort than because he thought she'd forgotten.
"I'll run downstairs and let her in."
"Be careful." The doorbell rang again.
"I will." Her hand stayed on his arm an instant longer, then she rose and
went
out.
Luka leaned back on the couch and closed his eyes. Of course he was
shaking a
little. He was tired. He was still weak. And hearing the doorbell again
...
thinking of going out into the hallway. It had nothing to do with Abby.
He opened his eyes again at the sound of the door opening. Abby came in
accompanied by another woman.
"Ralene insisted on coming up," she said. "She's dying to meet you. I told
her
you were tired ..."
"It's fine Abby," Luka assured her. "Hi, Ralene. Abby's told me a lot
about
you."
Ralene smiled at him. "Really? She did?" To Abby, "You did?"
"I've mentioned you once or twice," Abby said.
Ralene threw herself down on the chair across from him. She looked to be
about
Abby's age. Rather pretty, taller than Abby and a bit heavier. Blac curls
pulled back into a ponytail, and sparkling black eyes. Eyes that were
looking
at him with undisguised admiration. "Oh Luka, it was just awful wasn't it?
What
happened to Abby ... and to you. I just can't imagine ...."
"We're doing fine, Ralene," Abby interrupted.
"Still … it's just so scary. This is *such* a dangerous city, isn't it?
I
don't know why I still live here. I'm so glad that Abby has a friend like
you
to take care of her, Luka. She needs someone to take care of her right
now. It
was just horrible ..."
"Abby's tough," Luka said. "She's doing great."
"You look like *you're* feeling a lot better already. Being shot must be
awful
.... I'm glad you're getting better."
"Ralene," Abby interrupted again firmly. "You need to get going. Luka is
still
pretty weak, and he needs to rest."
"Ok. I did *sooo* want to meet you Luka." Ralene rose again. "I'll call in
a
few days maybe Abby ... just to see how you're getting on?"
"Sure. You can call my cell number any time."
Another smile for Luka. "It was so nice to meet you, Luka."
"Same here, Ralene."
Abby saw Ralene to the door, and the moment it closed behind her Luka
burst out
laughing -- a laugh that lasted only an instant.
"She's ... different." he finally said, when the pain in his incision had
eased
enough for him to talk again.
"She's really very nice," Abby said. "She just has a talent for saying the
wrong things some times. And she can be rather enthusiastic. But she's
been
very helpful since all this ... happened. She's brought me a lot of stuff,
and
my mail. I haven't had to go back at all." She looked at her hands, her
good
humor fading again.
"She does seem nice," Luka agreed. "But I think I'll take her in very
small
doses, if you don't mind." He took a deep breath. "I *am* pretty tired. I
think
I'll go lie down for a while."
"That sounds smart. Need help into the bedroom?"
"No, I can do it."
"Ok. Yell if you need anything."
"I will." Another smile, then Luka rose and made his slow way into the
bedroom.
|
