Goodbye Kiss

57. Things Change

Things Change
Season 9 x 19
April, 2003:

i took the keys out of my car and tied my hair up in a clip.
these past few days with romano as our chief really made me rethink my life decisions.
i was dreading going into work...
"welcome back" pratt smiled
"how are things?"
"shouldn't ask" he laughed
"that bad?"
"wanna help me with my bloody diarrhea patient?"
"do i have a choice?" i sighed
"nope, come with me"

i was off to the lab with bloody diarrhea's stool and blood sample.
pratt took her up for an x-ray.
"i'm making a run to the lab, got anything?" i asked malik
he handed me a urine sample and two blood vials.
"abby's got some too"
"alrighty" i nodded
"thank you" he shouted from down the hall
although, i bumped into a woman.
"i'm so sorry" i smiled
"don't worry about it" she smiled
she had an accent, croatian.
"do you know luka kovac by chance?"
i had a feeling this was his friend from
med school.
"yes i do" she smiled
"i'm gianna"
i would shake her hand if i didn't have all these samples to take up.
"gianna" she smiled
"luka has already told me a lot about you"
i smiled back at her.
"it's nice to meet you"
she paused
"i had a feeling when luka left home he'd find a beautiful woman to settle with"
"thank you" i grinned
"are you looking for him?"
"kind of, he must be busy right now"
"back in med school you always knew where he was because of that wonderful laugh of his"
"he changed hasn't he?" she added
"he's gone through a lot" i nodded
she looked down "i know"
"gianna, here are my labs" abby shouted
"you better get going"
"i guess so" i laughed
"i'll see you around" i waved
——
"gianna" luka smiled
"i was wondering if i'd see you today"
"you met my friend, huh?"
"yeah"
"she said you were lovely"
"she seems great" i smiled
"anyway, how's that boy?"
luka leaned on the wall in front of me.
"they're having trouble getting him across the border"
"i'm sorry"
"not your fault" he smiled
"hey gianna, stop talking to your croatian lover for a minute and come help me get this on" romano said, pinching my arm
i rolled my eyes
"i'll talk to you later"
i walked toward the trauma rooms
"what do you need help with?"
"i need to get this on"
he held out a yellow trauma gown
i put it on his good hand and tied the back
"you need some gloves too?"
"i'd appreciate that" he smiled
i put the one glove on his hand.
"sorry for pinching you"
"you haven't failed me yet" he smiled, going into the trauma room.
i let out a sigh, walking back into the hallway.
——
i was at the admit desk finishing the time cards, kerry was on the phone.
"gianna"
"hm?"
"get carter over here"
"he's in a trauma"
"get him here now"
"what do i tell him?"
"it's his grandmother"
gosh, i felt my stomach drop.
by kerry's facial expressions to her tone of voice i knew what had happened.
gamma was dead.
i opened the trauma doors.
"dr. carter?"
"just a minute, gianna"
"you have a call for you"
"i'm in the middle of something"
"clear" he added, trying to resuscitate the patient.
"john" i pleaded
"can't it wait?"
"john, it's important"
"what?"
"it's your grandmother"
he looked at me, worried
"is she dead?"
"i'm so sorry"
he closed his eyes
"tell them i'll call back"
"let's push another amp of epi" he shouted
i closed the door.

"you're off already?" i frowned at luka
"yeah"
"i'll see you when you get home" he smiled, kissing my forehead.
"goodnight"
"oh that reminds me" susan smiled
"what?"
"luka caught me kissing chuck in an exam room"
"i'm sure he doesn't care" i smirked
"i think he thinks i'm hypocritical for telling him off that time you were kissing him in the maintenance closet"
i let out a laugh.
"i'm sure he's just fine susan"
"if you say so" she giggled, walking off
from the corner of my eye i saw carter walk out of the doors.
"wait" i said, walking toward him
"are you okay?"
"dumb question" he smiled
"i'm really sorry"
"i know"
"where's abby?"
"flying off to find her brother"
"i'm sorry about that, too"
"don't worry about it"
"i'll see you" he said, forcing a smile
"bye"
even after everything him and i went through, i felt bad for him. gamma was his only person. gamma was his everything.

my shift had ended a half an hour ago.
i got into bed, laying next to luka.
he was half asleep.
"how was the rest of your shift?"
"it was okay" i whispered
"drinking alone?"
"no, i was catching up with gordana"
"you're not usually a wine guy" i smiled, remembering the wine glass on the coffee table downstairs.
"i didn't feel like getting drunk"
i got further into the covers, laying my head on his chest.
"mm" i breathed, nuzzling my face into his chest.
he took a hand and put it under my shirt, rubbing my back up and down.
"i've thought about it more"
"africa?" i whispered
"yeah"
"you're going aren't you?"
"yeah, i am"
i closed my eyes.
fuck.
he stopped rubbing me, planting his hand on my lower back.
"gianna?" he whispered
"mhm"
"is everything okay?"
"if you don-"
"luka"
"i'm okay, luka"
i put my mouth closer to his neck.
"i'm letting you go"
"it's okay" i breathed
he pressed his lips into my forehead.
i placed a hand on his neck, wrapping my other arm around him.
he wrapped both of his arms around my waist. i pressed my lips to his.
my head fell back into his chest. we both closed our eyes, still clinging tightly onto each other.
"i love you" he whispered.
"i love you, too"