Secrets & Confessions:
A Summer to Remember




The warm Chicago air breezed into Luka Kovac's apartment as he entered with a box of pizza and his close friend, Susan Lewis. Susan carried with her a bottle of wine.

"Do you want me to put this in the fridge?" she asked. Luka shook his head.

"No, we can have it with the pizza," he responded. He placed the pizza on the counter, took two plates out of a nearby cabinet, and handed one to Susan. "I'm starving."

"Me too," she said. "I am positive that Kerry Weaver's first words were 'double shift.'" Luka laughed and removed two wine glasses from another cabinet.

"Susan, she's not that bad," Luka replied. Susan pushed her chair next to Luka's and poured two glasses of wine. Luka took two slices of pizza out of the box and put one on each plate. Susan picked up her slice and took a bite.

"Oh, but this pizza is so good!" she exclaimed. Luka bit into his slice and nodded his head.

"I'd have to agree with you on that one, Dr. Lewis." Susan laughed and sipped some wine. Luka studied her as she gracefully brought the glass up to her lips and sipped the strawberry wine. "How is it?"

"Delicious," Susan answered. "You should taste it." Luka leaned in and brushed a stray lock of blonde hair away from Susan's face and gently kissed her lips. Susan, stunned at first, then responded, and their lips locked for a moment. She put her hand on Luka's face and then ran her fingers through his thick, dark hair.

"Wow," Luka replied as they parted from the kiss. Susan looked at Luka.

"Kiss me," she said breathlessly, and Luka leaned in as they kissed passionately once more. Susan broke from the kiss.

"What is it?" Luka asked. Susan pushed her hair back.

"I want us to take things slowly," she said. "I've been hurt in the past and I don't want to go through that again." Luka wrapped his arms around Susan.

"There's no rush," he replied softly. "I want to be with you." Luka kissed Susan's forehead and stroked her hair. Susan rested her head on Luka's shoulder.

"Thank you," she said gently.

~*~*~*~*~

A few weeks later. County General Hospital.

Susan sat in the lounge, finishing her charts, when Luka entered. Susan looked up at him.

"I'll be ready in a few minutes," she said. Luka went to his locker and retrieved his things.

"It's no rush," he replied, and leaned in and kissed Susan. At that moment, Kerry Weaver walked in.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she stammered. Susan turned a bright shade of red.

"It's okay, Kerry," Susan said. Kerry quickly poured herself a cup of coffee and left the lounge. Susan looked at Luka and laughed. "I guess our relationship isn't going to be a secret much longer."

"I hate to tell you this, but it hasn't been a secret at all," Luka replied. A look of surprise washed over Susan's face.

"It's not?" she asked. "Nobody has said anything to me."

"Maybe they want to respect our privacy," Luka said, and sat down next to Susan. She nodded in response and kissed Luka.

"I'll be done in a few minutes," she said. Luka kissed Susan one more time.

"I'll meet you at the nurses' station," he said, and exited the lounge.

~*~*~*~*~

That night, Susan and Luka sat underneath a large oak tree in the nearby park. It was the perfect scene: a romantic picnic dinner for two, complete with wine, great food, and an amazing sunset. After finishing their dinner, Susan lay in Luka's strong arms.

"I can't believe it's almost August already," she said. "This year has gone by too fast." Luka stroked her hair and knew what Susan meant by the year going by too fast.

"It's hard to believe it's almost been three months since Mark passed away," he said softly. Susan took Luka's hand in hers and stroked his fingers.

"I miss him. I still expect to see him walking into the lounge, or at Doc Magoo's," Susan admitted. She sighed and added, "Does that sound weird?" Luka kissed her head.

"Not at all," he said. "You were friends with Mark for a long time. It's normal to miss him and to imagine that you'll see him." Susan turned to Luka and smiled.

"Thank you for being so wonderful through all of this. You've been there for me so many times, I've lost count," she added, and kissed Luka. He grinned in return and hugged Susan closer to him.

"I would do anything for you, Susan," he said honestly. "You're very special to me." Susan blushed. Luka was a true romantic. She had heard all of the 'lines' before that men say to women, but with Luka, what he said was what he meant. Susan knew that Luka truly cared for her.

"I believe you when you say that," Susan replied. Luka knew how badly she had been hurt in the past and only wanted to make Susan completely happy.

"I wouldn't ever lie to you," he replied. "I won't ever hurt you." Susan opened her mouth to respond, but Luka put his finger on her lips. "Let me finish, please, or I'm afraid I won't be able to find the right words again." Susan closed her mouth and Luka continued. "I don't know if I've ever felt for anyone what I feel for you. Susan, I think about you all day and all night. I want to be with you all of the time. When we're together, I feel complete, I feel whole. When you're not there, it's as though a part of me is missing." Susan smiled and Luka added, "You've made me a better person." He grinned. "I love you." Susan felt tears of joy spring to her eyes and she laughed as Luka gently wiped them away.

"I love you, Luka Kovac," she responded. "Nobody has ever said such beautiful things to me before."

"I meant every word of it," Luka said as he kissed Susan once again. "I love you. I want to be with you. I want to feel as happy as I do right now."

"We're going to have such a wonderful life together," Susan said. Luka kissed her again, and then they sat back, watched the sunset, and fell more in love.

~~~~The End~~~~




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