Goodbye Kiss

44. One Can Only Hope

One Can Only Hope
Season 9 x 06
Early November, 2002:

i put off taking to luka for a long time. i guess this petition went around the hospital for luka to be suspended, though. to put it in simple terms, things were bad. i felt as if it was partly my fault. it seemed like my nurses were as mad at me as luka.
now i was on my way to meet with romano about it...
that's just how i would like to spend my morning, huh?
i put on a pair of black pants with a long sleeve, twisting my hair up in a clip.
——
i looked at my watch, walking down the hallway of the ER.
"didn't think you were on yet" abby said, confused.
"i'm getting sent to the principals office" i frowned
"oh, because of luka?"
i nodded my head
"better get going"
"hate to keep romano waiting" i smiled
"good luck with that" she cackled as i headed to the elevator.
i headed up to his office, turning the corner and into his room.
"i'm so grateful you could make it gianna" he smiled
"nice to see you too" i smiled, sitting in a black leather chair.
weaver and the head nurse took a seat aswell. sat in front of romano was a plate of fruit he was eating.
"let's get to the point" he spoke, chewing on a piece cantaloupe.
"i want an investigation to take place on dr. luka kovac" the nurse manager said
i looked down, raising my eyebrows.
that was sure straight to the point.
"i think that's fair for the meantime" weaver agreed
"gianna?"
"i disagree" i shrugged
"i know i'm partly to blame because i haven't found the time to talk to dr. kovac"
"but i don't think this is anything i can't work out with my nursing staff" i shrugged
"i have a petition right here that your nurses signed, ms. coletti" she continued, pointing to her papers.
"i heard about that" i nodded
"i think this is all a miscommunication"
"the ER is stressful and aggravating, you can't deny th-"
"well, maybe that's because you've had a different experience with dr kovac" the head nurse snickered
"excuse me?" i said, raising my eyebrows.
i sat up more straight.
"that's what this is about" romano laughed
"the nurses are suckers for the accent, huh?"
"dr. kovac has shown repeated behaviour even after conversation from dr. lewis" weaver sighed.
i looked at romano who stuck a piece of watermelon in his mouth.
"majority rules" he shrugged
"we'll suspend him for a week"
"and maybe you nurses need to dial down the obsession"
i looked down at my lap, then back up at romano.
"thank you, dr. romano" i sighed, standing up.
"gianna, i'd like a word with you" weaver said, following me.
"sure" i said, stopping outside romano's office.
"you can break the news to the nursing staff?"
"sure" i nodded
"i'll talk to them, too" i added
"good"
"i want you to also council luka, too, gianna"
"really?"
"yeah, you seem to be the only nurse he's getting along with"
"okay" i sighed
"your shift is this afternoon?"
"yeah"
"i'll see you then"

i came down that elevator with a pit in my stomach. at least romano was sympathetic toward me. for some odd reason he always was.
i felt like all of this was my fault. over working, not confronting luka or chuny sooner. i don't know, i felt mad. it was out of line for that charge nurse to call me and other nurses out like that.
before i could break the bad news to luka, kerry already did. and boy, did he give me side eye walking out of this place.
i followed him, of course.
"luka, i'm sorry" i shouted down the ambulance bay
"i'm suspended!"
"i tried to defend you" i added, catching up to him.
"it's fine" he said, rolling his eyes.
"it's not!"
he walked around the corner.
i rolled my eyes and walked the other way, to my car.
i ran my hand through my hair, walking down the sidewalk.
god, god, god, gianna.
i found my car and got into it, resting my head against the seat.
luka followed me around the car.
i unrolled my window down, looking at him.
he looked at me.
"i have to council you" i said, trying not to laugh
a smirk appeared on his face as he bent down to the window.
then, he leaned in, kissing my lips.
i let out a laugh.
he opened my car door and leaned into the car further.
"luka" i whispered in between kisses
"i don't know if this is counting as counselling"
"i think it might"
"only if you promise to stop being nau-"