Title: A Little Too Green
Author: Averie
Date: February 25, 2001
Spoilers: Nothing really.. just as long as you know that Abby and Luka are together.. =)
Disclaimer: I own none of these characters. They all belong to NBC.
***********************
Luka walked into the ER. He was on the graveyard shift tonight.

"What's with all the decorations?" Luka asked, indicating the bright green leprechauns and green streamers hanging from the ceilings.

"In about half an hour it's Saint Patrick's day." Frank said.

"Saint Patrick's day?" Luka asked questionably.

"It's an Irish holiday that we celebrate." Frank said.

Luka merely nodded, and then walked into the doctors' lounge, where he stowed away his belongings. He then walked to the Admin area, picking up 
a chart and heading to exam four. When he pulled back the curtain, he saw a green leprechaun. At first he shook his head several times to make 
sure he was seeing things straight.

"Hello, Mr. -- " Luka said, looking at the chart, " -- Chako. What seems to be the problem?"

"Someone is always after me lucky charms." Mr. Chako said, in an Irish accent, "he knocked me over and took em. He took em I tell ya!"

"We'll sew up the cut on your forehead." Luka said.

Luka turned to Lily. "Get a psych consult down here." Luka said.

Luka turned back to Mr. Chako and began sewing up the laceration.

"Always after me lucky charms." Luka muttered as he continued to sew the laceration.

******

"So what's this 'Saint Patrick's Day'?" Luka asked Abby as they stood by the Admin desk, waiting for something to come in.

"It's an Irish holiday. It's an old myth that a leprechaun was always at the end of every rainbow with a pot of gold. If you followed the rainbow 
to the end, you got the pot of gold. On Saint Patrick's Day, you wear green, because that's the clothing that the leprechaun wears. Another symbol 
of Saint Patrick's Day is the clover. Which you'll probably see a lot of." Abby said.

"So what are the festivities of Saint Patrick's Day?" Luka asked.
  
"Weeell.. In my family we go to the parade, and drink our asses off. Care to join me?" Abby asked.

Luka pondered a second. He wanted to have some fun. "Sure."

"Great. I get off at eight. I'll wait til you get off your shift." Abby said.

"I get off at 8:15. At this pace, I'll meet you at eight." Luka said.

*******

8:00 AM

"Ready?" Abby asked.

"Yeah. I just hope I am prepared for your festivities." Luka said.

"Ah.. don't worry. You'll live. Just be ready for anything I throw at ya." Abby said.

They walked out of the ER and into the streets of Chicago.

"First stop. The parade." Abby said, walking up the steps of the El.

Luka stood there for a second, waiting for the news of going to a parade to sink in. It would never. Luka just followed Abby to the El, and boarded 
the train. They got about five stops later, in Chicago's most commercial area. They stood on the El Platform, staring down at the hords of people. 
The subway ran parallel to the parade, so they stood as they saw the floats come down the street. The floats were traditional, but Luka looked up at 
them as if he were seeing it for the first time.

"Are they that interesting?" Abby asked.

"This is the first parade I've ever been to." Luka said.

"You're kidding right?"

"Nope. In Croatia they never had big floats. At least not as big as these." Luka said.

As the parade came to a close, Abby and Luka got back onto the El.

"Where are we going now?" Luka asked.

"The Pub." Abby said.

"Abby.. it's one o' clock in the afternoon." Luka said, not believing this.

"So?" Abby said, looking at Luka. "It's Saint Patrick's Day."

Abby walked onto the train platform. Luka followed, still not believing this was a ritual of hers. They got off two stops later, and walked into a 
Pub that was familiar to Luka. Over there, Luka saw Mark, Elizabeth, Peter, Cleo, Dave and Kerry sat at a booth in the back of the pub. Luka and 
Abby walked up to them.

"Mind if we join you?" Abby asked.

"Sure." Kerry said, "Grab a few chairs."

They ordered beers and chatted.

"Keep the drinks coming." Luka said. Luka was on his fifth beer of the night. "Rounds for everyone here."

"Luka, are you okay?" Abby asked, as she took a sip of her club soda.

"Yeah I'm fine. Just getting into the Saint Patrick's Day spirit." Luka said.

Abby watched as Luka became almost too mellow for his own good. He walked up to the jukebox and picked a song. He walked back over to Abby.

"Dance with me." Luka said, taking Abby's hand and leading her to the dance floor.

"Luka, are you drunk?" Abby asked.

"Yes." Luka said bluntly. "And I love you."

"I'm sure you do, Luka." Abby said, as she danced with him. Abby looked over his shoulder at the rest of the gang. They were just as drunk as Luka.
 They just kept chugging down the green beer. Abby just saw Kerry jump on the table and pretend she was surfing.

"Oh my goodness. Luka, look at Kerry." Abby said, "I've never seen her mellow out like that."

"It's scary, yes I know." Luka said, swinging Abby all over the place.

"Okay, Luka. You're VERY drunk." Abby said, laughing, "You look cute when you're drunk."

"Thanks. I need some more green beer." Luka said, as they walked back to the booth, "Do you want anything?"

"Yeah, how about some green jello and some of that green cake?" Abby said.

"Sure, anything for my love." Luka said, and he went off the get the food.

"So, you and Luka are hitting it off pretty well." Mark said, taking another sip of green beer.

"Yeah, only tonight he's too drunk." Abby said, laughing a little, "He's a cute drunk though."

Luka returned with green jello and green cake, toped off with small clovers.

"Ahh.. the good stuff." Abby said as she ate.

*****

The end of the day only came too soon. Luka was a bit too drunk by then, so Abby called a cab. A few minutes later, a green cab pulled up in front 
of them. Abby and Luka got in, and they went home. Ironically, the hotel was decked out in green leprechauns taking pictures with little kids. An awful 
lot like Christmas if ya ask me.

THE END