Africa

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, Carter and Luka are not my characters; they belong to Michael Chrichton and those people. I don't make any money off this either.

Kisangani, The Democratic Republic of the Congo

2 days later Carter was onboard a flight to Kinshasa, then taking a jeep to Kisangani where Luka was. Luka greeted him with a smile and an awkward hug. Carter smiled back at him.

The first day, Carter wasn't treating patients, he just observed what was procedure there and met the other volunteers. Later that evening, the volunteers all met up, talking about their experiences in the Congo. Carter ended up spending most of the night talking to Luka about practically everything; Europe, America, medicine, war, love. Carter even told Luka about how lonely he'd been feeling for a long time now, and Luka just smiled softly at him and said that he understood that feeling. He'd had the same feeling for a long time too. He'd led a pretty pitiful life for the past year or so; sleeping with as many women as possible but not really feeling anything. That was a reason to why he'd decided to volunteer in the Congo; he wanted to figure out what he wanted. Their conversation was really intense and more than one time, Carter felt himself getting lost in Luka's beautiful eyes and he wished he could just lean over and kiss Luka. But the only thing they didn't talk about was how Carter felt about Luka… Carter couldn't even explain that to himself.

Carter noticed a nurse, Gillian, who was flirting with Luka, but he didn't seem to be very interested. Carter grinned to himself. He was happy to be here with Luka, even when he could hear explosions not so far away. He couldn't quite explain how he felt, but whenever he was close to Luka, he immediately felt better. And secretly Luka felt the same way. They didn't really need an extra doctor, sure it couldn't hurt, but Luka had found himself missing Carter and had seized the opportunity to bring him closer to him. And Luka was happy that he did. Now Carter was sitting there, 3 feet away from him, smiling. Luka smiled back at him. The conversation they'd just had, had been an eye-opener to Luka and was making him realize how much he liked Carter. Not just as a good friend, but as something more. Someone who really understood him, and who felt the same things as him.

When the group of volunteers, slowly dissolved, Luka showed Carter his tent. It was right next to Luka's.

"So… anyway… goodnight John" Luka said, leaning his strong arm against the tent and smiling at Carter.

"Goodnight Luka" Carter smiled slowly and suppressed a yawn. It had been a long day.

Luka slowly turned around and walked to his own tent, when Carter said:

"Hey Luka… I'm glad you called me" he smiled softly at Luka, who returned the smile and said

"Me too"

Carter would have given just about anything to follow Luka into his tent and lie next to him, feeling his hot body. It was (literally!) getting hard for Carter to act business-as-usual around Luka, but he did his best; after all Luka hadn't given him the impression that he wanted to be more than friends. What Carter didn't know was that Luka more than anything wanted to be more than friends with him. Luka was gathering all his strength to keep from ripping Carter's clothes off and kissing his way through his body. But right now sleeping in separate tents would have to do.

"Goodnight Carter"

Carter smiled a shy smile: "Goodnight Luka".

The next morning was very busy. Carter got to work on patients too, and it didn't last long before injured patients came through the doors.

Several days passed, Carter and Luka worked closely together. Carter was moved by how well Luka was handling the patients. Luka was full of sympathy and strength despite of his own past, which Carter knew only little about, though Luka had told him something the other night.
Carter was good with the children, though. Luka was secretly gazing at him, smiling and feeling his heart swell whenever he saw Carter with those kids. Now they were sitting together outside the clinic, offering free vaccinations to the children. Carter's French was terrible, but it made the children laugh and Carter too. Luka couldn't resist smiling either and he even tried teaching Carter some phrases but he managed to screw it up every time, making Luka laugh.

"What?" Carter asked grinning at himself and then locking eyes with Luka.

Luka smiled "It's just…"

And then they were interrupted by Gillian, who told them about a patient, who was shot by the rebels, The Mai Mai. Carter and Luka quickly got to their feet and hurried inside to see the patient. He was barely conscious, mumbling some African phrases. Luka listened to his heart and asked
"comment ça va?" but the man couldn't answer. Carter was examining the wound and he turned to Luka and said

"it doesn't look good… what do we do?"

Luka answered: "We close him up, give him amoxicillin and hope for the best"

Carter nodded and ordered the meds from Gillian. Afterwards they got really busy. They received many patients from a village the Mai Mai had savaged. It was very hard on Carter having been there no more than a week. Luka was handling it better, but deep down he felt like he could crumble any second. He tried acting strong to appease the patients and Carter as well. And it worked; Carter was amazed by Luka's strength.

The African sun set early and the volunteers gathered around a fire drinking vodka. They were all in a state of despair, but trying to cling on to a facade. Carter was sitting on Luka's one side and Gillian was to the other. Carter and Luka's thighs touched and they were both acutely aware of that. Gillian was coming on to Luka, leaning closer towards him and whispering in his ear. Carter felt a sting of jealousy. Discreetly gazing at Luka, Carter didn't do much to try to socialize with the others although he did accept every time his glass was refilled with vodka. He did the best he could to drown his feelings for Luka, the war, the many deaths, the loneliness he was feeling, everything.

Suddenly with no warning, out of nowhere, a mine exploded very close to their camp. They all got down, lying flat on the ground. Luka instinctively pulled Carter down, protecting him. They lay still for a while, Carter trembling under Luka's strong and protective arms. It was only after that Carter realized that Luka had protected him, shielded him. He looked up at Luka, his eyes nearly revealing how he felt about Luka. Luka looked straight back at him, his eyes filled with urgent relief. He had been so afraid about Carter getting hurt.

"Are you ok John?" Luka asked.

Carter was speechless. He was still trembling but he managed to nod. He urgently and without thinking about it, ran his fingers over Luka's body;

"Are you ok Luka?" he asked worried.

"Yes I'm fine" he smiled assuringly at Carter, still holding onto him and reluctant to let go.

"Thank you Luka…"

Carter was still completely thrown back by the whole thing, the explosion, the noise, but most of all how Luka had protected him, pulling him close and placing his arms and upper body on his to shield him. Carter spoke softly, his voice revealing his gratitude and how much he liked having Luka there, his body pressed against his own.

"I'm just glad you're ok" Luka replied softly.

The other volunteers began to rise to their feet, sizing up the damages from the explosion. Luka got up and extended his hand to Carter, helping him get to his feet. They all talked a little about what had just happened, but then rather quickly went into their separate tents, longing for the oblivion of sleep. Luka followed Carter to his tent.

"Goodnight John" he said, standing close to Carter and not really wanting to return to his own tent and a lonely bed.

"Goodnight Luka… and thank you" Carter replied softly and stroking Luka's forearm lightly, testingly.

Their eyes were locked together and then Luka leaned against Carter and gave him a chaste kiss on the lips, expressing how glad he was Carter was ok, in this little gesture. He smiled slowly and then turned around, walking back to his own tent. Carter chuckled and couldn't help smiling. Luka had just kissed him.


TBC...