**Chapter 10: "Secrets and Lies"**

The next morning, Pam walked into the hospital, feeling a sense of unease wash over her. The encounter with Luka the night before had left her breathless, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she was torn in two different directions. As she made her way to the social work department, she caught a glimpse of Carter in the ER, his eyes locked on hers as he rushed to attend to a patient. Pam's heart skipped a beat as their eyes met, and for a moment, she felt like she was drowning in the depths of his gaze. She quickly looked away, trying to compose herself, but the feeling of being drawn to him lingered. Later that day, Luka approached her in the hospital hallway, his eyes searching hers. "Pam, can I talk to you for a minute?" he asked, his voice low and gentle. Pam nodded, feeling a sense of trepidation. They stepped into a quiet room, and Luka closed the door behind them. "I wanted to talk to you about last night," he said, his eyes locked on hers. "I feel like I can be myself around you, and I was wondering if...if maybe you'd like to grab dinner with me sometime?" Pam's heart skipped a beat as she processed his words. She had been drawn to Luka, but she couldn't ignore the feelings she had developed for Carter as well. "Luka, I...I care about you," she said, trying to tread carefully. "But I need to be honest with you. I've developed feelings for both you and Carter." Luka's face fell, and for a moment, Pam worried that she had hurt him. But then, his expression changed, and he looked at her with a mix of sadness and understanding. "I had a feeling," he said. "But I had to ask. I couldn't help but feel drawn to you." Pam felt a pang of guilt, knowing that she had put Luka in a difficult position. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Luka nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. "Don't be sorry, Pam. You can't help how you feel. But I need to be honest with you too. I have feelings for you, and I was hoping that maybe...maybe we could explore something." As Luka finished speaking, the door to the room opened, and Carter walked in, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on Pam and Luka. "Hey, guys," he said, his voice casual, but his eyes betraying a hint of tension. "What's going on?" Pam felt a surge of anxiety, knowing that she had to navigate this situation carefully. But before she could respond, Carter's eyes locked on hers, and she saw a flicker of something there, something that looked almost like...longing. "Carter, can I talk to you for a minute?" Pam asked, trying to sound calm. Carter nodded, and they stepped out into the hallway, leaving Luka behind. "What's going on, Pam?" Carter asked, his eyes searching hers. Pam took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts. "I need to be honest with you," she said. "Luka asked me out, and I told him that I have feelings for both of you." Carter's face fell, and for a moment, Pam worried that she had hurt him. But then, his expression changed, and he looked at her with a mix of sadness and understanding. "I had a feeling," he said. "But I had to take a chance. I care about you, Pam, and I was hoping that maybe...maybe we could explore something." Pam felt a pang of guilt, knowing that she had put Carter in a difficult position. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Carter nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. "Don't be sorry, Pam. You can't help how you feel. But I need to be honest with you too. I have feelings for you, and I was hoping that maybe...maybe we could be together." As Carter finished speaking, Pam felt like she was torn in two different directions. She cared about both men, and she didn't know how to choose between them. The secrets and lies were starting to strain their relationships, and Pam knew that she had to make a decision soon. But for now, she just stood there, frozen in uncertainty, as the two men she cared about looked at her with hopeful eyes.