Showdown

by daveymalucci510

This is the conclusion to the trilogy which included The Ransom of Dr. Dave and Recovery. ALL DR. DAVE FANS PLEASE READ AND REVIEW.

21. DNA

Showdown

Part 21

Carter stood in front of Jing-Mei and the laughing little boy, with his mouth hung open and stunned. Finally, he managed to get out a few words.

Carter: This is Michael. Are you sure?

Jing-Mei: A mother knows her child, even if she did give him up only hours after he was born. I don't expect you to understand that. I felt the connection the moment I saw him.

Carter: Don't you think that maybe it's a pregnant woman's mothering hormones reacting to a child in distress?

Jing-Mei: John, I'm not crazy. This is the baby I gave birth to three years ago. You aren't going to change my mind on that.

Carter: Deb, I'm not trying to. It's just that you've been under stress alot lately, with your pregnancy, Dave, the boys...I don't want to see you getting yourself all worked up over something you want to be true and isn't.

Jing-Mei: I know what I know. If it will convince you, I'll take a blood test...even a DNA test to prove it.

Carter: That would help except one thing.

Jing-Mei: Which is?

Carter: We can't legally take blood or DNA samples from the boy without his parents permission and their dead.

Jing-Mei: I'm his mother. I'll give consent.

The door opens up and in wheels Dave. Their attention goes to him.

Jing-Mei: Dave, you're back so soon.

Dave: Llook Cchin, mmy legs.

Jing-Mei: I see that---no casts. Congratulations, you can start physical therapy again.

Dave: Not ttoo mmuch aat ffirst, ddoc ssays.

Jing-Mei: We know not to push it.

Dave's face lights up when he sees the child and rolls over to the boy and starts to play, keeping both of them occupied.

Jing-Mei: So John, will you run the tests?

Carter: I told you I can't do it, legally without permission unless it's a medical emergency.

Jing-Mei: And I said I give you my permission.

Carter: Not good enough.

Jing-Mei: Why?

Carter: I know a little about the law and there's no proof that this child is yours except your say so. In order to confirm it we have to do the tests. You aren't a problem but the child is. His parents or legal guardians are dead and can't consent. If he is your child, you gave up all legal rights to him. The only way we can do the tests now is if we have the permission of a Department of Child Welfare officer.

Jing-Mei: Then we'll do it that way and that will prove that I'm right. Are you going to call the D.C.W.?

Carter: I think Kerry has Randi doing just that now.

Jing-Mei: I'll keep the baby in here until they arrive.

Carter: I'm not so sure that's a good idea.

Jing-Mei: And why not?

Carter: Because you are getting too attached to him. If he's not your child then...

Jing-Mei: Don't say it. Just go out there and let them know we are in here.

Carter leaves the Maluccis with the boy and re-enters the ER. Meanwhile, Jing-Mei and Dave keep themselves entertained babysitting.

An hour or so passes and Jing-Mei leaves the child with Dave while she sees what is happening in the ER. The ER is starting to get back to order with the exception of the last of the gas explosion victims being taken up to the ICU.

Jing-Mei runs into Kerry at the admit desk.

Jing-Mei: Has anyone seen Carter?

Kerry: He's in doing a pelvic on a possible STD. Why? Is there something I can help you with?

Jing-Mei: No, it's a personal matter.

Kerry: I thought you left hours ago.

Jing-Mei: No, I was waiting for Dave to get his x-rays back when they started bringing in the victims of the explosion.

Kerry: That was hours ago. What are you still doing here? Dave can't possibly be still waiting, can he?

Jing-Mei: No, he got them back awhile ago and he's had his casts removed. We've been kind of watching one of the children of a couple that was brought in from the explosion.

Kerry: And the child's parents?

Jing-Mei: Dead---both of them. As a matter of fact, I'm waiting for DCW to come down to see the boy. Tell Carter, I'll be back in the lounge when he's done.

Jing-Mei turns towards the lounge but is stopped.

Kerry: Wait, Jing-Mei. Can I ask you something?

Jing-Mei: Could I stop you?

Kerry: Hmmm. You've been married to Malucci too long. That boy from the explosion---you weren't thinking of adopting him, were you?

Jing-Mei: He's already mine in a sense.

Kerry gives her a puzzling look.

Jing-Mei: I believe he is the baby I gave up for adoption, three years ago.

On that note, Jing-Mei continues on to the lounge leaving a stunned Kerry behind. Before she can enter the lounge, she is stopped again. She is approached by Carter, Adele---a County social worker and another woman who she doesn't recognize.

Carter: Deb, look who I ran into coming out of Exam 1.

Jing-Mei: Adele, how are you?

Adele: Fine. Dr Chen, this is Helen Glasgow with the Dept. of Child Welfare.

Jing-Mei: Nice to meet you, Ms. Glasgow.

Ms. Glasgow: Same here. Dr. Carter has told me that there is question about a young boy's identity.

Jing-Mei: Yes. I put a son up for adoption almost immediately after he was born. I think the child in here is my son.

Ms. Glasgow: How do you know? The boy was a newborn when you gave him up.

Jing-Mei: Like I told Carter. A mother knows her child. That's him, alright. I can prove it if you will allow a blood and DNA test on him.

Adele: I don't see the harm in that, Ms. Glasgow.

Ms. Glasgow: What about the adoptive parents? Have you ever met them?

Jing-Mei: Briefly after the baby was born.

Ms. Glasgow: Could you identify them?

Jing-Mei: Maybe. I don't know.

Carter: I was Dr. Chen's coach when she had the baby. I met them too but I couldn't ID them. They were too badly burnt.

Adele: You remember their names, don't you? They must have been carrying some kind of ID on them like a wallet, driver's license, organ donor card...something.

Carter: Nothing has been brought to our attention yet. I spoke with the M.E. They said they're probably going to need to ID them with dental records.

Adele: How horrible.

Jing-Mei: So, Ms. Glasgow, can we do the tests to learn the truth?

Ms. Glasgow: I suppose so. Only to rule out the possibility of you being the biological mother. We are still going to need the positive ID from the M.E. with the dental records.

Carter: If Dr. Chen is right, and that's her son in there, what happens then?

Ms. Glasgow: Let's take one step at a time. We will cross that bridge, if we come to it.

Adele, Ms. Glasgow and the two doctors enter the lounge to find a beautiful site. Dave is laying on the couch with the baby on his chest and his arms wrapped around the little guy. Both are fast asleep.

Carter, Adele, Jing-Mei and Mrs. Glasgow: AHHHHH!!!!!

Ms. Glasgow: What do we have here?

Jing-Mei: That's my husband. He was kind of babysitting when they fell asleep. They've both had a long day.

Carter: One thing's for sure, the baby certainly had a big pillow to lie on.

Jing-Mei(licking her lips): Firm and comfortable one too.

Jing-Mei starts fanning herself with her hand.

Jing-Mei: Is anyone else in here getting hot?

Jing-Mei walks over to the sleeping "babies" and gently nudges the bigger one awake.

Jing-Mei: Dave, come on. You have to wake up, now.

Dave slowly comes to and he blurry eyed looks around the room to see his visitors. Then he looks down his chest to see the baby still asleep.

Dave(putting one finger to his lips): SHHHHH!!!

Jing-Mei: It's alright, Dave. We just need to borrow him for a moment.

Jing-Mei gently removes the child from Dave's protective arms but he wakes up and starts crying. Dave reaches back for him and Jing-Mei places the upset little boy back into her husband's arms where he instantly stops crying.

Dave: Hhhe lllikes Dddavey.

Adele: We can see that. Would it be alright if Dr. Dave here, held the child during the tests?

Carter: I think that's the only way we are going to get him to behave for the tests.

The group went into an exam room and both the baby and Jing-Mei were given the blood and DNA tests. After both were done, Dave opened his mouth wide waiting for his turn.

Jing-Mei: Sorry Dave, there's no need for you to have this done.

Dave quickly shut his mouth and started to pout.

Adele: I believe he wants to have the tests done too.

Carter: Sure, why not. If it will make him happy.

Carter positions Dave's arm and starts to tap for a vein. He places a tourniquet around Dave's large bicep and as he's preparing the needle, Dave rebels. He starts shaking his arm trying to undo the tourniquet.

Carter: Whoa, there big guy. I thought this is what you wanted?

Dave: Nnno nneedle. Yyyuck.

Dave opens his mouth up again and starts swishing his tongue around. Jing-Mei lets out a small giggle.

Jing-Mei: I get it. You just want to have your mouth swabbed out.

Dave nods, excitedly.

Carter: Ooohh.

Carter unwraps a fresh swab and goes to work in Dave's mouth. Once he's done he places it in a sterile container as he did Jing-Mei's and the baby's. Dave started to laugh.

Jing-Mei: You liked that, didn't you?

Dave: Tttickle.

Ms. Glasgow: Ah yeah. That was real cute so how soon before we get the results?

Carter: Depending how far backed up they are in the lab, I'd say a few hours.

Ms. Glasgow: Fine. Adele, have you found suitable housing for the boy until we know the results?

Adele: No, but I have a few places in mind.

Jing-Mei: I thought maybe he could stay with us until we know for sure.

Ms. Glasgow: Not possible. You aren't certified foster parents, are you?

Jing-Mei: No, but we are two doctors who have two other children. Who would be better suited to care for him, especially if I am his natural mother.

Ms. Glasgow: Sorry, but unless you are certified it's out of my hands. Adele, take the boy away.

Regretfully, Adele reached over to Dave and took the boy from him. The baby started to cry again.

Dave: Nnno, llittle oone. Hhhe mmy ffriend. Give mme hhim!

With Jing-Mei's and Carter's help, Adele was able to pry the baby from Malucci. The doctors held Dave back as he continued to reach out and grab the boy. Adele and Ms. Glasgow left. The baby could be heard crying all the way down the hall and Dave was screaming inside the room.

Dave: Dddon't ttake bbaby aaway!!! Ddon't ttake baby away!!

Jing-Mei grabbed a tissue and wiped his face and gently held him in her arms while he shook. Carter stood by and watched.

Jing-Mei took a depressed Dave home. She parked in the driveway and a flood of people came out to meet them. Mrs. Peterson was holding Antonio and Rusty and Larry were there. Jing-Mei and Larry helped Dave into his chair and Rusty handed Dave a box.

Rusty: Look papa. It's a jetplane and we get to put it together.

Dave stared at it a moment and pushed it aside.

Larry: Hey, pal. What's got you so down?

Jing-Mei: He gets like this sometimes. I think it's a side effect to some of his medication.

Mrs. Peterson: I thought he'd be happy since he was finally getting his casts off.

Jing-Mei: Who knows what goes on inside his head when he gets these mood swings.

Larry: I know something that would cheer him up. If I have your permission to borrow him for this evening.

Jing-Mei: Another excursion. Sure, but have him home before 6pm tonight. Melanie will be here to work with him.

Larry: Will do. Come on, big guy. Let's go for a ride.

Larry got Dave into his car and the family waved goodbye as Larry pulled away. He took Dave back to his house again to try the stairs. Larry lifted Dave out of the chair and placed him on his belly against the stairs.

Larry: Go ahead, start climbing.

Dave hesitated.

Larry: What's wrong?

Dave: Ccan't do.

Larry: Yes, you can. It should be much easier for you now, with your legs free of plaster. So, go ahead.

Against Dave's will, Larry started to lift Dave from one step to another.

Larry: Fine, I'll help you then.

Dave: Nnno, I ddo mmyself.

Dave pulled his weakened body up the stairs, slowly taking one step at a time and grunting in pain while Larry stood back and smirked and at the same time keeping his guard up to grab Dave if he slipped.

After almost an hour, Dave finally made it to the top. Larry got him back down to the bottom again. He walked out of the room and returned with a package for Dave.

Larry: Very good, now we're going to try it with this.

Shortly before 5pm, Larry pulled into the Malucci driveway. Jing-Mei came out to help move Dave. Larry got out of the car, retrieved Dave's chair from the back and pushed it to his side of the car. Jing-Mei looked in the window to see that Dave's mood hasn't changed a bit. If anything, he was even angrier. When she opened the car door, she saw why. Dave was sitting there with his right arm bound in an immoblizer.

Jing-Mei: You put that on him again.

Larry: Yeah, I think he is far enough into his therapy where he's ready for this. I've done just about all I could with that side of him, now it's time to see if he is ever going to regain the use of his left side.

Jing-Mei: If that's what's best for him. You're his physical therapist. I guess you know what you're doing.

Larry: I really do think this will help him a great deal. Dave's a good man, I would never want to hurt him.

Jing-Mei: Right. How long will he have to wear that thing?

Larry: How are his eating skills so far?

Jing-Mei: If you're asking me can he feed himself, well yeah--he can. He still has alot of trouble with his hand-eye coordination so most of the food doesn't always make it into his mouth on the first try. And that's with his right hand---his good hand. If you expect him to try to eat using his left, then he'll starve first.

Larry: Well, I think, for now, you can take it off him when he eats and sleeps. Other than that, he should wear it most of time. The more he wears it the more use to it, he'll get. Hopefully, in time we will see alot of improvement in his left side movement. Well, I have to get going now. You got him from here?

Jing-Mei: See you tomorrow. By the way, are you doing anything this weekend?

Larry: I'll have to check my schedule. Why?

Jing-Mei: It's Rusty's birthday and we're going to have a little party for him.

Larry: I'll try my best to make it.

Jing-Mei pushed Dave into the house and up to the dinner table. She removed the immobilizer while Mrs. Peterson brought him his dinner. Dave let out a big sigh as the strap was undone.

Jing-Mei: Was that too tight on you?

Dave: Hhhate it.

Jing-Mei: I know but it's all part of getting you better.

The family sat down for dinner. Half way through the meal, the doorbell rang. Jing-Mei answered it, then walked back into the dining room with Melanie. Mrs. Peterson helped clean Dave up, although he fought her on it.

Dave: Mmyself do. Nnnot baby.

Mrs. Peterson: Alright sir. As you wish.

She handed him a damp washcloth and he started smacking it on his face getting small spurts of water everywhere. When he was done, he saw out of the corner of his eye, Jing-Mei coming with his immobilizer again. He started to whine.

Jing-Mei: Now Dave, we've been through this already.

It took all three ladies to steady Dave long enough to get the device on him. But once on, he realized he was left helpless and at their mercy. The family retreated to the living room and gave Dave and Melanie their privacy. She put down a recorder and some audio tapes. Then she laid a book out in front of Dave, and had him start reading it.

Every so often, Rusty stuck his head in the door and watched.

Jing-Mei: Rusty, I told you not to go in there. Stay in here with us.

Rusty moved back to the couch and continued to watch tv.

Rusty: What papa and Melny doing in there?

Jing-Mei: It's Melanie and she's helping your papa with his reading skills.

Rusty: She's teaching papa how to read? I could do that.

Jing-Mei: I'm afraid it's not that simple, Rusty.

Rusty started to sulk. Jing-Mei and Mrs. Peterson started to notice.

Mrs. Peterson: I'm sure you can help your papa though.

Rusty began to smile.

Rusty: Yeah, cause I'm gonna be eight years old and I know all kinds of words.

The phone rings and Jing-Mei gets up to answer it.

Mrs. Peterson: Yeah, I bet you do. But you are only going to teach your daddy the good words. The other ones I think he knows or will learn somewhere else. So, what do you want for your birthday?

Jing-Mei(into the phone): Malucci residence.

Carter: Deb, we have the results of your tests.

To be continued. Please read and review.