Showdown
Part 54
Three days went passed when Jing-Mei arrived at the admit desk in the ER. She was approached by several of her co-workers.
Mark: You haven't dropped that baby yet, Jing-Mei?
Jing-Mei: No. Not yet.
Kerry: Are you alright, Jing-Mei?
Jing-Mei: Not really.
Kerry: What's wrong? Are you sick? Is something wrong with the baby? Is that why you're here?
Jing-Mei: No, physically I'm fine. The baby's fine too. As a matter a fact, I'm here for an appointment with Dr. Evans. Emotionally, I'm a wreck.
Carter: What is it? Dave's okay, right?
Jing-Mei: I guess. It's not like I've seen him lately.
Mark: I don't get it. Where's he at?
Jing-Mei: In the bedroom.
Carter: You lost me, now?
Jing-Mei: Tomorrow's my due date and it should be the happiest day of our lives, provided that I actually do delivery on schedule. Instead, it'll be one of the worst.
Mark: Why's that?
Jing-Mei: It's Mrs. Peterson's funeral.
Carter: Right. I am so sorry about your loss. I know how close you guys were.
The staff offers Jing-Mei their condolences.
Jing-Mei: She was truly a wonderful friend and will dearly be missed.
Kerry: How are the boys taken it?
Jing-Mei: It's hard for all of us. Rusty, seems to be handling it alright...at least in front of me. I know he's hurting though. I'm really not sure if Tei and Antonio understand.
Carter: And Malucci?
Jing-Mei: He's taken it the hardest. She was like a second mother to him. Dave kind of adopted her and now she's gone, he's locked himself away again.
Luka: Poor guy. Everytime he comes out of his shell, something happens that pushes him back in again.
Jing-Mei: Yeah, I know. Well, maybe once he's back working here part time, he'll loosen up again.
Kerry: Any word yet from the medical board?
Jing-Mei: No. I saw Dr. Romano and he assured me that we should have an answer by the end of the week.
Carter: I hope everything works out for him. He definitely deserves a break for once.
Jing-Mei: Keep your fingers crossed for him.
Kerry: We will.
The staff turns and looks at Kerry strangely.
Kerry: What? (pause) Alright, I'll admit it. There is a soft spot in me for Malucci and yes, I do miss having him around here. I can say what I want about Malucci, but there was never a dull moment around here with him on duty.
Jing-Mei looks at her watch.
Jing-Mei: Sorry, but I've got to go. My father is staying with the boys until I get back home. I may need to use his babysitting services again so I don't want to push my luck and take advantage of it by leaving him stuck there all day. I said I would only be a couple of hours and I should be on my way now.
Mark: Call if you need anything.
Jing-Mei enters the house to find her father reading to Tei and Antonio curled up on the floor with Rascal next to him. She walks over and gives her father a kiss.
Tei: Mommy!
Jing-Mei: Hi baby. Hi daddy. How's everything? The boys behaving themselves?
Mr. Chen: Perfect angels. The little one over there has been sleeping most of the afternoon so this fellow here has been keeping me entertained.
Jing-Mei: Where's Rusty?
Mr. Chen: Out on his bike. That's okay, isn't it?
Jing-Mei: Fine. What about Dave?
Mr. Chen: Still hasn't left the bedroom. I hear movement going on in there but the door hasn't opened since I've been here. I don't think I'm ever going to get a chance to meet my son-in-law.
Jing-Mei: You will. He's just upset about tomorrow. Excuse me.
Jing-Mei exits the living room and walks towards the bedroom. She gently raps on the door.
Jing-Mei: Dave? Are you alright in there?
Patiently waiting a few minutes and receiving no answer, Jing-Mei abruptly gets her spare key and unlocks the bedroom door. Once she enters, she can see her husband awake in the bed with the covers pulled up almost over his head. He lowers them at the sight of her and then quickly pulls them back up again and starts to snore.
Jing-Mei: I know you're awake, Dave. You can stop pretending.
Dave: Go wway. Leave aalone mme.
Jing-Mei: I will not. We are going to have this out once and for all.
Jing-Mei grabs at the blankets and after several tugs, frees them from Dave's grasp. She pulls them completely off him and throws them on the floor. Dave rolls over onto his back and pulls himself up in a seated position. He starts to twist his ring on his right hand around.
Jing-Mei: I just came from Dr. Evans and she says that the baby should be along any day now. It would have been nice if you came along with me. Dr. Evans likes to discuss the future baby with both the parents and answer any questions they might have. I'm sure you have alot of questions about your new child.
Dave: Ddon't care 'bout bbaby.
Jing-Mei: Now, I know that's not true. You love children and you were so excited about this one coming, how can you say that?
Dave: What bbig deal?
Jing-Mei: The big deal is that this is your child too and you need to take a little responsibility for it now and even more so after it arrives.
Dave: Mine dday one, nnot nnext day.
Jing-Mei: What is that suppose to mean?
Dave: Bbaby go way, ttake wway mme from.
Jing-Mei: No one is going to take our baby away from us.
Dave: Nnot ffrom yyou, mme from.
Jing-Mei: What makes you say that?
Dave: I bbad ddoctor, tthat's why mmommy go 'way.
Jing-Mei: Oh, so that's what this is all about. Dave, Mrs. Peterson didn't leave you on purpose. She died. She didn't want it to happen, none of us did...but it did and there's nothing we can do about it.
Dave: Mmiss mmommy.
Jing-Mei: So, do I. We all do. She was wonderful with the boys and she adored you. We will always miss her and she will never be replaced.
Dave: Sshe ppromise tteach mme ccook.
Jing-Mei: I know and if you still want to learn we can get you some lessons. Okay?
Dave: No. Not same.
Jing-Mei's attention focuses on Dave's hand. She watches momentarily as he twists his ring around on his finger. Finally, she is pulled back into reality.
Jing-Mei: You're right. It won't be the same. Dave, is something the matter with your hand?
Dave: Ffine hand.
Jing-Mei: What about your finger? Is that ring too tight on you. Maybe you should take it off for a while and give your finger some air. In the entire time I have known you, I don't think I ever seen you without that ring on. They tried to get it off you in the hospital but I guess your finger swelled cause they couldn't budge it. Let me have a go at it.
Jing-Mei approached Dave and reached for his hand when Dave pulled away from her.
Dave: MY RRING. DDON'T TOUCH!
Jing-Mei: Alright, I won't. It's your ring, right. If you don't want me to touch it, I won't.
Jing-Mei agreed to leave the ring alone and Dave pushed himself close to her again, still playing with it.
Jing-Mei: You know, Mrs. Peterson is going to be buried tomorrow and I think she would just love it if you would sing at her funeral. Will you do it?
Dave shrugs.
Jing-Mei: You know you want to. Besides, Mrs. Peterson always loved to hear you sing. She said you have a beautiful voice and she's right.
Dave: Mommy bbe tthere listen tto me.
Jing-Mei: She'll be there, all right...but I don't think she'll be able to hear...(thinking it over a moment) Yes, I believe she will hear you sing tomorrow.
Dave: She's ccoming bback jjust hhear Davey sing.
Jing-Mei: I don't understand.
Dave: Ruzzy, ssays sshe went heaven. Wwhy ccan't she ccome bback stay if she can come hhear mme ssing?
Jing-Mei: She just can't. Dave, when people die, they go to heaven and live with God. But she's not alone up there. She has her son and her husband up there and...
Dave: Mmy bbrother, Grant.
Jing-Mei: You do realize that she's not your real mother, Dave?
Dave nods.
Dave: I know tthat. My rreal mmommy lleave mme too. She ddidn't wwant bbe with Davey ttoo.
Dave starts twisting the ring around more and more, faster and faster at the mention of his mother's name. Jing-Mei notices it.
Jing-Mei: That's not true. Your real mommy and Mrs. Peterson loved you and would never leave you unless they had to.
Dave lets out a big yawn and starts to slide down into the bed, still fidgeting with the ring. Jing-Mei strokes his brow.
Jing-Mei: You get some sleep, sweetheart and I'll see you in a little bit.
Jing-Mei gets up from the bed and heads towards the door when she is stopped in her tracks by a small voice.
Dave: I ddo it. Ii ssing ffor mmommy 'morrow.
Jing-Mei: I'm glad.
The next day at the funeral, several members of the ER stopped by to pay their respects to the Maluccis. Jing-Mei tried to comfort Mr. Santini as he was still shaken by her sudden death. Rusty felt his pain and loss for his Grandma Peterson. Tei kind of got the idea what the funeral was all about, remembering his adoptive parents' memorial service, but this being Antonio's first funeral, he was still confused as was his father. Dave sat by her casket for most of the viewing. He held her hand and despite it being cold, he would kiss it and continue to try to wake her up. At church, Dave sang "Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton. He manage to impress his former ER co-workers, who were surprised how well he played the piano and sing without stuttering.
Elizabeth: Dave plays beautiful and who'd guess he have such a nice voice.
Jing-Mei: He does. Mrs. Peterson always appreciated it. She would always encourage him to sing to help with his stutter. That's what his speech therapist would tell us. She said it helped alot of stutterers before and it also seemed to relax Dave as well.
Carter: Relaxed perhaps, but it seems he still has trouble with his left hand.
Jing-Mei: He'll never have full use of it, but he manages with his right just fine.
Back at the house after all the guests left, Jing-Mei asked Mr. Santini to stay with them for a few days, not wanting him to be alone again. He declined but she left the offer opened for him. Dave went straight into his bedroom when they got back from the funeral and hasn't come out since. He didn't greet the others when they arrived, but they all understood that he was still coming to terms with his grief. Jing-Mei had decided that it was best if she just let him be alone for awhile.
Mr. Santini, who was staying for dinner was playing with the children in the living room when Jing-Mei headed into the bedroom to check on Dave. She was stopped by the ringing of the phone. She answered it and after several minutes she continued on her way back to the bedroom. She knocked on the door.
Jing-Mei: Dave, open the door. I have some good news for you. This should cheer you up. Dave.
After a minute or so, she tried the doorknob and the door opened slowly. Surprised because Dave usually kept the door locked when he went in, she went in only to find the room empty. She went into the living room.
Jing-Mei: Mr. Santini, did Dave go out?
Mr. Santini: No, why?
Jing-Mei: I thought he was in the bedroom but he isn't. I checked the bathroom too. If you didn't see him go by then how the hell did he get out?
Rusty: Through window.
Jing-Mei: That's a possibility since we're on the ground...wait, Rusty, why would you say that?
Rusty: Oops.
Jing-Mei(raising an eyebrow to the small boy) Rusty, what's going on?
Rusty: That's how I use to get in see papa when he locked himself in. I showed him how to get through it without doing damage. He's real big so it harder for him but he can do it.
Mr. Santini: Why would Davey leave and not tell us?
Jing-Mei: I don't know but more importantly, where did he go?
Jing-Mei starts to panic inside, not wanting to scare the children. She knows he doesn't know how to get anywhere on his own and that he's never been out all by himself since his attack. Just as fear starts to set in, the phone rings again. She answers it.
Jing-Mei: Dave?
Voice: No, funny you should mention him though. It's Capt. Amos and I have your husband sitting here with me.
Jing-Mei breathes a sigh of relief.
Jing-Mei: Thank god. I had no idea where he got to.
Capt. Amos: Misplaced him, did you?
Jing-Mei: Something like that. Is he okay?
Capt. Amos: Physically, yes. Emotionally...he's, well, uh...you had better come down here.
Jing-Mei: What's wrong with him?
Capt. Amos: I really rather not discuss this over the phone. Could you come down here?
Jing-Mei: I'll be there in twenty minutes.
Jing-Mei hung up and grabbed her purse.
Jing-Mei: Mr. Santini, will you stay with the children while I go retrieve Dave.
Mr. Santini: You found him. Where is he?
Jing-Mei: Down the police station. We won't be long.
Twenty three minutes later and Jing-Mei is met in the detective's outer office by Capt. Amos.
Jing-Mei: He got out of the house. You found him quickly. Was he wandering around when you're men picked him up?
Capt. Amos: Actually, he came to us. He showed up at the front desk asking to see me.
Jing-Mei: Did he change his mind about going to the airport hangar. Is that what he came to tell you?
Capt. Amos: Not exactly. Before I take you in to see him, we need to talk.
Jing-Mei: I can't believe Dave found his way all the way down here to the police station by himself, but then again Dave never ceases to amaze me. But you said he was upset...
Capt. Amos: Upset isn't exactly the word I would use. He's an emotional wreck to put it mildly.
Jing-Mei: You're starting to scare me now. What's going on? If Dave didn't come here to see you about the airport hangar, then what's he doing here?
Capt. Amos: He came to turn himself in.
Jing-Mei: Excuse me? Turn himself in for what?
Capt. Amos: For murder, he says.
Jing-Mei: Murder! That doesn't make any sense.
Capt. Amos: It's difficult to get much information out of him, especially when he's this hysterical but I did manage to hear him say that his mommy is gone because of him. He said he was bad and she went away.
Jing-Mei held her head in hands and took a deep breath.
Jing-Mei: I understand now. Our boys' nanny, Mrs. Peterson, passed away a few days ago. We just came back from the funeral and Dave is taken it very hard. But to come down here...Captain, could I have a few minutes with him?
The captain leads Jing-Mei into her office and shuts the door behind her. Dave is sitting at the desk with his back to her. She composes herself before she approaches him. She taps his shoulder, causing his already shaken body to jump. He looks up at her with a tear-soaked face.
Dave(crying)Cchin.
Jing-Mei bends down on one knee, balancing her developing body to keep from falling over, so she is looking into Dave's teary eyes. She strokes the side of his face.
Jing-Mei: What's going on, baby? Capt. Amos tells me you turned yourself in for murder.
Dave: Ii kkill mmommy.
Jing-Mei: I thought we were over that. I told you that you had nothing to do with Mrs. Peterson's death.
Dave: Ii ddoctor bbad.
Jing-Mei: Mrs. Peterson's death had nothing to do with you being a bad doctor. She had a massive stroke. She went quickly. There was nothing any of us could have done to save her. The M.E. said she probably died instantly. If there was something we could have done, you know we would have. She was my best friend and I'll miss her forever.
Dave: Mmy ffault. Ccater says.
Jing-Mei: Cater? (pause) You mean Carter. What did he say that upset you?
Dave: Today, Ii ssit bby mmommy. Llisten him ssay mmommy ffine to Ii ttake kkidney away from hher.
Jing-Mei: Now, you listen to me. That kidney transplant happened a long time ago and Mrs. Peterson was given a clean bill of health. She wanted you to have her kidney and it wasn't the cause of her death. Carter should have never said that, especially right in front of you and I'll have a little chat about that with him when I see him again. None of us know what caused her stroke. I wished I'd seen any signs of it, maybe I could have done something about it but I didn't. Sometimes we can't help prevent a person's death but that doesn't mean we are responsible for it. Sometimes things happen beyond our control and there's nothing we can do about it. Do you understand what I'm trying to tell you?
Dave nods.
Jing-Mei: And I don't want to hear anymore of this nonsense about you being responsible for what happened to Mrs. Peterson. She wouldn't blame you and neither does anyone else. I don't know how you could ever think you were responsible for hurting someone you loved so much, let alone kill them. You were very close to Mrs. Peterson, you wouldn't harm her or anyone else.
Dave: Papa ssays so.
Jing-Mei looks at Dave baffled.
Jing-Mei: Hold on, what does your father have to do with this? He's never met Mrs. Peterson.
Dave: Uh huh. He ssays Ddavey kkill mmommy. Mmommy ddead ccause mme and sshe hate mme ccause Ii bbad.
Jing-Mei realizes that Dave's memory has lapsed back into the past and he's confusing the present time with his childhood.
Jing-Mei: This is no longer about Mrs. Peterson, is it? You're talking about your real mommy, aren't you?
Dave grabs at his right hand and starts twisting the ring around his finger.
Dave: Uh oh. Ggonna gget it now.
Jing-Mei: Dave, I know you're father blamed you for your real mommy's death but that wasn't anymore your fault then Mrs. Peterson's was. If anyone's to blame for that, it's your sick old man.
Dave: I bbad bboy then, nnow I doctor bbad.
Jing-Mei: You are not a bad doctor and I'm not the only one who thinks that. Before I realized that you had run away from home, I received a call from Dr. Romano. The board has agreed to put you on probation.
Dave: I have ffull dday tthen. Ii gget arrested then go on pobation.
Jing-Mei understands her husband's confusion but can't help but laugh.
Jing-Mei: You've got it all wrong. Sweetheart, you're not under arrest and when I say probation, I mean the hospital board has decided to let you work part time at the hospital doing a few small tasks until you get better. I'll explain it to you later. Now, let's go home and see our family.
Jing-Mei slowly gets up then holds her hand out for Dave. He takes hold of it and they head home, smiling at the captain as they leave.
The Maluccis arrive home and as Dave settles in with his kids, Jing-Mei starts dinner. She is joined in the kitchen by Mr. Santini.
Mr. Santini: Anything I could do to help?
Jing-Mei: I think I have everything under control. I'm just going to heat up this left over lasagna. Go relax with the boys and I'll call you when dinner is ready.
Mr. Santini sighs and turns towards the living room.
Jing-Mei: Wait, if you want to put the vegetables on the stove, that would be a great help.
Mr. Santini: Thank you for everything you're doing for me.
Jing-Mei: The boys and I enjoy having you here with us. (pause) I miss her too. The house isn't the same without her. There's a certain emptiness in it. She was a wonderful friend and god, she was as close to a mother as Dave can remember.
Mr. Santini: Yes, I know. She use to go on all the time about how much Davey reminded her of her Grant. While you were gone, I kept expecting her to come walking out of the kitchen with a tray of food. It's going to take me a long time to get over this. Just when I finally had the chance to be happy again and not alone...
Mr. Santini starts to burst into tears. Jing-Mei shuts the oven door and comforts him with a hug.
Jing-Mei: You always have us. The boys love you and you can still be their honorary grandfather if you'd like.
The sound of small feet is heard approaching and Mr. Santini starts to dry his face, not wanting the children to see him cry. It's a guy thing. Rusty enters holding a piece of paper.
Rusty: Mama Jing, we go Italy.
Jing-Mei: What makes you say that?
Rusty: I found letter. Uncle Manny says we can come.
Jing-Mei: I was thinking about it for a family vacation later this summer.
Rusty: Oh, wow. Wait til I tell others.
Rusty runs back into the living room where Dave, Tei and Antonio are watching cartoons.
Dave: Ttthat Sstitch funny.
Tei: I like Lilo. She's pretty.
Dave(teasing)Ttei's ggot ggirlfriend.
Rusty: We going home to Italy.
Jing-Mei entered the living room and stood in the doorway.
Dave: I kknow. We ssee Ssophie tthere. Hher mmiss me.
Jing-Mei realizes that Dave still doesn't get it that his little sister is dead. She returns to the kitchen and checks on dinner.
Mr. Santini: So, how did they take the news about the trip?
Jing-Mei: They seemed happy about it... but Dave?
Mr. Santini: I know he hasn't been back home to Sicily for a long time. Too many bad memories...
Jing-Mei: That's not the problem. He thinks that when we go over there, we are going to see Sophie.
Mr. Santini: I'm sure you'll have plenty of time to visit the cemetery. After all, most of Davey's family is buried there.
Jing-Mei: You don't understand. Dave thinks we are going to see Sophie face to face. He doesn't get it that she's gone. I was trying to explain it to him before...before Mrs. Peterson passed away. He's still having a rough time with that one and now I have to tell him that his sister is gone too.
Mr. Santini: What exactly does he know?
Jing-Mei: That his sister is in heaven and so is Mrs. Peterson but he has a problem accepting the concept that they are gone forever. He thinks that Sophie will come back from heaven long enough to see him and I'm sure in time, he's going to start thinking the same of Mrs. Peterson. He already believed that Mrs. Peterson was coming to hear him sing at her funeral. I think the easiest way to explain it to him would be to show him Sophie's grave but we won't be able to get over to Italy for at least another month or so and he needs to understand now. (pause) Wait, if Mohammad won't go to the mountain, I'll bring the mountain to Mohammad.
Mr. Santini: I don't get it.
Jing-Mei: Let me set things up first then I'll fill you in on my plans. Boys! Dinner's ready!
After dinner, Mr. Santini relaxes in the living room with the children. Dave is in the kitchen washing the dishes while Jing-Mei is on the phone.
Dave: How's tthat, Cchin?
Jing-Mei: Very nice. I hardly see a spot.
Dave: Spot? Where?
Dave starts to scrub the dish harder being sure that it is clean and careful not to break it.
Dave: Now llook, Chin.
Jing-Mei: Much better. Where did you learn to do that?
Dave: Mmommy sshowed me. Tthe dishes nneed be perfect when she home ccomes.
Jing-Mei strokes Dave's head and then gets back to her phone call. After a few minutes, she hangs up and helps Dave with the rest of the dishes. Once every dish is cleaned, dried and put away, the two Maluccis join the others in the living room.
Jing-Mei: What are you guys doing in here?
Mr. Santini: The little ones are coloring, while Rusty here is showing me his photo album from Italy.
Jing-Mei: Well, since you brought up Italy. I just got off the phone with your Uncle Manny, Rusty. I explained to him that neither Dave or I are in any shape to travel right now and that we really needed to see and talk with him, so he's coming here to see us.
Rusty springs to his feet.
Rusty: When?
Jing-Mei: I'm sending him the plane tickets. They should be here by the end of the week. Oh my...
Mr. Santini: Are you alright?
Jing-Mei: Yes. I'm fine. This little one wants out now.
Rusty: Maybe Uncle Manny be here when we get new baby.
Mr. Santini: Maybe, Rusty. Is that what you were talking about in the kitchen... Manny's trip is for Dave's benefit.
Jing-Mei nods.
Rusty: Marissa coming too?
Jing-Mei: She sure is. You can show your little cousin off to everyone and Dave will get to meet his niece for the very first time.
Dave: Nniece? Wwho tthat?
Jing-Mei: Sophie's little girl. Oh you will just love her. She is so adorable and she looks just like your sister.
Rusty waves Dave over to the couch where he picks up his photo album?
Rusty: See papa, I have picture of her and Uncle Manny.
Rusty skims through the book while Dave looks over his shoulder at the pictures.
Rusty: Let's see...where's that really cool picture of Aunt Sophie, Uncle Manny and Marissa. No, that's me and mama...
Dave puts his hand down on the photo album on a picture causing Rusty to turn back to it. Dave points at the picture.
Rusty: That's mama.
Dave: Jada?
To be continued. Please read and review.
