This is Chap 2 of 'Worry.' Sorry these are so short, but I don't often have a lot of time on my hands. I also don't know a lot about medicine, other than generic zit stuff doesn't work, and off-brand Tussin tastes really, really bad. (I'd rather hack my lungs out than bear the stuff my mom gives me.) Anyway, don't burn me because of it, but hey, I'm only 15! Oh, and Dominic looks just like Erik Palladino in Strange Frequency. (Or Dave with long hair }:-)

The Way God Intended.

Kerry was doing charts for Dave on this rather slow day when Mark came up to her. "Here you go Kerry. These are Dave's Test Results." He said, handing them to her and then walking off to find Liz.

Curiously she opened them and peeked inside. "Oh My God!" She said, not wanting to see what she was seeing. Dave Malucci, her Dave Malucci, had lung cancer. "No." She whispered. Romano walked up behind her and saw the name on the file. "What's that lazy bum complaining of now? Does the poor little baby got a tummy ache?" He said cruel heartedly. This struck a nerve in Kerry. "You stupid, insensitive Son of a BITCH!!!" She yelled, hurling her crutch to his shins, making him fall to the ground. She limped off to Dave's room on the 2nd floor, still holding the test results. She began to cry thinking of how Romano could be so…so tactless! That bastard will get what's coming to him! Just wait'll Dave hears- she thought, before stopping. Dave. Dave would never get better. Her best friend growing up had cancer, and died within a few years. Her grandmother had cancer, and she died sooner. There was no hope for Dave, either. Kerry began to cry as she neared Dave's room.

She entered the room and was greeted by Dave's snores. She smiled at the handsome man before her. She shut the door behind her, first getting a fresh box of tissues for good measure. She sat down at Dave's bedside and placed one of her petite hands over his. His heart rate monitor sped up a little. She put the test results on a table and took her free hand and gently stroked his hair. She moved her fingers to his neck and felt the softness of his skin, and the bump of his Adam's Apple. "No wonder all the nurses gossip" she said softly, leaning down to kiss Dave on the cheek. "I didn't think you were interested in liking me, let alone kissing me." Dave said softly, flashing a grin. "Oh, You!" She said, playfully swatting him on the arm. He smiled. "Chief? You've been crying! What's wrong?" He asked, bringing one of his strong hands to her cheeks, and wiping away the tears. "Dave… What I have to tell you… I've told this to patients before, but it's often hardest telling this to someone you work with, someone you have to see every day, and most of all someone you care about." She said, her eyes filling with tears, and her heart beginning to ache. He took that arm and gently pulled Kerry down close to his chest. "Shhhh… Go ahead and let it out." She sat back up. "B-but Dave, don't you want your test results?" She asked. "My mom always told me that when a girl needed someone to talk to, or a shoulder to cry on, to offer it. Now I'm listening to her, and offering both." He said. Kerry smiled and laid her head on Dave's chest and sobbed.

Dave gently ran his fingers through her raven hair. He'd never had feelings for his boss before, but apparently things were changing. I thought she was a lesbian! He shrugged it off and looked down at his sobbing boss. This can't be good, he thought. Something must be terribly wrong if Kerry of all people is crying this hard over my test results he thought, swallowing hard as he worried.

Before long Kerry sat back up. "Dave. I don't want to be the one to tell you this, but… you have lung cancer." Dave swallowed. "L-l-lung Cancer? B-but, I'm only 29 years old! I've never smoked tobacco in my life! Neither my mom or my dad smoked, and when Dad had his pipe, he always took it outside, away from us kids!" He said, feeling scared and alone. Kerry took his hand. "I'm so sorry Dave." She said, stroking it with her fingers. Dave looked up. "How long?" He asked, looking at her. She looked at him sadly. "What?" She asked. "How long before I…before I…Before I die?" He asked, closing his hand around hers. "I don't know Dave. But I'm getting ready to call you family…that is, if you're ok with it." She said, eyes tearing up. "Call Dominic first." He said. She looked at him, opening her mouth to ask. "Dom's my twin bro… We know every detail of each other's lives. We are really, really close, to give a lame summary." He said, giving her the number.

"Hello? Is this Dominic Malucci?" Kerry asked into the phone. "Yeah." The voice at the other end replied. "I'm Dr. Kerry Weaver, I'm in charge of the ER, here at Cook County General. I have your brother, David, here in the hospital." She cringed, not much liking the sound of Dave's full first name. "What did he do? Is he okay?" The voice said, sounding frantic. "He's fine, but he has lung cancer. He's asked me to call you first, and—" "HE wants me there with him." The voice said, interrupting and finishing Kerry's sentence. "Tell him I'm on my way. I'm leaving home right now, and I should be there soon." He said, exchanging Goodbyes and hanging up. Kerry felt better knowing that Dave had family who cared. Dominic had sounded very nice on the phone, and she expected the same when he arrived.

About an hour or so later, a man arrived in the ER. He had long brown hair that fell across his broad, muscular shoulders. If Kerry weren't so worried about Dave, she would have crooned over him, but she was too busy being worried. "Um, Do you know where I can find a Dr. Kerry Weaver?" He asked her. "That would be me. Dominic Malucci, I presume?" She asked. He nodded. "Yeah. Um, Where is Dave, and is he doing very well?" He asked, worried about his twin. "He's fine, Mr. Malucci." She said to him. "Um, if you don't mind, I have the feeling I'll be here a lot for Dave, so could you call me Dom?" He asked. "Only if you call me Kerry." He nodded and Kerry gave him directions to Dave's room, and picked up the phone once more. "Hello, Is this Mr. Giuseppe Malucci? Yes, this is Dr. Kerry Weaver, director of the ER at Cook County…. Yes the one that Dave works at. We admitted your son yesterday and ran some tests…"

Meanwhile, Dominic made his way upstairs into the hallway where Dave's room was located. He passed through the door and saw his brother lying there in his bed, asleep. He sat down in a chair at Dave's bedside and put one hand gently upside Dave's face. "Wake up, Dude." He told him, slapping his brother just hard enough to wake him. "I Swear To Drunk I'm Not God!" He shouted, looking up at Dom. "Well you've certainly stayed the same." He said, pulling Dave up for a hug. Dave hugged back, thankful that he had some good company with him. After the hug, Dom spoke first. "I'm, uh, sorry about your…problem." He said "Ahhh. Don't worry about it. I guess it's the way God intended, huh? He said. "OR he needs to raise some Hell." Dom said, thoughtfully, causing Dave to crack a trademark grin.