C3—Let
it Grow
Here's a continuation of the story
'Worry'. Dave is further along in his
friendship with Kerry. I should get
another part up soon.
Kerry had finished the
painful phone call to Dave's parents and turned around and promptly bumped into
Romano. "What the hell was that,
earlier!?" He asked, still pissed about
before. "Nothing, Romano. Dave's sick, and I'm really stressed right
now." She said, trying to get
away. "Dave's not sick! That little wise-ass is faking and kissing
your bony little ass. That is no excuse
to hit me. I am a little higher on the
pecking order than you!" He said,
raising his voice. "I don't give a
flying FUCK what you are! You had no
right to say that about Dave! He is
sick, and is eventually going to die because of it!" She shouted, no longer caring about who was listening. The ER was Deathly silent and Luka, Abby,
and other nurses and patients were staring. Romano's face flushed a crimson red as he stared at Kerry, unable to
believe what had happened.
Kerry turned back and
limped toward the elevator to Dave's room. Dom and Dave were fooling around and enjoying their visit. "Hey chief! Come on in!" Dave invited. Dom looked at Kerry's crutch. "If you, uh, don't mind me asking, why do
you use a crutch? You don't have to
answer that if you don't want to…" he said, shying away. "Well, when I was younger, I was
athletic. Very athletic. I loved to play Street Hockey, since I lived
in Florida, where there isn't too much snow." She said, pausing briefly as she remembered her youth. "Well, anyway. When I was about 13, I was playing outside my house, in the
little alleyway that was always perfect for the game, when the car came, and he
tried to stop, but didn't…Not in time to miss my leg." She said, sadly. Dom's face grew sympathetic. "I'm sorry, Dr. Weaver. I had no
idea." He said, feeling really
guilty. "Dominic, don't be. It wasn't your fault. Besides, if I had been an athlete instead of
a doctor, I wouldn't have had the excitement that the ER brings to a
person. I wouldn't have the interesting
arguments, or the nurses' gossip; don't think I don't know what they say about
me, and I wouldn't know the third biggest pain in the ass at Cook County, the
one and only 3rd place champ, David Scott Malucci. Dom laughed at this and high-fived
Kerry. Dave didn't look too happy. "THIRD!? Who could possibly outrank me?" He asked, in wonder. "Well,
Malucci, I took second place in the Nurses' poll, and obviously 'Rocket' Romano
took first." Dave's face softened a
little. "Well, I understand Rocket-boy,
but you? You aren't really a pain in
the ass…I mean, you're too pretty to be a pain." He said, not realizing that he was flirting. Dom looked at his watch. "Oh, Cripes! I'm almost late for my gig, gotta split!" He said, shaking Kerry's hand and strongly
patting Dave on the head. "Later." He said, running out. "I have to go too, Malucci. I have to go do your charts. Now I know why you hate them so." She said, smiling. "See ya later, chief." He
said as she walked out.
On his way out, Luka
decided to visit Dave quickly. "Hello,
Malucci. How do you feel?" He asked, concerned for his co-worker. "I want out of this freaking hospital." Whined Dave. Luka laughed softly. "Ahhh, yes. But you are stuck
here, so make the most of you time here." He advised. Dave looked up,
curious. "What do you mean?" He asked. "Well… I'm talking about Kerry. She is worried about you, but I also think she's head over heels in love
with you." He said. "What makes you think that?" Dave asked, somewhat hoping it was
true. "Kerry got really upset earlier,
when she first found out about your, uh, problem. Romano, of course, made some snide comments about it, and she got
really mad and swung her crutch at his shins, knocking him to the floor." He began. "Poor bastard." Dave said,
astounded that Kerry would do such a thing, especially over him. "Oh that isn't all. She just cussed him out about 2 hours ago
for making another remark about it. To say the least, she was pissed off." He said. Dave smiled, but it
fell. Kerry? Kerry can't like me! Nurses' rumor is that she's gay. And another thing, Malucci, She's your
BOSS! You work with her. She's controlling, bitchy, beautiful,
caring, sweet, kind, lovable…No! No! NO! Stop thinking these thoughts, Dave!
Luka noticed his worry. "Look, Dave. She likes
you. I've worked with Kerry for longer
than you have. She's a strong,
independent woman. She may be an
ice-cold bitch, but she needs someone to be there for her… Someone to love, so give it a chance." Luka advised before bidding him goodnight,
and leaving. Dave sat back, thinking about
Kerry some more. Luka was right. He had nothing to lose at this point, so he
might as well give it a shot.
Kerry had almost
finished her shift, so she decided to visit Dave. "Hey, Malucci. How are
you doing?" She asked softly. "Good, but I want the HELL out of
here." He said, as he sat up a little
more. "Patience, Malucci." Kerry told
him, laughing a little. He laughed with
her, but grew serious. "Chief...Um…Do
you, umm.. like me?" he asked, shyly
looking up at her. Kerry looked at him,
astounded. He saw this and tried to
shrug it off. "Hey, Chief, forget about
it… I don't even know why I asked such
a stupid question. J-j-just never
mind." He said, shying off towards the
end. Kerry was now faced with a
dilemma. I do like Dave…but it's
wrong! I'm his boss! One side of her head thought. The other side contested this. Kerry Ann Weaver! Look at him! He's pouring his heart out, and he obviously seems to like you!
He's also hot, sweet, sexy…A little goofy, but he's perfect for a bitch like
you! That did it. She took hold of one of his hands, which
immediately squeezed hers in response. She took a deep breath, sighed, and looked at him. He was looking up at her with those
absolutely gorgeous eyes of his, but they weren't filled with skepticism,
instead filled with love. "This is kind
of hard for me to admit, but I do like you. However, I am…I'm.." She stuttered. "Afraid?" He guessed. She nodded. "I'm afraid about it too, Chief. What will everyone think? They'll all express their opinions secretly…Well, all except for Romano,
that is." He said smiling slyly. They laughed together about it, Kerry not
being too embarrassed about it. He grew
serious and grasped her forearm gently. "Would you, um.. uhh.. Like to go out with me somewhere, sometime?" He asked, hoping that she'd accept.
Kerry absolutely could
not believe this. It had been so long
before she had had a man, or woman for that matter, that had cared for
her. She looked up at Dave. "Well, I—" she began, taking a deep breath.