Title: In the End
Author: Girl with Issues
E-Mail: Buffy38841@aol.com or AngieMcKendrick@aol.com
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I own the Miller family…no matter how dysfunctional they are.
Timeline: After "Rampage"
Summary: Dave goes too far in avenging the abused.
Author's Notes: Hope you liked Chapter 2. I'm trying to hurry with the chapters, but I'm making this story up as I go, as the ideas come to me. Bear with me. Now, on with the fic!
*~*
Chapter 3: Roll with the Punches
The impact of Dave tackling him threw Jack Miller into the wall. He started to stand, only to have Dave on top of him, pummeling with his fists. Being the larger of the two men, Jack shoved Dave off of him with a roar of rage. Dave felt the corner of the cot dig deep into his back as he hit it.
While Dave was distracted by the cot, and Jack was standing, Dan tore out of the room and raced down the hall to the admit desk.
Jack walked over to Dave and grabbed him by the collar of his scrub top, before easily tossing him out of the room, into a tray of surgical supplies that were right outside the door.
Dave stood slowly, slightly dazed and saw Jack charging out of the room, a menacing look in his eye.
Now, while Jack had the size advantage, he hadn't counted on Dave's skills as a boxer. As Jack charged the resident, Dave drew his fist back and caught the man in the stomach, before knocking him flat on his back with a right hook to the jaw.
There Jack lay, on the emergency room floor of Cook County. As Dave stepped over, he saw that Jack was still conscious, but just laying there. Almost everyone had stopped their work about the time Jack had tossed Dave from the room. About the only sounds anyone could hear now where Dave, winded from the scuffle, and Jack's loud, X-rated complaints.
With a final look at Jack, Dave turned to work off, and found himself face-to-face with Kerry Weaver. Behind her stood Dan and Shelia. All three were white with shock, but Kerry's face was the one with pure anger in her eyes.
"Malucci, lounge, now!" Kerry practically spat the words into Dave's face, before turning to leave. Dave realized that he'd be better off just following Kerry, but he had to take a final glance at Jack. Dan's father was now being pulled to his feet by security. Shelia was standing there, Dan right by her side.
Dave started to go to Shelia, to say something, to apologize? Wait, why should I apologize? I'm not the one who goes home to use my family as my own personal punching bags. Dave's thoughts were interrupted by Kerry's angry shout from the lounge. Putting his head down, Dave strode off in her direction, ignoring the many sets of eyes boring holes into his back.
*~*
As Dave entered the lounge, two nurses scuttled past him, out the door, each giving him a look. Dave closed the door behind them, and went over to lean on the lockers, ready for Kerry's lecture. He could picture it in his head, Kerry yelling, waving her crutch in a threatening manner, Dave cowering slightly, only to laugh the whole thing off later.
Again, his thoughts were interrupted by Kerry, but, she shocked him by simply sitting down, keeping her voice calm, "Malucci, you're going to listen to me. I don't want any interruptions, understand?" Dave, preparing to cut in, quickly shut his mouth and slouched against the lockers, crossing his arms over his chest.
Kerry continued, "People come to Cook County to get better, to heal, not to be further assaulted by an angry resident. Dan told me what happened, but that's no excuse. We have Child Welfare, Social Services. You're job is to report problems, not cause more by taking matters into your own hands."
At this point, Dave cut in, ignoring the look Kerry gave him, "He hit his kid in front of me! And, Social Services isn't gonna go to their house and protect Dan with swords and shields, are they? Jack Miller abuses his family!"
Kerry spoke again, "And do you have any proof of this, Dave?"
"Dan told me-"
"You need more than a child's words," Kerry told him, gently.
"He also had a bruise on his ribs. A big one. And both he and mother were afraid of Jack. Plus, Jack kept calling Dan names, putting him down, and he yelled at his wife-"
Kerry again cut Dave's rambling short, "He was an upset parent. He had the right to be…"
"Abuse isn't just physical, you know," Dave spat. Suddenly, he broke eye contact, looked down at the floor, and leaned back against the lockers, now balling his hands into fists, before jamming them into his pockets.
Kerry's suspicions that Dave had personal reasons for taking these abuse cases to heart were now raised, but she brushed them aside, and continued, "You'll be punished again I'm afraid. A week's suspension, no pay, taken from your vacation days."
Dave rolled his eyes, then looked back at Kerry, "Fine, whatever. That's it? Can I go now?"
Kerry's gaze, Dave noticed, had darkened and saddened a bit, "No Dave, that's not it. Our hospital has a 'three-strikes, you're out' policy. This is the fourth time you've used your fists-"
"Fourth?" Dave questioned, but then nodded, remembering the fight with Benton.
"I…I'm afraid I have to inform Romano." Kerry said, willing her voice not to betray her emotions she was fighting now.
"Big deal," Dave said, forgetting for a moment that he was speaking to an authority figure, "Tell Romano. I don't care,"
"Dave…" Kerry said softly, "There's a good possibly that you'll be fired…"
*~*
A/N: I'm off to start Chapter 4 the second I post this. Kinda long, but, never fear! I put in a cliffhanger ending, because I know how much everybody loves those (heehee). Hope you like; keep reviewing, I'll keep posting!