*****
"Your leg seems to be healing quite well, Ms.Weaver." The doctor said as he smiled and removed his warm, gloved hands from her limb. "The farm air must be doing you some good."
Kerry stared the man in the eyes, unable to look at her mangled leg. Pasty and shriveled from the removal of the plaster, deep reddish scars ran lengthwise down her shin and calf muscle.
Dimpled and distorted, the skin wrinkled and twisted down the leg as it reached the remains of her foot. The foot itself twisted inwards, when she'd stand on it, her toes brushing the side of her good leg, when she walked. The biggest toe twisted inward and touched the second one beside. Her middle toe curved under onto the knuckle, causing her immense pain when she attempted to walk. After many surgeries, the curvature of the toe was corrected and the twist of the foot was corrected with a brace, but even on damp days it still ached. As for the rest of her toes, the second last was amputated off at the second knuckle and her littlest toe had been amputated completely.
The doctors had bit back revulsion as they'd removed the remnants of her shoe, the toe had hung on valiantly by sparse tendons and skin, but it was lifeless and useless and the doctors had taken it upon themselves to get rid of it.
Slowly Kerry looked down, her hand wrapped in Mlungisi's as she burst into tears.
"Can you excuse us for a moment, sir?" The doctor said gravely, looking the young man in the eye and urging him to leave. Kerry wrapped her arms around his and held on for dear life as the doctor sighed. "Please.. Ms.Weaver.. It will only be for a moment."
She looked at Mlungisi, fearful. Her hair had been braided into plaits and fell down her shoulders, smooth and tanned, muscled from the work of shoveling outdoor pens. The doctor hurried, disposed of the plaster.. It had absorbed too many smells of the farm. None of them pleasant.
Freckles dotted her nose and cheeks, her make-up simply applied, accentuating her eyes and high cheekbones. She sat on the gurney, full of terror, wearing a tight white tee-shirt and a pair of baggy grey brushed cotton shorts. Kerry stared at the mutilated foot and quickly surmised that her sandal wearing days were over.
Kerry watched wistful, as Mlungisi left the room and the doctor stood, closing the door and drawing the blind. "Ms.Weaver. Have you considered your options? Mlungisi has informed me of your wishes to become a trauma doctor. I assure you, that it would be quite difficult with your disability, but with the right assistance, whether it be a cane or an artificial limb.. A correctly molded orthodic would aid your walking immensely. If we take the correct steps to your recovery and reintegration into the programme.. Then succeeding in the field of ER medicine is quite possible."
"Thank you.. Dr?"
"Lawrence.. Gabe Lawrence." He smiled and busied himself with the papers on his lap. "I was actually going to ask you... What would you say if I offered you a place at the medical school here in the city? The first year is mainly bookwork. I could help you with what ever you needed."
"I don't know what to say.." Kerry said quietly as she stared down at her hands.
Gabe Lawrence sighed, handing the woman her crutches. "Say yes.. Say you'll stay and go to school."
**
"We have him on a steady IV drip and have sutured the head wound. Your husband will be fine, Ms.Ross." The doctor smiled comfortingly and patted Carol's hand.
The woman watched him with wide, reddened eyes and withdrew her hand, sticking it firmly in her pocket. "I'm sure he will be.. Thank you, Doctor."
**
"Hey.. Carol.."
The man ran frantically down the street, his shoelaces flapping and flying in the puddles and his Bulls jersey splattered with mud. "Carol.. Wait up.. Please.. I didn't mean it." He smiled as she slowed to a determined walk and finally stopped on a park bench, a few hundred feet ahead of him.
"You're a disgusting asshole, Douglas Ross." Carol grumbled, folding her arms across her chest and glaring at daisy that dared to bloom against the legs of the bench. Roughly she grabbed it and started tearing off the petals. As she angrily picked at the fleshy yellow center with a fingernail, Doug walked up from behind and set his hand on her shoulder.
"You called me Douglas.. Not even my Mom calls me Douglas.." He said with surprise, working his hand into knot in her shoulder.
She moaned softly, turning her head into his touch. "I.. I still can't believe you did that.. You could have gotten killed.. Just because those jerks dared you.."
"So I jumped off the pier.. It's not that high.." He muttered, running a hand through his damp, mucky hair.. He really needed a shower.
"You're drunk Doug.. It was stupid.. Really stupid.. I don't care how much you hate those guys..." Carol sighed, standing up and letting the pieces of flower fall to the ground.
"You saw how they treated Mark.. It's not fair that he gets his ass kicked all the time.. I was just sticking up for him." Doug grumbled as he walked a few steps behind her, following her as she walked to nowhere in particular.
"You wanted to stick up for him, and so you jumped into four feet of mucky water off of a fifty-foot high pier. I really don't see the logic in that Doug.." Carol said exasperated as she walked down the sidewalk, staring at her sandled feet. Peach Pizazz nail polish had been delicately applied by Lori earlier that evening. The younger sibling had been bribed into helping Carol sneak out of the house in exchange for being allowed to paint Carol's toes.
"They said I was a wimpshit for hanging out with a guy like Mark.. I wanted to prove them wrong." He sighed, rubbing a hand across his eyes. His head was starting to hurt, why had he decided to chase after her again? Doug couldn't remember.
"They called YOU a wimpshit? Oh.. So you were defending YOUR honour.. Not Mark's.. Mark wasn't even there I bet.. All this crap about Mark.. Doug.. I can't do this anymore... I can't keep doing this.." She said her voice strained and filled with sadness.
"Mark was there! They.." He trailed off.
"They what?" Carol questioned, turning around and looking at the young man that was caked with mud and soaking wet. "What did they do to him Doug??" She said threateningly.
"They threw him in after me.." Doug mumbled under his breath.
"They what!? Doug.... Where is he? Is he okay?" She looked behind him, for any sign of the army brat.
"He's fine.. His pride's a little wounded, he's covered in seaweed and mud, but he's okay. Mark went home.. Said his Dad was going to kill him for being late for curfew." He sighed, sitting back on a bus-stop bench and massaging his knee.
"Curfew? It's only eight o'clock.. It's not even dark yet.." Carol said confused, as the haze of the summer night settled over them. A cool breeze washed over their bare arms and she shivered.
"He had his curfew moved to eight.. We went out drinking last week.. I sorta got Mark plastered.. I mean.. I knew the guy couldn't hold his liquor, but I never knew four beers could hit a guy so hard... He slept it off on my Mom's couch till around three and said he should get home before his parents started to worry.. His Dad was sitting on the porch with the rifle across his knees."
"Ouch.. He's okay though.. Right? You shouldn't have done that Doug.. I mean it's bad enough that you do it.. You've seen what it did to your Dad.. Why risk yourself and your friends? You're not even 21 yet and you're already a drunk." Carol said tears welling up.
Doug sighed, hunched over on the bench, his fingers clasped over his head. "You know I love you.. Right?"
"Yes Doug. I know.." She replied softly, as she took a seat beside her boyfriend and pulled his hand into hers.
***
"Mark? Honey... Please.. Wake up.. Everyone's worried about you.." Elizabeth said tearfully as Dave came up behind her..
"He's sleeping off a hangover, Dr.C.. I think it's best that you let him sleep. I found that letting the person sleep it off.. They're a lot less pissed off at you later." He said helpfully, grinning as the surgeon whipped around and glared at him.
"What in the hell would you know about it!? You.. You.. Little.. Nuisance.. Leave the relationships to those who've had them. Don't go talking about something you know nothing about, Malucci. Having a quickie with the ER Chief does not make you a relationship expert." She hissed tearfully.
"But... I.." Dave stammered, reddening.
"Get away from me.. Get away from us.." Elizabeth spat as he backed away and out of the room.
"F-fine.. I'm going.." Dave faltered in the doorway before turning around and leaving. "Bitch.." He muttered sadly as he stumbled to the waiting area, flopped into a chair and burst into tears.
***
"Dave.. I've gotta go.." Serena said as she shook her husband's sleeping form in the bed.
"G-go where??" Dave murmured sleepily. "Y-yer not going anywhere.. Bush planting today.." He whispered, half-asleep, his eyes still closed.
"Out.. I'm going out.. I met some friends in the bar downstairs.. We're going out.." Serena said as she pulled on a blouse and buttoned it.
"What do you mean, 'out'!? Serena.. I don't think that's a good idea. You don't know who those people are.. You just got out of the hospital." He said worriedly, as he started to wake up.
"Dave! Ever since I got out of the hospital, you've been acting like I've got a terminal disease! I fell off a chair and hit my head.. I don't have Diphtheria.. I'm going out for a few beers with some of the guys from the plane.. Get over yourself.. Stay and get some sleep.. I'll be back in the morning before we have to go to the fields.. Okay?" She said, kissing her husband on the forehead and brushing some of the sleep from his eyes.
Guys from the plane? A few beers?? Get over myself? Stay and sleep?? Dave sighed, brain injuries did screwy things with people.. Serena was not the woman he married.. He missed the closeness, the warmth of her touch, her laugh.. Slowly he closed his eyes and shuddered as the images of his wife toppling from the chair in a horrifying continuous loop.
****
"I really don't think that was necessary, Elizabeth.." Kerry replied as she entered the hospital room. "You don't know anything about that man, who are you to assume anything about Malucci?"
"He's flippant, rude, cocky and really does lack finer hygienic skills." Elizabeth muttered, not looking up from her sleeping husband.
"He was a husband.. and as far as I know.. He was also a father.. I don't think your outburst was needed, at all." Kerry muttered, leaning on her crutches as she lowered herself into a chair.
"Malucci? Married? Weaver, I sincerely think you've lost it.." The surgeon scoffed.
"He told me.. He's told me nearly everything. His wife.. She's gone.. As are his children." The ER chief said hoarsely, remembering the pained, stricken expression the man's face as he'd relived the memories.
"A wife.. Children.. I never knew.." Elizabeth said softly, her hand slipping into Mark's as she stroked the pale papery skin with her thumb.
"Nobody knew. And even if you didn't, there was no reason for you to act the way you did.. Your husband is suffering from mild hypothermia and a hangover.. It's not like he's dying. You really should stop being so histrionic all the time, Corday. It's unseemly in somebody of your supposed high social upbringing.." Kerry scoffed.
"You really are a hell-bitch, Kerry Weaver." Elizabeth muttered angrily.
"Yes.. I know.." Kerry murmured softly, as she strained to get up out of the chair. Her legs shuddered with exertion and her arms wobbled as her knuckles whitened around the handholds and she crutched off to find Malucci.
***
"I.. I'm fine, Chief.." Dave mumbled, staring at the floor and wiping his eyes and avoiding her sympathetic gaze.
"No.. You're not. What Corday said.. She doesn't know.. She doesn't know about Seri.. She doesn't know about anything. Her accusations were baseless and tactless. You should take anything she says with a grain of salt, hon.." Kerry said sadly, limping over and lowering herself onto the couch beside him.
"I.. I know.. I know she doesn't know me.. I know she doesn't know about my life.. She doesn't know about me. That doesn't make it hurt any less." He said hoarsely, pulling away from the comforting arm that she'd wrapped around his shoulder. Dave stood, brushing the hand away that Kerry had flailed, and grabbed his arm. "I.. I gotta go.. I can't stay in here.. I can't sit here with those two unconscious.. I'm.. I'm gonna go back.. I'll see you later."
He walked out of the small alcove of chairs and down the hall, his ears falling deaf to Kerry's plaintive calls as he walked out of the hospital and hailed a cab.
***
"Dave.." Serena smiled at him, brushing the hair from the eyes of her sleeping husband. "Davey.. Wake up.. I've got a surprise for you.." Slowly Serena unfolded the paper and ran her hand over it to smooth out the wrinkles. "Dave.. Look.." She said as Dave moaned sleepily and opened an eye.
"What is it? A present?" Dave said smiling and opening his other eye.
"Sort of.. Just look... Please?" Serena laughed and waved the paper just out of reach. Dave rolled his eyes and grabbed at it half-heartedly.
"Cut it out, Seri.." He grumbled, snatching it from her fingers. "What is it already?!" As Dave read the mysterious paper, his jaw dropped, his eyebrows shot up and his face paled. "You.. You're pregnant? How?"
Serena grinned. "Dave.. You DID go through med school right?? You DO know how babies are made... Don't you?"
He nodded. "Yeah.. But.. You're PREGNANT?!"
Serena nodded, folding the last article of clothing. "Yes.." She placed the folded t-shirt on top and zipped up the suitcase. "and I'm going..."
"GOING!??? WHERE!?" Dave yelped, leaping out of bed and after her as she dragged the suitcase from the room.
"OUT!" She yelled back at him, sarcastically.
"SERI! GET BACK HERE!!" Dave yelled hoarsely as he ran down the hallways of the apartment complex.
"What seems to be wrong Dr.D?" A stoner grinned as he peered from his out behind his door.
Dave looked at the man, frantic and shaking. "Dr.D? I.. I don't get it.." He said hoarse and confused.
"Dr.Dave.. That's you.. Dah man.. Dr.Dave.." The stoner grinned, showing the browned, yellow teeth. At least those that were still there in his rotted mouth.
"Uh.. Okay.." Dave said sadly. The man.. Who couldn't even control his wife. Dr.Dave. "Have you seen which direction my wife went?"
The stoner nodded, moving his whole neck and upper body, with the supposed simple gesture. "Yeah... Totally. Thattaway.. She was limpin' sorta funny.. She okay, dude?"
Limping?? The suitcase must be too much for her to handle.. "She went this way??" Dave said as he walked down the hall, his hand shaking as he pointed.
"Yeah.. Thattaway.. Took the elevator.." Stoner grinned. "So I helped ya?? I sorta gotta get back to business." He turned and yelled back into the apartment. "Shaddup Maureen.. I'm comin'!!" Nicotine stained fingers came up as he rubbed his face. "Damn women.." He grumbled before he retreated back into the flat.
Yeah.. Damn women.. Dave thought sadly as he ran down the halls to find the mysterious elevator.. AHA! The maintenance elevator.. Banging on the doors before his blurred vision settled on the buttons. "Oh..." He muttered, banging on the down button and the doors slid open.
****
Dave's cab pulled up to the dilapidated farmhouse and the taxi driver stared at him. "50 Dinar.." He muttered, holding out his hand.
"50 what?! All I got is American, man.. Here.. 200 American.. I dunno.. Is that enough?" Dave said worriedly.
The cabbie stared at the wad of bills and nodded slowly. "Yes, sir.. I think that would do fine." His hand reached across the partition and snatched up the money. As Dave exited the cab, the cabbie grinned, counting out the money... Sucker.. Stupid American.
As Dave walked up the lane, he stared upwards at the sign, and down at the muddy ground. He stared forwards down the lane and spied the pick-up. "Luka?!" He muttered in disbelief.
Sure enough, the Euro doc stood outside the pickup truck and was washing it down, the manure now spread on the fields and the truck empty. "Hellow, Dave. Where did you come from?" Luka greeted him, waving, the hose clutched in his grasp. Shaking and spraying water across the lawn as he waved at the younger man who walked up to meet him.
"Uhh.. Out.. A few of the gang had a little accident. I was at the hospital." Dave muttered, walking up to the truck.
"Accident!? What happened?" Luka said worriedly, as he dropped the suds filled sponge, back into the bucket.
"Doug was putting up the new sign and fell off the ladder onto his head, and Mark is recovering from hypothermia and a hangover. I felt sorta out of place, so I left." Dave sighed, rubbing at his eyes, hoping they weren't still tearstained and bloodshot.. The last thing he needed was Luka asking 20 Questions..
"It's cold out here, Dave.. I think we should go get a cup of coffee.. What do you think?" Luka said kindly, noticing the doctor's disheveled appearance and tear streaked face.
"I..I guess that's not a bad idea.. We have coffee in the house there?"
Luka nodded. "I think we do.. Abby went shopping remember?" He wrapped an arm around Dave's shoulders and lead him into the house.
*********