The Ransom of the Dr. Dave
Previously on ER: As the ER wonders what happened to a comatose Dr. Dave, we learn that just over 2 months previously he was carjacked on the way back from picking up an engagement ring for his girlfriend and future mother of his child, Jing-Mei. His abductors think they have Carter and so does the rest of the ER who gets news of the kidnapping while attending a Carter family/hospital banquet. As Mark and Gamma head out to pick up the ransom money, they run into Carter and Abby coming in the door. When the kidnappers call back, the cops and ER staff learn Malucci was actually the victim.
Capt. Amos and the others learn about the mystery phone calls Carter's been getting while the kidnappers learn their hostage's true identity.
Trying to decide what to do with their hostile hostage, Rico and Dino visit their boss, Vincenzio Malucci in the hospital
A/N: The words in the brackets are the interpretation for Malucci.
Part 10
Vincenzio signals his men over to his bed. As they approach, they try to figure out a way of telling him about their screw up.
Vincenzio: Have you gotten the money, yet?
Rico: Not exactly, boss.
Vincenzio(cough): What the fuck do you mean?
Dino: Well, there's been a slight problem.
Vincenzio: I'M STUCK UP IN THIS FUCKING HOSPITAL ON DIALYSIS AND I SENT THREE MORONS TO DO MY JOB FOR ME AND NOW YOU TELL ME THERE'S A PROBLEM!! WHAT PROBLEM! CARTER GET AWAY, DID HE?
Rico: No, sir. The truth is we carjacked Carter's car and got the doctor out and brought him to the hangar like you told us but...
Vincenzio: But what? The fuzz on to you?
Dino: No. It's just that Carter wasn't driving his car at the time. We kidnapped the wrong doctor.
Vincenzio: Idiots!! I should have known you guys couldn't handle a simple job without screwing it completely up. So, what did you do to the doctor you did kidnap?
Rico: We have him tied up at the hangar. Frankie's watching him. What should we do with him?
Dino: I think we should just dump him outside of town.
Vincenzio: You weren't hired to think! If you would(cough, cough) have thought in the first place, we wouldn't be fucked over NOW!
Rico: Look Boss man, you don't sound too good right now. Maybe we should come back in a little while after you rest and had time to think?
Vincenzio: As soon as they spring me from here, I'll be taking over again and the organization will be back on its feet. I won't have to depend on you idiots.
Rico: How long before they let you go?
Vincenzio: As soon as they find me a donor. My kidneys won't last without the dialysis. My men are already working on getting MY NAME put up on top of the donor list. If they do their jobs right, the next available kidney will be mine. Let's hope they don't screw up like you asses did.
Dino: Let's hope so.
Back at the ER, everyone waits for Gamma and Mark to bring the ransom money back.
Carter: Captain, how are we going to know what to do with the money if we aren't at the banquet hall? They wouldn't contact us at the hospital, would they?
Capt. Amos: I've arranged for any calls that come in from the abductors at the hall to be forwarded to that phone on the wall. I have an officer putting a tap on it as we speak.
Jing-Mei: Any word yet?
Capt. Amos: Not yet. But that could be good because they won't do anything until they hear from us. They wouldn't be stupid enough to jeopardize losing all that money if they run now.
Jing-Mei: Maybe, this is no longer about the money? Maybe they're tired of waiting and just decided to kill Dave now.
Kerry: They're not going to do that. Dave wouldn't let them. You said it yourself, Jing-Mei, Malucci is from the streets. He can well take care of himself.
Jing-Mei: Not if he's hurt. You heard that phone conversation just like I did. Dave's not exactly playing poker with them.
Carter: Knowing Malucci, it's more like Russian Roulette.
Kerry: Look, why don't we all just go back to work and take our minds off of what is happening at the hangar, until we hear something definite.
Luka: Kerry's right. The board's filling up. There are plenty of patients to take care of, that will occupy us.
All agree. As Jing-Mei walks over to get a chart, she passes out.
Carter: Deb! Someone get a gurney over here!
The doctors examine Jing-Mei as she starts to wake up.
Jing-Mei: What happened?
Carter: You passed out. Have you had anything to eat today, Deb?
Jing-Mei: Not since last night before all of this happened.
Malik: Her blood pressure is slightly high.
Kerry: I think it's all the stress you're under right now. Jing-Mei, I want you to get something to eat and go take a nap. You need your rest.
Jing-Mei: I'm fine.
Kerry: You can't push yourself now. You are only in your first trimester of your pregnancy. You are still very vulnerable for a miscarriage, you know that.
Jing-Mei: I don't want to eat or sleep or leave here. What if something happens with Dave while I'm gone?
Carter: If there is any word about Malucci, we will come get you. Do you think Malucci would want you running yourself ragged, possibly endangering his unborn child, because of him?
Jing-Mei: No. As much as he denies it, he wants this child. I just feel like I'll be deserting him if I leave.
Carter: You wouldn't be. He's a doctor, he'd understand. You have to look after yourself just like I know Dave is looking after himself. He wants to get back to you and the baby so much. What's he going to think if he gets back here and you had a miscarriage?
Jing-Mei: IF he gets back here?
Carter: Oops! Deb, I'm sorry. I didn't mean if, I meant when he comes back. Now go get some rest, please.
Jing-Mei: And someone will come get me immediately as soon as you hear something?
Kerry and Carter: Promise.
At the hangar, Frankie sits about ten feet across from an unconscious Malucci and stares at him, waiting for him to make a move. Frankie starts to walk over to Malucci and checks him out, wondering what it would be like to fuck him. His curiosity gets the better of him and he kneels down in front of Malucci and undoes his zipper. As he starts to reach for Malucci's joystick, Malucci starts to stir and groan. Frankie zips him up and jumps back quickly.
Malucci: WTS GNG ONwhat's going on WHS TREwho's there
Frankie: Shut up, paisan. Save your breath. You're gonna need it.
Malucci, still in a great deal of pain from the blows to his head, chest, back and jaw starts to move around trying to get comfortable. But each time he moved another burst of pain soared through his damaged body. Breathing was getting harder and the gag in his mouth wasn't making it any easier.
Malucci: GT TIS FCKG GG OT OFM MTHget this fucking gag out of my mouth (cough)
Frankie: You think I'm el stupido, paisan. The moment I take that off you, you'll scream your head off and bring the whole city of Chicago in here.
Malucci: I CNT BRTH FCKR I can't breathe, fucker(cough)
Frankie: Not my problem. You should have thought about that before you shot that filthy mouth of yours off to Rico. I'm not doing anything until Rico gets back.
Malucci gives up arguing with Frankie and starts struggling with his bonds. Frankie stands nearby and watches Malucci tire himself out. Malucci's gasps for air come more frequently and he starts to cough up blood. Unable to spit it out, he aspirates it. Barely able to hold his head up anymore, Malucci lets it go limp. Checking Malucci's level of consciousness and finding out that he is drifting in and out, Frankie debates whether to take this opportunity to finish what he started with Malucci's zipper.
At Northwestern Hospital, Rico and Dino wait for the doctors and nurses to exit Vincenzio's room. Once he's alone, they re-enter and continue their conversation.
Rico: So Boss man, you decide what we should do with our hostage?
Vincenzio: How's his financial situation? Could we extort his family for the ransom?
Rico: I doubt it. Besides, if you met this guy, his family wouldn't pay one penny to get him back.
Vincenzio: A real troublemaker, huh?
Dino: To say the least.
Rico: I don't even know how we could believe that was Carter to begin with. He looks too Italian to have the name Carter.
Vincenzio: Italian? How long after you grabbed him did you realize you had the wrong guy?(cough)
Rico: A few hours.
Vincenzio: How did you finally find out he wasn't Carter.
Dino: Frankie found his hospital ID on the floor. And catch his name.
Vincenzio: What is his name, anyway? If I get nailed for a kidnapping, I'd like to know who it is I'm going to jail for.(cough)
Rico: His name is Malucci. Any relation or just a coincidence.
Vincenzio: What's his first name?
Rico: David. Why? Do you know him, Boss man?
Vincenzio: Where's his ID at now?
Dino: Right here.
Vincenzio signals Dino to hand over the ID. Dino gives it to him and as soon as Vincenzio sees the picture, he starts grinning from ear to ear.
Vincenzio( talking aloud to himself): My god! That is you, isn't it? What luck.
Rico: You do know him, don't you?
Vincenzio: Just someone out of my past.(pause) He's my son.
Dino: Shit! I never thought he was your son. Maybe a nephew or cousin but never your son. Now I see where he gets the attitude and mouth at. The only way we could shut him up was to put a gag on him.
Vincenzio: Why does that not surprise me?
Dino: So what do we do with him. Dump him or kill him or both?
Vincenzio: Change of plans, my boys.
Rico: You don't want us to kill him? But I thought you hated your kid? You always said he had no respect for you and never appreciated what you tried to do for him.
Vincenzio: And all of it true. If it weren't for that little mother fucker, I wouldn't have spent a good part of my life in prison and I wouldn't have been....
Rico: Then let us have the honor of killing him. Believe me, it won't be any great loss and I would more than enjoy doing it.
Vincenzio(cough): I don't want him dead, not just yet. We may not be able to get a ransom out of him but he can serve my cause in another way. Once he's outlived his usefulness than he will be killed and I will be right there when it happens.
Dino: OK, but what are you planning on doing with him that we need to keep him alive for?
Vincenzio: Gentlemen, I just found my kidney donor.
To be continued. Please read and review.