The Ransom of 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 who learns that their hostage isn't the intended Carter but his own son, Dave. He decides that he has other plans for their captive
Part 11
Rico: You're going to use your kid as the donor. Brilliant!
Dino: But don't they need to run tests to see if he matches?
Vincenzio: Don't worry, he'll match.
Rico: You think he's going to agree to this?
Vincenzio(cough, cough): I don't give a shit if he agrees or not. I'm not planning on asking his permission. You guys ought to know that when Vincenzio Malucci wants something, he just takes it. And I've got the resources to back me up, if you know what I mean?(referring to his mob connections).
Dino: So, how do we go about getting the kidney?
Vincenzio signals for Rico to hand him pen and pencil. He scribbles down a name and number.
Vincenzio: I need you guys to go see this doctor, Dr. Charles Fallone( Chuckie). He's on my payroll. He'll do the job for us and there'll be something extra in his paycheck when the job is complete.
Rico: Where do we find this doctor?
Vincenzio: Check the surgery department. He works here. Why do I think I checked into this hospital? He was going to do my surgery. I know I can trust him. He's not going to let me die, if he still wants to keep that second income of his.
Rico: What happens if the kidney isn't a match?
Vincenzio: Do I care. There are alot of other people in the world who need kidneys and they would pay anything for it. It's gotta match somebody, right. But if it is a match for me, I get first dibs, got it.
Rico and Dino: Got it!!
Vincenzio: And if he's still alive afterwards, maybe there's a few other organs that we can borrow and sell. After all, he's not going to be needing them anymore. I always knew that kid wasn't completely worthless, know what I mean?
Rico and Dino nod their heads excitedly in agreement, knowing that they didn't screw up totally and actually did good. Then all three start laughing at young Dr. Dave Malucci's fate as Rico and Dino leave the ICU to find Dr. Frankenstein, that is Dr. Fallone.
At the hospital, Jing-Mei was trying to get some sleep but all she could think of was what was happening with Dave and if they would ever get him back. Carter and Abby ran in when they heard her scream.
Carter: Deb, are you alright?
Jing-Mei: I think so. Just a nightmare. I'm trying to believe everything is going to work out, but the longer we don't hear anything about Dave the less chance he has of getting out of this unharmed.
Abby: You know Dave better than any of us. He's too tough. He can handle anything that they can throw at him. At least, that's what he always says.
Jing-Mei: That's a mask that Dave wears. He's not as tough as he lets everyone believe. There's a different side to him. The side he keeps hidden. He's been hurt alot in his life, so he's put this wall up around him. He won't let anyone penetrate it. He won't touch and he won't be touch.
Abby: But he's let you touch him. You were able to break through that tough exterior.
Jing-Mei: It wasn't easy. He didn't automatically let me in. I had to gain his trust. He had to be sure that I was for real and sincere and that I wouldn't leave him. But the truth is I think he really just needed someone to talk to. Someone who wouldn't judge him. Once he opened up to me, I saw a Dr. Dave that I never could have imagined. Now, I don't know what I would do without him. I can't imagine going on if I lose him especially after the baby is born. To look at the baby and see Dave in it, will tear me apart.
Carter: Well, you won't have to know what life would be like without Malucci. He'll get himself out of this one.(pause) He has to because I don't think I could live with myself if anything happens to him. Remember, I'm the one that was suppose to be kidnapped, not him. I owe him big time. You don't think Malucci is going to check out while he knows I'm totally in his debt for what he's done for me. (pause, trying to reassure himself) He'll be back.
Abby: We were just going on break, If you'd like we'll sit with you for awhile.
Jing-Mei: Thank you, guys.
Rico and Dino wait in waiting room outside of OR 2 for Dr. Fallone to come out. Once he steps out of the operating room, the desk nurse signals to them.
Dr. Fallone: Take the patient to recovery. He needs to be monitored for the next 24 hours. If there is a change in his condition, I want to be notified.
Rico: Dr. Fallone?
Dr. Fallone: Yes, may I help you?
Dino: We like to discuss a patient with you.
Dr. Fallone: I can't discuss any patient with just anyone. There is such a thing called patient confidentiality.
Rico: This patient won't mind. In fact, he insists upon it.
Both Rico and Dino open their jackets and brandish their guns to Dr. Fallone, being careful no one else sees them.
Dr. Fallone: I see. As long as the patient gave his okay. Let's go to my office.
Rico and Dino follow Dr. Fallone down the hall to his office. Dr. Fallone instructs his receptionist that he would be in a meeting in his office and not to be disturbed.
Rico: Dr. Fallone, we have a mutual friend, Vincenzio Malucci. He needs you do a job.
Dr. Fallone: What's the job?
Dino: Our boss needs a kidney transplant.
Dr. Fallone: I know. I'm the one who told him that. I also told him when we have a compatible kidney I would do the surgery.
Rico: We have a compatible donor. We need you to get the kidney.
Dr. Fallone: You have a donor. Is he a patient in this hospital? How come I wasn't notified immediately?
Dino: Yes, we have a donor. No, he isn't a patient in this hospital. And you weren't notified because this isn't a normal donation. Why would we be here if it were legal.
Dr. Fallone: Where's the donor at? Has he agreed to donate?
Dino: He's at the airport in a hangar. And he's not exactly a willing donor.
Dr. Fallone: You mean you're just going to steal it from him.
Rico: No, we mean YOU are going to steal it from him. Boss man says there will be a big bonus in it for you.
Thinking it over, Dr. Fallone wonders if he is in this way too deep.
Dr. Fallone: If this gets out, I will surely lose my license and do jail time.
Dino(pulling his gun out and aiming it at the doctor's head)If you don't do it, you'll lose your life. Got it.
Reluctantly, Dr. Fallone agrees and sends Dino and Rico downstairs to wait for him while he gets the needed equipment.
Jing-Mei starts to get restless waiting in the lounge. She decides to take a walk. She walks down to admit desk and sees Capt. Amos.
Jing-Mei: Captain, what is taking so long for your men to get to the hangar?
Capt. Amos: I'm on the radio right now trying to find out.(into the radio) Officer, what is the holdup, now? This is taking way too long.
Officer(on the radio): We're having trouble with the airport security. They refuse to allow us entrance and access to any of the hangars.
Capt. Amos(on the radio): Did you show them your ID? Did you explain the situation to them? Did you tell them that a life could be in jeopardy?
Officer(on the radio): Yes, we told them all that. They don't care. They insist we get a warrant. We have been trying to get a judge to issue one, but with no luck.
Capt. Amos(on the radio): Give me a few moments. I'll find a judge and have that warrant for you. OUT.
As the captain tries to contact a judge for the warrant, Mark, Gamma and their two armed guards enter the ER with a briefcase.
Gamma: We have the ransom money in here.
Rico and Dino drive the doctor to Hangar #7. Slipping back into the hangar unspotted, they see Frankie eyeing an unconscious Malucci.
Dr. Fallone: Well, this is Vincenzio's son. Looks like him, but it's hard to tell with the blindfold and gag on him.
Frankie: What's going on, paisans?
Rico: Boss man has other plans for our captive. He needs a kidney and this (indicating Malucci) has one to give. By the way, what were you doing to him when we walked in?
Frankie( embarrassed by his attraction to Malucci): Nothing! I wasn't doing nothing with him. So FORGET IT!!! So, we get to hijack one of his kidneys, cool! Why not take both of them?
Dino: Nah. Boss man wants him alive for the moment. He wants to be there when his bastard son draws his last breath.
Rico: Enough with the yapping. Let's get on with this.
Dr. Fallone: Alright, I'm going to need him lying down on his stomach.
With that, Dino untied Dave from the chair. Rico grabbed Malucci tightly around his throat, cutting off any air Malucci was forcing into his body. This gesture brought Dave around and he tried fighting for his life. Then Rico and Frankie each grabbed one of Malucci's arms and threw him face first on to floor, slamming his face into the concrete floor. Malucci started to whimper like a wounded puppy or a hurt little boy from the agonizing pain he was in. Rico grabbed Malucci by his hair and slammed his head into the concrete to shut him up.
Rico: Silence, punk! Stop your fucking squirming, mother fucker!
Dr. Fallone: I can't operate on him like that. You have him tied up all wrong. I need access to his entire back area.
Frankie untied Dave's hands as Rico kept his foot on Malucci's head pressing it hard against the cement. After Malucci's hands were untied from behind his back, Frankie put his hands, arms stretched out, above his head on the floor and tied them back up again. The doctor started getting his equipment out of his bag. He took out a bottle with a liquid in it and a towel. The doctor started dousing the towel with the liquid.
Rico: What's that? What are you doing?
Dr. Fallone: It's ether. I'm getting ready to put him under.
Rico: No, the boss doesn't want him anestitized. He wants him fully conscious for this. He wants the kid to feel the pain that he was in all these years.
Dr. Fallone: If I don't knock him out, he probably won't survive the surgery.
Rico: Boss man doesn't care. He wants him alive but if he dies he won't cry over it. The ends justify the means. Just get that kidney, and don't screw it up!
Dr. Fallone put the ether and towel back in his bag and took out the instrument that he planned to make the first incision with: a sternal saw. Rico lifted Malucci's scrub shirt up and they all saw the scars already on his back.
Rico: Wow!! It looks like the boss already did a job on this kid.
Dino: With all those scars, he won't even notice these new ones.
The doctor cut into Dave's back and even through the gag you could hear the intense pain that was rushing threw Dave. All of sudden, the doctor stopped sawing into Malucci. He pulled the saw out and the blade was broke.
Dino: Jesus! What the fuck happen to that?
Dr. Fallone: I hit something hard. Maybe his spine. But it shouldn't have busted the saw blade like that.
Dr. Fallone confused at what could have done that to the blade just shrugged it off to one of life's little mysteries. He threw the broken blade on the floor and replaced it with a new one. Then he went back to work, blocking out the bone chilling, muffled screams of the dying Malucci.
Capt. Amos finally was able to get through to a judge and have the warrant issued. He contacted the officer in charge of the storm team at the airport and he sent an officer to retrieve the warrant.
Inside the hangar, as the doctor put in the final stitch, Malucci who was barely alive at this point, started to stir. Rico kicked him in his stomach to stun him. Dr. Fallone placed the newly donated kidney in an ice chest that he brought with him.
Rico: Thanks for all your help. We will put in a very good word for you with the boss. Now, we have to get you out of here so you can get that kidney to its new owner.
Frankie: Now that you guys are done, can I have some fun with him while you're gone?
Rico: Go for it, Frankie!
As Rico and Dino escorted Dr. Fallone out of the hangar and away from the airport, Frankie finally got his chance to do what he's been waiting so long for. He took a barely conscious Malucci's pants and boxers down then put his fully erect cock up Dave and went down hard on him. Unable to defend himself, Malucci was determined to not let Frankie do this to him. He would NOT be a victim again. He fought all he could with no success. Rico and Dino came rushing back in, in time to see Frankie finishing up with Malucci. Frankie put Malucci's boxers and pants back on him as Rico and Dino looked at each other knowing exactly what Frankie did.
Rico: How was he?
Frankie: For being the first guy I ever fucked, I'd have to say it was EXCELLENT!!!
Dino: Well never mind that right now. We have to get out of here.
Frankie: What's he talking about, Rico?
Rico: When we were coming back from dropping the doctor off, we saw a police brigade held up at the gate. They might be looking for the missing doctor.
Frankie: But how paisans? How could they have found him?
Rico: I'm not sure that they're even here for him but if they are they had to find out some way and the only way they could have is if he gave them a clue over the phone.
Rico walks over to Malucci and gives him a final kick to his stomach, causing Dave to wince with more pain.
Dino: Come on you guys. Let's get out of here!
Frankie: What about him?
Rico: He's dead weight, literately. But I'm not going to let him get away alive.
Dino: What are planning to do? He's almost dead anyway. He ain't gonna survive.
Rico: You stupido, told him my name. With that information, I'm gonna make damn sure he doesn't get out alive.
Dino: But we promised Boss man we wouldn't kill him.
Rico: Well, boss man ain't here so I'm calling the shots. Get me the gasoline.
As Frankie and Dino pulled a gas can over to Malucci, Rico was loading his gun. Dino lifted the can up and started to pour the gas onto Malucci. Rico stood over Malucci with his gun aimed at Malucci's back.
Rico: Ciao, paisan!
Then Rico pulled the trigger and as they heard the sirens getting closer, they started to run out of the hangar. Dino, started making a trail of gas from Malucci to the hangar door. Right before they shut the door, Rico struck a match and threw it on the beginning of the trail causing the hangar to become engulfed in flames. They ran out the door and to the nearest phone.
Rico: We might as well try to still make some money off the doctor.
Rico picked up a phone and called over to the banquet hall. The call was immediately forwarded to the ER where Capt. Amos prompted Mark to answer it as he put it on speakerphone and instructed his officer to start the trace.
Mark: Hello, is that you?
Rico: Thought you forgot about us. Well, do you have the money?
Mark: Yes. What do I do with it?
Rico: You and the old lady take the money to the North Bridge. Just underneath it is a bench next to a tree. Behind the tree is a pay phone. Wait there until I call you. You two alone and no cops or your friend dies! (hang up)
Mark hangs up and turns to the captain.
Mark: Well, what now?
Capt. Amos: You do exactly what they tell you until we know Dr. Malucci is safe.
Carter: I'm going with you, Mark.
Mark: No, Carter. They just said me and your grandmother.
Carter: There is no way I'm letting my grandmother go out there.
Mark: She'll be alright. I'll be with her. I'll make sure of it.
Reluctantly, Carter agrees. As Mark and Gamma prepare to leave, the admit desk phone rings.
Randi: Cook County ER. How may I help you? (pause) He's right here. Capt. Amos, there's a phone call for you.
Randi hands the captain the phone and he signals Mark and Gamma to stop.
Capt. Amos(on the phone): I see. Yes. When it gets there send it to Cook County. We'll be waiting here for it. Thank you, officer.(hang up)
Capt. Amos pauses and takes a deep breath as he stares at all the faces looking back at him.
Capt. Amos: Hold it guys, save your ransom money Ms. Carter. My men found your Dr. Malucci.
To be continued. Please read and review.