The Ransom of Dr. Dave

Part 23

Jing-Mei: They poisoned him!

Capt. Amos: Oh yeah. From what I hear they almost succeeded.

Kerry: How much more can that poor boy take.

Capt. Amos: Nothing more than he has to from now on. Dr. Romano, I need to discuss a more tighter security system around here with you.

Romano: Alright, let's go to my office.

Capt. Amos: I also would like to talk with the personnel up in the ICU and find out how someone got to Dr. Malucci's meds up there.

Romano and Capt. Amos leave and head to Romano's office.

Mark: I can't believe someone got to Malucci here.

Luka: Poor kid. Lying in a coma and someone stabs him, then tries to poison him.

Carter: It goes to show that these guys will stop at nothing to get rid of Malucci.

Abby: I wonder what they'll try next.

Everyone starts to notice how upset Jing-Mei is getting and try to comfort her.

Abby: I'm sorry, Dr. Chen. I didn't mean they would try something again.

Jing-Mei: I know. But you're right. Whoever is responsible for putting Dave in this hospital is still out there and who knows when, where or how they will try again.

Jing-Mei promptly gets up and runs to the bathroom for her daily vomit session.

Abby: I thought she'd be over the morning sickness by now.

Carter: I think it's a combination of morning sickness and nerves.

At Northwestern Hospital, Vincenzio reads the paper about the alleged fire at Cook County General Hospital and the attempt on one of their doctors.

Vincenzio(throwing the paper down): You mother fuckers, screwed up again. How the hell could you let him get away alive again.

Frankie: I can't believe the prick is still alive. What the hell is he made of.

Vincenzio: SHUT THE FUCK UP, ASSHOLES!

Rico: Well, Dino screwed up and he's been taken care of, so now what do we do with your kid, Boss man?

Vincenzio: You do nothing.

Frankie: So we just let him get away, paisan? Just give us another chance...

Vincenzio: You had your last chance, now you do nothing but lay low for awhile. I'm getting stronger each day and I will take care of my worthless, bastard kid. Understood.

Rico: Understood, Boss man. It'll be great to see you in action.

A month later, Dave has had more brain surgery to repair several cerebral hemorrhages and had the casts removed from his legs. He now has his legs in braces with pins in them holding the bones together. It extremely painful for him but the doctors don't feel that he has much sensation in the lower half of his body because of the swelling around his spinal cord and spinal fractures. He's going to have to wear them for the next few months while the bones in his legs continue to heal.

Kerry: Has anyone seen Dr. Chen?

Lydia: I think she said she had an appointment in OB/GYN.

Luka: Then she was taking her break afterwards.

Abby: So you know what that means. She's up...

ER Staff: in the ICU visiting with Malucci.

Haleh: She sits up there with him every chance she gets: before work, after work, breaks and on her days off she's there with him all day.

Yosh: And she keeps talking to him. Do you think he really can hear her?

Mark: That's what they say about coma victims and we have to believe it, Dr. Chen obviously does.

Up in the ICU, Jing-Mei continues to talk with Malucci and hold his hand.

Jing-Mei: Hi sweetheart, I don't have much time. I decided to take my break right after my doctor's appointment. I'm just about six months now and I just had a sonogram done. Here, let me show you our first baby picture. I told Dr. Evans not to tell me the sex of the baby. I want it to be a surprise, but I think it looks like a girl. Just like we wanted, well, like I wanted. I'm not sure exactly what you wanted but I'm sure it doesn't matter to either of us as long as it is healthy. I want to ask John to be my Lamaze coach just in case you're not up to it. Is that okay with you. I'm still working on names. Both boy and girl names. What do you think of Kayla for a girl and I don't know maybe... Dave Jr. for a boy. Well, we can discuss it when you wake up. I'd better get back to work. You know how Weaver is when we're late. She misses you, Dave. They all do. They do care about you and can't wait for you to come back. Love you sweetheart(kissing his hand).

Down in the ER, Capt Amos walks in just as Jing-Mei comes down the hall.

Jing-Mei: Captain, what's the latest on Dave's case?

Capt. Amos: Well it took awhile but we were able to match some of the prints we found in Dr. Carter's car, the hangar and at the hospital.

Jing-Mei: Who's are they?

Capt. Amos: Hang on there, Dr. Chen. We don't know that yet but we do know that the prints we lifted from the cyanide syringe match some of the ones at the hangar and the ones on Malucci's gag. The prints taking from our hanged friend also match some from the hangar, Carter's car and Malucci's ropes and blindfold.

Jing-Mei: So that means that both men were in the hangar when Dave was kidnapped. They tied him up, blindfolded and gagged him. What are you doing to catch them?

Capt. Amos: Everything in our power. We will find them and they will pay for what they did.

Jing-Mei: Captain, I'm going to give birth in about 3 months. Can you guarantee that me and my baby will be safe?

Capt. Amos: If necessary, we will post round the clock armed guards on you, your baby and Dr. Dave.

Jing-Mei(upset): A HELL LOT OF GOOD YOUR GUARDS DID FOR DAVE! He was stabbed and poisoned right under your guards' noses. You couldn't protect him right in this hospital, what is going to happen to us on the street?

Capt. Amos: I know how aggravating this is and I'm sorry, but that is the best we can do for now.

Jing-Mei: Thanks a lot, for nothing.

Jing-Mei stomps away and goes to the board to claim her next patient.

Carter: Don't take any offense to that. She's been jumping on everyone lately. It's her hormones and with everything that is going on...

Capt. Amos: You don't have to explain, Dr. Carter. I fully understand and probably be the same way if I were in her place.

Later that day...

Randi: Dr. Chen, phone call. It's the ICU.

Jing-Mei: Oh god, what's happened now?!

Randi hands Jing-Mei the phone and her hands are shaking but she takes a deep breath and tries to compose herself before she answers.

Jing-Mei: This is Dr. Chen, how may I help you?(pause, smiling)What? When? (pause) I'll be right up there. Thank you, thank you so much. (hangs up)

The ER staff walks over to Jing-Mei to see what has happened to Malucci now.

Kerry: Jing-Mei, are you okay? Is Dave okay?

Jing-Mei(grinning): I'm fine and Dave will be too. That was the ICU on the phone.

Carter: We know. What did they have to say?

Abby: From the look on your face it must by good news.

Jing-Mei: It is. They found a kidney for Dave.

To be continued. Please read and review.