The Ransom of Dr. Dave
Part 38
A/N: Anything in bold italic is being spoken in Italian
Jing-Mei gets Rusty dressed and hurries him out the door. She has to relieve Sophie at the hospital which she's been at for almost 24 hours. Sophie insisted on spending some private time with her brother.
After the new year, Dr. Mercede and Jing-Mei set a date that Dave could have his plastic surgery. Jing-Mei brought Antonio up to the ICU as much as possible. Antonio would be getting released from the hospital soon and it was too cold out and he was still so small that Jing-Mei didn't want to keep bringing him out to visit Dave. He and Dave needed to bond. Even though Dave was still in the coma, if he could feel Antonio's presence there it might help him.
Jing-Mei, Antonio and Rusty are up visiting with Dave when Sophie walks in.
Sophie: Rusty, did you give your papa a kiss and say hello.
Rusty nods but runs over to Dave's bed and gives him another small peck on the cheek which was covered in bandages. Then Rusty lifted Dave's hand up so it would stroke his head.
Sophie: Rusty, be careful of your papa's tubes and IV'S.
Rusty: I am. Papa, are you getting better?
Sophie and Jing-Mei walk to the other side of the room while Rusty chats with Dave. Jing-Mei starts gently bouncing a fussy Antonio to get him to fall asleep.
Sophie: How's our little guy doing?
Jing-Mei: Much better. He may be released soon.
Sophie: Great!
Jing-Mei: Yeah great. The only problem is I wanted to be all moved into the new house before I brought the baby home.
Sophie: How much more is left to do?
Jing-Mei: Not much really. I have to paint the nursery and move in all the baby furniture that I bought. I still have a lot of the outfits and toys that the girls gave me at my baby shower still packed and I haven't even began to move Dave's things over from his apartment.
Sophie: Well, what do you have planned for today?
Jing-Mei: Abby is coming up to the neonatal ICU and start working with me on breastfeeding Antonio. They think he's ready and I'm certainly ready to learn.
Sophie: That is the best way for mommy and baby to bond.
Jing-Mei: I just hope that Antonio will take to my breast. Abby said that it's hard enough for some babies to take to breastfeeding but with preemies it's twice as hard.
Sophie: If you want to later on, Rusty and I will go with you and help move Davey's things over, at least the light things. The major things we can get some of your doctor buddies to help like that Carter and Luka.
Jing-Mei: Aren't you tired?
Sophie: No, I got plenty of rest here. Trust me.
Jing-Mei: Maybe Luka can help with the lifting, but not Carter. He's got a bad back after he was stabbed.
Sophie: Stabbed!! (pause)Oh god, please tell me that had nothing to do with Davey's attack.
Jing-Mei: Oh no, no, no. That happened almost 2 years ago on Valentine's Day. A psychotic patient got hold of a knife and stabbed Carter and killed a med student.
Sophie: What the hell is this world coming to. Why all the violence? Why do people have to die? It's so senseless.
Jing-Mei(looking at Dave): I wish I knew. (pause) Well Antonio is finally asleep. I think I'll take him back down to NICU. He'll be waking up soon for his feeding and I want to be ready.
Sophie waves to Rusty to come over.
Sophie: Rusty, come here baby. We're going to take Antonio down to his crib. Say ciao to your papa.
Rusty: Ciao papa. Be back later.
Down in NICU, Jing-Mei lays Antonio down in his crib and looks at his chart. The on-duty nurse comes over to her.
Nurse: Is there something I can help you with Dr. Chen?
Jing-Mei: Is this Antonio's regular feeding schedule?
Nurse: Well no babies are regular, but this is the feeding times we have set and he does seem to stick to them pretty well.
Jing-Mei: According to this, Antonio won't be ready to be fed for another 2 hours.
Sophie: Do you want to go and get some paint for the nursery in the meantime?
Jing-Mei: It certainly will kill some time. (to the nurse)If Abby Lockhart stops by, tell her that I will be back in time for Antonio's feeding.
The nurse nods in agreement as the trio leaves NICU.
At the paint store, Jing-Mei and Sophie look at all sort of paint samples trying to decide which one would look best in the nursery, which one Dave would like. Meanwhile, Rusty was watching the man behind the counter mix the paint. He was totally mesmerized by it.
Jing-Mei: What do you think, Sophie. Baby blue with a white trim?
Sophie: Maybe a wallpaper border?
Jing-Mei: Yes, but which one? There's so many to choose from. Teddy bears--too girlish. Fire trucks, race cars, rockets---maybe.
Sophie: What about cartoon characters? Power Rangers, Star Wars, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Spongebob Squarepants.
Jing-Mei turns to the next page and she and Sophie look at each other strangely.
Jing-Mei and Sophie: Teletubbies? YUCK!!!
Sophie: Well let's get a boy's opinion.
Sophie fetches Rusty and has to pull him away from the paint mixing machine. She shows him the border sample book. He looks at it over and over until one particular border catches his attention and he excitedly points at the one he likes.
Jing-Mei: Are you sure, Rusty?
Sophie: Yeah trust me, he's sure.
Jing-Mei: Then that's what it will be.
Jing-Mei signals to the salesman.
Salesman: Are we ready, ladies?
Jing-Mei: Yes we are. We will take about 3 gallons of the satin, gloss light blue, 1 gallon of the pure white for the trim and about 3 rolls of the A.L.F. wallpaper border.
Salesman: Yes ma'am, I'll get that together for you and meet you at the register.
Jing-Mei: I never would have guessed that that would have been the border he would have chose.
Sophie: I'm not surprised. We still get A.L.F. on tv over in Italy and that's his favorite character. He just loves to watch the show.
At the register, the salesman rings up the purchase.
Salesman: That will be $94.98, ladies.
Jing-Mei hands him her credit card and looks at her watch.
Jing-Mei: Wow! I didn't realize we were here that long, almost an hour and a half. We have to get back to the hospital for Antonio's feeding.
Back at the hospital, Abby is waiting in the NICU for Jing-Mei. Jing-Mei goes in while Rusty and Sophie visit Dave. Outside Dave's room, Sophie encounters Kerry. Kerry pulls her to the side for a chat. Sophie tries to keep control in front of Rusty.
Kerry: Are you going to be alright with this news? I am so sorry.
Sophie(wiping her tears): Yes, you aren't telling me anything I didn't already know. And thank you for everything you've done.
Kerry gives her a comforting hug and watches as she and Rusty enter Dave's room.
Down in NICU:
Abby: Are you ready, Jing-Mei?
Jing-Mei(nervously): I think so.
Abby and Jing-Mei go over to the crib and as Jing-Mei settles down in a nearby chair and lifts her shirt to prepare for the feeding, Abby picks a screaming Antonio up and hands him to Jing-Mei.
Abby: Alright, place Antonio up to your breast and let him get the feel of it. Let him nuzzle and slowly introduce the nipple to him slowly.
Jing-Mei did exactly what Abby had told her but it would appear that Antonio wouldn't latch on.
Jing-Mei: Something's wrong. What am I doing wrong?
Abby: Nothing. You're doing fine. Just give it some time. I told you this wasn't going to be easy. Try the other side.
Jing-Mei switched to the other side but still with no luck. Then Antonio started to scream.
Jing-Mei: What's wrong with him?
Abby: He's definitely hungry, but he's just not latching on. Do you want to keep trying?
Jing-Mei(sighing): No, I don't want to keep him waiting.
Abby: I'll get the breast pump.
After Jing-Mei fills a bottle of breast milk for Antonio she takes the baby in her arms and gives him the bottle. He takes to it right away.
Jing-Mei: Why doesn't he do that to me?
Abby: Don't get discouraged, Jing-Mei. It will happen. Give it some time but don't stop trying.
Once Antonio is fed and burped, Jing-Mei sits in the chair holding Antonio talking almost reasoning with him.
Jing-Mei: What's the matter little guy? Why won't you latch on to me? Is it the hospital and all the people coming in that is making you nervous. Is it because you know there is something wrong with your daddy? Well, wait to you get home and into your new room. You'll like it, I hope. And you and I will spend some real quality time together. I love you so much, little baby.
Abby: It might just be something as simple as colic. That could happen.
Jing-Mei: I hope if that is what it is it's only temporary. I don't know if I can handle a fussy baby right now.
Antonio starts crying. Abby bends down to look at the baby in the eyes.
Abby(running her hand over his brown hair): What's the matter now, sweetheart?
Jing-Mei(patting Antonio's bottom): Oh, I think I know.
Abby: You know where we keep the diapers. Do you want me to stay?
Jing-Mei: I think I can handle this.
Abby: Okay, yell if you need help and have fun.
Jing-Mei rolls her eyes as Abby smiles and gives a small laugh while she exits the NICU.
Once Antonio has been changed he let out a big yawn and Jing-Mei took the hint and placed him back in his crib. She kissed him and quietly left and headed for Dave's room.
Up in Dave's room, the Petersons came by to visit Dave and were showing him pictures of their son, Grant. They were telling him all about their boy when Jing-Mei walked in. Sophie walks in the room after her.
Sophie: Well, how did it go?
Jing-Mei: It didn't. I tried but Antonio just wouldn't take to my breast. Abby said he may just be colicky.
Sophie: If he is, he will get over it.
Jing-Mei: I hope so. Sophie, was your Marissa ever colicky?
Sophie: YES, SHE WAS!
Jing-Mei: Did it interfere with you breastfeeding her?
Sophie(dropping her eyes down): I didn't breast feed her.
Jing-Mei: From the start, I was determined to breast feed. I guess every woman chooses differently.
Sophie: It really wasn't my choice. I had no choice.
Jing-Mei: Not your choice? Then who's.
Sophie: Jing-Mei, I know I told you that I needed private time with Davey and that's true. I'm trying my best to figure a way to say goodbye to him.
Jing-Mei: Goodbye? My parents are working on your visa extension.
Sophie: I know and it's not about that.
Jing-Mei: Well Dave is starting to improve. He's going to get through this so no need for goodbyes. He's not going anywhere.
Sophie: Maybe not. But I am. Jing-Mei, I have breast cancer.
To be continued. Please read and review.