The Ransom of Dr. Dave
Part 40
A/N: Anything in bold italic is being spoken in Italian
A week later:
Jing-Mei sits with Dave and tells him about the nursery that she and Sophie are fixing up.
Jing-Mei: You are going to absolutely love the nursery. It's light blue with white trim and an A.L.F wallpaper border. Rusty picked out the border. The crib is all set up and I got the cutest fitted sheets for the mattress. It took me awhile but I found sheets with E.T. on them. I think I want an outer space theme for his room. I ordered a lamp shaped like a rocket for the room and the mobile over the crib has all the planets hanging from it. I was going to go with a circus theme but I know how you feel about clowns. Still don't understand that though.(pause)Luka and Mark moved your tv, stereo and lounge chair over from your apartment.(pause) Sophie is going back to Italy for awhile but Rusty will be staying with me. She leaves next Monday.
The orderlies came in to get Dave and take him to be prepped for surgery. Jing-Mei kissed his hand, wished him good luck and told him that she loved him. Then she went down to try a third time to breastfeed Antonio. When she got down to the hospital's nursery, Antonio was wide awake and screaming his small lungs out. Jing-Mei walked in.
Nurse: You're just in time, Dr. Chen.
Jing-Mei: He's just like his daddy. If he doesn't get fed right on schedule he starts screaming.
Nurse: Well, are you ready to try?
Jing-Mei: Uh...I guess so.
Nurse: Now don't be nervous. Get ready and I'll get Antonio.
Jing-Mei sat in the chair and lifted her shirt and bra up. Her hands were shaking so much she was afraid to take the baby.
Nurse: Relax, Dr. Chen. Don't be so tense. The baby can sense your nervousness. Just relax.
The nurse hands Jing-Mei the baby and Jing-Mei takes a deep breath and places Antonio near her breast. He nuzzles to it and then starts crying.
Jing-Mei: Oh come on little Antonio, what's the matter baby? Why won't you take to me?
Antonio continues to cry.
Nurse: It happens sometime, Dr. Chen. Not all babies can be breastfed.
Jing-Mei: I understand that but he's going to be discharged soon and I wanted to get this down before I brought him home.
Nurse: I have a bottle ready and some formula if you don't want to use the pump today.
Jing-Mei: No, I'll use it. If Antonio won't take to my breast I still want him to have some of my milk.
Nurse: Alright, I'll set it u...
Antonio stops crying.
Jing-Mei(interrupting): Wait, he's doing it. He's latched on.
Nurse: Yes he is. Congratulations. It should be smooth sailing from here on in.
Jing-Mei and the nurse watch as Antonio eats.
Jing-Mei: Chow down there little guy.
Nurse: His daddy would be so proud him.
Jing-Mei: His daddy, yeah. Wait til I tell him. If I didn't know better I'd swear this was a sign.
Nurse: A sign? What kind of a sign?
Jing-Mei: Dave just went into surgery. This is a sign that everything is going to be alright.
Nurse: I believe it.
They smile and continue to gaze at the baby in total amazement. After Antonio is done, Jing-Mei burps him and puts him down in his crib as he lets out a big yawn.
Jing-Mei heads over to the oncology department to meet up with Sophie after her appointment. She waits outside Dr. Gregory's office for her. About 45 minutes later, Sophie comes out.
Jing-Mei: Is everything alright, Sophie?
Sophie: Yeah, just a little bruising. Nothing serious from when Rusty hit me. Dr. Gregory gave me a few prescriptions to fill but I think I'll do that after lunch.
Jing-Mei: Where is Rusty?
Sophie: The Petersons took him for the day. They still have a lot of Grant's toys when he was a boy for Rusty to play with and I think they're taking him to the zoo. (pause)
Jing-Mei: But how are they going to communicate?
Sophie: I told his translator guard to go with them. (pause)What's with the big smile on your face?
Jing-Mei: It happened. Antonio took my breast this morning.
Sophie(grinning): I am so happy for you.
Jing-Mei: I can't wait to tell Dave when he comes out of surgery.
Sophie: How long did they say he'd be in surgery?
Jing-Mei: A few hours. He's already been there for about 2 hours. Come on let's go to lunch.
Over at a rundown apartment, a young man enters Room 4b.
Rico: You called Boss man.
Vincenzio: Have you spoken with Filomena lately?
Rico: Uh..yeah. She's my girl and she prefers to be called Fila. Why?
Vincenzio: I need her to do something for me.
Rico: What?
Vincenzio: Just get her on the phone.
Rico calls Fila and puts Vincenzio on. After speaking to her for a few minutes, he hangs up and looks over towards Rico with a big smile on his face and laughs.
Vincenzio: I've got him this time.
Rico: Who?
Vincenzio: My worthless offspring. This will kill him for sure.
Then there's a knock on the door. Frankie enters with two other gentlemen.
Frankie: Here paisan, your protection money and a little nose candy.
Frankie, Rico and the other men help themselves to the coke when Vincenzio summons Frankie over.
Frankie: Yeah paisan.
Vincenzio: I need you to make a phone call for me.
Frankie nods and Vincenzio grabs some coke out of his hand and quickly inhales it up his nose.
Rico: Yo Boss man, do you think you should be snorting so much of that stuff with your new kidney. That's what ruined your kidneys in the first place. It may destroy this one too.
Vincenzio: So fucking what? I know where to get another kidney if I need one.
Vincenzio gives off an evil laugh and the others join in.
At Doc Magoo's, Jing-Mei and Sophie discuss her trip back to Italy.
Jing-Mei: I wish you didn't have to leave but I know you want to go back and see your husband and daughter.
Sophie: I do, but that's not the only reason I'm going back.
Jing-Mei: Then why?
Sophie: I've thought about what you said about fighting this cancer. I know the doctor's say it's incurable and I probably don't have much time but I want to take advantage of every precious second I have. And I figure if Davey can fight for his life after everything's he's been through then I should fight for mine.
Jing-Mei: Why not stay and start treatment here until Dave gets stronger.
Sophie: I would but my health insurance doesn't cover outside Italy.
Jing-Mei: I told you not to worry about money or the cost of things, I'll take care of it.
Sophie: Thank you and I am grateful, but you've done enough for us. I can't...no I won't ask you to do anymore. You may not understand this but we Maluccis may not have much but we have our pride.
Jing-Mei: I do understand. If that is one thing your brother has taught me is he ain't no charity case.
Sophie: I can't thank you enough for everything you've done. Not everyone would take a couple of foreigners that they've never met into their home and treat them as family.
Jing-Mei: You, Rusty and Dave are family. You're probably more family to me than my own parents. They won't even come see Dave or Antonio because they're...
Sophie: Italians. Some people back home are like that, mostly the older people.
Jing-Mei: But not you, Rusty or Dave. You took right to me and didn't care that I'm Chinese.
Sophie: I know this may sound weird but in the short time I've known you, you've become like a sister to me and a stepmom to Rusty....Ow! (grabbing her chest)
Jing-Mei: Sophie, what's wrong?
Sophie: Just a sharp pain I get every once in awhile. I guess I better head over to the pharmacy and fill my prescriptions, especially the painkillers.
Jing-Mei: Let's go. I want to see if there's any news about Dave's surgery.
Jing-Mei and Sophie head back to the hospital. Sophie heads over to hospital pharmacy while Jing-Mei checks on Dave.
Jing-Mei: Nurse, any word on Dr. Malucci.
Nurse: Sorry Dr. Chen, not yet. You're welcome to wait in his room if you want.
Jing-Mei: Uh...no. I think I'll go down and see some of my friends in the ER. Please call me if there is any news.
Nurse: Sure.
Jing-Mei goes down to the ER and heads for the admit desk.
Kerry: Jing-Mei, how's everything going?
Jing-Mei: Okay, I think. Dave is still in surgery and Antonio let me feed him this morning.
Abby: Good. I'm glad he finally did.
Carter: How are you doing though? You look absolutely tired.
Jing-Mei: I'm fine. Once Antonio comes home I won't be able to get to spend as much time over here with Dave that I'd like.
Mark: Don't worry. We'll keep an eye on him for you.
Jing-Mei: Thank you everyone.
Kerry: Yeah it'll be easy. He's unconscious. If I could keep an eye on him when he was being his usual arrogant, childish self running around the hospital, I think I can handle him in a coma.
Luka: Yeah, how much trouble could he be, after all he can't talk.
Haleh: Remember, we are talking about Dr. Dave here.
ER Staff: True.(they start laughing)
Randi(answering the phone): Hello, Cook County ER, how may I help you? (pause)Dr. Chen, phone.
Jing-Mei: That's probably ICU. I told the nurse to call down here as soon as she heard any news about Dave's surgery.(into the phone)Dr. Chen, here.
Frankie: I'm watching you. (hangs up)
Jing-Mei drops the phone and everyone notices.
Mark: Jing-Mei, what's wrong?
Abby: Did something happen to Malucci?
Jing-Mei(stuttering): No, not Dave. It's him.
Luka: Him? Him who?
Carter: Is it another one of those phone calls?
Jing-Mei nods.
Carter: Was it from the same guy? Italian accent.
Jing-Mei(stuttering): I think so.
Noticing how upset Jing-Mei is, Kerry tells Abby and Haleh to take her into the lounge to calm down.
Carter: I'll call Capt. Amos and let him know.
Inside the lounge, Jing-Mei is crying and the nurses try to comfort her with little success.
Haleh: You just take it easy. It's just someone with nothing better to do.
Jing-Mei: I thought the calls have stopped since I haven't gotten any for awhile.
Abby: You're safe. No one is going to hurt you. We won't let them. Now, just forget about them and think about Dave and that beautiful little guy up in the nursery.
The doors open up and Rusty runs in with the Petersons and his guard.
Jing-Mei: How was the zoo?
Mrs. Peterson: It was a beautiful day for it too. Not too chilly.
Jing-Mei: Rusty, how did you like the zoo and the animals?
The guard translates.
Rusty: I saw the bears, monkeys, elephants and tigers. Grandma and Grandpa Peterson bought me popcorn, a balloon and a stuffed koala bear.
The guard translates back.
Jing-Mei: Grandma and Grandpa Peterson?
Mr. Peterson: We said it was okay to call us that if it's alright with you.
Jing-Mei: Okay by me but I think we better run it by Sophie too.
Mrs. Peterson: Where is she?
Jing-Mei: At the pharmacy getting her medicine.
Carter enters the lounge.
Carter: Deb, the nurse from the ICU just called. Dave's in recovery.
Jing-Mei: I had better get up there.
Jing-Mei, Rusty and the Petersons go up to the ICU. Dave hasn't been brought into his room yet so they wait patiently outside. Rusty, exhausted from his busy day, falls asleep on the sofa. The Petersons offer to take him home with them. Jing-Mei agrees. Mr. Peterson picks Rusty up and carries him down to his car with Mrs. Peterson and the guard closely behind them.
The minutes tick away. Dave has been back in his room for at least an hour and Jing-Mei holds vigil by his bed. Dave's entire head and face are covered in bandages so you can't even see any of his olive covered skin, just the ventilator tube coming out of Dave's mouth.
Jing-Mei(trying to suppress a small snicker): You look like a mummy, Dave. It doesn't matter. You're still as handsome as ever to me. (pause)I wanted to wait to tell you this but I can't Dave. Antonio latched on to me this morning. It was sign for something. I haven't figured out for what yet. He is getting so big and strong. He may favor me as far as his looks but his attitude is definitely a Malucci.(pause) Mr. and Mrs. Peterson took Rusty to the zoo today. They just got back a little while ago and he was exhausted so the Petersons took him home. Don't worry he has his guard with him.
Some of the ER staff wander up and check in on Dave. They enter his ICU room and Jing-Mei leaves his bedside and heads over to them.
Carter: We just saw Dr. Mercede and he said Dave's surgery went fine.
Abby: But it's far from over. He's going to need more surgery--plastic, orthopedic, brain maybe even heart.
Jing-Mei: I know but let's just take it one day at a time.
Kerry heads over to Dave's bed and sits down.
Kerry: Well Malucci, I haven't had the chance to tell you what a beautiful little boy you have. Both of your sons are adorable. I guess you'll never know until you see them for yourself. (pause) You know Dave, I use to complain about you sneaking off to an empty exam room for a nap but I was just blowing smoke after all you're not the only doctor to take catnaps during their shift in the ER when it's slow. A catnap is fine but this is ridiculous. It's been 7 months. Enough is eno...
Kerry's jaw drops and she tries to regain her speech.
Kerry: Jing-Mei, has Dave moved since his attack.
Jing-Mei and the others look at her and she gets no response.
Kerry: Jing-Mei, has Dave...
Jing-Mei walks over to her.
Jing-Mei(interrupting): I heard what you said. No, no he hasn't but he will in time.
Kerry: Look.
Kerry points at Dave's right hand as his fingers begin to wiggle.
To be continued. Please read and review.