The Ransom of Dr. Dave
Part 41
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Carter, Abby and Jing-Mei moved closer to the bed and it wasn't their imagination. Dave's fingers were moving. It wasn't much but it was a start. Abby went to get Dr. Vasquez while the three doctors checked Dave's vitals. Jing-Mei started to talk to Dave.
Jing-Mei: Dave, can you hear me?
Dave still remained unresponsive when Abby and Dr. Vasquez came into the room.
Dr. Vasquez: Dave, Dave.
Carter: BP is 100/64 still a little low. Pulse is 70 and thready.
Jing-Mei: Dr. Vasquez, Dave's going to wake up soon, isn't he?
Dr. Vasquez: I won't know until I access him. If you'll excuse me.
Kerry, Carter and Abby head back to work as Jing-Mei insists on staying. Dr. Vasquez listens to Dave's chest and breath sounds, writes down the numbers on the monitors, shines a light in Dave's eyes and keeps calling his name to access his level of consciousness. As Dr. Vasquez continued to examine him, Dave's head moved over to the side.
Jing-Mei: Did you see that, Dr. Vasquez? His head moved.
Dr. Vasquez: Yes, I did. But, Jing-Mei try not to get too excited. They could be involuntary muscle spasms.
Jing-Mei: I don't think so. This is the day that Dave's going to come to. I know it and Antonio knew it too. I've got to find Sophie and tell her.
Jing-Mei leaves Dave's room and heads down to the pharmacy but Sophie isn't there. She makes her way to the ER.
Jing-Mei: Has anyone seen Sophie?
ER Staff: Sorry, Dr. Chen.
Kerry: Any news?
Abby: Has Dr. Vasquez said anything?
Mark: Any news about what?
Jing-Mei: About Dave.
Mark: Is there something else wrong with Dave?
Jing-Mei: Not wrong---right. For the first time since the attack, Dave moved.
Mark: What?!
Jing-Mei: His fingers wiggled a bit and he tried to lift his head up.
Elizabeth: That is so great! I am very happy for you.
Mark: I think we all are.
The others nod in agreement.
Jing-Mei: Dr. Vasquez thinks that they are just involuntary movements but I know they're not. I just knew when Antonio finally let me breast feed him that it was a sign for good things to come. If you'll excuse me, I want to get back upstairs to Dave. If anyone sees Sophie please tell her I need to speak with her but don't tell her why. I want to be the one who gives her the news.
Jing-Mei heads back up to ICU but first drops by the nursery.
Jing-Mei: How's my little one doing?
Nurse: He's doing great. Sleeping soundly. But not for long, he'll be up soon for his feeding.
Jing-Mei: And I'll be ready for it. Hopefully, I'll have some exciting news for him when I get back.
Jing-Mei waves bye to Antonio, blows him a kiss and mouths the words "I love you" to him through the window. She continues on her way to the ICU. She gets outside of Dave's room and sees Dr. Vasquez still examining Dave. She waits until he is finished to re-enter the room. A few minutes later, Dr. Vasquez motioned for her to come closer.
Jing-Mei: Well, how is he?
Dr. Vasquez(smiling): I've checked his reflexes and his response to light they aren't encouraging but I set up for a CAT scan. We will know more after that.
Jing-Mei: But in the your best educated guess.
Dr. Vasquez: Off the record.
Jing-Mei: Yes, off the record.
Dr. Vasquez: I would say it's looking good for Dave even though he's still not responding to light or pain stimuli I'm sure those movements in his right hand and head were spontaneous. He was trying to control them.
Dave is taken down to CAT scan while Jing-Mei waits in the cafeteria. She starts to daydream about what life will be like when Dave and the baby are home when she is approached by Sophie.
Jing-Mei: Sophie, I've been looking all over for you.
Sophie: Sorry, I dropped my prescription off at the pharmacy but because a computer problem they were backed up. They told me that it would be a while before my medicine was ready.
Jing-Mei: I went by the pharmacy and you weren't there.
Sophie: I went for a walk outside then I came back and stopped by the chapel. I just wanted to thank him for making Antonio better and put in a good word for Davey.
Jing-Mei: Well it must have worked because a little while ago, Dave moved his fingers and lifted up his head.
Sophie: No kidding. That's great. It's about time. So what are you doing down here?
Jing-Mei: Dr. Vasquez took Dave down to CAT scan and I'm just waiting for them to get back up. I am so happy that after 7 months, Dave is finally starting to show some kind of life.
Sophie: I know you are. Hell, you're just glowing.
Jing-Mei: Am I?
Sophie nods. Carter, Luka and Abby come over to the table.
Luka: May we join you?
Sophie: Sure, why not?
Jing-Mei debates whether or not to ask Sophie a personal question.
Jing-Mei: Can I ask you something, Sophie?
Sophie: Go ahead.
Jing-Mei: Dave told me some stories of his childhood and given his extensive medical records and from what you tell me, Dave didn't have a good childhood--neither did you for that matter. I know I have had problems with my parents but I can't imagine them doing anything to me like what was done to Dave. Was your childhood really that bad?
Sophie: Worse than you can ever imagine. You know guys, Davey is the only kid I ever knew that tried to put himself up for adoption.
Carter: No way!!
Sophie: Yes way. It was after mama died, Davey went to the adoption agency and...
Abby: And what?
Sophie: And told them that he wanted parents to love him. Although the agents were sympathetic to Davey's plea they were obligated by Italian law to call his father and report it to him.
Jing-Mei: What happened?
Sophie: Our father went down to fetch Davey and acted as if nothing was wrong. He said, "Young David, got into a little trouble at school and I had to discipline him. This is just is adolescent way of getting back at me."
Abby: And they believed him.
Sophie: Totally, even when Davey told them that his father was going to spank him, they just assumed it was a little boy looking for attention and afraid of being punished.
Jing-Mei: Why didn't Dave just show them the scars on his back?
Sophie: He tried but dad stopped him before he could. He pushed Davey out the door before he could say a word. Let me tell you, Davey paid for that. My father said that Davey humiliated him by having him come down there and drag him out.
Carter: What happened?
Sophie: Dad busted Davey's collarbone, separated 3 ribs and blew 2 vertebra. Then dad told Davey that he got off easy this time. He was being generous because it was Davey's birthday. Next time he wouldn't be so gentle with him.
Jing-Mei: He really tried to put himself up for adoption?
Sophie nods.
Luka: My god!! That's pathetic.
Sophie: So was our childhood.
Carter: Your father hurt you too?
Sophie: Sometimes.(rubbing her chest) But not nearly as bad as Davey.
Jing-Mei: Are you alright, Sophie?
Sophie: Just another one of those sharp pains. I better get up to the pharmacy and see if my prescription is ready yet.
Jing-Mei: Yeah, I want to see if Dave is back from CAT scan yet.
Sophie: Tell Davey, I'll be right up as soon as I can.
Sophie and Jing-Mei left the cafeteria and went their separate ways. Jing-Mei went to the ICU and Dave was back in his room. Dr. Vasquez was still with him. Jing-Mei entered the room.
Jing-Mei: Well, how are we doing here?
Dr. Vasquez: We got the results of his Cat scan. There doesn't seem to be any bleeding or pressure on brain right now. Of course, that could change at a moment's notice but for now the Cat scan was clear.
Jing-Mei: That's great. So I was right. Dave is going to wake up soon right.
Dr. Vasquez: Maybe. We'll just have to wait and see.
Jing-Mei's grin was bigger than ever when she turned back to Dave and held his hand.
Jing-Mei: Dave, can you hear me? (pause) If you can hear me, squeeze my hand.
After a few moments, Dave squeezed her hand. Jing-Mei flew up out the chair with excitement.
Jing-Mei: He did it!! Dr. Vasquez, he did it. He squeezed my hand. He knows I'm here.
Dr. Vasquez grabbed his penlight and shined it in Malucci's eyes. Then he took a pin and stuck Dave's legs, feet and arms. Malucci still remained unresponsive except for his right arm. It twitched when Dr. Vasquez stuck it.
Dr. Vasquez: He still isn't responding to light and there's no sensation in either leg or his left arm. Don't get discouraged. This may take awhile but there are definite signs that he may be coming out of it.
Thinking for a moment, Jing-Mei gets an idea.
Jing-Mei: I know what will bring Dave around. Excuse me, Dr. Vasquez.
Dr. Vasquez: Sure.
Jing-Mei heads out of the ICU and down to the nursery.
Meanwhile, Vincenzio hangs up the phone and starts to smile in Rico and Frankie's direction.
Rico: What are so happy about, Boss man?
Vincenzio: The next part of my plan to destroy my fucking offspring is in motion, and this my friends may be the last part.
Jing-Mei stops by the ER to let them know about Dave's progress.
Mark: Well, is there anything new about Dave?
Jing-Mei: As a matter a fact, there is. Dave squeezed my hand.
Kerry: Really! That's so good.
Peter: Are you sure it was voluntary or just another muscle spasm.
Jing-Mei: No, Dave knew I was there. I asked him if he could hear me to squeeze my hand and he did. It was only a weak squeeze but nevertheless it was a squeeze. Dr. Vasquez says that Dave has no feeling in his left arm or below his waist and he isn't responding to light yet but it's happening. Let's not forget, Dave has some serious head and brain injuries and he's been in a coma for 7 months. He's not going to wake up and just get back on with his life.
Elizabeth: It's good news anyway.
Jing-Mei: I thought maybe if I brought Antonio back up to Dave he would respond. He might bring his daddy the rest of the way back from wherever Dave is right now.
Abby: Could happen? You're going to get Antonio now.
Jing-Mei: No, Sophie has Antonio.
Carter: Maybe Sophie had the same idea as you.
Jing-Mei: Probably. She wants to spend as much time with her new nephew as she can before she heads back to Italy.
Kerry: She's not staying here any longer.
Jing-Mei: No, she misses her husband and little girl, besides she's going to start treatment over there. Her insurance isn't any good here. I tried to talk her into staying because Dave needs her but she's a Malucci---you know how stubborn they are.
The others nod in agreement.
Elizabeth: Will she be coming back over?
Jing-Mei: Depending on how her treatments go. If she isn't too sick from the chemotherapy. She has to pick Rusty up and take him home when it's time.
Mark: You've really gotten close to Dave's sister, haven't you Jing-Mei?
Jing-Mei: Yeah, she's great. Then again so is her brother. She's just not as egotistical as Dave is.
Sophie walks up and joins the group.
Sophie: I heard you mention the word egotistical, you must be talking about my brother.
Jing-Mei: She knows her brother.
Sophie: Only too well. (pause) So what is going on here?
Jing-Mei: I was just telling everyone that Dr. Vasquez said Dave is in the process of coming out of his coma. He's not quite there yet but I had an idea what might push him the rest of the way out.
Sophie: What is it? If I can help in anyway, please let me know.
Jing-Mei: I figured that if I brought Antonio back up to Dave's room, Dave may sense his being there and respond. But since you already took Antonio back to the nursery, I wouldn't want to wake him. We can do it later.
Sophie: Well, whenever you're ready let me know.
Jing-Mei: Maybe when Antonio wakes up for his next feeding, I'll take him up.
Sophie: Sounds great. Has Rusty gotten back from the zoo yet?
Jing-Mei: Yes, he was so tired that the Petersons took him to their house for awhile.
Sophie: Okay. (pause)Jing-Mei, what did you mean when you said that I already took Antonio back to the nursery?
Jing-Mei: After his little walk that you took him on.
Sophie: I didn't take him on a walk.
Jing-Mei got a very big lump in her throat and ran to the admit desk and picked up the phone. She called the nursery and spoke with the nurse.
Jing-Mei: Nurse, this is Dr. Chen. How is my baby doing?
Nurse: He's fine I guess. If something was wrong than Dr. Malucci's sister would have brought him back here by now.
Jing-Mei starts to shake and drops the phone on the floor. Everyone looks at her confused.
Kerry: What is it Jing-Mei?
Jing-Mei(in shock): The nurse said that Dave's sister still has the baby.
Everyone looks at each other as Jing-Mei starts screaming.
Jing-Mei(hysterical): OH GOD EVERYONE! WHERE IS MY BABY!!!
To be continued. Please read and review.