The Ransom of Dr. Dave
Part 43
A/N: Anything in bold italic is being spoken in Italian
Jing-Mei: I've got to go upstairs and see him. Excuse me.
As Cleo continue to examine Antonio, Jing-Mei runs up to the ICU to check on Dave. She enters Dave's room to find Dr. Vasquez talking with his nurse and orderlies.
Jing-Mei: Dave! What happened?
Dr. Vasquez: That's what I'm trying to find out.
Jing-Mei goes over to Dave's bed and finds him asleep.
Jing-Mei: Dave, squeeze my hand. (pause)Please Dave.
Dr. Vasquez: He's critical still but stable.
Jing-Mei: They said he had a heart attack.
Dr. Vasquez: He did. It was a mild one, but nevertheless, a heart attack. I've increased his isosorbide and the dosage on his nitropatch. I've also given him some valium to help him sleep.
Jing-Mei: He was fine a little while ago and then...
Dr. Vasquez: I think the nurse and orderlies could explain that.
Nurse: We're sorry Dr. Chen. We were kinda talking about your son's (whispering) abduction.
Orderly: We didn't know he could hear us or understood what we were saying.
Dr. Vasquez: And they know better to discuss anything in front of a patient. Conscious or not. I promise you Jing-Mei, they will be reprimanded for this. (pause) You are excused. Sign out and consider yourselves on a month's suspension without pay.
Jing-Mei: That's a little harsh, isn't it.
Dr. Vasquez: They broke a cardinal hospital rule and they put a patient in danger. They are lucky if I don't go to Dr. Romano with this.
Jing-Mei: Yeah, he's still blowing cowpies at the nursery staff for allowing a stranger to walk in and just take my baby out. (pause) Come to think of it, maybe it's not long enough. Dave use to get a month's suspension for less damage. Anyway, Dave is fine and although I'm not happy about what they did to him I have something to tell him that will make him feel better.
Dr. Vasquez: Good news I assume.
Jing-Mei: Very good news. The cops found Antonio.
Dr. Vasquez: That's great! I am so happy for you.
Jing-Mei: Thank you. Can I tell Dave?
Dr. Vasquez: Sure. I don't know if he'll hear you but go ahead.
Jing-Mei: Wait. What about the tests you were going to run on Dave? The MRI.
Dr. Vasquez: They can wait.
Jing-Mei: No, no they can't. My news can though. Besides, I want Dave conscious when I tell him about our son. Fully conscious.
Jing-Mei heads over to the phone and calls the Petersons. They agree to bring Rusty to the hospital. She heads down to the ER to check on Antonio. She enters the exam room where Cleo is examining the baby. The ER is rather busy with victims of a two alarm fire.
Jing-Mei: How is he?
Cleo: Well, I got the results of his blood work back and everything is negative. As I said he's fine...except the wheezing I heard.
Jing-Mei: You said that was probably from exposure.
Cleo: I think that has something to do with it, but Antonio's breathing is probably also compromised with the fact that he has asthma.
Jing-Mei: Asthma? Why didn't they know about this before?
Cleo: Antonio just came off a ventilator a short time ago and until his abduction he's never been out of a sterile environment to be exposed to allergens that would set it off. (pause)Don't worry, Jing-Mei. Asthma isn't so bad. It's treatable with meds and as a doctor, you have an advantage over most of the parents. You can monitor his breathing more closely and know what to look for to prevent an attack or do if an attack occurs.
Jing-Mei: Dave will too when he gets better.
Cleo(doubtful but agreeing): Right. Anyway, Antonio is young. Very young, there still the possibility that he could outgrow it. It happens.
Jing-Mei: Did you examine him completely?
Cleo looks at her not quite knowing what she means.
Jing-Mei: Was he...touched? Did they hurt him there?
Cleo: Oh. No, no he wasn't sexually abused.
Jing-Mei: Thank god! Oh thank god.
Jing-Mei and Cleo head out into the now slightly busy ER. They are approached by Kerry, Carter, Abby and Capt. Amos.
Cleo: If you want to talk, I'll take Antonio back up to the nursery.
Jing-Mei: But I have to feed him.
Cleo: He was probably already fed but I'll have them give him a bottle upstairs. Go ahead and talk, I got him.
Jing-Mei: Thank you, Cleo. Captain please, could you have...
Capt. Amos: Say no more. Officer, will you accompany the doctor to the nursery and stay there. No one gets near this baby except the young doctor you see in front of you. I'm sure Dr...a... Finch can show you the baby's other doctors and nurses. Make it clear, if they have to separate this baby from the rest to keep him safe then so be it, but I only want a small limited amount of people to access to him. Got it.
The officer obeys and follows Cleo and Antonio upstairs to the nursery.
Jing-Mei: I don't want to leave him.
Kerry: He'll be fine this time. How's Dave?
Jing-Mei: Critical but stable. Dr. Vasquez said it was only a mild heart attack. He increased Dave's heart medicine.
Carter: Did he say what caused it?
Jing-Mei: Yes, a couple of orderlies and a nurse were talking about the baby's kidnapping in his room and he must have overheard them. By the way, did your men find anything that might lead us to Dave and Antonio's kidnappers.
Capt. Amos: Not yet but they're still looking. The baby is okay?
Jing-Mei: He's fine.
Abby: If they didn't hurt Antonio then what was the point of taking him in the first place?
Capt. Amos: Good question. I think it was just a scare tactic.
Jing-Mei: It worked.
Capt. Amos: What I mean is they took the baby just to show you that they can get to him anytime they want and to beware.
Jing-Mei: They may come after him again?
Capt. Amos: They can try but this time it's not going to be so easy. We'll have you, Dr. Malucci, his sister and both sons under 24 hour guard. Nobody is going to get to any of you. Promise.
Rusty and the Petersons come in the ER doors.
Jing-Mei: Hello Mr. and Mrs. Peterson. Hey, Rusty.
Mrs. Peterson: We are so glad to hear you got that little angel back.
Jing-Mei: So am I. Rusty, do you want to go visit your papa?
Rusty's guard translates and Rusty nods. The Petersons accompany Jing-Mei and Rusty to Dave's room. They run into Sophie getting into their elevator.
Jing-Mei: Sophie, I was wondering what happened to you.
Sophie: Sorry, I just left the ER. But I forgot that I had an appointment with my oncologist. Hello Rusty, sweetheart.
Rusty: Hi, Aunt Sophie.
Sophie(to the Petersons): Thank you so much for keeping him. I hope he hasn't been too much trouble.
Mr. Peterson: Not at all. He's great.
Sophie: Are you going up to Davey's room now? He's okay, right.
Jing-Mei: His heart attack was mild but we have to be even more careful around him. He's very delicate.
The group enters Dave's room and quietly approach his bed. Rusty takes one look at him and bursts into tears.
Sophie: Rusty, baby, what's the matter?
Rusty(pointing at Dave): Mummy, mummy.
Sophie: Come here baby. It's okay. That's not a mummy. That's a daddy. That's your papa. He had surgery. Remember, we had a talk about that. Go ahead, go say hello to your papa.
Rusty cautiously approaches Dave's bed and stares at him.
Jing-Mei: What happened? What was wrong with him?
Sophie: He's okay. He was just scared by Davey's facial bandages. He thought he was a mummy.
Rusty calmed down now, starts gabbing to an asleep Dave. Jing-Mei takes Rusty's hand and places it in Dave's right hand.
Jing-Mei: Dave, if you can understand me please squeeze.
Dave squeezes and Rusty's face lights up. Then Dave opens his eyes up and looks around.
Rusty: Papa, papa!!
Dave locks and narrows his eyes on Jing-Mei and the little boy.
Sophie: What's wrong with him? Why is he squinting?
Jing-Mei: His vision is still blurred. He hasn't learn how to focus his eyes yet. He can't see clearly.
Sophie: Will it get better?
Jing-Mei: Maybe. Time will tell. (pause)Dave, there's some people I'd like you to meet. These are the Petersons. They're very good friends and it's because of them that you are still here. I'll explain that to you later and this little guy here is Rusty.
Dave blinks in response.
Rusty: Talk papa. Papa.
Sophie: He can't speak now but he will.
Sophie tells them what they Rusty said and Jing-Mei tries to explain it to him while Sophie translates.
Jing-Mei: Rusty, your daddy can't talk but if you want to ask him a question he can answer yes or no.
Mrs. Peterson: Really? How?
Jing-Mei: We've worked out this code. Dave blinks once for yes and twice for no. It works. He understands. (pause)Dave, this is Rusty---your son.
As soon as Dave hears that he pulls his hand away and tries to back away from the little boy. His eyes show his immense fear. He is obviously upset by that comment. His heart monitor starts beeping uncontrollably and he starts hyperventilating. The nurse on duty runs in to see the problem.
Jing-Mei: Calm down, Dave. It's alright. Calm down.
Rusty panics and runs to the other side of the room crying, Sophie goes after him.
Rusty: I hurt papa. I hurt papa. He don't like me.
Sophie: No you didn't and your papa don't hate you. Come here baby.
Jing-Mei: He's alright nurse. He's just a little upset. He's fine.
Nurse: You are going to have to leave now.
Everyone exits the room and heads to the nursery to visit with Antonio. Jing-Mei clears the Petersons, Rusty and Sophie's visit with the guard on duty. Jing-Mei picks Antonio up and he smiles and coos at her.
Jing-Mei: I think he knows me, now.
Mr. Peterson: He certainly does. He's a cutie. May I? (holding his hands out)
Jing-Mei hands Antonio to Mr. Peterson and walks over to the nurse.
Jing-Mei: I want to be here for Antonio's next feeding but I am so tired that just in case I'm not I still want him to have my breastmilk. Is it okay if I use the pump?
Nurse: Sure.
The nurse shows Jing-Mei over to pump while the others visit with the baby. After 30 minutes, Jing-Mei walks back over to the baby and kisses him on his head.
Jing-Mei: I am so tired. I think I'm ready to go home to bed for awhile but I don't want to leave Antonio.
Sophie: Go ahead, I'll sit with him for awhile.
Jing-Mei: Are you sure? I don't want to impose.
Sophie: Nonsense, you wouldn't be. He's my nephew and I want to spend as much time with him as I can after all I'll be leaving in 2 days.
Mrs. Peterson: I think we'll be going too.
Jing-Mei: Thank you for everything you've done. (hugging the Petersons)
The Petersons leave and wave goodbye to the baby, Rusty and Sophie.
Jing-Mei: Alright, if you insist on staying. But make sure no one else gets near him and that his guard stays with him and yours too.
Sophie: Okay, I will and would you take Rusty home with you?
Jing-Mei nods as Sophie tells Rusty to go with Jing-Mei. Rusty kisses his baby brother on the head and says goodbye to him. Both Rusty and Jing-Mei yawn and Jing-Mei puts down her purse and picks up a weary Rusty to carry him. They leave quietly as Sophie rocks Antonio to sleep.
Sophie: You know Antonio, you have a very special mommy, daddy and big brother. You remind me so much of all of them, little guy. We were so worried about you. I don't know what we would have done if anything were to happen to you.
Antonio starts to cry so Sophie gets up and starts walking and bouncing with him when she sees Jing-Mei's purse on the floor. She picks it up and continues to bounce Antonio to calm him down and help him sleep.
Sophie: I'll just hold the purse until I get home.
Down in the ER, Jing-Mei stops at the desk and gives them the latest on Dave's condition.
Mark: Has Dave seen Antonio yet?
Jing-Mei: No, not yet. I'll bring him in tomorrow. I want to get them two together soon. (pause) Rusty, you're getting heavy.
She puts Rusty down and he starts rubbing his eyes obviously tired.
Capt. Amos: I heard that Dr. Malucci is finally conscious.
Jing-Mei: You're still here, captain?
Capt. Amos: Yeah, I still had a little business to attend to. Do you think it would be possible to talk to him? Maybe he can answer a few questions.
Jing-Mei: No that wouldn't be possible. For starters, he just came out of a 7-month coma and is barely conscious. Besides, his jaw is still wired shut and he has a ventilator tube taped in his mouth. He's very frail. I don't want to get him upset with his heart condition. He's already had two attacks.
Capt. Amos: Alright, but you will let me know when I can have a chat with him.
Kerry: Sure.
Jing-Mei: If you'll excuse us, I have to get this little guy home to bed. Goodnight everyone.
Jing-Mei, Rusty and their guards leave the ER while the others discuss Dave.
Abby: I think I'll go up and visit Dave later.
Luka: I didn't know you liked Dave, Abby.
Abby: Well, he's alright. A little immature but he's okay.
Haleh: I guess after what happened to him, all of us are seeing Dr. Dave in a whole new light.
Kerry: I hope this has cured him of his practical jokes, so when he comes back to work here it'll be as a doctor.
Mark: IF he's able to be a doctor again.
Abby: He will. I believe that. He's going to come back to us. Maybe not anytime soon but...
Then the ER heard a loud explosion outside causing some of their windows to break and the hospital to shake. The ER was stunned for a moment. Carter runs to the door.
Carter: DEB!!!!!
To be continued. Please read and review.