Disclaimer: I do not own any of the ER cast just Ashleigh and the idea for the story.

A/N: A.L.S- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis(Lou Gehrig's Disease)- a progressive wasting away of certain nerve cells of the brain and the spinal column. It is a debilitating disease that affects movement, swallowing, speaking, breathing, and sometimes vision. There is no cure and the prognosis is death.

This story is dedicated to the memory of one of my favorite actors who passed away from the disease. Michael Zaslow, I miss you.

Part 2

Kerry had to take a second look and her eyes were not deceiving her. The man laying on the gurney was extremely thin, his eyes were sunken in, his tan Italian skin was pale as a ghost and he was struggling to take a breath but there was no doubt about it. It definitely was Malucci. Luka came over at the mention of Malucci's name.

Luka: Dr. Dave? Where is he?

Then Luka looked down on the gurney and saw a very sickly Malucci look back up him.

Luka: Hey Dave! How's it going...

It took a second to hit him.

Luka: Wait a minute. End stage A.L.S. Dr. Dave? Oh, wow!

Kerry: Dave, can you still speak?

Malucci shook his head, NO. Then Kerry noticed that both his hands were in braces from the tip of his fingers up to his elbows and he moved them slowly and limply up to his chest and tried to manipulate his fingers. He started to mouth words but neither Kerry or Luka understood him.

Kerry: Alright, take it easy Dave.

She stroked Dave's sweat soaked head.

Kerry: What's his temperature?

Luka: 105.5

Kerry: Luka start him on an Amoxicillian drip and steroids. Let's try 5mg of Prednisone and see how he does. I'll get you a pad and pen so you can answer a few questions. Malucci nodded yes and tried to relax and let the steroids and oxygen do their job.

Outside at the admit desk, a woman appeared to Randi. She was about 5' 3, long black hair and Italian skin. She was very beautiful and made Randi feel subconscious. She waited patiently while Randi was on the phone. Finally, tired of waiting she interrupted her.

Woman: Excuse me, please.

Randi obviously very annoyed broke off her conversation on the phone.

Randi: May I help you?(Popping her gum)

Woman: I'm looking for a Dr. Weaver? My name is Ashleigh Patella. I need to speak with her.

Randi: She's with a patient. You'll have to wait in chairs and I'll be sure to tell her when I see her.

When Kerry returned she had a pad and pen and handed them to Malucci. He just stared at her with his blood-shot eyes. She realized he was having trouble with his hands.

Kerry: Just take the pen, Malucci. I'll hold the pad for you. Now is there someone you would like us to call for you?

Malucci slowly pulled his hands up to reach for the pen but didn't grab it with his fingers but with the sides of both his wrists and held it shakingly against the paper, he squinted his eyes and started to scribble the name ASHLEIGH down on it. Kerry looked but was having a hard time reading it. Malucci never had great penmanship before but now it was completely illegible. She managed to finally make out the name.

Kerry: Ashleigh?

Malucci nodded excitedly that she was able to decipher his writing.

Kerry: Is she your sister?

Malucci shook his head : No.

Kerry: Your girlfriend?

Malucci nodded: Yes.

Kerry noticed how tired Dave was getting from just the little effort of raising his hands and trying to write. She told him to get some rest and she would try to track Ashleigh down, not knowing even where to begin to look since Dave was too weak to give a last name or even phone number where she could be reached.

Kerry: Dave, you know very soon we are going to have to intubate you.

Malucci vigorously shook his head: NO! NO!

Kerry: Well, we will discuss it later. Luka, give him 10mg of Valium, get a CBC, Chem 7, dip a urine and call radiology to get some chest x-rays. I'll be back in to see him soon.

She removed his nasal tubes and replaced it with an oxygen mask then quickly turned away from Dave and Luka and lifted her glasses long enough to wipe a tear out her eye.

Kerry limped out to the admit desk where Carter, Mark, Jing- Mei, Malik, Haleh and Abby were conversing over today's events. They could tell she was upset.

Mark: Is there something wrong, Kerry?

Kerry: Dave Malucci.

Haleh: There's a name from the past.

Carter: Don't tell me he's coming back here to work.

Kerry: No, but he is here. He's a patient.

Jing- Mei: Uh- oh. (Rolling her eyes) What did he do now? Crash his bike again?(Trying to keep from laughing at her former colleague's clumsiness)

Kerry just looked at them and shook her head.

Abby: Dr. Weaver, is everything okay?

Kerry: No, nothing is alright. Malucci has A.L.S.

Everyone's jaw dropped. None of them could say anything. Finally the silence was broke.

Haleh: Wait a minute. The 34 year old end-stage patient that was just brought in. THAT was Malucci!

Kerry nodded.

Carter: That's ridiculous. I mean there must be a mistake. Certainly we would have recognized him.

Kerry: I thought so too, and I didn't want to believe it either but Luka was right there and he confirmed it. He looked awful. Not like his self. Then again, he is end- stage with a serious and terminal disease. We can't expect him to keep his good looks. He is so weak.

Jing-Mei: Did Dave say anything to you about his illness?

Kerry: No. He couldn't. The disease has already taken his voice, most of his mobility in his hands and a portion of his vision. He could barely lift his hands much less hold a pen and he wasn't able to focus on what was in front of him. He was wearing braces on his arms but they were still shaking. Malik, you were a good friend to him when he worked here. Did he ever mention a girlfriend named Ashleigh. Did she have a last name or address?

Malik: Are you kidding? Dr. Dave had a different girl a week sometimes 2 or 3 different girls a week. He never had a steady girl and if he did he never mentioned her name.

Randi who was standing by trying to look as though she wasn't eavesdropping came over to the group.

Randi: Dr. Weaver, I couldn't help but overhear...

Abby: I'm sure.

Randi: Anyway, there was a woman looking for you earlier. Her name was Ashleigh something.

Kerry: Where is she now?

Randi:(Picking up a ringing phone) I told her to wait in chairs.

Kerry walked over to chairs and, as subtly as possible, looked around to see if she could pick her out, knowing Malucci's taste in women. She couldn't.

Kerry: I am Dr. Weaver. Was there a young lady named Ashleigh who wished to speak with me.

Then an extremely petite but very nice looking woman stood up. Definitely not Malucci's type.

Woman: I'm Ashleigh Patella. I believe you may be working on my boyfriend, Dr. Dave Malucci.

To be continued. Please read and review.