#Disclaimer: I do not own any of the ER cast just Ashleigh, DJ, Nancy, Marianna 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 6

DJ was a small boy with jet black hair, brown eyes, olive skin and a small Italian accent. He resembled Dave to a letter, right down to his natural ability to articulate. He certainly wasn't shy and love to hear himself talk, just like his poppy.

Ashleigh: DJ, these are some of your poppy's friends and former co-workers.

DJ: Poppy's told me all about all of you. I bet I could guess your names.

DJ starts pointing at the ER staff and naming them off.

DJ: Dr. Greene, Abby, Carter, Jing-Mei, Haleh, Malik, Luka.

Then he saw Kerry limp over to him.

DJ: Festus!

Ashleigh nudged DJ on the shoulder as the other staffers started to stifle their giggles.

Ashleigh: DJ, that wasn't very nice. You know better than that!

DJ: Sorry, Dr. Weaver.

Kerry: You are definitely Dave's grandson. It's okay after all I've been called worse. DJ, that was very good that you knew everyone's name.

DJ: Thank you. Poppy's always talked about you so much, it feels like you're family. He really likes and respects all of you, even though, he had a hard time showing it.

DJ extended his hand to each ER staffer.

DJ: It is very nice to meet all of you. Nana, where is Poppy? I brought some things from home for him.

Ashleigh: Your poppy's up in surgery. What did you bring Dave?

DJ: I brought his Shakespeare book so I could finish reading to him, his demo tape he used for his interview at Julliard, my keyboard and teddy. Can I see him when he comes out of surgery?

Ashleigh: You will have to ask his doctors, DJ.

DJ: Please, doctors?

Kerry: I don't see any reason why not.

DJ: Good.

DJ walked over to a chair and started playing his keyboard. Everyone watched him play and smiled.

Haleh: He is so cute, Ashleigh and he does resemble Dave. He seems so mature and intelligent for his age.

Ashleigh: DJ has a high IQ, over 110.

Abby: He's also very talented. He plays the keyboard very well and reads Shakespeare. It's hard to believe he's related to Malucci.

Ashleigh: Actually, it's because of Dave that DJ is so smart. Dave use to read to him all the time. Dave would show him the words as he read them. When Dave came to live with us, he read to him every night he was off, then one day when DJ was just three he picked up a book and started to read it by himself. We couldn't believe it but Dave said he knew he inherited His genious. Dave also started to teach DJ how to play the piano, especially classical music. He wanted DJ to grow up with a sense and love of the arts. He brought DJ that keyboard for Christmas so he could practice all the time. Dave taught him how to ice skate and play hockey, and although DJ liked it, he was more interested in his books and music. He would read anything he could get his hands on.

Carter: Wow! Dave did that for DJ. I guess I had Dave all wrong. I didn't even know Dave auditioned for Julliard.

Ashleigh: Dave never talked about his musical talents. He didn't think it was macho. He not only auditioned, he got in. But he went with his first love, medicine. Just in case this doctor thing didn't work out he'd have something to fall back on. But, he and DJ are so close.(She crosses her fingers). Just like this. I don't know how he's going to be when we lose Dave.

The door to the lounge opened and Cleo walked in holding Reese.

Cleo: Is there a staff meeting that I wasn't told about.

Mark: No, not at all. We were just trying to comfort Dave's girlfriend.

Cleo: Oh. Jackie dropped Reese off at the hospital but Peter's in surgery so I'm taking care of him. Dave? You mean Dave Malucci. His girlfriend is here. What's going on?

Kerry: That's right! You were up in pediatrics all day so you don't know.

Cleo: Know what?

Ashleigh: Dr. Finch, right. I'm Ashleigh Patella, Dave's girlfriend. Dave's a patient in the hospital. As a matter of fact, he's the patient Dr. Benton is operating on.

Ashleigh called DJ and waved him over.

Ashleigh: I like you to meet DJ, mine and Dave's grandson.

Cleo: Did you just say grandson?!

Everyone nodded. Reese was indicating to Cleo to put him down.

Ashleigh: DJ, this is Dr. Finch.

DJ: You're the pediatrician, aren't you?

Cleo: Yes, I am. How did you know that?

Malik: Dr. Dave told him all about us and he's very smart too.

Cleo: Well, DJ it is nice to meet you. This is Reese Benton.

DJ: You too, Dr. Finch and Reese.

Cleo: DJ, Reese is....

DJ: I know. Poppy told me. (DJ starts to sign) Hi, Reese. I'm DJ. Your daddy's operating on my poppy.

Everyone looks on, in astonishment.

Reese signs back: Hi, DJ.

Nancy: DJ and Reese, how would you like to go to the cafeteria and get something to eat.

Ashleigh: I'm sorry, Dr. Finch. This is Nancy. She's Dave's nurse.

Cleo: Please to meet you and please call me Cleo.

Then Cleo signs to Reese that it's okay and Ashleigh lets DJ go, too. As they head out of the lounge, Cleo turns around to the others, puzzled.

Cleo: What IS going on here? Since when does Malucci have his own nurse and a grandson?

Ashleigh: Please let me explain, Cleo. Dave has A.L.S. Drs. Benton and Corday are putting a feeding tube in his chest right now. He doesn't have very much time so I want DJ to spend as much time with him as possible.

Cleo: I'm so sorry, Ashleigh. I had no idea. DJ is so cute and I can't believe he can sign.

Ashleigh: When Dave started to lose his voice, he got plenty of books and videos on signing. DJ, who can't get enough of books and wanted to be able to understand his poppy, also learned to sign. Then Dave started losing the use of his fingers, so signing became impossible.

Cleo: Reese doesn't have any hearing friends his own age that sign. I think they are going to be good friends.

Ashleigh: I think DJ will like that. He doesn't have many friends because...well, never mind.

Kerry: I never did ask you. Why does DJ call Dave "poppy?"

Ashleigh: When DJ first started to talk, he called Dave "papa". After his parents were killed, "papa" was too close to "daddy" and Dave didn't want DJ to think he was trying to take his father's (Dave's son) place. Then Dave was never comfortable with "grandpa" for obvious reasons. One day DJ called him "poppy" and it stuck.

Ashleigh started to explain everything to Cleo.

Down in the cafeteria, DJ and Reese were getting along great. They were eating hamburgers and signing back and forth. Nancy, who didn't sign, had to rely on DJ to translate.

DJ signs: Is Dr. Finch your mother?

Reese signs: No, my mommy died in a car accident about two years ago.

DJ signs: I'm sorry. Both my mommy and daddy died in a car accident, too. It was about 2 and a half years ago. But I live with my nana and poppy, now. They're great. Pretty soon my poppy is going to be up in heaven with my mommy and daddy. I loved my parents but I didn't really know them. Poppy, I'm very close with so I'm going to miss him most. Do you like music, Reese?

Reese signs: Yes.

DJ signs: When we go upstairs again, I'll show you my keyboard and teach you some music.

DJ stops signing and turns to Nancy, who was taking in the boy's previous conversation.

DJ: Is that alright, Nancy?

Nancy: I think that will be okay. Now finish eating boys.

DJ translates for Reese.

Back up in the lounge, Ashleigh has finished explaining her and Dave's story to Cleo and gets a comforting hug from her. Then the door opens and Peter and Elizabeth walk in.

Peter: Dave is out of surgery.

To be continued. Please read and review.