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#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.

Any talking being done by Dave is via a talking computer.

Part 7

Peter: Dave is in recovery and he should be coming out of the anesthesia soon. There's a backup upstairs. No beds available because of the multiple car accident and prison fire.

Mark: There's plenty of room down here in the ER. He can come down here and we can keep an eye on him, until there's a bed available.

Peter: That sounds good. I'll arrange it. By the way, a little advance notice about a patient on our operating table before I get ready to cut into him.

Elizabeth: Yeah, what is this I read on Malucci's medical record? He has A.L.S.?

Ashleigh: End stage.

Kerry: Peter and Elizabeth, this is Dave's girlfriend, Ashleigh.

Peter and Elizabeth together: A pleasure to meet you.

Peter: Cleo, Jackie was suppose to drop Reese off today. Where is he?

Cleo: He's down in the cafeteria with Nancy and DJ Malucci.

Peter: Who are Nancy and DJ Malucci?

Cleo: Dave's nurse and his grandson.

Elizabeth: Grandson? I see we have a lot to catch up on, Peter.

Ashleigh: So how is Dave?

Peter: He came through the surgery fine except he went into renal failure and had to put him on dialysis. The catheter seems to be working fine. I would like to monitor him for the next 48 hours, just as a precaution.

Ashleigh: Well, I was hoping once Dave was strong enough we could take him home. That's where he wants to be.

Elizabeth: Ashleigh, Dave is much too sick to leave the hospital. Besides, there's a lot you have to learn with the Hickman catheter. It's going to take some time to learn how to operate it. Everything has to be timed, sterilized, mixed and measured precisely.

Ashleigh: I'll just have to learn fast. DJ can help, too. Anyway, that's why we have a nurse from hospice with us.

Elizabeth: The machine is very technical. How old is DJ? I imagined he must be pretty young. Too young to handle such responsibility.

Ashleigh: He's 5 years old, but you don't know this kid. He will learn, especially, if it's for Dave.

Peter walked over to the phone to arrange for Dave to be moved downstairs to the ER. Nancy, Reese and DJ walked into the lounge.

Ashleigh: DJ, Poppy's out of surgery. This is one of his surgeons, Dr. Corday.

DJ: You're from England, right.

Elizabeth: How in the world did you know that? I didn't say a word yet.

Jing-Mei: That's Dave's grandson. He's very intelligent.

DJ: Can I see poppy now?

Ashleigh: As soon as he is brought down they will let you see him. Okay.

Peter: It's all set. Dave is being moved as we speak.

Reese ran over to Peter and jumped up into his arms. Then DJ walked over to Peter and extended his hand.

DJ: You're Dr. Benton, Reese's dad. I'm DJ Malucci. Are you as good a doctor as my poppy. Thank you for operating on my poppy.

Peter: You're welcome, DJ. I'm trying to be. Thank you for spending time with Reese.

DJ: No problem. I promised Reese to teach him some music on my keyboard. Is that okay, Dr. Benton?

Peter signs: Reese, would you like that?

Reese signs: Yes, please daddy?

Abby: DJ, are you going to be a musician when you grow up?

DJ: No. I'm going to be a doctor like my poppy. My daddy was going to be one, too. He was going into pre-med in college before he died. But, I'm going to make it as a doctor and I'm going to find a cure for A.L.S. so no other kid has to lose their poppy like I'm losing mine.

Haleh: I bet you will, too.

Peter puts Reese down and he and DJ go over to the chair and DJ starts playing a song on the keyboard. Then DJ takes Reese's hands and places them on top of the keyboard.

DJ signs: You can feel the music by feeling the vibrations, can't you?

Reese signs: (smiling) Yes.

DJ starts showing Reese the keys and teaching him the notes as Peter and the others watch on.

Peter: He's very good and he signs, too.

The lounge door opens and Randi appears still popping her gum.

Randi: They just bought Malucci down from surgery.

Kerry: That's Dr. Malucci, Randi. Tell them to put him back in exam 1.

Randi: Yes, Dr. Weaver.(Rolling her eyes)

Ashleigh: Can we see him now?

Mark: Let us just make sure he's settled in and then you can come in.

Mark, Kerry and Haleh go to check on Dave while the others go back to work. The board is starting to fill up with other patients.

Jing-Mei: Tell Dave that we will be in to see him as soon as we get a break.

Haleh: I will.

As the doctors access Dave's present condition, Peter calls Reese over and tells him that it's time to go now. Reese and DJ say goodbye and DJ asks Peter if he will bring Reese by to play with him again.

Peter signs: Would you like that Reese?

Reese signs: Yes.

Ashleigh: Come here DJ. We have to talk about your poppy's surgery. They put a feeding tube in him and we have to learn how to take care of him before we can bring him home. Are you up to it?

DJ: Do you need to ask?

Kerry: Ashleigh and DJ, you can go in now. Dave's just coming out from the anesthetic so he's barely conscious.

Ashleigh: Dave's going to love to see you DJ.

DJ gathers up all his belongings he brought from home and he and Ashleigh enter Dave's room. DJ runs over to Dave and very carefully gives him a hug.

DJ: Poppy, I missed you when I got home from school. Nancy told me you were in the hospital and that we had to come right over. I brought some of your favorite things from home.

Kerry: Let me show you the catheter.

Kerry lifts up Dave's hospital gown and exposes the feeding tube.

Kerry: It is very important that this is kept very sterile and block-free. I will show you everything you need to know to operate and maintain it.

DJ: Is Poppy all better now?

Ashleigh: He's not all better, but I think he's feeling a little better than he was a while ago. Right Dave.

Dave nods.

DJ goes over to Dave and puts his head down on his chest. Dave tries to raise his hand and pat DJ's head. Then Dave gestures for his computer.

Ashleigh pulls the table over, places the computer on it, puts Dave's glasses on him and his leather hand prong. She then raises the bed.

Dave: You look tired, Ashleigh. Why don't you go home and get some rest.

Ashleigh: I'm fine. I don't want to leave you. Besides, DJ waited so long to see you.

Dave: At least go get something to eat. DJ can stay with me for awhile.

DJ: Yeah, Nana. I have a lot to keep us busy.

DJ places his teddy at the top of Dave's bed.

DJ: Now nothing else can happen to you, Poppy with teddy watching over you. Do you want me to read Shakespeare to you from where we left off?

Dave: Hit it, DJ.

As DJ starts to read, the doctors, nurses and Ashleigh leave the room.

Ashleigh: I guess I will get something to eat. Is the cafeteria still open?

Haleh: No, but I'm off now so we can go over to Doc Magoo's and talk.

Ashleigh: Sure, why not. I bet there are still a lot of questions in your mind.

To be continued. Please read and review.