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#Disclaimer: I do not own any of the ER cast just Ashleigh, DJ, Marianna, Mr. Simmons, Judge Brady 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 13

Mr. Simmons walked over to Ashleigh and Marianna holding up a piece of paper.

Mr. Simmons: We won! We got the court order allowing us to remove Dave's ventilator.

Both Marianna and Ashleigh exhaled in relief.

Ashleigh: Dave will be happy. He finally got the better of Kerry.

Mr. Simmons: Hold on. There is one stipulation to executing the court order. The judge said in order for Dave to come off the ventilator he has to be able to breathe on his own which means a tracheotomy has to be performed on him. Do you think he will agree to that?

Ashleigh: I don't know. Let's go ask him. DJ is in with him right now.

Ashleigh, Marianna and Mr. Simmons enter Dave's room. Kerry, upset over having been dictated on how to run her ER, arranges for a surgeon to come down and do the tracheotomy.

Marianna: Hi, big brother. Well Mr. Simmons brings some good news and bad news with him.

Mr. Simmons: Hello, Dave.

Dave blinks his eyes indicating that he recognizes their presence.

Mr. Simmons: The good news is the ventilator is going to be removed.

Dave and DJ's faces light up with excitement.

Mr. Simmons: The bad news is only if you agree to have a trache put in.

Dave was not thrilled at having yet another ultimatum handed to him, but he reluctantly nods.

Within minutes, Kerry enters along with Peter and Haleh.

Kerry: I'm sorry you thought it needed to come down to this---a court order. But, it looks like you're getting your way. Peter will do your trache for you but I'm going to supervise and make sure everything goes smoothly.

Haleh: Ashleigh, Marianna, DJ, sir, you will have to wait outside. I'm going to have to suction Dr. Malucci's lungs out and it's not something you need to see. You can come back in when we're done. Okay.

DJ: I don't mind watching. I love blood and gore.

Peter: DJ, Reese is outside. He's been asking to see you.

The foursome exit the room. DJ goes over to Cleo and Reese at the front desk. DJ shows Reese his books and starts explaining to him about the Roman gods. Marianna is greeted by her son and husband, who promptly asks how everything went at the courthouse.

Marianna: They are removing Dave from the ventilator and are traching him now.

Colin: Good. I'm glad everything worked out for him, for once.

Ashleigh: Colin, can I speak to you for a moment?

Colin: Sure, what's up?

Ashleigh: I need a favor. Actually this was Dave's idea, but I told him I would ask you for him.

Colin: You know if I can help I will, Ashleigh.

Ashleigh: Well, Colin, this isn't easy and we'll understand if you say no, but, you are as close to a brother as Dave will ever have, and being a carpenter you did such a good job on the ramps you built outside the house for Dave's wheelchair that....

Colin: Come on just ask.

Ashleigh: It would mean alot to Dave, DJ and me if you would build Dave's casket.

Colin, along with Marianna and several of staff that were nearby were stunned at what Ashleigh was asking.

Colin: That would be very difficult for me. Not physically---emotionally.

Ashleigh: I know it's a lot to ask, but I also know that it would mean so much more to Dave if you did it for him. I'm sure you could do a better job with it then any professional could. You don't have to give us an answer right away.

Colin: I would like sometime to think about it.

Ashleigh: Please, I know it's not an easy decision to make and I want you to take some time to consider it. But, not too long, after all, Dave will be needing it very soon.

Haleh stuck her head out of the room and said that they can come back in now.

Ashleigh called to DJ.

DJ signs: Reese, do you want to come in and see my poppy?

Cleo signs: Sorry, DJ, maybe some other time. Reese's dad is getting off of work now and we're going out for dinner.

DJ signs: Okay, have fun Reese and Dr. Finch.

Dave's family and some ex co-workers enter the room. Dave is sitting up in bed with the trache tube in his throat, the oxygen mask back on his face and his hands still in the restraints.

Ashleigh: How are feeling now, Dave? Isn't that better not being hooked up to that damn machine.

Dave just stared at them and started pulling on the restraints.

Ashleigh: Dr. Weaver, can we please take the restraints off him now. I don't think you have to worry about him pulling the trache out.

As Abby and Carter untied Dave's hands, Marianna brought his computer over on a table while Ashleigh put his glasses and his hand prong on him.

Dave: DON'T YOU EVER TUBE ME AGAIN, YOU BITCH!!!! NOW GET THE HELL OUT OF MY ROOM!!!!

Kerry: It's nice to see that you're still your feisty, arrogant, rude self Malucci. If you'll excuse me, I have patients that really want my help.

As Kerry leaves the room, Dave looks over at Colin.

Dave: Ashleigh, did you ask him yet?

Ashleigh: Yes I did, but have yet to receive an answer.

Colin: Yes, I'll do it. I'm honored you asked me but a little sad too. I hope you never have to put it to use, but I know that you will.

DJ: Do you want me to go back to reading to you, poppy?

Dave: Not now DJ. They gave me some medicine to relax my throat muscles so it was easier to do the tracheotomy and it's made me kind of tired. I think I will just get some rest right now. Come back in later and finish.

DJ: (hugging Dave) Okay, poppy. I'm hungry anyway.

Ashleigh removed Dave's glasses, his leather hand prong and put his computer on the side. She kissed him on the head and everyone bid goodbye. Dave was out of it in seconds.

Ashleigh, DJ, Marianna, Colin and Jaime went out for dinner. They left word at the front desk that when Dave woke up to tell him they would be back later.

Two hours later, Dave started stirring in bed when he realized he wasn't alone.

Jing-Mei: You're finally awake. How do you feel?

Dave started to gesture for his computer. Jing-Mei understood and got the table that it was on and pushed it over to him. She placed his hand prong and glasses on him.

Dave: Thank you. I'm okay. I've been better.

Jing-Mei: I'm sure. I've been waiting for you to wake up so I can talk to you.

Dave: I know I look like a total geek, right.

Jing-Mei: No, you don't. Actually your glasses do something for you.

Dave: Really, what?

Jing-Mei: They make you look intelligent, anyway.

Dave: Wow! I never realized you had a sense of humor. Then what did you want to talk to me about? I know you want to know why I'm giving up so easy.

Jing-Mei: No, but now that you mention it. Why? It's unlike you not to put up a fight.

Dave: To tell you the truth, I really don't have anymore fight left in me. I guess you probably think I'm a big coward, and you're probably right.

Jing-Mei: Absolutely not. As a matter of fact, you're probably one of the bravest people I know.

Dave: No way. You can tell me what you really think of me. No one else is around.

Jing-Mei: It's true. Why is that so hard to believe? Dave, you had a rough life growing up. Your father beat you, you got involved in drugs and a gang, went to jail, manage to turn your life around by going to med school and became a doctor, missed watching your son grow up, mourned and grieved his death in private, are raising your grandson, picked up your life after being wrongfully fired from here. All of this, and you're fighting a horrible, debilitating, terminal disease. Why shouldn't I respect that?

Dave: I can see Ashleigh has really been chatting away.

Jing-Mei: Yes, but don't blame her. We kinda wormed it out of her.

Dave: Do you really respect me? Nobody has ever told me that before, except DJ.

Jing-Mei: Well, they should because I know I'm not the only one that feels that way around here. That doesn't even include your family. DJ loves you so much, that's obvious and you did an excellent job raising him. I would probably be the first one to say you could never raise a child, but you proved me wrong. Damn you.

Dave: I couldn't raise a kid... why because I was such a jerk when I worked here?

Jing-Mei: You could say that.

Dave: It was all an act. I was brought up believing that men don't cry and they don't show their true feelings in public. Until I got sick, I believed that too. Now that my time is running out, I really don't care what people think of me. Maybe I am a wimp.

Jing-Mei: Far from it.

Dave: I'm scared, Jing. Really scared.

Jing-Mei: You're dying, I would be scared too.

Dave: I'm not scared of dying. I've already accepted that. It's after I'm gone, the people I'm leaving behind. I know Ashleigh and DJ will be okay, but, that doesn't make leaving them any easier.

Jing-Mei: They are a lot stronger than you think. They'll be fine. Since we're telling each other secrets here, I think it will be safe to tell you that I always had a crush on you, Dave.

Dave: Really! Why didn't you ever go out with me then?

Jing-Mei: I wanted to, but you had a reputation and I didn't want to become another notch on your headboard, or where ever you kept score at.

Dave: I would not have considered you a notch. I know I use to hit on a lot of the women around the ER and I mean A LOT, but I really did like you and we might have had something real, like a relationship. But you didn't give me much of a chance.

Jing-Mei: You're right I didn't. Sorry.

Dave: That's okay. No one ever did. I'm use to it.

Jing-Mei: You know Dr. Malucci, you're alright. But if you tell anyone I said that I'll deny it and who do you think they will believe?

Dave: My lips are sealed. I'm really going to miss you when I go.

Jing-Mei: Well, you're still too sick to leave the hospital, I think we'll keep you for awhile.

Dave: Thanks, but I didn't mean when I leave the hospital. I meant when I... you know. (bows his head down)

Jing-Mei: ( uncomfortably)Let's not even go there, please.

The door to Dave's room opens and Kerry, Mark and Carter walk in. Jing-Mei and Dave started to straighten up and look serious. Neither one of them wanted anyone to know that they were enjoying each others company.

Dave: What are you guys doing here?

Mark: Well, I came in to check your vitals.

Kerry: I needed to talk to you and brought Carter along to referee.

Dave: Talk to me about what?

Kerry: I want you to know that I never intended to go against your wishes. I really thought I was doing what was best for you. I guess I just didn't want to see anything happen to you. I'm sorry if I did more damage to you and DJ.

Dave: Forget it. I want to apologize for calling you a bitch, too. I was way out of line. Sorry.

Kerry: You had every right to be angry with me, I was never very fair with you. Which is something else I would like to tell you. That day you were fired from County, you were right, I didn't like you and that had a lot to do with me terminating you. I never gave you a fair shake. There's something else you're right about, I did hold some responsibility in the Marfan's case. You were my scapegoat. I was told by Dr. Romano to find someone to blame it on, if I wanted to keep my job. With my job in jeopardy, it just seemed so easy to blame you. It wasn't all your fault. I should have been here.

Dave: I was angry at first. I guess that's why I called you what I did. I didn't mean it, but, from what I hear now part of it was true.

Kerry: Never mind, Dave!

Carter: Now, you two kiss and make up.

Dave: No offense, Dr. Weaver, but I'm not that sick, Carter.

Kerry: Anyway, I feel I still should make it up to you somehow, Dave. I owe you that much.

Mark: I think we all have a lot to make up to you. None of us ever treated you right when you worked here or gave you the respect as a doctor or a person, that you deserved.

Both Carter and Jing-Mei nodded their heads in agreement and shame.

Dave: Well, if you guys really mean that, there is something you can do for me.

Carter: Name it.

Dave: I need someone to look after Ashleigh and DJ for me when I'm gone. DJ wants to be a doctor when he grows up and I wanted to be there to teach him everything I know about being a doctor. Stop laughing, everyone. Would it be okay if Ashleigh brought him by every so often and you guys could show him a few things. I promise he won't get in the way and when you tell him something to do or not to do, he will listen to you. I'll make sure of that.

Mark: DJ's a great kid. We know he'll listen and I don't see any reason why he can't hang around here sometime.

Carter: And maybe he could teach us a few things.

Dave: Yeah, Carter you need all the education you can get. Unlike me, you will never get by on your looks or boyish charm.

Carter: Ha Ha!!

The door opens and DJ runs in.

DJ: Poppy, you're awake.

Dave: DJ, come here to poppy. I've arranged for you to come by the hospital and watch the doctors do their thing after I'm gone. They're going to teach you all you need to know about being a doctor.

DJ: That's your job, poppy.

Dave: I know and if I could do it, I would. You know that. But I can't and I want to make sure you have the best education and learning experience ever. You have to do everything they tell you and not get their way or into trouble.

DJ: I won't and thank you everyone for the opportunity, especially you poppy.( with tears in his eyes)I'll make you proud of me and won't let you down, poppy.

Dave: I know.

Ashleigh walks in the room and sees Dave awake.

Ashleigh: I told DJ not to come running into your room and wake you up.

Dave: It's okay, Ashleigh. I've been awake for sometime. My former colleagues and I had plenty to talk about.

Ashleigh: Should I be worried? Is everything okay.

Dave: Yeah, we're alright.(looking at Kerry) All of us.

DJ comes over to Dave's bed and puts his book down next to one of Dave's chest tubes and Dave winces.

Kerry: Dave, are you alright?

Dave: Yes, I'm fine.

DJ: Sorry poppy. I didn't mean to hurt you.

Dave: It's alright DJ. It's just a little tender there.

Mark: Dave, do you need more painkillers? I can up your meds if you're in pain.

Dave: No. I'm fine. I don't need any more drugs in my system.

Ashleigh: You don't have to brave for us. If you're in pain, then you should have some painkillers.

Dave: It has nothing to do with being brave. If I keep get painkillers, all I'm going to do is sleep. That is not how I want to spend the rest of my time--unconscious. Now DJ, find out where you left off in the book and start reading to me.

Jing-Mei: Well, we will leave you alone. Happy reading.

All four doctors walked out, leaving Ashleigh, DJ and Dave some time alone. All were wondering how many more times the three of them had like that. They all held back their tears.

To be continued. Please read and review.