Recovery
A/N: Anything in bold italic is being spoken in Italian.
Part 3
A week after her first visit with Erik, Jing-Mei is in the lounge of the ER on break talking with Carter and Abby when Kerry walks in with another doctor.
Abby: So Dr. Chen, how does Rusty like going to school?
Jing-Mei: He loves school, but I don't think he likes the school itself.
Abby: Does he have any friends yet?
Jing-Mei: When I drop him off there in the morning it seems like there are a couple of kids he talks to. The classes aren't very big but the children seem very nice. Like with Rusty, it's difficult to understand them when they talk except the Chinese ones but they are all there for the same reason as Rusty--to learn English so I'm sure in time it would get easier. There is one child there. A little Italian girl named Gina who seems to like Rusty and I mean really like him but Rusty wants no part of any girls.
Carter: If he's anything like Dave, it won't be long. You'll have to fight the girls off of him and he will be enjoying every moment of it. And Antonio too.
Abby: Right, they are both good looking boys. Then again, Malucci wasn't hard on the eyes either.
Noticing tears start to form in Jing-Mei's eyes at the mention of her late husband, Abby and Carter decide to change the painful subject when Kerry interrupts them.
Kerry: Excuse me, everyone. I want to introduce you to our newest ER resident. This is Dr. Gregory Pratt. (pause)Dr. Pratt, this is Dr. John Carter- chief resident, Dr. Jing-Mei Chen and our head of nursing Abby Lockhart.
The three ER staffers stand up and greet the new doctor.
Pratt: It's very nice to meet you. Especially you, Dr. Chen.
Pratt eyes Jing-Mei up and down and all notice. Jing-Mei feeling subconscious over Pratt staring at her, she excuses herself from the lounge.
Pratt: What's wrong with her? Was it something I said?
Abby: Well, she just lo...
Kerry(interrupting): Never mind Abby. What have I told you about gossiping in my ER. You know without Malucci here you have become the biggest source of information around. Anyway, there's no reason he needs to know Dr. Chen's or anyone's, for that matter, business. Now Carter, I want you to show him around. Give him the ten minute tour, show him the board and charting system and put him out there but you supervise him. I'm leaving you in charge of him. Just remember, he screws up, it's on your head.
Carter: Got it.
At the rehab center, Erik is in physical therapy. His physical therapist, Larry, is great with him. He doesn't treat him the way Martin did back at County. Martin, was only in it for the money but Larry, it's different. It seems like Larry really cares about his patients. He's patient with them. During leg lifts, Larry tries to break the ice with Erik, hoping to help him get through the excruciating pain he's in.
Larry: I know how hard it is to keep moving muscles that have a mind of their own. I was in your place once.
Erik looks at him, totally interested.
Larry: It was in my sophomore year of college, when I went up to intercept a pass, a linebacker dived for it at the same time and we kind of hit the ground at the same time. Neither of us got the ball, and only one of us got back up on our feet. Needless to say, it wasn't me. I had my left knee replaced. So much for my football career. Not that there was much to it. In fact, that was the first time I got off the bench all season. I really wanted to impress my coach. I screwed up big time.
Erik giggles at him.
Larry: What is so funny?
Erik: I sss.wee......cr...no, I sss..c...ew... up....too.
Larry: Not from what I read. According to your medical records, you got slammed on the ice during hockey practice. It must have been hard too if it busted your helmet and caused so much brain damage.
Erik looked at him peculiar, like he had no idea of what Larry was talking about. He wiped the thought out of his mind, temporarily and went back to concentrating on his leg lifts.
Erik: I ss.c..r..ew..up...gib, no, big, I sc...re..w. scr...ew.up. big.
Larry: Hey, at least you made the minor league. So, if you're a screw up then what's that make me?
Erik: F...f...r...en...fr..e..nd.
Larry smiles back at Erik and can't help but let out a small laugh.
Larry: Yeah, right. Friends. (pause) So friend, ready to try the parallel bars now.
Erik takes a deep breath, sighs and nods. Larry helps Erik into his wheelchair and checks his ventilator to make sure the tube doesn't fall down and get caught in the wheels, cutting off his air. When all is clear, Larry walks behind Erik and prepares to push him over to the bars when Erik stops him.
Larry: What's the matter there, big guy?
Erik: M...em...no. mmm.eee d...d..o....self.
Larry: It's okay. I don't mind...
Erik: NO.....NO...Can't ddd...o, no...can.....do. W....wa..n..t..t..o.
Larry: Alright, go for it.
Erik puts his right hand down on the wheel of his chair and starts to push it. He rolls it slightly, with a lot of trouble and the chair starts to move over towards the bars but then turns into a circle. He can't control it with only one hand. Larry shakes his head and tries to hold back a laugh. Erik notices and drops his head down.
Larry: Hey, what's the matter?
Erik: U...la..f...em....me. F..u..n make...nuff......f..un.
Larry: I'm not making fun of you. You just need more practice and have to start using that left arm of yours. After a while, you'll be a pro. Now, shall we get back to work.
Erik nods and as Larry heads to the back of his chair, Erik stops him again and insists on doing it himself. Larry agrees. It takes forty-five minutes but Erik finally makes it over to the bars.
Erik: H....h..ow....m...mmme...,no....I...ddd...o?
Larry(nodding): You did great, pal.
Erik: T...t....ank....u, L....a...r...y.
Erik and Larry go back to their session, establishing a bond between them. Larry sees in Erik, inspiration in all that he wants to accomplish--no matter how difficult or impossible the situation seems. And for Erik, Larry is the person he could one day become with work. He overcame his physical disability to help others and someday he would too. Erik finally had what he's been looking for, for a long time--- a friend. A friend who didn't know anything about him before he was hurt and didn't expect him to be the same guy he was before. He just expected him to do his best and use what he had to live as full a life as possible.
Later at the ER, Carter is keeping a close eye on Pratt and Pratt's doing the same to Jing-Mei especially when she comes out dressed in a very nice dress and made up.
Cleo: You look nice tonight, Jing-Mei.
Pratt: And hot too! Who's the lucky guy?
Jing-Mei: Actually, there are two guys.
Luka: Really? Anyone we know?
Jing-Mei: They're younger men and a lot shorter. Quiet, but both extremely handsome and they come with their own watchdog.
Luka: Alright, what gives?
Jing-Mei: All jokes aside, seriously. I'm going to collect my boys and we'll be going over to visit their daddy on his birthday.
Everyone stood in silence with their heads down.
Cleo: So, you're taken them to the cemetery?
Jing-Mei: Yeah, it's Er..uh Dave's birthday today and I want him to see how much the boys have grown. I wish he could be here with us and we could celebrate his birthday together, but even if we can't be together physically--there's always spiritually and I want my boys to understand that their father may be gone but he will always be in our hearts and memories. It's especially important for Rusty to understand that because of Jada.
Cleo: Poor little guy. First his mother, then his aunt and now his father. How in the world is he handling it all?
Jing-Mei: He still cries at night. Even with the Petersons, Mr. Santini, Antonio, me and Rascal he feels so alone. And I know he worries about us. He has to be afraid that someday something will take us away from him too. But, I'm doing everything I can to assure him that that will never happen. (looking at her watch) Well, I have to go now. See you tomorrow.
Pratt(drooling): I'll count the minutes.
Jing-Mei leaves and Carter approaches him.
Carter: Put your eyes back in your head, Pratt. She's off limits. Got it.
Pratt: Hey man, didn't mean to step on your ground there. If there is something going on between you two than I'll back off.
Carter: There isn't anything going on between Deb and me. We are just friends and I'm real protective of her. So stay away.
Abby: Look Dr. Pratt, she just lost her husband a couple of months ago. It's too soon to be hitting on her. Besides, she has two little boys who wouldn't understand.
Carter: You know Abby, Dr. Weaver was right. You are the biggest gossip here since Malucci.
Erik, no sooner finished with his speech therapy when Capt. Amos walked in and started questioning him about his attack. Erik refused to open up to him. Capt. Amos was persistent. He kept asking Erik all different questions but Erik still couldn't give him any answers. Frustrated, Capt. Amos was ready to give it up for the day when Jing-Mei and party walked in. Jing-Mei came through the doors with the baby in her hands but her other son was no where in sight. She kissed Erik's head and tried to hand him Antonio. He still declined to hold his youngest son. She handed the baby to Capt. Amos to hold as she went to retrieve their older boy.
Jing-Mei(whispering in a loud voice)Rusty, come here now!!
She re-enters the room and takes the baby from the detective, who was making silly faces at Antonio causing Antonio to giggle out loud. Erik wasn't amused.
Capt. Amos: Everything okay there, Dr. Chen?
Jing-Mei: Rusty, he's lagging behind again. So, how's everything going on in here with you two?
Capt. Amos: Not good. I don't know if he really doesn't remember his attack or he's just avoiding the subject.
Jing-Mei: I don't think he would deliberately ignore you when he knows all you want to do is help him and end all this...but then again, he doesn't seem to want help from any of us. Oh well, I have something that might help bring him around.
Capt. Amos: What's that?
Before Jing-Mei could answer, Rusty finally walked through the door.
Rusty: Papa!!
Rusty came running over to Erik, but with little reaction from him--until he sees that Rusty isn't alone.
Erik: P...ppp.up..py! Gi...giv...e...m...e.
Jing-Mei: See what I mean. I knew he would respond to the dog.
It's the first time he showed any reaction the entire time Capt. Amos was in the room. Jing-Mei picked the puppy up and handed him to Erik's waiting arms. Erik cuddled with his best friend.
Jing-Mei: Alright, Erik. Now try to tell the captain what he wants to know. (pause) Now, captain. Make your move.
The captain moved back over to Erik and tried to get his attention. Failing, he realized that he would just have to keep talking and hoping that Erik was still listening and paying attention to him.
Capt. Amos: Erik, please concentrate. Try to remember anything from that day. Something small about the hangar. Whatever you can tell me will help.
Erik continues to play with the squirming puppy while Capt. Amos and Jing-Mei await an answer. Several minutes go by without any answer so the captain got up and walked to the door.
Jing-Mei: I'm sorry, captain. I really thought...
Capt. Amos: That's alright. Just call me if he rem....
Erik: Rrrrr....oooo.
Jing-Mei and Capt. Amos swing around and look at Erik.
Jing-Mei: Erik, what is it? What are you trying to say?
Erik: Rrrrrr....
Jing-Mei: Rusty? Rascal?
Rusty, hearing his name thinks that Jing-Mei wants him to take Rascal away from his papa, so he reaches for the puppy but Erik furiously shakes his head no. He gets an angry look on his face and squeezes the puppy a little too hard causing Rascal to whimper. Erik loosens his grip and strokes the puppy as if to say sorry.
Jing-Mei: It's okay Erik. No one is going to take the puppy from you. Just try to tell us what you were going to say.
Capt. Amos: Is it about the hangar?
Erik looks at him strangely and Capt. Amos realizes that he doesn't know what a hangar is.
Capt. Amos: Hangar--where they keep airplanes at?
A blank stare came over Erik's face and he raised his hands to his ears, letting Rascal go and Rusty made his move and took his puppy back.
Jing-Mei: Erik, did something hurt your ears?
Erik: N....n...uber th....e.v..en. No, zzzz.e...v...en
Jing-Mei: Number seven. The number of the hangar he was in.
Capt. Amos: That's very good, Erik. Anything else you can remember?
Erik: Rrrrr.....i....c....o.
Capt. Amos: Rico? Was he one of the men that hurt you, Erik?
Erik nods continuously and holds his arms back out for the puppy.
Capt. Amos: That's good, Erik. I think we've done enough today. I'll be back again.
As Capt. Amos walks out the room, Jing-Mei escorts him to the door.
Jing-Mei: Did he help you in any way, I hope?
Capt. Amos: Well, I don't know how much help that was but at least we have a name now. We'll have to be satisfied with that for now. Go back over and enjoy your family visit.
Jing-Mei turns around to her family to see Rusty place Rascal back in Erik's arms.
Jing-Mei: I will and thank you, captain.
Capt. Amos: No, thank you and him.
Jing-Mei takes Antonio back over to Rusty and Erik and joins in with them, stroking an excited Rascal.
Erik: R....rrrr.raz...le.
Jing-Mei: Very good, Erik. Happy Birthday, sweetheart.
Later after leaving the rehab center, Jing-Mei takes the boys and dog to the cemetery and they sit by Dave's headstone. She puts flowers down on his grave. She kneels down with Antonio in her arms. Rusty follows suit and kneels next to her with Rascal laying down next to them.
Jing-Mei: Hello baby. Happy Birthday, Dave. I didn't forget. I brought your boys here to visit with you. They are so big. You would be so proud of them. Their fine kids and they remind me so much of you. Antonio is starting to cut his first tooth and Rusty started school. I wish you could be here for your birthday. But, I know that you are alright where you are. You're finally out of pain and where no can ever hurt you again. Your safe, sweetheart. We miss you so much and will always love you. God Bless you dear and thank you so much for giving your life to make sure that we are safe and for leaving behind these two beautiful little boys for me to remember you by.
Tears and emotions are obvious at the grave site, but the Maluccis are unaware that from behind a nearby tree, they are being watched.
Stalker: Yeah, he's safe. But you aren't.
To be continued. Please read and review.