Recovery
Part 10
A/N: Anything in bold italic is being spoken in Italian.
Later that night after Jing-Mei and Rusty arrived home, Rusty sat by the tv after dinner and finished his homework while Jing-Mei called the vet hospital. She walked into the room and sat down on the couch. Rusty got up from the floor and went over to her. She stroked his head and looked at him.
Rusty: Rascal, okay?
Jing-Mei(nodding): Si, he's going to be okay. He came out of surgery a little while ago and is resting.
Rusty smiled at her and breathed a sigh of relief that his puppy was going to be alright. Jing-Mei pointed down on the floor to Rusty's books and Rusty knew exactly what she meant.
Rusty: Right, back to my homework.
Jing-Mei smiled back at the little boy and then stared at him while he sat on the floor still in disbelief about how much he reminds her of his dad. Her thoughts are interrupted by Dave's other son. Jing-Mei gets up to tend to the screaming baby.
The next morning, Mrs. Peterson came over to take Antonio for an outing to the zoo. Rusty, who just came out of the shower was jealous.
Rusty: Zoo, me go too.
Jing-Mei, who was accustomed to carrying her dictionary around with her all the time approached the angry little boy.
Jing-Mei: You have to go to school. You've been to the zoo before. This is Antonio's first time. It's his day. Please try to understand that.(pause)I'll tell you what, if you go to school today then afterwards I'll pick you up and take you over to the vet's to visit Rascal, okay?
Rusty nodded and grabbed his school uniform off the ironing board and headed to his bedroom.
Mrs. Peterson: How is Rascal doing?
Jing-Mei: Alright, I think. I'll know more when I see the doctor today and look over his test results.
Mrs. Peterson: Are you going to be able to interpret them?
Jing-Mei: Granted that I'm not a veterinarian, but the results can't look too much different than a human's. Anyway, I'll have Rascal's doctor there to help me with what I don't understand.
Mrs. Peterson: The surgery went well, though?
Jing-Mei: Yes, his pelvis had a small hairline fracture that they didn't catch on the x-ray and they had to put additional couple of pins in to hold his hip together so it's going to take longer before he's up and running around.
Mrs. Peterson: Did the vet say when you would be able to bring him home?
Jing-Mei: They want to watch him for awhile after the surgery and make sure he's healing okay. Hopefully, not more than a week or two. I don't know what Rusty would do if he has to be away from him any longer. He's lost so many people that that little dog is the world to him.
Jing-Mei starts to cry but fights to hold back the tears. She turns away from Mrs. Peterson in effort to hide her feelings but the older lady catches a glimpse of her before she can.
Mrs. Peterson: Are you alright, dear?
Jing-Mei: Fine. It's just Rascal.
Mrs. Peterson: Are you still blaming yourself for backing over him with your car? I told you not to feel responsible for that. It was an accident.
Jing-Mei: It was I know that. I have spent so much time over the last eleven and a half months worrying about Dave and his health. When I finally lost him six weeks ago, I thought the only time I would be awaiting test results or for someone to come out of surgery, it would be just another patient at the hospital. But it isn't. It's someone I love and it's made me realize that even though Dave is gone and I'm not up visiting and sitting with him everyday that my concerns will never end. There will always be things for me to worry about with the boys and the dog.
Mrs. Peterson: All part of being a mother. There are some downsides to having children but there also some positive things as well. You just have to take each aspect into consideration separately and weigh the difference.
Jing-Mei: Measuring the pros and cons you mean. (pause) Well, when it comes down to it, I guess the pros to motherhood outnumber the cons.
Rusty comes running out of his room fully dressed with his school books under his arm.
Rusty: School time, Mama Jing. Then visit Rascal and papa.
Jing-Mei nearly chokes on her coffee.
Mrs. Peterson: Are you going to the cemetery today, Dr. Chen?
Jing-Mei: Oh, no. Not today. I told Rusty that if there was time we'd stop by his father's grave but I forgot I have a staff meeting at the hospital today. You're right Rusty, it's time for school. Let's go, pal.
Jing-Mei grabs her jacket and shuffles Rusty out the door before he could slip up again.
She drops Rusty off at school and realizing she is still going to be early for her shift at the ER, she stops by the rehab center. She enters his room to find Jennifer sitting with him.
Jing-Mei: I didn't mean to interrupt you guys.
Jennifer: That's all right. We just got started a short time ago.
Jing-Mei: Has he said anything yet?
Jennifer: No, he hasn't. But he will--he did before.
Jing-Mei: I was on my way to a meeting and I was thinking about him and thought I would stop to check on him after yesterday. (pause) Could you please give us a moment?
Jennifer: Sure, I have to go get my flashcards anyway.
Jennifer walks over to Erik and smiles at him.
Jennifer: Don't you worry, sweetie. This setback is not a big deal. And even if it is permanent, I like the strong, silent type. Just keep that in mind when you come looking for a girlfriend, handsome. (casting a winking eye at her patient)
After Jennifer leaves the room, Jing-Mei's obvious jealousy starts to show.
Jing-Mei: Hmmm, the nerve of some therapists. Alright, let me put that out of my mind for now. After all, we only have limited time.
Jing-Mei walks over to Erik's bed and goes to sit down when he pulls away from her.
Jing-Mei: Okay, I get it. It's alright to talk to you just don't get to close.
She decides to sit down in the visitor's chair and tries to think of something to say that won't upset him.
Jing-Mei: The boys are getting so big. Antonio's going to be six months in a couple of weeks and my birthday is next week. I thought if you were up to it I'd bring them up here to see you and maybe a small picnic basket. I know you're getting sick of this hospital food. Dr. Butler says that you should be able to handle solid food. It's just going to be a little rough going down with the trache in, but if you take it slow then...
Erik's eyes roam the room uninterested in anything Jing-Mei is saying. Jing-Mei notices and changes the subject.
Jing-Mei: And Dr. Levin says that Rascal came through his surgery with flying colors and should be discharged soon.
Erik's eyes pop at the mention of Rascal's name. He attempts to sit up but in his weakened condition he falls back into the bed, bumping up against the night stand and knocking a book on to the floor.
Jing-Mei: Easy there Erik. Just lay still and don't exert yourself. Rascal, you remember him, don't you? I bet once we are able to bring him back to see you then you'll make an amazing recovery. Unfortunately, that won't be for a few weeks at least. Unless, I can figure a way of getting him here sooner.
Jing-Mei looks around the room and sees the book that fell to the floor when Erik tried to sit up. She picked it up and looked at it.
Jing-Mei: Your family album, little that there is of it. I forgot that it was still here. Do you remember seeing Sophie's picture in here?
Erik blinks once.(no)
Jing-Mei: Oh well, it's a good way to look at and remember people we love that are no longer here with us...
A thought runs through Jing-Mei's head.
Jing-Mei: ...and maybe a way to see people who are still here with us that we love---including puppies.
Jennifer returns to Erik's room with the flashcards. Jing-Mei puts the photo album back on the night stand and says goodbye to her patient. She heads to the ER to start her shift.
During her dinner break, Jing-Mei went home to pick up her camera. Mrs. Peterson and Antonio weren't back from the zoo yet so it was a quick stop--in and then out. She then went and picked up Rusty from school and took him to visit Rascal.
At the hospital, the nurse showed them to where they were keeping Rascal. Rusty ran over to his sick puppy. He wasn't very happy to see Rascal still in the cage. Jing-Mei armed with her dictionary, tried to explain to the boy.
Jing-Mei: Rusty, they have to keep the puppies in cages so they don't fight and wind up hurting themselves again. This is only for a little while. Once we get him home, he can lie in his own bed and you can visit with him as much as you like.
Rascal was lying on his side with an IV in his front leg and a cast on his left hind leg. He was still extremely weak and very groggy from the painkillers they had him on. Rusty pushed his hand through the grate of the cage and stroked the puppy's head. Rascal could barely lift his head up but managed to lick Rusty's hand in return. Meanwhile, Jing-Mei took plenty of pictures of the two of them together.
After twenty minutes, which is all the visiting time they were allowed to have, Jing-Mei drove Rusty over to Mr. Santini's. She dropped her film off at the photo lab before heading back to finish her shift.
The next morning, after Jing-Mei dropped Rusty off at school, she picked up her pictures and went to the rehab center. As she walked down the hall, she could hear a commotion coming from Erik's room. She entered to see a nurse sitting on Erik's bed, with his table pulled over him and feeding him his lunch. Erik was trying to pull away from her and refused to open his mouth to allow her to feed him.
Nurse: We've been through this before, Erik. You have to eat and it's my duty to make sure you eat. Now, if you won't allow me to feed you then we will just have to put you back on a feeding tube. Is that what you want? (pause) Alright, let's try this again.
The nurse places a fork into some gross looking strained something or other that look like it had already been digested once and brought back up. As she moved the fork near his mouth, Erik swatted it away causing the fork to hit the floor and the food to cover the nurse. Jing-Mei, tried to hold back a giggle but couldn't. Neither the nurse or Erik were smiling.
Nurse: I'm so glad you find this funny, Dr. Chen.
Jing-Mei: I'm sorry but I do.
Nurse: I suppose you could do better.
Jing-Mei: I couldn't do worse. Let me try.
Nurse: Alright, but if you fail then we'll have no choice but to put the feeding tube back in him and place him in restraints, if necessary.
The nurse leaves and Jing-Mei heads over to Erik's bed. She pushes the table out of the way then takes a napkin and starts to try to wipe Erik's face of the food that got on him when he threw it. Erik put his arms up to block her from touching him. She managed to take control and pulled his arms down and held them on his lap.
Jing-Mei: I'm not going to hurt you Erik. I never would. When are you going to start to trust me again?
Erik relaxes and lets her wipe his face off. He still looks at her as if he wants her to go away and leave him alone.
Jing-Mei: I brought you a present, but you have to make a promise to me before I give it to you, okay.
Erik scrunges back down in his bed. Jing-Mei takes his chin in her hand and forces him to look at her.
Jing-Mei: Promise me or you don't get the present.
Erik reluctantly nods and then sits up in his bed and awaits his present. Jing-Mei reaches into her purse and pulls out an envelop. Out of the envelop, she retrieves the pictures she picked up from the photo lab. She showed them to Erik, who's face instantly lit up. He grabbed at the pictures and pushed them to his face. He opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. All he could do was smile, but it was a smile worth waiting for.
Jing-Mei: See Erik, Rascal is okay. He's a little sick right now, but he'll be fine. And soon as he gets better, I'll bring him back to see you. Would you like that?
Erik nods and Jing-Mei slyly licks her lips.
Jing-Mei: Now for your part of the deal. If you want Rascal to visit again then you have to start to do your therapy again. That means you have to agree to let Larry and Jennifer help you no matter how difficult it is for you. Promise me that you will try.
Erik nods and goes back to looking at the pictures. Jing-Mei moves the table back over and unwraps another plastic fork. She sticks it in the food and lifts it up to feed Erik when she gets a whiff of it.
Jing-Mei: Yuck, no wonder you'd rather throw this crap then eat it. I don't blame you. Well, I have to leave now and get to work.
Erik pays no attention to her. He's mesmerized by his pictures so she tiptoes out of his room and heads to the ER.
A week later, Carter confronts Jing-Mei as they prepare to leave for the day.
Carter: Look Deb, I need someone to cover my shift tomorrow. Both Luka and Cleo turned me down.
Jing-Mei: Sorry John, but so am I.
Jing-Mei exits the lounge and walks up to the admit desk to sign out her patients, with Carter following behind her.
Carter: Why won't you take my shift, Deb?
Jing-Mei: Any other day John, but, I purposely asked for off tomorrow.
Kerry: Big plans with the boys tomorrow.
Jing-Mei: You can say that everyone. (pause) Tomorrow is my birthday.
Luka: Happy Birthday.
Jing-Mei(discouraged): Thank you.
Mark: You don't sound too happy about it.
Haleh: I know the feeling. I always get depressed around my birthday. The thought of getting a year older scares the hell out of me but it is one year closer to retirement.
Jing-Mei(shaking her head): That's not it, everyone. It's not only my birthday but an anniversary as well.
Carter: An Anniversary?
Jing-Mei: Yes everyone, an anniversary of the day my life ended. It was one year ago tomorrow that Dave was kidnapped and tortured.
To be continued. Please read and review.