Recovery
Part 13
A/N: Anything in bold italic is being spoken in Italian
Jing-Mei: Well Jennifer, I don't think you will have any more problems with Erik now.
Jennifer: I guess not.
Jing-Mei: We will let you guys get on with your lessons. Rusty and I will be down in the cafeteria. We will see you later, Erik.
Erik completely ignores everyone in his room, except Rascal.
Jing-Mei: Now Erik, you pay attention to Jennifer and do your therapy or Rascal won't be back.
Erik tightens his grip on the squirming puppy while Rascal licks his face.
Jing-Mei: I think that Rascal missed Erik almost as much as Erik missed him.
Erik: Rrrazcall. Ppplaay.
Jennifer: You can play with the dog later but we have a lot of work to catch up on.
Jennifer got up and tried to remove Rascal from Erik's arms. Unable to pry Erik's fingers from the pooch without hurting either of them, Jennifer gives up.
Jennifer: Alright, no one is going to take the dog away from you. You can still hold him but you have to do your lessons too.
Erik nods.
Jennifer: Don't nod your head, Erik. If I let you hold onto Rascal, you still have to work with me. Now, what do you say?
Erik: Yyyesss maaam.
Jennifer: You know my name. Say it. Say J-e-n-n-i-f-e-r.
Erik: Jjjeenfer.
Jennifer: Close enough.
Jing-Mei: I can see that I am leaving him in good hands.
Jennifer: Don't worry Dr. Chen. You and your son can go down to the cafeteria now and I'll handle Erik.
Jing-Mei(jealous): I'm sure you will. (pause)Come on Rusty, let's get something to eat.
Rusty: Rascal come too.
Jing-Mei: Rascal is staying here. We will pick him up later.
After Jing-Mei and Rusty leave the room and start down the hall, Jing-Mei starts thinking to herself.
Jing-Mei: At least with Rascal in there, maybe that oversexed trollop will keep her hands off my husband and if she doesn't I hope he gives her a nasty bite. Not Erik---Rascal, that is.
An hour later, Jing-Mei and Rusty came back to pick Rascal up and say goodbye to Erik. They enter and see Jennifer sitting on one side of Erik's bed and Rascal laying down on the other with Erik constantly stroking his friend.
Jing-Mei: I thought you guys would be done by now.
Jennifer: We are. I was just getting ready to clean up all these flashcards when you came in.
Jing-Mei(to herself): Hard to do when you're practically wearing the same hospital gown as my man.
Jennifer: Excuse me.
Jing-Mei: Oh nothing. Just came to retrieve the dog and say goodbye.
Rusty: Come Rascal!
Erik(panicked): Nnnno, nnnooo!!
Jing-Mei approaches Erik and runs her hand down his tear stained face.
Jing-Mei: Erik, I have to take Rascal home to feed him and ou..my boys. I'll bring him back. I promise. Please try to understand.
Receiving no encouraging reaction from Erik, Jing-Mei walks over to the door with Jennifer while Rusty starts to play with Rascal and Erik.
Jing-Mei: How's he doing? Any better now that Rascal is back?
Jennifer: At least he's trying to speak now. His words are coming harder than they were before he regressed. But, in time, we should catch up to where we were before.
Jing-Mei: What makes you so sure?
Jennifer: Well, what did you think we were doing in all those sessions when Erik wasn't talking.
Jing-Mei(shrugs): I have no idea. Wasting time?
Jennifer: Hardly. Even though Erik wasn't saying anything, it doesn't mean that he wasn't learning. Babies learn from the moment they come out of the womb and never stop learning from that time on. It's the same with big babies, even severely brain-damaged patients have the capability of learning. They may never use what they learn, but like with a newborn---they watch and observe and are able to soak up what they see.
Jing-Mei: And that's what you think happened with Erik?
Jennifer: Yes, I do. And if he takes everything he learned during that time and puts together with everything he learned from his first session and everything he will learn in the future then I feel he will be talking almost as well as he did before his tragic accident.
Jing-Mei: Almost?
Jennifer: There's still the matter of his slurring and stuttering. No matter how many words he learns and how well he correctly articulates them, he probably will always have those speech impediments. It's alright, it just makes him more sexy.
Jing-Mei takes a deep breath and tries to hide her obvious jealousy.
Jing-Mei: Alright Rusty, put the leash on Rascal, so we can go.
Erik: Nnno, tttakkke pppuppy mmme wway fffrom.
Jing-Mei: Now Erik, we have been...
Jing-Mei stops mid sentence and stares at Erik stunned.
Jing-Mei: Erik, you understood what I said?
Erik doesn't respond.
Jing-Mei: Erik, you understood me?
Erik: Sssii.
Jennifer(confused): What's going on?
Jing-Mei: Erik can understand Italian.
Jennifer: Really?
Jing-Mei: It shouldn't be too surprising since he comes from Sicily.
Jennifer: How did you know that?
Jing-Mei: Uh, it says it in his medical record. As one of his doctors, I looked his medical history over. Besides you can tell.
Jennifer: You can. I never thought the name Evad was Italian.
Jing-Mei: It isn't, I don't think so anyway. All you have to do is look at him with his jet black hair and his tan, olive complexion. It's obvious.
Jennifer: Believe me, I have looked him over---completely. But that's not what I meant.
Jing-Mei: Then what?
Jennifer: I read his personal file too, I usually do with all my patients. It mentioned he was from Italy but it never said what part of Italy he came from. (suspicious) How did you know he came from Sicily?
Jing-Mei(biting her tongue): Lucky guess. Come Rusty, Rascal. Let's get home. Say goodbye to Erik.
Rusty puts Rascal on his leash and lets Rascal lick Erik's sad face and then Rusty gives Erik a hug. Erik doesn't return the hug but strokes Rascal instead.
Jing-Mei: Goodbye Erik.
Rusty waves bye to Erik, Rascal barks and Erik waves back at them.
Erik: Ccciao, Ccchin, pppuppy, lllittle pppaaisan.
Jing-Mei, Rusty and Rascal leave Erik's room while Jennifer stays back, with her hands on her hips, skeptically trying to make sense of it all.
That weekend Jing-Mei took the boys with her while she did the marketing. She put Antonio in the shopping cart and Rusty walked beside her. Rusty kept pointing at all the things he wanted. Jing-Mei kept explaining to him why he couldn't get them.
Jing-Mei: Rusty, we need to buy the important things.
Rusty: Important, si. (pulling her down the snack aisle)
Jing-Mei: I mean like vegetables and fruits and juices.
Rusty stuck his tongue out and made a disgusting face.
Rusty: Yuck.
Jing-Mei: Now Rusty, you want to get big and strong like your papa, don't you?
Rusty: Si.
Jing-Mei: Well then you have to eat healthy.
Rusty's eyes dropped down to the floor as the small, sad boy lagged behind Jing-Mei and Antonio. Jing-Mei turned and saw the hurt look on his face.
Jing-Mei: Alright Rusty, if you agree to stay by my side and behave while I get all the groceries then we will get you a treat, okay.
Rusty nodded excitedly. He grabbed the shopping cart and followed Jing-Mei closely. After they were down the first aisle, Rusty insisted on pushing the cart. Jing-Mei figured it was okay, if it made him happy and kept him quiet. Besides, he can keep an eye on the baby while she went up and down the aisles. It would be easier than dragging the cart up every aisle. She never wandered off far so that the children were out of her sight and Rusty was very protective of his little baby brother. He wouldn't let anyone get close to him.
Fifty two minutes later and Jing-Mei checked her list.
Jing-Mei: Let's see bread, butter, milk, eggs, cereal, diapers, Similac formula, baby wipes, coffee, creamer, sugar, salt, orange juice, pasta and sauce, tuna, peanut butter and jelly, cold cuts, roast pork, spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, corn, beans, peas, ground beef, pork chops, condiments, kitchen and bathroom cleaners, dish and laundry detergent, bubble bath, Kibbles and Bits and doggie treats, apples, bananas and oranges. Did I forget anything? No, I don't think so. (pause)Okay Rusty, you can pick out one snack for yours...
Jing-Mei turned towards the full cart and met with an enormous surprise. The shopping cart was much fuller than she thought. She looked at it and saw potato chips, ice cream bars, chocolate candy, pretzels, popcorn, Oreos and Stella Dora cookies, and cupcakes in it. She knew she didn't put them in there. She looked at the boys and gave them disagreeing smile.
Jing-Mei: Looks like I'm not the only one around here who's been doing some shopping. Rusty, did you put all those goodies in the cart.
Rusty: No, no Mama Jing.
Jing-Mei: Rusty!
Rusty(blushing): 'Tonio helped me.
Jing-Mei: Maluccis through and through. You win guys. You can keep your snacks but only if you eat them in moderation.
Rusty looked at her puzzled.
Jing-Mei: Uh, moderation. That means I get to decide when you can eat them.
Rusty thinks for a moment and then agreeingly nods. Then he takes Antonio's small hand into the air and high fives his little brother while Antonio sits in the cart and smiles, laughs and coos.
As the threesome head towards the checkout register, they pass the toy aisle and Jing-Mei gets another one of her ideas. She picks up a medium sized stuffed German shepherd dog. Rusty and Antonio start to fight over who it belongs to.
Rusty: No, 'Tonio. Mine.
Jing-Mei: Sorry guys, but it's neither of yours. I have someone else in mind to give it to.
Rusty: New baby?
Jing-Mei: No, I'm not going to have a new baby.
Rusty: Look like Rascal.
Jing-Mei: Sure does and I hope the person I got it for thinks so too.
Later at the rehab center, Capt. Amos enters Erik's room. Erik is sitting up looking through his photo album.
Capt. Amos: Hello Erik. I hear there is good news about you.
Erik looks at him and then goes back to his pictures. Capt Amos walks over to Erik and shuts his book. Angry, Erik opens it up again and continues to look at his photos of Rascal.
Capt. Amos: You win. You can look at it as long as we can still talk, okay?
Erik nods.
Capt. Amos: We have a man in custody at the police station. Now, before your setback, you said a name. Do you know what that name was?
Erik thinks while he continues looking through his album.
Erik: Rrrriiico.
Capt. Amos: That's right.
Erik: Bbbadd hhhee's
Capt. Amos: Yes, he is. Do you remember anything else about the man?
Erik stares at his photo album then starts to scratch at his head furiously and shake his head and then stops mid shake and speaks. Capt. Amos' mouth dropped open.
Later that afternoon, Jing-Mei and the boys return from shopping. Jing-Mei puts Antonio onto the floor to crawl around while she and Rusty put the groceries away. Rusty leaves one of the empty shopping bags on the floor and Rascal sticks his head in it and starts sniffing. Rusty goes over to the curious little puppy, startling him. Rascal jerks his head up quickly while still in the bag so the bag remains on his head. He starts running around the house with the bag on his head and Rusty chases after him.
Jing-Mei(sarcastically): Thanks guys for your help. I think I can handle it from here.
After the groceries are away, Jing-Mei calls Mrs. Peterson and asks if she can come over and babysit. Always happy to spend time with the boys, Mrs. Peterson cheerfully agrees. Jing-Mei feeds the boys and Rascal before Mrs. Peterson arrived.
Rusty: Ice Cream, Mama Jing.
Jing-Mei: What do you say?
Rusty: Please.
Jing-Mei: I don't know. You're hyper enough as it is. The last thing you need is a sugar shock.
Jing-Mei looks down into Rusty's sad little eyes and she knows she can't refuse him.
Jing-Mei: Alright, you can have one ice cream bar, but that's all. And don't think you'll be able to con another one out of Mrs. Peterson when she comes to baby sit.
Rusty and Rascal get up from in front of the tv and excitedly follow Jing-Mei into the kitchen. Jing-Mei hands Rusty a ice cream bar and Rascal looks at him and starts licking his chops.
Rusty: Rascal too.
Jing-Mei(shaking her head): No Rusty. No ice cream for Rascal. Here you go, Rascal.
Jing-Mei hands Rascal a doggie treat and he nearly takes her hand off when he grabs for it. Mrs. Peterson enters the kitchen to see Rascal begging for another treat. Jing-Mei gives him another.
Jing-Mei: That's it Rascal, no more.
Rusty: You give Rascal two treats, so Rusty gets two treats.
Jing-Mei: No you don't. Don't try that with me. Now, go watch tv or play with your game or with Rascal. Just keep out of trouble and be quiet so you don't wake Antonio up.
Rusty and Rascal exit the kitchen and go into the living room.
Jing-Mei: Thank you for coming, Mrs. Peterson. I hope I didn't take you away from anything at home.
Mrs. Peterson: Not at all. I told you before. Any time I can help.
Jing-Mei: Okay, both boys and dog have been fed. Antonio is sleeping in his crib. I haven't changed him yet, so you may need to be on the lookout for that. I gave Rusty an ice cream bar and that's it for tonight. So, if he tries to get to another one out of you, don't give it to him no matter how much he begs. Any more sugar and I'll never get him to sleep tonight. Rascal's had two dog biscuits and that's enough for him also. I shouldn't be long, but if you need me, just page me. Anything else you need to know?
Mrs. Peterson: I don't think so. You've covered everything.
Jing-Mei: Help yourself to anything in the refrigerator and Rusty's bedtime is 8:00 tonight, just in case I'm not back in time.
Jing-Mei grabs her package, checks in on the baby, gives Rusty a kiss goodbye and Rascal a pat and then leaves. She heads to the rehab center.
Half an hour later, Jing-Mei arrives at the rehab center and enters Erik's room. The room is empty.
Jing-Mei(to herself): I guess Erik is down in physical therapy?
She walks out of the room and heads for the front desk when she is approached from behind.
Capt. Amos: Dr. Chen, looking for Erik?
Jing-Mei: Capt. Amos, yes I am. What brings you here?
Capt. Amos: More questions for Erik.
Jing-Mei: Well, your timing is off. Erik is down in physical therapy.
Capt. Amos: Not physical therapy. Dr. Chen, Erik's had another mild heart attack.
Jing-Mei turns completely pale. She tries to speak.
Jing-Mei: Wwwhat?! When?! How?!
Capt. Amos: I was with him when he had the attack.
Jing-Mei: You didn't say anything to upset him, did you?
Capt. Amos: No, he was actually very calm during the questioning. The doctors said, once they got his vitals stabilized, they had to take him back down to catheterize him again and perform more tests. That's where he is now.
Jing-Mei: How long has he been down there?
Capt. Amos: Almost an hour. Nurse said it could take another hour at least. That gives us a chance to talk.
Jing-Mei: Talk about what?
Capt. Amos: During the questioning, I asked Erik if he remembered the name of the person he told us about before he had his setback.
Jing-Mei: What did he say?
Capt. Amos: Rico.
Jing-Mei: That's right. What's the problem?
Capt. Amos: I asked him if he could remember anything else about the man called "Rico". He started to say no but then...
Jing-Mei: But then what?
Capt. Amos: Dr. Chen, Erik said the words "Shot me".
To be continued. Please read and review.