Recovery
Part 31
A/N: Anything in bold italic is being spoken in Italian
Both doctors were stunned. They wanted to run over to Erik but their feet wouldn't move. Then out of nowhere, Jing-Mei got her mobility back and dashed over to Erik's bed and grabbed at him.
Jing-Mei: ERIK! STOP THAT RIGHT NOW!! DO YOU HEAR ME!! I SAID STOP IT!!
Despite Jing-Mei's protests, Erik continued to bang his head on the bed's headboard.
Erik: Bbbad bboy. Dddavey bbbad bboy. Mmmust bbbe pppunisshed. Dddevil iiinside mmee.
Jing-Mei: Erik, what are talking about? I said to stop that right now!
Dr. Legaspi walked over to Erik and administered a tranquilizer to him. He fought her but she managed to get the needle in his arm. He repeatedly hit his head until the drug took affect. Once Erik was unconscious, the doctors approached him. Jing-Mei gently slid him down away from the headboard. Jing-Mei and Dr. Legaspi saw the headboard covered in Erik's blood. Dr. Legaspi noticed the trail of blood seeping down Erik's pillow. Jing-Mei carefully lifted Erik's head up and saw a large gash in the back of Erik's head, bleeding severely.
Jing-Mei: Oh god, Erik. What did you do?
Dr. Legaspi: Busted his head open.
Jing-Mei: I need to put direct pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding.
Dr. Legaspi: Hold this towel on it. That should help slow it down.
Jing-Mei: Damn it! His blood pressure is dropping. He's losing too much blood. At this rate, he could bleed to death. Dr. Legaspi, go get me a suture kit and then call down to blood bank and have them send me up 3 units A+ blood.
Dr. Legaspi picks up the phone and calls for the blood.
Jing-Mei: Shit! He's starting to head into shock. We need that blood, NOW!
After Dr. Legaspi orders the blood, she runs out of the room and in a few minutes returns with a suture kit. Gently and with total choreography, they turn Erik on his side, while Jing-Mei stitches his head.
Jing-Mei: Dr. Legaspi, I forgot no one is suppose to know about Erik being here. Could you meet them half way for the blood. I need to stay and try to keep him out of shock.
Dr. Legaspi: Be right back.
Meanwhile, Jing-Mei gives Erik a shot of vasotec to help stabilize his blood pressure. Erik's usual tanned olive skin is turning pale indicating that he is losing blood way too fast even with the sutures in his head and despite the direct pressure that Jing-Mei had applied earlier.
Dr. Legaspi runs into Erik's room carrying the blood. She is followed in by Dr. Romano.
Dr. Romano: What in the hell is going on with him now!!
Jing-Mei: He hit his head on the headboard.
Dr. Romano walks over and examines the large wound in Erik's head.
Dr. Romano: Looks like he did more than hit it.
While Jing-Mei hooks up the blood to Erik's IV, she and Dr. Legaspi look at each other, debating whether to tell Romano what really happened. Erik's heart monitor starts to beep, then flatlines.
Dr. Romano: Fuck! He crashed!
Dr. Legaspi goes to get a crash cart while Romano starts chest compressions.
Dr. Romano: Dr. Chen, start squeezing that blood in. He's not getting the blood to his heart fast enough therefore it's not going to his brain.
Jing-Mei gives the blood bag a couple of quick squeezes and then disconnects his vent and hooks up an api bag. She squeezes it twice for every five compressions that Romano is giving to her failing husband. Dr. Legaspi re-enters the room with the crash cart just as Romano gets Erik's heart started again.
Romano: Forget it, Legaspi. We don't need the cart. Am I good or what?
Jing-Mei(raising an eyebrow):Or what. Pressure is returning to normal. Pulse is stronger.
Romano: Will the two of you tell me what THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE!!
Jing-Mei: He hit his head.
Romano: Question, Dr. Chen, do I look stupid to you?
Jing-Mei: Well, I...no.
Romano: Then stop handing me this bullshit story that he hit his head. You don't drop over two liters of blood on your bed and go into cardiac arrest from a simply tap on the head. Now, I'm not asking you, I'm telling you. I want to know what happened here?
Jing-Mei: We had just finished a session. Erik...it was very emotional for him. After it was over, we left him alone for a few minutes and when we came back in here, he was banging his head on the end of the bed.
Dr. Legaspi: We tried to stop him, but couldn't. I had to tranquilize him again.
Romano: I've been patient for a very long time, now. But my patience is wearing thin. I have bent over backwards for your husband, Dr. Chen. I have shuffled the doctors schedules around to accommodate him, closed off this entire corridor to protect him and put the rest of my staff and the patients at risk. No more, Dr. Chen. If you can't keep him under control then I'm afraid you'll have to make other arrangements for him.
Jing-Mei casts a worried glance at Dr. Legaspi, who intervenes.
Dr. Legaspi: Dr. Romano, I'll change his medication. Erik seems to be fine most of the time. His problems begin after we've had our sessions. So, what if I start to give him his anxiety drugs after our sessions are over. He'll be pretty tranquil once the drugs take affect. When they wear off, he should be calmed down and not prone to these hostile fits.
Romano: Alright, I'll give you one more chance to control him. If this doesn't work than I want him out of my hospital.
Jing-Mei: Thank you, Dr. Romano. We won't let you down.
Romano leaves and Jing-Mei approaches her sleeping husband and caresses his brow. She kisses him on his head and bends down to whisper something in his ear.
Jing-Mei: Come on Erik. I know you can't help what is happening to you but you just have to get a hold of yourself. You can't act out anymore or Dr. Romano is going to kick you out of here and then what do we have---a padded room in some psyche ward. This place may not be Disney World but it's a hell of alot better than where you could wind up. Do this if not for yourself but for me and our sons. They love you so much and they worry about you. Rusty doesn't say it but he really does worry.
Dr. Legaspi: I'll leave the two of you alone.
Jing-Mei: Thank you for everything, Dr. Legaspi.
Alone with Erik, Jing-Mei lays her head on his shoulder and holds his casted arm and closes her eyes, quietly praying that this will all be over soon and that all the hell that Erik is being put through with these hypnosis sessions will all be worth it. She knows deep down that even though the sessions are extremely detailed and dramatic and draining, that they are nothing compared to the living hell and torture Erik has already been through.
Four days later, Mrs. Peterson got Rusty up, bathed, fed and dressed in his suit. Jing-Mei was delivering Rascal to Dr. Romano's house and Antonio over to Elizabeth and Mark's. They offered to watch the baby while they were at the funeral. When Jing-Mei returned back, Rusty was dressed and playing his video game as Mrs. Peterson got herself ready.
Jing-Mei got showered and dressed in a black dress. As she headed into the living room, she walked by the guest room and found Mrs. Peterson sitting on the bed crying. Jing-Mei tried to comfort her but nothing she said worked. Rusty heard the crying and came in. He sat down beside her and spoke.
Rusty: Grandma Peterson, I know you're going to miss grandpa. I do too. But, Mama Jing told me after my mama, papa and aunt died that they are all in a much better place with the people they love and where no one can ever hurt them again and they are just waiting for us to join them. They aren't alone. They're together having one hel..heck of a great party. So please, don't be sad. You're not alone either. We love you, Grandma.
Mrs. Peterson stopped crying to listen to the little boy's words, some of which she couldn't even understand, and look into his sad, deep, brown eyes. They hugged each other.
Mrs. Peterson: Thank you, sweetheart. I love you, too. That's what I needed a talk with someone who really understands about death and who knows what I'm feeling. Thank you.
Rusty: You welcome.
Jing-Mei: From the mouths of babes. (pause) So, are we just about ready to go.
Rusty and Mrs. Peterson nod. Mrs. Peterson goes to freshen up in the bathroom. Rusty starts looking around the house. His search peeks Jing-Mei's curiosity.
Jing-Mei: Rusty, what are you doing?
Rusty: Where's Rascal and Tonio?
Jing-Mei: Elizabeth and Mark Green are looking after them.
Rusty: Rascal not coming?
Jing-Mei: Rusty, I've explained this to you before. Rascal cannot come with us everywhere. He has his own life and we have ours. You'll see him later.
Later after the guests from the funeral leave, Jing-Mei goes to pick up Antonio from the Greens. Rusty helps Mrs. Peterson clean up the dishes then plays with his video game. Mrs. Peterson sits on the couch and starts to knit. Her mind is definitely somewhere else. Jing-Mei comes home with Antonio and causes Mrs. Peterson to jump and bring her out of her thoughts. Rusty and Mrs. Peterson greet the youngest Malucci when Rusty starts to look around again.
Mrs. Peterson: Dr. Chen, I want to thank you for everything you've done for me. I appreciate all your hospitality but I have to get back to my house now.
Jing-Mei: Are you sure? You're welcome to stay as long as you want.
Mrs. Peterson: I know. It's just...
Jing-Mei: Are you going to be okay?
Mrs. Peterson: I'll be fine. Thank you.
Jing-Mei: If you need anything, you call us. Now, if you'll wait just one moment, I'll drive you home.
Mrs. Peterson: No, that's okay. I'll call a cab.
Jing-Mei: Nonsense, you'll do no such a thing. I insist on it. Let me just get Rusty ready and...
Antonio starts to cry. Jing-Mei feels his bottom and realizes that it's changing time.
Jing-Mei: Let me just change him.
Mrs. Peterson: It's alright. I'll call a cab. I don't mind. You stay here and spend some time with these boys. They need their mama, now.
Jing-Mei: I'll see you in the morning, then?
Mrs. Peterson: Of course, I'll be here.
Jing-Mei carries Antonio into the nursery and starts to change him. Rusty sticks his head in the door and then goes into the next room and checks it out. Jing-Mei knows what he's doing and deciding what she can tell him now about why Rascal isn't here.
As Jing-Mei finishes up with Antonio, she puts the baby on the floor with his toys. A horn starts honking indicating that Mrs. Peterson's cab has arrived. She gets up to leave when she is stopped by Jing-Mei.
Jing-Mei: Rusty, Grandma Peterson is leaving now!
Rusty runs up to her and gives her a hug and kiss goodbye then continues on with his search. After Mrs. Peterson leaves, Jing-Mei decides to confront Rusty.
Jing-Mei: Rusty, come here. What have you been doing since our guests left?
Rusty: You bring Tonio home, where's Rascal?
Jing-Mei: The Greens wanted to keep Rascal overnight because uh, they want to see how Ella adjusts to having a dog and decide if they want to get one themselves.
Rusty(doubtful): Okay, Mama Jing.
Jing-Mei goes into her bedroom, locks the door and calls Dr. Romano. He agrees to allow Rascal to stay the night.
The next morning, while eating breakfast Rusty asks about when Rascal is coming home.
Jing-Mei: Well, after I pick him up from the Greens, I'll take him to visit your papa.
Rusty continues to eat and then suddenly stops. He drops his spoon in his cereal bowl and Jing-Mei notices that all is not well with her eldest son.
Jing-Mei: What's the matter, Rusty?
Rusty pauses before he speaks as if he's thinking over what he wants to say.
Rusty: Mama Jing, I'm a big boy right?
Jing-Mei: Very big boy.
Rusty: Why you treating me like a little baby then.
Jing-Mei: I'm not. What do you mean?
Rusty: I've been around and I know when someone is fibbing with me. Why won't you tell me the truth?
Jing-Mei(confused): The truth about what?
Rusty: Rascal. I know what's going on.
Jing-Mei(surprised): You do. How did you find out?
Rusty: Just by the way you act and why you keep telling me why Rascal is always gone out of the house.(pause) Rascal's dead, isn't he? You've been taking him to the doctor's all the time and now he's gone forever. (tears form in the little boy's eyes)My best friend is gone. My little Rascal is dead.
Jing-Mei, although shocked by Rusty's statement is also relieved that he is totally on the wrong track and he's still her little innocent boy and doesn't really know what is really going on with his dog.
Rusty's starts to cry at the table. Jing-Mei approaches him to calm him down.
Rusty(crying): You promised me that Rascal would never leave me.
Rusty begins to get hysterical. Jing-Mei hugs him to soothe him.
Jing-Mei: Rascal hasn't left you and he's not dead. I guess I should have told you this from the start
Rusty: Told me what?
Jing-Mei: The reason why Rascal has been spending alot of time outside the house is because...is because...he has a girlfriend.
Rusty: What? A girlfriend? Why would he want one of them?
Jing-Mei: Because dogs and all god's creatures like people have a certain need. They need companionship.
Rusty: I'm Rascal's companion.
Jing-Mei: Yes, you are. But you can't give Rascal what he needs.
Rusty: What is that?
Jing-Mei starts to sweat. Knowing where this conversation is leading, she looks for another outlet.
Jing-Mei: Rusty, do you remember when I told you why you had to go to school?
Rusty: You said that I need to play with kids my own age.
Jing-Mei: Exactly, and Rascal is the same way. He needs to be with other dogs to play with.
Rusty: But why a girl dog. There are plenty of boy dogs out there. I told Rascal that we hate girls.
Jing-Mei: Well, I think Rascal discovered that he really likes girls and someday you'll make that same discovery. (she nervously looks around, taps her fingers and says to herself) Uh, Dave where are you when I need you? Help!
Rusty calms down and is satisfied with her answer although he totally disagrees with her. He goes back to eating his cereal.
Rusty: Girls, YUCK!!!(sticking his tongue out)
Later that day, Jing-Mei arrives home with Rascal. Rusty greets them at the door. He hugs his mama and dog and then gives Rascal a stern look.
Rusty: Rascal, SIT.
The dog does as he's told and looks up at his young master with his sad, puppy dog eyes as though he's done something wrong.
Rusty(pointing his finger): Rascal, why are you a traitor?
Jing-Mei: Now Rusty, Rascal is not a traitor. Be nice.
Rusty: I told you we don't like girls. Girls yucky.
Rascal jumps up on Rusty and starts to lick his face.
Rusty: Don't you try to make nice with me now, pal.
Unable to stay angry at the playful dog, Rusty starts laughing at his friend.
Mrs. Peterson: They are so cute together. (pause) Well, I guess I had better get home now.
Jing-Mei: What's the rush? Sit and have some coffee with me.
Mrs. Peterson: I guess I could. It's not like I have anyone to go home to anymore.
The ladies sit at the kitchen table while Jing-Mei pours them some coffee.
Jing-Mei: How are you doing?
Mrs. Peterson: It's hard. I use to think the worst time was when I would go in and have to turn off the tv he fell asleep in front of, or pick up his clothes or beer cans that he has scattered about. But the truth, is going home to an empty house. I miss him so much that I don't even want to go back there. It was hard enough after Grant died but at least I had Lee there to help me through my grief and now he's gone. The house is so quiet. I hate it.
Jing-Mei takes a few sips of her coffee and puts her cup down.
Jing-Mei: Listen Mrs. Peterson, if it's that hard on you, maybe I could help you. Actually, you would be doing me a big favor too. I've been thinking about this for the last few days, and if you don't like my idea just say no. How would you like to move into here and become the boys full-time nanny?
A huge smile appears across her face.
Mrs. Peterson: Are you serious?
Jing-Mei: Well, you're here most of the time anyway and then you'll never have to go home to an empty house and I could really use the help and company around here. Besides, the boys will love it.
Mrs. Peterson: Well, that house is way too big for just me now. I wouldn't be putting you out, would I?
Jing-Mei: I told you there's plenty of room. Think it over. You don't have to give me an answer right now?
Mrs. Peterson: What's to think over? I'd love to. Thank you so much.
Jing-Mei: Great. It's settled then. You can have the guest room and move your things in whenever you want to. (pause)Rusty, come here!
Rusty and Rascal, by his side, come into the dining room.
Jing-Mei: Rusty, how would you like it if your Grandma Peterson moved in here, permanently?
Rusty: Live here forever?
Jing-Mei: Yes, forever. Would you like that?
Rusty grins and claps his head. He turns to Mrs. Peterson and hugs her.
Rusty: Welcome home, Grandma Peterson.
The next morning, Jing-Mei heads up to visit Erik before starting work. As she is about to enter Erik's room, she is confronted by Dr. Romano.
Dr. Romano: Dr. Chen, before you go in there, let's talk.
Dr. Romano has his typical stern look on his face and Jing-Mei starts to panic.
Jing-Mei: Yes, Dr. Romano. What is it?
Dr. Romano: We have a situation on our hands here.
Jing-Mei: Oh god, what has Erik done now, Dr. Romano?
Dr. Romano: For once, it's not about him.
Jing-Mei breathes a sigh of relief.
Jing-Mei: If not Erik, then who?
Dr. Romano turns that stern look on his face to a smile.
Dr. Romano: Henrietta's pregnant!
To be continued. Please read and review.