Recovery
Part 33
A/N:
-Anything in bold italic is being spoken in Italian.
-Anything written in the brackets is translated for Dave.
-It's implied that Mrs. Peterson is using an Italian/English dictionary to communicate with Rusty. However, she's scrambling through the book so she's really not talking as fast as it appears.
Jing-Mei and Luka remain with Erik as he lies strapped down to his hospital bed in hard four-point restraints and wearing a leather psychiatric muzzle that resembles the head gear worn by Hannibal Lechter in Silence of the Lambs. Erik, who is still acting out and thrashing around in a deranged fit, tries to pull his weakened limbs from his bonds and screaming from under the muzzle, which is coming out in muffled, inaudible groans.
Jing-Mei is still shaken and upset over Erik's latest tantrum. Luka tries to comfort her with little results.
Luka: I know this is difficult to see him like this, but it's the only way to gain control over him.
Jing-Mei: We must have given him close to 20mg of Haldol and it isn't helping. He's still just as agitated now, as he was when he first threw his fit. Why aren't the sedatives working?
Luka: His adrenaline is pumping so much that he's burning off the drugs faster than they can take affect.
Dr. Legaspi and Dr. Romano walk up to them, nursing their wounds. Dr. Romano has a bandage across the bridge of his nose and two blackened eyes. Dr. Legaspi's neck is red and still contains Erik's hand marks from when he tried to choke her.
Dr. Romano: You still have that animal tied down?
Jing-Mei can barely control her raging temper but knows if she tells Romano what she's thinking, she'll surely lose her job. Instead, she takes a deep breath, silently counts to ten and then replies.
Jing-Mei: With all due respect, Dr. Romano, but my husband is NOT an animal. He's a very sick--- physically sick--- that is, traumatized young man who needs our help. You had no right to do this to him. Do you know the damage your causing?
Dr. Legaspi: I can understand the restraints, maybe. But, was it really necessary to muzzle him?
Dr. Romano: It was the only way to keep that filthy mouth of his shut. And it's doing it's job, huh Erik.
Romano puts his hand on Erik's shoulder and Erik pulls at the restraints and growls at him.
Dr. Romano: See, he's an animal.
Erik goes back to struggling with his bonds. Jing-Mei shakes her head at Dr. Romano, not believing that Dave was the one who was always being accused of insensitivity.
Luka: Are you two okay?
Dr. Romano: Yeah, my nose will heal---IN TIME. I'll be sending you my doctor bill, Dr. Chen.
Jing-Mei: Whatever. Dr. Legaspi, I am so embarrassed about how Erik treated you. Please send me the bill as well.
Dr. Legaspi: I'll do no such a thing. It was my own fault.
Luka: How do you figure that?
Dr. Legaspi: Erik gave me every indication to back off of my current questioning and I didn't. I kept needling him and needling him until his fragile psyche couldn't take it anymore and he snapped.
Jing-Mei: You were only trying to help.
Dr. Legaspi: I'm a professional. I should've known better. I know not to push a traumatized patient, especially one with so many medical problems--including a heart condition. Maybe I should start taking my own advice and use small steps with Erik. He's not ready to talk about that part of his life yet. But unfortunately, we are going to have to eventually address it.
Jing-Mei: Why?
Dr. Legaspi: Because I feel that is the key to Erik's problems. Once we confront it, then we can break that wall that Erik has built around him and his feelings.
Romano: And what is that part of his life about?
Dr. Legaspi: Dr. Romano, you of all people, know I can't discuss a patient's care with you or anyone not directly involved in his care.
Romano: The hell with it---like I give a damn, anyway. Just keep him in check and from destroying the rest of my hospital and staff.
Luka: Ladies, if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to work.
Jing-Mei: Thanks for your help, Luka.
Both Luka and Dr. Romano part their own separate ways, while the female doctors remain with an aggravated, hostile Erik. They stare at their damaged patient and husband for a few minutes as he continues to try to yell obscenities at everyone. Jing-Mei tries to pacify him. Erik holds a glance with his teary eyed wife, momentarily then resumes struggling with his restraints.
Jing-Mei: Shhh! Shhh! Please be quiet, Erik. We aren't going to hurt you. How much longer is he going to be like this?
Dr. Legaspi: Until I bring him out from under the hypnosis. Right now, he's still having flashes or flashbacks of where I took him, psychologically.
Jing-Mei: And when will that be?
Dr. Legaspi: As soon as he settles down, and is willing to listen to me. I need his complete attention.
Jing-Mei: The haldol isn't working, what else can we do?
Dr. Legaspi: I can try to adjust his meds again and see if that works.
Jing-Mei: Do it. I hate seeing him like this. Doesn't Dr. Romano know that Erik hates being, no he can't be, restrained and silenced.
Jing-Mei starts to caress Erik's face through the muzzle. He pulls away from her roughly.
Erik: FFK YYU Fuck you
Dr. Legaspi: I know. But Romano has no way of knowing that. It's hard dealing with a patient who's been mentally and physically abused.
Dr. Legaspi takes Jing-Mei's hand away from Erik.
Dr. Legaspi: We are going to get him through this. I promise you.
Jing-Mei: Thanks. I am just so afraid that if he doesn't quiet down, he'll have another heart attack.
Dr. Legaspi: We won't let that happen to him. Let me go see about those new prescriptions for him.
Dr. Legaspi heads to her office and Jing-Mei sits with the distressed Erik. She watches him wrestle in bed with the restraints. Against his wishes, Jing-Mei gives him a kiss on his head.
Erik: GT FCK OF MME, BTCH Get fuck off me, bitch
Jing-Mei: Yes dear. Call me what you like but you're not getting rid of me. I'm here to stay.
She smiles at him and starts fingering his restraints and muzzle.
Jing-Mei: You know, these can be fun. When you get better and we go home, we could probably use these---in our bedroom---no, I guess you're not into B&D.
Erik protests with fury against her words, sarcasm and actions but she just smiles then lays her head down on his bed and cries.
Mrs. Peterson is feeding Antonio when Rusty walks in. He sits in a chair and watches her care for his little brother.
Rusty: How come you don't have anymore kids? Didn't want anymore?
Mrs. Peterson: It's not that. It just never happened. I've always loved children.
Rusty: Your little boy, he sad because he didn't have a brother?
Mrs. Peterson: No, I don't think so. I think he might, at times, have liked to have someone to grow up with, but he liked all the attention he got from us.
Rusty: I wanted little brother but never got one. Not until Tonio came. I love him. He great.
Mrs. Peterson: Why all the questions?
Rusty shrugs.
Rusty: You take good care of me and Tonio, you should have more children. You miss you're little boy alot, don't you?
Mrs. Peterson: Yes. Everyday.
Rusty: Go visit him.
Mrs. Peterson: I was going to on his birthday when we had the accident.
Noticing that Mrs. Peterson is starting to cry, Rusty changes his line of questioning.
Rusty: My mama's birthday is coming up soon. I like to visit her, but she back home in Italy. Mama Jing say she take me there someday, once papa gets bet...uh, someday.
Mrs. Peterson raises an eyebrow at Rusty while she lifts Antonio up to burp him.
At the hospital, Jing-Mei finishes her shift and heads up to Erik's room. She enters and he is still fuming in his bed. She walks over to him but as she touches him, he jumps at her and growls.
Erik: GT FFK OOT HHRE, WHR Get fuck out here, whore
Jing-Mei: Watch your language, Erik. After all, that's why Romano ordered that muzzle in the first place.
Erik lays back down in the bed and ignores Jing-Mei's presence. She sits in a chair near him and watches as he suddenly starts to relax. She turns around at the sound of the door opening and then quietly closing.
Jing-Mei: Oh, it's just you, John.
Carter: Didn't mean to scare you.
Carter starts to stare at Erik in bed and shakes his head in disbelief.
Carter: You know Deb, there are some things in this world that you actually have to see to believe.
Jing-Mei: What are you talking about, John?
Carter: I heard that Erik was kind of tied up at the moment.
Jing-Mei: It's not funny, John.
Carter: Sorry.
Jing-Mei: It's not fair. My innocent husband is bound and gagged in this bed, an inch away from losing what sanity he has left and the son of a bitches who did this are out there walking around free.
Carter: It sucks. You're right. So, how's he doing?
Jing-Mei: Not too well. He doesn't seem to like his muzzle or restraints very much.
Carter: I can't say as though I blame him. Uh, what happened? I thought he was doing good.
Jing-Mei: He was. His therapy was going well until...
Carter: Until?
Jing-Mei(hesitantly): Until Dr. Legaspi brought up Nicholas.
Erik starts thrashing around and growling again at the sound of his twin's name. Jing-Mei and Carter move away from the bed and onto the other side of the room to keep from instigating Erik.
Carter: I see what you mean.
Jing-Mei: He attacked Dr. Legaspi when she said that name. Luka and Romano ran in and tried to get him off her and Erik winded up breaking Romano's nose with a right hook with his cast. They've been sedating him with Haldol but it's not working. This was the only way to control him, I guess. It seems cruel, if you ask me.
Carter: I'm sure they are only trying to do what's best for him.
Jing-Mei: I guess. I just don't understand, John. Usually, after his sessions Dr. Legaspi brings him out of his hypnosis and he's pretty tired from the therapy. It's very draining. She doesn't have him remember what he told us while he was under. He goes to sleep and I guess part of him does remember the session and it brings on a nightmare and he acts out. This is the first time he freaked out during his session while he was hypnotized. I wish he would just calm down so Dr. Legaspi can bring him back around.
Carter: Looks like he's easing up a bit.
From behind them, Dr. Legaspi enters the room.
Dr. Legaspi: And he should be. I've increased his xanax and am trying him on depakote.
She walks over to Erik and although he is still combative, his eyes are getting heavy and his tugging at the leathers lessens.
Dr. Legaspi: That did the trick. Alright Erik, don't fight it. Let your eyes get heavy. It's time to go to sleep. Just relax and don't fight it.
Erik: GGO TTO HLLGo to hell
Dr. Legaspi: It's alright, Erik. You're going to be fine.
Erik relinquishes and finally calms down totally.
Dr. Legaspi: Okay, you won't remember anything that's happened over the last few hours. When you wake up, you'll feel refreshed and alert. Do you understand, Erik?
Erik: Yys. Yes
Several minutes later, Erik's eyes open wide and he starts to case the room with them.
Dr. Legaspi: Welcome back, Erik.
Erik: Mmmmm.
Dr. Legaspi: Do you want to talk, Erik, about----anything?
Erik shakes his head no and slowly drifts off into sleep. Jing-Mei rolls her eyes.
Jing-Mei: Let's not start that again.
Dr. Legaspi: Well, I thought I'd give it a shot since he can't attack anyone now.
Carter: Taking advantage of Malucci while he's defenseless. There's a first time for everything.
Jing-Mei: Erik's not going to talk to you while he's like this. In fact, he can't talk which brings me to another point. Now that Erik is calmed down can't we undo him?
Dr. Legaspi: I don't think that I should untie... wait a minute.
Before Erik totally conks out, Dr. Legaspi walks over to him and looks into his sad, brown eyes.
Dr. Legaspi: You do look so uncomfortable. Listen, to me Erik. If you promise to be quiet and not yell out obscenities anymore, then I'll take your muzzle off.
Erik too tired to argue, agreeingly nods. Seeing the sincerity in his face, Dr. Legaspi gives Jing-Mei the okay. Jing-Mei quickly removes Erik's mouth restraint and starts rubbing his face to help relieve the red marks on it and regain his tanned color.
Jing-Mei: Better?
Erik weakening nods. Jing-Mei kisses him goodbye and all three doctors leave to let Erik get some rest.
Jing-Mei arrives home. Rusty is asleep and she finds Mrs. Peterson in the nursery humming to Antonio.
Jing-Mei(whispering): Sorry, didn't mean to disturb you. Just wanted to let you know that I'm home.
Mrs. Peterson(whispering): Oh, that's okay. Actually there's something I want to talk to you about.
Mrs. Peterson and Jing-Mei quietly leave the nursery and head into the kitchen. Mrs. Peterson pours them both a cup of coffee.
Jing-Mei: Is something wrong?
Mrs. Peterson: No, not really. Well maybe. This afternoon, Rusty and I had an interesting conversation.
Jing-Mei takes a sip of her coffee.
Jing-Mei: Oh yeah, what was it about?
Mrs. Peterson: I was in feeding the baby and he came in and started asking me questions about Grant.
Jing-Mei: What kind of questions?
Mrs. Peterson: Why didn't I have more children? Was Grant upset that he was an only child? Do I miss him alot? Why don't I go visit him?
Jing-Mei: Well, what did you tell him?
Mrs. Peterson: The truth. I told him that Lee and I always wanted a large family but it wasn't meant to be. That Grant wasn't upset because he didn't have any brothers or sisters and yes, I miss him everyday. Then I told him that I did try to go to see him on his birthday when we had the accident.
Jing-Mei: Did he upset you?
Mrs. Peterson: No, not at all.
Jing-Mei: Was he upset?
Mrs. Peterson: Actually, no. He told me that he missed his mama and wanted to visit her on her birthday, too, in a week. He said you promised to take him when Dave got better, but...
Jing-Mei: But?
Mrs. Peterson: I know he's only a little boy and his English isn't very good yet but he didn't phrase it in the past. If I didn't know better, I'd think that Rusty is confused and thinks Dave is still here.
Jing-Mei takes a deep breath, gets up from the table and refills her coffee cup.
Mrs. Peterson: Is something the matter, dear?
Jing-Mei: Not really. I need to tell you something, because you need to know.
To be continued. Please read and review.