Recovery
Part 39
A/N:
-Anything in bold italic is being spoken in Italian.
-It's implied that Jing-Mei and Mrs. Peterson are using an Italian/English dictionary to communicate with Rusty. However, they're scrambling through the book so they're really not talking as fast as it appears.
Jing-Mei's hands went numb. She dropped the dishes on the floor and they broke. Rascal ran out of the kitchen and started licking up the bits of bread and meat that were on the floor. Jing-Mei regain her composure and saw Rusty picking up the broken pieces of the dishes.
Jing-Mei: That's not necessary, Rusty.
Rusty: I help.
Jing-Mei: I know and I appreciate it but I can manage. You'll cut yourself.
Rusty: I the man of house. I take care of things.
Jing-Mei: Yes, I know you are but I think this is something I can handle. Rusty, why don't you take Rascal out for a walk while I clean the mess.
Rusty shrugs and goes into the pantry and gets Rascal's leash. Instantly, Rascal runs towards the clinging sound and starts to whine.
Rusty: Rascal, like to walk.
Rusty put the leash on Rascal and the two went for their walk. Jing-Mei cleaned up the broken dishes and thought of way to answer Rusty's question.
Thirty minutes later, Mrs. Peterson and Antonio come home. Antonio is fast asleep in his stroller. The shutting of the door unnerves Jing-Mei. Mrs. Peterson walks into the dining room and turns on the lights to see Jing-Mei sitting at the table. Her eyes are red from crying. Mrs. Peterson is very concerned.
Jing-Mei: Well, you two are back. How was the park?
Mrs. Peterson: Very nice. There were other nannies out there with their children. Antonio seem to like the swings the best.
Jing-Mei: I guess he had fun then.
Mrs. Peterson: A lot of fun. He's totally wiped out. Slept the whole way back. I'll put him in his crib and be back so we can talk.
Mrs. Peterson laid Antonio in his crib without waking him. She turned on the monitor and mobile, then went out and joined Jing-Mei in the kitchen. She started making some coffee when she saw the broken dishes in the trash can.
Mrs. Peterson: Is everything alright, Dr. Chen?
Jing-Mei: Yeah, I don't know what you mean. Everything's fine.
Mrs. Peterson: Are you sure? It's just that I come home and find you sitting alone in the dark at the table crying.
Jing-Mei: Oh uh, Rusty took Rascal for a walk.
Mrs. Peterson: I thought it sounded too quiet, but that's not what I'm talking about. (pause) What happened to the dishes?
Jing-Mei: I dropped them. No big deal.
Mrs. Peterson hands Jing-Mei a cup of coffee, and Jing-Mei's hands are shaking so badly she isn't able to take it from her.
Jing-Mei: I guess there is a little more to it then missing my son and his dog.
Mrs. Peterson places Jing-Mei's cup in front of her and sits down at the kitchen table.
Jing-Mei: Erik had a breakthrough today. A major breakthrough.
Mrs. Peterson: That's good, isn't it?
Jing-Mei: Yes. Yes, it is. It just upset me so much. For the first time since I've known Erik I really got insight to what his life growing up was like. That poor thing went through hell.
Mrs. Peterson: You mean the abuse and drugs and alcohol...
Jing-Mei: I mean all that and more. That poor little boy was literately tortured and terrorized his entire life. Do you know that sorry excuse of a father that he had use to chain and cage Erik up after he drugged him. Erik watched as Nicholas was dying in front of him and couldn't do anything about it and then that maniac blamed Erik. After Nicholas died, he beat Erik so bad that he had a steel plate implanted in his skull.
Mrs. Peterson: Good Lord!!
Mrs. Peterson put her cup down and started crossing her self while saying a small prayer to herself.
Jing-Mei: Don't get me wrong, I think getting all that out of his system is good. Now, he can move on. I'm still very concerned for him and I will always worry about him but I know he's in good hands, especially since his doctors are aware of what he's been through. (pause) It's Rusty that I'm worried about.
Mrs. Peterson: Has something happened to him?
Jing-Mei: No, he's fine physically. During lunch, he was asking me a bunch of questions about his papa. You know, how much he and Antonio are like their papa.
Mrs. Peterson: Well, that's only natural. Rusty is at that age where he's getting a sense of family and he's curious to know why he looks like he does and why he does the things that he does. I remember when Grant was about his age, he was very concerned about being a left handed kid. He went to Catholic School, where they weren't too keen on that and he would get his knuckles tapped with a ruler when he wrote with his left hand. It was on his mind so much that he finally asked us about it and I told him that is one of the things he got from his father's side of the family. Lee and his father and both Lee's brothers were left handed, where there wasn't one left handed person in my family.
Jing-Mei: I knew there was going to come a time when Rusty asked about his papa, since he really doesn't know him---but what he asked me just shook me. It scared the stuffing out of me.
Mrs. Peterson: What did he ask you?
Jing-Mei: If his Uncle Nicholas was anything like his papa.
Mrs. Peterson: Oh, dear. What did you say to him?
Jing-Mei: Nothing. I didn't know what to say. I accidentally dropped the dish and that sort of distracted Rusty away from the question but I'm afraid it's only temporary. Dr. Legaspi said if he does ask me questions, that I should answer them truthfully and let him know that his papa and I love him and Antonio very much and that they are safe. She's even offered to speak with him if I need her to.
Mrs. Peterson: It looks like you have everything under cont...
The door flies open and in runs Rascal and Rusty.
Jing-Mei: Well, where have you two been? You were gone a long time.
Rusty: Rascal seen cat and chased him up a tree. He's fast. I finally caught up with him.
A cold shiver went down Jing-Mei's back. She grabbed Rusty by the shoulders and bent down to his eye level.
Jing-Mei: Rusty, I don't want you ever to let go of that leash again. Do you understand me? You are never to let Rascal get away from you when you are out there with him alone.
Rusty: Sorry Mama Jing. I won't. Rusty bad.
Jing-Mei: No baby, you're not bad. I didn't mean to yell at you. I worry about you so much.
Rascal came back in from the kitchen with his food bowl in his mouth.
Rusty: I have to feed Rascal, now. He worked up appetite.
Jing-Mei looked at Mrs. Peterson and she got the message.
Mrs. Peterson: I'll feed him. I think you two have a lot to talk about.
Mrs. Peterson takes Rascal into the kitchen while Jing-Mei sits Rusty down on the couch.
Rusty: You going yell at me now?
Jing-Mei: No, I'm not. I do need to talk to you about something. Before you and Rascal left for your walk, you asked me about your Uncle Nicholas, remember.
Rusty nods.
Jing-Mei: Well, I need to explain a few things about your papa, his brother and his father. Some of the things I'm going to tell you are going to be very hard for you to hear but I think you're old enough where you can handle them and if you have any questions I want you to ask them. Okay?
Rusty: Yes, Mama Jing.
Jing-Mei told Rusty that his papa's daddy hurt him and his brother and because of the hurt his Uncle Nicholas died and his papa had some problems growing up. She didn't elaborate or confuse him with details. Rusty understood enough of it to bring tears to his eyes.
Rusty: Papa good, right. Papa won't do that to me or Tonio.
Jing-Mei: No, neither of us will ever ever hurt either of you. You guys are the most important people in our lives and we love you so much.
Rusty: Rascal, too.
Jing-Mei: Yes, Rascal too. It's true that what your grandfather did to your papa was beyond mean---it was down right cruel and it's bothered your papa for a long time. That's why your papa hasn't had very much contact with you boys. It's not that he doesn't love you. He does in his own way, he's afraid that he'll act like his daddy and hurt you but he never would because your daddy's got a real big, kind and gentle heart. You've seen how good he is with Rascal. He's working through his problems, so that when he gets out of the hospital he will be the perfect daddy that you and Antonio deserve. Are you okay, baby?
Rusty(wiping his tears): I love you, Mama Jing.
Jing-Mei: I love you, too.
Antonio starts to cry startling Jing-Mei.
Rusty: I'll get him. He needs his big brother take care of him.
Jing-Mei: You are your father's son.
Rusty heads towards the nursery when he turns back to Jing-Mei.
Rusty(smiling): I love papa, too.
Jing-Mei returned the smile and Rusty continued to the nursery. Jing-Mei took a deep breath and stood up. She turned towards the kitchen and saw Mrs. Peterson standing in the doorway.
Jing-Mei: Well, how did I do?
Mrs. Peterson: You did just fine. Your a good mommy and Grant will be a good daddy.
Jing-Mei: Erik will be a good daddy.
Mrs. Peterson: Yeah Erik. (pause) Do you mind a little bit of criticism?
Jing-Mei: I value your opinion. I didn't want to go into all the gruesome details of Erik's abuse because I'm afraid of giving him nightmares. I'll probably have them myself for a long time with what I now know. Is there something more I should have said to him?
Mrs. Peterson: No. It's not about that. You were a little rough on Rusty earlier when he came in from walking the dog.
Jing-Mei: Yes, I know I was. I feel awful about it too. I've been thinking a lot about the break-in that happened while you were away. Pincard told me to keep an eye on the boys. I should have Capt. Amos put a guard back on us but Rusty has gotten use to his freedom now, I hate to take it away from him again. As long as he's with Rascal, I know he's safe. Rascal won't let anyone near the kids---near any of us. He's got that same protective guard that Erik has. I had better go apologize to him.
Jing-Mei goes into the nursery and stops dead in the doorway. She waves Mrs. Peterson over and tells her to be quiet. Both ladies stand at the opening of the nursery and quietly watch as Rusty, who sitting in the rocking chair, is holding Antonio and singing to him. Rascal is sitting next to the chair.
Rusty: Tonio, you don't worry. Big brother Rusty and Rascal will always be here to take care of you. We love you and so does Mama Jing and Grandma Peterson and Papa. He's going to take care of all of us when he's better but until then I'm here. So, if you have any problems you come to Rusty.
Rusty kissed Antonio on the head and gave him a hug. Antonio started to laugh. Rascal barks and pants happily with his playmates. Both the women smiled and their hearts skipped a beat. Just one more moment that Erik should be sharing in.
Jing-Mei(whispering to Mrs. Peterson): I think Rusty has a bit of that protectiveness in him too.
The next morning, Jing-Mei heads up to Erik's room when she is confronted by Carter.
Carter: So, going up for one of Erik's sessions?
Jing-Mei: No. Erik won't be having a session for awhile. He's still recovering from his last one.
Carter: That bad.
Jing-Mei: Emotional, to say the least...oh, that's right you don't know.
Carter: Know what?
Jing-Mei and Carter go into the lounge where she fills him in on Erik's last session. Carter remains speechless.
Jing-Mei: I know John. There's not much you can say about what happened to Erik.
Carter: Should you even be telling me this? I mean this is kind of private. Do you think Erik would want you talking behind his back.
Jing-Mei: You are going to start footing Erik's medical expenses, you should realize what you got yourself involved in.
Carter: I was involved in Erik's problems along time before we learned his past, Deb.
Jing-Mei: That's right. Well, if you'll excuse me I want to get up and see Erik before I start work.
Jing-Mei enters Erik's room. He's still asleep. She walks over and kisses his head, waking him up.
Jing-Mei: Good morning, sunshine.
Erik: Gggood mmmorning, Ccchin.
Erik starts to move in his bed but with his movement limited because of the bindings, he starts to groan.
Jing-Mei: Something wrong, Erik?
Erik: Ssstiff lllegs.
Jing-Mei pulls the covers off of Erik.
Jing-Mei: They do look sore. I wonder...I don't think it would hurt. I'm not going to stand by and let my husband suffer. I'll do it.
Jing-Mei removes Erik's leg restraints. She starts rubbing his legs and flexing them. Erik flinches in pain.
Jing-Mei: Does that hurt?
Erik: Hhhurt Eerik.
Jing-Mei: I don't mean to hurt you, sweetheart. I'm only trying to work the muscles. They are really tight.
Jing-Mei helps Erik with more leg lifts when Dr. Romano and Peter walk in.
Romano: How's he doing?
Jing-Mei: Not bad. His legs are very sore and quite swollen. I think they are getting rigid again from lack of use. He's needs to start physical therapy again.
Romano: I know, but how? We can't let another person know about him?
The three doctors think while Jing-Mei places Erik's legs back in the restraints.
Peter: What if we use the physical therapy room when it's empty?
Romano: And what do we do about a physical therapist?
Peter: We could help him--I mean the doctors that know about Erik. I'll help him and I know Jing-Mei will, too.
Romano: That's a nice thought, Dr. Benton, but I'm afraid it's going to take more than two doctors to help him. Effort and time wise.
Peter: Jing-Mei, if you spoke to the other doctors down in the ER would they help out.?
Jing-Mei: I can't answer for them, but I will ask them. If I can arrange for extra help, could we use the PT room, Dr. Romano?
Romano: The sooner he is back on his feet the quicker I get him the hell out of my hospital.
Jing-Mei: So, that's a yes.
Romano nods.
Peter: What about you helping out with him, Dr. Romano?
Romano: I'm not going anywhere near him. The last time I did he busted my nose. It's still not healed and I'll probably never smell again.
Peter(thinking to himself): Oh, don't worry Romano. You will smell again and forever. (meaning it in a sarcastic matter)
Jing-Mei: I'll let you get to work examining him, now. My shift starts shortly. Thank you, Peter.
Jing-Mei walks over and hugs Peter.
Peter: Your welcome. I'll admit that as Malucci, I never had a good word to say about him, but as Erik---he's alright.
Jing-Mei goes down to the ER and one by one she talks to her co-workers about Peter's idea. They all agree to volunteer some time with Erik's therapy. Jing-Mei arranges to work night shifts so she can be there with Erik at night, which is the only time they can privately use the PT room.
Over the next week, Jing-Mei along with a different ER volunteer work with Erik, doing his physical therapy. They start him with leg lifts and then move on to putting weights on his ankles. They try to get him on the parallel bars but his legs continuously buckle under despite his leg braces.
Jing-Mei sets Erik up on a schedule. During the day, he goes back into sessions with Dr. Legaspi and at night it's the pain of physical therapy.
Jing-Mei: So Dr. Legaspi, what do you have planned for Erik's first session back?
Dr. Legaspi: I'll take it easy on him now. He's had such a rough time. I'll put him under and let him talk about whatever he wants to---whether it has to do with his traumatic past or not. It may prove to be interesting.
Dr. Legaspi and Jing-Mei enter Erik's room, where he's laying in bed watching tv. He is finally free of his four-point restraints and able to move around more, but still not enough movement as he should have.
Dr. Legaspi: How are we doing today?
Erik: Gggood....uuh, Lllegs hhhurt.
Jing-Mei: Still bothering you, huh? I'll speak with Dr. Romano and see what we can do about that.
Dr. Legaspi: Are you ready for our chat today?
Erik shrugs. Dr. Legaspi turns off the tv and lights. She places Erik under and begins the session.
Dr. Legaspi: Alright is there anything you want to talk about today? I'll leave it up to you. You're the boss.
Erik goes on and on about small incidents from his past. He talks about how he took care of Sophie when she was born. He read to her, played with her and fed her when his parents were too screwed up to do it themselves. He mentioned how they doted on her, the same way they did with Nicholas. He told his shrink that his parents were rough on Sophie and Nicholas but never as tough as they were on him. Then he burst into tears and shook in his bed.
Dr. Legaspi: Erik, what's the matter?
Erik(crying): Wwwhy dddid mmmy pparents Nnnicholas Sssophie lllike ssso mmmuch? Wwwhy dddidn't ttthey lllove mme aat all? Wwwhat wwrong wwith mme tto mmake hhate mme?
Erik continued to cry and shake with emotion. Dr. Legaspi and Jing-Mei looked at each other and remained speechless.
Dr. Legaspi: There wasn't a damn thing wrong with you. I don't know why your parents neglected you so much but it wasn't your fault. You did nothing wrong, Erik. They were the ones who were wrong. Do you understand that?
Erik nodded but continued to cry. Jing-Mei went over to comfort him. She sat down on the bed and brushed against his right leg and Erik screamed in agony.
Jing-Mei: Erik, what happened?
Erik: Mmmy hhhurts...lleg.
They pulled the blankets off of Erik and saw his legs swollen to twice their size and totally pale. Erik's golden tan gone from them.
Jing-Mei: Dear god! I'll go get Dr. Romano.
Dr. Legaspi: While you do that, I'll bring him out from his trance.
A few minutes later, Jing-Mei returns with Elizabeth and Dr. Romano. Dr. Romano chases Jing-Mei and Dr. Legaspi out while they examining a crying Erik, and his painful legs.
Jing-Mei: Elizabeth, I have to go pick Rusty up from school. I'll be back tonight for my shift--let me know what's happening. If it's really serious then page me.
Elizabeth: Will do.
Jing-Mei leaves while the two surgeons perform the necessary exams and tests on Erik.
Down at the ER, Carter gets hold of the chart for his next patient.
Carter: McMillian, Henry.
An older man steps up and Carter takes him into Curtain Two. He spots Abby coming down the hall.
Carter: Uh, Mr. McMillian, go sit on the bed and I'll be right with you.
Mr. McMillian does as he is told. Carter signals Abby to come over. She stops outside Curtain Two and chats with Carter.
Carter: I was hoping to run into you sometime today. Do you have any plans for tonight?
Abby: Why?
Carter: Tickets to the theater and dinner tonight, if you would like to go.
Abby: I'd love too.(pause) Oh sorry, I forgot I promised Jing-Mei that I would help with Dr. Dave's therapy tonight. If I can find someone to cover for me, I'll go and make it up to the Maluccis later.
Carter: Who will you ask?
Abby: I don't know. It won't be easy since only a handful of us know of Dave's existence.
Carter: Try to and I'll ask around, as well.
Abby goes on her way while Carter attends to his patient.
Later that night, when Jing-Mei returns for her shift she goes up to see Elizabeth. She knocks on the door and then enters. Elizabeth is sitting at her desk dictating when she sees Jing-Mei approach.
Elizabeth: Please come in, Jing-Mei.
Jing-Mei takes a seat while trying to read Elizabeth's face and prepare herself for what Elizabeth is going to tell her.
Jing-Mei comes off the elevator and walks into the ER. She sees some the staff gather at the admit desk.
Carter: Any luck in getting someone to cover for you?
Abby: No. It's not that they don't want to help but either they're working or they assumed that I was helping Dr. Chen tonight and made other plans.
Jing-Mei joins the others at the desk.
Abby: We were just talking about you. What time do you want to get started with Dav...Erik's therapy tonight?
Jing-Mei: That won't be necessary. Erik won't be going to the PT room tonight.
Both Abby and Carter started smiling, knowing now they can go about their plans. Then they notice the distressed look on Jing-Mei's face.
Luka: Jing-Mei, is something wrong with Erik?
Jing-Mei: I thought Erik's legs were swollen because he wasn't exercising them enough, but even with his therapy they are still swollen. He was in a lot of pain with them today. Elizabeth and Dr. Romano ran some tests and learn why there was so much edema.
Kerry: What's wrong with him?
Jing-Mei: Blood clots. Erik is in the beginning stages of thrombophlebitis.
Kerry: What are they doing to treat him?
Jing-Mei: They've done a Dobbler Ultrasound and said that right now it is in a treatable stage. They've started him on a Coumadin IV to thin out the blood and prevent other clots from forming.
Carter: Sounds like it's under control, now.
Jing-Mei: I guess. Dr. Romano had to readjust his meds again. The Imuran that Erik is on now, will interact with the Coumadin so he took him off it and put him on Neoral. And, he has to stay off his feet until he's better and there are no signs of any more clots, which means that's going to set his therapy back again. At least, I can still help him with his leg lifts and put the weights on him.
Luka: But everything's going to work out for him cause they caught it early enough.
Jing-Mei: He has a small fever that they gave him Tylenol for, other than that yeah, I guess he will. Well, enough about my problems...time to care for others.
Jing-Mei and the other staff gets back to work while Carter and Abby go on their date.
The next morning at the ER desk as Jing-Mei is getting ready to check out, she sees Carter and Abby coming in to begin their shift. They stop and talk.
Jing-Mei: How was your date last night?
Carter: It wasn't a date, exactly. It was two friends enjoying each other's company.
Jing-Mei (snickering): Have it your way, John.
Abby: How's Erik doing?
Jing-Mei: Sleeping as comfortable as possible. He's in a lot of pain especially in his right leg since he still has paralysis and loss of sensation in his left.
Mark darts in the ambulance bay doors and over to the admit desk. He throws a morning paper down on the desk top.
Mark: We have a big problem here, guys. Look at this.
Jing-Mei, Carter and Abby look at the front page headline that Mark is referring to.
Abby: Cook County Hospital Fakes Local Doctor's Death. Dr. David Malucci formerly reported killed after being shot in the head at son's christening in the hospital chapel has now been found to be alive and well. Can Cook County's Chief of Staff Dr. Robert Romano explain this as being the first faked death or are there others that they have just been covering up.
Jing-Mei: Oh god!! Everyone knows, now! Erik will never be safe! But how did they find out?
All eyes turn to Abby.
Abby: I swear I never said a word about Erik.
Carter takes the newspaper from Abby and starts skimming the article when one particular part grabs his attention.
Carter(to himself): Article written by---Henry McMillian.
To be continued. Please read and review.