April 11th, 2011

Randi hadn't slept. She stayed up staring at Dave's pale face. Fear gripped at her chest every time Kerry or Dr Fischer walked in to check on him. They never said anything to her. They only said his fever wasn't breaking and that wasn't good. Misty stayed home to watch the children, but Steve sat there with Randi. She wasn't sure if she could do this without Steve's reassurance and Elizabeth's hugs.

"It's almost his birthday." Randi said. Steve opened his eyes.

"What?" Steve asked.

"It's almost Dave's birthday." Randi said.

"He'll be well enough by then to celebrate it." Steve squeezed her hand, "I'm sure of it. Dave is a fighter." Randi stared at Dave's pale face.

"How was he when he had it the first time?" She asked. Steve sighed and thought back to that horrible time in his life.

"He was a lot like this, pale and feverish. He was awake most of the time though." Steve said, "He fought very hard." As if on cue, Dave began to stir.

"Steve..." He groaned, "The safety wasn't on." Steve and Randi both looked at him.

"Dave, you're in the hospital in Chicago." He said to his best friend. Dave grunted and opened his eyes.

"They came out of no where." He said, "The helicopter forgot us." Randi stood up and looked at her husband.

"Dave, Sweetheart, you're not in the war. You're here with me...your wife." Randi said. Dave's eyes focused on her.

"Randi?" He mumbled. She smiled at him.

"Yes. It's me." She kissed his sweaty forehead. He looked around him.

"Where am I?" He asked.

"You're at the hospital." Randi said, "You got Malaria." Dave's brow creased.

"Again?" He asked. Steve chuckled as Kerry walked in.

"Again, Buddy. You sure know how to scare us all don't you?" Steve asked.

"I hear someone is awake." Kerry grabbed an ear thermometer and began to check Dave's vitals herself.

"How is his liver?" She asked. Kerry smiled.

"The tests came back and there doesn't seem to be any damage to it." She said, "We'll still be checking on it for the weeks to come."

"Okay." Randi said.

"You're fever has broken, Dave." Kerry said, "You're very lucky."

"Can I go home?" Dave mumbled.

"No. You're staying here for a couple of weeks to make sure everything are out of your system." Kerry said. Dave groaned, "I do believe you have two preemies at home. Staying here is the best for your health and their health."

"It's best, Dave." Randi said, "Gather up all your strength here before you go home to six screaming children." Dave smiled weakly.

"Yeah." He mumbled, "I'm tired."

"Go to sleep, Dave." Kerry said, "I'll be back in a few hours to check on you."

"K..." Dave muttered as he fell back asleep. Kerry looked at Randi and Steve.

"He seems to be out of the worse of it, but there's always a chance he could take another turn." She told them.

"I know." Randi said, "Thank you so much, Kerry."

"You're welcome." Kerry smiled and exited the room. Randi looked at Steve and began to grin.

"He's going to be okay." She wrapped her arms around Steve and hugged him tightly. Dave was still very sick, but his fever was down and his liver seemed to be okay. Randi knew God wouldn't take another loved one away from her.

April 25th, 2011

Finally he was leaving this dreaded hospital. He never wanted to come back here when he quit. He should have been taken to Mercy hospital to stay. Dave couldn't complain anymore. He was being released.

Dave had completely recovered from his sickness, but he was still a little tired (of course). It would probably take him a couple more weeks to be fully up to going back to work.

"Steve is getting the car." Randi said as she walked back into the room. Dave nodded as he shrugged his jacket on.

"Good." He mumbled. Randi looked at him with an arched eyebrow.

"Are you all right, Darling?" She asked him. He nodded.

"Yeah. I'm perfect." He said, "I just want to go home."

"We want you home too." Randi said as Kerry came in with a wheelchair.

"Ready to go home?" Kerry asked.

"Yes, Please." Dave got into the wheelchair. He hated leaving hospital because he hated riding in wheelchairs. Dave felt like he couldn't do anything.

"This is so exciting." Randi whispered as she followed the doctors down the hallway.

The children were just as excited to have him home as she was. Ireland missed a big audition just to be home. Sure she whined about it, but it the long run she was happy. Soon, they were outside. Dave looked up into the blue sky.

"Here we go." Kerry stopped the wheelchair in front of Steve's car.

"Thanks, Kerry." He said pulling himself out of the wheelchair, "That's for everything that you've done the past few weeks."

"It's my job." Kerry said.

"I know, but you went up and beyond your call of duty." Dave said to her, "Thank you." Kerry smiled softly at him.

"You're welcome." Dave slid into the car. Randi gave Kerry a thankful smile and climbed in next to him. Steve glanced in the back seat.

"Hang on tight, Man. I'm driving." Steve said with an evil grin.

"Oh lord." Dave groaned loudly, "I was already on death's door too many times. I don't want to be again." Steve laughed.

"Then buckle up." He said. Randi and Dave exchanged worry looks and buckled up. Dave slid his arm around Randi's shoulders and she cuddled into him. God it felt so good to do this.

"Dave, I'm so happy." Randi whispered. He looked at her. Her hazel eyes were sparkling.

"Me too, baby. Me too." Dave said. He hugged her gently. It would be hard to get back into the swing of things, but who cares. Dave was home.

* * *

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