Recovery

This is the sequel to my previous story, "The Ransom of Dr. Dave". You must read that first to get the full impact of this fan fiction, but just in case you skip ahead to this story, here's a brief synopsis of its predecessor:

-Carter set Dave and Jing-Mei up on a blind date.

-Dave and Jing-Mei became serious and eventually she was pregnant. On the way back from getting an engagement ring, Dave, who was mistaken for Carter, was carjacked, kidnapped and seriously and viciously beaten.

-Once he's found he's brought to the hospital and remains in a coma. Numerous attempts are made on him and his family is threatened.

-During his baby's christening, he is shot and killed---or is he?

Part 1

Shortly after arriving at the rehab center, Dr. Jackson arranges for a private room in a secluded part of the hospital. His records are made under an alias. Dr. Dave Antonio Malucci will now be known as Erik Evad. Visitors are limited to a few and very little medical staff contact is made. An undercover policeman is still kept at bay in case news of Dave's survival is leaked out.

Dave, or Erik(as he is now known) remained unconscious for two weeks after arriving. Once he's awake, a schedule is made to assign sufficient time for rest, visitors, therapy, and medical tests. Erik has been going through speech and occupational therapy and physical therapy on his arms. Three weeks after arriving, his cast on his leg was removed and he started back with his physical therapy on his lower half. It was like starting from scratch. His legs again became rigid from lack of use. He had to go back to leg lifts before he was ready for the parallel bars.

Two months later:

Jing-Mei enters the ER to start her shift. She stopped to chat with some of the other ER staff.

Kerry: So how is everything going, Jing-Mei?

Jing-Mei: It's hard but we are trying to get back on with our lives.

Abby: How are the boys doing?

Jing-Mei: Antonio is fine but he's still young so he doesn't quite understand yet. I know one day I'm going to have to explain to him about Dave when he starts asking about his daddy. But Rusty, he's still taking Dave's death very hard. Both he and Rascal feel Dave's absence.

Kerry: The boys are very lucky to have you, Jing-Mei.

Jing-Mei: I think so too. I'm trying to be both mama and papa to them. I'm very lucky that I have the Petersons and Mr. Santini. Both Mr. Peterson and Mr. Santini have taken the role of daddy to the boys.

Abby: That's nice of them.

Jing-Mei: I know and I owe them a lot. Which reminds me, Dr. Weaver. I may be a little late for my shift tomorrow alright.

Kerry: If you have a good reason.

Jing-Mei: I think so. I'm going to take Rusty and enroll him in the Chicago Global Institute.

Carter: What's that?

Jing-Mei: It's a nearby school for foreign children. They take children from other countries and teach them English and some of the other basics that they need to learn if they are going to stay in this country. I just got a letter yesterday. His acceptance finally came through.

Abby: What do you mean--- finally?

Jing-Mei: We applied for it when I first adopted Rusty but they had a waiting list. We had hoped that by the time his name came up on the top of the waiting list that they would have caught the men threatening Dave and our family. He was accepted a few months ago but he still couldn't go around without a guard so we had to decline and he went back on the waiting list. Well, his name is up again and since there's nothing standing in his way now, we accepted.

Kerry: What does Rusty think about it?

Jing-Mei: He's scared. It's really the first time since he came to this country that he would be on his own all day.

Kerry: But, he's finally able to go to school.

Jing-Mei: Yeah--finally. I guess.

Carter: You don't seem to happy about it.

Jing-Mei: I am happy. What's there not to be happy about? Rusty is going to school. He's gonna start to make friends his own age to play with. We can walk around without armed guards following us anymore. We don't have to constantly look over our shoulders and wonder where the next threat is coming from.

Abby: And that's all good stuff, right?

Jing-Mei: Good for us, yes. But at what price did we have to pay? (pause)Dave is dead. How is any of this benefiting him, now?

Kerry: Look, Malucci and I had our differences but one thing is for sure. I know Dave would have gratefully given his life up if it would ensure the safety of his family. His children and his wife can go back to leading normal lives again. Antonio and Rusty will have a chance to grow up into fine young men, just like their daddy. Dave didn't have much time with them but I guarantee you he was very proud of them when he was with us, and he should be. They are wonderful little boys. And I know he will continue to be proud of them even though he's gone. And every time you look at those two little faces you will see Dave looking back at you and know that part of him is still here and will always be with you. And that, is what he gets back for giving his life in exchange.

Jing-Mei: What you're saying makes sense, of course. It's just...I guess I'm still in mourning. I love my boys, but it's hard to look at them without thinking about Dave. They are so much like him, it's scary. Rusty is just as cunning and slick as Dave was. He's got this look on his face when he does something wrong that just melts your heart and you can't punish him. And Antonio, he's got Dave's laugh and his eyes. Sometimes when he looks at you, it feels like he's not looking at you but at your soul. He looks beyond the outside and through to the inside. That boy's gonna grow into a very sensitive, caring young man. They both are. But they'll be doing it without Dave's influence.

Carter: Well, that part you should consider a blessing.

Abby: Uh, I think what Carter means is they may not have Dave's sense of humor or his arrogance but they will have his spirit---his energy---his love of life.

Jing-Mei: Without a doubt. You know, I was thinking that with Rusty going to school and Mrs. Peterson babysitting Antonio and Rascal that I may have some free time on my hands. Time I use to spend visiting Dave, I'm going to use volunteering at the Chicago East Rehab Center.

Carter: Really? Why?

Jing-Mei: When I spoke with Dr. Jackson there after Dave died, he told me that they were shorthand over there. They needed more doctors and that's why he didn't attend Dave's funeral. They accepted Dave as a patient there. They were going to help Dave if they had the chance. I feel like I owe them something. I just want to give them back some of the help that they were going to give Dave. One thing Dave taught me is when someone reaches out to help you, you don't repay them with money but to give them a little of yourself and that's what I'm trying to do. (pause)So Kerry, alright if I'm a little late tomorrow? I'll stay and make up the time.

Kerry: Yeah, it's alright and don't worry about staying late. You just get that boy into school so that he can grow up to be a doctor like his dad.

Jing-Mei: Thank you.

Over at the rehab center, Erik is in a session with his speech therapist. His vocabulary is growing. He's already got about twenty words added to his dictionary but he still is having trouble speaking in complete sentences. His aphasia is still just as obvious as ever. He stutters when he speaks and he still doesn't talk about his attack or remember his past except in his dreams that he can never recall. He knows his alphabet even though he has trouble writing it. Twice a week, he has a therapist who specializes in patients with dyslexia come in and help him learn to cope with his learning disability.

Erik still works out on the parallel bars in physical therapy. For three hours, four times a week, he walks back and forth holding on to the bars. His legs are still extremely weak so he can't lift them. He just drags them behind them but he's building up his upper body so that when he starts walking with crutches, he'll be able to support his weakened legs. His left arm doesn't move as well as it should and his fingers are curled up. During his physical therapy sessions, his therapist, Larry, helps him stretch the tightened muscles and tendons in his fingers, arms and legs.

Larry: Come on, Erik. You have to open up your hand so I can help you straighten your fingers. The more you do it the easier it becomes.

Erik: OWWWW!!! H...Hu...rts. Hu...hu..rts em, no e..no. mmmm...em....mme..me.

Larry: I know it hurts. That's the only way you know that you are getting better is when it hurts like that. Scream if you want. If that helps you get through the pain then scream your lungs out.

Later that day after her shift is complete, Jing-Mei drives over to the rehab center and goes up to Dr. Jackson's office. She knocks on his door.

Dr. Jackson: Enter.

Jing-Mei: Sorry to disturb you Dr. Jackson. I didn't see your receptionist out here.

Dr. Jackson: That's all right, Dr. Chen or is it Dr. Malucci, now.

Jing-Mei: I still use Dr. Chen. Dave and I thought it would be less confusing with both of us working in the ER of County General. I guess that doesn't much matter now, since he doesn't work there anymore. I'm here for my first day of volunteering.

Dr. Jackson: Thank you and I really appreciate this. I wish more doctors would volunteer their time. Oh well, shall we get started?

Jing-Mei: Whenever you're ready.

Dr. Jackson: There's one patient that I think could use your help. He's one of our more seriously injured residents and he's going to need constant neuro checks and his heart and breathing monitored. He's still on a ventilator. But he's got this attitude problem. He wants to get better but he wants to do it on his own without anyone's help.

Jing-Mei: My husband, Dave, was stubborn like that. So, let's go meet this problem patient.

Dr. Jackson escorts Jing-Mei to her first patient. They take the elevator to the fifth floor. Once they step out of the elevator, they take a long walk down a quiet, deserted corridor. Only one lone man sits in seat outside the door of the last room that they come to. Dr. Jackson opens the door and they enter.

Dr. Jackson: Dr. Jing-Mei Chen Malucci, meet your patient. This is Erik Evad. (pause)Erik Evad, this is one of your new doctors, Dr. Jing-Mei Chen Malucci.

Erik: D...D...Dr. Zig..Mi..Chii..Chi...

Jing-Mei: You can call me Deb, if it's easier for you. (pause) Hello, Dave.

To be continued. Please read and review.