Part 2.
"No Mark.. Absolutely not! I'm not letting that filthy heathen within five feet of me!" Elizabeth crossed her arms and glared at Mark.
"But Eliz-" Mark protested, wrapping his arms around her.
"No. Absolutely not. Malucci can't even take care of himself. You want him escorting your wife to Lamaze classes?? I'd rather go myself. Or Peter can take me."
Mark bristled. "No.. Not Benton. He's busy. As is everyone else. I told you. Malucci would the last one I'd ask, and he was. Nobody else can do it."
"How sick is this aunt of yours anyway?? The baby's due in a month. I don't want you to miss it. And Lamaze classes.. They're coming up to the crucial stages now and you won't be there.." Elizabeth leaned into him and gave her aching back a rest.
"She's sick.. Very sick. Dying, Elizabeth.. She's my last living relative.. At least of those I still talk to.. Please. You'll be okay." Mark leaned in and kissed the top of her head.
***
Dave pulled up to the house, leaning the bike against the side and putting the kickstand down. Mark had been gone for a few days now, and he'd told Malucci to keep himself scarce until Thursday, as Elizabeth was still touchy about the fact that Malucci was the one escorting her to lamaze.
Carefully, he banged on the door. "Hey!! Dr.Corday!?" Dave paused, bringing his hands to his sides and sighing, before banging on the door again with his fist. "Hey-"
The door swung open to reveal a very irritable, very pregnant British
surgeon. "Malucci.." She said scathingly. "We do have a *doorbell*"
Blood covered her apron and hands, her eyes narrowed.
Dave swallowed nervously, eyeing the very large carving knife she had clenched in her fist. "I was making dinner.. Do come on in." Elizabeth said sourly.
"Th-thanks.." He stuck his head in the door looking around and testing the waters, before walking in and wiping his feet on the welcome mat.
"What's for supper?" Dave asked curiously as he watched Elizabeth waddle to the kitchen, the knife swinging in her grasp like a deadly pendulum.
"Duck.." Replied Elizabeth menacingly as she brought the cleaver down hard on the chopping board, the bird splitting in two and falling in halves on the counter.
Dave jumped, startled, and licked his lips nervously. "Uhh. huh.. Okay.. Well this lamaze thing.. It's at eight right??"
Elizabeth nodded, as she wrenched the legs off the duck and started to skin the bird. "Yes. Eight o'clock. Why are you here at six, disrupting my supper, Malucci?"
"Why.. Why do you have blood all over your apron?" He asked nervously.
"I was killing nosey annoying residents. Here.." Elizabeth handed him a knife. "Chop the vegetables."
"Okay.." Dave wasn't going to say no. She had a bigger knife than he did and raging hormones. He learned that the hard way last week after delivering a baby in the ER and the woman wanted an epidural. Dave had tried to explain that it was too late. The woman, pulled her legs out of the stirrups. She brought her knees together sharply and pinned his head between her legs, threatening to pop his head like a zit if she didn't get drugs. It had taken three nurses, and two residents to get his head free. Dave smiled at the memory. If it had been Cindy pinning his head between her legs, he wouldn't have minded, but that had been an extremely angry pregnant woman with a baby crowning, inches from his nose. Dave shuddered.
"Chop the carrots, Malucci!" Elizabeth barked, startling Dave out of his daydream.
"Yes, M'am.." Muttered Dave.
**
The dinner had been quite good, the carrots crisp but tender, the duck juicy and flavourful. Dave reminded himself to ask Elizabeth if she'd mind giving Cindy a few tips. He was sick of eating burnt Hamburger Helper.
"So.." said Elizabeth as she scraped her plate into the disposal and put it in the dishwasher. "You coming?"
Dave nodded, wiping his face, and clearing the table. "I'm coming. That was good, Dr.Corday. Thanks."
"No problem Dr.Malucci. Get your coat. We're going to be late." Elizabeth waddled to the door and struggled with her coat.
Sighing, Dave put the last of the dishes in the sink and walked over, helping her into the circus tent, disguised as a maternity jacket.
"I'm driving, I take it?" Dave said, plucking the keys off the hook by the door.
"Well unless I can drive laying down, I'd say that's a safe bet, David." Grumbled Elizabeth.
"Okay then.. Let's go." Dave grinned and jingled the keys.