Part 4.
Dave moaned softly. His back ached, his head ached, his feet felt like ripe swollen summer squash, and it felt like he'd gained twenty pounds. As he grunted in pain, he felt somebody nearby. "Elizabeth?" He muttered softly, realizing his voice sounded oddly feminine and accented.
"Yes.. I'm here. In a way..." Dave heard a voice that sounded quite familiar. A brother? What would his brother be doing here in Elizabeth's basement.
"Danny?" Dave murmured, rubbing his eyes and trying to focus on the person standing over him.
"No.. Dave.. It's me.. Elizabeth.."
Dave's eyes widened as he stared at himself looking very concerned, and he backpedaled as quick as a pregnant woman could. "HOLY SHIT! YOU! ME?! WHAT?!" His voice was shrill and frantic.
"Dave.. Calm down.. It's okay.. Well.. No.. It's not okay.. but.. You.. We.. We have to calm down.. The paramedics will be here soon.. I didn't want to move you.. You broke my fusebox.. We both got hit pretty bad.. But lay still, I want to make sure the baby's okay."
They heard Zadro and Shep hotfooting it down the stairs and Elizabeth sighed. "Act like me.. Don't say anything stupid."
"Act like you!? What about you?! I don't stand like that!" What's with the hand on the hip!? You want them to think I'm suddenly some sort of fag? Slouch a little.. Stick your hands in your pockets.."
**
Zadro and Shep heard the two doctors, bickering quietly and chuckled. "Lover's quarrel?" Shep snickered.
"Shut up.. He was taking Corday to Lamaze classes.. Mark's out of town.."
"Exactly."
"Cut that out.."
"WHAT?!"
***
"Okay Dave.. Back off a little, give the woman some air." Dave smiled smugly as he watched Elizabeth scowl. She really didn't like people calling her 'woman.'
"It's okay Dave.. Let them do their job." Dave said sweetly, patting Elizabeth's hand histronically.
"Grrrrr.." Elizabeth glared at Dave and sat over on the stoop, letting Pickman dress the wounds on her hands.
"Ohhh Shep... Please.. Save me and my baby.. I really want to be homeÊ in time to watch Coronation Street and eat my tea and crumpets!" Dave wailed.
"I HEARD THAT!" Yelled Elizabeth, as she leaped up off the stoop and lunged towards Dave.
"Stop it you two.. If you'll behave, Dave I won't strap you to a board.. You seem okay except for the burns to your hands. Elizabeth on the other hand. I don't want to risk the baby. Shep help me roll her. 1-2-3..." Doris muttered irritably.
Elizabeth grinned as Dave was strapped firmly to the backboard. Sucker..
"Think you can make it up the stairs on your own Dave?" Zadro asked concernedly. Elizabeth inspected Dave's nails. This man really was a pig.
"Dave.. Yo Dave!?" The paramedic waved a hand in front of Elizabeth's face and checked her eyes with a pen light. "I'm gonna radio in for a CT when we get you in there.."
Elizabeth startled slightly, and looked up from Dave's grubby fingernails.Ê "No.. Uh.. I'm fine, man. Just thinking." Elizabeth laughed inwardly. Dave? Thinking? That was a new one.
Elizabeth rode in the back of the ambulance, beside Dave who was grumbling softly under his breath. "What's wrong Elizabeth?" Elizabeth said sweetly.
"The stupid baby is sitting on my/your kidneys and-I..I.. OH GOD! JESUS CHRIST!" Dave's back arched and he screamed.
Elizabeth bit her lip. Why now?? Why?! "I think Elizabeth's having contractions, Shep.. You might wanna hurry up a bit."
"I'm hurrying Malucci! Mind your own damn business!"
Elizabeth nearly shouted back at him. "It IS my damn business! That's me having contractions!! That's MY baby!!!!!!" But she caught herself before she said anything stupid. She was Malucci now, and she knew that they were doing all they could.
"Stop pushing, Dr.Corday.." Pickman, said soothingly. "Don't push yet."
"Yeah, Dr.Corday.. Use the Lamaze classes.. Breathe through the pain.." Elizabeth said crouching beside the gurney.
"LAMAZE CLASSES!?" Yelped Dave. "I was only at half of one damn lamaze class, how in the hell am I suppose to know how to 'breathe' through the damn pain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AUGH!!!!"
Doris cocked a brow and looked at Elizabeth. "I thought she was going every Thursday night with Mark?!"
Elizabeth glared at Dave. "Oh I think they were.. Elizabeth just has to remember how to breathe.. Come on Elizabeth.. Like this.. Remember?? In through the nose, out through the mouth.. In.. Out.."
Dave glared at her, breathing heavily. "Shut up Dave.. AUGH!!!"
"The contractions are getting closer together." Elizabeth glanced at Dave's watch.
"Should we give her a couple CCs of magnesium sulfate??"
"No.. Don't stop the contractions. Have a baby warmer and a paediatric
crash cart waiting in the ER though. Just in case." Elizabeth, said struggling
to keep her voice from shaking. It was just in case. The baby would be
fine. Her body it'd be fine.. But if Dave died.. If her body died.. She'd
be.. She'd be Dave forever.. Elizabeth shuddered.