"I really don't think that was necessary, Elizabeth.." Kerry replied as she entered the hospital room. "You don't know anything about that man, who are you to assume anything about Malucci?"
"He's flippant, rude, cocky and really does lack finer hygienic skills." Elizabeth muttered, not looking up from her sleeping husband.
"He was a husband.. and as far as I know.. He was also a father.. I don't think your outburst was needed, at all." Kerry muttered, leaning on her crutches as she lowered herself into a chair. A grunt from the Chief and the whisper of protest from the creaking chair was the only noise in the room before Elizabeth finally spoke up, a look of disgust on her face.
"Malucci? Married? Weaver, I sincerely think you've lost it.." The surgeon scoffed.
"He told me.. He's told me nearly everything. His wife.. She's gone.. As are his children." The ER chief said hoarsely, remembering the pained, stricken, expression on the man's face as he'd relived the memories.
"A wife.. Children.. I never knew.." Elizabeth said softly, her hand slipping into Mark's as she stroked the pale papery skin with her thumb.
"Nobody knew. And even if you didn't, there was no reason for you to act the way you did.. Your husband is suffering from mild hypothermia and a hangover.. It's not like he's dying. You really should stop being so histrionic all the time, Corday. It's unseemly in somebody of your supposed high social upbringing.." Kerry scoffed.
"You really are a hell-bitch, Kerry Weaver." Elizabeth muttered angrily.
"Yes.. I know.." Kerry murmured softly, as she strained to get up out of the chair. Her legs shuddered with exertion and her arms wobbled as her knuckles whitened around the handholds and she crutched off to find Malucci.
***
"I.. I'm fine, Chief.." Dave mumbled, staring at the floor and wiping his eyes and avoiding her sympathetic gaze.
"No.. You're not. What Corday said.. She doesn't know.. She doesn't know about Seri.. She doesn't know about anything. Her accusations were baseless and tactless. You should take anything she says with a grain of salt, hon.." Kerry said sadly, limping over and lowering herself onto the couch beside him.
"I.. I know.. I know she doesn't know me.. I know she doesn't know about my life.. She doesn't know about me. That doesn't make it hurt any less." He said hoarsely, pulling away from the comforting arm that she'd wrapped around his shoulder. Dave stood, brushing the hand away that Kerry had flailed, and grabbed his arm. "I.. I gotta go.. I can't stay in here.. I can't sit here with those two unconscious.. I'm.. I'm gonna go back.. I'll see you later."
He walked out of the small alcove of chairs and down the hall, his ears falling deaf to Kerry's plaintive calls as he walked out of the hospital and hailed a cab.
***
"Dave.." Serena smiled at him, brushing the hair from the eyes of her sleeping husband. "Davey.. Wake up.. I've got a surprise for you.." Slowly Serena unfolded the paper and ran her hand over it to smooth out the wrinkles. "Dave.. Look.." She said as Dave moaned sleepily and opened an eye.
"What is it? A present?" Dave said smiling and opening his other eye.
"Sort of.. Just look... Please?" Serena laughed and waved the paper just out of reach. Dave rolled his eyes and grabbed at it half-heartedly.
"Cut it out, Seri.." He grumbled, snatching it from her fingers. "What is it already?!" As Dave read the mysterious paper, his jaw dropped, his eyebrows shot up and his face paled. "You.. You're pregnant? How?"
Serena grinned. "Dave.. You DID go through med school right?? You DO know how babies are made... Don't you?"
He nodded. "Yeah.. But.. You're PREGNANT?!"
Serena nodded, folding the last article of clothing. "Yes.." She placed the folded t-shirt on top and zipped up the suitcase. "and I'm going..."
"GOING!??? WHERE!?" Dave yelped, leaping out of bed and after her as she dragged the suitcase from the room.
"OUT!" She yelled back at him, sarcastically.
"SERI! GET BACK HERE!!" Dave yelled hoarsely as he ran down the hallways of the apartment complex.
"What seems to be wrong Dr.D?" A stoner grinned as he peered from his out behind his door.
Dave looked at the man, frantic and shaking. "Dr.D? I.. I don't get it.." He said hoarse and confused.
"Dr.Dave.. That's you.. Dah man.. Dr.Dave.." The stoner grinned, showing the browned, yellow teeth. At least those that were still there in his rotted mouth.
"Uh.. Okay.." Dave said sadly. The man.. Who couldn't even control his wife. Dr.Dave. "Have you seen which direction my wife went?"
The stoner nodded, moving his whole neck and upper body, with the supposed simple gesture. "Yeah... Totally. Thattaway.. She was limpin' sorta funny.. She okay, dude?"
Limping?? The suitcase must be too much for her to handle.. "She went this way??" Dave said as he walked down the hall, his hand shaking as he pointed.
"Yeah.. Thattaway.. Took the elevator.." Stoner grinned. "So I helped ya?? I sorta gotta get back to business." He turned and yelled back into the apartment. "Shaddup Maureen.. I'm comin'!!" Nicotine stained fingers came up as he rubbed his face. "Damn women.." He grumbled before he retreated back into the flat.
Yeah.. Damn women.. Dave thought sadly as he ran down the halls to find the mysterious elevator.. AHA! The maintenance elevator.. Banging on the doors before his blurred vision settled on the buttons. "Oh..." He muttered, banging on the down button and the doors slid open.
****
Dave's cab pulled up to the dilapidated farmhouse and the taxi driver stared at him. "50 Dinar.." He muttered, holding out his hand.
"50 what?! All I got is American, man.. Here.. 200 American.. I dunno.. Is that enough?" Dave said worriedly.
The cabbie stared at the wad of bills and nodded slowly. "Yes, sir.. I think that would do fine." His hand reached across the partition and snatched up the money. As Dave exited the cab, the cabbie grinned, counting out the money... Sucker.. Stupid American.
As Dave walked up the lane, he stared upwards at the sign, and down at the muddy ground. He stared forwards down the lane and spied the pick-up. "Luka?!" He muttered in disbelief.
Sure enough, the Euro doc stood outside the pickup truck and was washing it down, the manure now spread on the fields. "Hellow, Dave. Where did you come from?" Luka greeted him, waving, the hose clutched in his grasp. Shaking and spraying water across the lawn as he waved at the younger man who walked up to meet him.
"Uhh.. Out.. A few of the gang had a little accident. I was at the hospital." Dave muttered, walking up to the truck.
"Accident!? What happened?" Luka said worriedly, as he dropped the suds filled sponge, back into the bucket.
"Doug was putting up the new sign and fell off the ladder onto his head, and Mark is recovering from hypothermia and a hangover. I felt sorta out of place, so I left." Dave sighed, rubbing at his eyes, hoping they weren't still tearstained and bloodshot.. The last thing he needed was Luka asking 20 Questions..
"It's cold out here, Dave.. I think we should go get a cup of coffee.. What do you think?" Luka said kindly, noticing the doctor's disheveled appearance and tear streaked face.
"I..I guess that's not a bad idea.. We have coffee in the house there?"
Luka nodded. "I think we do.. Abby went shopping remember?" He wrapped
an arm around Dave's shoulders and lead him into the house.