By Ricki
Disclaimer: I own nought. Nothing. Zero. Zilch. No money, no
characters, no life... and now I'm depressed. Song's not mine either. Oh, woe is me!
Authors Notes: Okay, Dr. Dave Tricky Danger Automotive Repair Malucci (acknowleding nod to Michelle H) is my new favorite character. That
means he gets to be the subject of my tortured, twisted stories. Corday gets a break.
Still, this one isn't too bad. No deaths at least (just.) Can you tell
I'm stalling? Okay, okay, here it is. Be Patient. I haven't even posted this on
a.t.e.c yet. Give me a coupl'a days, ok?
Thanks to Sarah for editing this one for me! Comments and constructive
criticism gratefully received at ricki@rickarby.clara.net
“Excuse me? Hello?” The pretty young woman leaned over the admin desk. Sighing impatiently she glanced at the clock, then at the child beside
her. She turned back. “Excuse me.”
Randi appeared, harried by a busy shift, that, while for the doctors it had quieted down, for the desk clerks and nurses meant a good few hours of
paperwork, patient transfer and contacting relatives.
“What do I have to do to get some help round here?”
Randi glanced tiredly at the young woman, who was echoing a phrase used by many standing in the same spot. “Fill a form take a seat, a doctor will be
with you shortly.”
“No, I don’t need a doctor.”
Randi felt herself starting to get annoyed. “Then you’re here because?”
“I’m here to see Dave. Dave Malucci. Could you get him for me?” She kept a
careful, yet thin, layer of politeness on top of her anger and frustration. “Typical behavior.” She muttered under her breath as she turned away.
“Irresponsible, careless, selfish - ”
“Mom.” The young girl protested quietly.
Don’t ream him out in front of Page. Okay. To her daughter she smiled, “Sorry
Page.”
“He’s busy mom, that’s all.”
She watched Page as she returned to staring at the old rag bear on her lap, not wanting to take away her trust, and
swearing to kill ‘Dr.Dave’ if he ever betrayed that trust. “Now Page, you have my telephone number...”
“Daddy!” Page leaped from her seat and ran across the room. Her mother straightened up
awkwardly. “Dave.” He nodded at her he held Page tightly.
“Page. Now remember. You have my number if you need it, okay? Don’t talk to
strangers, and keep a dime in case you have to make a phone call. No ice cream before dinner and don’t stay up all night.”
“I can manage.” Dave commented.
She looked at him skeptically. “Call me if you need anything. I’m an hour away.”
“Sure mom.” Page said hastily, as if anxious to get rid of her. She didn’t
blame her daughter. Dave Malucci was a lot of fun, that was one of the reason she loved him once. Plus he could cook, really cook. Yet he was
irresponsible,
and quite frankly she wouldn’t trust him to look after a plant, much less her daughter. God knows how he survived as a doctor.
‘But she’s his daughter too,’ a small voice that sounded suspiciously like her
mother’s nagged. ‘And Page adores him.’ She sighed, and once a gain renewed
the vow she made everytime Page spent time with her father, if he ever
let her get hurt, or betrayed the absolute faith Page had in him and everything he did,
she would strangle him slowly and enjoy it.
“Okay. Bye then Page.” She kissed her daughter on the forehead, a gesture that
brought her closer than she was comfortable with to Dave. “I love you.”
She turned to her ex, Page’s father and the best cook she’d ever met. “Take
care.”
‘Take care of my daughter. Take care of the only thing that matters to me anymore.’ And with a cheery wave she was gone, blinking back
unexplainable tears.
***
“Okay. Where now?” Dave held his daughters hand in one of his, her bag in the
other. She wore her rucksack and clutched the old bear he’d given her almost 8
years ago.
“We need to dump my stuff.”
“Ice cream. There’s a great ice cream parlour on the way home.”
“Dad! Mom just said I shouldn’t eat ice cream before dinner. Weren’t you listening?”
“She wasn’t talking to me.” He said flippantly, hiding the fact that he was hurt
she would rather tell Page that stuff than him. ‘Still doesn’t trust me.’ He
grinned. “Besides, who’s going to tell her?”
“Mom says eating ice cream before dinner ruins your appetite.”
“But if you eat if after, you’re too full to enjoy it.” He countered as the
walked down the high street hand in hand.
Page looked up at him, with amusement. “I can’t argue with you Dad.”
“That’s cause you love me too much.”
“No, it’s because you’re stubborn.”
“Ah, well it’s all part of the Malucci charm.”
“Really?” She grinned at him.
***
“You’re kidding me Randi.” John Carter laughed.
Randi shook her head, grinning. “I kid you not. A little girl, almost eight years old.”
“Unbelivable.” Carter couldn’t believe Dave had a daughter. Eight years old?
Jeez, he was barely out of diapers himself!
“And here’s the best bit - the girl’s mother barely talks to him. Gives all the
instructions to the girl, doesn’t even acknowledge him.”
Carter felt a flash of sympathy, but understood how the mother reacted. He wouldn’t trust Dr. Dave with a child.
“Carter! Why is the dog bite still in Exam 3?”
“Sorry, Dr. Weaver...” Carter grabbed the man’s chart. “I was waiting -
he’s gonna need a rabies series.”
“Chase them down them Carter!” Weaver called as he vanished from her sight. Disappointed at the
disappearance of her audience, Randi eyed Weaver speculatively, as she check and sighed the chart.
“Dr. Weaver, did you hear about Dave...”
“Not interested Randi.”
“Come, on, bet you didn’t hear..”
Kerry pointed to the ringing object on the desk. “Get the phone Randi.” Randi
made a face at her retreating back as she picked it up.
“Hello, ER?”
***
Dave watch his daughter fall asleep in his spare room. It took a big chunk out of his wages to rent a place like this, two bedrooms, enough space to
house an 8 year old. It was worth it. She only visited rarely, since it was he
who had moved away from Grenada, the courts had basically told him it was up to his
ex-fiancée when Page came to see him. Today she was seeing his new place, her room for the first time.
He promised her he’d buy new furniture, how he didn’t know, but he would. Paint
as well - the landlord had given him free reign when he’d heard his story. Dave thought he might regret it though - Page apparently loved purple
and
yellow. Together. Grimacing he put away the book of Fairy Tales he’d been reading to Page. Or pretending to read. He loved making up stories
with her, she had a vivid imagination, it amazed him.
Well, every thing amazed him about his daughter. He saw her so little, every
time she came it seemed there was something new to learn about her. Closing the door softly, he walked swiftly and collapsed onto his own
bed. It
was amazing - three hours with an eight year old left him more exhausted than a 20 hour shift with no breaks.
Still, it was good to see her again. He intended to spend every waking minute of his next three days off with her.
***
Dave carried a very grumpy Page into the ER early on his second day off. “Dr.
Dave - finally.”
“Not now Randi.” Dave answered as he carried her into the lounge. Gently lying
her on the chairs, he kissed her forehead. “Won’t be long.” He murmured. “I
promise.”
“Shouldn’t make promises you can’t keep.” A soft voice came from behind him.
Abby smiled back, placed a blanket over his dozing daughter. “Better get out
there - it’s a madhouse.”
***
He hadn’t forgotten her exactly. She’d slipped his mind, that’s all. A multi-car pile up, followed by an unconscious high school quarterback, then
three GSW at once had taken him through to almost lunchtime and kept him very
busy. Learning new procedures, practising medicine, it was what he lived for.
So he hadn’t forgotten exactly, he repeated as he sped to the ER, and the lounge, and his daughter. He just hadn’t remembered. ‘But Abby
remembered. Abby, who saw her for exactly two minutes.’ Dave banished the memory of
Abby approaching him in the cafeteria as he collected a well earned cup of coffee.
He slammed open the door to the lounge look around and panicked. “Ah, shit.”
***
“What have we got Doris!”
“Eight year old female, hit by a car, blunt chest tramua. BP 140/50, pulse tacky
at 50. Resps are down slightly, but she’s still conscious.”
“I want my Dad. Where is he please?” Carol looked at the girl, whose voice was
edging on panicky.
“Okay, we’ll find him, what’s his name?”
“She unconscious!”
“Resps down to 50.”
“Tube her Carter.”
“BP’s down.”
“I’m in!”
“She must have internal bleeding - damnit, where’s Benton?!”
Kerry, Carter and Luka worked on her. Carol and the nurses worked quickly. Benton entered, Abby trailing behind him.
“Need a hand.... oh god.”
Kerry glanced up. “You know her Abby?”
“That’s Dave’s daughter. He’s looking for her.”
“What’s she doing three streets away then?” Carter asked as the monitor began to
beep.
“She’s in v-fib.”
“Get the paddles.”
Just then Dave came in. “Has anyone seen..” His eyes fell on the table.
“Charge to 175 ..... clear!”
“Where was she... what happened?”
“Abby, would you mind ...?”
“Charge to 200 ..... clear!”
“Where did you find her?”
“Come on Dave, let’s wait outside.”
“Charge 250.. get some epi ... clear!”
“What happened!!”
The monitor began beeping regualy again.
“Come on Dave, they can handle it from here.”
***
“Where’s my little girl please?” Chuni saw a vaguely familiar woman, being
supported by a man. “Please, where is she?”
“What’s her name?”
“Page... Page Sterma.”
“No.. no Page Sterma... although - ” Chuni turned back to her. “You dropped her
off with Dave Malucci right?”
“Right.” Randi heard the tension in the man’s voice. “Okay, your daughters been
in surgery, but she came out just a few minutes ago. Err..” Chuni scanned the room. “...Abby! Why don’t you take Page’s mother and, em,... why don’t
you take them up to see Page?”
Abby smiled at the distraught couple. “Sure. Come on, this way.”
***
Dave sat beside his daughter.. “Hey.” He said softly. “How you doing?” He
took her tiny hand and enclosed it with two of his. “You gave me a shock there,
wondering of by yourself. You’re grounded you know. Till you’re 80. I could of
had a heart attack!” He clutched her hand tighter, brushing the hair away from
her closed eyes.
“I guess I made a mistake huh? Dave Malucci fucks up again.. Oh sorry. Promised
‘mom’ I wouldn’t swear in front of you anymore. The things I do to see you.” He
grinned weakly as the tears collected.
“They’re right you know. You’ll be better of without me. I’m irresponsible,
careless, I’ll only hurt you.” The tears welled up. “You’ve no right, to go on
loving me like that. You hear? I won’t ground you, if you promise me to go away
and never look back. Deal? Say something if you don’t agree, say nothing if you do.”
“Okay, it’s agreed.” A tear rolled down his cheek. “No more visits, or letters,
or any of this love stuff okay? We can both do without it.”
***
Marrisa’s eyes were red with rage. “Where were you? Why was she wondering around by herself?”
“I was working Marrisa. She was in the lounge asleep, I didn’t mean to be here
so long.”
“You told me you weren’t working. That was one of the provisions of her coming
to see you - ”
“I wasn’t supposed to be. Unfortuatly I have no control over Chicago’s major
tramuas. They kneed me, I helped out - ”
“And Page nearly dies because of it.”
Dave turned to Joe. “This is nothing to do with you.”
“Yes it is.” Marrisa interrupted. “He’s more of a father to her than you’ve ever
been.”
She knew this would strike a nerve with Dave. He resented anyone being better than
him, exceeding where he had failed. “It’s not my fault you don’t let me see
her.” He said quietly, but briming full of anger.
“It’s not our fault you moved to Chicago. Obviously, you *really* cared about
her,” Joe sneered, “to move across the country where you’d hardly ever see her.”
“Stay out of this.” Dave was speaking very deliberately now. “The last thing she
needs is another father ‘Joe.’”
“No. The last thing she needs is you screwing her life up.”
***
Nurse Jessica Rollins checked the young girls vitals, checked the chart, signed her name. She turned to leave - she was off now, and was meeting a
‘friend’ in an hour. “Where’s my dad?”
Jessica turned back. “Your dad? I’m not sure love. What’s his name? Shall I
go find him?”
The girl sunk into the pillows. “I want my dad.” She began to sob silently.
“I’ll go get him. It’ll be okay.” Jessica put her arm around the young
girl. “Hey, come on. Do you think he’d want to see you upset? He’s probably
just gone to the bathroom.” Jessica smiled, though she doubted it. There had been
some kind of while Page was still asleep - step families. Hmm.
Page had stopped crying. Jessica stood and saw Dr. Weaver from the ER in the doorway.
“Dr. Weaver. Have you see Dr. Malucci? Page wants him.”
“I heard.” Kerry smiled. “I’ll go find him, shall I?”
***
He had left exam 3 in darkness, and when Kerry entered, the light from the hall fell on Dave’s back. He sat on the gurney facing the wall. Kerry stood
uneasily by the entrance, door still open.
“Doctor Malucci?” Kerry edged closer to the silent figure. “Dave?”
“I’m sorry Dr. Weaver. I shouldn’t have hit him.”
Kerry shrugged. “Admin will probably kick up storm, but we’ll deal with it.”
“It just gets to me, you know. He gets to see her every day. If she’s done
well, he can congratulate her. If she’s ill he can comfort her. If she’s sad,
he’s there to hold her.” Kerry listened as Dave buried his head in his hands.
“He cooks for her, cleans up after her, takes her to the park. He tells her off
if she’s naughty. He sees her every morning when she gets up, and he reads her
to sleep at night.” Dave looked up at him. “I should be doing that
right? I mean, that’s my job. Not his.”
“Dave... you have to accept that he’s a part of her life now.”
“A part yes. He shouldn’t be everything to her. She shouldn’t be everything to
him.”
Kerry sat carefully beside him. “He isn’t everything to her. She adores you
Dave. She talks about you non stop. You were the first person she asked for when she was brought in.” She smiled at him. “He may spend every day
with her,
but he’s not the one she looks forward to seeing each month. He’s not the one
who’s career she wants to follow. Accept that he’s a part of her life, but just
look and you’ll see how important you are to her.” Kerry stood, rested
a hand on his shoulder. “She wants to see you. She’s in the SICU.” And with
that she turned and limped out.
***
Dave waved as Page boarded the plane to Grenada. She waved back and turned to argue with Joe - probably about why she couldn’t have wings and fly, or
some other nonsensical thing, that children seemed to come out with.
Something he’d have loved to hear her go on about. Not turn away as Joe had just
done...
Dave turned away from the scene. He went to stand by the window. He’d promised
to wave off the plane, and he intended to keep that promise. It didn’t matter
that she wouldn’t see him from her seat, that she’s be too busy arguing about
putting on her belt with Marrisa, or play fighting with Joe. He’d be there
waving to her all the same.