A Very Odd Couple
Part Seven A
By Céindreadh
ceindreadh@eircom.net

Rating: PG - 13 (some scenes of violence, but none worse than we've seen on ER)

Timeline: some months after Mayday

Disclaimer: "ER" and all its characters belong to Warner Bros. No infringement of their copyright is intended. This story was written for the enjoyment of "ER" fans everywhere, and may be downloaded for your own pleasure.

Previously on ER:
Dave needed a place to stay and moved in with Luka.
One night, on his way home he was attacked, and ended up in the ER seriously injured.
Luka treated him, and Elizabeth operated.
Dave's sister, Chris, traveled to Chicago to be with him.
Luka offered her a place to stay while she was in Chicago

Downstairs in the E.R. Dave was one of the topics of conversation.

"So if Dave was already upstairs in the O.R." said Haleh. "Then who was Dr. Weaver working on?"

"According to Al, it may have been the guy who beat up and robbed Dave," said Lydia. "I mean he did have his wallet and when they checked out the bike, or what was left of it, it was the same one Malucci rides."

"But how could Weaver have mistaken him for Malucci?" asked Chuny. "I mean, I know his face was a mess, but I helped clean him up afterwards, and there's no way anyone could think that scrawny body belonged to Dave."

"And you would know that how, exactly?" asked Haleh with a wicked grin.

"I'd say Weaver was just so freaked out when she found Malucci's I.D. that she just wasn't thinking straight," said Lydia. "I mean we all know she has a soft-spot for him."

"Catch her ever admitting it," said Chuny.

"Have all the patients in this hospital suddenly gotten better and gone home?" asked Kerry with a frown as she came up to the reception desk and saw the nurses hanging around.

"Not that I know of," said Haleh.

"Then why are you all standing around gossiping?"

"We're going," said Lydia as they dispersed.



Luka looked over at Dave, surprised by the lack of reaction to his last comment. He smiled as he realized that Dave had fallen asleep. He knew that this would probably be the pattern for the next few days. With all the drugs that had been pumped into Dave's body in the past twenty-four hours it was surprising that he had managed to stay awake and alert as long as he had.  Luka settled himself more comfortably in the chair. Dave was not the only one feeling tired. Knowing that yet another person that he cared about was lying in a hospital bed had made it impossible for him to get much rest back at the house.

He jumped in alarm as he felt a hand touching him on his shoulder. Chris took a hasty step back.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to startle you." She was taken aback by the wary look in his eyes.

"It is all right," said Luka, shaking his head to clear it. "I was just not expecting your return so quickly."

Chris checked her watch. "I've been gone over an hour. I took a quick tour of the hospital" She took a closer look at Luka.  "You look exhausted. Did you get any sleep back at the house?"

"Not really," admitted Luka trying to stifle a yawn. He also looked at his watch. "I must go. It is nearly time for my shift in the ER."

"Well it didn't look too busy when I was there. Maybe you can catch a few hours sleep."



When he was gone, Chris settled herself on the chair. Pulling a book from her bag she started to read, keeping an eye on Dave to see if he had woken.



Dave balanced precariously on his bike, and punched his pin number into the ATM.

"Let's see," he thought to himself. "Fifty bucks should be enough for beer, pizza, and videos." Retrieving his money and card, he replaced his wallet and turned to go. Blocking his path were two youths, one carrying a baseball bat.

"Give us your watch and wallet," ordered the bigger of the two.



Chris glanced up as Dave's heart monitor started beeping more rapidly. Dave's eyelids were flickering, his right hand was clenched in a fist, and his respiration was becoming more ragged. Concerned, she stood up for a closer look.



"Give us your watch and wallet," ordered the bigger of the two. "Hell no," said Dave as he suddenly rode straight towards them. The baseball bat connected with his arm with a sickening thud. Dave found himself on the ground unable to move as the pair closed in.



Chris was getting worried by now. Dave was shuddering violently, and his whole body was coated in sweat. She grabbed his right arm and put her other hand on his shoulder, shaking him gently. "Dave wake up," she said.



Dave could feel someone holding him down as he was kicked in the back. He lashed out frantically trying to free himself.



Chris stumbled back as Dave caught her a glancing blow in the cheek with his casted arm. Recovering quickly she grabbed Dave's arms and forced them down to the mattress.   "Dave, it's all right," she said reassuringly. "You're safe now."



Dave could hear the words, but all he could see was a figure with a bat, bringing it crashing down on his body again and again. "No," he screamed trying to curl into a ball to protect himself.



"What's going on?" asked Iris, the nurse in charge of the ICU.

"He's having some kind of nightmare, but I can't wake him." Chris thought quickly. "Get me .5 of Haldol," she instructed the nurse as she struggled with Dave. In spite of his injuries, he still had sufficient strength and determination to resist her effort to calm him.

"You don't have the authority to give him that."

"Then page someone who does," snapped back Chris impatiently. In spite of her efforts, Dave had already ripped out his IV and was in real danger of dislodging the chest tube. Finally after what seemed like hours, but was really only a couple of minutes, Elizabeth arrived in the ICU. Quickly assessing the situation, she administered the Haldol and assisted Chris in restraining Dave until it took effect.



Dave tried to continue struggling but it was no use. With a final moan, he gave in to the blackness that engulfed him.

Continued in the next post

ceindreadh