Thanks to the ERFFCC for their comments and suggestions
Previously on ER.
Dave was looking after his daughter Lily, while her mother was in hospital recovering from a car accident.Lily was complaining of pain in her arm after the accident, so Dave brought her to the ER.Dave had only found out about Lily a little over a year ago, and she was the reason he was doing his residency in Chicago.While Dave was asleep, Kerry took Lily on a tour of the ER.
Dave was almost at reception when he saw Kerry and Lily.
"Lily," he exclaimed, running to her.Picking her up, he said, "I was so worried.Why did you leave the exam room?You know what I've told you about wandering off on your own."
"I wasn't on my own, Daddy," said Lily, with confidence."Dr Weaver asked me if I wanted to see the ER; and she wasn't a stranger cause you introduced her to me, so it was okay.I didn't do anything wrong, did I Daddy?" she looked up at Dave with her big blue eyes.
"No sweetheart, you didn't do anything wrong," said Dave, looking at Kerry."Dr Weaver should have let me know that she was taking you."
"Dave, I left you a note saying that Lily was with me," explained Kerry patiently.She could see how obviously concerned Dave was."Didn't you see it?"
"I didn't see any note," said Dave, his anger and worry starting to subside a bit.
"She did leave it; I watched her write it," piped up Lily.
"Guess I must have missed it somehow," said Dave."Sorry Chief.I should have known you wouldn't do something like that."
"It's all right, Dave," said Kerry warmly."I can understand you being upset."
Haleh was just passing."Haleh," said Kerry, "Would you take Lily back to exam one for a minute.I'd like to have a quick word with Dave."
"Sure thing Dr Weaver," said Haleh with a smile."You going to come with me Lily?" she asked holding out her hand.
Dave put Lily down on the ground."You go with Haleh, I'll be with you in a minute."
Taking Haleh's outstretched hand, Lily went off without a backward glance. Dave could hear her excited voice telling Haleh how interesting an ER was.
Looking back at Kerry, Dave bit his lip."What's up?" he asked apprehensively."Did Lily's test results come back?"
"Lily has a minor infection.Cleo thinks some higher strength antibiotics will clear it up.I would have woken you to tell you, but you looked as if you needed the rest.I'm sorry for worrying you Dave."
"It's okay," said Dave, breathing a sigh of relief."It's just when I woke up and she wasn't there...I don't know what I'd do if anything had happened to her."
A year earlier.
"So," said Dave, when he and Mel had finished their coffee."When do I get to meet her?"
"Today, if you'd like to," replied Mel."She's with a friend of mine in the park.I...I wasn't sure if you'd want to meet her, so I didn't tell her I was seeing you."
"Does she know about me?" asked Dave, "I mean, does she know who I am?"
Mel nodded."I told her that her father is a doctor who works a long way away, and that's why she hasn't met him."
"What were you going to tell her when she started asking questions?"
"I don't really know, Dave," replied Mel."I guess I was going to cross that bridge when I came to it.I know, I wouldn't have lied to her and if she had asked to meet you, I wouldn't have stopped her, I promise you that."
"I know Mel," said Dave.
They made their way to the park.Mel pointed out a small girl climbing on the bars. "That's Lily," she said softly.
"Oh my God," said Dave, "That's my daughter?"He shook his head in disbelief.It was one thing to be shown a photo, but to actually see her in the flesh...
"Lily," called Mel.Lily looked around, her face lighting up when she saw her mother.
"Mommy," she called, scrambling down off the bars and running to Mel, followed by Mel's friend Ria."Mommy, I drew a picture in school and the teacher gave me a gold star."
"Did she now?" said Mel, giving Lily a hug."And were you a good girl for Ria after school?"
"She was a very good girl," said Ria.
"Lily," said Mel."I'd like you to meet a very special person."Taking a deep breath, she said, "Lily, this is Dave Malucci...he's your father."
Lily looked at Dave suspiciously."Where's your white coat and listening thingy?" she asked.
"You mean my stethoscope?" asked Dave, crouching down so he was at Lily's eye level.
Lily nodded."I left it at home today, because I'm not working," said Dave. "And I don't wear a white coat.I wear a scrub top instead.Do you know what a scrub top is?"
Lily shook her head."It's sort of like a big t-shirt, and I wear it over my own clothes so they don't get messed up."
"You mean like with blood and guts and icky stuff like that?"
"Something like that Lily," said Dave with a grin.
"Cool," said Lily, admiringly.She thought for a moment before asking, "Are you really my Daddy?"
"Yes I am," said Dave."I'm sorry I haven't been around before, but I'm gonna make it up to you, I promise."
Dave and Kerry stopped at the door to Exam One."Thanks Kerry, for all your help."
"You're welcome, Dave," replied Kerry."I had a very nice time with Lily. She's a lovely girl."
"All thanks to Mel," said Dave, smiling."She did a great job, bringing Lily up on her own for so long.I dunno how she managed.I mean, I've been minding her for a week and I'm run off my feet trying to keep up with her."
"You're doing a great job Dave.Lily obviously adores you."
"If I'm doing such a great job, then why didn't I notice sooner that her arm was infected?"
"Because you were looking at her as a father, not a doctor," said Kerry. "You noticed it before it got too serious, you got her treated, and she's going to be fine."
"But what if I hadn't noticed it?"
"Don't torture yourself with 'what ifs' Dave.Take your daughter home and have a good nights rest, and I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yeah Chief," replied Dave, as he went into Exam One.
"You ready?" he asked Lily, who was sitting on the bed.She nodded, and he picked her up."Let's go home then kid," he said, walking out of the room.
"Goodbye Lily," said Kerry as Dave walked past her.
"Bye Dr Weaver," said Lily.
Kerry watched as they left the ER.Whatever Dave's uncertainties about his being a good parent, she could see that Lily had no doubts that he was the best.
THE END
Authors note
There is a sequel in the works for this series, but don't expect it before the New Year, okay?
Ceindreadh
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"I have never understood why it is necessary to become irrational in order to prove that you care, or why it should be necessary to prove it at all"
Kerr Avon
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http://homepage.eircom.net/~ceindreadh/index.htm
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