Always on my Mind
Part III (set approx 2 years after the end of Season 6)
Previously on <my> ER
Dave and Kerry are married
Kerry is expecting their first child
Mark and Elizabeth are engaged
Carter successfully completed his Rehab and returned to work
Romano is still a jerk
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Kerry looked at herself in the mirror and sighed, “I’m a blimp.”
Dave came up behind her and put his arms around her, “no you’re not you’re beautiful.”
“I’m still a blimp.”
“You’re eight months pregnant with our daughter, that’s all.”
“How can you be so sure it’s a girl? Did you ask the nurse doing the ultrasound?”
“Of course not. We agreed we didn’t want to be told. I just know by looking at you.”
“Oh yeah,” said Kerry sceptically.
“Hey between them my sisters have eight kids, and I was right about the sex of six of them. And I might have been right about Heather’s two if she’d mentioned that she was having twins.”
“At this stage I don’t care what it is, I just want it out. I’m going to look like a beached whale at Mark and Elizabeth’s wedding.”
“You sure you’re going to be all right for it. It’s going to be a long day.”
“I’ll be sitting down most of the time, and I can always leave early.”
“Just don’t overdo it.”
“If I can handle a day in the ER I can handle a day at a wedding. Not that I get much to do in the ER anymore. Maybe I shouldn’t have let Luka and Mark take over so soon. I haven’t been let near a trauma for weeks.”
“Well it was getting a bit awkward for you to squeeze in close enough to the patients. Ow.” (as Kerry swatted him)
“I suppose you’re right. Besides once I had to start using the second crutch for balance, I couldn’t move quickly enough anyway.” She sighed. “At least there’s always plenty of sutures and paperwork that I can do sitting down.”
“That’s the spirit.”
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Meanwhile Elizabeth and Mark were making final preparations for the wedding when they were joined by Doug and Carol.
“It’s so good to see you,” said Elizabeth hugging Carol. “How are the children?”
“My mother’s minding them,” said Carol. “Tess and Kate are fine. Andy’s teething, but they were all settled when we left.”
“So,” said Doug to Mark. “Any last minute instructions for the best man?”
“I’m not sure why I asked you to be the best man,” replied Mark. “After I wasn’t your best man. I didn’t even get an invite to your wedding.”
“Nobody did. There was just Carol, me and a couple of witnesses. But if I do it again I promise I’ll ask you.”
“You’d better not be doing it again, unless it’s with me,” said Carol.
“Of course,” said Doug and he kissed her.
“Do you think we’ll be that romantic when we’ve been married for two years?” asked Elizabeth.
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When Doug and Carol finally came up for air he asked Mark, “So who else is coming to this shindig? Anyone I know?”
“Well there’s a few people coming from County. Peter Benton for one, Carter.”
“We did invite Dr Romano, but unfortunately there’s a medical seminar in Honolulu this weekend, so he won’t be there,” said Elizabeth with a wicked gleam in her eye.
“And of course your favourite attending will be there,” said Mark.
“Don’t tell me you invited Weaver?” said Doug incredulously. “Oh well there’ll be plenty of people there, I’m sure our paths won’t cross.”
“Oh Kerry’s not so bad,” said Mark. “I think married life is suiting her.”
“Weaver married? Wow, what poor fool got stuck with her?”
“You wouldn’t know him. He started as a resident a couple of months after you left. Carol, you probably remember him, Dave Malucci?”
It was Carol’s turn to be incredulous “Malucci? I thought he’d be long gone by now.”
“I admit I never thought he’d make it as a doctor,” said Elizabeth. “But he has improved dramatically since he got together with Kerry. I think she’s been a good influence on him. Not to mention his impending fatherhood.”
“Kerry’s pregnant?” said Carol.
“She’s due next month,” replied Mark.
“Wow,” said Doug. “I leave for a few years and the whole place goes crazy. Next thing you’ll be telling me that Randi’s become a nun.”
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“So,” said Mark. “Where are you taking me for my stag night?”
“Well I thought we’d hit a few bars, maybe a strip joint or two.” Doug watched to see Elizabeth's reaction.
“Hey I don’t mind where you take him,” said Elizabeth. “Just make sure he’s clean, sober and at the church by 11.30 tomorrow.”
“Yes ma’am,” said Doug with a mock salute.
“Go on get out of here,” ordered Carol ushering the two men out the door.
“So did you tell Mark where <we’re> going tonight?” asked Carol when the door closed.
“I thought there were some things he’s better off not knowing. Anyway in England it’s traditional to have a male stripper at one’s hen party.”
“<A> stripper, not a whole troupe.”
“Well it would have been a bit expensive hiring one just for the two of us.”
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Doug did manage to get Mark to the church on time and sober the day of the wedding.
Dave and Kerry were already seated when she saw who the best man was.
“Do you know that guy?” asked Dave.
“His name’s Doug Ross. He was a good friend of Mark’s.”
“But not of yours?”
“Is it that obvious?”
“Only to me. Anything I should know about?”
“Not really. Doug and I never saw eye to eye on anything. I felt he was selfish and irresponsible. He felt I was too caught up in rules and regulations to care enough about the patients.”
“The name’s familiar.”
“He’s the father of Carol Hathaway’s twins. I think they got married after she left Chicago.”
“Ahh.”
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Later at the reception:
Dave and Carter were talking when Doug joined them.
“Hey Doug, that was a nice speech,” said Carter. “Where’ve you been hiding until now?”
“I’ve just been avoiding Weaver. Mark told me she got married. I pity the poor guy who took her on.”
Carter tried not to choke on his drink.
He interrupted Doug. “Doug, I’ve don’t think you’ve met Dave. Doug Ross, Dave Malucci.
“Dave Malucci,” said Doug. “That name rings a bell.”
“That’s Dave <Weaver> Malucci,” replied Dave. Outwardly he remained calm, but inside he was dying to punch this guy out. But he had promised Kerry that he’d behave himself.
Carter was surprised. This was the first <he> had heard of it.
“Then you must be…” Doug’s voice trailed off as he remembered where he’d heard the name before.
“Kerry’s husband, yes I am. I can’t say I’ve heard of you. Did you work at County General at some stage?”
This caused Carter to choke again on his drink. He knew darn well that Dave knew who Doug was. After all Carol’s sudden departure to Seattle had still been a topic of conversation by the time he had got out of Rehab. Dave with his curiosity and ear for gossip must surely have heard the details.
Out loud Carter said, “Doug’s married to Carol Hathaway.”
“Hathaway, with the twins that did a runner for Seattle a couple of years ago?”
“Yes, that would be <my> wife,” said Doug with steel in his voice.
“Oh no one could ever forget Carol,” said Dave.
Carter tried frantically to think of a neutral topic.
“So Dave, not much longer until you’re a father,” he said.
Dave relaxed a bit and said, “Yeah man, I can hardly wait. Another two to six weeks is all.”
“I’m surprised Kerry wasn’t able to get a more accurate due date,” said Doug. “She must be slipping.”
“We both know that the so called ‘due date’ is really only the midpoint of the ‘due month’. Junior could arrive anytime within that month.” Dave’s tone was intentionally patronising.”
Doug was about to make a comment when Carter stepped in again.
“So do you think those Lamaze classes helped you out any?”
“We’ll see when the time comes. I know one thing, I’d travel a thousand miles to be there when I’m needed.”
Carter gave up. If Dave and Doug wanted a catfight he wasn’t going to stop them.
Fortunately Dave looked at his watch and said, “I’d better get back to Kerry. See you later Carter. Nice to meet you, eh Doug was it?”
Doug and Carter watched him leave.
“Just who does he think he is?” asked Doug irritably.
“He’s the guy whose wife you just insulted,” said Carter. “You’re lucky you’re still standing.”
“I could’ve taken him.”
“I saw him go for a guy who’d abused his kid. Malik was barely able to hold him back.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes and I heard that later, he was suturing the same guy and he didn’t give him a proper anaesthetic.”
“Hmm. Maybe he’s not so bad after all.”
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Dave snuck up behind Kerry and kissed her on the cheek.
“You’re looking very pleased with yourself,” she said. “What have you been up to?”
“Nothing much. Just a little Doug-baiting,” replied Dave with a grin. “Oh and if anyone asks, my name is Weaver-Malucci.”
Kerry looked at him suspiciously, “What <have> you been saying?”
“Nothing I haven’t been thinking about for a while now. Listen, I know when we got married you wanted to keep your own name, and I respect that. But now with Junior coming along I’d kinda like for us all to have the same name. Whether it’s Weaver, Malucci or any combination you like I don’t mind.”
“I never knew you felt like that.”
“I’ve been meaning to say something for a while, but this really isn’t the right time or place. We can talk about it later.”
As Dave finished speaking the band stopped playing for a moment. Kerry stared at Dave in the silence. The bandleader spoke into his microphone. “And now by special request here’s a song from the King himself.” The opening bars of “Always on my mind” started playing over the speakers.
Kerry looked at Dave. “Did you request this?” she asked.
“What, the first song we danced to at our wedding? You bet I did.”
He stood up held his hand out to Kerry and said, “shall we dance Mrs Malucci-Weaver?”
Kerry took his hand and stood up “we shall indeed Mr Weaver-Malucci.”
Leaving her crutches behind her she leaned on Dave as they took to the floor.
Carol and Elizabeth watched them from the other side of the dance-floor.
“I can’t believe I’m saying this,” said Carol. “But they do make a lovely couple.”
“They’re not usually this affectionate in public,” said Elizabeth. “But I suppose I’ve only really seen them together on duty, and they always act professionally in the ER.”
“What, no sneaking off together into the suture room to make out? How dull.”
“Well, I once caught them coming down from the roof and they both had big grins on their faces.”
“Knowing Malucci, he was probably dropping water balloons.”
“That’s probably why I also saw Romano turn up for his shift soaking wet that day.”
The two women burst into fits of laughter.
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to be continued