A Very Odd Couple
Part XI


Previously on ER

Dave was attacked on his way home from work. Recovering in the hospital, he started suffering from nightmares. A visit to Nina Pomerantz seemed to help, but Dave's sister, Chris wasn't so sure, so she phoned Luka.

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"Chris, it is good to hear from you," said Luka, on the phone in the lounge. He had been pleasantly surprised when Randi had told him that Chris was on the line.

"Thank you," said Chris. "Luka, I'm worried about Dave. I spoke to him a few minutes ago, and he just didn't sound right."

"He had an appointment with Dr Pomerantz this morning. Perhaps that affected him somewhat."

"He mentioned it to me. But every time I asked him about it, he just changed the subject. I know he's hiding something, but I can't get it out of him over the phone, and I just feel that if he's not opening up to me, then this Dr Pomerantz isn't going to be able to get him to open up to her."

"Dr Pomerantz is a very well respected and experienced psychiatrist. I am sure that she will be able to persuade Dave to confide in her."

"She may be experienced, but I doubt she's met anyone as stubborn as Dave before." Chris was silent for a moment, considering how best to phrase her request to Luka. Finally, she continued. "Also, I don't think she can know what Dave has been through. I can't <know> either...but I think you do."

Chris could hear Luka's sudden intake of breath on the other end of the phone. Speaking gently, she said, "I've seen the scars you carry, Luka. And I'm guessing that you had more than just physical scars. I think that maybe you have a better idea of what Dave's been through, how he's feeling, than me or any psychiatrist around."

"You are a very perceptive young woman," said Luka finally. "I will talk to Dave tonight. However, I do not know if it will be of any assistance to him."

"All I ask is that you try," said Chris. "I....I just want Dave to get better."

Luka could hear the sound of tears in her voice. "That is what I want as well, Chris. I promise I will do whatever it takes to help him."

"Thank you, Luka," whispered Chris.

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Dave looked up as Elizabeth walked into the room. He was still feeling the after-effects of his walk back from the psych department, and all he really wanted to do was sleep for a couple of hours.

"Good afternoon, Dr Malucci," said Elizabeth as she picked up his chart.

"Afternoon," said Dave tiredly. Sitting up in the bed, he pulled up his top to allow her access to his dressings.

Elizabeth carefully examined Dave's incisions. "They seem to have healed up nicely. I'll just remove the sutures now."

Dave looked away as she carefully pulled out the sutures. The sensation of the silk being pulled through his skin sent a wave of nausea through him. He closed his eyes and willed himself not to vomit. Elizabeth noticed his sudden pallor and she quickly removed the last of the sutures.

"You can open your eyes now," she said gently, handing him a glass of water.

"Thanks," said Dave, sipping it gratefully.

"It's not very pleasant, I know," said Elizabeth, as she made some notes on the chart. "But at least that's the last of them." She made a quick, but thorough examination of the rest of Dave's injuries, frowning when she came to his knee. "It's a bit more swollen than it was yesterday," she said to him as she rolled down the leg of his scrubs. "But that's hardly surprising, considering the amount of exercise you took today."

Dave's face was flushed. "Suppose you're going to lecture me about that," he muttered.

"Actually, I feel your aching muscles will be a more effective reprimand than anything <I> could say. What you have to realize Dave is that it's going to take time before you regain the same level of fitness as you had achieved before you were attacked. Now, I'm all for the idea of you taking exercise, but you have to be patient, and not try to do too much, too quickly."

"Guess so," said Dave. "Don't suppose I'll have much chance to overdo it with all the nurses keeping an eye on me."

"That's true. But once you're at home, it'll be up to you to stay within your limits."

"So when are you going to let me out of here?"

"I was thinking about tomorrow."

"You mean it?" asked Dave in surprise. "I thought that after today, I'd be grounded for another few days."

"Well, today's little excursion did you no favors, but you don't appear to have suffered any major ill-effects from it. All that really stands between you and your recovery is time and rest. And I feel that you would probably be a lot more comfortable resting at home."

"That's for sure," said Dave, with feeling. "This place sucks. I mean, being a patient in here sucks. It's cool if you're working here."

"Which brings me on to my next subject," said Elizabeth, sitting down on the bed beside him. "You remember when you were in the ICU, I said that we would have a talk about your future in medicine?"

The smile, which had been on Dave's face at the prospect of being sent home, faded at Elizabeth's words. "Do <you> think I have a future in medicine?" he asked softly.

"Yes," said Elizabeth simply. Dave looked at her in surprise. "Dave, I've seen you in action in the ER, and I've also spoken to people about your work."

"Oh yeah?" said Dave, shifting uneasily in the bed.

"From what I have heard and observed, you seem to prefer working on traumas, and to be fair, you do work well on them. At a guess, I'd say it's because you find the traumas more interesting than other more mundane patients."

Dave nodded, "It's just... the rush you get when there's a patient there and you're racing against time to find out what's wrong with them."

"I understand, perhaps more than you realize. But what <you> have to understand, is that the patient that comes in with a broken finger, or a case of piles, is just as deserving of our fullest care and attention as the one who is deemed a trauma case."

Dave sighed, "I know, I know. It's just... when I'm working on a non critical case, a lot of the time, I'm just waiting for the next trauma to come in."

Elizabeth paused before continuing. She knew that what she was going to say was not what Dave wanted to hear, but she wasn't going to be less than honest with him.

"You do realize," she said gently, "that even after you return to work, it may be some time before you are able to participate in any traumas."

Dave looked down at the bedclothes. At the back of his mind, he had known that he couldn't jump straight into work, that he would be forced to take it easy. But he had still been hoping that there was some way around it.

"How long?" he asked quietly.

"You should probably be able to return to light duties in ten to fourteen days. Your cast should be removed a few weeks after that, but you will need physiotherapy on your arm, so I would say at least a month."

"A month of seeing minors and doing paperwork," said Dave, not exactly thrilled at the prospect.

"I know it's not as exciting as seeing traumas," said Elizabeth, "But it <is> a necessary part of working in an ER. The question is, are you capable of doing it, or will you allow your boredom to draw you back into your former sloppy habits, which I must say, I have noticed an improvement in."

"I can do it," said Dave, determinedly. "You'll see."

"I look forward to seeing it." Elizabeth stood up. "Get some rest now. You'll have a busy day ahead of you tomorrow."

"Thank you, Dr Corday," said Dave as Elizabeth walked over to the door.

"You're welcome Dave."

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A few hours later.

Luka carefully cut up Dave's dinner into manageable pieces, and moved the plate over in front of him.

"Thanks Luka," said Dave. Taking a forkful of food, he grimaced. "This is one thing I will <definitely> not miss when I get out of here tomorrow."

"Once you get home, I will cook you a proper meal," promised Luka. "You look as if you could do with some fattening up."

"Yes, Mom," said Dave with a grin. "It'll be great to get out of here."

"It has been quite dull at home without you," said Luka.

Finally, Dave pushed away his plate with a sigh. "Think that's enough for me."

"But you haven't finished your vegetables," said Luka. "You really should not waste good food."

Dave looked at the unappetizing mess that claimed to be steamed mixed vegetables. "If you're so keen on not wasting food, why don't you eat them," he said grinning.

Luka made a face. "No thank you," he said with a shudder.

"So," said Luka, when Dave's plate had been cleared away. "How did your session with Nina go?"

Dave shrugged uneasily. "Okay, I guess. Nina's pretty easy to talk to...." There was an unspoken 'but' at the end of Dave's sentence.

"Do you think she will be able to help you?" asked Luka quietly.

"I don't know," said Dave. "I mean, she doesn't know anything about it.... about me, or what happened to me."

"Maybe you should talk to someone who knows you better. Someone who knows what you have gone through, because they have been through the same thing themselves."

Dave looked up at Luka, an unspoken question in his eyes. Luka nodded.

"Tell me what is troubling you Dave," said Luka gently. "And I promise I will do all I can to help you."

"I'm scared," said Dave in a whisper.

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To be continued

Part X

Part XII

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