A Very Odd Couple - 20
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Previously on ER.
Chris and Luka became very close after Dave's attack, but decided
not to tell him just how involved they were getting. Dave
struggled to deal with the after effects both physical and
emotional, but was looking forward to getting back to work and
hopefully getting his life on an even keel once more. John was
concerned that Dave might be taking on too much too soon and
voiced his worry to Kerry, who had earlier agreed that Dave could
return to work if he was cleared by Elizabeth.
Note: This fic was started in Summer 2000, so season 7 never
happened.
Note: In this fic the only people officially aware of Carter's
addiction are the people involved in the intervention, Abby, Luka
and the other ER attendings.
Also, I have received comments on the fact that Dave doesn't
behave 'in character' in this fic. Well, the reason why is simple...unlike
TPTB, *I* have given Dave some character development, so
naturally he's not the same as he is on the show.
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Dave looked in the mirror and ran his hand through his hair,
trying to smooth down the unruly locks. Today was the moment of
truth. If he passed his physical then this time tomorrow he'd be
a doctor again. Oh sure, even if he didn't pass today, it wasn't
the end of the world, but if he had to spend another few weeks
just sitting around waiting, he was going to go nuts.
"Are you ready?" asked Luka, looking over Dave's
shoulder.
Dave shrugged, "I guess so," he said. "I just hope
it goes okay. I mean, what if she decides I'm not ready? What if
I don't pass the physical? What if I never pass it?"
"If you do not pass, then you do not pass," said Luka
philosophically. "You will come home...rest for a few weeks
and then try again. But there is no reason to believe that you
will not pass the test. Your injuries have healed very well, and
I know that you have been doing your best to regain some of your
former strength."
"Yeah, but what if it's not enough?" asked Dave
gloomily. "Shit, maybe Kerry was right...maybe it is too
soon."
"Do you wish to postpone it for another time? There is no
need for you to do this if you do not feel ready for it."
Dave shook his head. "No...the longer I leave it...the
harder it's gonna be to get back in there...I *want* to do it now...I
want to get back to work."
Luka frowned, before saying, "Dave. Promise me one thing."
Dave looked at him curiously as he continued, "Promise me
that you will be honest with Dr. Corday. I know that you are
eager to be passed fit again...but I do not wish you to damage
your health by trying to do too much too soon."
Dave was silent for a few minutes before saying, "Well I
can't see her letting me get away with anything like that anyway...but
okay. I won't lie to her." He sighed heavily.
Luka squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. "Things will return
to the way they were...it will take time, that is all."
"I know it'll take time...and I know that things aren't ever
gonna be exactly like they were. I mean...I'm not the same person
I was before...before the attack."
"None of us are," said Luka simply. "None of us
are."
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Dave sat nervously in the reception area outside Elizabeth's
office. He wished that he hadn't turned down Luka's offer to wait
with him. At the time he had felt that it would seem a bit
childish, him needing someone to hold his hand, so to speak. But
now...after waiting half an hour for Dr. Corday, he wished he
hadn't been so quick to turn down the chance of company.
Fidgeting awkwardly in the chair, he tried to concentrate on the
magazine he was holding. One thing all doctors' waiting rooms
seemed to have in common was their crappy selection of reading
material, he thought as he thumbed impatiently through a six-month-old
copy of Good Housekeeping.
Finally Elizabeth hurried into the room. "I'm sorry to keep
you waiting like this Dave," she said as he stood up. "I
was paged to the ER for a consult."
"Was it a trauma?" asked Dave, a little wistfully.
Elizabeth shook her head. "Rule out appendicitis. Of course
by the time I arrived, the child had admitted to eating half a
treeful of unripe apples and promptly proceeded to vomit all over
me."
Dave smiled wryly at the image. "Been there, done that."
"So, if you're ready?" Elizabeth indicated the door
"Ready as I'll ever be," said Dave nervously. He wiped
the palm of his hand on his jeans before opening the door.
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"Just a few quick questions first," said Elizabeth, as
Dave sat up on the exam table.
"How have you been feeling these last few weeks? Are you
still tiring easily?"
Dave shrugged, "Yeah, I guess. I mean, I've been trying to
take some exercise...I'm not overdoing it," he added hastily.
"But I couldn't just sit around the house all day."
"That's okay," said Elizabeth reassuringly. "A
little gentle exercise is a good start towards regaining your
fitness." She made a note on the chart. "Have you been
experiencing any headaches, dizziness, nausea?"
"No," said Dave quickly. Elizabeth looked at him
sharply. "Well not exactly," he continued. "I
mean, the first day I walked round the block...I...I threw up
once I got back to the house...and my head was spinning like
crazy...but that was it. I mean, I took it slower the next time I
went out."
"It was probably just a case of over exerting yourself. You
didn't suffer any recurring dizziness or nausea?"
"No, just that one time."
"Okay then. If you just strip to the waist and lie back on
the table, we'll begin."
A few minutes later, Dave was lying on his good side, facing away
from Elizabeth as she poked and prodded at his healing injuries.
Elizabeth gently applied pressure to the incision she had made
only a few weeks earlier.
"Careful," yelped Dave.
She looked up sharply. "Is that still tender?" she
asked.
"Just a little...I mean, only when you press on it like that."
Dave twisted his head round, trying to see the expression on
Elizabeth's face. "What's wrong?"
"It could be just residual tissue damage from the surgery,"
said Elizabeth, frowning slightly, glad that Dave couldn't see
the concern on her face. "I'm just going to draw some blood...run
a few labs."
"You think it could be infected?" asked Dave, as
Elizabeth rolled him onto his back.
"That's always a possibility," admitted Elizabeth.
"But it's more likely to be scar tissue forming around the
incision."
"Or maybe one of you guys left a scalpel inside when you
were stitching me up," said Dave, trying to smile.
Elizabeth made a face at him, before retrieving a blood gas kit.
Taking Dave's arm, she tutted disapprovingly at the track marks
left from his many I.V.'s. "It's not going to be easy
getting a good stick," she said, as she tapped his arm.
Finally she fastened the tourniquet around it and started
cleaning the site.
As predicted, it wasn't easy and it took Elizabeth several tries
before she was able to locate a suitable vein in the back of
Dave's hand.
Dave looked away as Elizabeth competently drew the blood out of
his vein. He had seen enough of his own blood to last a lifetime.
He felt a slight pressure as the needle was withdrawn.
"Okay, you can look now," said Elizabeth as she filled
out the order for the tests. It hadn't escaped her notice that
Dave was looking several shades paler than he had been at the
beginning of the test. "I'll just get this sent down to the
lab. Hopefully they won't take too long."
Dave nodded as she left the room. Man, that had been bad. For a
few seconds there, as Corday had been trying for a vein, he had
had to struggle to keep his breakfast down. But at least the
worst was over...assuming of course that nothing showed up on the
blood work. Shit, if he *did* have an infection...that would mean
more drugs...possibly even I.V. antibiotics if it was severe
enough. He groaned at the thought of possibly having to be
readmitted.
"Are you all right?" asked Elizabeth, hearing his groan
as she returned to the room.
"Yeah...I just...I don't want to be stuck back here again.
If it's infected...and I need an I.V...don't readmit me...please."
Dave looked pleadingly at her. "I don't want to be a patient
again."
"It's okay Dave. First of all it may not be an infection.
And even if it is, it's unlikely that it'll be severe enough to
require that you be readmitted." Elizabeth could see Dave
visibly relax at this news.
"I...thank you," said Dave, a weight off his mind.
"I know it's stupid...but I just feel like it'd be a step
backwards."
"It's not stupid, it's a perfectly natural reaction after
what you've been through."
"Yeah...so what's the verdict...are you gonna let me back in
the ER?"
"Let's just see what the blood work says before we discuss
your return to work."
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Downstairs in the ER, Luka waited anxiously for news from Dave.
He knew that his friend was making a good physical recovery. The
question was; whether it was good enough...and if it wasn't, then
how would it affect him emotionally if he wasn't allowed to
return to work. Sighing, Luka checked his watch for the tenth
time in fifteen minutes. Surely it should not be taking this long.
Knowing that Kerry was on her break, he headed for the lounge to
see if she had heard anything.
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Kerry looked up as Luka pushed open the door.
"Ah, just the person I was looking for," she said with
a smile.
"Why?" asked Luka. "Have you heard from Dr. Corday
regarding Dave?"
"Not yet," replied Kerry. "But I've been making
out a tentative duty roster for him. Assuming that he passes his
physical."
"Oh...okay," said Luka, taking the sheet of paper from
her outstretched hand. He looked at it and then looked at Kerry,
frowning. "You have him listed to start back the day after
tomorrow. But I...I am not working that day."
"I know that Luka. I *did* make out the schedules."
"But why? I do not understand. I wanted to be there for him...his
first day back, it is bound to be difficult."
"I realize that. And I also know that it won't be made any
easier if you're hovering around him. I know that you've been
supporting him throughout his ordeal, but this...this I feel is a
step he needs to take on his own."
Luka stared gloomily at the paper in his hands. "I suppose...I
suppose that you are right..."
"Believe me, I've given it a lot of thought. I want to do
what's best for Dave...and I know you do too. Don't worry; he
won't be thrown in at the deep end. We'll all be looking out for
him, making sure he's all right."
Before she could say any more, the phone rang beside her.
Kerry frowned as she picked it up. "Yes?" she said into
the mouthpiece. "Oh...hello Dr. Corday."
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To be continued