Title: A very odd couple - part 21
Author/pseudonym: ceindreadh
Rating: PG-13
Timeline: Fall 2000

Keywords: Dave & Luka friendship, hurt/comfort and a little romance
(no, *this* isn't the slash fic)

Last episode seen: Rampage
Last relevent episode: Mayday
Spoilers: Season 7?  What season 7? <g>

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.
Thanks to the ERFFCC for comments & critiques.

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A Very Odd Couple - part 21

--------------------

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.

Dave's nervousness about his physical exam weren't helped by the possibility
that he might have picked up an infection.  Kerry told Luka that if Dave was
cleared to return to work, she was going to schedule his return for a time
when Luka wouldn't be working.

Note: This fic was started in Summer 2000, so season 7 never happened.

--------------------------

Before Kerry 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."

----------------------------

Luka watched anxiously as Kerry listened on the phone.

"Kerry, I've just got the test results back on Dr. Malucci," said Elizabeth.

"I see," said Kerry, her hand clenching involuntarily round the handset.
"And?"

"Bad news I'm afraid...I've cleared him to return to work..."

Kerry let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding as Elizabeth
continued to speak.

"I want to restrict him to half shifts for his first week...after that we
can review the situation."  Elizabeth glanced across her desk to where Dave
was sitting, barely able to conceal his jubilation.

She knew that it hadn't been easy for him...waiting for the labs to come
back on his blood, but he had borne it with more patience than she had
initially believed possible.  But then, she reflected, she supposed that he
had had ample opportunity to learn patience over the past few weeks.

Fortunately the wait had been worth it, as the blood work had shown no signs
of infection.  She had diagnosed the pain Dave had felt as being due to
residual muscle damage and scar tissue from his surgery.

"It may take a little longer to heal, but as long as you take things easy
there's no reason for you not to resume your duties in the ER," she had told
him.

"Yes!" Dave had exclaimed, punching the air triumphantly with his good hand.

"No *physical* reason, that is," added Elizabeth.

Dave looked at her apprehensively, the elation dying from his face.
"Whaddya mean?" he asked tensely.

"Physically, I can't see any reason for you not to return to work...but I
admit to having some reservations about your emotional state."  Elizabeth
hadn't any rational basis for her reservations...it was more of a 'gut
instinct' that Dave wasn't as emotionally balanced as he appeared to be.

"There's nothing wrong with my 'emotional state'.  I...I've been having
sessions with Doc. Pomerantz...I'm fine...I mean, I *will* be fine...I know
I'm still pretty messed up inside...but I'm getting better Dr. Corday..."

"You do know that going back to work isn't going to magically make
everything all right again?"

"I know...but it's a start...I mean, I know it's not gonna be easy...but I
need to do this now...the longer I leave it, the harder it's gonna be.
Please Dr. Corday...my tests were okay, right?  I know I'm strong enough to
go back...mentally *and* physically...please, you've gotta clear me to get
back to work."

Elizabeth was silent as she considered the matter.  Perhaps it *would* be
good for Dave to return to work.  After all, he was a sociable type of
guy...and she could imagine that it hadn't been easy for him being stuck at
home for so long.  True he had had plenty of visitors, that she was sure
of...but it wasn't the same thing as being surrounded by people day in and
day out.

"All right," she said finally.  "I'll recommend to Dr. Weaver that you be
allowed back to work...but only on half shifts, and even then I want you to
take things easy.  No more than two patients at a time, and no traumas."
Elizabeth caught a flicker of disappointment on Dave's face.  "I know this
may sound overly restrictive, but it's non-negotiable.  Either you agree to
these limitations, or you don't go back to work.  It's as simple as that."

"Oh I'll agree to them," said Dave quickly.

"Good," said Elizabeth, "But don't look so gloomy.  I'll review your
situation in a week or so...see how you're managing...all right?"

"Guess so," said Dave.  A part of him was disappointed at the restrictions
he was going to be under...another part of him was elated to be getting back
to the ER even if only in a limited role...but there was a small part of him
that was asking him was it really such a good idea to go back so soon.
"What if you're not ready?" the little voice was asking him.  "What if you
have a panic attack when you're with a patient?  What if you're an even
bigger screw-up now than you were before the attack?"

Dave pushed the voice resolutely out of his mind and tried to concentrate on
what Dr. Corday was saying.

"I suppose I'd better break the bad news to Dr. Weaver," said Elizabeth with
a deadpan expression.

"Guess so," said Dave, with a smile on his face.  Okay, maybe he wasn't
going to be allowed to work on traumas...and maybe he would screw up
again...but hell, people were going to be watching him cause of what
happened, and if he made mistakes they'd pick up on him and give him a bit
of leeway...and he was gonna be back in the ER where he belonged, and that
was all that mattered.

------------------------

Two days later, Dave and Luka were sitting in Luka's car just outside the
hospital.

"Are you sure you are ready?" asked Luka finally.

Dave nodded.  If truth be told, he was feeling very nervous at the thought
of walking back into the ER.  "As ready as I'll ever be," he said, trying to
instill some certainty into his voice.

Luka caught the slight tremor but made no mention of it.  "Do you wish me to
come in with you?"

Dave shook his head, "I've gotta do this myself...I...I know you've been
there for me all along...but I can't keep relying on you and Chris...I have
to get back on my own two feet."  He fiddled nervously with the door handle,
but didn't open it.

"You know that if you feel unwell...or unable to continue, that nobody will
think less of you if you cannot finish out your shift?  I mean, I don't want
you to overdo it..."

"I'll take it easy..."  Dave stared nervously out the window at the hospital
for a few more seconds before finally opening the door.

"I will collect you when your shift is over," said Luka firmly.   "Okay?"

Dave nodded, his mouth was dry and he felt that if he said anything, he'd
soon be saying hello to his breakfast again.

"Take care," called Luka as he watched Dave set off towards the hospital
without a backwards glance.

---------------------------

The ER was a hive of activity when Dave walked in.  Making his way to the
Lounge he was stopped at frequent intervals by staff members eager to find
out how he was doing.  Although appreciative of their well wishes, a part of
him just wanted to get to his locker and get back in to work without any
fuss and bother.

Grabbing his stethoscope from his locker, he threw it around his neck,
glancing at himself in his mirror as he did so.  "You can do this Malucci,"
he told himself.  "Just take it slowly...one step at a time."  Closing his
eyes, he took a few deep breaths to calm himself.

Finally he opened his eyes and slammed the locker door shut.  "Here goes
nothing," he muttered to himself before heading back to admit.

When he got there, Kerry was busy distributing charts to the staff.

"Malucci," she said, when he approached the desk.  "I've got one of your
favorite combinations here...butt boils and hemorrhoids..."

"Aw no Chief...can't Carter take it?" Dave groaned instinctively.

"Carter's already got a yeast infection and a disempaction...unless you'd
rather swap?" Kerry asked with a wry smile.

"I think I'll pass."

"Okay then, there's a two hour wait up in x-ray, we've a backlog of patients
in chairs, and the surgical department have informed me that they're
short-staffed, so we might not get consults as quickly as usual.  Any
questions?  No?  Then get to work."

The crowd rapidly dispersed.  Dave being one of the last to move away.  He
didn't know why he felt so let down...after all, he *had* wanted to be
treated normally.

"Oh, and Dave?"   He looked up as he heard Kerry speak again.

"Yeah Chief?"

"Welcome back."

-------------------------


To be continued


--
ceindreadh
"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


--
http://homepage.eircom.net/~ceindreadh/index.htm