Consequences
Part Two
By Céindreadh
ceindreadh@eircom.net

As the lounge door closed Dave settled back on to the couch. “Way to get a sexual harassment suit going Malucci,” he said to himself. He couldn’t explain the impulse that had driven him to take hold of the chief’s hand like that. And to say it looked ‘mighty fine’, what had come over him. Oh well maybe Dr. Weaver would blame it on the drugs he’d been given.  

Dave tried to relax. Dr. Kovac had told him to rest for a few hours and then he could go home. Trouble was, every time he closed his eyes all he could see was his abraded arm as Haleh had been cleaning it. It wasn’t the worst injury he’d had in his life, but it was definitely one of the more gruesome. He shuddered slightly.

“Hey Dave,” said Carter from behind him.

Dave jerked and hit his arm on the couch. He hadn’t heard John come in. He groaned as the impact send waves of pain through his body.

“Sorry,” said John. “I didn’t mean to startle you. Heard you took a spill on your bike.”

“I suppose it’s all round the ER. Daredevil Malucci strikes again.”

“Something like that. I think the nurses had a bet going as to when you’d wind up on a gurney and Haleh won.”

“That probably explains why she was looking so smug when she was picking gravel out of my arm.”

John laughed. “I just came in to get an apple. I’ll see you later.” He walked away, showing only a trace of a limp.

Dave wanted to call him back but couldn’t think of a good excuse. Saying he didn’t want to be left alone would be the truth but he couldn’t let anyone know that. He sighed and lay back on the couch. Someone else would be along soon to distract him.  He could wait.

Kerry watched as the lift doors closed on her patient. The young man lying on the gurney hadn’t been as fortunate as Dave with his bicycle accident. He would be lucky if he still had both his legs this time tomorrow. At the thought of Dave she smiled to herself. By now he was probably using his blistered hand as a chat up line for all the female staff. She had probably just been the first in a long line.

Kerry pulled off her trauma gown and looked at her watch. Her shift was just over. There were no new traumas en route. For once she would be out of the hospital on time.

She hesitated momentarily before going into the lounge. Luka was there talking to Dave. 

“If you want to wait another few hours, I can give you a lift home,” he said. “You shouldn’t have to get a bus in your condition.”

“Hey Dr. Kovac, that’s a nice offer, but I really want to get out of here. I’ll be fine,” replied Dave.

“What’s the problem?” asked Kerry as she pulled her coat on.

“Dr Malucci doesn’t want our company any more, he insists on leaving.”

“Is there any medical reason why he should stay?”

“No but,”

“Well then if he wants to go we can’t stop him. Malucci where do you live?”

Dave told her his address.

“That’s on my way. If you really want to go home I’ll give you a lift,”

The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. 

“Ok chief,” said Dave.

“Right then,” said Kerry. “Be at reception in five minutes or I’ll leave without you.”

Without looking at Luka she hurried out of the lounge.

Luka caught up with her.  “Dr Weaver, I was hoping to persuade Dave to stay for a few more hours. I think he’s still fairly shaken by his experience.”

“He fell off his bike and scraped his arm. I don’t think he needs pampering. Look a good nights rest and he’ll be back to normal. Flirting with the female staff and trying to work only on the juiciest traumas.”

“You’re probably right. Anyway at least he won’t have to struggle on and off buses his first day with a crutch.”

“It’s not that difficult. Look,” she indicated down the hallway to where Dave was making his way towards them. “He’s already got the hang of it. Look I’ll talk to him and see how he is, but I’m not going to pander to him.”

The drive to Daves home seemed all too short to Kerry. Dave had fallen asleep soon after she started driving. As she glanced over at him he shuddered and moaned in his sleep. Whatever dreams he was having didn’t seem to be that enjoyable. 

Kerry parked about half a block from the address Dave had given her and turned to her passenger. He looked a little bit more relaxed than he had earlier. It was a shame to have to wake him. Kerry gently shook his shoulder and said “Dave, we’re here.”

In spite of her efforts he woke abruptly and banged his arm on the door.

“Are you all right?” she asked him. 

“Yeah yeah. I just thought I was somewhere else for a second. Somewhere without a door two inches away.”

“I think I’d better see you to your door. Make sure you don’t fall off your crutch.”

Dave smiled ruefully. “They do take a bit of getting used to.”

 Kerry and Dave limped their way to Daves flat. As they went through the hallway a couple of teenagers walked by. One of them said something to her friend in Spanish.

Dave chuckled.

“What’s so funny,” said Kerry. “What did they say?”

“They said that, that couple must have been in some bad accident together”

Kerry smiled. It did look a bit unusual to see two adults limping in unison.

“You know,” she said. “We do look as if we’re about to enter a three-legged race or something.”

Dave stopped outside his door. He hesitated for a few moments. “Say chief if you’re not in a hurry, would you like to come in for a coffee,”

As soon as he said the words he regretted them. Oh great, he thought to himself. First you grab her hand, and then you invite her for coffee. What is with you today?

Kerry considered the invitation briefly. It wasn’t as if she had anywhere else to be and she had told Luka she’d talk to Dave. “Ok,” she said. “But I can’t stay long. I have some reading to catch up on.”

Dave opened the door to his flat and Kerry followed him across the threshold.

TO BE CONTINUED…