Consequences
Part Five
By Céindreadh
ceindreadh@eircom.net

A few weeks had passed since the accident. Kerry and Dave were both back at work and Dave had settled in to the basement flat that once was Carters. Both had agreed to take this relationship slowly and not to rush into things.

At work little had outwardly changed. Dave had expected a lot of teasing at his expense and was prepared for it. However he had not expected the restraint showed by the staff.

Whereas before he would have joined in any conversation going, now it seemed like every time he showed up people suddenly changed the subject or toned down what they were talking about. He also noticed that Kerry’s name was seldom mentioned in his presence, and when it was, it was usually just to pass on an instruction.

 He asked Carter about it one day while they were waiting in the ambulance bay for an incoming trauma.

“What you have to understand Dave,” said John. “Is that people are wondering if you’re going to run straight to Kerry and tell her what’s been said about her behind her back. It’s sort of like being the teachers kid in school. Everyone’s a little wary.”

“Did you have the same problem when you were living with her?” asked Dave.

“That was different. I’d been here a lot longer and everyone knew me.”

“They really think I’d tell tales?” Dave was appalled that his colleagues would have such a low opinion of him.

“Well, not deliberately, but it’s very easy to let something slip during ‘pillow talk’.”

“But we..” Dave bit back the words. It was on the tip of his tongue to say that they hadn’t got to that point in their relationship, but he knew that he couldn’t say something like that to John or anyone else in the ER for that matter. In the same way he had never told Kerry anything he had heard about her in the ER even before the accident.

He sighed heavily. Initially when he had moved in with Kerry they had decided not to rush things. He remembered the conversation.

“I want to make sure that we’re doing the right thing,” Kerry said. “I don’t want to rush into something and then realise that not only is it not working, but that I’ve lost a good friend in the process.”

“Whenever you’re ready I’ll be here,” replied Dave. 

Since then they had enjoyed each other’s company but neither of them had taken the next step.

Now Dave wondered if the moment had passed. Maybe I should have just swept her off her feet there and then he thought to himself. He knew it was unrealistic. At the time he had barely been able to carry an overnight bag, let alone a fully-grown woman. But now his injuries no longer bothered him (much). He just wondered if maybe he had lost his chance. Maybe she regrets saying what she did in the hospital he thought. Still there’s only one way to find out. 

He was brought back to the present by the sound of approaching sirens. 

It might have surprised him somewhat to learn that Kerry’s thoughts had been running along the same tracks. She also had noticed a difference in people’s behaviour around her. Dr. Romano had made a snide comment about keeping her personal and professional lives separate, but that was typical Romano. Mark seemed uncomfortable around her (at least more so than usual). Still she could live with that.

What she wasn’t sure she could live with was her stalled relationship with Dave. Although she had been the one to suggest taking things slowly, she hadn’t wanted it to be this slow. Of course there was nothing to stop her from making the first move, but what if Dave wasn’t ready, or worse yet, what if he regretted what he had said in the hospital that first night.

“You’re afraid,” she told herself in sudden realisation. “You Kerry Weaver, who has faced down lions in Africa and committees in Chicago, are afraid of being rejected by the man you love.”

Suddenly she decided, things have been moving slowly for too long. It was time to get things moving. She quickly checked the ER rosters. Today was no good because both she and Dave were working the same shift, but tomorrow she would be finished work before he was. All going well, tomorrow night would be the night.

Dave was drinking coffee in the lounge when the thought struck him. If he wanted his relationship with Kerry to change, he couldn’t just sit around and wait for her to make a move. Tonight was no good because they would be both off shift about the same time. So even allowing for the time Kerry needed to ‘run the board’ and finish her paperwork she would still be home too soon after him, unless he got a little help from someone. At that moment Luka walked in.

“The very man,” thought Dave.

Out loud he said “Dr. Kovac would you do me a favour?”

“What is it Dave?” asked Luka.

“I’m trying to organize a special evening for the chief at home, but I don’t want her turning up too early. Would you be able to delay her a little when she finishes work?”

“Is it her birthday?  I hadn’t realised,” said Luka

“No, nothing like that. I just want to do something nice for her. You know, something different.”

Luka smiled. “Ah. You mean candle-lit dinner, romantic music, that sort of thing?”

“Something like that. You think she’d like it?”

“All women like to be made feel special. I will do my best to delay her for you, but you know Kerry, it may not be possible.  And if we get busy…”

“I understand. If there’s a trauma or anything all bets are off and I’ll try again another time. I really appreciate it”

“I’ll let you know when she leaves if I can.”

“Thanks man, I owe you.”

Dave left the room smiling. Now all he had to do was organize a romantic evening before the end of his shift, and get it all set up before Kerry got home. No problem.

Several hours later Kerry limped into the house. “What a day,” she thought. It had seemed to drag on forever, and just when she was finally ready to leave, Luka had cornered her with what had seemed like a trivial request for information on a paper he was researching which had taken ages to answer. Still at least she was home. 

“Hi Dave I’m home,” she called out as she removed her coat.

Dave stuck his head round the door of the kitchen. 

“I’m nearly finished cooking dinner. It should be ready in a little while,” he said.

“Do you want a hand?”

“No. You just go and change. I have everything organized.”

Kerry went to her room noticing as she did so that the dining room table had been set with her best china and silverware. The smells coming from the kitchen were making her hungry. She was impressed. Usually when Dave cooked dinner they ended up eating on trays in front of the TV.

Kerry pushed her empty plate away from her and said “that was amazing Dave. I never knew you could cook so well.”

“Actually I cheated a little. Most of it came straight from the freezer. But I did peel all the potatoes myself.”

“You still did a great job.” Kerry meant it. The food, the candles, the soft music playing in the background, Dave seemed to have thought of everything. He had even put a small bunch of flowers on the table.

“But what about dessert,” she asked. Knowing Dave’s sweet tooth, she had been surprised not to see dessert settings on the table.

“Ah,” he said taking her by the hand and leading her from the table. “Dessert will be served in the lounge.”

He led her into her lounge where a warm fire was blazing merrily and sat her down on the floor in front of it.

“Won’t we be too hot?” she asked

“Maybe. Maybe not,” he said enigmatically.

He went to the kitchen and returned with a bowl of strawberries and a bowl of chocolate sauce.

“Did you forget the spoons?” asked Kerry.

“I think we can manage without them.”

Kerry’s eyes widened in surprise as Dave plucked a berry from the bowl, dipped it in sauce and fed it to her. 

“Your turn now,” he said.

“I’ve got chocolate and syrup all over my fingers,” laughed Kerry.

“I’ll clean it off.” Dave took Kerry’s hand and gently sucked the syrup off her fingers.

Kerry sat there in stunned silence for a moment, before saying softly “I think I have some syrup on my lips as well.”

Dave gently leaned in and kissed her slowly and fully on the lips.

He sat back and said “I’ve been waiting to do that for a long time.”

Kerry reached for him and said, “Well don’t stop now,” as she pushed him to the floor.

A few hours later Kerry awoke in Dave’s arms. The fire had been reduced to glowing embers, but she still felt warm.

She stretched like a cat then snuggled closer to Dave. The movement woke him. 

“I didn’t mean to wake you,” she said.

Dave looked at the clock. “That’s ok,” he said. “It’s about time we were going to bed anyway.”

Kerry burst into a fit of helpless giggles, which weren’t helped by Dave starting to tickle her. One thing led to another and the idea of going to bed was forgotten for a while.

Some time later.

“I don’t know about you, but I have an early start tomorrow,” said Kerry. “It’s time we were in bed.”

“Sure thing. Your place or mine.”

“You’ll have to stop making me laugh, or we’ll never get anywhere,” said Kerry in between chuckles.

“I’m never going to stop trying to make you happy.”

Kerry was silent for a moment.

“Do you know what would make me happy?” she said. “Finding my real parents.”

Dave hugged her close to him and said, “If that’s what you want, then we’ll do it together.”

To be continued.....