Still On Your Side
Part Two - If You Call, I Will Answer
By Kitchen_Sink5 and LovelyLuka24
kitchen_sink5@yahoo.com and run-away-bride@juno.com

CATEGORY: Dave Malucci and a made up character
RATING: PG
SPOILERS: None that we can think of!
ARCHIVE: Please ask us first

DISCLAIMER: Neither one of us own the characters from the television show ER. Don't believe us? Come on, would we really spend our time writing this if we owned the ER characters. Please.......

AUTHOR'S NOTES:Early last summer, both LovelyLuka24 and I came to know each other at Doug and Carol's ER RPG. We started rping, with her playing Alyson Delgado (the made up character), and I playing Dave Malucci. Since then, this story has grown bigger and bigger and longer and longer, filled with the story of Ally and Dave. We decided that we ought to preserve this, so with a little bit of copying and pasting, and a little (well, a lot, actually!) of editing, we created out series:"Still On Your Side". We hope you enjoy!

Romano hated these clueless newbies. He had just met Alyson Delgado, and was not impressed at all. Can't they figure things out on their own? He cleared his throat and tapped his foot. Not only that but she looked totally stoned! She seemed distracted. Who hired HER?

"I don't know - What does it matter? you have to get to work -- not just wander around aimlessly." He stepped into the elevator. "You can go up with me if you want..." Well, she IS sort of pretty, after all... He tried to give a fake grin.

Ally sort of nodded...and then finally looked up, "Okay," She said as she stepped onto the elevator. "I am sorry I have been a little out of it today, forgive me. Alyson Delgado - ER nurse..And you are?" She said, actually wishing she hadn't as she looked at him and noticed what an ugly thing he was. All she had wanted was to find Mark Greene so she could get her schedule, but she ended up with this little twit. God, I hate Mondays.....

"I'm Dr. Romano. Good to have you aboard." Finally DING! "Well, the next floor's the cafeteria - Maybe Dr. Greene's in there. If not, I don't care - You need to get to work. Anyway, nice meeting you!" He waved to the cute young girl and the doors closed. He suddenly felt rather sleazy. Rocket, great move. She's probably 16! He stepped out on the OR floor and prepped for the gall bladder surgery.

Ally folded her arms as she stood in the elevator, thoroughly disgusted by Dr. Romano. Ally thought she defiantly didn't like him, Ugh, the way he looked at me.....I feel like I need to take a shower after those looks.... As the elevator doors opened, she walked to the cafeteria and looked around. The desk clerk had described Dr. Greene as a tall bald man.......She looked around and finally spotted him, sitting at a table

"Hello - Dr. Greene?" After he nodded, confirming who he was, she continued, "I'm Alyson Delgado - The new ER nurse. Well, I've been working down there the past few days, but I still need to know my payment as well as my schedule."

"Mark Greene - ER Attending." He introduced himself, "But you probably knew that already....How long have you been here?"

"Since last Thursday." Ally said, growing a little impatient.

"Okay, we'll discuss your schedule." He pulled the chair back away from the table and eased himself back into it. "First of all, I need to know type of environment you previously worked at. You know, ER, OB, geriatrics, that sort of thing. If you have never worked ER before, we should introduce you into it gradually. It can be pretty fast paced down here. I'll make up a schedule for you.."
 
"I've worked in the ER before......Plus, I've been working the past few days down there anyway, so I'm use to..." Ally was interrupted by the ringing of her cell phone. "Oh, excuse me a second.." She turned on her phone, speaking into it, " ... Hello? yes this is Ally...oh...Can you please call me back, at my apartment...? Well, I don't want to know right now, I am busy..."Ally clicked the phone off.. ."Sorry...It was my...Doctor. Anyway.."Ally hoped Mark wouldn't ask about the call..She looked up at him..."Is there anything else?" She asked as she put her phone back in her purse.

Mark sighed heavily and could tell that Miss Delgado's mind was elsewhere. "Well, you can work a shift tomorrow, starting at 8:30 in the morning. I'll give you your schedule then, and we'll work out anything else. I'll supervise you, although I am sure you will do fine. ER is extremely fast pace but pretty easy to get the hang of." He tried to give her an apologetic smile. "So, I'll see you bright and early tomorrow morning."

Ally smiled "Thanks Dr. Greene I appreciate your help, and I will see you tomorrow at 8:30 sharp!" Ally gathered her purse and coat..and walked down the hall..."what a draining day" She thought to herself...as she went to the lounge. Ally seemed to be in her own world, not noticing anything as she poured herself some coffee.

Dave had come into work a mere eleven hours ago, and didn't have long to go on his shift. There had been no major traumas, so Dave had taking up residency on the couch in the lounge, trying to get some sleep. Dave thought he heard someone come in the lounge... Dave slowly sat up, rubbing his eyes...."Ally?", he said confused and groggy.

Ally was so out of it, that the voice caused her to jump, which caused her to spill coffee all over the front of her shirt.

 "Sorry I woke you up. What do you want?" She said, sort of impatiently - This was not a good day for her.

"It's okay - I'll be able to go home and sleep soon anyway. Sorry I scared you." Dave apologized

Ally stood in the Doorway and sighed.."Sorry, I was a little snippy towards you, Anyway...Well anyway, I guess I'll see you around!" Ally closed the door behind her, and went to attend to any patients she could find.

Dave watched Ally exit the room. Well, he thought to himself, looks like you blew it with her.. So much for being sweet and charming! He wanted to go home, but he also wanted to talk to Ally. So he picked up a piece of paper and a pen and started to write:

Ally:
Hi, it's Dave. Sorry that I ended things so badly the other day - I'm sorry if I scared you off with that kiss. To tell you the truth, I'm not sure why I did it. It was an impulse, and usually I do act on all of my impulses. But I never meant to scare you or hurt you. And I didn't mean to jeopardize anything with you. If you'd like to go out sometime, maybe you could tell me about your first few days at County - I'd like to know your opinion of it. So we'll talk (I hope).
I'll see you at work, but in case you need to talk to me sooner, just call me. I'm the only "Malucci" in the phone book.
From: The apologetic Dave.

When he was finished, he slipped the note into her locker, making sure he got the right one. Then he gathered his stuff and left CCGH for the day, driving home. Dave walked up the stairs, down the hall, and into his apartment. He was finally home, after this terrible day. Well, maybe it wasn't that horrible, he tried to convince himself. Nothing too terrible had happened....but the day had just been awful. And to make matters worse, his weekend visiting his old friends had been terrible too. It had been filled with stories of how everyone was better than him. He was glad to be home.

Going to the kitchen, he poured himself a glass of water and sat down. He thought of the letter - he already regretted writing it. Plus he had left out so much....Maybe I should have told Ally about her - No, he dismissed the thought. It's too soon for that. Thinking about her, he looked over at the phone. It's not like she's going to call you Dave, he told himself. She probably hasn't even left work yet. Dave put his head down on the table.

Welcome back, you idiot.....



When Ally returned to the lounge an hour later, no one was in there. She thanked God, because she didn't think she could handle talking to anyone right now. As Ally went to her locker she noticed the letter from Dave....After she read it, she couldn't help wondering what exactly was up with him. She closed up her locker and left without being noticed.

When she got home she was very tired, but the letter just kept bothering her, "I shouldn't be rude, I'll just call the guy it can't be that bad" Ally brushed her hair and got into something comfy..as she found Malucci in the phone book... she grabbed her phone..."Hello..Dave? Yeah its me Ally.." Ally sighed... here we go she thought.

Dave had fallen asleep, his head resting on top of his kitchen table. He heard ringing, directly in his ear. The ringing stopped and started again. He lifted up his head, and reached for the phone. His voice groggy from sleeping, he answered, "Hello?" The voice on the other line told him that it was Ally. Well that girl certainly has a knack for waking me up, he thought to himself jokingly.

"Oh hi Ally - I was expecting to hear from you so soon," He remarked as he sat up straight.

"Well, its only 8:15," Ally replied to Dave...."So I figured you'd be up still..."

"Actually I wasn't, but it doesn't matter. I needed to get up - I fell asleep at my kitchen table. I'm certainly good at falling asleep in strange places aren't I?"

"Oh, I'm sorry....Ally paused, "I didn't mean to wake you....I got your note"

"Really it's no problem. I mean, if I had slept at my kitchen table the entire night, my back would have been all stiff - You would have had to hear me whine about it all day"

Ally wondered if he was trying to ignore the subject..."Well, then I suppose I am glad I did call" She said, trying to sound enthused

Dave laughed "Believe me, you don't want to hear me whine. I can barely stand myself when I whine"

Ally really didn't feel like laughing along so she decided to get down to business "Dave, why did you want me to call?" She asked with a serious tone

"Um, I just wanted to talk....." Dave had purposely been trying to avoid this. He absolutely hated this part - he was feeling sick to his stomach already.. "I mean, I mean. I'm so terrible at this!"

Just wanted to talk? Ally thought....Ally felt a little weird when Dave said he was so terrible at this...at what she thought...what was he going to say?... "Terrible at what?" Ally said..not really knowing what to say

"The whole "asking out" thing. I can talk the talk all I want, but once it comes down to it, I'm a bumbling nervous wreck," Dave could feel his cheeks turning red.

Ally went numb...he was asking her out? she then remembered some of the letter had talked about it....Ally leaned back on her chair..."But..." Ally trembled what should she say...?...."But, we've only just met"...she managed to get out

"I know I know! Look, sorry to bother you. I guess I'll just go..."

"No...I think we need to talk this over..." Ally said strongly

"Alright - then talk." Dave said, turning the conversation over to her.
 
Oh great! she thought. Ally had only one thing on her mind.."I've been through a lot the past month Dave, and I thought coming to work here would clear my mind. But then you seemed to...well...you know....and then the kiss..." Ally could feel herself blush as she thought about it...Ally went silent...

"I know I've been through a lot too..." Dave regretted saying the words as soon as they left his mouth

Ally sighed...."Really?" Ally said, she didn't feel like talking about her rough time just yet

"Yes, really." Dave said seriously. His voice had cracked a little on the last syllable

Ally didn't know what to say, he sounded like he was going to cry....and she felt like crying herself...what was she doing talking to him anyway?...Ally put her hand on her forehead..."I just think if you knew more about me...you'd have thought twice" She finally said...wishing she hadn't...Ally remembered the phone call that had come to her earlier, and practically gasped.

"What makes you think that I'm so great either. I'm surprised that - Ally? are you okay?"

Ally trembled with fear ... "Um...Sorry...I am fine..."

"Are you sure you're okay? You just sounded scared."

Ally realized Dave was catching on to her fear...and she tried to calm down... "Oh, yes Fine...I just remembered something - That's all" Ally said trying to relax

"Do you have to go? Because I can call you back later if it is something important"

Ally really wanted to take Dave up on his offer but she was so scared, and she knew she'd never sleep..."Well, its sort of important ....but I won't know until to tomorrow anyway"

"Oh, okay. Just wanted to make sure that I wasn't keeping you from something."

"Oh, no you aren't.." Ally said..."What were we talking about?"

"About what a lousy person I am," Dave got up and poured himself a glass of water, still holding the phone

Ally sighed...she had to get her past out..but she didn't know where to start...and she had to tell Dave...It was so important, but she hardly talked about it. She mostly tried to avoid it as best as she could."There is only one reason I am not interested Dave...ally paused here we go...I'm scared..Dave..."Ally said as her whole body shook and tears started to swell up in her eyes... "Ally, I'm here." He said sympathetically

"You don't understand" Ally yelled.."I'm scared of you..." Ally said as the tear's rolled down

"Ally, why? Is it because of what I did what I said? How can I change it? I don't want to be feared - more importantly, I don't want you to be scared" Dave had a sudden flashback to a girl he thought he knew - It's starting again, he told himself

Ally cried "No..its not your fault...I ..I...just can't bring myself to trust another man....Dave ... I try to never talk about this, but I have to explain this...I was...I was raped a month ago" She finally blurted out as she continued to sob

"Oh my god Ally - I would never. I would never hurt you like that"

"Its been so hard Dave. They haven't even found him yet..."

"Is that why you thought I wouldn't like you if I thought twice? Because I don't have to think twice about you Ally. You're smart, sweet and friendly. I may have met you not even a week ago, but I know that much is true. And it's not going to change because of anything that happened to you."Dave wished he could kill the man who did this to her. The one who hurt her like that.

Ally cleared her voice..."No Dave...that's not why...I am going to find out...something that will change my life forever..."

"My life has changed too..So much from...." he cut off his sentence, remembering.

Ally wished she'd never called..but she couldn't change that now...she was so scared...and what was it that Dave was hiding..."So much from what Dave?"

Dave could only choke out on word. "Hannah"

Ally tried to think straight...Hannah...who was Hannah...she thought...."Hannah?" Ally question, Ally grabbed the tissue box and began to wipe her teary face

"I'd known her since I was 18. And I - I loved her."

"Oh..." Ally said... "Loved?" Ally asked without thinking......

"She's still around. Last I heard." he said, almost bitterly

Ally grabbed a blanket from the corner... "What...what happened ..?"

"We had been friends for awhile - I had loved her from the start though. I trusted her. respected her." his words were thick with anger

"If you don't want to talk about it I understand" Ally said softly...

"No, I have to say something. About 2 years after we met, we decided to go out. And we decided to go out again. And again. Well, things were still going strong last year..." Ally listened without saying anything... "One day, she tells me that she's pregnant. I was scared to death at first. But then I was excited. Me - a father. Well, I realized pretty soon that the baby needed a family so I proposed to her 2 weeks after she told me the news."

Ally knew the ending wasn't good..."Why did she say no?" Ally's stomach hurt...her emotions were all in a jumble

"She threw the ring in my face. Told me that I didn't deserve to be a father. She told me that she was in love with somebody else. And - and, " he voice quivered. "She had an abortion. She killed my baby. I know it's technically her choice. But that was my child. My baby - who would never know...." Dave swallowed the lump in his throat - He would not cry. "Like I said, I loved Hannah - with all my might. But within those two weeks, I loved that baby more than Hannah, more than anything in the world. I see babies every day at the ER. I wonder sometimes. how my baby would have turned out. What color hair? Eyes? Looks? Boy or girl - but I just have a feeling that it would have been a girl. My daughter."

Ally started to cry..."That has to be so hard..."

"It is. It gets easier. But sometimes...It's just so strong..." Dave admitted

Ally held a tissue up to her face with trembling hands...all of these awful things..."I Don't know how to say this...but tomorrow...I am going to find out from my Doctor...if the rapist...got me pregnant...He called me when I was with Dr. Greene, but I didn't want to find out then, I wish I didn't have to find out tomorrow either"

"I'm sorry to bring that whole thing up then. I'm sorry for you, for what you've been through. But thank you - thank you for listening."

"I just don't know what to do, I'll always look at him or her, as the product of that horrible day" Ally said all choked up, "I want to thank you to...I've needed to talk about this...and therapy just isn't the same...."

"Believe me - I know, Some person who just sits there - Looking at you judging you, not really caring. At least that's what mine was like"

Ally couldn't believe her ears, so Dave had to do therapy too...ally was glad she didn't have to explain...Ally looked over at the clock, ."I will never be able to thank you enough...but I have to get up early and be at work at 8:30, Dr Greene's orders" Ally said

"I'm on at 9. We'll talk. Lunch maybe? Strictly friendship for now, okay? Because I don't want to be the one you're afraid of."

Ally smiled...."I know...I am sure I can trust you...it may be a long road Dave..." Ally then answered his question "Lunch sounds fine.."

"I'll talk to you then - our paths will cross."

"Ok, Goodbye Dave" Ally said quietly....

"Goodnight Ally. See you tomorrow" Dave hung up the phone, wishing he could do something more for her

Ally hung up the phone, how am I ever going to get my needed sleep...her mind whirled and she felt dizzy as she climbed into Bed...She thought about tomorrow's maybe life changing news..and about Dave... She closed her eyes, and went into a troubled sleep.

END OF PART TWO