Still On Your Side
Part Six - Crime and Punishment
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. Puhlease.......

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!

It was raining outside. From inside the hospital, you could hear the falling rain, crashing thunder. If you were to look outside, you would see the sky being split by bolts of lightning.

Dave Malucci walked into the ER, with his coat held over his head. He had been trying to use his coat as an umbrella, but sadly, his attempt had failed - and he was now soaking wet. At least he didn't have to worry about getting his cast wet - the big yellow cast had been taken off the day before. He was now wearing a removable cast on his wrist.

He would be working the night shift, which was fine by him. He actually enjoyed the night shift, and almost looked forward to it. Part of the reason was because Ally would be working too - she had come in early for a nurse's meeting. He and Ally had been dating officially for a month now - One month since his attack.

Dave entered the lounge, and began putting his stuff in his locker. He hung up his coat as best as he could, when he heard someone enter the lounge.

"It's really raining out there." Ally said

"Tell me about it," Dave laughed "I'm soaked"

"So I see."

"I'm going to the bathroom, to change my clothes. I'll see you out there." Dave exited the lounge

About an hour later, they were both at the front desk. Dave had changed into a pair of scrubs - the only dry things left, he claimed, and was made fun of by Ally. The radio beeped, and Ally answered it. While she was doing that, he went through charts, not paying attention to her conversation. Suddenly he heard her call out "Multiple stab wound victim coming in "

"What's the ETA?" He asked

"They're pulling up any second," Ally answered

Sure enough - he could hear the sirens in the distance. "Um, where's Dr. Kovac?"

"In trauma one - car accident victims"

"Shoot," Dave said, realizing he'd have to run the trauma himself. "Um, can you get any med students and nurses you can find? I'll need the help. Also prep trauma 3"

"Dave, are you sure that you can handle this?" Ally looked almost worried.

"Yeah. The med students will have to do a lot, but it should be okay. I'll get by"

They went their separate ways....Ally to prepare the trauma room, and Dave to meet the ambulance.
 
Dave ran to the ambulance, helping lower the gurney to the ground, and wheeling it into the hospital. As the paramedic rattled off the bullet, Dave got a strange feeling in his stomach. *I must be nervous about running a trauma*, he told himself.

As they wheeled the patient into the trauma room, they realized that the victim was not happy to be there. The man began to scream and yell obscenities, but finally calmed down. You could still feel the anger in the air, though.

"Get me a CBC, ABG, blood gas, coag panal, and call up surgery - have him redlined to the OR." He saw Ally race to the phone to carry out his orders. "His heart rate's still low - give him a few more units of atropine, IV push"

Dave rolled the man over to check his injuries. He must have hit a sore spot, because the patient screamed out in pain.

"What are you doing boy?" the man snapped at him.

One of the nurses replied "Trying to save your life", but Dave's mind was elsewhere.......

He remembered walking to is car that night, with a smile on his face.....The terrible blow that struck his head.......and that voice, his attacker's voice, that said "What are you doing with her boy? She's mine"

For the first time he could picture the attacker's face - he could finally picture it in his mind. He then looked down at the man lying on the gurney......

The faces were the same.

Dave's heart began to race, "Restraints," he called out as Ally came from the phone, "Ally stay away from him - and get that police officer in here. Now."

"What is it Dave?" Ally asked, and stepped toward him.

"Ally, go now. Someone get Dr. Kovac," He shouted to anyone "I need his help."

"Oh - So little Dr. boy works with my girl," The man on the gurney said. "How sweet...."

"Oh my God," Ally gasped

Dave looked at Ally. She had gone pale, and her hand went to her mouth. Next thing he knew, she had rushed out of the room. Dave stood there, motionless, staring at his attacker. He wanted to hurt the man so bad - but he didn't. He stood there, as Dr. Kovac entered

"Do you need help in here, Dave?" Luka asked

"Actually, can you take this case?" Dave pleaded

"Sure. Why Dave?"

Dave remained silent, until he said "I can't handle it - Um, I ordered restraints, and some Haldol ."

Dave threw off his gloves, and went to find Ally. He saw her standing there, outside the trauma room.

"Ally," he said "Do you know who that was?"

Ally nodded, as tears streamed down her face."I can't believe it...I'm so scared Dave" Ally was shaken all over and she couldn't control it."My God, he was so close...he..." Ally didn't finish but sobbed.

Dave knew what she meant.....He held her for a moment and then pulled away.

"Let's get out of here" He said.

They walked out to his car, got in, and drove off. There they couldn't be caught by anyone, found by anyone - it didn't even matter that they had no idea where they were going.

But they would have to talk about it...and soon

"Where are we going?" Ally asked between sobs.

"I don't know, actually." He said shakily. After some more silence he spoke up "There's a diner over there. That okay?"

Ally nodded...she was freezing all of the sudden....

He pulled into the parking lot and parked the car. He got out, and walked to Ally's side of the car, and opened the door. "There's a sweatshirt in the trunk. If you want it, I can get it for you" He said, after noticing her shiver..

Ally stood up "That's okay, I should be fine inside." Ally closed the car door and walked close by Dave as they entered the diner

They walked into the diner, and sat down at an empty booth. A waitress came over, to take there orders - neither of them were very hungry. The waitress walked away and they were left in silence

Ally looked up at Dave with blurred vision because of all the crying, "That..that...was the most terrifying thing....I never thought it would happen like this...I always wanted them to catch the guy...but not...not like this."Ally's voice was shaky

He could only look at her, tears streaming down her face. He swallowed trying to make the lump in his throat go away. "I wanted to kill him. I didn't want to treat him, help him. I wanted to kill him." That was all he could say, all he could get out.

"I know how you feel...I felt the same way" Ally wiped some stray tears... "Dave, was that the same man that attacked you?"

"Did you hear what the guy said to me? When I turned him over? He said 'what are you doing boy'" Dave took a deep breath, and continued "That night - when I - I got attacked. The man said to me 'what are you doing with her, boy. she's mine' And when the injured man, when he said that in the trauma room, I knew. I knew who he was. Yes," he said clarifying things "That was him"

"It scares me to think that he might have been following me. He could have..." Ally stopped herself and put her hand over her mouth. "I don't even want to think about this..."
 
Dave got up, and sat next to her, on her side of the booth. He put his arm around her, and held her - tried to protect her. "Shhh. It's okay Ally." He tried to comfort her as she cried "It's okay"

Ally leaned against Dave...his arms so strong made her feel safe for the moment..."Let's go somewhere else...Somewhere quiet"Ally said her face buried in his shirt

"Okay," He whispered. "Where do you want to go?"

"I don't know....Katie's, or your place..."

"Katie's is fine. She's away with her boyfriend this week, isn't she? At his parents?" He said and got up, holding his hand out to Ally, to help her up

Ally took Dave's hand, as they walked out into the rain and hurried over to his car

They got in and drove off. The only sound came from the windshield wipers, which were going back and forth, wiping away the heavy rain.

Ally couldn't remember a time when she felt so scared seeing that man and hearing his voice...other than the first time...they finally pulled into the drive. Ally and Dave walked inside as and Ally flipped on the light switch and just stood there

Ally walked over to the coffee pot "Want some old coffee?" she asked trying to relax and be funny

He half-laughed "Sure - just as long as it still has caffeine in it"

Ally walked over to the couch as she sat down next to Dave she handed him his mug...as she gulped some down "Well, it's not the best but it will defiantly keep someone awake" Ally managed a weak smile

"Then it's good enough for me" He said, taking the mug, and taking a long sip.

"Excuse me a minute" Ally set her cup down on the table and walked down the hallway to the bathroom. She closed the door and flicked on the light as she looked at her worn down image - makeup was everywhere and she had swollen eyes...Ally turned on the water and splashed her face. Ally opened the door and flicked off the light as she made her way back out by Dave...."I was wondering if it is ok with you Dave..." She looked up into his eyes, "Well, since your sister is gone...if maybe you could sleep in her room tonight? I mean you don't have to...it's just that I'd feel better having someone here than being by myself" She looked at him with hopeful eyes

"Of course I will." He brushed a stray hair back behind her ear

Ally caught his hand and kissed his palm "Thank you" she whispered as she got up and put her mug in the sink...."Well since we are wide awake...You can pick out a movie to watch until we get tired...they are on top of the t.v."

"Decisions, decisions. Make me choose, of course" he laughed, and followed her, so he could put his mug away.

She looked up at him "Thank you so much, you don't know how much this means to me..."

"Believe me, I know," he said, as he kissed the top of her head

She smiled and walked over to the couch and grabbed the blanket that was laid on top "Ok, now pick out a movie." Ally wrapped the blanket around her as she waited for Dave to get a movie

"How about 'Wizard of Oz'?" He asked

"Sounds good," Ally smiled as Dave put the tape in and sat down next to her. "Do you want me to get you a blanket?"

"Can't I share with you?" He asked, putting on a fake sad face.

Ally smiled and gave him some of the blanket..."I am a blanket-hog, so watch out/" She joked

"It's okay. I'm not aggressive when it comes to blankets"

Ally sighed and turned her gaze to the television as the movie began to start."I haven't seen this one awhile"

"Last time I watched it I was little. My sisters wanted me to play along. They kept on fighting over Dorothy and Glenda. I got to be the tinman, scarecrow, and cowardly lion. Not to forget toto, too" He laughed remembering it.

"I once did a wizard of Oz play in school..I was Dorothy" Ally smiled as she remembered *And tried to picture Dave as a dog*

"I think Dana was Dorothy - she's the oldest. Um, Katie was the wicked witch, Sara was Auntie Em, and Jane was Glenda. Irene wanted to be the wizard - and seeing as though she's very. um - persuasive" *Violent, is more like it*, he thought, "She got it." he laughed. "I can picture you as Dorothy."

"I adored the red sequence slippers." She sighed

"Who wouldn't?" He smiled

"If we aren't quiet we are going to miss the last half of the movie..." Ally pretended to scold, but couldn't help but laugh at Dave's pouty face.

"What, you forgot how it turns out?" He said jokingly

Ally playful hit his stomach "Shh" she held in her laugh

"I've been wounded," He said sarcastically, holding his stomach. "Call the doctor - wait a minute...I am a doctor!"

Ally laughed till her stomach hurt.."Ow...now I need one"

"Okay, let's get a lumbar puncture. um exploratory surgery without anesthesia, and any other painful procedure!" He joked.

"Looks like the coffee is working on you." Ally said sarcastically

"What did you put into the coffee exactly?" He laughed

"Ha ha, I can't remember now....It's from before I left for work"

"Oh, great" He said and rolled his eyes

Ally smiled as she watched the last few minutes of the movie. Ally stood up and pressed rewind and stretched "I love that ending"

"It's a great movie," he said, claiming the blanket "It's mine now!" he joked

Ally put her hands on her hips. "Ok, you don't want to mess with me"

"I don't know....This blanket sure is soft" He laughed

Ally tried to keep a straight face "David Ettore Malucci, this is your last warning...hand it over!" Ally held out a hand.

"Oh, come on - that's unfair" He said, handing over the blanket. "That was low!" He grinned

"Ah, but you forget - I don't want to get up for work," He smiled again, and stood up

Ally smiled and threw the blanket over her shoulder."Well, I guess I will see you in the morning then..."

They walked down the hall, "Wait - which room is Katie's, or I suppose mine?"

"Right over there...." Ally said pointing to the door right across from her room...

"You know, the night didn't turn out to be so bad after all," He said, leaned over, and kissed her. "Well, good night" He said walking toward 'his' room

Ally's cheeks flushed "Goodnight Dave" ally walked into her room and sighed. She was glad he was staying.

 
END OF PART 6