Still On Your Side
Part Eight - Now You See It, Now You Don't
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: The lyrics used in this part are from the song "Listen to Your Heart" by Roxette.

Previously in the series: Ally and Dave went out, but Ally was asking strange. She accepted an invitation to Dave's sister's wedding, but with much uneasiness. At the end of the part, we discover that Ally is planning to move to Paris the next day - But she has yet to tell Dave.



The woman walked into the hospital, checking the address to make sure it was the correct place. Running a hand through her short black hair, she walked over to the front desk where a blonde woman was standing. As she spoke up, she noticed that her name tag read 'Alison Delgado'.

"Excuse me. Hello? Excuse me?" She asked impatiently until the blonde girl finally looked up. "Yes, hi - I'm looking for Dr. Malucci. It's a personal matter" She looked at the girl who didn't appear to be responding. *Not too bright, is she?*, she thought to herself, and stood there tapping her foot.

Ally smiled, "Well, I am not sure where Dave, um, Dr.Malucci is - But I can help you find him." Ally smiled, "May I ask your name?" She said curiously to this girl who was extremely pretty, but also in a hurry....

She looked at the girl again. How useless was she is if she doesn't even know where Dave is?, she thought. She half-rolled her eyes and said, "Hannah, Hannah McAllister. Look - he'll know who I am." She said dryly and looked at Ally impatiently.

Ally Froze *So, this was Hannah...What the heck was she doing here?* Ally tried to smile, "Uh, Jerry? Page Dave for this young lady...." She turned to Hannah "Well, it was nice meeting you - I am Ally...But I really better get back to work." Ally smiled, "This man can handle the rest" Ally walked away with an uneasy feeling in her stomach.



Dave got his page and rushed down to the ER. He ran up to the front desk, "Jerry - I got paged, What is it?" he asked.

"There's someone waiting for you in the lounge." Jerry said, and Dave walked to the lounge and opened the door....

*Hannah* he said to himself with deep disgust. The hair had changed, as had her entire look, yet it was still the same Hannah. He suddenly became sick to his stomach, "Can I help you?" He asked coldly

"As a matter of fact you can," She said smiling in her usual fashion "Quite obviously, you're still in love with me, and well, I've decided that I might be willing to give you a second chance."
 


Ally was about to walk into the lounge when she overheard a familiar voice...Dave...and that girl. Ally listened as she heard something about Dave still loving her...Ally walked away and tried to get her mind on something else...But was it true?

Leaning against the front desk, she just couldn't believe it. Why did it hurt so much to think that he would find someone else, when she was just going to leave him behind?


I know there's something in the wake of your smile
I get a notion from the look in your eyes,
You've built a love but that love falls apart
Your little piece of heaven turns too dark


Dave couldn't believe his ears.......How dare she assume that. "Second chance? Second chance? I don't need your second chance, Hannah. To hell with your second chance." His voice rose with each word he spoke. "How dare you even come here....How did you even find me?!"

"Danny Matthers told me" Hannah said, flitting her eyelashes, trying to be flirtatious

"Is Danny Matthers another one of your boyfriends, huh? Is he one of the million guys that you screwed while we were together?"

"Puhlease," She said and looked at him with pleading eyes, "Got a cigarette?"

"Hannah, you know I don't smoke Plus you can't smoke in here."

"Then let's go somewhere else," She said with seductive smile

"No - you're not going to pull that crap with me Hannah - not now." Dave practically shook with rage, "You think that you can just waltz in here, tell me that I've got a second chance! What makes you think that I love you, Hannah, huh? Do you think that you're this irresistible creature who can bewitch me again? Cause that's not the way it works, Hannah. I am finally over you, I've moved on...."

"To who exactly? Some little slut, who would go with anyone?" She said viciously.

"How dare you say that, Hannah. You don't know her. She's smart, funny, caring..."

"She works here doesn't she?" Hannah looked at him, and saw the answer in his eyes. "Ah yes and, could her name be Alison?"

"How do you know her?" He said, feeling sick all over again.

"She brought me to the lounge...Not exactly the brightest girl, is she?" Hannah smiled "Obviously, she knew who I was.... Don't tell me you've shared your little sob story with her?"

"You don't know her. She's better than you are - better than you could ever even dream of being. And if I never saw you again, I'd be happy. I know who you really are, Hannah. Get out of here."

"Free Country," She pouted

"Go to hell, Hannah," Dave stormed out of the lounge, hoping that Hannah hadn't done anything to Ally, as he went to treat patients.



Ally finished up a few things with Haleh, and made sure the coast was clear before she walked into the lounge. Ally thought about Hannah...She wondered if Dave would be happy to see her...*Well at least she came around at the right time,* Ally thought...She still didn't know how to tell Dave about the Job in Paris, but with Hannah being here, maybe Dave wouldn't mind so much. She sat down and pulled out a piece of paper and first wrote a letter to Dr.Greene telling of her job offer she accepted in Paris and that she would be leaving County. She finally came to the letter for Dave, and sighed.

Dear Dave,
I didn't know how to tell you, but I must tell you now. I have accepted a job in Paris, so I could be closer to my parents. I think its the best thing to do. I am so sorry that I will be unable to attend your sister's wedding, but I'm sure you will be able to find a guest to bring. My flight leaves at 9:30 tonight. I am sorry this is such short notice, but I just couldn't bring myself to tell you. I know you don't understand why I am doing this, but maybe someday you will. I'll send you a postcard when I arrive, so you know I have made it safely. You have been a great friend Dave, and I will never be able to repay you or your family for the kindness you all have shared with me. Especially you. I hope Life treats you well, and I hope you get all you ever dreamed of. I wish you joy and happiness, and well...Above this, I wish you love. You will always be remembered.

Your friend,
Alison Marie Delgado
 
Ally folded the letter as tears fell from her cheek...Was she actually doing this? Ally slipped the letter in an envelope, writing Dave's name on the front, she stuck it in his locker. Ally emptied out her locker, laying her name tag and lab jacket inside, as she left it unlocked. Ally headed to her car, throwing her things in the back. She got in she looked at the hospital she sighed - Dave probably wouldn't get the letter till his shift was over, and he had said that he was working late. Ally drove to the apartment, packing her bags, and loading them up in her car. She drove off slowly, as she blinked away a thousand tears. She would miss it here. Ally tried not to think of where she was going and she soon arrived at the airport.


Listen to your heart when he's calling for you
Listen to your heart there's nothing else you can do
I don't know where you're going
And I don't know why
But listen to your heart before you tell him goodbye


Dave finished up with his patients, and walked into the lounge, for some coffee. Before he could get the cup, he saw something sticking out of his locker. *What's this?* he wondered as he pulled out the paper. He thought that maybe Hannah had left something, but he soon found that it was something far worse.

As he read Ally's letter, he felt hurt and betrayed - Paris? He was slightly angry that Ally had just left him with this letter, hadn't even told him - hadn't given him a chance to say goodbye. He had to say goodbye, so he hurried to his car, and drove off with the letter in his hand.

As he drove, he re-read the letter in his mind. The comment about the wedding guest hurt - and he knew that she meant Hannah. Hannah must have played a part in her decision, he concluded. *Hannah, you ruined my life once - I'm not going to let it happen again,* he thought as he parked the car.


Sometimes you wonder if this fight is worthwhile
The precious moments are all lost in the tide, yea
They're swept away and nothing is what is seems
The feeling of belonging to your dreams


He entered the airport, with speed - he didn't have much time to find her. Quickly, he located the 9:30 Paris flight on the screen, and rushed off to the gate. As he neared it, he spotted Ally, standing, with her bags in hand.

"Ally!" he shouted, knowing that she didn't want him there. He didn't care. He had to talk to her....


Listen to your heart when he's calling for you
Listen to your heart there's nothing else you can do

 
Ally froze as she heard Dave's voice call out her name. She slowly turned around, looking into Dave's confused eyes, "Why are you here?" She asked. Her hands trembled as she set her luggage down.
 
"I had to talk to you, Ally." Dave explained.

"Did Hannah ever get a hold of you?"

"Yes I talked to Hannah. But look - Hannah has been out of the picture for months now. In her messed up world, she thinks that I still love her. And the truth is, I stopped loving her the day she threw that ring in my face.....The day I found out who she truly was - The person who she still is. I never asked her to come - I told her to stay away, that I was happy without her. Hannah is manipulative. She lies - she cheats....She broke my heart, and I'll never forgive her for that." Dave breathed in and grabbed Ally gently by the arms, "And you are a million times the person that she is.....And I - well, I do love you. I do....." He admitted, "And I know that you don't want me to say that....I know that you're afraid of that. Hell, I'm afraid of it too. And I know that you think that you can't return my feelings properly - But I would be happy just to be with you Ally..I would." He then said the words that he didn't want to say, but knew that he had to. "Go to Paris.....If you think that you need time, that you need to go - then go. Take all the time you need. Do what makes you happy. I'll love you from a distance if I have to. But if you decide that you're ready.....I'll be here - waiting for you." He swallowed, and kissed her gently on the lips. "Goodbye Ally. Have a safe trip." He said, as he turned and walked away from her.


And there are voices that want to be heard
So much to mention but you can't find the words
The scent of magic, the beauty that's been
When love was wilder than the wind


Tears fell from Ally's eyes - She couldn't hold them back any longer. She watched Dave slowly walking away, his words lingering in her ears.

"Goodbye" she whispered out of everyone's hearing

"Final boarding call to Flight 689 to Paris," Ally hurried up and grabbed her luggage as she handed the woman her ticket. Once she was on the plane, she took her seat and looked out the window - She couldn't stop the tears from coming, her head was spinning. Ally focused back on the window, as the pilot explained the orders over the speaker. Ally buckled up, and the plane started its flight to Paris, taking her away from Chicago.....and Dave.


I don't know where you're going
And I don't know why
But listen to your heart before you tell him goodbye


END OF PART 8