Still On Your Side
Part 12 - Misplaced
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:
SUMMARY: Ally and Dave's relationship is going great....But something just doesn't seem right.

Previously in the series: Ally and Dave had their
first real fight, but forgave each other.


*It's probably nothing,* Ally thought to herself.

Ally looked at her watch as she sat in the diner.

Dave was late.
Dave was never late.
But tonight, Dave was late.
It's nothing, he just probably lost track of time.
Dave never loses track of time.
It's Nothing.

Ally's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the
diner's doors opening and closing. In walked Dave,
who looked like he had just gotten up.

"Sorry that I'm late Ally." He said, sliding into the
seat across from her.

"Were you asleep or something? You look groggy." Ally
asked

"Yeah, I took a nap - I had the late shift last
night..."

"The weather is getting pretty cold out there.
Probably won't be snowing for awhile, though." Ally
said, trying to make conversation.

"We are bound to have another cold winter - Last year,
the weather was beautiful. What's it like in Paris?"

Ally smiled looking back at Dave "Oh, its gorgeous...I
used to love it there. But every summer for a month
I'd go to my Gramma's house - She lives on a
half-ranch, half-farm type place...That was cooler
than winter in Paris." Ally smiled "What was your
favorite thing to do in summer or winter as a kid?"

"Summer - swimming. Winter - Sledding - I loved
sledding. And ambushing my sisters with snowballs was
fun too." He mischievously/guiltily smiled.
 
Ally laughed, "Oh well, I would call you a meanie, but
after hearing some things your sisters did or made you
do - I don't blame you." Ally smiled

"Oh, and I'm sure that you were a complete angel." He
laughed. "Come on, you never ambushed somebody with a
snowball?"

Ally smiled... "Well actually, when I was little,
there was this kid named Matt and he bugged me so
much, always teasing me, or making rude comments. So
one day he threw a snowball at the back of my
head...Whack, right into his glasses...he didn't even
see it coming, he was too busy laughing with his
friends." Ally smiled "He was the first one to ask me
to the prom...He thought I said no because of all the
teasing I endured..." Ally sat back and looked back
out the window

"Our shy little demure Alyson Marie Delgado? Throwing
snowballs at teasers? No way - I can't believe it." He
teased. "I've been pelted with snowballs so many
times. Not because I teased anybody, of course! I
would never!" He laughed mischievously, "Okay, so I
was a rotten little kid - But hey, I grew up!"

"You Did? Well when? I must have missed that growth
spurt when I was in Paris." Ally laughed and tried to
hold it in, but a smile crept through anyway.
 
He tried to hold back a grin. "Whatever are you
talking about Ally? I'm the most mature, responsible
person there is...." He couldn't hold back his laugh.
"But I am a bit more mature....Just ask my sisters -
Wait don't."

"Okay, I believe you..." Ally finally ordered a small
cup of coffee and a blueberry muffin. Ally looked over
at Dave, remembering something she had to ask him."My
Dad is coming to town next week. I was going to have
you over for dinner...You know, cook you and my dad
dinner, maybe you guys can get to know each
other...What do you think?"

"Sounds great," He said as he noticed a nagging
headache he had. "Are you working tomorrow?".
 
Ally smiled "No, I tomorrow I am off...It's been a
long day hasn't it? And its still not over" She sighed
and looked up into his face..."What's on your mind?"

"Work - I have to go there tomorrow. Eighteen hour
shift." He sighed just thinking about it, "So when do
you want to do the whole dinner things with your dad?"

 
"Well, he's going to be in town in a few days...So
probably, on Wednesday night."Ally leaned back.
"Eighteen hours? That's a killer"Ally said thinking
back to what Dave had said.

"Geez, it got late - We should probably go." Dave
said, realizing the time.

Ally walked out "Brrr its cold" She put her arm around
Dave, but he sort of jerked back "You okay?" She asked


"I'm fine." He said shakily as they got into the car.
"Just fine."

Ally looked over at Dave and a look of concern crossed
her face. "Dave" She called out but he hadn't replied.
Finally she put her hand on his hand. "Dave? Are you
ok?"

"What?" He asked confused, as he snapped out of it.
"I'm sorry, I'm just tired."

"Dave, you have me worried now. Are you sure you
okay? You can talk to me, Dave." She said.

"No - I'm fine, just tired that's all." He said as he
parked the car outside her apartment.

Ally managed a smile. "Thanks, I guess I'll see you
tomorrow..okay?" Ally walked out, and walked into her
apartment. Putting her purse down, she leaned against
the wall.

*It's probably nothing,* Ally thought to herself....

Dave was acting strange.
Dave never acted like this.
But tonight, Dave acted strange.
It's nothing, he probably just had a bad day.
Dave never acts like this when he has a bad day.
It's nothing......Is it?

END OF PART 12