"The forgotten pleasures in life."
*******
Dave.... I-" Kerry said, startled as she looked from Dave and back to Luka. "Dave, we-" She rung her hands, looking away from the man on the bed, when a noise filled the air, saving her from having to say anything further. Luka swore, pulling off his pager and reading the numbers. "It's the ER, Kerry. We should go." He smiled sympathetically at Dave and shrugged. "I am so sorry Dave."
"Luka-" Before she could get another word out edgewise, her pager went off as well. "Ohh. For fuck's sake.." Kerry grumbled, ripping it from her belt and shutting it off.
"KERRY!" Luka murmured, surprised. Giving him a dirty look, she sighed, looking at the pager again, turning it back on, and clipping it to her blouse. It still vibrated slightly, ruffling the indian silk that hung on her frame like a pink dream.
"We should go now. It's good to see that you're well, Malucci. I'll bring up some of that Sailor Crunchy you like so much, okay?" He smiled, grasping Kerry's hand and heading for the door as their pagers went off again.
"That's Captain Cr-" Dave tried to explain, but the two of them were gone. Well great. All alone again. Alone with his thoughts, his dreams, his nightmares... He stared at the ceiling and suddenly wished for one of those hand-held pleasure wands, at least he'd be able to do something alone that didn't make him scream in fright. Except Cindy had taken the Pleasure Chest when she'd moved out.. He'd have to start his motor manually.. Finally, when all the nurses had disappeared down the corridors, he slipped his hands underneath the blankets and had the first true smile on his lips in months ***
"I assure you we'll do everything in our power to come to a reasonable sum for-" Romano sleazed, his hands clasped and a smarmy plastic smile plastered across his face.
"Shut up. Barb and I have talked.. It wasn't to your benefit to make us wait like that.. We talked during that little hour of reading old TIME magazines, we've decided to sue the hospital together on behalf of my husband and her daughter. You did this to Lucy and Paul, not us." Samantha Sobriki mumbled tearfully into a wad of kleenex as Barb Knight patted her kindly on the shoulder.
"I.." Romano stared at them. Before had been bad enough. At least before the hospital could have dissuaded one of them. Paying off one paltry sum was easier than paying double that.. He groaned softly. "I have a meeting to get to, ladies. So if you'll excuse me!" He leapt up from his desk, ushering the women out the door, slamming it, and his back coming to rest against the fogged glass. GOD. Things just kept getting worse didn't they?!
Shirley banged on his door slightly, causing the man to clutch his chest and gasp. "Dr.Romano? Your mother's on line two." Shit. Things DID keep getting worse! "She says she has some sort of boil that she wants her Dr. Bobby-wobby to check it out." She snickered, letting the door slide closed. Softly, Romano rapped the back of his head repeatedly on the glass. Today wasn't a good day.. It wasn't a good day at all.
"Abby? Where's my patient?" Luka demanded, hands on hips as he searched the exam room. "Mr.Feeney?" He squeaked nervously. The last time a patient hid.. Luka shuddered. Slowly he stooped to his hands and knees looking underneath the counter when Abby walked up behind "He left an hour ago. Mr.Feeney said he wasn't going to be treated in a hospital where we let nutcases run loose and stab the doctors." Abby announced, plunking the chart down on the desk as Luka yelped, his head swinging up and smashing underneath the counter. "Yeeeouch! For crying out loud. What do you mean he left? How did he find out?" Luka grumbled, rubbing his head and emerging from underneath.
Abby shrugged, looking outside the ambulance bay. "Maybe those guys tipped him off." She murmured looking out at the striking janitors.
"What do you mean? They're just striking custodians, Abby. What could they have to do with Sobriki?" Luka whined, gingerly touching the back of his head where a bump was forming, his fingers probing the soft flesh as he scowled. "Maybe their signs and placards saying they're not mopping up anymore innocent blood. Or that guy handing out leaflets, or that guy selling pogo hotdogs and calling them Lucy-kabobs, or Medstudent on a Stick.. You know because Lucy was skewered..." Abby rambled on before Luka clocked her upside the head.
"Shut up already. I get it. Hey.. He's selling Croatian sausage with the works!!" Luka's demeanor improved slightly. "Alright! Lunch time!" He crowed, running out into the ambulance bay.
****
"Carter what are you doing with Malik's rollerblades?" Chen said accusingly as she watched him strap them on.
"I'm going rollerblading.. What does it look like!?" He shot back, his eyes narrowed. "Besides they're my rollerblades."
"You nearly broke your neck last time, John.." Deb 'Jing Mei' said worriedly as she watched him stand, steadying himself with the arm of the sofa.
Chuni popped her head into the lounge and looked at the two doctors. "We have a vic from a kitchen fire coming in, ETA two minutes, guys.. Carter.. Are you trying to break both legs this time?" She rolled her eyes and went back to the front desk.
Chen looked at Carter. "See? You can't even do it now.. We have a patient coming in, take them off I'll see you in the trauma." She stood, walking from the room. "Come on John.. Hurry up."
****
"Kitchen fire, she got trapped in the house when a pan of oil caught on fire. Unresponsive female, ID says she's Cindy Wakely, 32 years old. Shortness of breath, vital signs elevated, singed, sooty, erythematous airway, dry mouth, conjunctival injection." Doris yelled to Chen as they wheeled the gurney into trauma two.
"One.. Two.. Three.. Lift.. What do you mean she was trapped?" Chen barked as they moved the backboard onto the trauma gurney.
"The door to the kitchen was jammed, we found her collapsed against it. A neighbour came home and saw the flames and called it in." Shep replied, looking at his vic.
"Get a carbohemoglobin, arterial blood gas, EKG and a chest x-ray." Carter shouted as he jogged into the room, slipping his stethascope over his neck. "Holy crap.. Is that?!"
Chen shot him a dirty look. "It's about time you got here. What's that look for?!" She sighed watching the man gown up and sidle in beside the gurney.
"That's Dave's ex-girlfriend," Carter muttered angrily, getting back into the trauma. "What's her GCS? he shouted.
******
"Dr.Malucci? Doctor?? Are you okay?" The nurse pushed the cart into the room, locking it beside the bed as she watched the sleeping Dave. His hands still under the blankets causing a lump on the bed. Tina's complexion turning scarlet, she carefully shook his shoulder. "Dr.Malucci?"
"Wha?" He winced, his eyes squinting in the bright overhead light the nurse had turned on. Every inch of him ached. Every inch but... Dave's head cleared and he remembered where his hands were, his cheeks flushing as he wiped them on his gown under the blankets and folded them neatly on the covers. "Oh.. Hey.. Uh.."
She smiled. "It's time for your meds, Dr.Malucci." Tina said handing him the little plastic cup of pills and paper cup of water. "I trust you had a nice nap?"
Dave blushed.. "Yes.. I did. Thank you. Hey.. When I get out of here.. Did you want to go for a beer or something?"
Tina stared at the doctor, cocking a brow. "Dr.Malucci... I.." She busied herself, sorting the containers of pills and water, straightening each cup, lining them up on the tray.
"Call me Dave.. and say yes.. It's just a beer.. That's all I ask." Dave smiled expectantly. He knew he was ruined goods now. His skin wasn't smooth and unblemished now. It was covered in scars and stitches.. He wasn't the cute ass he once was. Now he had to rely on his charm and personality. He groaned softly. This was going to be a tough sell.
"Dave.. I don't think drinking while on your medications would be a very good idea anyway." Tina tutted disapprovingly. It wasn't that she didn't think he was cute. It wasn't that he was a patient now. It was just... She sighed. "A Pepsi and burger would be nice though. Once you've healed up. I don't want you endangering yourself over a little date." Taking the empty cups from him, she crushed them and deposited the waste into the can beside his bed. "Get some sleep now Dave." She said with a smile, leaving the room and closing his door.
"I.. I will.. Thank you.." Dave called back, staring at his hand. She'd caught him whacking off in his sleep and she'd still said yes. Maybe his friend, Joey was right. He'd survived an attempted murder, a psycho kid, AND the nurse said yes. Maybe he *was* born with a horseshoe up his ass!
****
"EKG shows sinus tach.. She's throwing PVCs, Dr. Carter." Haleh informed him as Wendy rushed in the room.
"Her labs are back Dr.Chen," She said, handing the doctor the films.
"The arterial blood gas shows Hypoxemia and the carboxyhemoglobin is elevated."
Carter groaned. "Start a litre of 02 by mask, page Dr. Weaver. I don't know if we should tell Dave or not."
Chuni grabbed him by the shoulder and waved her hand in front of his face. "DR.CARTER.. She's breaking down.. Her sats are falling.."
*****
"You do realize that it was just a kiss, Mark.. He kissed me. He was altered. He thought I was Cindy." Elizabeth pleaded, brushing her hand over his head, her fingers running through what was left of his hair. "Mark.. Please. Don't be so angry.. It happened so long ago, it wasn't my fault."
"Not your fault? Yeah, I bet you liked it though.. His full luscious Italian lips... All smooth and creamy and wonderful, tugging softly as you kissed back, his tongue finding his way into your mouth. " Mark muttered with a whine to his voice.
"Mark.. Have you been looking at Malucci's lips?" Elizabeth replied with a cocked brow. Things had gotten weird between them over the past month, whether it was just marital blues or hormones, she wasn't certain.
"NO! I mean. It's just, you probably liked kissing him more than you like kissing me.. That's all." Mark covered quickly, turning away from her in bed.
"Mark.. You're being silly. Of course I like kissing you!" She said with a laugh, tugging at him, pulling him into an embrace. "Come on Mark.. I love you. I do, please don't be upset.. I thought this was over with!"
Mark sighed pitifully. "I don't know Elizabeth, sometimes I just don't feel loved. That's all." He said morosely.
Elizabeth snorted. "Oh.. and let me guess, there are some times of the month that you don't feel daisy fresh, right?"
Mark sighed, grabbing his pillow. "I'm going to sleep on the couch." He muttered, stomping out of the room as Elizabeth called after him.
"No! Mark, wait! We can do each other's hair and nails!" She hooted, doubled over with laughter as Mark slammed the door.
******
"On a warm summer's evenin',
On a train bound for nowhere
I met up with the gambler.
We were both too tired to sleep.
So we took turns a-starin'
Out the window at the darkness.
When boredom overtook us,
He began to speak.
He said, "Son, I've made a life
Out of readin' people's faces.
Knowin' what the cards were.
By the way they held their eyes.
So if you don't mind my sayin',
I can see you're out of aces,
For a taste of your whiskey,
I'll give you some advice."
So I handed him my bottle,
and he drank down my last swallow.
Then he bummed a cigarette
And asked me for a light.
And the night got deathly quiet,
And his faced lost all expression.
He said, "If You're gonna play the game, boy,
You gotta learn to play it right."
You've got to know
When to hold 'em,
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away,
Know when to run.
You never count your money
When you're sittin' at the table.
There'll be time enough for countin'
When the dealin's done.
Every gambler knows
That the secret to survivin'
Is knowin' what to throw away
And knowin' what to keep.
'Cause every hand's a winner
And every hand's a loser
And the best that you can hope for
Is to die in your sleep."
And when he finished speakin',
He turned back toward the window
Crushed out his cigarette
And faded off to sleep.
And somewhere in the darkness,
The gambler he broke even.
And in his final words I found
An ace that I could keep.
You've got to know
When to hold 'em,
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away,
Know when to run.
You never count your money
When you're sittin' at the table.
There'll be time enough for countin'
When the dealin's done.
You've got to know
When to hold 'em,
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away,
Know when to run.
You never count your money
When you're sittin' at the table.
There'll be time enough for countin'
When the dealin's done."
The guy stumbled from the stage, his beer in hand, an arm flailing wildly as he struggled to keep his balance and foist the mic off onto the next sap. "I... I wuz goood!" He crowed, lifting his hands over his head. The bartender rolled his eyes. "That was Marvin Samson, singing, Kenny Rogers' 'The Gambler'. Everyone give him a big hand, ladies and gents."
Mark sipped at his beer, looking sullen and depressed. "I don't know why you made me come here. I'm not in the mood, Elizabeth."
"Oh Mark.. You're never in the mood! Come on.. Let's go sing!" She said cheerily, trying to drag him to the stage. "Come on Mark." "Don't you remember? Last time we were here we got paged." He said matter-of-factly. "I don't want to tempt fate." Mark said, his arms crossed, leaning back in the chair and glaring at his wife. "I'm not going. You can't make me." He said sourly.
"Ohh Mark.. Don't be such a wet blanket!" Elizabeth rebutted happily, grabbing him by the arm and pulling him to the mike. "It's not the same as last time. I mean our parents went to park the car and we haven't seen them since. Dave is fine.. Lucy can't get anymore dead than she already is. Things are okay, Mark."
"NO Elizabeth! I don't want to!" He whined, standing beside her, as she pulled herself up onto the stool. A protest of the whole affair. Boycotting fun, his arms crossed and an ugly scowl on his face.
Sighing heavily, Elizabeth began to sing, without the words coming across the screen. She smiled slightly, her lips parted as they almost touched the mic. Her long curls resting on her shoulders and gleaming in the lights. Taking a deep breath, she started to belt out the song.
"Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band
Pretty eyed, pirate smile, you'll marry a music man
Ballerina, you must have seen her dancing in the sand
And now she's in me, always with me, tiny dancer in my hand
Jesus freaks out in the street
Handing tickets out for God
Turning back she just laughs
The boulevard is not that bad
Piano man he makes his stand
In the auditorium
Looking on she sings the songs
The words she knows, the tune she hums
But oh how it feels so real
Lying here with no one near
Only you and you can hear me
When I say softly, slowly
Hold me closer tiny dancer
Count the headlights on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
you had a busy day today
Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band
Pretty eyed, pirate smile, you'll marry a music man
Ballerina, you must have seen her dancing in the sand
And now she's in me, always with me, tiny dancer in my hand
(author's note: © 1971 Dick James Music Limited: Elton John's Tiny
Dancer. I'm addicted to the Almost Famous Soundtrack. <G>)
Mark sighed, wrapping his arms around his girlfriend and giving her a long moist kiss. "You're a lot better looking than Elton, you know that?! I want you so bad.." He smiled, kissing her deeply, their tongues merging and thrusting as his hand slipped down her shirt, his fingers wrapping around her pert breasts as he massaged it gently, his other hand joining as they started to lift off her shirt.
"Oh for fuck's sake.. Get a room!" The bartender yelled, throwing a towel at them.
Elizabeth gathered up her bra, scurrying off-stage with Mark, giggling as they ran to the car, their clothes ending up in a heap on the floor of the backseat. Mark struggled over the front seat, and rifled through the glove box. "OH SHIT!"
She sighed, laying naked on the back-seat, her hands behind her head and staring at the upholstery lined ceiling. "Mark.. Get some pants on... Drive to the 24 hour apothecaries.. Get some con-domes.. NOW Mark.."
**
With the box of condoms on the floor of the car and Elizabeth carefully teasing Mark, her hands running over his chest, her fingers stroking and running softly over his coming erection. She watched as he unwrapped the rubber, slipping it carefully over the tip of his erect penis, rolling it down. Elizabeth smiled, kissing his navel softly as he guided himself in her and thrusted slightly to get 'parked.'
As the car started to rock violently, Elizabeth's screams of rapture as Mark pounded her into the calf leather seats, the squeaking of the springs sounding like that of mice being sat on, over and over and over again. Mark's nails dug into her shoulders as he grappled for leverage, grunting with joy as the sweat beaded on his brow, a silly grin on his face. "I love it when you sing Elton John." He moaned, kissing her lips.
She smiled. "So you don''t care about Malucci?" Elizabeth said with a moan as Mark started to jackhammer again, her thighs thrumming against the seat which had become hot and sticky.
"Does it look like it? I'm the one fucking you.. Not him. So no.. I don't give a shit about that guy.." He muttered, ducking his head to kiss her breasts, the peppered wetness running up her neck and along her shoulder. "I love you honey.."