Disclaimer: I don't own ER.
Long Lost
It was a quiet night in the ER. Susan and Abby stood at the admit desk, talking quietly to each other. Frank sat nearby, working on the computer. He looked up and noticed a young woman sitting in chairs.
"Hey, I thought you said the board was cleared," he barked, and Susan and Abby jumped. Susan, now four months pregnant, wiped her eyes and looked in Frank's direction. A young woman with dark blonde hair was sitting in the waiting area, nervously clutching her bookbag.
"I'll go see her," Abby offered, and walked to the waiting area. She approached the young woman and smiled. "Hi, I'm Abby. Can I help you with anything?" The young woman stood up and avoided looking at Abby. She focused her direction on the admit desk and Susan, who was working on charts.
"Um, I'm just waiting for someone," she said nervously.
"If you give me their name, I can see if they've been treated," Abby replied helpfully. "Are they a patient?" The girl shook her head.
"Can you tell me where the cafeteria is?" She shifted her bookbag from one shoulder to another, and Abby frowned.
"Sure, it's upstairs, third floor. You can take the elevators. They're right down the hall," she said. "Are you sure I can't help you with anything? Do you need to talk to a doctor?"
"No, thanks!" the girl said, and ran off towards the elevators. Abby watched until she turned the corner and then walked back to the admit desk. Susan looked up from her charts.
"What was that about?" she inquired. Abby shrugged her shoulders.
"Beats me," she answered her friend.
A little while later, Susan had the odd feeling that she was being watched. She glanced up from her chart and saw the young woman from the waiting area quickly duck into exam room three. Abby had gone into the lounge to study for an upcoming exam, and Frank was asleep in the chair, softly snoring. It was indeed a dead night in the ER. Wanting to see what the young woman was up to, Susan followed her into the exam room.
As she opened the door, the young woman gasped. "I - I um...-- " she began, but was cut off by Susan.
"What are you doing in here?" Susan demanded, looking around the empty room. Besides herself and the mysterious young woman, nobody else was there. Susan wondered if she should have called security before entering by herself. The young girl stammered and paced.
"You know, I had this all planned out," she began. "I was going to confess everything. I rehearsed it. I had it written down and all. But I just...now that the moment's here, it's just hard, you know?" Susan frowned in confusion.
"What on earth are you talking about? What do you have to confess about?" The girl looked Susan directly in the eyes, and Susan was surprised at the resemblance. The same green eyes stared back at her. Her green eyes. "Who are you?"
"My name's Regan Miller," the now-identified young woman began. "And I came here to see you. I came to meet Susan Lewis."
"Why?" Susan asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Because, I think it's time we met," Regan replied and leaned against a bed. "I was born on April 12, 1984 at Saint Mary's Hospital in Chicago. My birth mother is Susan Lewis." Regan looked at Susan. "I have the birth certificate to prove it," she said, and handed it to Susan, her hands shaking slightly. Susan, her own hands shaking, took the paper from Regan and read it.
"Oh my," Susan said, tears forming in her eyes. "I can't believe it." She leaned against the bed, next to Regan, and focused on her long-lost daughter. "You have my eyes," Susan said, tears rolling down her cheeks. Regan's own eyes misted with tears, and as they fell, she didn't bother to wipe them away.
"You're not upset that I came to see you?" Regan asked quietly. Susan shook her head.
"No, I'm not upset. I haven't been this happy in a long time," she replied. She took a deep breath. "Can I hug you?"
"I'd like that," Regan said, a wide smile on her face. Susan leaned over and hugged Regan, who in turn wrapped her arms tightly around Susan. The two women hugged and held on to each other tightly.
Next Chapter: Susan tells Chuck about Regan. :)