In the Season 8 episode Never Say Never, Chief Resident Dr. Jing Mei Chen and Chief of Emergency Medicine Dr. Kerry Weaver, battled out just who was responsible for the death of a Marfan's patient. We witnessed the battle from an outsider's perspective when the show aired, but here it's retold from both Dr. Chen and Dr. Weaver's point of view. The story is woven through the original script. The lines actually spoken by the characters in the aired version are in bold italics. Everything else is entirely fabricated by me. This is an experiment and I'm not really sure how well this will work, so comments and reviews are really appreciated. Thanks!

Who's Invited to This Meeting Anyway?

Jing Mei's POV

My mind is racing over this meeting today. I've never made a mistake this serious before. No one's ever died because I didn't make the right decision until the Marfan's patient. I remember back when Dr. Greene was chief resident, he missed preeclampsia in a pregnant women and she died on the table shortly after giving birth. I remember Dr. Coburn tore him a new one and Dr. Swift put him through hell at the M & M. Neither of them is anything close to a Romano. I don't remember that case even going through Risk Management. Dr. Greene is one of the best doctors here. Well respected, well liked. If they'd do that to him, what are they going to do to me? I bite my lip at the thought.

There's Kerry. She's been supportive of me in the past, maybe she can clue me in about what I'm in for. I catch up with her in the hall. Good morning, Kerry. Anything, um, I should know about this meeting?I nervously tap my script pad. This whole thing has me rattled.

What meeting?Kerry asks me.

I tell her, With Romano. Risk Management called me so I assuming it's about the Marfan's death.

Oh, she says.

I can't tell whether or not she seems surprised. I need to know how much trouble I'm in, so I ask, Has there been a wrongful death suit filed?

She tells me, In-house review is standard procedure in this kind of circumstance.

She seems sincere, honest, but it doesn't do anything to allay my fears. I need to know what's going to happen, who's all going to be there. I've got to be prepared going in, so I ask, It's not an M & M, these are lawyers right?

She tries to reassure me. Their job is to protect you and the hospital.

I know that's part of the reason they do these things, but there's more to it. I need some assurance I'm not going to be hung out to dry. And assess exposure, I add. That is what I'm concerned about. I don't want to be sued for malpractice, especially so soon after becoming an attending.

It's normal.

But it's not normal for me to be in this situation. This was my call, my responsibility. I'm nervous here. I need some insurance my ass isn't going out the door too. I know Dave was fired. I just thought maybe…

She tells me, in an unemotional manner, Dr. Maluchi's termination wasn't reflective of anything, there were other concerns, other issues involved.

I nod my head. I'm well aware that she and Dave didn't get along. She was looking for a reason to get rid of him. But with him gone, I'm the one holding the bag, and while she does favor me some, how much can I really count on her to look out for me? I'm afraid and nervous about what's going to happen. I need her to level with me, so I can go into that meeting prepared, know what I'm facing. So I ask, Am I in trouble here Kerry?

Let's just take this one step at a time, she tells me before walking off. I stop and just watch her on that crutch as she makes her way down the hall. I don't feel any better about the meeting this afternoon. I still don't know what to expect. How can I possibly be prepared? One step at a time, hmmmf!

I walk toward the admit desk telling myself, okay, stay calm, pick up a chart, take care of the next patient, but I look up and see an escorted gurney coming through the doors. I rush up and ask the paramedic "whatcha got?"

Kerry Weaver's POV

I'm irritated that I had to hear about the meeting today from Jing Mei. It's my department for God's sake. My ER. Why the hell didn't anyone tell me? I've got to find Romano.

Hey Kerry, why are you hanging around the men's room now, changing teams again?

Robert Romano, smart ass as usual. You're scheduling meetings with my residents without consulting me?

He asks me, Sorry, did you not get the memo?

What memo?There was a memo? How did I not get it? Someone's head is gonna roll!

The one that says I run the place.

Does he ever stop being a smart ass? Yeah, Dr. Chen is my responsibility. I expect to be notified if she is to be questioned by Risk Management.

Fair enough. Consider yourself notified.

That's more like it! Now I can make sure I get into this meeting, Good, I want to be there.

No you don't. I don't even want to be there.

I sure as hell do want to be there! I need to protect my department, protect Jing Mei, protect my own ass if need be. As chief of the department, I think my presence is appropriate.

He tells me, I try not to interfere with Risk Management investigations.

He's walking quite fast. He doesn't want to have this conversation. If I'm insistent enough, he'll cave.So now it's an investigation?

Information gathering, Kerry, whatever you want to call it. They have a few questions.

I can't control the situation if I'm not there! Tell him whatever you have to, embellish the truth, lie if you must, just get yourself in that meeting! Dr. Chen approached me, she was scared. She wants me to come with her.

She's a big girl. He responds with the obvious.

Press the issue. You've got to assert control. You've got to protect Jing Mei, you've got to protect the department, you've got to protect yourself. She talked about lawyers. You want it to escalate to that or do you want me to come?

Does she have something to hide?

No, but she's still a new attending. She's young. She hasn't had to deal with this kind of crap before. I need to be there for her. I need to make sure nothing happens to my ER. No, the truth is bad enough. I think we should be trying to protect her.

You sure you just don't have a little thing for her?

Oh Robert.I say that, but you know, she is one beautiful woman. Feisty, determined, driven, a bit like me. I look at her sometimes and…maybe I do, a little. Hmmm.

Okay fine. 3 o'clock. Seventh floor conference room.

Great, I can look out for Jing Mei as well as monitor and control any information I need to. I can limit and contain any damage to my department and/or myself. This is acceptable.

I've got to talk to Mark about the LOL in 3, call Elizabeth about that rule out appy, oh and Abby about the labs on exam 1…