Kerry and Kim both went a whole week trying not to think of the other. Kim was practiced at putting women out of her mind. And Kerry, for once, was happy that the week had been hell in the ER. Everything from hundreds of people who had used a bad suntan lotion to the fact that Romano had taken a renewed interest in the ER, her ER.

But Kerry wasn't in the ER. She was at a full cast rehearsal waiting for a late Kim and putting together the props for the musical. She jumped as Kim spoke from behind her. "Long week?" Kerry leaned heavily against her crutch as she walked between the plastic containers. Kim picked up a sheet of paper. "So, full cast rehearsal, are we ready for that?"

"Don't need to be. No props or costumes yet. Are you all set there?"

Kim's eyes widened, "What is here, I..."

Kerry gestured towards the stage, "I have to get up there, figure out who the hell is going where and how to get stuff where it's supposed to go. There are the lists for each scene, for each act, there's the stuff. Order the things into the boxes according to the list."

With that Kerry disappeared out of the balcony area. Kim worked for a bit, shooting glances down at the stage. She didn't see Kerry.

From behind her she heard a grumble. Kim turned, "Haleh, how did Maggie convince you to help?"

Haleh batted at a foofy dress and almost tripped over a wad of fur. "We won't talk about it. How are you Kim?"

Kim turned away from the stage, "I'm doing okay. I've never done this before, so, a little out of my comfort zone."

Haleh chuckled, "You mean to tell me that there's something you're not good at?"

Kim shook her head and turned back towards the stage. On stage Kerry and Maggie stood, obviously arguing. "There are so few places she looks at home, I never knew that on stage, or, behind the scenes of the stage was one of them. Has she really been as bad as everyone have been saying?"

Haleh joined Kim in front of the balcony. "Probably worse."

"Do you know why?"

Haleh looked over at Kim, "You mean, was it you?" Kim looked at Haleh with a stunned look on her face. "She doesn't know I know Kim, and no, I don't get that feeling. It feels deeper than that. Family maybe?"

"They died. I'm pretty sure they died."

"I don't know." Haleh shook her head, "I don't know, she's always been private, that hasn't changed. We all guess because we're nosy, but only Kerry knows what's really wrong. It's good that you're here... we could use you at County you know. The others from the Psych floor are okay, but you were great."

Haleh didn't wait for an answer, but left Kim alone on the balcony.


"He's going to like it, right?"

Randi sighed, "He'll love it Dave, please, stop obsessing."

Dave looked both ways. "I'm makin' a fool out of myself, so Nick needs to like it."

Randi patted Dave on the shoulder. "We'll be great Dave. Don't worry about, your kid's 6 right?" Dave nodded, "He'll love it... and incoming."

Kerry appeared as if from thin air, "David, Randi, get back to work."

Dave opened his mouth, but as Randi caught his eyes it snapped closed, he grabbed a chart and skedaddled.

"Randi..."

Before Kerry had a chance to even begin her thought the radio went off and Abby answered it. "Everyone whirled into action. "Where's Pratt?"

Pratt appeared, "Sorry... I..."

"No excuses, you're with Susan, Gallant, with me... Where's Carter?"


"Sylvia is there... Oh, look, it's a ghost from my past. I'm going to guess and say that you're not here for a check up Carl?"

Carl gestured towards Kim's office. "Could we?"

Kim sighed, but nodded. "Sylvia... when my next appointment gets here, you'll tell me."

Sylvia grinned a bit, "Immediately Doctor Legaspi."

Kim followed her former boss into her office. "What do you want Carl, I'm not coming back."

"You miss it."

Kim sat down in her chair, leaving Carl standing, "Of course I miss it Carl, but sometimes I also miss the freedom of being a child, that doesn't mean I want to go through my childhood again. I can't leave."

"I talked to Sylvia, you're just an employee Kim. You can leave at any time."

"I'm not talking contractually, I..."

Carl interrupted Kim, something he rarely did. "Just think about it. You won't be fired. You won't be harassed."

"You can't promise that Carl. Is Romano still in charge?"

"Yes, but..."

Kim stood, "I need to get ready for my next patient."

"Kim..."

"Carl..."


Kerry sat on the couch in the lounge and took long breaths in and let them out just as slowly. Abby poked her head in. "Doctor Weaver."

Kerry looked up, "Is... Corey's mother here?"

Abby nodded, "Yeah, just got here. You okay?" Kerry frowned, "No, I don't mean in the grand scheme. Your hip."

"You got the short straw, to come in here, ply me with drugs to defuse me?"

Abby smirked, "Yep. But, in my defense, you were limping."

"I was born with Congenital Hip Dysplasia, I wasn't born in the US, hell, I wasn't really born in what most people would call civilization, though I have to say, it was a lot less damn difficult for me in those days. Anyway, it didn't get fixed."

Abby frowned, "Couldn't they now? Hip replacement?"

"I'm... I'm not ready for that yet. Did you bring any Ibuprofen?"

Abby presented it to the red head. "Did you know this woman and child who came in?"

"Not really, I treated the mother, Sarah, for a bum knee the other day. The other mother and the kid, Corey, were there too, and now... she's dead, just like that."

"Makes you think about life." Abby paused significantly, "Love."

Kerry finally looked up at the nurse. "Why Kim, explain that to me Abby. Why am I stuck on her? We broke up, in spectacular fashion. There's no way that she feels the same way about me."

"Eh, I've seen worse."

"That makes me feel so much better, really."

Abby shrugged and sat back, "I don't know. You're short, she's tall. You're a nerd, she's cool, redhead, blonde? When you're in the same room it just seems like you're the same person, like you're two halves of something bigger."

"That doesn't make a relationship Abby."

"I know, trust me, I know."