October 20th, 2000

Kerry and Sandy were in downtown Chicago, not too from the hospital. Kerry was a bit cool, but Sandy was freezing and they seemed to be walking around in circles. "Kerry, we're walking in circles."

Kerry sighed as they turned a corner, "Now, I'm sure it was on this block, it's called Nazeem. It's got a kinda blue awning."

Sandy managed to push down her shiver, "Well, I don't see it."

"We musta missed it."

Sandy turned to Kerry as they walked, "I don't like Indian food anyway."

"Well, why didn't you say something?"

Sandy smiled, "I just did."

Kerry glanced around, "Well, why don't we go to that Italian place across the street. They've got great risotto."

Sandy started to follow Kerry, then paused and squinted, "Wait a minute. That'd be great if they weren't closed."

Kerry squinted as well and turned back and started down the sidewalk again, "You're kinda a pain in the ass, you know that?"

"Some say." Sandy chuckled and then shivered.

A smile finally made it to Kerry's lips as well, "I'm starting to regret this whole thing."

Sandy bumped Kerry's free arm, "Too bad, I'm starvin'."

"Okay, let's just forget about looking for a decent place. I know a half decent place that will do. Doesn't have rats or roaches or anything."

Sandy tried to take Kerry's hand as they stopped at the end of the sidewalk, but Kerry wouldn't let her. Sandy frowned, but bantered back, "I like a take charge kinda girl."

Kerry colored a bit as she stuffed her hands in her pockets. "Right."

Sandy shivered as a gust of wind blew through, "Lead the way before I turn to an icicle and you have to stick warm saline in me."

"Well, this is halfway good. I'm surprised I've never been here before."

Kerry took a sip of her drink. "George's has been around at least since I got to Chicago."

"Which was when?"

Kerry took a bite of her Kung Pao Chicken. "1991. I started at Mercy, in '95 I moved to County to be Chief Resident. How about you. Did you grow up around here?"

Sandy looked around, "Not here, here, but Chicago, yeah. So, Blackhawks, Bulls or Bears?"

Kerry shook her head, "Baby Bears... I've never understood Hockey or Basketball and Football just seems so... violent to me. I can only see the brain damage those men are inflicting on themselves and each other."

Sandy shook her head and pushed her plate away from the edge of the table. "So, baseball, the Cubs."

"Since I've been here, yes, I know we just... I wish I could stay longer, but I have to finish my shift."

Sandy studied Kerry, "Will we be doing this again?"

Kerry threaded her arm through her crutch. "Sure. I had fun, but I really..."

Sandy did a shooing motion. "Go, go. I've got this. Save some lives Doc."

"Boyfriend's on the phone again Doctor Weaver."

This got Dave's attention, "Really Chief?"

"One, don't call me Chief. Two, you have patients, use your inquisitive mind and fix their problems." She picked up the phone and turned her back on Randi and Dave. "Mlungisi."

Dave shook his head, "At least that's proof she's human."

Randi made a shooing motion and turned to the computer. Eavesdropping only a little. Kerry sounded surprised. "I'm fine Mlungisi." She said something in another language that Randi didn't know, then switched back to English. "I don't need you to come for Christmas Mlungisi. I..." She sighed, "Of course you know I'll be happy to see you."

She pulled over a pad and snagged a pen. She tried to write and it wouldn't. She shook the thing, but it still wouldn't. A second later she felt another pen against her hand. She glanced over and mouthed a thank you to Randi and started scribbling down shorthand on it. She ripped off the top piece of paper. "I will be there." Kerry smiled, "I love you too Mlungisi. Talk to you soon."

Kerry hung up the phone and stared down at the paper in her hand. She carefully folded it and put it in her pants pocket. She crutched towards the Doctor's lounge, but spoke to Randi over her shoulder. "I wrote hard enough that you can use the pencil trick."

Randi smiled and shook her head as the Doctor's lounge door swung closed. Without looking she snagged the pad from behind her and mumbled, "Bet she even has a tattoo."

"Are you really supposed to think those things Miss Fronczak?"

Randi looked up, her pencil paused, "It's Legaspi right? The head shrinker? Doctor Weaver and I... we have a... complex relationship."

Kerry appeared at the desk. Her glasses and lab coat stowed. "It's true Kim. Randi gives me quite a complex. Are you ready for your Chicago orientation tour?"

Kim smiled, "Oh, there's a tour?"

Kerry shrugged, "Always a good idea to know the places you might not want to visit at night, or weekends, or ever."

Kim gave a half a bow and gestured towards the door. "Lead the way Kerry."