Chicago - Real World

"They're never going to give them a proper story."

Kerry looked up from the veggies she was cutting, "What?"

Kim gestured towards the TV, and then shut it off, "Karen Spencer. Old character from The Bold & The Beautiful that just came back, and with a girlfriend, only, it's not looking positive when it comes to where their story is going to go." Kim shook her head, "It's 2012 for the love of God, and they still can't seem to figure out how to write the lesbians."

Kerry went back to the vegetables. "It's a soap. Wouldn't writing a lesbian be kind of like writing every other character?"

"You'd think that, wouldn't you."

Henry walked into the kitchen and slumped into one of the chairs. "What's up bud?"

Henry looked up at Kim and then back down, "I hate school."

Kim sat down across from him at the table and folded her hands in front of her. "Why's that?"

Kerry dumped noodles into the boiling water, set a timer, and joined Kim and Henry at the table. She sat next to her son. He was silent for a moment, "Preston's a jerk..."

"Why Henry?"

Henry made a face, "He called me a spike, or, or something like that. And everybody laughed."

"I'm gonna..."

"Kerry..."

Kerry and Kim's eyes met. Kerry took a deep breath and put an arm around Henry. "That's not a good word for Preston to use. Did you tell your teacher?"

Henry nodded, "Preston got in trouble. The Teacher talked to his Mama too, but nobody likes me, because no one could play with him at Recess today, and not tomorrow or the next day either." Henry's lips curled, "But he's... cool..."

Kim was silent, but could see Kerry's mind working. Finally the red headed doctor spoke to her son. "Okay, here's the plan. We'll have dinner, and after dinner you'll help me make your secret weapon. Tomorrow, I'll call your teacher in the morning to make sure that you can use your secret weapon."

This got Henry's attention, "Secret weapon?"

Kerry ruffled Henry's hair, "You'll just have to wait until after dinner."

"Aw... Mama..." He got off the chair, went to the doorway and looked back for a moment before he kept going.

Kim's laughter exploded from her chest. She held a hand up at Kerry's deathly look, "Sorry..."

Kerry stood and checked on the status of dinner. "Thank you Kim..." Kim came up behind Kerry and encircled the shorter woman's waist, resting her head on the red head's shoulder. "Thank you for stopping me from saying something just as bad as what Preston said."

Kim turned Kerry in her arms and touched the tip of her nose, "That's what I'm here for Luv." Kim started to lean in, but Kerry moved to the side as the timer went off. Kim was left hanging.

"Would you go collar Henry?"

Kim pursed her lips and tilted her head to one side. Kerry rolled her eyes and met Kim's lips halfway for a sensual kiss. Kim finally broke the kiss and practically bopped out of the room.

Kerry smiled as she went about putting dinner on the table. After a bit Henry followed by Kim came to the table. Henry held his hands up. After a glance, Kerry nodded and Henry slid into his seat. Kim bit down on the inside of her mouth so that she wouldn't laugh at the mother and son's interaction.

Henry took a bite of his food and then looked up at Kim, "Will you tell more of the story?"

"Well..." Kim ate for a moment, "Okay, okay, in between bites... for you little Hen." Henry rolled his eyes, "Where was I? Ah, Kerry Kent was always early for her appointments and her interview with Kimberly Luthor the next day was no different..."

Metropolis

Neela St. John looked up as Kerry entered and then at the clock on her computer screen. "You're early Ms. Kent."

Kerry sat down in a chair, putting her crutch to one side. "I don't mind waiting."

Neela stared at Kerry for a moment before she stood and went into Kim's office. Kerry smiled to herself and picked up the magazine that was on the top of the pile of things to read. The cover article concerned who would take over for Lex after his passing.

Neela appeared at Kim's door, "Ms. Luthor will see you now."

Kerry got up and went through the door that Neela held, and then closed after the red head. The office had changed since she had interviewed Kim's father Lex. Gone was the hulking desk as well as the other imposing looking wood furniture. Off to one side was a modern looking off white colored desk with a computer sitting atop it on one side and a singular picture frame on the other. Alongside the desk on both sides were waist high plants, and other plants were scattered around the office. Finally, taking up much of the office space were chairs and a sofa, and there was not a hint of dark colored leather in the entire place.

Kim stepped out from behind her desk and shook Kerry's hand. She gestured towards the chairs, behind them in the wall was a counter that had a practically steaming hot carafe. "Coffee... as ordered." Kim sat as Kerry poured a cup of coffee. "Before you started asking questions, may I ask one?"

Kerry sat with her coffee, "I can't promise I'll answer it, but sure."

"Why are you really here?"

Kerry took a sip of her coffee, putting off having to answer for a moment, "More than one reason really Ms. Luthor, none of which you'll like." Kerry put down the coffee and held up a recorder, "Do you mind if I record this?" Kim shook her head negatively, Kerry hit play, and took out a pen and her notebook. "Kerry Kent Interview of Kimberly Luthor."

"Doctor Kimberly Luthor..."

Kerry glanced up, "Excuse me?"

Kim nodded, "I have an M.D."

"And your residency?"

Kim crossed her arms over her chest, "You're assuming that I didn't... don't practice?"

Kerry paused, "What is your specialty?"

"Pediatrics."

"Do you practice?"

Kim took a breath that came out as a hurf, "No, not at the moment, but I did. Including Doctors without Borders for a while." Kerry nodded, "Is it because I'm a blonde, or because my father was a rich businessman?"

Kerry didn't answer Kim's question, "Your father kept you a virtual secret from the world, why?"

Whatever good mood Kim had, evaporated, but she did answer the question, "My mother was Doctor Gretchen Kelly, my father, Lex Luthor. My mother died giving birth to my little sister Lena. As young children Lena and I both lived here... well..." Kim looked up at the ceiling towards the Penthouse where she currently resided as well, "Up there." She shook her head and focused on Kerry again, "When I was old enough, I was shipped off to boarding school. Then college, et cetra. I didn't set foot in Metropolis again until his funeral. As for why he kept us a secret, there are many possibilities, maybe he was ashamed, or maybe he feared for our safety. Kidnappers, either for profit or influence, don't mind taking children of rich and powerful men and women."

"Lena didn't join you at boarding school?" Kerry looked up from her notebook.

Kim let out a long breath before she answered, "No, she died when she was two years old."

"Hence, the name of the Foundation." Kim nodded, "If you're a doctor by... trade... then why take over LuthorCorp?"

"My father left me all of his shares." Kerry made a bit of a face, "What now?" Kerry was silent and Kim continued speaking, "It is something different. And I do have experience in the business world, I ran my own practice, which I believe is much harder than simply running a company." Kim closed her eyes, "The insurance hassles..."

"Why did you really start the Foundation?"

Kim pinched the bridge of her nose. "That's a good question."

Kim was silent as she stared down at her hands, and Kerry stared at the blonde CEO for almost a minute before she stood. "I believe we're done here..."

Kim looked up and blinked in surprise, "Excuse me?" She stood as well.

Kerry stowed her things and held out her hand. After a moment Kim shook it. "I'll let you get back to your routine."

This made Kim smiled, "In business, unlike medicine, there is nothing routine."

Kim watched Kerry go towards the door. Kim spoke, "Wait a second."

Kerry turned as Kim opened one of her desk drawers and pulled out a card. She gave it to Kerry. "This was... one of the most bizarre interviews I've ever participated in..."

Chicago - Real World

"Aww..."

Kim stood and picked up her and Henry's plates. "Just a pause bud. I can talk and eat, but not talk, walk, and wash."

A phone rang in the living room and Kerry groaned, "That's my cell. I'll be right back."

Kim handed Henry two more plates and they kept cleaning off the table. Henry asked, "Why didn't she finish?"

"The interview. I don't know."

Henry wrinkled his nose, "Don't know?"

Kim smiled, "Not quite sure yet. But..." She ruffled his hair and he tried to bump her hand away. "You'll be the first to know."

They both looked up as Kerry grumped back into the kitchen. "ER?"

Kerry nodded, "Only half a shift, but yes... I..."

Kim leaned down and gave Kerry a kiss, "We're good here. Go save the world, one crazy guy with a puppet at a time."

This brought a smile to Kerry's face as she kissed her son on the top of his head, "Make sure Kim here doesn't get in any trouble."

Kim gave a surprised, "Hey." and Henry laughed as his Mom left. Kim put her hands on her hips, "So... are we going to make the cookies?"

Henry blinked, "Cookies?"

Kim wiggled her eyebrows, "Your Mom's Secret weapon for tomorrow..."

"But your cookies aren't as good as Mama's."

Kim pretended to grab at her heart, "I'm hurt. I'm so very hurt..." Henry rolled his eyes, "So... I guess you'll have to make them..."

"Me..."

"Well... get cookin'... Where was I anyway?"

Henry stood on his tiptoes, but couldn't get to the bowl Kerry used to make the cookie dough. Kim reached and brought it down as Henry answered her question. "The Luthor lady and Kent lady had finished the interview."

Kim nodded, "Hmm... well, back at the Daily Planet."

Metropolis

Abby rubbed at her eyes. She had been in the City Room, at her desk the entire night, and it was catching up with her. A cup of coffee with the slight hint of a chocolate flavor was placed in front of her and Archie sat down in her visitor chair. "Long night?"

Abby took a gulp of coffee and closed her eyes in total bliss. "I'm not going out with you now or ever Archie."

Archie laughed, "You must really be tired. You're not my type Abby. I want to be you... not date you... Well, I mean, except for the female part."

Archie's face turned nearly as red as his hair as Abby dissolved into gales of laughter. When she finally caught her breath she held the coffee up, "Thank you... and it's good that we're on the same page."

Archie shrugged, "So, what kept you here all night?"

Abby shook her head, "A whole lotta nothing is what."

"Kimberly Luthor?"

"Sort of..." She paused, and then mentally shrugged, "Before Lex Luthor's death I was so close to finding out something big..."

"What?"

Abby slapped her hand on the desk and everything jumped, including Archie. "That's the problem... Apparently, the few disgruntled LuthorCorp employees that I was using for information have been... rehired.. Why would the new Luthor rehire them, it makes no sense."

"New Luthor?"

Abby shrugged as she drank more of her coffee, "All Luthors are the same. I desperately need to find someone in LuthorCorp..."

There was a 'hey guys, look at this' from the picture windows that were on one side of the City Room. Both Archie and Abby went over and watched in amazement as Superwoman and the hero known as the Green Lantern righted the top ten floors or so of the LuthorCorp tower. It looked as though some giant had come along and ripped the top off. No one blinked, they were so entranced, as the gigantic green hand held the tower and Superwoman darted in and out of the shattered windows. Off to one side, in the air, floated one of the two Green Lanterns of Earth. His right fist was pointed at the building and the green hand surrounding it. After a moment Superwoman flew up to where Green Lantern was. They spoke and the giant green hand retracted into Green Lantern's ring.

Green Lantern and Superwoman landed on the ground and looked up. They had responded so fast that even the speedy Metropolis Police and Fire sirens were a ways off. "Thank you for the assist." She resisted using his first name, even though they had known each other for a long time, since college. But one never knew who was listening.

Peter Stewart, known to the public as Green Lantern, gave Superwoman's shoulder a friendly bump, "No problem at all. I have no doubt you would have done fine by yourself... I need to..."

Superwoman glanced up at the position of the sun, "Yes. I need to get going as well. Thanks again."

Green Lantern started to leave, but then floated in the air for a moment, "Will you be on the moon tomorrow?"

Superwoman hovered next to the ring powered superhero. "I don't know..."

Green Lantern started to fly off, "Give it some thought..." Superwoman followed him into the sky.

Abby got to LuthorCorp Tower at the same moment as the Fire and Rescue trucks got there. People were stumbling out, mostly out of sorts. The same woman who had been with Kim Luthor at the press conference stumbled into Abby. The reporter managed to get her arms around the woman before she hit the ground. "What happened?"

Neela groaned, "Someone... blew up the... blew up the supports, I think... and, we were all falling, and then we..." Neela blinked, "We stopped, and it was a miracle. I thought I was dead, except it wasn't white, everything was green, glowing green, and then we slowly were righted and..." Neela stared directly into Abby's eyes, "Am I alive?"

Abby looked up as the EMTs approached. She let Neela gently down to the pavement and faded into the crowd of onlookers and reporters that had gathered, leaving the woman to the professionals.

Kerry Kent paused in the City Room and gazed out the picture windows at the blue sky that was only barely dotted with white puffy clouds. Before she could turn to enter her office Abby came flying out of the elevator and down the ramp to her desk. Kerry was surprised that Abby hadn't jumped the railing and not bothered with the ramp. "Abby?"

The woman held up a hand and started typing feverishly. At a half a pause in her typing she spoke without looking up, "Thirty Minutes..."

"Abby..."

Archie finally caught up with Abby and kept going until he was next to Kerry. He was breathing very hard. "I have pictures."

"I want them ready for the afternoon edition." Archie nodded and left the City Room. Kerry stared at Abby for a few more moments before she turned and entered her office.

Kim Luthor knocked on the door frame of Neela's room. Neela looked up, "Come in."

Kim entered with a frown, "Should I call your father? I thought they said that no one was hurt?"

"NO... no... I... Nigel doesn't have not know, not that he won't know anyway..." Neela shook her head, "It felt like a heart attack, but the doctors have said that I had a panic attack."

"No... you mean because the building you were in split in two, you had a panic attack. No..." She raised an eyebrow, "Why would they think that..." A small smile came to Neela's face, "Though, it'll teach you to get to work too early..." This pulled a laugh from Neela, "And I'm taking down the building..."

"What... no."

Kim sat down in a chair and closed her eyes, "It's not just because it broke, or collapsed, or was sabotaged, or whatever..."

"I don't think it collapsed."

Kim shook her head, "Doesn't matter. It's coming down, it has to..."

Neela took a breath and closed her own eyes, "There was a woman."

This made Kim open hers and stare at Neela, "Now you're starting to sound like me..."

"She... caught me... I think, not like Superwoman caught me, but, ah, one moment I was standing, and the next I was softly laid on the ground."

Kim stood and came back over to the hospital bed, "Did she give you a name?"

Neela shook her head, "No... I think I've seen her before, but. I don't know, maybe it was all in my head."

Kim put a hand on Neela's forehead, "Yep, you're crazy... so, you just waiting for someone to come and tell you that yes Ms. St. John, you did not have a heart attack, get out so we can give the bed to someone else?" Neela nodded, "Well, let's see if I can get that sped up a bit."

Neela put a hand on Kim's arm, "You need to do a press conference... sooner rather than later."

Kim patted Neela's hand, "No worries, so, you think you can wait until you leave the hospital building before you start planning the PR spin campaign with everyone?"

Neela shrugged, "Probably not."

Kim rolled her eyes as she left the room in search of a doctor with sign out powers.

Chicago - Real World

Kim Legaspi wiped her hands on a towel and switched from storyteller back to the real world. She answered the land line phone that hung in the kitchen. "Hello." Kim was totally silent as the person on the other end spoke. "Should I..." Kim took a deep breath, "No, no, we'll be there before you can... we'll be there."

Kim hung up the phone and stood motionless for a moment. She closed her eyes, then opened them again and turned towards Henry. "Hey Bud, we need to go to the hospital okay?"

Henry was caught with a cookie in his hand, halfway to his mouth. He paused for a second before it all went in at once. He spoke around it, "Why?"

Kim sat down on one of the kitchen chairs and pulled Henry over to her. "You're eight, so I'm going to say this plainly."

Henry swallowed the last of his cookie, his face was drawn as if he already knew what was coming. "It's Mama?"

Kim nodded, "She was hurt while she was working. Everyone is trying to make her better."

Henry frowned, "She's not better now? Kim... I don't want to have Mama die too..."

Kim hugged him as tight as she could, "I know kid, I know. C'mon, let's get you ready and go see your Mama..."

"Can I bring her our cookies?"

Kim stood, "How about you bring the guys in the ER the cookies, I bet they'd love them..."

Henry sat on a stool by his mother's bed. He could hear Kim and Dr. Don talking, but they were being quiet and he wasn't really listening so he didn't know what they were saying. He heard the door close and Kim come in. She stood still for a moment before she came over and put an arm around the young boy.

"Henry?"

Henry looked over at Kim and blinked the tears from his eyes. "I'm scared."

"Me too Hen, me too..."

"She's... she's not Mama... But she is Mama... You know?"

Kim nodded and squeezed Henry's shoulders, "I know..."

"Is Uncle Carlos coming?"

Kim nodded, "He's going to take you home."

"No, please..."

Kim put a hand up. "He'll bring you back, bright and early tomorrow, I promise."

Henry put a hand on one of Kerry's hands. "You promise to stay with Mama, don't leave at all, I mean, at all, at all?"

Kim put her hand on top of both Henry's and Kerry's, "Until she wakes up, I promise."

Henry was silent for a minute before he let his breath out, "It's not fair..."

Kim rested her chin on the top of Henry's head, "I know Hen... believe me, I know."

"Can you tell me more of the story. Until Uncle Carlos comes?"

"Are you sure?" Henry nodded, "Okay... but, you have to promise me that you won't give Carlos too hard a time..."

"Too..."

A small smile came to Kim's face as she ruffled Henry's hair, "Oh, definitely too little man..." They both went over to the couch sorta thing in the room and sat. "Let's see... maybe a little more about this... Superwoman." For a second Kim swallowed as she looked up at Kerry, then focused back on Henry. "She was an even busier woman than your Mom here..."

"Why?"

Metropolis

Kerry Kent made sure that her computer was entirely shut down before she threaded her arm through her crutch and stood.

Chicago - Real World

"Kim." Henry Weaver interrupted the story, "Why does she use a crutch, but can fly too?"

"I'll get there Hen, I promise..."

Henry made a face but didn't speak.

Metropolis

Kerry Kent opened the door to her townhouse and with a flip of her wrist threw her keys into the basket by the door. She glanced over into the living room. "Put the sofa down Henry."

Henry Kent let down the full size sofa gently, "Sorry Mama..."

Kerry stood in the hallway for a moment before a smile came to her face, "How's the... hovering problem?"

Henry's face turned a deep crimson color, "B-better." He paused as only a kid could, "What's for dinner?"

Kerry continued to the kitchen and put her briefcase down on the table. "I don't know, what are you making?"

"Me, I'm eight Mama..."

Kerry gave a short chuckle, "So, I was driving a tractor at eight, and walking barefoot to school... uphill both ways..." She smiled.

"Were not..."

Kerry looked at Henry over the tops of her glasses, "Ask Grandma."

Henry frowned at Kerry, "I will."

Kerry nodded, "Good. So, what's for dinner?"

"Mama..." Kerry hid a smile as Henry's brain worked, "Mac and Cheese."

"Okay."

Henry did a double take, usually he had to beg until he wore his mother down to get her to make Mac and Cheese for dinner. "Really?"

Kerry nodded and closed her eyes. "Really, I'm... I'm tired."

Henry frowned as a ball of worry was created in the pit of his stomach. He stood in front of Kerry and put a hand on her forehead as she had done so many times to him. "Mama, you're hot..."

Kerry shook her head and took Henry's hand into her own. "We don't get sick hun. It was probably the building I lifted."

Henry rolled his eyes and went back over to the pantry to get the Mac and Cheese as well as the various bowls. When he put it on the counter he turned to face his Mom with a very serious look on his face, "You should call Grandma."

"Henry."

Henry made a pouty face that worked 99% of the time on his mother, "Please Mama?"

Kerry regarded Henry for a moment before she went over to him and picked him up for a short hug. "When did you grow up on me?"

"Last week..."

She ruffled his hair and fished her cell phone out of her briefcase. She moved into the living room but kept an eye and ear on the kitchen. Henry wasn't invulnerable yet, and even if he had been, she was his mother.

She auto-dialed Smallville Kansas, the Kent Farm. Her mother, Martha Kent, picked up on the second ring. "Hey sweetie."

"Hi Mom..."

Martha picked up on Kerry's mood immediately, "What's wrong Kerry?"

"I'm tired and my son ordered me to call you because he believes I have a fever." There was laughter on the other end of the line, "Oh, laugh at my pain. I'll just wait."

Martha caught her breath, "Honey that boy is more and more like you every day."

"Mom, have I ever had a fever before?"

"Once..." Martha paused, "It was when your hip healed as a kid. You were sick for a week, throwing up and at one point..." Martha paused again, "You, you had a one hundred and ten fever..." She laughed uncomfortably, "If we hadn't known you were different before, that fact cemented it. Should Jonathan and I..."

"No... no Mom, we're okay, I'm okay." Kerry looked over at the kitchen as Henry gave a 'doh' and quickly got a towel to clean up the spilled milk. "How is Dad doing?"

"Too much, like usual. Here he comes..." Kerry heard the shuffling of the phone and then Martha speaking to her father, "It's your daughter."

There was more movement an then Jonathan Kent's voice came over the receiver, "Kerry, you're not at work."

Kerry rolled her eyes, "I'm at home with my son Dad."

A laugh came from the other end of the phone, "How is the pipsqueak?"

"Fine Dad."

"Good, good. I'll give you back to your mother. Love you Kerry."

There was shifting and then Martha, "You and your father speak in code."

Kerry smiled and looked up as Henry stood in the kitchen doorway with his arms crossed over his chest and his eyes narrowed. She held up a finger, "I have to go Mom... the cook is giving me the evil eye."

"Give him a kiss from both his grandparents."

Kerry stood, "I'll try."

"Call anytime Kerry, you know that. I love you."

Kerry walked into the kitchen, "Love you too Mom, so does Henry..."

Henry rolled his eyes as Kerry hung up the phone and sat down. Henry almost dropped the large bowl of Mac and Cheese. In the blink of an eye Kerry caught it with one hand. Henry stared down at his feet. "Sorry Mama..."

Kerry patted Henry on the back, "That's okay hun. Let's eat."

Luka Troupe and Samantha Grant stood at the coffee maker. Luka shook his head, "She has a Kerth for every season, why the hell is she working with that photographer, Jimmy, no... Ritchie, Paulie?"

"Archie..."

Luka shrugged, "Whatever his name is, he's never had a byline in his life."

Abby leaned back in her desk chair, "We're getting nowhere." She glanced over at Archie, "No hot date tonight Olsen?"

Archie laughed, "You have a funny side Abby. No, no date."

There was silence, "What, you're not going to ask about my love life?"

Archie snorted as he stood, "I'll admit I'm naive and a newbie, but I don't have a death wish. I'll see you tomorrow."

Abby raised a hand in good-bye and then went back to her screen. She had spent most of the day researching all things Kimberly Luthor. The woman wasn't as spotless as Abby had thought she'd be. She had been busted as a young teen for Pot possession, had a few parking tickets, and even had some Fs in high school and middle school. "Why didn't all this get covered up?" Abby switched from one file to another, bringing up the face of Neela St. John, the woman that had fallen into Abby's arms outside of the LuthorCorp building.

What Abby had found was a bio on an outdated website that she was pretty sure Neela didn't know still existed. It stated that Neela was the only daughter of Nigel St. John. Abby knew from her dealings with Lex Luthor that Nigel St. John was the father Luthor's right hand man, when there was something illegal to do, Nigel was the courier to the person Lex hired to do it. No mother was listed. She had a communications degree from Metropolis University as well as a Masters in something, though the page didn't say what. Abby wrote a note to herself to find out where and what Neela's Grad degree was in. "All that education and yet she's working for a... working for a Luthor." Abby shook her head and pinched the bridge of her nose, "What the hell am I missing?"

"Your little sister..."

Abby looked up and rolled her eyes at her younger sister, Randi Lane. But after a moment she stood and hugged her. "So, big sister, what are you missin', other than your brain and a stop button."

Abby sat back down and put her hands over her face, rubbing up and down. "I don't know, that's the problem. Did Mom send you to check up on me in the big bad city?"

Randi chuckled, "I haven't seen them in a couple of months. I... dropped out of college..."

"Randi."

Randi walked over to the support pole near Abby's desk and looked at the notices posted up on it. "That's the same tone of voice Mom used on the phone. I don't need it from you Abby..."

Abby's jaw flexed silently under her skin, "Any reason in particular that you quit?"

"I couldn't do it... That'll make you happy, you get to shine for Mommy and the General."

Abby stood and jerked Randi around by the arm, "Don't even pretend that's true Randi. I'm on your side. I will always be on your side. What's your plan?"

"I..." Randi looked down at her shoes, "I need somewhere to crash."

"Done..."

Randi looked up, surprised, "Huh?"

Abby grabbed her jacket from the back of her desk chair and with a couple of mouse movements started her computer on its shutting down process. "C'mon, I'll take you home and stew about my lack of inspiration for how to find my story there."

Randi put an arm around Abby's shoulder. "Thank you Ab-ster..."

Abby gave Randi a quick pat on the back that was a little harder than it had to be, "That's what sisters are for right?"

Chicago - Real World

"You made... Randi... my little sister?"

Kim looked up with a frown and put a finger to her lips in a shushing motion. She stood, putting a sleeping Henry down gently onto the couch behind her and moved over to the other side of the room with Abby. "He just got calm enough to sleep. Carlos Lopez is coming for him."

Abby put a hand on Kim's shoulder, "How are you."

Kim swallowed, "Waiting for everyone to leave so that I can collapse."

"Kim..."

Kim waved a hand at Abby, "I'm fine. She's alive, strong vital signs. I'm okay."

Abby stared over at Kerry, "It should have been me, or maybe, I could have moved faster or..."

"Abby, what are you talking about?"

"They called me first... I couldn't get in early..."

They both looked up as Carlos stuck his head in. He followed with the rest of his body and gave Kim a crushing hug. "How are you two?"

Kim shrugged as Carlos moved over to stand next to Kerry's bed. He took her hand in both of his, bowed his head, and closed his eyes for a few moments. Then, took a step back and looked back at Kim and Abby. "Is Henry ready to go?"

A yawn came from Henry, "Uncle Carlos."

Carlos smiled as his nephew sleepily stumbled over, "Long night, huh Henry?" Henry nodded and Carlos met Kim's eyes, "We'll be back." Kim nodded back as the uncle and nephew exited the room.

Abby gave Kim a pat on the back, "I need to get going too. But... I'll give the ER the heads up that Kerry is not to be disturbed until at least the morning..."

Kim nodded but didn't take her eyes off of Kerry as Abby left the room. Kim watched the door close and walked over to Kerry's bedside. She took one of Kerry's hands in both of hers, put her head down on the gurney and let the tears pour from her eyes.