With Christmas quickly approaching, Angel was using what energy she had to work on gifts. She'd gotten Hadley's name in the Secret Santa exchange. Wilson had been in charge to avoid letting House put his name into the hat seven times, like he'd done years ago. She wanted to have gifts for House, Wilson, Maggie and Sadie as well, not to mention Foreman, and a little something for Taub and Chase, so Angel was hopping.
Funds were low, so Angel decided on mostly homemade gifts. She felt a bit guilty, but Foreman had encouraged her, saying that the love she put into them meant so much to everyone. She was on her way to Foreman's apartment, driven by Sadie, to search for a photo of his parents. Angel was planning on doing a framed drawing they could hang in the apartment.
Sadie was going to run a short errand down the block. Both had their cell phones on, in case Angel needed her. Angel waved her off and let herself into his apartment. She smiled, thinking how much her place felt like home now, how rarely Foreman came to his own place anymore.
She decided to search his desk first. Angel was leafing through some papers when she heard the ominous sound of a gun being cocked and a man's voice growling, "Don't make any sudden moves. Turn around real slow." She felt as though her heart was going to beat out of her chest, and her body was ice cold. She did as she was told. An African-American man, standing in the doorway to the bedroom, had the gun aimed at her.
"Please, don't hurt me," she begged, visions of a few terrifying encounters with past abusers flashing in her head. Her legs were shaking, worried she'd faint or throw up.
His own hand was shaking, and she thought of Foreman. Would she ever see him again? Would she comply and be killed anyway? "Sit down," he snarled. "Who are you?"
Angel tried to answer but her chest was hurting, worse than she'd ever felt in her life. "Please, I can't hurt you, just let me go. I don't feel well, I have cancer." Slowly she pulled her cap off, showing him her bald head. He frowned and lowered the gun but didn't take his eyes off her.
"Who are you?" He asked again, not quite so menacing.
"A-Angel. I'm Eric Foreman's girlfriend. Please, let me go, my chest hurts," Angel asked, feeling pale.
He started to walk to her, causing her to start crying, but his expression had changed. "I'm Marcus, Eric's brother, now, take it easy."
She shook her head. "Eric doesn't have a brother. Please just—"
"Call him." He ordered, pointing to the phone with the gun.
She nodded quickly, her fingers numb and tingling. Her breath was coming in shallow gasps when he answered. "Eric, I'm at your apartment. There's a man here. He says he's your brother."
Foreman could hear she was crying through her words. "Baby, calm down. I do have a brother, Marcus. I didn't tell you because he's been in prison. He's there?" She heard him mutter a curse under his breath. "I'm on my way."
There was a knock on the door, and Marcus startled, aiming the gun at the door. "Don't, please! That's probably my nurse! Please," she cried.
Taking a look at her face, he nodded and lowered the gun again. "Sadie, come in, slowly." She looked at Marcus. "I beg you, please put the gun down before someone gets hurt." He paused but then nodded and put it on the counter.
Sadie walked in, alarmed at Angel's words. Her concern turned to panic when she saw Angel. "Angel, what is it? You don't look well at all. Who's this?" Sadie was small but every inch of her bristled with protection for Angel.
"Eric's brother. We caught each other by surprise. Sadie, I don't feel well. My chest hurts," she admitted.
Sadie grabbed her bag, and ordered Angel to chew some aspirin, and called 911. Angel's blood pressure was incredibly high, her coloring ashy. Angel tried to protest, but even she knew something didn't feel right. Marcus looked equally panicked.
Angel was being put into the ambulance when Foreman arrived. He ran over to her, eyes wide, looking to Sadie for answers, who told him what she knew. He glared up at his brother but didn't say a word. He jumped into the back, holding her hand, with Sadie following in her car.
XXXXX
Wilson barged into House's office, announcing, "Angel's being brought to the ER with chest pains." He dashed off, House not far behind. It felt like forever before the sound of the rig pulled up to the doors. She was awake, but looked dusky and weak. Concerned about an infection in the PICC line, House and Wilson both barked different orders for different tests—blood tests, cardiac enzymes, the works. House glanced at Foreman and glared at Sadie when she arrived, but Angel was too disoriented to defend her.
While they waited for results, House determined she was stable to move her to the cardiac wing to get her out of the germ-infested ER. She'd have quiet and privacy. Though once in the room, everyone started trying to get answers at once.
"Just what kind of a half-rate nurse are you to let—" House began to rant
"I would never let anything happen to Angel, Dr. House," Sadie snapped back.
"And you," House whirled in on Foreman, "Just what in the hell happened?"
"My brother showed up and apparently scared her," Foreman began to shout.
"Enough!" boomed Wilson, bringing all noise and action in the room to an abrupt halt. "Can't you see what you're doing to her? Everyone OUT! That includes you, House!" Wilson's face was crimson. The heart monitor showed her pulse was way out of control. Wilson began to do carotid massage, gently telling Angel all would be okay. From outside, everyone watched as she slowly began to stabilize. Even with the oxygen mask, her coloring was still not right. She seemed to be fading in and out of consciousness.
Gun thrust in my face….can't breathe….choking me….he's so loud…hands all over me…just want it to end….
"I need a crash cart!" Wilson ordered, as her heart rhythm began to waver in tachycardia. "We need to get that PICC line out now!"
House did not hesitate under Wilson's command, but held his breath as her heart was shocked back into correct rhythm. Thankfully it only needed once. Seeing her so helpless, so ill, it was unnerving, even to him.
There were no more discussions until her test results came back. Angel had a mild infection, and House deduced her repeated vomiting had dislocated the PICC line, causing the tachycardia. But he was sure that whatever had happened at Foreman's apartment had affected her profoundly, even if not physically.
Sadie was sitting with her while the others sorted out exactly what had happened. Marcus had shown up at some point, driving Foreman's car, and was being given the third degree by Foreman and House. Marcus had put the gun back where he found it before coming to the hospital, and didn't mention it. As angry as his brother was with him, he had little doubt he'd use that parole violation against him and send him straight back to prison before nightfall.
"Hello, love," Sadie whispered as Angel's eyes opened, looking around the room in a daze. "You gave us a fright but you're going to be okay. Your PICC line was aggravating your heart and you have a mild infection. Dr. Wilson says everything else is just fine." She took Angel's hand and rubbed it gently. She was relieved to see a hint of a smile and a touch of color back on Angel's face.
Wilson came in and cautiously removed the oxygen mask. Her O2 sats stayed level so he put her on the canula. "How are you feeling Angel?" He took her other hand and sweetly kissed it. It wasn't often he had to raise his voice and throw his weight around but he was fiercely protective of her.
"I think okay. Everything's a little fuzzy in my head," she whispered, her voice dry. Wilson gave her a sip of water that felt heavenly. "Where is everyone?"
"Out giving Eric's brother the riot act. Though the fact you were out and about doesn't thrill me either," Wilson said with a bit of a frown.
"It's almost Christmas and I need to get some things done," she protested. "Besides, Sadie was with me. And it doesn't sound like this was because I was doing an errand," Angel countered.
Wilson sighed. "No, it probably wasn't. You just scared me nearly to death," he said, stroking her cheek.
"Hey, hands off, that's my job," said Foreman from the door. Sadie gave him room by her side.
"Sadie, James, I need to speak to Eric alone, please," Angel said, not having looked at him yet.
They cleared out, Sadie sitting outside, Wilson returning to House's office to keep Marcus in one piece. Jaw clenched, Angel began in a quiet but angry voice, "Why didn't you tell me you had a brother?"
Foreman hung his head. "Angel, he's been in prison for a long time. I was going to tell you eventually, but—"
"But what? You had to have known he was being released! I was terrified because…." Angel stopped. She knew if she told him about the gun, there would be no chance of reconciliation between the brothers. Foreman would choose her in a heartbeat. "Because I thought he was a burglar and…you know my history of being assaulted." And truth be told, even without the gun, she would have been afraid, she rationalized.
He looked at her, worried. "I know, I should have told you. I'm sorry. But you don't know the things he's done. I've only hinted at my past." Now he looked ashamed. "He's a thief, a drug addict, a liar—"
Angel cut him off. "Is he still here? I'd like to speak with him. Alone." Foreman tried to argue against it, but even in her weakened state, she was firm.
Marcus entered her room, slowly, tenaciously, like a child knowing he's in for the scolding of his life. Angel nodded at the seat next to her. Both noticed Foreman outside, standing guard, arms crossed, with a scowl on his face. As Marcus sat, Angel's face softened. She was still upset, but wanted to put Marcus at ease. He seemed bewildered by her expression.
"I think….we need to start over." Angel held her hand out. "Hi, I'm Angel, Eric's girlfriend."
Marcus looked at her hand for a second, afraid she'd strike him, before he took it gently. "I'm Marcus, Eric's brother." His voice was filled with remorse. "I'm so very sorry, I—"
"I understand and I'm going to be okay. All this," she motioned to the machines, "is not because of you. And I want you to know that I haven't said a word to anyone about the gun. I imagine you're on parole and would get into trouble. So you'd better get rid of it—"
"I….found it in a drawer at Eric's place." Angel looked at him in shock. "Which, by the way, is still his place, isn't it? I noticed there was no food, stuff cleaned out…"
"Eric's living with me, to help care for me, because of my cancer. My nurse helps while he's here at work." She fiddled with the blanket a bit, glancing at him now and then.
"I'm…sorry about your cancer. Eric's a good guy." His eyes were aimed at the floor.
"And I'm so very sorry about your mother. I wish I could have known her," Angel said kindly. "Marcus, I haven't exactly lived a perfect life. I ran away when I was 15, I was a stripper, had a son who died when he was three, and then got involved with men who severely abused me. And then I got a job here. My life started to change and I got scared. I was scared that my past would always haunt me, that everyone would judge me. I made a stupid mistake and went back to my old life and almost got killed. It was my own fear that kept me from moving forward. But once I got over that, I fell in love with your brother."
"You don't have to keep repeating your past. You can get through it. I have a wonderful psychiatrist who is helping me. You should talk to him. I know this sounds rather pushy of me….but I think you and Eric need each other. I don't have any family. It's too precious to throw away out of fear."
Marcus sat, mesmerized by how Angel seemed to know what was going through his brain. He was humbled that she wanted to help and accept him. Maybe this time….?
"Thank you. I can see why my brother loves you. I really am so sorry, Angel." His eyes were so sorrowful, it made her heart ache.
She reached out her arms and embraced him. "I forgive you, Marcus. It's over. We can move on." As they parted, she smiled and he shyly smiled back.
Foreman walked in, flabbergasted and outraged at what he saw, as his brother headed down to the cafeteria. House had asked to meet with him. "Angel…how can you…?"
"How can you not, Eric? He's your brother!" She sat there, angry again, silently stewing. Finally she turned to him and began, her voice softer.
"Eric, I know how much you love me. But every day I wonder what I did to deserve you. And sometimes I worry what will happen if I screw up. Will you cast me aside like your brother, your own blood relative? If you can love me, how can you not love him?" she implored. Foreman was silent.
"There were so many times I wanted to take the 'easy way out'. I could have turned tricks. Shoplifted. Stole money from my employers. But I didn't, as hard as it was. My life was awful and those things would have made it easier. I don't know why. Your brother made some bad mistakes. And it will take some hard work to turn his life around. I don't know if he'll do that. But doesn't he deserve a chance?"
"He's had multiple chances! He's stolen from my parents plenty of times. I couldn't do it anymore." Foreman shook his head.
"Maybe he just didn't find the right thing to help. I encouraged him to see Dr. Nolan." That didn't get a response from him. "How many chances do I get….just so I know," Angel said bitterly.
"Baby, you know that's different. You're different," Foreman said, trying to reach for her, but she pulled away.
"No, I don't know that. If my own mother could reject me as a child, who's to say you won't reject me? Is what I've done in my life really that different from Marcus?" Even Foreman was starting to believe her and said so.
"Just don't risk your heart so much you get hurt by him," he warned.
"Eric, I risked my heart for you. Loving someone means taking a risk. But isn't it worth it?" She stroked his cheek.
Foreman lowered his head for a moment then looked her in the eyes. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I promise not to hide things from you." She pulled him to her and kissed him. The gun was in the back of her mind, but she couldn't reveal knowing about it without also telling Foreman about Marcus aiming it at her. She had to trust that both men would do what was right.
