Chapter 1: Before I Wake
SCENE: OR 2
(Amber is in the scrub room after finishing off her Appy surgery when Andrew walks in wearing navy scrubs)
Andrew: Hey, how did it go?
Amber: Good it was quick and easy. What about you? I heard you had an ALPPS procedure. I would've killed to scrub in or even watch from a gallery.
Andrew: It went good, patients gonna make it. And I didn't do it solo I assisted Dr. Grey on it I did about 40% of the cutting if it makes you feel better. It's nothing like doing a solo surgery that's so easy I could've done it my second year.
Amber: Please, I could've done this as an intern, I don't know why they waited till I was chief resident to let me do a solo Appy.
Andrew: (Grins) Probably because they don't want to risk some rookie intern killing a patient. I mean you should understand since handling interns is your job.
Amber: (Groans) Unfortunately I do. If I knew I was gonna handle incompetent barely out of med school children who bother you every five minutes I would've become a pathologist or maybe a mortician.
Andrew: Hmm I don't think formaldehyde is a good fragrance. I mean no guy would want to marry a girl who handles dead bodies for a living.
Amber: (Smiles) Then it's a good thing I married you huh?
Andrew: (Smiles) It is a very good thing I married you.
(Andrew walks to Amber and they passionately kiss and embrace)
CUT TO PRESENT DAY IN JO AND ALEXS LOFT
(Amber wakes up with a jolt as she finds herself in Jo and Alex's bed alone)
Amber: (Confused) What the hell?
AN HOUR LATER AT GREY SLOAN
(Amber numbly walks across the park ready to start the day when she sees Levi buying a cup at the cart)
Amber: (To the barista) Can I get an Americano extra shot?
Barista: Do you want milk?
Amber: No, I didn't ask for milk, did I?
Barista: Some people like milk.
Amber: (Rudely) Its expresso and hot water, can you just make it like that?
Barista: (Timidly) Yeah.
(Levi widens his eyes at Amber as the barista makes her coffee)
Levi: (Whispers) You know he can spit in your coffee, right? You must be really hungover and cranky.
Amber: Nah I just popped three Tylenol so I'm good I just had the weirdest dream ever last night.
Levi: Were you in the OR naked because that has happened to me. The websites say-
Amber: I wasn't naked, it wasn't that kind of dream. I was…
Levi: You were what?
Amber: (Sighs) I can't talk to you about this I need to talk to Jo.
Levi: So, call her she's on her honeymoon but I'm sure she won't mind.
Amber: No, I want to talk to Jo about this but I can't talk to Jo about this. Not unless I want Alex to make fun of me for the rest of my life.
Levi: Okay, so talk to me. I mean we're friends and friends tell each other stuff. I told you about my concerns on Bailey coming onto me.
Amber: Those weren't concerns those were massive errors in judgment due to your lack of social cues.
Levi: Even so I can be your ear. Just tell me what your dream was about, let it out of your chest and I'll provide good feedback and advice.
Barista: Here's your coffee.
(Amber and Levi grab their coffee and start to walk to the lockers)
Amber: …Fine but if you tell anyone about this, I will make sure you are nowhere near a hospital when I deal with you.
Levi: I swear on my laminated first edition X-Men #101.
Amber: No idea what that is but okay. I had a dream about the future I was the chief resident-
Levi: Wait why are you the Chief Resident?
Amber: (Irritably) Because it's my dream and I like to think that I'm better than all of you idiots. Sorry my hangover is kicking in again.
Levi: Okay I kind of deserved that one. Please continue no more interruptions.
Amber: Anyway, I finished my first solo surgery, an Appy, when Andrew walked into the scrub room, he was in navy scrubs so he's an attending. We were talking about our surgeries when…
Levi: When what?
Amber: He kissed me and I kissed him back.
Levi: (Shocked) What?! Why would he do that?
Amber: Because in that dream we were married.
Levi: You and- you two were married in the dream?
Amber: Well, I said it was lucky that I married him and he said it was very lucky he married me so I think the context was clear. What does this mean? What did the dream mean?
Levi: I think it's pretty obvious.
Amber: Not to me. Tell me, give me advice to calm my nerves, be my Jo please.
Levi: Okay um your dream is telling you that your developing strong feelings for DeLuca and you secretly want to marry him so your subconscious is telling you this in dream form.
Amber: Nope! Try again.
Levi: What do you mean try again? You want an analysis and that's the analysis I'm giving you. What's the big deal about you liking DeLuca?
Amber: I don't like Andrew not in that way. We barely know each other. I asked him out once and he rejected me because my brother went to the loft at the worst time possible and make him get two surgeries. Plus, his girlfriend just left and I would be the designated rebound that will inevitably be left behind in favor of something real. I can't like Andrew because that is just a train of hurt waiting to hit me so I reject your analysis and urge you to try again.
Levi: (Groans) Fine give me a sec…um oh! I got it! You just went to your brother's wedding last night so that could give you feelings of wanting to get married and you imagined yourself married in the future. That's my second analysis do you take it?
Amber: But why would I imagine myself married to Andrew? Wouldn't I imagine myself being married to Maya instead?
Levi: I don't know I guess you…I don't know I mean it's not like you and DeLuca hooked up at the wedding or anything.
(Amber's eyes widen as she sips her coffee. Levi notices her strange face)
Levi: (Whispering loudly) Oh my God! You hooked up with DeLuca?
Amber: Not exactly, he just…kissed me at the first wedding venue.
Levi: (Shocked) You guys kissed?
Amber: No, he was blind drunk and depressed, I was telling him that any girl could want him and then he kissed me…and I slapped him.
Levi: I'll pray that he was drunk enough to forget the kiss and the slap especially the slap. Okay so he kissed you the day before you had the dream, that could be why you imagined yourself married to him instead of Maya.
Amber: Yes! I accept your analysis temporary Jo. Thank you so much, you made me feel so much better.
Levi: No problem glad to use my medical degree for something.
(They arrive at the lockers to get into their scrubs)
MEANWHILE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN
(Andrew walks behind Jackson and Maggie as his hangover makes his head pound. His memories from the day before come to him)
Andrew: (Horrified) Oh my God. I kissed Amber Karev last night. Oh. Oh my God.
(Andrew continues walking as his head continues to pound)
A LITTLE WHILE LATER AT THE LOCKERS
(Amber gets into her scrubs and sees Taryn popping Excedrin into her mouth)
Amber: (Chuckles) Rough night?
Taryn: (Groans) Shut your loudmouth Amber, I'm barely hanging on as it is. Why did I decide to drink way beyond the legal limit?
Amber: Because weddings are the right place to drink beyond the legal limit?
Dahlia: How are you not like Taryn? I mean you drank the same amount as her.
Amber: Nope I drank more. I've just had more practice with alcohol due to attending several or more sorority and frat parties.
Taryn: Good for you. Now be quiet so I can die and come back to life feeling better.
(Amber grins at Taryn's misery as she walks away from her and stands next to Levi and Vik. Suddenly her phone beeps as well as the others)
Vik: Incoming trauma! I'm scrubbing in!
Amber: Not if I get there first!
(Amber pushes Vik behind her and runs out of the room with Levi running beside her, Vik runs behind both of them. They pass Owen by the elevators)
Owen: Hey. Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down.
Vik: Incoming trauma!
(The three of them make it to the pit in almost unison with Amber ahead of them.)
Amber: First!
Levi and Vik: (Unison) First!
(They each grab a gown while Webber puts his on)
Webber: Wrong. I was first.
Levi: Second!
(Amber slaps the back of Levi's head when a woman enters with her husband leaning against her)
Barry: Easy!
Patty: I don't want you to die out here.
Webber: Uh, what's the matter here?
Patty: Uh, he was on the floor in the bathroom screaming. I think it might be a heart attack.
Barry: It's my stomach. It's just my stomach.
Webber: Uh, one of you get them checked in.
Vik: (Unison) But the trauma!
Levi: (Unison) There's a trauma.
Amber: (Unison) What?
Webber: Roy, now.
(Vik leaves to carry Barry to a bed leaving Amber and Levi to the trauma. Owen arrives to help with the trauma)
Owen: That's not our trauma?
Webber: Oh, just some stomach pain.
(Barry groans louder catching Webber's attention)
Webber: Uh, you got this Hunt?
(Hunt nods and Webber leaves to attend Barry. Amber and Levi grab gloves and head to the entrance)
Levi: (Smiles) First.
Amber: Thank God. I need a trauma to distract me I really need a distraction.
Levi: You mean from the thing I'm not supposed to talk about?
Amber: (Sarcastically) No from something else. Yes, from the thing you can't talk about! I can't think about Andrew right now and I don't want to see him anytime soon so don't bring it up got it?
Levi: Got it.
(Owen, Amber, and Levi run to the ambulance where Andrew jumps out in his suit from last night)
Amber: Oh crap.
Andrew: MVC. Altered at the scene. Pulse 130. BP's holding in the 90s. There's also an open femur fracture.
(A gurney rolls out with a girl twisted into her bike with one of her legs backwards)
Amber: Holy crap! She's a pretzel!
Levi: No, she's a human bike rack.
Jackson: Bike frame seems to be tamponading a pretty serious thigh bleed, so we wanted to make sure to get her into a controlled environment for the extraction.
Owen: We're gonna need ortho. There's some new hotshot ortho guy. Let's get him. Pierce?
Maggie: She-Karev you're with me!
(Amber runs to the other ambulance where they wheel a middle-aged woman out)
Maggie: She lost consciousness behind the wheel.
Cece: Oh, my God, I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!
Maggie: Karev lets get her set up for an EKG.
Amber: Got it.
(Amber leaves to get the EKG machine. They get Cece into a gown and attach her to the machine)
Cece: Is she gonna be all right? I didn't mean to hit her I just suddenly passed out behind the wheel. I didn't mean to hurt that little girl; can you tell me if she's gonna be, okay?
Maggie: We'll get you an update as soon as we can just hang tight Cece while we check your EKG. Karev what do you think we're looking at here?
Amber: Um does she have any known heart conditions?
Maggie: I don't know why don't you ask her?
Amber: Okay. Ms. Colvin-
Cece: Cece.
Amber: Cece, do you have any issues with your heart? Possibly an arrhythmia?
Cece: I'm at my third heart sweetie. I've had two transplants and am probably due for my third by the looks of it. I've been in hospitals long enough to guess that you probably haven't been here for long, am I right?
Amber: You are right. I've been here for almost a year now.
Maggie: Let's not get ahead of ourselves Cece, let's just wait for the EKG to come back.
(Casey comes up to them)
Casey: Dr. Pierce, a word?
Maggie: Yeah?
Casey: A private word?
(Maggie approaches Casey who whispers in her ear)
Maggie: Okay. Um...Cece, I'll be right back. I'm gonna let her finish your EKG. You sit tight.
Cece: Thank you.
(Maggie leaves with Casey)
Amber: Okay let's get you set up Cece.
(Amber tries to get the machine working but it glitches)
Amber: Dammit this one is bust. I'll be right back with a new one just wait a moment Cece.
Cece: Okay.
(Amber runs to the closet and returns with a new EKG machine but finds Cece by Nisha's bed)
Amber: Cece I told you to wait for me. You need to get back to your bed.
Jackson: That's what I just told her.
Cece: I've had two heart transplants. If I drop dead right here, I would've already had a longer life than I probably should've. So, thank you, Doctors, but I am not leaving this girl alone.
Owen: Okay, ma'am, we have an ortho team coming in, so we're gonna have to move you to make room for-
Nisha: Oh, my God.
(They all see two extremely attractive man in navy scrubs walking towards them in stride)
Link: Someone ask for an Ortho God?
(Amber raises her eyebrow and Nisha flusters while high on painkillers)
Nisha: It is Heaven!
Amber: (Points at Owen) He did. He called the Ortho God which is you…I'm guessing.
Link: You guess right. Let's see what we got. She's got a nasty open-femur fracture for sure, but I do not want to take it off the metal.
Nico: Tourniquet to control the bleeding before we take the metal bars off, right?
Link: Bingo. How you feeling, Nisha?
Nisha: Oh, God, see? No one's ever asked me that, like really asked me. Is that what it's like being in love, like, in love, love? Like, where I'd wake up next to you and you'd ask me, "How did you sleep?" And that's... that's crazy. Who cares? I mean, I do it every night, but you actually want to know how it went. You want to know, "How I'm feeling, Nisha."
(Amber stifles in laughter as Link and Nico work on Nisha)
Link: I do want to know that.
Jackson: All right, I think she's feeling all right.
Amber: (Chuckles) Oh yeah.
Nisha: I am feeling everything right now.
Nico: Pain?
Nisha: Everything but that.
Link: All right, we're gonna take this step by step. Forks, stem, headset, cut the top tube-
Owen: I don't follow that.
Link: Oh. You didn't work in a bike shop, bud. Four years, Venice Beach. Can I get a socket wrench?
Amber: Okay Cece let's get you on the bed while Evel Knievel de-pretzels Nisha.
Link: Evel Knievel? I prefer Steve McQueen. (Winks)
Amber: (Blushes) Yeah come on let's go we still need to review your EKG.
(Amber pulls Cece to her bed and attaches her to the EKG machine)
Cece: He was cute. Not for me but definitely for you.
Amber: (Chuckles) No thank you. He is my boss now and I don't want that kind of complication not when I have enough complications of my own. Okay, let's take a look.
(The machine starts printing Cece's EKG. Casey arrives)
Casey: Hey did the EKG come back? Dr. Pierce sent me to check on her and see if she needs cardio.
Cece: I most definitely will need cardio. Right Dr. Karev?
Amber: Um no actually. Your EKG looks normal its not your heart that caused you to pass out.
Casey: Dr. Pierce said to page Dr. Grey if her EKG is normal. I'll do it right now.
Amber: Please do. Don't worry we'll figure out what's going on.
TEN MINUTES LATER
(Meredith reviews Cece's EKG with Amber and Casey on standby)
Meredith: So, you have had two transplants, Ms. Colvin?
Cece: You can call me Cece, please. And, yes, I have had two and am probably due for my third.
Meredith: Your EKG looks perfectly normal, but something did cause you to pass out at the wheel, so I would like to run more tests, if that's okay. Dr. Parker, get a Prograf and a CMP and keep Dr. Pierce updated.
Casey: Yes, ma'am.
Meredith: Uh, Dr. Parker? I know it's a military thing, but, you know, when you call me ma'am, it really does make me feel like I'm a hundred years old.
Casey: Yes, ma'am. Uh, sorry, ma'am. Sorry, Doctor.
Meredith: Just go.
(Casey leaves the pit and Andrew approaches them)
Andrew: (Clears throat) Dr. Karev? Can we have a word? A private word?
Amber: Oh um Dr. Grey needs me to help her with Cece so it'll have to wait.
Meredith: I'm fine here Amber you guys can talk. I'll let you know if I need help.
(Amber sighs in despair and reluctantly follows Andrew away from the bed)
Andrew: I just wanted to-
Amber: Look I'm sorry that I slapped you okay. It was instinct like…when you shield yourself after someone walks in on your naked. I would never slap you intentionally not unless you really and I mean really deserved it.
Andrew: (Confused) Wait hold on, you slapped me?
Amber: …Isn't that why you came? You wanted to yell at me for slapping you last night after you kissed me?
Andrew: No. I came here to apologize for kissing you, I don't even remember the slap. Although I did feel a stinging sensation on my left cheek this morning so this explains it.
Amber: Oh…Well this is awkward. I'm gonna go now and crawl under a rock excuse me.
Andrew: Wait please. Look I'm sorry for kissing you like that yesterday; I fully deserved that slap so you don't have to crawl under anything.
(Amber's mind flashes through her dream making her feel nervous but she tries to keep a cool composure)
Amber: (Normal tone) Its fine.
Andrew: I-It's not fine. I like you as a colleague and as a friend and I just-I would never do that to you under normal circumstances. But you were just very, very kind to me, and I was drunk, and the dress was, I mean…Anyway, it never should've happened, and it never will happen again. I'm gonna go now.
Amber: (Flustered) Please do.
(Amber and Andrew walk to their respective tasks)
Cece: Well, that's a shame. You like him?
Amber: What? No. We're just colleagues, he was apologizing for kissing me in a drunk state so he obviously doesn't want to do it again.
Cece: You don't want to kiss him again?
Amber: He's technically my boss so no. What do you need from me Dr. Grey?
Meredith: Draw her blood and order a CHEM 18, lets see what caused her to pass out.
Amber: Will do.
(Amber pulls out the lab kit while Cece talks to Meredith)
Cece: And what about you?
Meredith: What about me?
Cece: She says she doesn't want anyone to kiss her but you want somebody to kiss you I can tell. It's my superpower. You can talk to me, I'm safe. I'm like the opposite of a priest. People confess things to me, but I don't make them feel bad.
Meredith: Well, I don't need anyone-
Cece: It's not about need, honey. It's about desire. And you are not a hundred years old. You are beautiful and vibrant.
Amber: (Clears throat) I'll just take this up to path.
Meredith: You do that.
(Amber awkwardly leaves the pit and heads to path she bumps into Link on the way)
Amber: Oh sorry. Hi.
Link: (Grins) Hi you're that intern who called me Evel Knievel.
Amber: (Chuckles) And you're the new ortho chief who prefers to be called Steve McQueen.
Link: Well, I mean he is the King of Cool so can you blame me? I don't think we've met. I'm Link.
Amber: I'm sorry?
Link: Link, its short for Atticus Lincoln. What's your name or nickname?
Amber: Um Amber Karev I prefer Amber of course, I'm sorry your name is Atticus Lincoln and you choose to call yourself Link?
Link: Its shorter.
Amber: Okay I probably shouldn't judge since I changed my name and people gave me hell for it.
Link: Seriously? Your name isn't Amber?
Amber: No, it is I just changed my last name. I took my mom's name when I was 10 just like my brothers did.
Link: Horrible last name? Like Faartz or maybe Focker?
Amber: (Chuckles) No we just didn't want to associate ourselves with our bastard father who left us so we changed our names from Evans to Karev.
Link: Huh Amber Evans? No doesn't sound as good as Amber Karev.
Amber: Glad to see I got somebody's approval. I have to get these labs to Dr. Grey, the woman who hit Nisha has failing kidneys.
Link: Yeah, I gotta head into surgery to get Nisha out of her bike, you can watch from the gallery if you want.
Amber: I will consider that.
(Amber leaves the hall fanning herself with the tablet as she blushes)
FORTY MINUTES LATER IN CECE'S ROOM
(Meredith explains to Cece her condition)
Cece: So, my broken-down heart is costing me my kidneys now?
Meredith: It's not your heart. It's the anti-rejection meds you take for your heart. They had a toxic effect on your kidneys.
Cece: So, I need a kidney transplant.
Amber: We've already called UNOS and their putting you on the list now.
Meredith: But until they can find you one, you're gonna need peritoneal dialysis every night for 12 hours. I'll do a small surgery and insert a catheter to make that possible, okay?
Cece: Can you put me in a recovery room beside Nisha, the girl I hurt? I-I want to be with her till her parents arrive.
Meredith: Well, I can certainly check.
Cece: Then I consent to the surgery. Now let's talk about you. You've been single for how long now?
Amber: (Chuckles) Is now really the best time to play cupid?
Meredith: (Chuckles) Cece. I am happy just as I am.
Cece: Well, of course you are. How could you not be, a beautiful, accomplished doctor like yourself? But is there a cap on happiness? And who couldn't use a little more? And who couldn't enjoy sharing it a little? I could help you if you'd let me, Dr. Grey. I'm the UNOS of love.
Amber: (Grins) I'll go prep the OR while you two…talk.
(Amber leaves the room and comes across a gallery full of giggling girls. She enters just as music blares from the OR, Amber sits next to Dahlia)
Amber: I'm guessing your not here because you want to learn about ortho. Not that I blame you look at those two, I didn't think male models could become surgeons but now…
Dahlia: (Sighs) I know right. I want one.
Amber: Which one?
(As Dahlia considers her answer they see Nico wink at Levi who drops the metal bowl. Amber and Dahlia widen their eyes in shock)
Dahlia: The straight one obviously.
Amber: I should've known. My gaydar was slightly peaked when I first saw them, I just didn't know which one triggered it. I gotta prep an OR let me know if Schmitt passes out.
(Amber leaves the gallery)
HALF AN HOUR LATER IN OR 5
(Amber and Meredith stand in the OR while Cece lays on a table)
Meredith: Okay, Cece, this is going to be quick and easy. You should be out for less than 20 minutes. Any questions?
Cece: Just give me broad strokes of what you're looking for in a man so I can think about it while I sleep.
Amber: (Grins) Even in surgery you still work huh?
Meredith: I'm not really looking. I'm not against it. I'm open to the idea of something coming along, but I'm not out there looking for it.
Cece: Okay, I respect that. And I'd like to be taken off the UNOS kidney list.
Meredith: What?
Amber: Did you hit your head on the dashboard or something?
Cece: I don't feel like we need to get out here and look for a kidney, do we? Let's just wait and hope one comes squishing through the door on its own.
(Meredith and Amber look at each other in amusement)
Meredith: (To Anesthesiologist) Would you put her under, please?
(He puts a mask on Cece knocking her out)
Amber: Well, she's committed you have to give her that.
Meredith: I think I know why matchmaking is a dying business. Let's scrub and get a catheter in her.
LATER THAT NIGHT
(Amber finishes her scut and sees Andrew walking to the ICU)
Amber: Hey.
Andrew: Hey. I heard that Cece and Nisha are gonna be okay. I'm just going to visit them at the ICU.
Amber: I mean Cece needs a kidney transplant because the meds for her new heart damaged her kidneys but relatively speaking, she's gonna be okay. I heard you saved Pierce and Avery from being roadkill is that true?
Andrew: Yeah, it was crazy I mean after I pulled them away, I felt like I suddenly had a purpose like…I was put on this earth specifically to save lives.
Amber: I mean all of us feel that way, why do you think we're doctors?
Andrew: Yeah, but you know what I mean right?
Amber: Yeah, I guess.
(They both arrive at the ICU where Jackson and Meredith overlook Cece and Nisha)
Andrew: Hey. How are they?
Meredith: Oh, they're both fine for now.
Andrew: Great. Great.
Jackson: DeLuca, man, thanks. You know, again.
Andrew: Yeah. It was a crazy day. (To Amber) Crazy couple days.
Amber: I can definitely agree with that. Do you feel better Dr. DeLuca?
Andrew: I am, Dr. Karev. Thank you.
(Both of them leave the ICU)
Andrew: So, how's the honeymoon going so far?
Amber: No idea because I haven't called them and they haven't called me.
Andrew: Its probably for the best. God knows I wish my sister kept me out of her sex life.
Amber: (Chuckles) Dude I lived in a tiny loft with them with no walls and they were engaged for months, months. I was practically a one-woman audience to their most intimate moments. I dare you to beat that.
Andrew: Okay, I walked in on my sister about to have sex with my roommate in the middle of the living room the first night she got into town and she conducted an orgasm study in the hospital I work at for six months.
Amber: …yeah no I still win.
Andrew: (Laughs) Well I had to try. So, are we okay? Like really, okay?
Amber: Yeah, we're fine. I practically did the same thing to you and you forgave me so I forgive you.
Andrew: And I forgive you for slapping me. All right now that that's out of the way good night.
Amber: Night.
(Amber and Andrew walk away to change and go home)
YEP I DECIDED TO PAIR AMBER WITH DELUCA BECAUSE LIKE THE REST OF YOU I FOUND MERLUCA TO BE FAST PACED AND RANDOM. I THINK THE SHOW IS OUT OF ORIGINAL COUPLES SO I PUT IN MY OWN HOPE YOU AGREE WITH IT.