Chapter 2: Rush
SCENE: A TWO-STORY HOUSE
(Andrew packs breakfast for himself and Amber in the kitchen when a visibly pregnant Amber comes down the stairs in a robe)
Andrew: Good morning. How are you two?
Amber: (Patting her stomach) Our daughter is fine; she is just great floating around my uterus and getting the greatest nap of her life while I suffer in silence as my stomach expands and my bikini days get narrower by the minute.
Andrew: I never really liked bikinis anyway. You look way better in that robe than in some tacky string.
Amber: Stop being nice you know my hormones make me unpredictable. The nicer you are the more it makes me want to choke hold you.
Andrew: (Grins) In that case you look like a bloated whale, better?
Amber: Not in the least. (Sips coffee and groans in disgust) Decaf? Are you trying to kill me?
Andrew: You know caffeine is bad for the baby. As a doctor and a mom, you should agree with that.
Amber: I did before you knocked me up. Why did we agree to have kids again?
Andrew: Because we wanted a family of our own and you were the one who said you were ready.
Amber: Right, I keep forgetting. How long until I'm out of maternity prison?
Andrew: Maternity leave and not for another two months. I thought Hulu was keeping you busy. I even added Showtime because you said you were craving Shameless.
Amber: Every minute the screen is on the more brain cells I lose. You better come back with juicy surgery stories they are way better than any streaming service.
Andrew: I'm doing a kidney transplant and a TIPS procedure today will that satisfy you?
Amber: (Sighs) It'll satisfy me more than sex.
Andrew: (Winces) Okay ouch. I'm just gonna blame that on the hormones for the sake of our relationship.
Amber: Yeah, you probably should. Now go and kick surgical ass while I binge Hannah Montana today.
Andrew: I'll try goodbye hormonal wife and goodbye Leslie.
Amber: Oh no I changed my mind her name is gonna be Wednesday.
Andrew: What? As in that creepy girl from the Addams Family.
Amber: She is not creepy she is unique don't you want our baby to be unique and not boring like everyone else?
Andrew: I have a feeling your gonna change your mind to Hannah or Miley by tonight so I am headed out.
(Andrew kisses Amber and leaves the house. Amber rubs her stomach as she drinks her coffee)
CUT TO JO AND ALEXS LOFT
(Amber wakes up with a jolt again and groans putting a pillow on her face)
THE NEXT MORNING AT THE HOSPITAL
(Amber explains her second dream to Levi as they walk down the hall)
Levi: Your pregnant? With DeLuca's baby?
Amber: Yep, my belly was as round as a wrecking ball. It's been two days why am I still dreaming about me and Andrew?
Levi: Well, my second analysis was a bust so I'm gonna go with the first one where your having feelings for Andrew. I don't have any other explanation except that.
Amber: (Groans) There has to be another explanation, there just has to be.
Levi: You're in the denial stage, don't worry you'll reach acceptance soon.
Amber: I won't because there's nothing to accept. Now if you'll excuse me, I have the pit today.
(Amber walks away from Levi)
Levi: Admitting it is the first step to acceptance!
(Amber flips off Levi while walking away. Levi shakes his head and walks back to the ICU)
AN HOUR LATER IN THE PIT
(Amber scrolls through her phone at the mostly empty pit when Andrew approaches her. She feels butterflies in her stomach but tries to ignore it)
Andrew: Hey, do you need me here? Dr. Shepherd needs me in the OR for a skull fracture later I thought I'd come and see if you need help.
Amber: Um no we're mostly empty, no traumas so…
(Their phones beep alerting them)
Amber: Looks like I spoke too soon.
Andrew: ETA is two minutes out. Let's go.
(They grab their gowns and gloves and the rig pulls up. The paramedics pull a man out)
Travis: Grant Burns, 48 years old. He fell down a flight of stairs on Pioneer Square fractured his right fibula.
Andrew: All right let's get him to trauma 1 page ortho and Webber make sure he doesn't have any internal injuries.
Grant: Hey Amber, do you got any whiskey? Or maybe a beer? I'll take anything with alcohol.
Amber: You know I don't Grant if I carried booze on the job, we would stop having these conversations.
Travis: I take it you know him.
Amber: He's a frequent flier. Alcohol and everything that goes with it. I'll page Link and Webber.
Grant: Oh, goodie cause I need another lecture from AA angel Webber.
FIVE MINUTES LATER IN TRAUMA 3
(Link and Webber enter the trauma and see Amber and Andrew work on Grant)
Webber: Grant. What was it this time?
Amber: He fell down some stairs and broke his right fibula, he's been complaining of stomach pains and fever.
Grant: That's cause I haven't had a drink in three days Amber. I'm strapped on cash and haven't gotten the good stuff in a while.
Webber: Maybe it's a sign for you to stop wasting money on booze. DeLuca you can go now me and Dr. Lincoln have got it from here.
(Andrew leaves the scene)
Link: It looks like a fibular head fracture lets get a CT to rule out other injuries.
Webber: And get a UA and blood draw to rule out cirrhosis.
Grant: Is there any chance you slipped Webber? Maybe smuggled booze inside you coat again?
Webber: No, now stop asking because this is a hospital not a bar.
(Grant suddenly shakes rapidly)
Webber: He's seizing 5 milligrams of Lorazepam.
(Amber inserts the dose into the IV)
Link: Has he ever had a seizure before?
Amber: Not that I've seen in the year I've treated him. He stopped seizing, should we page Koracick?
Webber: No need its not neuro. He hasn't had a drink in three days he's withdrawing going into delirium tremens.
Amber: Oh crap. I've never seen him go through the DTs before. It's gonna be bad, isn't it?
Webber: It's never good. Let's get him into a room so he can ride this out, She-Karev be on standby with a bucket and extra scrubs. Its gonna get messy.
Link: Lets get into a CT first while he's calm. Come on.
(They wheel Grant out of the room)
AN HOUR LATER IN GRANTS ROOM
Link: Renal failure, hepatitis, and cardiomyopathy it's like a trifecta for alcohol awareness.
Webber: Lets hope this man can get through this before his liver dies out too.
(Amber holds a bucket for Grant to vomit in. He vomits violently making Amber feel queasy. Webber and Link come in. Grant screams in pain)
Webber: Grant, when was your last drink?
Grant: Three nights ago. I need to get the hell out of here!
Link: I'm afraid we can't do that Mr. Burns.
Grant: (To Amber) Talk to these morons, will you? Tell them to cast me and let me go.
Amber: I can't because I'm an intern and they're in charge here.
Grant: No, I'm in charge I know my rights you can keep me here against my will.
Webber: That is true but we also can't let you leave with a bad leg.
Grant: Okay fine what are we talking here a couple of hours?
Link: Mr. Burns your going through delirium tremens. Your body is so used to the presence of alcohol that it's reacting-
Grant: God just shut up and tell me when I can leave!
Webber: We're gonna operate on that leg but we need to keep you here a day or so until you can get through the DTs.
Grant: No! No way in hell! I've seen what happens with the DTs I can't go through that; you know what kind of hell that is.
Webber: I do and if I can survive it so can you. We can't stop them but we're giving you sedatives to make it easier, just hang tight.
(Grant wants to argue but retches. Amber pulls the bucket closer as Grant vomits again)
Webber: Nurse Taylor take over for Karev.
(Amber feels relief as Taylor takes the bucket. She leaves with Webber and Link)
Amber: You and I both know he's not gonna get through this.
Webber: We don't have a choice Karev. Go prep the OR and then prep Grant.
(Webber leaves Link and Amber)
Link: You know it's the right thing. He's just gotta be strong enough to survive this.
Amber: He's not going to because he's weak and has the spine of a jellyfish.
Link: (Raises eyebrows) Wow, some bedside manner you got.
Amber: I'm saying this from treating him for a year. He's either gonna sneak into a supply closet and drink rubbing alcohol or he's gonna kill himself to ease the pain.
Link: So, we should open a mini bar in his room?
Amber: I'm just saying he doesn't want to fight and Webber thinks that if he can get sober then maybe Grant can. I need to prep.
(Amber walks away from Link and is surprised to see Jo and Alex in the conference room with Meredith)
Amber: Hey! What are you guys doing here? I thought you were in LA.
Alex: We were but Jo pulled a Beautiful Mind and figured out a way to save the world.
Amber: I'm sorry what?
Jo: Yeah. I think I figured out a way to target the gene sequence that makes cancer grow and attack it with the anti-DNA sequence to stop it. It's a theory but I want to make it into a reality.
Amber: Wow! That sounds totally amazing, you came up with this all on your own?
Meredith: And now I'm pissed because you came back early from your honeymoon to wave the future of medicine in my face and take it to Boston?
Jo: I came back to ask you to create a fellowship for me. So that I can keep working on mini livers and this. Mostly this. With you.
Meredith: Give me an hour to get approval from Bailey.
(Meredith leaves the Karev's in the room. Jo and Alex high five and kiss)
Amber: Wait a minute so you're moving back here?
Alex: Yeah, if Bailey says yes then we are.
Jo: Isn't it great?
Amber: Damn it. I was looking forward to getting that sweet loft to myself after you guys left. I even picked out a new color scheme.
(Jo and Alex look at Amber offended who heard herself)
Amber: But I'm so glad that you guys are coming back so…so glad to have my brother and new sister back in town…I'm gonna prep the O.R. Happy honeymoon.
(Amber quickly leaves the room)
THREE HOURS LATER IN THE PACU
(Amber waits by the nurse's station to help Grant who got his leg casted. Andrew spots her and approaches her)
Andrew: Hey, how's Grant?
Amber: He got his leg casted and is being kept under observation while he goes through withdrawal and DTs. I'm pretty sure he filled up two buckets this morning.
Andrew: Gross.
Amber: Yeah, is it possible for someone to die from withdrawal?
Andrew: It's rare but it does happen. Their body is so used to what's killing them that the second they get off it they die a slow agonizing death.
Amber: So, he either drinks and dies from a busted liver or he gets off the booze and still dies. I hate my job sometimes.
Grant: Their inside it, their inside it!
(Amber and Andrew enter the room and see Grant trying to scratch inside his cast)
Grant: They're in the cast. The bugs are inside the cast! Get it off of me!
Amber: Grant there are no bugs okay. You're hallucinating its part of the DTs. (To nurse Taylor) Increase his sedatives.
Grant: (Shaking) I don't want a sedative. I need a drink. Get me a drink now please.
Andrew: I'm sorry we can't do that.
(Amber tries to get a bucket in front of Grant who grows frustrated and pushes her roughly. Andrew shoves him down the bed)
Andrew: Hey! I know its painful for you but if your assault her again I'm gonna have to restrain you.
Amber: I got this Andrew. How long have I known you, Grant? A year. Every time you come to the ER you get sicker and sicker. One of these days your gonna be too far gone unless you beat this disease, okay? Listen to me!
(Amber grabs Grant's face with one hand and turns it to her)
Amber: You can't get better unless you fight. You can't save yourself until you go through this pain so you can finally get clean.
Grant: (Sobbing) I'm never gonna beat this. I ain't getting saved. Please make it stop, please, please, please-
Amber: We're trying to help you.
(Grant goes silent for a moment before vomiting on Amber covering her neck and top of her shirt)
Andrew: (Groans) Oh that is nasty.
(Amber goes pale and silently grabs a towel wiping her neck)
Andrew: (Clears throat) I got it from here, take a shower and change your clothes.
(Amber nods and silently leaves the room)
HALF AN HOUR LATER IN THE PACU
(Webber and Andrew talk about Grant who is momentarily unconscious)
Andrew: It took five rounds of Benzo but we were able to calm him down for now.
Webber: And Karev?
Andrew: I sent her to get changed but she hasn't come back. I'm guessing she probably didn't want to be around him; first DTs are tough on interns.
Webber: Yeah, I remember the misery I had to witness but its better than the alternative. Keep me updated on changes.
Andrew: Got it.
(Andrew goes back to the room. Amber exits the elevator but freezes at seeing Webber and immediately goes down another hall slightly holding her stomach. Webber notices and follows her)
Webber: Dr. Karev?
Amber: I'm just stopping by for another patient that's all.
Webber: What's under your shirt? Why are you holding your stomach like that?
Amber: It's just cramps.
(Webber steps in front her stopping her in her tracks)
Webber: Is that a bottle of whiskey?
(Amber goes silent as Webber leads her into a supply closet. She pulls the bag from her waist band and hands it to Webber who looks inside and sees a pint of vodka)
Amber: It was the only thing small enough to carry.
Webber: You were gonna give that to Mr. Burns?
Amber: The doctors at NYU did it for drunks in the ER all the time during my fourth-year rotation.
Webber: Amber, its against protocol.
Amber: Is it against protocol to stand by while a patient dies from something that could be preventable with a single sip?
Webber: Grant will die eventually if we give him what he needs. We can help him beat this thing and make a fresh start.
Amber: Does he look like he's beating this? isn't it our job to listen to what the patient wants?
Webber: It's also our job to decide what is best for the patients and what's best for Grant is to get clean once and for all. It's not gonna be easy but this is just gonna kill him in the end, it won't help him.
Amber: And you are? Standing around while he dies in front of us?
Webber: This man has a chance to stop hurting himself and others by taking the first step to recovery. Of all people I thought you would agree with me.
Amber: Why? Because my dad was a junkie and got clean in the end? He chose to detox we're not giving Grant a choice at all. You're making it for him because you think that if he can achieve the impossible and get clean, you'll stay clean after Ollie.
Webber: Dr. Karev watch yourself.
(They both stand in the closet for a tense moment before Amber leaves. As she walks, she sees the new hyperbaric chamber and enters the room in awe)
Amber: Whoa, its even cooler than I imagined.
Link: I know right. I'd be more excited if my patient wasn't in there.
Amber: There's a patient in there? Who?
Link: Nisha, the girl that got hit yesterday. She developed necrotizing fasciitis post op, Dr. Avery's debriding her in there to give her a fighting chance…without me. A part of me is pissed that I'm not operating on my patient but another part of me is also pissed that I'm not operating inside the moon spa.
Bailey: Let it go Dr. Lincoln. I wouldn't sign off on it if I wasn't confident in Dr. Avery's skills.
Amber: Moon spa?
Link: It looks like a moon spa you have to admit it. (Amber nods) Oh hey how's Grant holding up?
Amber: Lets see he threw up on me and it's taking all the sedatives we have just to calm him down so I think he's going downhill. Is it weird that I feel bad for a drunk?
Nico: A little since he got himself in that bed in the first place.
Link: Nah. I worked in Los Angeles so I was exposed to plenty of drunks and addicts who didn't want to quit which made the DTs more painful. Just hang back and let him ride it out, oh and keep extra scrubs on the side.
Nico: Same, I had to change like ten times when I dealt with withdrawal patients as an intern. I hated more how the vomit smelled than how it was all over me.
Amber: (Groans in disgust) I know right? I showered and I still smell it. And he doesn't want to ride anything out what he needs is a drink but Webber won't pay attention.
Bailey: Dr. Webber doesn't want the patient to die from drinking in the future, is that what you want?
Amber: No of course not but I also know that DTs are a bitch and that it kills people sometimes. You've all have seen it before, right?
Nico: It's rare but it does happen. They vomit so much that their lungs bleed causing cardiovascular problems or their hallucinations turn to full blown seizures and they end up brain dead.
Bailey: I am aware of the risks, I have seen it on drunks that are reluctant to get clean and don't put up a fight to endure it. Is Grant reluctant?
Amber: Extremely reluctant. I'm still an intern but I can tell that if he doesn't get a drink soon, he's gonna keep circling the drain.
Link: And assuming he does survive he's just gonna come back here in a couple of months to do it all over again. I've seen it happen all the time during my residency. I don't support letting drunks go so they can continue their destructive behavior but in Grant's case he needs it. I think that Webber should just let go of whatever agenda he has for Grant and let him go so he can make the decision to get clean for himself.
Bailey: …I'm gonna check on my patients let me know how she is.
(Bailey leaves the room)
Amber: You didn't have to stand up for me to the chief.
Link: I wasn't I was standing up for Grant just like you. (To Nico) I also need to check on my patients let me know if she needs ortho through the pothole.
Nico: Got it.
(Link leaves the room as well. Amber looks inside the chamber)
Amber: Is that Schmitt?
Nico: Who?
Amber: Glasses. Is he in there? In that state-of-the-art hyperbaric chamber operating.
Nico: Oh, you mean the intern helping Dr. Avery? Yeah, that's him, I think.
Amber: (Whining) Why does he get the chamber? I want the chamber. I've earned the chamber.
Nico: Rivals?
Amber: Oh no we're friends but that doesn't stop me from hating him for being inside the future of medicine. And he's stepping on the suction, of course.
Nico: So, are you guys close? Because I've seen you guys talk for hours so I'm assuming your close.
Amber: Huh? Oh yeah, we're close he's like the annoying little brother I never wanted. Why do you ask?
Nico: Well, I was gonna ask you if he's single? Is he single?
Amber: (Grins) He is very much so. And I can tell he likes you since he's more of a bumbling mess than usual when your around. I just wanted to throw that in there in case you were wondering. I have to go back to my patient from hell, good luck with yours.
(Amber pats Nico's arm who grins from Amber's answer. Amber heads back to Grant's room where Dr. Bailey comes out)
Amber: Dr. Bailey? What are you doing here?
Bailey: I came to check on your patient to see if he needs…help and he very much clearly did. He was going to die unless we used alternative methods to mend his pain. I think my approach will make his stay here for the next day smooth sailing. If you feel it doesn't then take it up with me while I'm still chief.
Amber: (Shocked) Dr. Bailey did you-
Bailey: As far as your concerned I used Haldol to make him feel more pleasant. Do we understand each other Dr. Karev?
Amber: Yes ma'am. What do I tell Dr. Webber if he questions Grant's sudden uprising?
Bailey: Tell him to take it up with me while I'm still chief. Now excuse me while I head back to the moon spa.
(Bailey leaves the floor with Amber watching in shock)
LATER THAT EVENING
(Webber observes Grant from afar as he smiles and makes jokes with nurse Taylor. Amber hands a chart to nurse next to Webber)
Webber: It's pretty miraculous, isn't it? How Grant went from being in agonizing pain to chatting it up with the nurses.
Amber: Uh yeah, I guess the benzo's finally kicked in. He should be out of here by tomorrow, right?
Webber: Right. Assuming he wants to stay for…special treatment.
Amber: (Playing dumb) I don't know what you mean.
Webber: (Whispers) Did you give him a drink?
Amber: No.
Webber: Someone did so who?
(Amber motions her head down the hall. Webber turns and sees Bailey exiting the hyperbaric chamber room exhausted)
Webber: Bailey?
Amber: I guess she was willing to see what you couldn't.
Webber: Which is what Dr. Karev?
Amber: That you can't just force someone to move on from a problem, they have to want to. And in Grant's case he didn't want to yet. I thought you of all people would understand that. Would you be grateful if a doctor strapped you down and forced you to endure pain you didn't want to endure?
Webber: Ollie had to practically drag me off a barstool and to an AA meeting. If it wasn't for her, I would be dead or worse. I am forever grateful for her fighting for me.
Amber: Yes, she fought for your sobriety but so did you. An addict doesn't just kick a habit he's got to want to and right now Grant doesn't. Dr. Webber we're you honesty going to make that poor man go through days of torture just so you can be satisfied?
Webber: This is not about me She-Karev. This man…this man had a chance to make a fresh start and now its gone.
Amber: And that frustrates me too as a daughter of a junkie and a doctor but I've treated Grant for a year and I know he will probably never kick his addiction because he doesn't have it in him. You had that strength and Ollie saw that did you see it in Grant?
Webber: No. In fact, all I saw was just weakness.
Amber: Exactly. Some people just don't have the guts to move forward from their problems. I've had to accept that a long time ago, can you?
Webber: …You can go now Dr. Karev. It's been a long day.
Amber: I agree.
(Amber walks away from Dr. Webber and runs into a smiling Jo)
Amber: What are you so happy about?
Jo: I got the fellowship. Bailey's creating a surgical innovation fellowship and I'm gonna be her fellow!
Amber: What? That's great! So, your gonna stay here then? Any chance your gonna use your fellowship money to buy a new place so I can get the loft?
Jo: Nope we're staying at the loft so your probably gonna have to go apartment hunting if you want an actual room.
Amber: Damn it! Can you two at least get some walls? Or maybe get me a pair of noise cancelling headphones?
Jo: We'll look into it, in the meantime I'm gonna head to Joe's to celebrate. You can join me while Alex gets used to his new office.
Amber: What office?
Jo: Oh! I forgot; Bailey made Alex interim chief while she's on her sabbatical. Okay see you at Joe's!
(Jo leaves Amber frozen in shock. Andrew notices and walks to her)
Andrew: Are you okay? Are you having a stroke? Can you smile for me?
Amber: My brother is my boss now.
Andrew: I mean he's always been your boss, what's the big deal?
Amber: I mean that he is my boss boss, he is all of our bosses. Bailey made him chief while she's on vacation.
Andrew: (Eyes widen) I'm sorry what?
Amber: I need a drink or ten.
(Amber walks away from Andrew who watches her)
LATER AT JOES
(Amber is on her second glass of scotch as Jo explains her new job to her, Levi, and Taryn)
Jo: I only report to Bailey, I'm gonna get to work in a fancy lab with cellular technology, and I get dark blue scrubs. Which makes me better than you, (To Amber and Levi) and you two.
Amber: Well, I'm happy for you sis, although I'm still less happy that I lost a chance at my own place. Cheers!
(Amber clicks her glass with Jo's and Dahlia sits with them holding a small dog in her purse)
Jo: What is that?
Dahlia: My dog, apparently.
(Jo and Taryn pet the dog and Nico hands Levi a beer)
Nico: Here you go.
Levi: That's…for me?
Nico: You had a rough day. Glad to see you got sprung.
Levi: Thanks. Well, here, I-I can pay-
(Nico touches Levi's hand to stop him from getting his wallet out)
Nico: You'll get the next one.
(Nico leaves and Amber grins at Levi)
Levi: What?
Amber: How come you get an Ortho God and not me?
Levi: You noticed?
Amber: Levi, I'm pretty sure the dog noticed too. If I were you, I'd hit that before someone else did and somebody will.
Levi: I mean…he's a fellow and I'm an intern so you know…
Amber: Okay I'm gonna let you in on a secret so you can stop being an idiot. He asked me about you today.
Levi: (Flustered) He did? What did he ask?
Amber: (Grins) He asked if you were single. If you don't go after him for you then go after him for me.
Levi: Because you need to live vicariously through me? So, you can ignore your feelings and very obvious dreams?
Amber: I don't need to live through you, I can get laid all on my own. I just chose not to do it with-
Andrew: What are we talking about?
(Amber turns around and sees Andrew sitting next to her)
Andrew: Beer please. I thought I'd join in with you guys, what's up?
Amber: …Nothing?
Andrew: (Raises eyebrow)
Amber: Yep, nothing at all. I'm gonna go I have rounds tomorrow.
(Amber quickly gets up leaving Andrew confused while Levi drinks to avoid the awkwardness)