Chapter 3: Epiphany

SCENE: GREY SLOAN PARKING LOT

(Amber and Levi walk beside each other heading inside until Andrew pulls up in his motorcycle across the street. Amber momentarily stops and stares)

Levi: Okay if the dreams weren't obvious then you drooling over him while he's on a hog should scream I like him.

Amber: (Glares at Levi) Schmitt, any relatively handsome man looks especially good on a motorcycle. It's just biology and nothing more. God! How does he make that death machine look appealing? It should not be possible.

Levi: So are we gonna head inside or do you want me to wait so you can keep staring.

Amber: (Angrily) I am not staring.

(Amber and Levi walk inside the lockers where the others stare at Amber who becomes annoyed)

Amber: Yes, my brother is the chief now! Can you all stop staring we're doctors not high schoolers!

Vik: Interim chief and not for long.

Amber: (Offended) What is that supposed to mean?

Vik: I mean that Bailey obviously picked Karev so that people would miss her while she's away. I mean your brother isn't exactly chief material if you ask me.

Amber: No one is asking now shut up or I'll have to tell the chief slash my brother what you just said and put you on enemas for the rest of your career.

(Vik rolls his eyes and leaves the room)

Amber: Why didn't that hair spray hit him on the head and make him brain dead? At least then he would be tolerable.

Taryn: I think it would take more than a hit to the head to achieve that.

(Their phones start beeping)

Amber: Multiple traumas coming in.

LATER IN THE PIT

(Amber and Levi arrive at the pit where Nico wheels a teenage boy with bruises on his face)

Owen: What have we got?

Nico: Table-saw accident in shop class over at Barrow High-sent blocks of wood flying into the students.

Arthur: Is Mr. Buckley, okay? He just kind of fell over in the middle of the demo.

Owen: Yeah, we're gonna find out for you, okay?

Nico: No, I got this one. Couple more rigs just landed, and I hear there's worse coming in.

Owen: Okay. She-Karev stay here and assist.

(Owen heads to the breezeway)

Amber: Where do you need me?

Nico: Get a cranial CT on standby, run ahead and book it.

Amber: Got it.

(Amber runs to radiology where she books a CT. Afterwards, she heads to Alex's office to give him a first day gift)

Amber: (Knocks on door) Hey am I interrupting?

Bailey: I'm just getting your brother up to speed on my job that I gave to him. What do you need She-Karev?

Amber: Oh, I just came by to give Alex a first day as chief gift.

Alex: (Flattered) Really? I don't see a gift-wrapped box, what is it?

Amber: Something to help add color to this place.

(Amber pulls out a mini pansexual pride stick flag with a spear tip from her pocket)

Amber: I thought you could show your progressiveness and support for your darling pan sister so the others don't assume some stuffy pencil pusher took the job.

Alex: Um-

Amber: Or if you want to show your support for the whole spectrum, I also brought this.

(Amber pulls out the Progress Pride stick flag with a spear tip from her other pocket)

Amber: (Waves the flags) Which one do you want?

Alex: …You know what, leave them both and put it on the mug. I support gay marriage and my sister completely and I want to show it. Plus, your right it might add some color to this place.

Amber: (Smiles) Great.

Bailey: Excuse me? Don't tell me your gonna paint the walls or put-up posters in here. I draw the line at flags and that is it, Karev.

Alex: Dully noted.

(Amber puts the flags in the mug next to the wedding picture)

Amber: Okay I have to head down to the pit. Happy first day.

Alex: Thanks.

HALF AN HOUR LATER IN THE PIT

(Nico reviews the CT on the monitor as Amber sterilizes the cut)

Nico: You got 22 bones in your face and skull, and you managed not to break a single one. You're lucky, dude.

Arthur: (Sits up) Excuse me, sir? Doctor?

Nico: Hey, hey, careful there, buddy. Lean back down.

Arthur: Is Mr. Buckley awake yet? Do you know why he collapsed? Was it, like, his heart or s-

Webber: Sorry, we don't yet, son. Um... you know if anyone's called his family?

Arthur: Doesn't have any family in town. His daughter lives in-

Ava: Maryland. She lives in Maryland. And I know you have rules, but we're all just really worried about him. He's a great teacher and a friend to my son. So, if you could just keep us posted?

Webber: Oh, we'll update you when we can.

Nico: It looks like all we need is to stich up that head lac and your free to go. I got it from here Karev go jump in wherever needed.

Amber: Yes Dr. Kim

(Amber leaves to review the chart when a girl in tears runs into the pit)

Gemma: Excuse me? Hi, I-I'm here to check on my friend Kevin. I heard he got knocked into a table saw, I left class so I could come here. Is he okay? Oh my god!

(Gemma runs to trauma one where she sees Kevin on the table with a saw to his chest)

Gemma: I thought they were just joking but he actually has a saw to his chest! Is he dead? Is he dying?

Amber: Okay, okay take a deep breath what's your name?

Gemma: Gemma.

Amber: Okay Gemma your friend is stable for now but these doctors have to get that saw out of his chest so he can live and the best way that you can help is by letting them do that. Let me just put you in a waiting room and I'll tell them to give you an update as soon as they can, okay?

Gemma: (Crying) Okay. I already called his parents they should be here.

(Amber leads Gemma to the waiting room as a hoard of parents come in each of them demanding answers)

Amber: (To nurse) Page Alex Karev right now. We need a chief to clear this area.

(Alex enters the pit with Vik by his side as the parents surround him)

Kevin's mom: It was a table saw, Mom…He fell into it. I don't know!

Kevin's dad: Uh, Doctor, is there any news on our son, Kevin? He's had the table saw-

Officer: We got a call. We understand the teacher may have been impaired.

Kevin's dad: What? Impaired? Like, drunk? Or high? And he's using power tools?!

Kevin's mom: Oh my god! That's-That's not okay.

Officer: Is he in surgery already?

Kevin's dad: I need an update on my son!

Alex: I'm sorry. I was paged on a peds consult. I don't have a lot of information right now.

Officer: Then can you just point me to whoever's in charge?

Vik: Uh, that's you, boss.

Alex: Yeah, I know all right. Get these people out of the ER. Tell them we'll update them as soon as we know anything. I'll see what I can find out.

(Alex leaves Amber and Vik to deal with the crowd)

Vik: Folks, we need this area clear. Please head to the waiting area. Right this way.

Kevin's dad: I need an update on my son, Kevin Gailis.

Amber: I'll check on him and get you an update sir. Just wait with your wife and Gemma.

(Amber leaves the tense parents and heads to trauma one)

Amber: How is he? Is he stable? His parents are freaking out.

Owen: His chest tube is 750 and his BP is borderline we're gonna have to take him to an OR right now. DeLuca run ahead and book an OR.

Andrew: But Dr. Pierce said to wait for an angio.

Owen: There's no time we'll have to open him up and fix what we can see now go.

(Andrew ran out of the room)

Amber: (Sighs) Okay I'll let his parents know.

Owen: I'll keep you posted.

(Amber goes back to the waiting room where Kevin's parents are waiting)

Amber: Mr and Mrs. Gailis? I'm Dr. Karev I have an update on your son Kevin.

Mrs. Gailis: Is he okay?

Amber: He's stable for now. We have our finest surgeons working on him as we speak. The blade penetrated next to the auxiliary artery, he's lost a lot of blood so their taking him to an OR now to restore blood flow and take the saw out. Dr. Hunt will keep me updated if anything changes.

Gemma: Is he gonna…Is he gonna live? I mean he has a saw to his chest how is he not dead right now?

Amber: The saw just about missed his heart which is a good thing, your boyfriend was extremely lucky.

Gemma: (Flustered) Oh, uh he's-he's not my boyfriend.

Mrs. Gailis: Gemma and Kevin met in pre k; they've been best friends ever since. They do everything together including taking baths.

Gemma: We were five! We don't do that anymore; it would just be weird now.

Amber: Agreed. Look I know this is a difficult time-

Mr. Gailis: Was the teacher drunk? That police officer said he was impaired, that means he was drunk or high. Was he? Was that why he pushed me son into a table saw?

Amber: …His blood alcohol level showed he was drinking beyond the legal limit yes.

Mr. Gailis: (Angrily) That son of a bitch. I'm gonna put a table saw in his chest!

Mrs. Gailis: Let's just calm down.

Mr. Gailis: Calm down! He might have just killed our son because he chose to get drunk around power tools. Where is he?

Amber: He's in surgery now. Dr. Lincoln is amputating the fingers that were damaged by the saw.

Gemma: Good. Is he gonna get arrested?

Amber: I don't know that's the cop's job not mine. I have other patients to get to but I will keep you updated on your son just be patient.

Mrs. Gailis: Please let him live. He's my son he's… (Voice breaking) He's my baby boy.

(The dad holds the mom as she sobs with Gemma silently crying as well. Amber leaves the waiting room to help the pit)

THREE HOURS LATER

(Amber stretches her neck and heads to the OR where Maggie and Owen work on Kevin. She walks into the gallery)

Amber: Is there any update?

Owen: We were able to control the bleeding and we're gonna pull the saw out now.

Amber: Thank God. I was worried if he dies the parents were gonna head to that drunk teacher's room and amputate his limbs along with his fingers.

Maggie: And you think they still don't want to? He works with dangerous tools around children all day long and he decided to get drunk and this kid currently has a saw to his chest.

Amber: Yeah, when you put it like that, I wouldn't blame them if they wanted to kill him. In fact, I would probably help them hide the body.

Owen: Lets focus on getting this saw out. Good work on controlling the bleeding, DeLuca.

Andrew: Thank you, Dr. Hunt.

Maggie: (Rudely) Can we not pop the champagne just yet please?

Owen: Is everything all right, Pierce?

(They get the saw out to Amber's relief)

Maggie: Uh, you mean besides the sawblade?

Owen: I'm asking if you have an issue with me. Or maybe with me and Amelia? I'm asking if there's something that we need to talk about.

Amber: (Feeling awkward) Should I still be here?

Maggie: Stay out of this She-Karev. My issue is that this kid's arm is turning white. DeLuca.

(Andrew uses a Doppler ultrasound to check the blood flow on the right arm but the beeping indicates there's none)

Andrew: I lost the signal. There's no blood flow.

Amber: Damn it.

Maggie: Damn it is right. He's gonna lose his arm because you rushed. Because you rush into everything. This-This is what I was afraid of. This is why I wanted the angio-

Owen: There wasn't time for an angio!

(Andrew and Amber widen their eyes at the outburst)

Owen: I'm a trauma surgeon. I did years of field medicine, and I saw a lot of ammo embedded into men's chests. I read the situation, I made a call, and this kid is alive because of that call. So, whatever your issues that you're having, they're not because of my medical decisions. I think we both know that.

Amber: …So, should I update his family that Kevin's arm might be amputated or-

Maggie: Just go.

(Amber quickly leaves the gallery and heads to the waiting room where only Gemma resides)

Amber: Gemma? Where are Kevin's parents?

Gemma: They went for a walk, they said they just couldn't stand around waiting while the guy who got Kevin in this mess is in the building. I told them I could call them, what happened?

Amber: (Sits down) We we're able to control the bleeding and get the saw out. His vitals are stable now.

Gemma: (Gasps) Thank God.

Amber: But the blood flow in his arm is very low due to the saw damaging the auxiliary artery. There's a chance he could lose his right arm but their working on restoring the blood flow to prevent that.

Gemma: What? He could lose his arm.

Amber: There's a chance but Dr. Pierce and Dr. Hunt are the best at what they do and they will do everything to make sure it doesn't come to that. Would you like me to explain this to his parents? I know its hard for you too being his best friend.

Gemma: …I was gonna ask him tonight.

Amber: Ask him what?

Gemma: Ask him to be my date to the Halloween dance.

Amber: Oh well I'm sure he'll be fine to go with you by then. If not, you can stay in and-

Gemma: No, I mean I was gonna ask him to be my date date. I've known the guy since we were in diapers but lately…I feel things for him like things you feel for someone you really like. He tells people I'm like his sister so I felt like he didn't feel the same way until his girlfriend dumped him last week and I saw it as a chance to ask him. It's stupid I know.

Amber: No, it's not stupid. I mean you've known each other forever but your teenagers its your destiny to feel confusing things and your hormone levels rising don't make it any easier. Look I know this is a stressful time and your dilemma makes it much more so if you want, I can update his parents for you, would you like that?

Gemma: Yeah, I'll call them right now.

(Gemma dials the phone and hands it to Amber)

TWO HOURS LATER

(Amber stands at the nurse's station waiting for an update on Kevin when she spots Alex)

Amber: Hey, I'd ask how your first day is going but that would be a stupid question.

Alex: It really would. I swear Bailey and Webber make this job look easy. If I knew people were gonna bother me for updates or requisition forms or be pissed at me, I never would've taken this stupid job. How's the kid with the saw?

Amber: Their working to save his arm now, I'm standing by to inform his parents and potential future wife.

Alex: What?

Amber: Oh yeah, his best friend likes him and was gonna ask him out to a dance until-

Alex: He got sawed? Yeah, that's a real romance killer.

Amber: So, if you're the chief does that make me chief intern since I'm your sister and clearly the best intern.

Alex: That's not a thing and you're only the best intern because the very best one had to leave the country.

Amber: Ouch, I guess the job is getting to you. I see more gray in your hair than I did this morning.

(Vik walks up to Alex)

Vik: (Arrogant tone) Your 4:00 leg braces consult couldn't wait any longer or she'd miss choir. Amanda Perez's dad can't believe you missed her esophageal Atresia follow-up and is composing an angry e-mail. Very disappointed.

Alex: I could do without the tone, Roy.

(Vik rolls his eyes and leaves the Karev's with Alex being visibly irritated)

Amber: Now you see what I've had to deal with all year. Best advice is to count to ten.

(Amber pats Alex's shoulder and leaves to get an update. She arrives in the gallery)

Amber: Any updates?

Andrew: The blood flow seems to be coming back, I've got a strong pulse in his arm so far.

Maggie: The distal anastomosis looks good.

Owen: So, let's do a quick back-bleed, and then we can remove the clamps.

Andrew: All right, BP is stable 110 over 75, and I got a strong radial and ulnar pulse.

Maggie: He gets to keep his arm.

Amber: (Sighs in relief)

Owen: (Sighs) I'm not in a rush. With Amelia or Leo. Or Betty. They aren't a whim, they aren't impulse, and if they were, they were the best impulse of my life. I'm not going anywhere.

Maggie: I know. I know. I'm-I'm sorry.

Amber: …Um I'll go update the parents right now.

Maggie: Hold on if you guys are okay here, I will, uh, go and update them too.

(Maggie scrubs out and heads to the waiting room with Amber)

Maggie: Mr and Mrs. Gailis? I'm Dr. Pierce I operated on your son Kevin.

Mrs. Gailis: Is he-

Maggie: He's okay. I was able to take that saw out and restore blood flow to his arm. He should be in the PACU and you can visit him shortly.

Mrs. Gailis: (Sobbing) Oh my god! Thank you so much!

(The Gailis's hug Maggie as Amber watches smiling)

TWO HOURS LATER IN THE PACU

(Amber and Gemma watch Kevin from outside his room as his parents sit beside him)

Amber: His neurovascular checks look good and his BP is stable. He'll have to rest for a month but Kevin should be ready by Halloween.

Gemma: What?

Amber: Assuming things go well he should be able to go to the dance and maybe even go as a patient you could be his doctor.

Gemma: Oh, um I decided not to ask him.

Amber: (Eyes widen) What? Why not?

Gemma: I was about to ask him to be my date and he got sawed in the chest. He was a living block of wood he almost died. Call me crazy but I think that's the universe telling me that things with Kevin are fine as they are. Why should I risk it for some stupid dance?

Amber: Gemma…life doesn't come without risks, okay? And what your doing is crazy. The universe didn't give a shop teacher a brewery for a body and various student minor to serious injuries just so you won't ask a question. That is not taking the universes advice that is just you being afraid of what might happen with Kevin.

Gemma: I'm not afraid I'm just…I don't know.

Amber: I get it you have teenage feelings and over feelings but if there is anything this day can teach you is that life is too short and too precious to let those teenage feelings stop you from being happy. The reasons you're cooking up aren't reasons their just ways for you to avoid asking the simplest question in the world. If you don't ask him, you're gonna spend your life wondering 'what if I had been a little more brave?'

Gemma: What if he says no?

Amber: Then at least you'll know and won't have any regrets. What do you say?

Gemma: …Is there an art store nearby?

AN HOUR LATER IN THE LOCKERS

(Amber brushes her hair next to Levi as Nico enters the room)

Nico: Great. There's showers in here.

Levi: Fellows have a lounge on three.

Nico: You kicking me out?

(Nico takes his shirt off making Amber and Levi ogle at the beautiful man)

Levi and Amber: No.

Nico: (Grins) Cool.

(Alex enters the room to stand in front of a bloodied Vik)

Alex: Roy. No need to come in tomorrow.

Vik: Oh, thank you. I could really use-

Alex: I'm not giving you the day off. I'm giving you every day off. You're fired.

(Amber stops brushing to look at the scene)

Vik: But Bailey-

Alex: Bailey's not your boss anymore, I am.

Vik: It was a mistake.

Alex: It wasn't a mistake. It was a lie. You said you'd taken care of the patient, and now a guy is dead. And you can't even take responsibility for it. Which means, you're not cut out for this line of work.

Vik: But-

Alex: Save it, all right? This isn't where you defend yourself. This is where you pack up your crap and you get the hell out of here. You are never setting hands on a patient in this hospital again. You got it?

(Alex leaves the room as Vik sits on the bench shocked. Amber grins as she heads for the door but speaks to Vik)

Amber: (Smug) And you said I wasn't gonna make it my intern year.

(Amber leaves the room in stride and heads to the PACU. Arthur and Buckley are in the room as well as Kevin's parents)

Amber: Hey Kevin, are you good for one more visitor?

(Amber signals for Gemma to enter the room holding a sign the says 'Will you go to the dance with me?' in orange paint)

Gemma: Do you want to go with me to the Halloween dance? As more than friends?

Kevin: …What took you so long Gem?

(Gemma smiles as Arthur and Buckley clap and cheer. Amber smiles at the joyous room as her feelings become clear to her)

LATER AT THE DOCTORS LOUNGE

(Amber sits on the couch staring at the ceiling in thought when Levi walks in)

Levi: (Groans) This day. (Plops on the couch) Why can't there be more calm days just so we can keep our sanity?

(Amber stays silent making Levi worried)

Levi: Hello? This is usually the part where you remark with a sarcastic and/or witty answer. What's wrong?

Amber: I helped this kid ask out her best friend because she was too much of a coward to do it. I gave her this speech about how life is too short to let stupidness get in the way and I helped her ask Kevin out. When I saw her ask him out while he was in bed, I had an epiphany.

Levi: What epiphany?

Amber: …I like Andrew DeLuca. I full on have feelings for that gorgeous, kind Italian.

Levi: Finally! I was worried you were never gonna figure it out and be emotionally stunted for the rest of your life.

Amber: Me too.

Levi: So, what are you gonna do?

Amber: I don't know. Any ideas?