Chapter 4: What if
SCENE: LEVIS BASEMENT
(The alarm clock wakes up Amber who is sleeping on Levi's couch. She groans and stretches her neck as Levi enters the room with a cup of coffee for her fully dressed for work)
Levi: Coffee black, four sugars I figured you'd need a lot of caffeine after spending the night on the couch again.
Amber: (Groans) You figured right.
(Amber gets up and drinks her coffee before getting dressed. She heads into the kitchen to find Myrna Schmitt packing lunch)
Myrna: (Greets Amber with a smile) Good morning, Amber how did you sleep last night?
Amber: (Tries to be polite) I slept fine Mrs. Schmitt, thanks for letting me crash here again. I know it feels like I'm taking up a lot of space.
Myrna: Oh, don't be silly honey, we have more than enough room for you. I can imagine it's cramped in that loft of yours.
Levi: Eh it's more her roommates that are the problem than the loft. How long is the honeymoon phase gonna last?
Amber: (Disgusted) No idea and I don't want to ask. Why are there two lunch bags?
Myrna: Oh, I packed lunch for both of you. Levi told me that you like chicken wrap so I made you that and put turkey and apple slices on the side just in case you get extra hungry.
(Amber glares at Levi who gives her a look saying, 'just take it'. She reluctantly takes the lunch bag and smiles)
Amber: Thanks Mrs. Schmitt. Levi lets go.
Myrna: Drive safe you two.
(Amber's false smile falls as she and Levi leave the house)
Amber: I gotta get my own place.
TWO HOURS LATER AT THE HOSPITAL
(Amber goes through apartment listings on her laptop at the nurse's station with Levi beside to help her)
Levi: How about this one? It looks nice and the price is within your limit.
Amber: It's in Tacoma and I'd rather keeping bunking with you than drive an hour just to get to work. Let's keep looking.
Levi: Uh…Oh! Here's one. It's got hard wood floors, washer and dryer, it's in a nice part of town and the price is so low.
Amber: (Looks at the apartment ad and see's what's wrong) Look at the price again.
Levi: (Looks at the price and eyes widen at the large number) Why?!
(Link stops at the nurse's station beside them to go over his pre ops)
Amber: Because apartments in a metropolitan town are a bitch on credit. Here's one in my price range 'Spacious one bedroom with aesthetic view of town'.
Link: That's real estate lingo for abandoned warehouse with a busted window.
Amber: (Looks at Link strangely)
Levi: How about this? 'Artistic bungalow with wood like floors'
Link: A shack with purple walls and cracked linoleum.
Amber: How do you know so much about this?
Link: I moved around a lot for college and residency so I figured out the game quickly. If you want, I can go over it with you and pick out which apartments are actually suitable.
Amber: (Flustered) Um yeah, I would like that.
Levi: (Notices her blushing) Um side bar please.
(Amber looks at Levi confused as he pulls her away for a private moment with Link looking at them strangely)
Levi: (Hushed voice) What are you doing?
Amber: (Hushed voice) Trying to find a good place to live so that my brothers sex sounds don't drive me insane?
Levi: No, I mean what are you doing trying to be alone with Dr. Lincoln? You told me last week that you liked DeLuca and now you want to go out with this guy?
Amber: I am not going out with him I am taking him up on his offer to find me a nice place to live within my budget, something you are currently sucking at. The guy is the chief of ortho, do you really think he wants to shack up with some lowly intern?
Levi: (Thinks for a moment) …Okay you make a good point. Sorry it's just I'm starting to ship you and DeLuca together so naturally I see this guy as a threat to that.
Amber: Oh, sweet Levi (Puts her hand on his shoulder) Stop focusing on my love life and work to get yourself into bed with the other Ortho God. (Turns to Link) Sorry my friend had a mini crisis; I would love to take you up on your offer. Do you want to do this at the lounge?
(Before Link can answer their pagers beeps)
Amber: Multiple traumas coming in.
Link: Lets go.
(Amber and Link run down to the pit)
AN HOUR LATER AT THE PIT
(Amber and Alex attend to Julius)
Julius: I'm good, guys, yeah. I'm not even burnt. I was just delivering food. Not even my building. It's not even my fire.
Alex: And if the smoke got into your lungs, got to take a look.
Amber: (Reads the chart) It says here your emergency contact is your mom?
Julius: No, don't call my mom! No, she, she lives in Philly. She'll just worry. Also, uh, I go to U-Dub, and I have class in an hour, so, uh, I should-
Alex: I'll write you a note. Open wide.
Julius: I have a chem test.
Alex: (Checks his airway) Say, "Ahh."
Julius: (Muffled) Also, it's a makeup test. It's like a make-it-or-break-it. It's my last chance. I should just go.
Amber: You need a chest X-ray first.
Julius: X-rays? Doesn't that cost extra?
Alex: Oh, you don't need to worry about that.
Julius: (Uncertain) Wait. But…
LATER IN RADIOLOGY
(After getting a chest x ray, Alex and Amber observe Julius's scans)
Alex: You see this thin sac in the wall of Julius' lung? He's got a pulmonary bleb.
Amber: (Chuckles lightly) 'Bleb.'
Alex: Its air trapped in the lining of the lung.
Amber: Yeah, I know what it is, I just like how funny it sounds, bleb. What's it stand for?
Alex: It doesn't. It's a word.
Amber: (Grins) It's not a word. It's a sound effect. Bleb.
Alex: Well, if it bursts, his lung collapses, and Julius dies.
Amber: (Stops grinning) It should be a less funny word.
HALF AN HOUR LATER AT THE PIT
(Alex and Amber try to explain the bleb to Julius)
Alex: Look, if it bursts, your lung could collapse. It puts you at risk.
Julius: I know. I know all about my bleb. I've had it since I was a baby. Why do you guys call it that?
Amber: Right?
Julius: Anyway, I'm not doing a marathon anytime soon, unless it's video games. I'm okay. I get along fine.
Alex: Yeah, until now. The smoke you inhaled is making your lungs work harder. And your bleb is making them work too hard. But I can operate. I can take it out for good.
Julius: No. No surgery. My mom's insurance, it, it only covers emergency-room visits. My stupid bleb's a pre-existing condition.
Alex: If we called your mom, she would say, "Let's figure it out."
Julius: (Adamant) No. No, my mom already works three jobs just to keep me in food and clothes, okay? The surgery will, will put us grand in the hole. Just let me out of here, or-or I'll talk to your supervisor, okay?
Alex: I am my supervisor.
Julius: Well, well, don't call my mom. If you tell my mom, I'll sue you guys. Then all of our money problems will be gone. Okay?
(Alex and Amber look at each other worriedly before walking out of the pit)
Amber: Can't we just take it out, anyway?
Alex: Kid's 18. Doing it anyway would be assault. Start him on continuous nebs and 40% O2 and, uh, slow-roll his discharge.
Amber: Got it.
(Jo approaches Alex just as Amber turns around to ask Alex a question)
Jo: We need to talk about last night. That was insulting.
Alex: Oh, it was, and I accept your apology.
Jo: You need to apologize to me, dummy. I don't have sex with you because I want stuff from the chief. I have sex with you 'cause I want one thing from you, orgasms!
(Amber groans in disgust behind Alex who spots her just as Jo spots Webber awkwardly behind her as well)
Jo: And maybe you should tell me when Webber and Amber are right behind us so I don't say things like that.
(Jo chuckles nervously before walking away)
Amber: Why do you both hate me?
Alex: I-
(Amber walks back to the pit before he could finish. She enters the pit shaking the disgust off her when Link approaches her with papers in his hand)
Link: Here you go, all the potential apartments that are within your price range and don't have termites infesting the building.
Amber: (Grabs the papers) I-When did you have time to do all this? Don't you have surgeries?
Link: I do but during those surgeries I had an intern read the listing out loud and bookmarked the ones acceptable. I've got 6 potential places so far.
Amber: (Shocked but delighted) You could not have picked a more perfect moment to give me this. Thank you I will look this over and get a meeting.
Link: I already scheduled one for you.
Amber: You did? Which one?
Link: Page 4, I think your gonna like it it's close to the hospital and it has hard wood floors and a spacious closet. I think the reason its in your price range is probably because a murder happened there but I don't know if that would make you turn it down.
Amber: At this point I will mop up the blood if it means I have my own place. When did you schedule it?
Link: It's at 7 tonight.
(Andrew enters the pit and goes through charts at the station a few feet away from Amber and Link)
Amber: Okay I'll try to switch my hours but hopefully I can make it, thank you so much.
Link: (Grins) It's not a problem maybe I can come with you and help you check it out. What do you say?
(Amber freezes after he asks and Andrew overhears this and looks over at them interested in what is happening)
Amber: Tonight?
Link: Yeah, maybe we can get something to eat after, my treat.
Amber: (Flustered) I'm sorry I think I'm hallucinating, are you…asking me out? Like on a date?
Link: I am.
Amber: (Shocked) Uh…I'm an intern and you're the chief of ortho. Plus, your older than me.
(Andrew stifles his laughter at her comment)
Amber: (Realizes what she said) I mean your virile don't get me wrong and you look younger than you do it's just…I'm an intern and you're an attending so it doesn't take a math genius to figure out there's an age gap here.
Link: So, haven't you heard age is nothing but a number? I mean it's not like your 18 or anything…you're not, right?
Amber: (Chuckles) No I'm 25.
Link: Exactly your perfectly legal and pretty and you're a good doctor based on how you sympathized with that drunk patient of yours last week. I mean what more could a guy like me ask for, what do you say?
(Andrew continues charting as he listens for Amber's answer)
Amber: Um…Can I get back to you on that? I need some time to think plus I have a patient who wants to leave AMA, is that okay?
Link: Yeah of course don't let me keep you. I'll be in ortho if you have an answer.
(Link leaves the pit with Amber staring as he leaves. Andrew stops charting and goes to her)
Andrew: So, Link huh?
Amber: (Stops staring and turns around) What?
Andrew: You and Link I…I didn't even know you guys were a thing.
Amber: Were you eavesdropping?
Andrew: No, I was charting and I overheard you two talking. When did that happen?
Amber: (Scoffs) Nothing happened, he was just helping me pick out a new place and he asked me to go to dinner after I check out an apartment.
Andrew: He asked you out on a date? An attending asked an intern out on a date? That seems a little inappropriate.
Amber: Says the guy who dated the chief of cardio when he was an intern. And maybe you haven't heard of the legendary pairings in this hospital that mostly consisted of attendings and residents and you're judging me? Really?
Andrew: Yeah, I probably shouldn't have said that.
(Andrew chuckles for a moment causing Amber confusion)
Amber: What's so funny?
Andrew: Nothing it's just…I don't see someone like you with a guy like Link.
Amber: (Glares at him) And why is that?
Andrew: (Realizes what his sentence sounded like) Okay that's not what I meant I-
Amber: No come on, is it because he's an attending? Or because he's a genuinely nice guy who also happens to look like he stepped out of a Men's Health magazine? Or is it because I'm a lowly intern who can't keep a person around for longer than a month?
Andrew: Okay I see that I upset you, Amber that's not-
(Andrew's pager beeps)
Andrew: Damn it, I have to go, we'll talk later.
Amber: (Mad) Don't bother I heard you loud and clear.
(Andrew groans but runs out of the pit)
AN HOUR LATER IN THE PIT
(Amber and Levi catch up at the nurses' stations and Amber tells Levi about Link)
Levi: He asked you out? Like on a date? He said a date?
Amber: Yes, he made his intentions clear, he was very upfront which I find oddly sexy.
Levi: And what did you say?
Amber: I said I would think about it and get back to him when I made up my mind.
Levi: Well…I mean you have made up your mind, (Hushed voice) you like DeLuca and he still doesn't know it.
Amber: Yeah, I do but that doesn't mean he feels the same way. You should have heard what he said when he found out Link asked me out, he said 'I don't see someone like you with a guy like Link' I think his feelings toward me were made pretty clear after that sentence.
Link: (Still ships them) Maybe he didn't mean what you think he meant maybe-
Amber: Levi, I know you want this to happen because you have no love life but that doesn't mean it's going to. Andrew and I are on different wavelengths, different planets, it will never happen because we are completely incompatible. I see that so you should too.
Levi: (Sighs) Does that mean you gonna say yes to Dr. Lincoln?
(Before Amber can answer she sees Julius throw his legs off the bed and grabbing his clothes)
Amber: What the hell?
(Amber goes to Julius's bed)
Amber: Julius what are you doing?
Julius: I'm getting out of here. I need to leave.
Amber: Hold on please just wait one minute.
(Amber checks his pulse ox and pages Alex)
Amber: Julius, you can't leave your breathing is ragged which means your lungs haven't fully recovered yet and your bleb is-
Julius: I have to go; I have to get out of here. I'll sign whatever to leave.
(Julius's breathes harder as he struggles to put on his pants. Alex enters the pit)
Alex: What happened?
Amber: He's trying to leave. He got winded putting on his pants.
Alex: It's because your lungs aren't working right. Come on, pal.
(They put him back on the bed and Amber puts his nasal cannula back on)
Amber: His pulse ox was just 88 on room air.
Alex: Look, Julius, you still haven't recovered fully from the smoke inhalation. And this bleb, it, it, it could burst out there, in the middle of chem class, when I'm not there to help you.
Julius: (Breathes heavily) The insurance, it was really c-clear. This was pre-exi-existing. I-I can't afford this. I got to go.
Alex: (Gets an idea) Okay, uh, just, uh, um, lie back. Let me check you before you leave.
Amber: (Shocked) What? H-He's just gonna leave AMA?
Alex: Yeah. He's allowed to refuse care. Legally, we can't force you to have treatment.
(Alex checks his side but comes back in view with blood in his hands)
Alex: (Feigns curiosity) What is this?
(Amber stands still for a moment shocked at the blood)
Julius: W-What did you do?
Alex: He has a penetrating chest wound. I mean, how did we miss this?
Amber: I-I didn't.
Alex: Well, I mean, it's right there. I mean, this could be invading the pleural space. We got to take a look in surgery.
Julius: No, I-I can't have surgery.
(Amber understands what's happening and looks at Alex in shock)
Alex: Dude, listen, it's an emergency surgery, so it's covered under your insurance…and anything else that we find in there. Do you understand?
Julius: Yeah. All right. Okay.
Alex: All right, Amber, um, send off pre-op labs and book an O.R., your scrubbing in.
(Amber thinks for a moment before approaching Alex)
Amber: Alex. (Alex turns around) I have to report this.
Alex: Well, you just told the chief.
(Alex grins at Amber before leaving)
LATER ON THE SURGICAL FLOOR
(Alex and Amber walk side by side tensely as they prepare to go in to operate on Julius. Webber approaches them)
Webber: What the hell, Karev?
(Alex looks at Amber who gives him a knowing look)
Alex: Oh, my own sister reported me? That's nice.
Webber: She did her job. You stabbed a patient?
Amber: (Tries to defend herself) I didn't use the word stab-
Alex: Look, you said find a creative solution, right?
(The three of them enter the scrub room)
Webber: I didn't say commit assault or insurance fraud. I mean, if this is your way of getting out of being interim chief, congratulations. It'll likely get you out of being a doctor at all.
Alex: Look, I'm just kicking the job's ass before it kicks mine, like your mother said.
Webber: No, no. You do not get to use my mother's words against me.
Alex: Well, let me tell you something our mother used to say, "Bats! There are bats everywhere, Alex, and they know everybody's phone numbers." So, how about you let me borrow your mom for a minute?
(Amber sighs as she scrubs with the men)
TWO HOURS LATER IN O.R. 2
(Amber retracts as Alex and Webber remove the bleb)
Alex: (Pulls out the bleb) Bye-bye, bleb. Now he'll breathe without a problem, and he doesn't have to worry about the thing bursting on its own.
Webber: Well, I understand the medicine, Karev. What I'm not so sure of is how you plan to tell his mother and a medical ethics committee.
Alex: I'll probably tell them about the time that I stole a car.
(Webber and Amber look at Alex curiously)
Alex: (Sighs) One night Amber had the flu. She spiked a fever of 104. I was 13, home alone, didn't know what to do. So, I broke into the neighbor's house, stole the car keys, and took her to the hospital, where there were people who would know what to do.
Amber: (Touched) I…I don't remember that.
Alex: Yeah, you wouldn't you were barely two months.
Webber: Why didn't you just call an ambulance?
Alex: You know how much an ambulance ride costs? I think I'll get a pass from his mom. And I'm hoping there's no need to face an ethics committee. (To Nurse) 3-0 Vicryl?
(Amber looks at Alex in awe and feels guilty for ratting him out)
Amber: Alex I'm sorry I was just-
Alex: (Understands) It's okay, you were being a doctor not my sister. There's nothing for you to apologize about.
Amber: Well…Thank you for that and the other thing.
Alex: Your welcome. Suction here.
(The three of them continue to work)
LATER ON THE THIRD FLOOR
(Amber spots Link by the station and approaches him with a smile)
Amber: Hey. Is your offer still standing?
Link: (Grins) It is, do you have an answer?
Amber: Yeah, I-
Jo: Atticus Lincoln?!
(Amber turns to see Alex and Jo with Jo addressing Link in a happy tone)
Link: (Turns to Jo) Brooke?!
Jo: (Chuckles) Link?!
Link: (Smiles) What?!
(Jo shrieks in excitement and hugs Link who hugs her back laughing causing Amber to widen her eyes in shock)
Link: (Puts Jo down) You work here?!
Jo: I work here!
Link: No way!
(Amber and Alex stand there awkwardly at the happy reunion)
Jo: (Chuckles and then realizes Alex and Amber are there too) Oh my god I am so sorry. Amber this is Link, Link this is Amber.
Amber: (Feels awkward) Yeah, we met. I'm sorry did you just call her Brooke?
Link: Yeah, why wouldn't I? That's her name. How do you know Brooke?
Jo: Oh! She is my new sister-in-law.
Link: (Shocked) What?! You got married?
Alex: (Approaches them) Yeah to me.
Link: Oh, you're married to the chief? Wow how did I not know that the few weeks I've been here.
Amber: (Chuckles awkwardly) I know right? Sorry how do you two know each other?
Jo: We went to Princeton pre-med; he was a few years ahead of me but we became best friends when we worked together at Jimmy's Crab Shack.
Alex: You two were best friends? Back then you two were in each other's lives?
Jo: (Chuckles) Yeah.
(Amber gets flustered over this shocking revelation)
Amber: (Tries to excuse herself) Oh my gosh I totally forgot I had that…thing up there with the…things. I gotta go.
(Amber runs from the trio as fast as she could)
LATER THAT NIGHT IN THE LOCKER ROOM
(Amber changes into her casual wear with Levi next to her recapping)
Levi: He is your sister in law's best friend?
Amber: Yep, they worked together and went to school and greeted each other like two shrieking banshees', I think I went deaf for a second there.
Levi: (Chuckles at the irony) How does this keep happening to you?
Amber: Right?! Now I can't go out with him because if I do it's gonna get awkward with Jo while I'm dating her bestie and then if we break up, she's gonna have to choose sides and be miserable without either her best friend or sister by her side.
(Levi clears his throat and points behind her with his eyes. Amber sighs and turns around to see Link standing at the doorway)
Amber: Give us a minute please.
Levi: Sure.
(Levi leaves the room. Amber and Link look at each other when they're alone)
Amber: Dr. Lincoln I-
Link: Oh boy, it's never good when they call me Lincoln instead of Link.
Amber: (Sighs) Link you seem like a nice guy I mean that it's just…Jo is my sister I know she just married my brother but I love her like she's related to me by blood. Jo has been through a lot and I don't want to make things weird for her when her sister and best friend date it's just…it's not something I want to risk for all our sakes. I really hope you understand why I can't go out with you.
Link: (Chuckles in irony) Wow you totally stole my speech.
Amber: What?
Link: I came down here to tell you that I'm willing to help you go apartment hunting but the date…I don't think it's a good idea. Don't get me wrong you seem great too and I was totally on board with this until I found out you and Jo were related. She's like a sister to me too and I wouldn't do anything to hurt her and I know she would say she would be cool with it but-
Amber: (Understands Jo as well) She would be lying though her teeth.
Link: While suffering in silence yeah. I was hoping you would understand but you thought the same thing too so…friends?
Amber: (Grins) Friends.
(They shake hands in mutual understanding)
Link: Okay well I will see you tomorrow friend.
Amber: See ya.
(Link leaves the locker room with Amber sighing in content)
LATER AT THE RESIDENTS LOUNGE
(Amber opens the door to find Andrew alone and shirtless making her blush)
Amber: Um sorry I'll come back later.
Andrew: (Puts shirt on) No it's fine you can come in, what's up?
Amber: I came to check up on you before I left. I heard about what happened, you helped 19 get a kid out of a storm drain?
Andrew: They did the work I just stood by and helped with Max after but yeah it was a pretty hectic day.
Amber: I can imagine, how's Max? Is he okay?
Andrew: All things considered yeah; he's saying goodbye to his mom now.
(Amber nods and turns to leave when Andrew speaks)
Andrew: How did it go with Link?
(Amber closes her eyes in embarrassment and turns to face him)
Andrew: Despite what happened I didn't forget that the chief of ortho asked you out, even though you clearly wanted me to. Are you meeting him tonight?
Amber: (Sighs) No it's not happening, ever.
Andrew: (Furrows eyebrows in confusion) Really? You made it seem like it was, what happened?
Amber: Nothing happened its…he and Jo are best friends from when they were in undergrad.
(Andrew chuckles thinking she's joking but see's that she's serious)
Andrew: Are you serious? (Amber nods) Wow small world.
Amber: (Scoffs) Right? That's what I said. Anyways I don't want to date my sister's best friend that is just a recipe for disaster. Although you probably predicted it wouldn't happen anyway since me and Link were never an option to begin with due to my hideous personality.
Andrew: No that's not…that's not what I meant when I told you that very stupid thing, I told you.
Amber: (Doesn't believe him) Really?
Andrew: (Wants to clear the air) Okay can I explain myself for two minutes and not get interrupted by you throughout that time?
Amber: (Decides to show mercy) Fine go.
(Amber crosses her arms across her chest anticipating being disappointed again)
Andrew: Okay…When I told you I didn't imagine you with a guy like Link I didn't mean that he could do better than you I meant you could do better than him.
(Amber looks at Andrew in surprise)
Andrew: I know that he's the chief of ortho and he was the surgeon for the Seattle Mariners and he's got like three percent body fat-
Amber: (Wants to correct) 2.5.
Andrew: Okay no interrupting you promised.
(Amber clamps her mouth shut)
Andrew: Despite all of that…I don't see him as that special person in your life. Guys like Link they don't put in the effort because they think girls just fall at their feet. I think you deserve to have effort put into asking you out and dating you because…you're amazing.
(Amber's heart rate increases due to her reignited feelings for Andrew as he continues complimenting her)
Andrew: I know I am the last person to tell you that but it's true, I saw you defend a woman with misdiagnosed Munchausen and you helped an alcoholic when he had DT's. I think someone as amazing as you deserves someone amazing and I don't think Link is it. Two minutes are up.
Amber: (Tries to be composed) …Oh well thank you and sorry for accusing you of being a jackass.
Andrew: (Chuckles) It's not the first time.
Amber: Yeah…just so you know your pretty amazing too.
(Amber and Andrew stand in the lounge for a tense second before Amber breathes and composes herself)
Amber: Well, I have to check out a potential apartment and hope it's as good as it's advertised see you tomorrow.
Andrew: See ya.
(Amber exits the room and groans out of Andrew's earshot)
Amber: (Feelings for Andrew reignited) Damn it.