Chapter 5: Stalling
SCENE: A BEDROOM
(Amber and Andrew are in bed making out passionately for a few lustful moments until Amber pulls back realizing where she is)
Amber: Wait a minute, Andrew…Wh-What are you doing here?
Andrew: (Eyes her lustfully) I think it's pretty obvious what I want to do Amber.
Amber: (Exhales and gives in) Okay.
(Amber and Andrew continue making out and roll to the side so Andrew can be on top of Amber)
CUT TO JO AND ALEXS LOFT
(Amber wakes up with a jolt on the floor besides the couch and realizes she fell off due to her dream)
Jo: (Chuckles) Morning, was the dream that good?
(Amber instead gets frustrated at having another dream about Andrew and punches her fist on the floor)
Amber: (Rolls over on her back still frustrated and yells) Aah!
(Jo looks at Amber concerned but sips her coffee as Amber gets up and tumbles)
Jo: Geez was it that bad?
Amber: (Walks to the bathroom) Shut up!
(Amber slams the door behind her to shower before work)
SCENE: GREY SLOAN MEMORIAL
(Levi and Webber stand in front of the elevator waiting for it to stop when Amber runs to them)
Amber: (Anxious to talk to Levi) Hi Levi. Dr. Webber.
Levi: Um hi.
Webber: Good morning, Amber.
Amber: (Grins) Coincidence huh? All three of us here, waiting for the same elevator, right?
Webber: …Yes.
Levi: Yes?
(The elevator doors open and all three of them go inside alone. A few seconds after moving Amber pulls the stop button)
Webber: (Feels déjà vu) I had a feeling.
Levi: W-What are you doing?
Amber: (Groans frustrated) It happened again. I dreamed of him last night only this time we were kissing in bed!
Levi: Um did you need to stop the elevator for this?
Amber: (Ignores him and continues) Okay so I went to DeLuca yesterday and he was shirtless and oh so muscular and sexy. I tried to fight it and-
Webber: She-Karev maybe we can do this in the privacy of-
Amber: I'm sorry Dr. Webber I planned to ambush Levi you were just a casualty. And I need to do it here otherwise Andrew DeLuca will find out I want to be with him from an eavesdropper and I can't have that so if you can just tune out that would be great.
Levi: What is going on here?
Webber: Schmitt I've been through this type of situation before so it's best if you just answer her questions as wisely and quickly as you can otherwise, you'll be late. Go.
Amber: As I was saying I went to Andrew to be polite despite thinking that he thought I was too damaged for the Ortho God but as it turns out he thought it was the other way around. And then Andrew says that I'm amazing and that I deserve someone like that too and I tell him that he's amazing too out of impulse.
Levi: Oh well uh that's great I'm assuming.
Amber: No, it is not it is not great it is an absolute disaster.
Webber: Why would it be?
Amber: Because I cannot have feelings for Andrew DeLuca it is impossible. Levi, am I stupid or am I a masochist? Because there's this great guy who rejected me twice because my brother beat him and I tried to use him for sex I mean those things are supposed to turn the both of us off. But instead, a year later he kisses me in a drunk state and the next thing I know, I'm having hallmark movie dreams of him and now he says I am amazing which makes me-oh god Levi what the hell is wrong with me?
Levi: (Stunned) Um…
Webber: (Butts in) Wise and quick Schmitt.
Levi: Right um do you like Andrew now?
Amber: Yes.
Webber: So, are going to pursue him?
Amber: No.
Levi: (Confused) So you want to be with him but you don't want to…be with him?
Amber: Because of what Alex did and him rejecting me before. And then there's Sam who left so I would be the designated rebound so what do I do?
Levi: Um…I'm sorry Dr. Webber but I am at a loss here, everything she's saying is in another language.
Webber: (Steps in) I got this Schmitt. Karev, I know that DeLuca has burned you before but I've gotten to know him personally these past few weeks and I can tell you that he is a good man and good guitar player.
Amber: I know all of that well except for the guitar thing but what if he rejects me again? I mean I can handle being rejected by the same guy once and twice but thrice. I'm afraid I might fall apart. And Sam just left so what if he says yes but only sees me as the designated rebound?
Webber: Amber, you are a grown woman who has had more than her fair share of hurt feelings, you can survive whatever comes to you. And secondly DeLuca doesn't go into a relationship lightly so if he says yes then he is all in. Don't be afraid of what might happen because then you'll regret what you didn't do because you were scared.
(Amber sighs at his advice and turns around pushing the stop button causing the elevator to move again. They all exit the elevator with Amber heading in the same direction as Webber to Alex at the station)
Amber: I'm on peds today does that mean I'm on your service or…?
Alex: You're on my service. There's no peds surgeries so you'll be in charge of physicals. Page me if its serious got it.
Amber: Got it.
(Jo and Link exit the elevator chatting away)
Jo: Your triple espresso. And I mailed in your ballot. (Puts I Voted sticker on Alex's coat)
Alex: Thanks.
Jo: Yeah.
Link: Morning, Chief. Amber.
Amber: Morning Dr. Lincoln.
(Alex doesn't reply)
Link: Richie.
Webber: Lincoln.
(Amber furrows her eyebrows as Link leaves)
Alex: Did he just call you Richie?
Webber: Yeah. He says if I insist on extending his name, he's gonna shorten mine.
(Jo and Amber chuckle)
Alex: Rude.
Webber: Oh, no, no, no. He's a good guy. Mean guitar player.
Jo: Yeah. Link's the best. You know, we go all the way back to undergrad.
Webber: (Insinuates) Oh?
Jo: Oh, no! No, no, no. Not like that. We just waited tables together. He's like my brother. Okay, I'm gonna head to the lab, but I hope to see you later.
(Jo goes to the lab)
Webber: I wasn't too thrilled when I found out Catherine and Koracick were…old friends.
Alex: Can I help you?
Amber: Oh, don't be jealous Alex it's an ugly emotion. Just because he's hot, sweet and has his own department doesn't warrant for jealousy and I realize that I listed the reasons you should be jealous so I should probably go.
Alex: You really should. Your first physical is Ethan Gardner, 11 he's in the chart so just go and send him home with a clean bill of health.
(Amber senses the grumpy tone and walks away from the station)
HALF AN HOUR LATER AT THE PEDS FLOOR
Amber: Say ah.
Ethan: Ahhh.
(Amber checks Ethan's airway)
Amber: No sign of infection. Your glands are a little swollen though.
Ethan's mom: What does that mean?
Amber: Well, combined with the swelling, lack of appetite and energy it could be mononucleosis.
Ethan's mom: Mono? As in the kissing disease? Have you been kissing someone?
Ethan: Ew! No!
Amber: There are plenty of other ways to contract mono without touching lips with someone assuming he has it. We're gonna have to draw blood to find out sorry dude.
Ethan: Can I still make it to school? I have a math test today.
Amber: If you have the disease no. You'll have to stay home and rest, drink a lot of water, and take some over the counter medicine. (Whispers) And no kissing. I'll get the blood draw kit now.
(Amber leaves to get the supplies when she bumps into an unknown man)
Amber: I'm so sorry. I didn't see you there.
Man: It's fine…do I know you?
Amber: Um I don't think so. I'm Amber Karev, I'm a surgical intern here.
Man: Oh! Never mind you look exactly like someone I used to know. She was brunette but she had bright blue eyes and a pretty face like yours. Do you have a twin?
Amber: No, I have two brothers. Do you need something?
Man: No, I'm just here for a friend you can go now.
Amber: Okay.
(Amber goes to the supply closet as the man watches her walk away with a smug grin)
AN HOUR LATER BACK AT THE ROOM
Amber: Good news it's not mono. The blood came back clean, which means you can make it for that test Ethan.
Ethan's mom: Thank god. I'm gonna call dad.
(The mom leaves the room and Amber notices Ethan looking depressed as he stares at the floor)
Amber: You don't seem too happy. Were you hoping for a contagious disease so you can skip school?
Ethna: No. I knew I didn't have it. I know what's wrong with me.
Amber: What's the matter Ethan? (Ethan hesitates) Come on you can tell me. I have literally heard it all. Plus, I'm your doctor so anything you say won't come out of this room; I swear.
Ethan: (Sighs) I'm in love.
Amber: Oh, that's great right? I mean love is the best feeling in the world. I wouldn't know but I've heard it. Why does that make you awful?
Ethan: Because I know the person, I love will never like me back.
(Amber sympathizes with Ethan and sits down next to him)
Amber: I get that. Who is she?
Ethan: A friend from school.
Amber: Have you told her that you like her?
Ethan: No. If I do it'll end badly.
Amber: Well, you can't know that for sure. I mean don't you just want to do it and get it over with? Speak the truth and see what happens? Ask her to see a movie or whatever kids your age do on dates.
Ethan: I thought about it but I don't want to make things weird. You wouldn't get it.
Amber: Trust me I do, I really do.
Ethan: Really?
Amber: Yeah…there's this guy I work with and I've been chickening myself out from telling him how I feel because of weirdness and our history and my idiot brother. I want to ask him out but I'm afraid just like you.
Ethan: …that sucks.
Amber: (Chuckles) It really does. (Sighs) Okay since were both chickens how about we dare each other out of the coop?
Ethan: What do you mean?
Amber: I mean that if you ask out the girl you like first and see what happens, I'll…take you to see a movie my treat. And if I ask out my guy, you'll…take me to see a movie also my treat. I don't feel comfortable taking something from a kid so that's why this bet benefits you either way. What do you say? Shake on it?
(Amber holds out her hand and Ethan shakes it)
Ethan: I hope you like Halloween, my mom won't take me because she thinks its too scary.
Amber: Oh, thank God. I thought you were gonna pick a superhero movie. I was gonna watch it anyways so you're doing me a favor not going alone. Just tell them I'm your sister so it doesn't seem weird.
FOUR HOURS LATER IN THE PIT
(Levi and Taryn chat at the nurse's station)
Taryn: (Groans) I swear I'd take annoying little kids over a room full of drunk idiots and paranoid people with a headache. She-Karev has it so easy now that her brother's the chief.
Levi: Interim chief and I'm pretty sure she would kill you if she heard you say that.
Taryn: Yeah, she's stronger than she looks. It looks clear for now so I am going to pee for exactly ten seconds.
(Taryn walks to the lady's room where she hears chatter from the stall. Amber sits on the toilet and practices what to say to Andrew)
Amber: I know that this is sudden and we agreed that things were good with us after the wedding but things changed and they changed when you kissed me so you really only have yourself to blame. (Groans) No not that one. Okay, I know I act like this girl who hates everybody and insults everyone including you but that's only because-no scratch that. Andrew DeLuca…I like you. I like you in a romantic way and I've felt this way for a long-
Taryn: (Shocked) You like DeLuca?!
(Amber sits up suddenly hitting the back of her head on the wall yelling in pain before exiting the stall. Taryn looks at her with wide eyes)
Taryn: You actually like-
Amber: Shut up! Hellmouth for once in your life you are going to keep your mouth shut about what you heard in this restroom. You will let me tell Andrew how I feel about him and only me or else I will rip your tongue out and step on it! Do you understand me? Nod if you do.
Taryn: (Nods)
Amber: Good girl. Now we are gonna walk out of here and get back to our intern duties and we are going to pretend that this conversation never happened. Can you do that?
Taryn: Yes.
(Amber and Taryn silently walk out of the restroom and back to the pit where Andrew tends to a patient. Amber takes a deep breath and approaches him)
Amber: Hey.
Andrew: Hey, I thought you were on peds today.
Amber: I am I finished the physicals I just…wanted to come and talk to you.
Andrew: About what?
Amber: Well, see the thing is-
(Amber is interrupted when Molly's monitor rapidly beeps alerting Andrew)
Andrew: Hey, guys! Wake up!
(Levi and Taryn run to the bed with Amber standing by observing)
Andrew: What the hell happened?
Taryn: Uh, M-Molly Graham. 19 years old. Asthmatic. I gave her two nebulizers and a shot of Solu-Medrol. I'm monitoring her sats.
Andrew: No, you're not! She's tachypneic. Her sats are in the 80s. She's decompensating, okay? She's not moving any air around. Okay, we're gonna have to intubate. Prep for RSI.
Taryn: Don't we need an attending?
Andrew: Do you see one?
Levi: I'll, I'll get Webber.
(Levi leaves to get Webber)
Amber: What do you want me to do?
Andrew: Nothing I got this. Okay. Hang in there for me, Molly, okay? (Andrew pumps air into Molly) Let's go, Helm. Let's go. Okay. (Starts to intubate) Come on. Come on. It's not going in. Uh, okay, get a scope.
(Taryn gets the scope as Webber enters the pit)
Andrew: Come on, Molly. It's okay. You got this. Let's go! Give me that, Helm. (Takes the scope) Okay. Okay. Come on. Come on. (Successfully intubates) Got it. (Taryn checks heart rate) No. Helm, I got it. (To Webber) She was about to code. I didn't think you'd want me waiting for you.
Webber: You were right. But next time, try including your intern. This is a teaching hospital.
(Webber leaves the pit and Andrew is left confused)
Andrew: Sorry, what did you want to talk about Amber?
Amber: Um…you know what it's not important. You look busy so I'm just gonna go.
(Andrew furrows his eyebrows as Amber leaves but stops when she sees Ethan entering the pit with a bloody nose and bruised eye)
Amber: Ethan? What happened?
Ethan: (Voice breaking) Why did you tell me to do that?
Amber: Come on let's get you to a bed.
(Amber leads Ethan to a bed, Andrew notices)
Andrew: What happened? Do you know him?
Amber: Yeah, I did his physical this morning.
Ethan: I knew I should have kept my mouth shut I knew it.
Andrew: Call Avery I got this.
Amber: (Harsh tone) He's my patient and I can handle this so go page Avery yourself.
Andrew: (Surprised) …Yes ma'am.
(Andrew leaves the two of them)
Ethan: (Crying) I'm so stupid.
Amber: Ethan, who did this to you?
Ethan: Liam.
Amber: Okay and who's Liam? Is he someone from school?
Ethan: He's the one I asked out…the one I love.
(Amber keeps her cool composure in spite of this shocking information)
HALF AN HOUR LATER
(Jackson examines Ethan's face as Amber and Andrew watch)
Jackson: You nose is intact so you don't need it reconstructed, the same goes for your eye. I'm gonna put an ice pack on it to reduce the swelling.
Ethan: (Sad) Okay.
Amber: Ethan, do your parents know that you're here?
Ethan: No, they think I'm at school.
Amber: Okay, I'm gonna have to call them and tell them that you're here. I'm also gonna have to tell them what happened.
Ethan: (Scared) No please I-
Amber: Don't worry I'm just gonna tell them some punk from school decided to hit you that's it. I won't tell them how it happened I promise. That's something for you and only you to tell them.
(Ethan nods as Avery applies the ice pack. Amber leaves to call Ethan's parents)
Andrew: Man, can you imagine being 11 and already knowing who you are?
Amber: Sort of I was 13 when I started to question myself. God this poor kid, he came out, he got his heart broken and his ass kicked in one day. I want to help him but I don't know how.
Andrew: Just bond with him, let him know that it's a kinder world for people like him at his age than it was for you. If anyone can talk to him it's you. Listen to him and tell him war stories from your past, kids like Ethan are at a high risk for suicide.
Amber: Yeah, but that's only when their teenagers and I never had that problem when I first found out.
Andrew: Well, there's a difference you had to self-nurture and Ethan didn't, I think he's gonna need all the help he can get.
Amber: (Sighs) Okay, I'll try. I have to call his parents.
(Amber pulls out her phone and Andrew leaves her to it)
Amber: Mrs. Gardner? This is Dr. Karev; I was your son's doctor this morning. I called to tell you that Ethan arrived at the ER a little while ago…he's okay, he was just hit by some kid at school but he's going to be okay…no I don't know why, Ethan just said he hit him…Okay, just tell a nurse you're looking for Ethan and she'll take you to him, bye.
(Amber hangs up and heads to Ethan who holds an ice pack to his eye)
Amber: I called your mom. She and your dad are gonna try to get out of work in an hour, until then your gonna wait in the waiting room.
Ethan: (Sad) Great.
Amber: (Sympathetic) …You know what, the waiting room is boring with all the boring paintings and boring chairs so how about we wait in style? how about I show you the coolest thing in the entire world? It's right here in this hospital and only an elevator ride away.
Ethan: (Intrigued) What is it?
Amber: Come on I'll show you.
(Amber and Ethan walk out of the pit and Andrew watches her walk away)
LATER IN THE HYPERBARIC CHAMBER
(Amber and Ethan sit on the recliners inside the chamber)
Amber: What do you think? It's pretty cool right? It's like a submarine but for medicine.
Ethan: Yeah, it's pretty cool. Are we allowed to be in here?
Amber: I don't think so but my brother's the chief so I think we'll get a free pass. Just sit back and enjoy the future of medicine.
Ethan: …I asked him to go see the movies with me. I told Liam a cool doctor offered to buy me tickets to Halloween and I asked him to go with me…as my date. He spit on my face, punched me and then called me a freak. I came here because I didn't want to go to school after that plus my nose was bleeding. I'm so stupid.
Amber: No, you're not stupid okay. You told Liam how you felt and he didn't feel the same way but he should not have hit you. I know things seem bad now but a lot of kids your age are cool with it.
Ethan: But my parents…what do I tell them? What if they hate me?
Amber: (Sighs) Okay I'm gonna tell you something about myself that I never told a patient before. I like people and I don't mean I like people in general I mean that I like people romantically. I fall in love with a person for their personality not for their bodies or gender. I have dated men; I have dated women and I have dated every kind of person there is. If you name it, I dated it.
Ethan: Really?
Amber: (Nods) I wasn't that much older than you when I realized I was different from other people, I went through a situation similar to yours. I was 13 years old and I started to develop feelings for my project partner Rachel Halcon. She and I became best friends, we would have sleepovers, watch sappy rom coms, and steal her dad's beer. I…She was the first real girl that I liked romantically and I thought that she liked me too because she told me how pretty I was. There was a school dance coming up so I decided to ask her but I couldn't say it so I decided to write it. I slipped a note inside her locker declaring my feelings for her and asking her to the dance and…she gave that card to the principal who called my mom and my brother Aaron. That's how I was outed.
Ethan: What did they say?
Amber: My mom was…unwell at the time so she didn't get the call but my brother did. He picked me up that day read the card and asked me one thing, 'Do you really feel this way?' and I said yes. I expected him to kick me out and slam the door on my face but instead he hugged me and told me that that was my thing to share not Rachel's and that he was gonna look up support groups for the LGBTQ community because my catholic school didn't have one. I wish I could've had the chance to tell my family like you do because the one thing that I regret is that I didn't tell them and trust that they would love me anyway. Ethan, you have a chance to tell your parents who you are, don't waste it.
Ethan: I wish I never told Liam, then none of this would have happened.
Amber: (Scoffs) Are you kidding? I wish I was as brave as you were.
Ethan: I got beat up.
Amber: Yeah, you did after you held up your end of the deal and asked someone out while I chickened out yet again. I had a chance to tell a guy that I liked him but I didn't. I told myself that it was because he was busy but really it was because I'm a coward. I have been ever since Rachel, she messed me up so bad that I let people ask me out instead of taking chances and asking someone out. You asked Liam and that makes you a lot braver than me. Damn. You little punk.
Ethan: (Chuckles) Can we just be quiet for a while? I don't want to talk for a while.
Amber: That's fine. We can just enjoy the moon spa in silence until your parents get here.
(Amber and Ethan sit back and enjoy the peace and quiet)
THAT NIGHT IN THE PARKING LOT
(Amber exits the building and sees Andrew walking to his bike. She almost reaches him when the stranger from earlier)
Man: Hi, I'm not sure if you remember me, I was-
Amber: Yeah, I do. You're the guy I bumped into this morning. What were you doing at the hospital anyway?
Man: I was just looking for someone. Someone from my past.
Amber: Who?
Man: (Grins) You.
Amber: (Confused) Excuse me? I've never seen you until today, I think you have the wrong person.
Man: Trust me I don't. My name is Harrison Adams, I'm an attorney from New York but I think you remember me from a different name. I go by Sugardaddy8D online.
Amber: (Pales) I-I-I don't know what you're talking about. Both names mean nothing to me so unless you have actual proof that we know each other-
(Amber stops talking when Harrison pulls out his phone and shows a video of Amber in a wig and schoolgirl get up)
Amber in video: Get ready to tip up gentleman, whoever gives the most gets to choose what I do. Lets see, 50 tokens really TenInchSub? 200 tokens there's a good man Gunsandbuns. 500 tokens Sugardaddy! Okay boys going one…going twice…no? Okay then Sugardaddy what's your prize...You want me to-
(Amber becomes frustrated as she tries to grab the phone but Harrison pulls back)
Harrison: Uh-uh-uh. Not so fast Dr. Karev or should I say Goldie? You could grab my phone but I have the videos on the cloud so I can just go to my computer and post them on the internet. How would your patients feel about being treated by a woman who strips for tips online? And what about the medical board? Would that qualify for taking your license away?
Amber: What do you want? You can't arrest me I was in my 20's when I was camming and it's legal.
Harrison: I'm not looking to arrest you. I want something in return for these videos. I want a million dollars.
Amber: (Scoffs) You honestly think I have that much cash on me? Are you insane?
Harrison: Not you, your brother. The guy that owns this hospital, I'm sure he can pay up. I mean what kind of guy won't pay money so that his sister doesn't get exposed for the whore she is.
(Amber curls her fists resisting the urge to punch him)
Amber: What your doing is blackmail and last I checked it's illegal.
Harrison: Legally speaking you don't have say of what happens to the images that you sell online. So, I'm just doing what I want with the photos that you posed for willingly, and web camming hasn't officially become legal so you could face more repercussions than me. You have two weeks to get your brother to gather the money in exchange for the deletion of the videos. Here's my card.
(Amber angrily takes the card. Harrison smugly smiles and walks away)
LATER AT ALEXS OFFICE
(Alex goes through the mountain of paperwork when Jo walks in)
Jo: You're coming home.
Alex: I was in an O.R. all day. I'm behind.
Jo: So, be behind. We're newlyweds. We should be doing newlywed things.
(Alex sits at the desk with Jo following)
Alex: Mm. Like what?
Jo: Um, if you can't think of anything, then I want an annulment.
Alex: (Chuckles) Okay. Okay. I'm coming.
Jo: I heard you worked with Link today.
Alex: Yep. Seems like a pretty good guy.
(Jo grows impatient and closes Alex's laptop)
Alex: What are you doing?
(Jo hops on Alex's lap who gets the message and they both start kissing. Amber barges in panting souring the mood)
Alex: (Angry) Oh my God! What?!
(Alex calms down when he sees Amber distressed. Alex and Jo stand up)
Jo: What is it? What happened?
Amber: (Gasps) I…
Alex: What? Come on tell us.
Amber: I'm in trouble Alex and I need your help.
MEANWHILE AT JOES
(Andrew stops playing with Link and Webber and goes to Taryn and Levi's table)
Andrew: Hey guys. I just wanted to come by and tell you how sorry I am for the way I acted.
Levi: (Glum over Nico ditching him) Its fine.
Andrew: It's not fine I was an ass and I didn't act like a teacher. I don't…I don't know how to be a teacher but I'm gonna learn how to be one. Believe me the way Amber bit my head off I'm surprised you all were so patient with me.
Taryn: Don't worry about it and Amber only acted mean because that's the way kids act around someone that they like. I mean Amber hasn't had a childhood so it's just repressed childlike emotions that she never truly expressed until she was an adult.
Andrew: (Confused) What are you talking about?
Taryn: …Did-Didn't Amber tell you?
Andrew: Tell me what?
Taryn: Um never mind please forget everything I said about Amber for my sake because my life will be ended by her.
Andrew: You said that Amber acts mean like how a kids acts mean to their crush. Does Amber like me? As in like me like me.
Taryn: No that's ridi-
Levi: (Drunk and upset) Yes, she does. She told me a few weeks back when she finally realized it. She had dreams about you after the wedding when you kissed her and I tried to tell her it was because she likes you but she wouldn't listen. She finally acknowledged her feelings to me privately and so I can tell you without a doubt that she is clearly falling for you. The question is do you feel the same way?
(Andrew freezes on the spot for a moment before grabbing a beer from their table and walking back to Webber and Link)
Taryn: Why did you do that? You know she's gonna kill you slowly and painfully, right?
Levi: Trust me she will thank me later.