Chapter 9: Into the Storm
SCENE: MEREDITHS HOUSE
(Amber starts waking up in her new bed when she feels an arm wrap around her and kisses down her neck giving her goosebumps)
Andrew: (Kisses) Good morning.
Amber: (Moans) Morning, I could get used to being woken up like this. It is so nice to wake up in an actual bed and even nicer to have a sexy man in it with me.
(Andrew grins and kisses Amber for a few blissful moments before a branch hits the window causing Amber to yelp and accidently bites Andrew's lip)
Andrew: Ow!
Amber: Oh my god I am so sorry, did I bite you?
Andrew: Its okay, its not even bleeding. Jesus what is going on out there?
(Amber fully sits up on the bed checking her phone)
Amber: There's a massive windstorm today so far, it's at a category 3. Their even telling kids to stay indoors and there are…five accidents so far.
(Andrew quickly gets off the bed and puts his clothes on tossing Amber's clothes to her)
Andrew: (Grins) Come on get dressed. You don't want to miss your first windstorm.
Amber: (Hopeful) Are there gonna be tons of trauma?
Andrew: Last windstorm I scrubbed in on four different surgeries including a penetrating wound through the abdomen, it was a stop sign. So yeah, your gonna get a lot of traumas.
(Amber quickly puts her clothes on and puts her hair in a messy bun. They head downstairs where Maggie is making coffee and Zola is eating cereal)
Maggie: Look who's finally up. I was worried you were gonna sleep in today, I would've woken you up but I already have three kids at my disposal. Plus, you should have an alarm.
Zola: Hi Dr. DeLuca.
Andrew: Hey Zola, how have you been? Are you excited to have a no school day?
Zola: No, I had a math test today and now I can't make it.
Amber: Don't worry Zola you can study some more today and maybe even get yourself extra credit. I know there are lots of tests I could've done better at if I had a no school day, so take advantage of it. Okay?
Zola: Okay. Why is Dr. DeLuca here?
Amber: Oh um…He is helping me study for my practical's, I would've asked your mom or your aunts but their so busy and Andrew makes a good study buddy.
Maggie: (Grins) Uh huh I know that for a fact.
Andrew: (Clears throat) We should get going the hospital is gonna be slammed.
Zola: Are you and Amber dating?
(Amber chokes on her coffee as Andrew eyes widen)
Amber: (Clears throat) Since you asked, yes, we are dating. What gave it away?
Zola: He's been sleeping in your room for almost a week.
Andrew: What? I haven't been here a whole week.
(Amber and Maggie give him a knowing look)
Andrew: Have I? Wow, I should probably check on my place soon, there are probably rats and roaches taking up the space.
Maggie: You can do that after work now let's go. Nanny is upstairs with Bailey and Ellis, Zola you hold down the fort. I love you bye bye.
(The three of them walk out of the house with Maggie getting in her car and Amber and Andrew driving in hers)
LATER AT GREY SLOAN MEMORIAL
(Amber and Andrew meet up at the nurse's station)
Amber: You promised me trauma, I see no trauma so far.
Andrew: Its still early okay. Just hang in there and don't get twitchy.
Amber: I'm not twitchy…okay I'm a little bit twitchy. While were waiting maybe we can actually talk to each other.
Andrew: What are you talking about? We talk. We talk before and after sex. We talk all night.
Amber: We talk about how our day at work went or some trivial nonsense. We don't actually talk about each other.
Andrew: Where is this coming from?
Amber: You've been sleeping at my place for a week and I know nothing about you and yet you know everything about me. Does that seem right to you?
Andrew: You know me. You know I'm from Italy, I have a sister and that I like barbeque what more is there to know?
Amber: Those are just little things; you know all the little things and big things about me like my horrific childhood.
Andrew: In my defense you didn't tell me and anyone else about your mom and brother. Would you have told me when we're this far in our relationship? Have you told anyone you've been in a relationship with?
Amber: …No but that's not the point. The point is I feel all exposed here while you still have your armor on. Just give me something to go on, what are your parents like?
Andrew: (Exhales) You know we could just roll with it and see what happens later. I mean that's what people in relationships do, they try to keep an open mind.
(Both of their phone's beep)
Amber: Massive traumas in the pit Bailey needs me. Great timing.
Andrew: Hey you're the one who wanted traumas. I have to go check on Cece let me know if your catch anything good downstairs. Oh, and take pictures.
(Andrew leaves the station. Amber sighs before heading to the pit where she finds Bailey leading Dahlia, Levi, and Taryn as well. Bailey talks to someone on the phone)
Bailey: Karev you can't come in okay; the roads are closed. It'll be at least three hours until their open.
Amber: Is that Alex and Jo? Where are they? Are they okay?
Bailey: Their fine, the storm knocked their power including their alarms and they slept in. I'm telling them to stay inside. (To Alex) No Karev I was talking to Amber. No, no, no, Karev. Stay there until it's safe. We'll figure something out. We always do.
(Bailey hangs up as Owen comes to them)
Owen: Okay, we got burns, car-wreck injuries, and flying debris has given us a ton of blunt injuries and several penetrating traumas.
Bailey: (Chuckles) Windstorms are my favorite. Yeah, your gonna love this.
(They enter the pit filled with people mildly to seriously injured including a girl with a selfie stick through her brain, a man with a candy cane across his body and woman impaled with shards of glass. Amber smiles gleefully at the scene)
Levi: (Stunned) We're supposed to love this?
Amber: (Smiles) Oh yeah!
Dahlia: (Chuckling) Oh, ho, ho.
Taryn: (Smiling) Impalement-palooza.
Owen: Bailey, I don't think we have room to treat all these patients, and Seattle Pres is already closed to trauma.
(The chaos in the ER continues causing Bailey to stand on a chair)
Bailey: Hey! Uh, hello! Everyone-Hey, be quiet!
(The talking stops and silence fill the pit)
Bailey: Listen up. We will move all stable patients upstairs to clear beds. We will stock disaster supplies on all floors. And we will notify the blood bank to have extra units on standby. We are staying open for trauma but sheltering in place. This is a brick house, and no amount of huffing and puffing can blow us down.
(A few people applause in encouragement)
Bailey: (Chuckles) Yeah, I still got it. You need something to do come on.
(The interns follow Bailey)
Bailey: Alright. She-Karev, you go to Trauma 1 with Avery on the man with the candy cane, Schmitt go to Trauma 2 with Shepherd, Qudri you're with Pierce and Link in bed 4 and Helm you're on the clinic with Kim to clear the patients. Go!
(Amber enters the trauma in her gown shocked at the scene)
Amber: Sweet Christmas.
Jackson: Luke Cage fan? So am I. Go find Pierce we need a cardio consult on this.
Amber: Pierce is busy with the glass lady and all our other cardio attendings have traumas of their own.
Jackson: Damn it! Okay let me think um-
Teddy: I'm here where do you need me?
Jackson: Altman? Your still in town?
Teddy: Yeah, I never left I couldn't just sit in my hotel room so I decided to come down here. I'm gonna check for pneumothorax, Karev get a chest x ray in here
Amber: Got it.
(Amber walks to radiology running into Andrew)
Andrew: Hey how's it going downstair?
Amber: (Chuckles) It's like candy land but for surgeries. I've got this guy with a candy cane across his body the ones you use for decoration. He looks like he came from the North Pole. I love windstorms!
Andrew: (Grins) I'm happy for you, I almost wish I was down there,
(Amber stands in the hall looking at Andrew who notices)
Andrew: What?
Amber: Just give me a little something. What are your grandparents' names? Where do your parents live?
Andrew: I don't have any grandparents. Does that satisfy you?
Amber: No, I'm still not convinced you don't have some sick secret that you don't want me or anyone to know about. What is it? Do you have a fascination for torture porn? Did you use to kill dogs as a kid and that's why you became a doctor? Were you switched at birth?
Andrew: Lighten up. I've heard that not stressing over silly things increases your lifespan, why don't you test it and see if it's true?
Amber: (Scoffs) I have to get a chest x ray, I'll let you know how it goes.
TWENTY MINUTES LATER
(After getting the chest x ray Amber, Owen, Teddy and Jackson work on Louie while his wife rants to him)
Veronica: Do you see yourself? I told you not to go outside in that mess!
Louie: Do you see me? How about some sympathy? And stop shouting! Nobody can hear themselves think with you in here. Can someone please check my ears for years of damage?
Jackson: So, you two are married, then.
Owen: Decreased breath sounds on the right.
Teddy: He's got a small pneumo.
Louie: (Coughs) We were having a fight.
Veronica: Which he started.
Louie: So, I went outside to get away from her.
Veronica: Which is all he ever does.
Louie: And I slammed the front door on her perfectly. Rivaled the Great Door Slam of 1987. And then someone's (Coughs) mailbox slammed into our sycamore. But I couldn't undo that door slam, so (Coughs) I took a walk.
Veronica: Like an idiot.
Amber: (Whispering to Teddy) Such a lovely couple.
Owen: I can't tell if there's a pericardial effusion.
Jackson: I'm getting a pulse in the neck, but I'm worried about an underlying injury.
Louie: So, I'm standing in front of the Hoffmans' house when their stupid Christmas decorations caught the wind, and ta-da! I should be in Santa's workshop.
Amber: (Chuckles) Right?
Teddy: It isn't even Thanksgiving.
Veronica: It's enraging. I wrote a letter to the neighborhood association. I write one every year.
Teddy: Oh, thank God. Owen.
(Owen turns around to see Betty being examined by Amelia)
Owen: (Sighs) You two got this?
Teddy: Yeah.
(Owen leaves the trauma room)
Teddy: Karev get an OR prepped we'll be right behind you.
Amber: On it.
(Amber leaves to book and prep and OR)
MEANWHILE IN THE ICU
(Andrew performs the pleurocentesis on Cece)
Andrew: You're doing good Cece, your just gonna feel a little-
Cece: I have had two hearts Dr. DeLuca I know how this feels so you don't need to tell me.
Andrew: Got it. Just lean forward.
(Cece leans forward and Andrew inserts the syringe on her back)
Cece: While you do that maybe you can tell me a little something about yourself. I know plenty of women who go for tall, dark Italians such as yourself. A guideline would be good.
Andrew: (Chuckles) I appreciate it but I'm actually seeing someone now. She works at this hospital.
Cece: Oh, who is the lucky lady?
Andrew: You actually met her when you first came in. Her name is Amber Karev I don't know if-
Cece: Oh! The pretty young blonde, I definitely remember her. I got a bit of a queer vibe when I met her, is that right?
Andrew: Yes, she is pan.
Cece: If only I was 30 years younger. I was a real catch back then.
Andrew: Hey you still are.
Cece: Down boy. How's it going with Dr. Karev?
Andrew: Uh it's still early. I mean we only went on one date and we've been sleeping together for a week but it's good so far.
Cece: But? I sense a but somewhere.
Andrew: (Sighs) But she keeps asking about my personal life even though I ask her not to. I mean we've only been seeing each other for a week, its not exactly the right time to go deep into our life stories. I know that she would feel the same if the roles were reverse especially with her story and her story is a study for shrinks.
Cece: Is your story worse than hers? Is that why you don't want to share with her?
Andrew: (Scoffs) It's my story and I shouldn't have to be forced to tell it to someone I don't really know.
Cece: So, you don't trust her then?
Andrew: No! Its not that it's just…complicated.
Cece: Its only complicated because you let it be.
Andrew: Alright I'm all done here. I'll be back to check on you in a while Cece.
(Andrew promptly leaves the room)
LATER IN THE OR
(Amber helps Teddy with the chest while Jackson works on the neck and Owen saws on the end of the rod)
Owen: Okay, ready? Here we go.
Jackson: All right, keep going. There's no injury to the jugular so far.
Teddy: Suction here Karev. Are you even pulling on it?
Owen: Listen, slow and steady. I don't want him to bleed out.
Jackson: We're buying him some time away from his wife. We might be doing him a favor.
Amber: (Chuckles) Is that normal? Can you two tell me that marriage is normally that disastrous?
Jackson: Why are you asking us?
Amber: Both of you are divorced.
Owen: (Amused) Do you really want to compare our marriages with that spectacle in the pit and the floor?
Amber: Your right just forget I asked. I guess I'm just questioning relationships and…maybe mine a little bit.
Jackson: Oh, I didn't know you were seeing someone. Is it someone we know?
Amber: Um no. We just started dating and every time I ask him about himself or more specifically his life, he just shuts me down. I don't know it just seems weird to me.
Owen: Why is it weird?
Amber: I mean what if its bad? Like he grew up in a Tom Cruise type cult or what if he fat shamed girls on social media?
Teddy: Does he seem like a cult or fat shaming kind?
Amber: Not in the least but still he should want to tell me stuff when I ask him especially since he knows very intimate details about me. I just…I just want this to work, do you think I'm overthinking this?
Jackson: No. I mean its normal to want to be more open in a relationship and know the person you're with more. I mean what kind of relationship is it if you don't talk about what you're feeling or what's going on in your life?
Teddy: Well, I personally think that there are things that people want to keep to themselves and they should be respected for that. I mean it doesn't mean they don't care about the other person its just that they want to be able to tell when they can and how they can without anyone's judgement.
(A moment passes)
Amber: Great advice from both of you. So, are we gonna take this thing out or…?
Teddy: Yeah, let's just focus on the candy cane.
Jackson: Great idea.
Owen: (Chuckles) So, did something happen, something bad?
Teddy: Not now.
Jackson: Carotids intact.
Owen: (Sighs) Listen, if you're sick or something, you should just-
Teddy: Owen.
Owen: Wait. Is this, whatever this is, why you came back to Seattle in the first place? Why didn't you talk to me before now?
Teddy: Well, 'cause I didn't want anyone to…bleed out.
(Amber and Jackson look at each other awkwardly)
Owen: Oh, so it's definitely bad.
Teddy: Can we just focus on the surgery?
Jackson: Great. My field's clear.
(The four of them continue to work in awkward silence until they get the cane out)
Amber: Wow, someone should make a trophy case for that.
Jackson: They really should.
Owen: Okay. Grazed the liver, missed the colon. I don't see any damage to the spleen.
Jackson: How's the heart?
Teddy: Well, the cane passed anterior to the pericardium. There's only a small hole in the diaphragm, and it missed the heart completely.
Owen: Yeah, and the bowel only has a few serosal tears. Irrigation?
Teddy: Yeah, I can't believe it. He's completely unscathed.
Jackson: Honestly, I'm kind of disappointed.
Amber: You and me both.
Owen: (Chuckles)
Teddy: Owen.
Owen: Hmm?
Teddy: I'm pregnant. With your baby. I'm sorry I waited so long.
(Ambers eyes widen in shock as well as Jackson)
Nurse: Dr. Altman, they're asking for you in the E.R. Another cardiac case.
Teddy: Yeah. Karev are you good to close?
Amber: Um yeah.
(Amber takes over for Teddy who leaves the three in an awkward moment)
Jackson: Congratulations?
(They close Louie and wheel him out of the OR)
Amber: So that wasn't awkward at all.
Owen: Not now Karev.
Jackson: You know, for what it's worth, I was the last one to find out about Harriet, and she's the best thing that ever happened to me.
Owen: Could you-Uh, do you mind talking to...?
Jackson: Go ahead. Go. I'll talk to his wife.
(Owen leaves the floor)
Amber: I should head down too, their probably still slammed.
(Amber leaves the floor)
MEANWHILE IN THE ICU
(Meredith explains to Cece that they found organs for her)
Cece: So I can get my transplants today?
Meredith: Yeah, there's a few more tests that Dr. Pierce has to run, but if they check out, yes.
Cece: Who's the donor? Do they have family?
Meredith: All I can say is that it was someone who was hurt in the storm.
Taryn: And the storm's gotten so bad that UNOS can't physically send the organs anywhere else.
Cece: So they're giving them to me? Why the face?
Andrew: You weren't the next person on the list, Cece. You were nowhere near the top because your body's been through so much damage, and with procedures like these, you're at risk for catastrophic bleeding. You'll be under anesthesia for hours, which can only increase the possibility that you'll clot or have a stroke. There's a chance it won't work. There's a chance you might not make it off Dr. Grey's table.
Cece: You know aside from being closed off to your girlfriend you're not so bad.
Meredith: He's right. You don't have to accept the organs. We are taking a huge risk.
Cece: If I die today, I die fighting. I'll die knowing I did everything I could, but, Dr. Grey, if you don't fight, if you don't try, if you don't do your part and squeeze all the light and love and joy you can out of this one life you've been given, I'm gonna haunt you from my grave.
Meredith: Okay.
Cece: Okay. Now give me those organs. Because I'd much rather haunt you from above ground.
Meredith: I will see you upstairs, Cece.
(They leave the room)
Meredith: (To Andrew) Okay, so, let's recheck her potassium and correct her coagulopathy, okay?
(Andrew leaves to do as instructed)
LATER IN THE SUPPLY CLOSET
(Amber gets more fluids as Andrew enters to get fluids as well)
Andrew: Hey how did the guy with the candy cane go?
Amber: Surprisingly uneventful. The cane missed all the vital organs we could've pulled it out in the first place and nothing would happen. Great first windstorm so far. The only juicy thing to come from that OR is Dr. Altman telling Dr. Hunt that she's carrying his baby.
Andrew: (Shocked) What? Teddy's pregnant?
Amber: Yep, and she told him right after we pulled the cane out and left so that was super awkward. Plus, I was expecting a cool surgery but I basically pulled a splinter out so there's that.
Andrew: (Chuckles) Don't worry its Seattle there's always the next windstorm. Maybe I have something to make you feel better. We found organs for Cece we're gonna do the transplants in a bit. If you want, I can get you a front row seat while we give a woman a heart and kidney.
Amber: Won't that look trampy? Like I slept my way to cool surgeries?
Andrew: We'll they don't have to see it that way. I mean I'm a senior resident and you're an intern it's not like I have a lot of power here. Just be in the room, I feel like I haven't seen you all day come on.
Amber: (Sigh) Are you trying to distract me with surgeries so I don't ask you anymore questions?
Andrew: What? No…maybe…yes. Amber I just don't get why your so interested in my origin story. Why are you? What's the worst thing that can happen if you wait for me to tell you?
Amber: …I really want to trust you Andrew I want to believe that this is something real-
Andrew: It is real. (Grabs her hands) Amber this is real and I want this to work as badly as you do it's just…
Amber: What? Andrew what could be so bad that you think I can't handle it? I was raised by my brother because our mother couldn't be due to having schizophrenia and then my other brother stabbed me because he inherited that same illness. Trust me I am the very last person to judge.
Andrew: I know you are but there are things in my life I want to keep to myself. Can you try to understand that? Please?
Amber: (Sighs) Fine. You said you can get me in Cece's surgery?
Andrew: Yeah, I'll talk to Dr. Grey see if you can lend an extra hand. I'll let you know when it starts.
(Andrew legs go of Amber's hands as he leaves. Amber grabs the fluids and heads downstairs)
LATER IN THE PIT
(Amber finishes stitching up a head lac when she gets a page to Cece's surgery causing her to smile)
Amber: (To Casey) Hey can you take over for me? I have a surgery to scrub in.
Casey: Yeah I got it go.
Amber: Thanks.
(Amber runs to the elevator and the doors are about to close when Andrew pushes the button and runs inside)
Andrew: Hey.
Amber: Hey. Thanks for getting me in I'm sure that Dr. Grey had questions why.
Andrew: Uh not really, I just told her we needed extra hands and that you were free. She agreed with it.
Amber: Where is Dr. Grey?
Andrew: She's with Dr. Pierce in the OR their prepping Cece now.
(The elevator suddenly stops and the lights go out)
Amber: What was that?
Andrew: I-I-I don't know.
(Andrew presses on the call button but no response)
Andrew: The storm knocked the power out, we're stuck.
Amber: (Eyes wide) Stuck? As in Devil stuck? Oh god.
(Amber pushes the buttons as hard and fast as she can)
Amber: (Panting) It's not working, why is it not working?
Andrew: I don't know just stay calm okay. I'm sure the generators will kick in any second.
Amber: I cannot be in here okay. I get really claustrophobic.
Andrew: You do?
Amber: Yes, I have been since I was a kid. I would hide in a closet when my mom would go bat shit crazy and my brothers weren't around. Being stuck in small spaces bring those horrible memories back!
(Amber's breathing starts to get rapid causing her to bang on the elevator doors)
Amber: Help! Somebody help us! Can someone get us out of here help!
Andrew: Amber they're not gonna hear you through the doors, it's made of steel and we might be in between floors right now.
(The lights turn back on)
Andrew: There, the generators kicked in and the lights are on.
Amber: (Panicking) But why aren't we moving? If the powers on then why isn't this elevator moving? Oh god we're gonna die in here. We're either gonna starve or eat each other.
(Amber hyperventilates. Andrew thinks for a moment before grabbing her face gently)
Andrew: Its gonna be okay alright just breathe in and out can you do that?
Amber: (Shakes her head as her breathing gets more rapid)
Andrew: Okay um…close your eyes okay just close them.
(Amber closes her eyes)
Andrew: Now try and think of a place that makes you happy and calm and tell me about it, can you do that?
Amber: (Nods) Um I'm 14 and with my brother Aaron, we're at Kirn Park we're sitting on the benches drinking hot coffee while the fireworks go out. It's New Years Eve and it starts to snow.
Andrew: You're not here you're there.
(Amber's breathing decreases as she imagines herself in the park)
Andrew: Better?
Amber: (Opens eyes) Yeah, just keep me talking ask me something else.
Andrew: Okay um…do you miss New York?
Amber: (Chuckles) Not even a little bit, although I do miss the shows those were fun to watch. Have you ever been?
Andrew: Yeah, I went there once during winter break with Sam, she wanted to see New York during Christmas. Its was okay but I think it would've been better if they cleaned it up a bit.
Amber: (Chuckles) Yeah NYC isn't best at cleaning up. What did you guys do while you were there?
Andrew: We just went to see The Lion King on Broadway and we went ice skating in Central Park. We cut our trip short when a man flashed us on the subway, his penis was just drooping and Sam immediately took us off the next stop.
Amber: Yeah, I've had my share of flashers too and guys who not so discretely looked at me while jerking off. I've gotten used to it so much that a normal ride in a train or bus freaks me out.
Andrew: Still, it's a nice change of pace. If you could go somewhere beside New York where would you go to med school?
Amber: Well, I planned to go to Iowa med but then my professor recommended that I apply for the NYU scholarship and I thought 'what the hell, people might take me seriously if I went to a med school that's labeled private' You went to Harvard you should know where I'm coming from.
Andrew: I do and yet despite coming straight from the top ten schools we still get looked down on by people who also went to those schools. That's the curse of being an intern, I guess.
Amber: You don't have to tell me. Do you think they already started without us? If so then I'm gonna be hella pissed.
Andrew: I think they can survive without us, its just a transplant surgery you'll get another one.
Amber: It's a heart and kidney transplant on the same patient, do you know how rare those are? I officially hate windstorms.
Andrew: Okay let me see if I can get us out.
(Andrew climbs on the handles and hangs onto the ceiling)
Amber: What are you doing?
Andrew: Well, under this light fixture, there should be a trap door somewhere.
Amber: No! Get down from there before you-
(Andrew slips causing Amber to jump to grab him but he steadies himself)
Amber: Fall. Don't do some Mission Impossible crap and climb up an elevator shaft. You could fall and be splattered on the first floor or the elevator could suddenly work and you get grinded up against the wall leaving nothing but a bloody trail along the way.
(Andrew climbs down)
Andrew: You're the one who wants to get out so badly.
Amber: Well not that badly. What do we do?
Andrew: We wait until the elevators start working. In the meantime, we can keep talking.
MEANWHILE IN THE OR
(Maggie enters the OR where Meredith and Dahlia tend to Cece while they wait for the organs)
Maggie: Cece, what's going on?
Dahlia: Her pressure keeps dropping. We started her on pressors again.
Cece: My old heart is jealous of my new one. It seems to want to quit on me.
Maggie: Well, then, we're just in time. Titrate the drip to keep her MAPs above 50.
Meredith: Qadri, go to OR 2 and see how Dr. Bailey's doing on the procurement. I need to know how far out we are.
Dahlia: Got it.
(Dahlia runs to the OR which is completely empty)
BACK AT THE ELEVATOR
(Amber and Andrew sit on the floor as they talk back and forth)
Andrew: Who would you say is your closest friend here?
Amber: Hmm definitely Levi. Jo is second and not just because she is my sister.
(Andrew smirks)
Amber: What? Are you making fun of me because I consider my sister my close friend? Because that's hypocritical since you also have a sister who works here.
Andrew: No, its not that it's just…I don't really see how you can become friends with a guy like Schmitt. You two together just doesn't seem possible considering your complete opposites. I mean how did that happen?
Amber: (Sighs) Well my second day of my hell days I went to get some food at the cafeteria when everybody was looking at me and whispering and I just…I couldn't be there so I left. I went to a supply closet to be alone and cry my eyes out when Levi walks in, he took pity on me and gave me one of his sandwiches. He talked to me when nobody in that hospital did and I felt like I wasn't alone. He actually said he was sorry that I had to go through that stuff and that I was a strong person to go through it.
Andrew: Wow I'm actually kind of impressed with the guy he looks like a baby but maybe there's a mature guy in there.
Amber: Yeah, I thought the same. Did you have friends like that as an intern?
Andrew: Um no I didn't have any intern friends my first year, they all just kind of ignored me because they thought I posed as an attending on purpose my first day.
Amber: What? You posed as an attending?
Andrew: No, I didn't. My first day I was late and rushed over to the hospital when I saw a massive accident on the highway. A tunnel collapsed on 99 trapping dozens of vehicles, I stopped and decided to help out. I was on my way in a rig to the hospital with a woman in active labor presenting with neck pain, I guess I handled it so well that they thought I was an attending but never said anything. One of the interns accidentally dislocated the neck and Dr. Edwards wanted me to stabilize but I told her in front of the others that I was just an intern. After that no one talked to me and spread all these rumors about me that weren't true I felt exactly how you felt that day.
Amber: …Yeah people suck.
Andrew: (Chuckles) Not all people.
Amber: How did you handle it so well? I mean my first day here I almost threw up draining dozens of abscesses and you were accidentally mistaken for an attending? How did that happen?
Andrew: Well, I was an EMT straight out of high school, I worked as a first responder for four years before deciding to become a doctor. I went to college and then med school after that, when I saw the accident, I just ran out and the rest was like riding a bike.
Amber: You were an EMT? I guess I had to know based on…never mind.
Andrew: What? Based on what?
Amber: (Sighs) Based on your body. Most of the doctors here are just average and you are way beyond average so it makes sense since first responders are supposed to look like male models.
Andrew: (Chuckling) I'm glad you think I look like a model; it takes one to know one.
Amber: (Scoffs) Please.
Andrew: I'm serious, you don't just have a nice body you have a nice…everything. If we met at a bar, I would approach you without a second thought. Those girls that bullied you only did it because they were jealous, you're beautiful don't think yourself otherwise.
Amber: (Blushes and sighs) What do you thinks going on out there? Do you think its as quiet as it is in here?
Andrew: Maybe.
MEANWHILE IN THE STAIRS
(Meredith and Dahlia regroup after trying to find Bailey with the donor organs)
Meredith: The elevators aren't moving; Dr. Bailey is most likely in there with the organs.
(They run into Jackson who leaves a voicemail to his mom)
Meredith: Jackson have you seen Bailey?
Dahlia: Do you know where Dr. Bailey is?!
Jackson: Whoa Qadri, Grey, what is going on?
Dahlia: Dr. Bailey is in an elevator.
Jackson: You just asked me where she is.
Meredith: Cece Colvin's on the table for a transplant. Dr. Bailey is stuck in an elevator with the donor organs. Dr. Pierce wants us to find them, but we don't know which elevator their stuck in and which floor they are.
Jed: Coming through.
Jackson: Hey! The elevators, I need you to open them up.
Jed: I can't. The elevators are down.
Jackson: I know that.
Jed: They're computerized, okay? So they need a while to reset. They'll be back up eventually.
Meredith: We don't have till "eventually." He's asking you how they get opened.
Jed: Well, I'd call the elevator guy, but he's not coming. You know, there's a hell of a storm out there.
Jackson: Yes, I r-Is there anything by chance that you know that I don't?
Jed: Oh! (Chuckles) Okay, Doctor. No, I don't know. Can you tell me how many ground fault circuit interrupters it takes to keep you from getting fried every time you reach for a defibrillator? No, you can't. You just pick it up and say, "Clear!" and somehow, you're a hero.
(Meredith rolls her eyes and leaves the stairs with Dahlia and Jackson)
Jed: 'Cause doctors are so cool.
LATER IN THE ELEVATOR
(Amber and Andrew continue to talk)
Amber: What part of Italy are you from?
Andrew: I was born in Rome along with my sister, our parents raised us there until they got divorced. My mom couldn't be in the same place as my dad and so Carina stayed back with my father, and I moved out here with my mom. I was 8 at the time.
Amber: Why did your mom leave?
Andrew: I-My dad is, uh was a pretty famous surgeon back in Italy.
Amber: (Grins) Oh, well I don't know anything about being in your surgeon relative's shadow.
Andrew: (Chuckles) You wouldn't. Your brother got to be the chief. My dad got...acquittals…I've never really told anyone about him.
Amber: Nobody? Not even Sam?
Andrew: No one, its…it's a really sore subject for me.
Amber: Well…you can tell me if you want to.
Andrew: I don't think that I do.
Amber: No, I just mean that…I just meant that you could if you wanted to and it wouldn't leave this room. Because I don't think we're ever leaving this room.
(They both laugh and silence fills the elevator as Amber looks at Andrew with sympathetic eyes making him feel safe enough to talk about it)
Andrew: My father has a mental illness. Carina thinks its bipolar 1 but we don't really know since he never actually went to a doctor to get a diagnosis. In a manic phase he operated on seven patients. He took no breaks, no food and no sleep…four people died because of him. But he had enough money and connections to get away with it but my mom couldn't be with him after that.
(Amber feels sympathy for Andrew's pain and holds his hand in comfort)
Andrew: But he's also the man who took me on the back of his motorbike and taught me how to kick a soccer ball, taught me the names of the stars. So, it's complicated. There I told somebody.
Amber: (Sighs) I get that. My mom had one good year when I was a kid, she would play hide and seek with me in the library stacks and go to my ballet recitals. For a year I felt like I had a mom…until I didn't so, I get it.
Andrew: (Eyes furrow) You took ballet? How did I not know this until now?
Amber: (Glares at Andrew) That's the only thing you got from my heartwarming confession? Are you seriously that much of a guy?
Andrew: (Chuckles) No, I got the rest its just the ballet thing that caught my attention more. Do you still dance?
Amber: (Laughs) No I quit after that year traded it for volleyball in high school. It was for the best I was never a girly girl I was always a tomboy and so were the others in my team. Also, my ballet teacher was a stone-cold bitch.
Andrew: (Chuckles) What position were you?
Amber: Outside hitter.
Andrew: (Chuckles) I figured after seeing the way you messed up Harrison's nose and groin.
Amber: Oh yeah, my teammates called me AK 47. I hit hard and without mercy.
Andrew: (Grins) You do not need to tell me that.
Amber: (Clears throat) All this talking is making me thirsty.
Andrew: Do you want to stop?
Amber: No, I need something to distract me but I also don't want to dehydrate so…I don't know any ideas?
Andrew: (Puckers lips) Maybe just one.
(Andrew communicates his idea through his eyes, Amber knows what he's saying)
Amber: Are you that desperate to make your wet dream a reality?
Andrew: (Defends himself) Hey you're the one who dreamed of us having sex first.
Amber: No! I dreamed of us in the suburbs playing happy married couple my dreams were PG-13 at most.
Andrew: From what I've heard about this place, this elevator has seen some pretty R-rated scenes from other doctors.
Amber: (Chuckles) No definitely not. The doors could open and we could become exhibitionists. I'm adventurous but I prefer to keep it in the bedroom Christian Grey.
Andrew: Okay then we'll just sit here in silence.
(They both sit in silence for a few moments with the sexual tension between them until Amber snaps)
Amber: I won't tell if you won't.
Andrew: Deal.
(They start to kiss on the floor until Andrew lifts Amber by her legs and pushes her against the wall)
Andrew: Are we really doing this?
Amber: It was your idea no backing out now.
(They pause making out to take their clothes off and continue)
LATER ON THE FOURTH FLOOR
(Meredith, Jackson, and Dahlia run in front another elevator door)
Jackson: Hello? Hello?
Meredith: Hello? Bailey?
Jackson: Anybody there?
Link: You good?
Jackson: Shh. Hello? Hey!
(They hear light screaming from inside)
Dahlia: They're in here!
Meredith: There are transplant organs trapped in this elevator. Give us a hand. Let's get this open.
(All four struggle to open it until Jed comes furious)
Jed: Whoa, hey, hey! What do you guys think you're doing?
Link: Trying to get this open.
Jed: No, no, no. You can't access a stalled elevator car. Someone can get killed.
Meredith: If we don't, someone will get killed.
Jackson: How the hell do we open this thing?
(Link takes apart an IV pole)
Link: Look out.
Jed: Don't do that. No. No, no, no, no!
(Link stabs a hole in the steel door and pulls on it)
Jed: Aw, come on! Can you see that? You guys just do whatever you want. You got no respect for the facility.
Meredith: Listen to me you idiot! You want to be a hero? You want to save lives? There's a woman whose life depends on you getting that door open for us right now. I can't do that but you can. You're gonna help me do it. We're gonna get Cece her organs, or I will see to it that your fired.
Jed: Whoa, hold on a second. Cece the-the matchmaker lady, Cece?
Meredith: Yes
Jed: Oh, she I-I was in her room for just like 15 minutes once fixing her TV, and she sized me up and introduced me to a nurse down in critical care. We've been together ever since. She changed my life, that lady. She, uh, put, uh, joy in my life. Pardon me. May I borrow this?
(Jed grabs the pole and hits the door screaming)
Link: That guy has joy in his life? Or maybe her name is Joy?
Jed: It's not coming.
Jackson: Watch out.
(Jackson grabs the lower part of the pole and hits the door)
Link: There we go.
Meredith: Come on! You got this.
Dahlia: You got this! That's it!
(Jed opens the door as Alex sees what's happening)
Alex: It's like "Lord of the friggin' Flies" in here. What happened?
Meredith: Bailey's in there with donor organs.
Jed: They're for Cece.
(They open the second door showing Bailey and Taryn with the donor)
Bailey: Karev. Welcome.
BACK AT THE ELEVATOR
(Andrew and Amber put their clothes on laughing)
Amber: I cannot believe we just did that here. I'm starting to think your becoming a bad influence on me.
Andrew: (Chuckles) Hey I gave you an option and you took it without guilt and so did I. At least the door didn't open at all, can you imagine?
Amber: Oh god I think I would die right there. Speaking of which when is it gonna open? It's been three hours.
Andrew: I don't know I mean its kind of nice in here just the two of us in an intimate space away from everyone else. I think I might want to live here with you forever, what do you think?
Amber: (Laughs) What would we eat or drink? We'd need that to continue what we just did and lots of it.
Andrew: (Chuckles) …Are you gonna tell anyone about what I just told you? About my dad?
Amber: No of course not. I don't want what happened to me to happen to you, I promise what happens in the elevator stays in the elevator.
Andrew: (Grins) Thanks.
Amber: You know in a way I'm kind of relieved that you told me because it makes me think your less perfect now.
Andrew: (Confused) Um, okay?
Amber: No, I just meant that…this past week you have been great just the perfect guy and it made me feel insecure because I am way less than perfect. My mind wanders if you'll realize that and then run for the hills. I think knowing that your at least half as messed up as I am gives me hope that this can work. Does that make sense?
Andrew: I think so its like two halves making a whole or two screwed up jigsaw puzzles making a whole. You don't have to worry about me running from you and not just because were currently stuck in an elevator with nowhere to run. I care about you Amber and I don't want to hurt you, what do I have to do to show you that?
Amber: (Prowls toward him) Well…since the elevators aren't opening anytime soon. I suppose you could show me how much you want me with round 2.
Andrew: (Grins) I mean technically it would be round 4 but-
(The elevator doors open shocking them for a moment before they both run out to Cece's OR where Maggie tries resuscitating Cece)
Andrew: What happened?
Maggie: She went into fib. Dr. Bailey is stuck in the elevator with the donor organs and we can't put her on bypass until we have said organs.
Amber: We were stuck in the elevator too but it started working their probably headed to an OR now.
Maggie: Alright both of you scrub we need to keep Cece steady until her organs come.
(Both of them enter the scrub room)
Amber: And here I thought I was gonna miss it. Do you think there's still a chance?
Andrew: I hope so, scrub fast.
(Meredith enters the room)
Meredith: Bailey's already started the procurement what did I miss?
Andrew: She was in fib Maggie brought her back but she needs those organs fast.
Meredith: Then we'll give them to her scrub fast you two.
(They both scrub furiously and gown up)
Meredith: How's she doing?
Maggie: Not good. We've shocked her twice but we can't put her on bypass until we have organs.
Andrew: Bailey's already started.
Maggie: Scalpel.
(Maggie cuts into Cece while Amber wipes the blood coming)
TWO HOURS LATER
(Maggie removes Cece's damaged heart just as Taryn enters with the donor heart. Meredith gives the heart to Maggie who puts it in the field)
Maggie: 4-0 prolene.
Meredith: I'll follow.
(They work to complete the transplant while Amber, Andrew, Dahlia and Taryn observe. A little while later they successfully put in the heart in)
Maggie: All right. You good?
Meredith: All good here.
Maggie: Good here. Let's take her off bypass.
(They turn the machine off and anxiously wait for the heart to beat. Andrew looks at Amber who exhales as the monitor beeps)
Meredith: We got a heartbeat.
Maggie: (Exhales) Its beating on its own.
(They laugh in happiness)
Meredith: Thank God. She told me she would haunt me. Okay let's give her a kidney. DeLuca.
(They leave the field to get the kidney out of the cooler and examine it)
Meredith: Renal vein looks good.
Andrew: Yeah. Good length on the ureter.
(The monitor suddenly beeps rapidly)
Meredith: What is it?
Maggie: Her rhythm is deteriorating. She's bradying down. Push a mg of epi. Helm, what is her lactic acid and base deficit?
Taryn: Minus 12, and her lactate is 6.
Amber: She was just fine a second ago.
Meredith: What is it?
Maggie: It could be metabolite washout; it could be anything. Let's go back on bypass. I'm gonna massage her heart. Let's give her a kickstart. Let's put her on an epicardial pacemaker.
(Maggie starts massaging the heart as they anxiously watch. Maggie massages the heart for five minutes with no response)
Maggie: No pulse. Give me another epi.
Andrew: Should we start bypass?
Maggie: No. Paddles. Charge to 20. Clear.
(A thump follows but the monitor still beeps rapidly)
Meredith: Come on, Cece.
Taryn: Please.
Maggie: Charge to 30. Clear.
(The monitor still beeps)
Taryn: Please.
Maggie: Again.
Meredith: Please.
(Thump)
CUT TO BLACK
LATER IN THE SCRUB ROOM
(Amber and Dahlia comfort Taryn as she cries over Cece's death while Meredith closes her up in the OR)
Amber: (To Dahlia) Are you good here? I have to…
Dahlia: Go I got this.
Amber: Thanks. I'm sorry.
(Amber leaves the scrub room and sees Andrew sitting on a gurney)
Amber: I'm so sorry.
Andrew: It's okay I just…really liked her that's all.
Amber: I know, we all did.
(Amber sits on the gurney with Andrew and puts her head on his shoulder)
Amber: (Sighs) What a day huh?
Andrew: You said it. I don't even want to go home I don't have the energy. I might just fall asleep here in the hallway.
Amber: Do you want some company?
(They both chuckle and spend a few moments there until Amber stands up and helps Andrew up)
Amber: Come on, I'll drive.
Andrew: (Groans) That sounds good. What do you want to do?
Amber: I propose pizza and sex, or sex and pizza or pizza during sex. Any of those options is good for me as long as I get pizza…and have sex with you of course. But seriously I'm starving and want to get pizza first.
Andrew: (Chuckles) Same. My place then where there aren't kids that can steal the pizza, deal?
Amber: Deal.
(Amber and Andrew walk side by side as they get ready to end the day)