Chapter 15: Meet the Parents
SCENE: CARDIO FLOOR
(Amber sits in the lounge going over Maggie's post ops when Andrew walks in holding two coffees)
Andrew: Hey you. Pierce says that your gonna head to peds after her post ops.
Amber: Yeah, Alex is busy so me and Sam are gonna handle his physicals today.
Andrew: You're on peds with Sam? Did Alex arrange this or…?
(Andrew hands her a coffee)
Amber: Uh he said he didn't have to if I didn't want to but things are good with us especially since she's with Casey now so. Why? Were you hoping we would fight over you?
Andrew: (Chuckles) I think a fight between you two would end with Sam's teeth in her stomach so no.
Amber: Yeah, it would. How's it going with your dad?
Andrew: Weirdly, not terrible. He seems stable, but it's hard to tell. He's here today with a pitch.
Amber: (Eyebrows raised) A pitch?
Andrew: A medical breakthrough, he says. 'It's gonna change the world, Andrea.'
(Both of them laugh)
Andrew: He gets these big ideas, he gets obsessed with them, and then he just cycles out and loses interest. It probably won't amount to much.
Amber: You said he was bipolar right?
Andrew: We're not really sure, Carina thinks it but he refuses treatment of course, so we don't really know. He just says he feels the world deeply.
Amber: Oh…that sounds nice.
Andrew: Oh, he has his charms. Speaking of parents how's it going with your mom?
Amber: Alex and Jo are with her, she's gonna hole up at the library until Alex and I take her to lunch. It's uh it's actually going okay.
Andrew: But? I sense a but here.
Amber: But I'm anxiously waiting for her to walk into an O.R. and stab an open body so…
Andrew: Right, I'm guessing this is you being normal with your mom in town?
Amber: Yep.
(Andrew's phone beeps)
Andrew: I got to go.
Amber: Me too, I should check on my mom. Keep me posted on your dad.
Andrew: Keep me posted on your mom.
(Amber and Andrew kiss before heading out)
MEANWHILE IN THE ON CALL ROOM
(Sam and Casey make out in the bottom bunk)
Sam: I'm on peds what about you?
Casey: I'm on the pit, hopefully we can make some time during lunch.
Sam: (Grins) Or…we could make time now?
(Sam reaches for Casey's pants who pulls away)
Casey: (Chuckles) I don't think there's enough time for that. It is a hospital.
Sam: So? I made time with Andrew during hospital hours. Why can't we?
Casey: Mmm I don't think it's a good idea to talk about our exes while we're making out.
Sam: Yeah, because that is all we ever do, just make out. Seriously it's been like a month and we haven't gotten past second base. Are you ever going to take the bat?
Casey: (Chuckles) You don't watch sports, do you?
Sam: Does dancing count?
Casey: Nope my shift starts soon. See you later.
(Casey leaves a frustrated Sam on the bed)
LATER AT THE RESEARCH LIBRARY
(Alex, Amber and Jo watch Helen rearrange the books)
Alex: I mean, it's not exactly a real library, but it's...
Helen: Would it be okay if I did a little sorting? Seems like doctors don't put books back where they found them.
Alex: Oh, sure. Sorry, but I have back-to-back meetings. I'll come back and grab you for lunch. Okay?
Amber: I'll try to get enough patients checked out so I can join you guys.
Helen: (Grins proudly) My son, the chief and my daughter, the surgeon.
Jo: (Holds up a tiny yellow hat) Oh, my God. This is so cute!
Helen: Thank you. Those are for my grandchildren.
Jo: Oh! Is Aaron having another baby?
Helen: No. Those are for yours.
Jo: (Confused) Our-Our what?
Helen: Kids.
(Amber presses her lips together as Jo silently freaks out)
Helen: Uh, you know, I was reading an article about how gender is a more fluid concept than previous generations realized. So, I figured that purple, green…neutral colors.
Jo: Mm-hmm.
Amber: You read those articles after I came out, didn't you?
Helen: Well, I didn't want to be one of those mothers who refused to catch up with society and their children's views.
Amber: (Chuckles sarcastically) God forbid. Wow, look at the time I have to go to peds, I'll see you guys at lunch.
Alex: See ya.
Helen: Go save lives.
(Amber quickly leaves the room and heads to peds where she meets with Sam)
Amber: Hey, what do we got first?
Sam: Uh Tyler Brooks, 4 months old. His parents brought him in this morning said he's been having a really bad cough and high fever the past five days. It's most likely a flu or something, babies don't have full immunity against it yet.
Amber: Well, let's meet him and make that diagnosis.
Sam: Hey I heard that Andrew's dad and your mom are in town. When did that happen?
Amber: Uh the night of the party. My mom showed up unexpectedly first and then his dad showed up unexpectedly, it's kind of-
Sam: Funny? Ironic? Like God had a hand in this meet the parent's situation?
Amber: More like the devil. I don't really feel like talking about it so can we just get to the sick babies please.
Sam: Yes, I would love that.
(They both enter the exam room and find two parents holding a baby boy who is crying and coughing strangely)
Sam: Hi Mr and Mrs. Brooks I'm Dr. Bello this is Dr. Karev. We're here to find out what's wrong with Tyler, can you tell us what happened?
Elaine: About a week ago he started getting colicky and then this cough started a few days and hasn't stopped since.
Nick: We just thought it was a cold so we gave her some cold medicine but it's only gotten worse since then and now he has this really bad cough.
Sam: Has he been with anyone outside of the house recently? Like a playdate?
Elaine: No, we've taken every precaution since he's been born. We didn't even let him out of the house until he got his first shot.
Nick: My brother and his wife watch her when we work, Kit plays with her, he's my nephew. They're in the waiting room to see how Tyler is.
Amber: Okay, I'm gonna take a listen to his chest but you two can hold him while I do it, okay?
Nurse: Temperature is 101.3.
(Amber takes her stethoscope and listens to Tyler's chest as he's coughing and crying)
Amber: I'm sorry Nick but this isn't a normal cold. What your hearing is what we call stridor cough. It could be caused by croup but more likely its pertussis, whooping cough.
Nick: But Tyler already has his first DTaP shot he's not due for his second one until next month.
Sam: Unfortunately, babies as young as your son don't have full immunity yet.
Elaine: Oh god, is it serious?
Amber: It can be but we caught it early and Tyler doesn't seem to be doing too badly. We're gonna run labs to confirm it and then we'll admit him to the PICU.
Sam: I'll do the labs and swabs and tell them to put a rush on it.
Amber: Okay while we're waiting, I'm gonna get a nurse to give Tyler some Tylenol for the fever.
(Sam performs the labs and Amber goes outside to get a nurse)
LATER IN ALEXS OFFICE
(The DeLuca's enter the office with Alex greeting them)
Alex: Nice to meet you, Mr. DeLuca. Or should I say "Doctor"?
Vincenzo: It is, grazie. Uh, bambini, you can go now.
Carina: I can help with the English.
Vincenzo: (Laughs) You? You can barely speak it yourself.
Andrew: I can help. And, plus, I'm curious to see what this research is you're presenting today.
Vincenzo: Okay.
(Vincenzo puts laptop on desk in front of Alex and presents a PowerPoint in Italian)
Vincenzo: It is a baby in a bag.
Alex: Okay.
Vincenzo: 1 in 10 babies is born preterm because mother can't carry child to term due to trauma or accident, so many reasons. And the baby, she dies. Premature babies cannot survive outside the mama. But what if it could? What if we transferred the baby from the mama to an external gestational sac so her little lungs and her brain and her heart, they can develop? And then we give her the birth, yes? From the bag, a beautiful, full-term, healthy baby!
Alex: You want to create an external gestational sac?
Vincenzo: No. I have already.
(Vincenzo presents a preterm lamb in an artificial gestational sac)
Vincenzo: I am in animal trials. Four ovine subject subjects. The latest showed normal pH and lactate levels, good fetal circulation, and then...
(He shows a video of a healthy lamb)
Vincenzo: Eccolo! Born at 125 days.
Alex: That lamb gestated?
Vincenzo: (Smiles) In a bag. It's a baby in a bag. You'll fund this, yes?
(Alex stares at the lamb video)
LATER ON THE PEDS FLOOR
(Amber and Sam walk out of Tyler's PICU room when a couple with a little boy approach them)
Denise: Excuse me? Is this Tyler's room?
Amber: Yes, it is, who are you?
Jacob: I'm Jacob, Nick's brother. Denise is my wife and this is our son Kit, we came by just to see how they're holding up.
Sam: Oh, uh their hanging in there. We're already treating your nephew and hopefully he'll start to get better.
Kit: What happened to Tyler? Is he gonna die?
Denise: Kit's been asking since the minute we got here. Can you tell us if he's gonna be okay?
Amber: Of course. Tyler contracted an illness known as whooping cough, it's a common thing in babies but very treatable in the early stages. We've already started him on antibiotics and he should be getting better.
Jacob: Okay, can we go in with them?
Sam: No, I'm sorry it's already filled up with the three of them you'll have to continue waiting in the lobby.
Denise: Okay, can you tell Nick and Elaine we'll be right outside waiting for them?
Amber: Of course.
(The three of them head back to the lobby. Sam and Amber go through their patients as Alex enters the floor)
Alex: Hey.
Amber: Hey.
Alex: How's it going up here? How are the kids?
Amber: The kids are doing just fine we've got nurses monitoring in the PICU and the NICU is already covered with top residents.
Sam: One of your physicals ended up being a bad case of whooping cough but we've already got him on antibiotics.
Alex: Very good and here I was worried you two would kill each other in front of the kids.
Amber: (Scoffs) You and Andrew both. I swear everyone seems to think that two girls who dated the same guy have to physically fight each other. I blame tv and books.
Sam: Yeah, they should probably be informed that most of those stories were written by men.
Amber: Or emotionally damaged women.
Nurse: Dr. Bello, the Brooks want you in here right away.
Alex: Keep me posted.
Sam: Okay.
(Sam leaves them. Alex and Amber sit at the station to catch up)
Amber: So how is Jo doing with mom revealing the baby hats for her future grandchildren?
Alex: No idea. She just walked away saying she had a surgery even though she didn't. I think she's freaking out a little bit.
Amber: I thought you guys wanted kids? Has that changed? For Jo I mean?
Alex: We do want kids but I think having your mother-in-law practically shove it in your face kind of kills the baby making phase.
Amber: (Chuckles) Don't worry Jo will calm down soon enough and you two can give me the niece or nephew I will undoubtedly spoil. Make sure they call me Auntie Amber; I like the sound of that.
Alex: Will do. Are you gonna make it to lunch with us?
Amber: I think so. How did it go with Vincenzo DeLuca?
Alex: Oh, his pitch was awesome. It's a freaking baby in a bag.
Amber: (Raises eyebrow) I'm sorry, did you say a baby in a bag?
Alex: Yeah, an external womb. He's already made a prototype. He showed us the video of the baby lamb.
Amber: In a bag?
Alex: Yup. 10 years in peds, and I have never thought of something so cool.
Amber: Wow, it almost sounds too good to be true.
Alex: Yeah, well, I asked him to give me a day or two, but I wanted to say yes in that room.
Amber: …Um did you call his hospital in Italy?
Alex: Yeah. They love him.
Amber: (Clicks her pen) Still it couldn't hurt to dig a little deeper play private detective. You never know if uh…something unexpected comes along.
Alex: (Furrows eyebrows) Why? What do you know?
Amber: (Grins) Nothing.
Alex: Nice try I know when your lying, you grin weirdly like you're doing right now.
Amber: Um you know what I am going to check on the babies in the NICU. Make sure none of the residents killed them, let me know how it goes with DeLuca senior. Oh! And Jo. Bye!
(Amber immediately leaves to head to the NICU and Sam returns to inform Alex)
Sam: Tyler started coughing worse despite the antibiotics so I put him on a nebulizer to make him more comfortable until the meds start working.
Alex: Good keep me posted. Hey, you used to date DeLuca, do you know anything about his dad?
Sam: Um not really. I would ask and he'd say he was a doctor back in Italy, that's about all I know. Why do you ask?
Alex: I don't know, Amber was acting weird it's probably nothing. Monitor Tyler closely and page me if anything changes.
Sam: Got it.
(Alex leaves to go back to his chief duties passing Andrew, Carina and Vincenzo in the doctor's lounge)
Vincenzo: (In Italian) It will take a while for me to set up in a lab but the project will start tomorrow.
Carina: (Worried) Papa we don't know if the chief will fund this or not, let's not get too excited.
Vincenzo: Please, you tell me that you would say no to a baby in a bag, Andrea would you say no to something like this.
Andrew: Um no I wouldn't but Carina is right we need to hear from Dr. Karev and then you can set up in your lab. Just don't get your hopes up okay.
Vincenzo: Va bene, I will wait for the headmaster to approve in the meantime we should do lunch.
Carina: (Nods) Si, we will meet you in the cafeteria at noon.
Vincenzo: Perfetto and Andrea invite this new woman in your life so I can get to know her better.
(Andrew coughs his water in shock before composing himself)
Andrew: Cosa?
Vincenzo: (Grins) This uh Amber that you introduced me to invite her to eat with us. I want to know more about the woman who has my son's heart in her hands.
Carina: (Scared for Amber) Papa it's too soon for her to meet you.
Andrew: (Knows Amber will not take this well) Yes, it is very early and I don't think she-
Vincenzo: I am not asking her to take your hand in marriage my boy. I just want to have one lunch with her and find out what makes you so enamored with her, that's all.
Andrew: Um…she has lunch with her mom and her brother today so…
Vincenzo: Perfetto invite them as well.
Andrew and Carina: (Know that's a bad idea) No!
(Vincenzo looks at them surprised over their outburst)
Andrew: (See's no way out of this) Um…I'll talk to her and see if she can make it to lunch with us, no promises though.
Vincenzo: Thank you, tell her I look forward to officially meeting her.
(Andrew nods and leaves to talk to Amber)
LATER AT THE NICU
(Amber leaves the NICU as Andrew approaches her)
Andrew: Hey, how are the babies?
Amber: Their good, tiny and frail but good. What's up?
Andrew: Nothing just wanted to check in on you, see how you're doing with your mom.
Amber: She's good, stable. How's your dad? I heard about the baby in a bag.
Andrew: Yeah, it's incredible, absolutely amazing. He's stable so far so that's good.
(Amber heads to a lounge to get a cup of water with Andrew following her)
Amber: Okay I mean I have my reservations but he's your dad so if you say he's okay then I guess he's okay.
Andrew: Yeah thanks.
(Andrew stands there with a strange look on his face indicating he wants to say something)
Amber: What? Did something bad happen? (Gets water and starts to drink from it)
Andrew: No, I mean not exactly it's um…my dad wants to have lunch…with the both of us.
Amber: (Spit takes water due to shock)
Andrew: (Understands her reaction) Yeah, I almost choked on my water too.
Amber: (Clears throat) …Um can you repeat that so that I'm certain my mom's visit hasn't awakened my insanity gene.
Andrew: He wants to have lunch with the both of us and Carina aka get to know the woman I'm dating. I tried to talk him out of it told him it was too soon but he is persistent.
Amber: (Eyes wide) Oh…wow that's…I don't know what that is or how to respond to that beyond a classic spit take.
Andrew: I know your freaked out but it's just one lunch it might not be so bad.
Amber: (Gives Andrew a look) Andrew, fathers historically do not like me. I know this because I drove mine away by being born.
Andrew: I think that was his fault alone because he was addicted to drugs and abusive to the point of getting kicked out by Alex. My dad is not like that you have nothing to worry about.
Amber: (Sarcastic) Nothing to worry about except getting interrogated by my boyfriend's dad about my horrific past or my horrific mom or my brother horrifically beating up his son. Your absolutely right this lunch might end up with us as Instagram pals.
Andrew: (Sighs) It was either you come with us alone or you come with your family those were the options my dad gave.
Amber: (Groans) Seriously? (Andrew nods) Great so we have two options to the opening of a horror film.
Andrew: Look I can tell him you said no that you have patients it's fine.
Amber: (Sighs and knows there's no good way out of this) No, no its uh its fine. I have lunch with my mom and Alex but I can tell them I'm busy. I'll be there.
Andrew: (Shocked) Really? I don't want you to feel pressured or anything.
Amber: Don't be silly, me coming alone is better than coming with them. And to tell you the truth I was kind of hoping to get out of my awkward family lunch and now-
Andrew: You can come to my awkward family lunch. I don't know if that's sweet or sad.
Amber: Maybe both, I'll see you in the café.
Andrew: I'll text you the details of where to enter the belly of the beast.
Amber: (Chuckles) That's normally what I call my family. I'll see you later.
(Amber leaves and pulls out her phone to inform Alex of lunch changes)
LATER AT THE CAFETERIA
(Andrew and Amber grab their food and see Vincenzo and Carina already seated on a table for four)
Andrew: Don't be nervous.
Amber: I'm not nervous.
Andrew: I was talking to myself. You know you're the first girl I've introduced to my dad?
Amber: Are you trying to make me nervous?
(They approach the table and Vincenzo stands up)
Vincenzo: (Smiles) Ciao Amber. It is so nice to officially meet you.
Amber: (Grins) Hi it's nice to officially meet you too Dr. DeLuca.
(Amber reaches to shake his hand but he grabs it and kisses her knuckle instead causing her to chuckle)
Andrew: Easy papa. Why don't we sit down and eat?
Carina: Yes, let's eat.
(The four of them sit and begin to eat)
Vincenzo: My son has told me a great deal about you.
Amber: All good, I hope Dr. DeLuca.
Vincenzo: Please call me Vincenzo.
Amber: Okay.
Vincenzo: So, tell me how long have you been dating my son?
Andrew: (Calculating) Um…
Amber: It's been a few months; we've been seeing each other since last fall.
Andrew: We've known each other about a year before that though.
Amber: Right yes. Actually, Carina tried to set us up about a year ago. (Chuckles)
Vincenzo: Really? And did you say no.
Andrew: Actually, I did, I said no or I wanted to just not to her face.
Vincenzo: What kind of a man doesn't say yes to this beautiful creature next to you?
Amber: (Nervous) Oh, lots of reasons or just one that was between him and my brother or my brothers fist more like it.
Vincenzo: Ah yes, Andrea told me about that too. I didn't expect you to be his sister, you look not alike.
Amber: Yeah, he takes after our dad and I take after our mom. I am so sorry for what my brother did. If I could go back and smack him upside the head for what happened I would, believe me I would.
Andrew: Believe me she would.
Vincenzo: I believe you. Let's talk about something else. What year are you, Amber?
Amber: I'm still an intern here. I'm gonna take my exams this summer and hopefully become an actual resident.
Vincenzo: Ah I remember being an intern. I remember the no sleep for hours and eating-what do you call them? Crisps.
Andrew: Chips and that's pretty much our diet here too. Amber is an exceptional surgeon; you know her first month here she handled a hernia that popped through the skin flawlessly when the hospital tech was down and it was 100 degrees indoors. Even the trauma surgeon on the case, Dr. Hunt, was impressed by it.
Vincenzo: (Chuckles) Impressionante.
Amber: Thank you or grazie I guess.
Vincenzo: Do you speak my son's tongue at all?
Andrew: (Clears throat) Wrong way to ask her papa.
Amber: It's fine um no I don't really know Italian beyond ciao or grazie but I do speak Russian. I took two years of it in undergrad. It sounds more rough and tough than Italian but still.
Vincenzo: Still, it is never too late to learn the language. What kind of relationship is it if you don't learn each other's culture?
Andrew: (Stern) Papa.
Carina: (In Italian) Papa do not scare the girl into thinking that she has to learn Italian or Andrea will leave her.
Vincenzo: (In Italian) I am merely making a suggestion bambini. Do not accuse me of something so sinister.
Andrew: (In Italian) Just because she doesn't want to learn Italian doesn't mean that we aren't happy. Let's just drop it and speak English before we scare off Amber…please.
(Vincenzo and Carina calm down a little. Amber looks at all three of them in confusion)
Amber: Is anybody gonna tell me what happened? Or do I need to get out my translator app?
Andrew: (Chuckles) I'm sorry we had a little argument but were fine now, right?
Vincenzo: Si, let's talk about something else. Have you declared a specialty yet?
Andrew: (Sighs) Papa I just declared general and I'm a fourth year, I don't appreciate you-
Amber: It's okay Andrew I can speak for myself. No, I haven't declared anything yet but I'm leaning towards cardiothoracic surgery at the moment.
Vincenzo: Ah! A heart surgeon, very impressionante!
Amber: (Grins) Thank you. I'm being taught by Dr. Pierce, the chief of cardio here. What is your specialty?
Vincenzo: I am a trauma and general surgeon.
Amber: Double certified wow. I hope to become that someday assuming I find one let alone two specialties.
Vincenzo: Yes, well it is very hard to be specialized two times. It takes a special kind of brilliance to achieve that. I can tell you have that from how you became a surgeon in spite of your difficult life.
Andrew: Papa let's not bring up her past please.
Vincenzo: I am complimenting her Andrea. You and your sister became doctors because you were raised by one, she and her brother overcame difficult hardships and now look at them, a chief of surgery and surgery intern. I am saying it is inspiring.
Amber: (Grins) Thank you. That's something I haven't heard since coming here, when the interns found out about my past, they just ignored me.
Vincenzo: They don't understand dedication my dear, not like me. I see a goal and I finish it no matter what or who gets in my way, I see that in you.
Amber: (Chuckles) Thank you.
(Andrew looks over and sees Amber's leg shaking from anxiety. He holds Amber's hand under the table to reassure her. She calms down as she continues talking to Vincenzo)
LATER ON THE PEDS FLOOR
(Sam goes through the charts when Casey walks up to her)
Casey: Hey, I thought I would come up and see how you're holding up.
Sam: (Sighs) Not great. I have an infant with whooping cough, I've administered antibiotics but he hasn't responded so far. God how did this happen? I mean a lot of kids are vaccinated from stuff like this so how did that baby get it?
Casey: (Shrugs) Maybe it was some freak thing, I don't know…about what happened this morning, I'm sorry. I didn't think that you were there yet or that…you wanted to go there.
Sam: I've never had sex with a trans man before I know that but that doesn't mean I'm not willing to try.
Casey: Sam I have heard that before and the second after it happens, they run out the door. I don't want to risk that happening again.
Sam: So, your solution is for us to never have sex?
Casey: No, I just-
(They hear beeping coming from Tyler's room)
Elaine: Help! We need a doctor!
(Alex and Sam enter the room and find Tyler completely still in his crib)
Nick: What's happening?!
Alex: He's seizing we need suction.
(Sam inserts an airway into Tyler's mouth to remove secretion. Amber hears the beeping and enters the room with Denise)
Elaine: (Scared) Oh my god.
Denise: What's happening?
Alex: Ma'am you need to back away. .05 mgs of Ativan in the I.V.
(Sam inserts the Ativan as the parents hold each other observing. Alex puts an oxygen mask on Tyler as his vitals return to normal)
Alex: He's okay, his vitals are stable now.
Nick: I can't stand around and worry like this, isn't there anything else you can do? My son isn't even one and he's suffering!
Alex: Nick, we're doing everything we can for your son, okay? I'll stay here and monitor him closely. Bello, She-Karev be on standby I might need you.
(Amber and Sam leave the room with Denise following them)
Denise: Dr. Karev?
Amber: Yes?
Denise: Um a few weeks ago, we visited Nick and the baby and my son, Kit, he uh he had a little bit of a cold. Did that somehow cause the whooping cough?
Amber: No, not if it was just a cold.
Denise: (Unsure) Okay.
Sam: I mean whooping cough in kids Kit's age can present as a cold but your son is vaccinated against it.
(Denise closes her eyes and looks guilty)
Amber: Denise? Did Kit get the vaccine for the whooping cough as a baby?
Denise: No, he didn't.
Sam: (Disappointed) Then yes, your nephew could've caught this from your son.
Denise: (Puts hand in mouth from shock) Oh my God.
Amber: Has your son had any of his childhood inoculations?
Denise: No, Jacob doesn't believe in it.
Sam: Oh my god.
Amber: Tell the chief while I get Jacob and Kit out of here.
(Sam runs back to the room while Amber leads Denise to Jacob who sits with Kit in the children's table with other kids)
Amber: Excuse me? I need a private word with you.
Jacob: Sure.
(They walk a respectable distance away from the kid's earshot)
Amber: So, your wife just told me that Kit hasn't had any of his vaccinations.
Jacob: (Annoyed) Okay here we go, why did you tell her Denise? You know how these doctors think.
Amber: (Irritated) You should count yourself and your son lucky that she told me this when she did.
Jacob: I know what you must think Doctor but our son is doing just fine.
Amber: Yeah, maybe he's just fine but your baby nephew is in there with whooping cough most likely because of him, because of you.
Jacob: You don't that, he could've gotten it anywhere.
Amber: (Darkly chuckles) Okay, okay since you obviously don't give a crap about other kids and their immune systems maybe this will get through your thick skull.
Jacob: Excuse me you can't talk to me like that.
Amber: Oh, I most certainly can because right now I am talking to an idiot who not only left his son's immune system unprepared for all viruses or diseases but brought him to a level one trauma hospital!
(Jacob is taken back by her outburst as she continues)
Amber: Do you have any idea how dangerous a hospital is for a child without immunity? Do not assume that there aren't more dumbasses like you out there.
Alex: Dr. Karev I have this you can stand down.
(Amber exhales and leaves Alex to it as she and Sam observe)
Alex: I understand you have your beliefs and a right to your own opinion but right now they might just get your son and my patients sick the longer Kit stays here. You and your son need to leave right now.
Jacob: You can't just-
Alex: I can because I am the chief of this hospital and you have about five minutes to take your son out of here or I'm going to call security and escort both of you out. It's your choice.
Jacob: …Kit come on let's go.
Kit: (Whining) Dad.
Jacob: Now, come on.
(Jacob and Kit get ready to leave)
Jacob: Lets go honey.
Denise: I'm staying with Nick and Elaine.
Jacob: (Offended) Denise?
Denise: Kit go with your dad, okay? I'll be home as soon as I can. I love you.
Kit: I love you too mommy.
(Kit and Jacob leave the peds floor with Denise sitting in the waiting room. Alex turns to Amber)
Alex: What you did was completely unprofessional Amber. You can't just go around yelling at people in this hospital especially on the peds floor.
Amber: Even if its stupid people who refuse to immunize their tiny children?
Sam: And bring them to a hospital without a second thought?
Alex: Look you did what I would've done as an intern. No as a matter of fact you acted like any other doctor just do it in a private room next time or at least wait for me got it?
Amber: No promises.
Alex: Bello and I will take it from here, go round up on my post ops and keep the yelling to a minimum.
(Amber mockingly salutes him and leaves)
LATER IN THE PARK
(Andrew and Vincenzo stand side by side in the coffee cart line with Vincenzo observing the hipsters in line)
Vincenzo: Heepsters.
Andrew: Hipsters, Papa.
Vincenzo: It's my new English word. They're making a statement that they are unique, yes?
Andrew: Yeah, by dressing exactly the same. Papa (Speaks Italian)
Vincenzo: (Interrupts) Please. In English. So, I can practice.
Andrew: Va bene. Papa, this research really is incredible, but we need-
Vincenzo: (Interrupts) Yes, it is, my boy. And you, your life is incredible. Your city is incredible. (Pulls Andrew in a side hug) I'm so proud of you. (Laughs)
Andrew: Thank you. But…how are you? Really. Because Carina seems to think-
Vincenzo: Ay, Carina. Ay. She's like your mother. She worries. She controls. You are like me. You know a good idea when you hear one.
Andrew: Carina worries for good reason.
Vincenzo: It hasn't been easy between us, I know. Your mother come between us-
Andrew: (Defensive) My mother has nothing to do with this.
Vincenzo: Andrea, let me finish. You move away from me with Mama. Then you stay away for college, and now residency. You are distance. And I know some part is my fault. Let me make good. Andrea, you do this with me, I put you in the map!
Andrew: On the map.
Vincenzo: (Laughs) On the map, yes! Look at you. You are a man, all on your own. A good man, too. I see that. And handsome like me. (Laughs) I see you. But this woman of yours, she is beyond you.
Andrew: (Surprised) Wow. Thank you, and here I was worried you wouldn't like her.
Vincenzo: Andrea, I can tell from that one hour that Amber Karev is more than the chiefs sister. She's more than a beauty, she is brilliance.
Andrew: Yeah, I'm aware.
Vincenzo: So, then, we change the world together. We save the babies. My son, I owe you this. Let me put you on the map. Huh?
(Andrew contemplates his offer as they order their coffee)
LATER AT THE VENDING MACHINE
(Amber gets a bag of potato chips when she hears yelling in Italian coming from the hall. Andrew and Carina appear)
Amber: Hey.
Carina: Hi.
Amber: What's going on? I heard you two yelling and I can tell it was angry even if it wasn't in English.
Andrew: My sister is trying to shut down my father's research project.
(Carina gapes at him)
Andrew: She knows. I told her, so it's okay.
Carina: Andrea, we cannot let him do this.
Amber: Wait, you want your father to do his research here?
Andrew: Yes. I-I think it's a good idea.
Amber: What-I-you said he has an untreated mental illness.
Carina: He does.
Andrew: He has episodes, okay? But it's not like he's dangerous.
Amber: Andrew your- (Hushed voice) your dad killed four people during an 'episode'.
Andrew: It's complicated.
Carina: No, it's not complicated, Andrea. He didn't even train in this field.
Andrew: Yeah, but you did. So, you know better than anyone how important this research is.
Carina: Right, but I also know better than anyone just how bad he can get. Andrea, I spent the last three months with him. He's not well. You didn't grow up with him, so when he comes calling, you go running. And he knows that. He knows he can manipulate you, and you're letting him.
Andrew: I'm signing on to participate in a groundbreaking medical study that could change and save a lot of lives. Excuse me.
(Andrew leaves the two of them)
Carina: What would you do if you were me?
Amber: (Sighs) If it were me, I would talk to the chief.
(Carina nods and Amber leaves her to it)
MEANWHILE AT THE PEDS FLOOR
(Alex and Sam continue to monitor Tyler with his parents beside him when the monitors beep rapidly)
Nick: What is it?
Sam: His SATs are dropping fast
Alex: He's turning blue damn it he's losing oxygen. Prep for an intubation.
Elaine: (Worried) I-Intubate?
Alex: Yes, I'm sorry. .15 of atropine in the I.V.
(Alex starts to intubate frightening the parents)
Elaine: (Crying) Is he gonna make it?
(Alex successfully puts the tube in with Sam pumping the oxygen)
Nick: Did it work?
Alex: His heart rate is back at 110 and SATs are at 95. He's stable.
Denise: (Sobbing) It's my fault. It's all my fault that he's sick.
Sam: Denise, now isn't the best time.
Nick: What are you talking about?
Denise: (Crying) I am so sorry! I'm so sorry.
Elaine: What?
Denise: (Voice breaking) It was Kit we thought he just had the cold; I swear I didn't want any of this to happen.
Elaine: Denise?
Denise: (Voice breaking) We never gave him his shots.
Nick: (Confused) His shots? (Realizing) Kit had whooping cough?
Alex: It seems likely.
Elaine: (Angry) He never had his shots, and you let him near Tyler?
Denise: (Continues crying) I swear I didn't know.
Nick: You didn't know?! My son has a tube down his throat because of Kit and your sorry?!
Denise: I am so sorry.
Elaine: (Enraged) You did this to my baby! Get out! Get out!
(Denise leaves the room crying and Elaine sits down crying with Nick comforting her. Sam continues to pump in spite of the tense scene)
Alex: Keep pumping the oxygen Bello. I'm gonna get a chest x ray.
(Alex leaves the room rubbing his eyes and Carina spots him)
Carina: Dr. Karev?
Alex: What is it?
Carina: I need to talk to you about my father. Can we go somewhere private?
LATER IN THE RESEARCH LIBRARY
(Amber sits in the table watching her mother rearrange the books)
Amber: I'm vaccinated right?
Helen: (Stops arranging) Excuse me?
Amber: Am I vaccinated? Did I get all my childhood shots?
Helen: Yes, you did, I made sure you were when you were a baby and a little girl. You'd have to be to have a profession like yours otherwise you would be very dead right now. Why do you ask?
Amber: I just…I had this patient today, he was an infant, barely a year old, came in with whooping cough. He caught it from his 6-year-old cousin who had it because his idiot father refused to vaccinate him.
Helen: Oh my, that sounds awful. I imagine it was hard for you to be in the same room as him.
Amber: Oh, it was, I yelled at him and called him a dumbass on the peds floor. I think I heard a couple of kids repeating it as I walked out making me a great role model and target for parents.
Helen: With the internet today and very little child locks, I'm sure they would've heard that word somewhere else honey.
Amber: (Shakes head) I cannot stand it, people like Jacob I mean. No matter how much we advance medicine or how much proof we give them, they just go on believing in something this unbelievably stupid. I mean the guy who started this whole anti-vac hoax was completely discredited. What is wrong with these people? Why do they think it's safer to let kids out in the world with no protection from the invisible enemy than to just give them a simple shot?
Helen: (Sighs) I don't know sweetie. I suppose its mass hysteria, people believe what they hear and it just sticks to their brains.
Amber: Yeah, and to hell with innocent babies. I hate people.
Helen: (Chuckles) I heard that you had lunch with Andrew's father, how did it go?
Amber: Um it was a little tense at first but then he started to compliment me and it was okay eventually. He said he was impressed by me a lot of times.
Helen: (Grins) I can't imagine why he wouldn't be; I know I'm impressed by my children. How did he seem? Andrew told me that he has bipolar disorder and that he refuses treatment. Did he seem…strange to you?
Amber: (Shrugs) I mean he seemed hyper, a little too hyper for me but other than that he seemed stable…ish. I don't know I only deal with schizophrenics not manics so I don't know how he is.
Helen: It's harder to tell than my condition I suppose.
Amber: Yeah, but even so Aaron started showing when he would mutter to himself but I just thought he was making a reminder to himself. I don't know I just…I just hope he doesn't start showing his mania by hurting others like when he…
Helen: When he what?
Amber: Never mind let's change the subject, like those hats you got Jo or Jo and Alex's kids.
Helen: (Smiles) Oh yeah, they were adorable right?
Amber: Um yeah but you did kind of freak her out a little bit mom.
Helen: Oh, I didn't mean to scare her I just…wanted to give her a little nudge, maybe.
Amber: (Chuckles) Mom, you didn't nudge you may as well have pushed her and Alex into a bed and thrown out the condoms.
(Both of them chuckle)
Amber: How are you? Are you doing okay being away from home for so long?
(Before Helen could answer Alex enters the room)
Alex: Hey you two.
Helen: Hi honey.
Alex: I just wanted to talk to Amber for a moment alone.
Helen: Oh, I can just go to the gift shop and get myself a snack.
(Helen leaves the room to the two of them)
Alex: Did you know?
Amber: I know a lot of things. Your gonna have to be more specific.
Alex: About DeLuca's dad and the mania and the four patients.
Amber: Oh that, I did know.
Alex: You could've told me.
Amber: I did I told you to dig deeper and find out more about the man's past.
Alex: You could've just told me.
Amber: No, I couldn't because I made a promise to Andrew that I wouldn't say anything. He told me something he never told anyone I didn't want to break his trust. Does this change anything?
Alex: (Sighs) I don't want to be the guy who says no to something amazing because of a little mental illness. I mean look at mom.
Amber: Yeah, but there's a difference, mom got help he hasn't even gotten a real diagnosis. Are you sure you want him to work on a complicated project at this hospital where we could face an ethical dilemma if this goes sideways?
Alex: Honestly, if it wasn't for the guy's history, I wouldn't even think twice.
Amber: Does that mean your gonna approve it?
Alex: Amber, it's a womb outside the mother. If he pulls this off, it's an honest to God medical miracle.
(Andrew appears in the doorway as Alex leaves)
Alex: Sorry you had to grow up like that, man.
(Alex leaves the room)
Andrew: You told him?
Amber: Carina did…but I told her to, I'm sorry.
Andrew: Amber, he's my dad. I'm telling you; I think he's okay.
Amber: I know you believe that but…I just don't want you to have false hope like I did because then the reality will come in and stomp on your heart. You know my history with my mom so you know what I'm telling you is from experience. Don't set yourself up so that your dad can disappoint and hurt you.
Andrew: I'm a grown man Amber, you don't have to tell me about disappointment or heartache. I've been through both before, so I need you to try and trust me on this, okay?
(Amber looks worriedly at Andrew as he leaves)
LATER AT THE PEDS FLOOR
(Sam walks into the room finding Nick by Tyler's crib with Elaine passed out on a chair)
Sam: Hi, do you want me to wake your wife?
Nick: (Shakes head) She's had a tough day; she blames herself for this. It was her idea for Tyler and Kit to have a playdate.
Sam: Nick none of us saw this coming but I have good news. Tyler's latest labs show that his white count has come down and Dr. Pierce is very encouraged by his latest chest x ray.
Nick: So, he's gonna be, okay?
Sam: We're gonna get him off the ventilator slowly a little while later but yes, I am most certain your son will pull through.
Nick: (Exhales) Thank God. I still can't believe my brother did this…how could he do this? Not just to my son but to his, what was he thinking?
Sam: I can't speak for Jacob but I can tell you that most anti vac people share certain traits in common. They're afraid to take risks because their just afraid. Their afraid that something bad will happen and so they just ignore what's right in front of them.
Nick: Even if it's a baby with a tube down his throat?
Sam: Mass hysteria is hard to kill Nick. We just have to learn to live with it and hope that there are more people out there who actually accept the facts. I'll be back later with Dr. Karev to get your son off the vent.
Nick: Thank you.
(Sam leaves the room and sits next to Amber at the station)
Amber: How's he doing?
Sam: He's gonna make it although I suspect there aren't gonna be any warm family dinners after this.
Amber: Yeah, I still can't believe it. I swear if Alex didn't get there in time, I probably would have redecorated the peds floor with his blood.
Sam: You're a very violent woman you know that? But I get it, I would've blown up at him too if I was in your shoes. Speaking of things blowing up in your face how's it going with your mom and your boyfriend's dad?
Amber: Mom is good, she's great which is only very strange and dad invited me to lunch and I won him over. It was kind of unexpected since I'm naturally terrible with parents' example being my own.
Sam: (Chuckles) That's good right? I mean your mom is sane and you won over Andrew's dad so why the glum face?
Amber: Uh…It's complicated and I don't really feel like talking about it to anyone let alone my boyfriend's ex so…I'm sorry I'm cranky and stressed can we please talk about something else like literally anything else.
Sam: Okay um I want to have sex with Casey but Casey is afraid that I'll run the second I see him naked. Does that make you feel better?
Amber: (Eyes widen) You and Casey haven't done it yet?
Sam: Nope.
Amber: But I mean you do…other stuff, right?
Sam: We make out and whenever we sleep in the same bed we just cuddle.
Amber: (Mocking) Aww cuddling that is so sweet and PG-13.
Sam: (Chuckles) Shut up. I don't know what to do, I don't know how to make him see that I'm serious about this. Can you please give me advice on this? Your surprisingly good at it.
Amber: Fine um look you like him and he likes you, you want to go all the way but he doesn't because he's afraid. Make him see that he has nothing to be afraid of, show him that you're not gonna run. Romantic gestures can get you a lot from the person you love so make one.
Sam: Thank you, you know you should write a book. Your advice can apply to everyone, gay, straight, purple whatever.
Amber: (Grins) I have my moments.
(The two of them laugh)
LATER AT CASEYS APARTMENT
(Sam walks down the hall and knocks on Casey's door. Casey opens it)
Casey: Hey, what are you doing here?
Sam: Making a romantic gesture.
(Sam pulls a single rose from behind her back, Casey looks at it strangely but takes it)
Casey: Um thank you? Whats with the romantic gesture?
Sam: Look…I know you've been burned before and I know you think this is some experiment for me but its not. I-I'm curious of what sex with a trans man is like but that's not what this is.
Casey: Then what is it?
Sam: (Sighs) It's me wanting to show my boyfriend how much he means to me through a simple biological act. I want to show you just how much I am in this with you. I want to show you that I am not going anywhere anytime soon.
Casey: …I'm scared. I want to believe you but I just-
Sam: I know. I know that you're scared but you don't need to be, believe that.
(Sam grabs Casey's face and kisses him)
Casey: (Breaks away) Um…do you want me light candles or something?
Sam: (Chuckles) No candles because then I'll be worried about catching fire during.
(Casey chuckles and leads her inside the apartment shutting the door)
LATER AT THE LAB
(Amber enters the lab to find Andrew sitting at a table reading)
Amber: I heard the good news. Where's your dad?
Andrew: He and Carina went out for dinner, he left me to set up.
Amber: You two are gonna work with him?
Andrew: Yeah, he says it'll put me on the map and I'm close to finishing my residency so I want to make as much of an impact as I can. I know you don't like this but it's my choice and I want you to respect that.
Amber: (Sighs) I just don't want you to have to go through what I went through. But it's obvious I can't talk you out of it so…I'll try to respect your choice.
Andrew: Thank you.
(Andrew pulls Amber onto his lap who wraps her arms around his neck)
Amber: I don't trust him Andrew…but I trust you so if you say that this will work then I believe you.
Andrew: Thank you.
(Amber and Andrew kiss)