Chapter 22: Betrayal
SCENE: AMELIA AND AMBERS BEDROOM
(Amber hugs a pillow to her chest as she tries to go back to sleep. Amelia is fully dressed and hovers over Amber knowing she's gonna be late for work)
Amelia: Get up.
Amber: (Feigns sleepiness) No I'm asleep leave me alone.
Amelia: You're not asleep you're trying to sleep but your active brain knows that you need to go to work even if your body doesn't want to.
Amber: (Normal voice) I'm gonna call in sick, I don't feel so good.
Amelia: You called in sick yesterday and the day before that and the day before that, there's only so many times you can call in before you get fired. Now get up and get dressed and stop avoiding whatever it is that's making you act like a slug.
Amber: You're not the boss of me.
Amelia: I am actually.
Amber: At work, not in our bedroom which was previously mine until you came crawling back and spooned me, now leave.
(Amelia doesn't leave instead she opens the curtains revealing the bright sun causing Amber to squint her eyes from the bright light before pulling the blanket over her head)
Amelia: Just because you're avoiding your boyfriend doesn't mean you get to avoid work, now up!
(Amelia pulls the blanket off Amber exposing her in her white t shirt and pink boxers. Amber groans and finally gets up)
Amber: I could kill you; you know.
Amelia: And I could fire you now let's go your driving.
(Amber groans before getting dressed for work)
LATER AT THE HOSPITAL
(Amber and Amelia walk inside the lobby side by side and Link approaches them with a grin)
Link: (Tries to act professional in front of Amber) Dr. Shepherd.
Amelia: Dr. Lincoln, how's Kari Donnely doing after the stem cells? Are her vitals improving?
Link: They're still the same but it's early stage so we should hope to see improvement in a couple of weeks. (Tries to be subtle without tipping off Amber) Maybe you and I could catch up in the library and do more research on this project see if we missed anything.
Amelia: (Catches on) That would be great I should be available during lunch if that's okay with-
(Amber gets frustrated over their horrible acting and deflects her recent troubles on them)
Amber: Oh, will you two stop it I know you're having sex.
(Amelia and Link quiet down and look at Amber who gives them a stank eye)
Amelia: Okay I guess we don't need to act professional around my roommate.
Amber: You two look at each other like you can undress the other with eyesight alone. Plus, I noticed that my bedmate hasn't been in bed the last three days and a certain intern on your project doesn't know when to keep her mouth shut.
Link: Bello told you?
Amber: (Flatly) Yes now you can both stop this horrendous display of professional courtesy because it's moot now that the whole hospital knows.
Link: Man, how does word travel around here so quickly?
Amelia: I got used to it and let's get as far away from her as we can because she is on a cynical train due to her breaking up with her boyfriend.
Link: Wait you and DeLuca broke up? What happened? You guys seemed so happy.
Amelia: (Tries to save him) Link-
Amber: (Deflecting) I'll tell you why, it's because romance is a joke and not the ha ha kind the kind that causes you discomfort due to making light of serious issues. Do me a favor Atticus.
Link: I don't go by-
Amber: Before you let someone into your life and into your body make sure that they don't have any skeletons in the closet that will come out and eat your happiness alive. Because then you go from one minute being rom com sappy happy to full horror slasher except you're the one who has the urge to murder everyone in your path.
(Link looks behind Amber and clears his throat to signal her to stop but she continues)
Amber: And it gets even worse when those skeletons turn out to be people that you've let into your life as well and you loved them like they were your family. Until those skeletons drop a verbal bomb on you that leaves you alone in a land full of ashes that are the people you love and-
(Link clears his throat louder until Amber notices)
Amber: What?! Do you need a cough drop or something?!
(Link signals behind her with a nod to the head. Amber turns and sees Andrew behind her looking at her with mild surprise over her words)
Amelia: (Senses trouble) We need to leave.
Link: I'll race you to the elevator.
(Amelia and Link leave the two of them in the lobby. Amber scowls at Andrew who tries to explain himself)
Andrew: I-
(Amber promptly leaves him standing there before he could start)
LATER IN THE LOCKER ROOM
(Levi, Sam, Casey and Dahlia are getting ready for work when Levi decides to try to make sure Amber doesn't have any more problems)
Levi: Hey's guys uh where's Taryn?
Casey: She's at home, the flu, why?
Levi: Well, I wanted to talk to all of you about Amber before she gets here.
Dahlia: Amber's coming in today? Where has she been?
Levi: She's uh…been sick.
Sam: (Chuckles) Okay why did you say it like it isn't true?
Levi: Because it isn't she's been calling in sick so that she won't come to work.
Casey: Seriously? That seems kind of stupid especially since the exams are in two months.
Levi: Okay that's what I'm talking about don't call her stupid or anything else that's gonna set her off more. In other words, just act normal around her and be kinder make her feel like this is a safe space and that she has friends she can count on.
Dahlia: Because we weren't that already?
Sam: Yeah, what's going on? Why are you so concerned about setting off She-Karev?
Levi: Um…Okay you did not hear this from me and you are not going to spread this around. What happens in the locker room stays in the locker room, promise?
(All three of them nod)
Levi: She and DeLuca broke up.
Sam: What? She and Andrew broke up what happened?
Dahlia: No! They can't break up; I was shipping them so hard.
Levi: Well, I can't tell you why they broke up because I'm already telling you more than necessary. But I can tell you that Amber is on Defcon 3 in the anger scale and we saw how she was on 1 so let's not jostle She-Karev otherwise-
Dahlia: She goes full She-Hulk?
Levi: See she knows what I'm talking about, can you all do what I told you?
(The three of them look confused but nod. Amber comes in the room with her face visibly angry before opening her locker. Levi signals the others to leave and they do that)
Amber: Damn it! I had a bag of mini-Reese's in here but I guess some hungry intern decided to steal them. Can anything go my way today?!
(Amber slams her locker shut loudly with only Levi in the room to witness her outrage)
Levi: Still mad?
Amber: What makes you think I'm mad?
Levi: Because your close to slamming that locker door off its hinges.
Amber: At least I'm not breaking it off with my hands and beating Andrew or Jo with it. I think that's progress don't you agree?
Levi: (Scared of her) Yep it is. Have you talked to he who will not be named at all?
Amber: (Angry) No because if I do, I will just yell at him for falling in love with my sister and failing to mention it in the months we've been together and acting like it's no big deal.
Levi: And the sister who shall not be named? How is she?
Amber: (Checks who's service she's on) Don't know, don't care.
(Amber yells and slams her fist into her locker as she realizes who's service, she's on)
Levi: What's wrong?
Amber: I'm on OB today.
Levi: Okay maybe babies will cheer you up, even you can't deny their new person smell extinguishes all bad feelings.
Amber: Under Carina DeLuca's service.
Levi: Oh…I can switch with you I have scut all day so-
Amber: (Calms down but grips her pencil) No I am a mature and calm adult and I can handle working with my boyfriend's sister who will undoubtedly try to defend her idiot brother like I would with mine. I will handle this even if it kills me.
Levi: (Looks at the pencil she's holding) You just broke your pencil in half.
(Amber looks down and sees her pencil snapped in half due to gripping it too tight)
Amber: I needed a new one anyway. What about you how are things in your disastrous romantic life going?
Levi: I tried calling Nico and then I texted him but he still hasn't replied even though I'm the one who should be angry and unresponsive right now.
Amber: The guy did kill someone so I think he's got you beat on the anger thing buddy.
Levi: And then he called me a failure when I went in to comfort him. I know that I have made some small mistakes-
(Amber snorts in amusement)
Levi: Okay fine I have made colossal mistakes but that doesn't warrant me using him as a punching bag.
Amber: No, it doesn't, you know what Levi it's probably for the best I mean maybe things are better this way.
Levi: Okay you are deflecting your personal problems on my relationship so-
Amber: I'm not deflecting I'm just saying maybe it's better that it ends now before things get worse. I mean sure it starts off all hot and forbidden and the sex is fantastic but then you decide to take the next step and live with him for a week.
(Levi sighs and leans back on the locker as Amber continues to rant and deflect)
Amber: It's all good things are great but then your sister-in-law who for some reason is in a depressive episode spills the beans that your boyfriend wasn't just physically attracted to her but also in love with said sister. Then you decide to leave the apartment in a huff but you can't because you sprain your ankle on the way and are forced to spend six hours with the guy you want to castrate and have to listen to him recap about why he fell in love with the woman you loved like a sister. And then the conversation continues on how you two are incompatible together. And now you can't get the image of him and your sister doing dirty, nasty, sweaty sex while laughing at your suffering. And then you'll be left alone with your stupid roommate who is having glorious sex with the chief of ortho while you're in bed trying to call in as many sick days as you can so you can avoid both your bastard ex and your traitorous slut of a sister.
(Amber starts to leave to go to labor and delivery)
Levi: (Knows she is deflecting) My very gay boyfriend could fall in love with my sister?
Amber: (Sighs and turns around) It happens.
(Amber leaves the locker room)
LATER AT OB
(Amber spots Carina talking to a nurse and takes a deep breath before approaching her)
Amber: (Professional tone) Hello Dr. DeLuca I am on your service today, how can I be of assistance?
Carina: Bonjourno, we have a woman who is 43 weeks pregnant with her first child and she's in the early stages of labor and is two centimeters dilated.
Amber: All right sounds easy let's get to it.
Carina: Before we do I want to ask-
Amber: No.
Carina: Cosa?
Amber: Carina I know that you want to defend your brother to me right now but I don't want to hear how he's missing me or how he's sorry for what he did. I just want to get through this day on your service without talking about my relationship problems. And you're a very sweet person so this is not on you but can we just please work together like it's any other day?
Carina: …I wanted to ask what the regular contraction times are.
Amber: (Closes her eyes in embarrassment) The regular timing of contractions are 3-5 in a 10 minute window.
Carina: Excellent, she's contracting 4 and should have a vaginal delivery this afternoon.
Amber: Great and we will never speak of this again.
Carina: I would love that.
(Amber and Carina enter the room and see the patient on the bed kissing the man beside her. They break apart flustered, Amber looks at the scene normally while Carina widens her eyes in shock)
Gwen: Oh god I-I'm sorry we were-
Amber: Oh no it's okay this isn't the first time we've seen a couple kissing on the OB floor.
Carina: (Clears throat) Gwen, Eddie this is Dr. Karev an intern assigned to my service. Dr. Karev this is Eddie Hart the father and our patient is Gwen Jenkins, Eddie and Leanne's surrogate.
(Amber stands there frozen for a moment while Gwen and Eddie look at them guilty)
Amber: I-I-I am sorry who is-
Leanne: Oh! Dr. DeLuca, is something wrong?
(Leanne enters the room and gives Gwen ice chips oblivious to the tension)
Carina: Um no nothing is wrong I was just introducing my intern to your sister and husband.
Amber: (Eyes wide) I'm sorry sister?
Leanna: Oh yeah, Gwen is my sister and my surrogate. You can't imagine the faces people get when I say my sister is carrying my baby.
(Carina and Amber chuckle to not give away what they just learned)
CUT TO BLACK
SCENE: OB FLOOR
(Amber stands outside the room after making an excuse to do charting. She pulls out her phone and texts Levi. Eddie approaches her)
Eddie: Look it's not what you think.
Amber: (Still texting) Oh you have no idea what I am thinking, now I suggest you turn around and go back to your wife who is taking care of her sister who you are sleeping with.
Eddie: (Sighs) This isn't some midlife crisis it's-
Amber: (Stops texting) Crazy, even if it makes sense in your mind, it doesn't in the real world. You are having an affair with your surrogate who is also your wife's sister. (Assumes) Is that baby-
Eddie: No, no we did in vitro with my sperm and Gwen's egg before any of this happened.
Amber: (Deflecting) How did this happen? Let me guess you just followed your heart? You never meant for any of this to happen?
Eddie: …I know from your side this seems wrong but…before the accident Leanne and I were having problems and-
Amber: Accident? What accident?
Eddie: Two years ago, Leanne was in a horrible car accident. Both of her legs were crushed and her arm was in a cast, she had to do recovery for 7 months before we decided to have a baby. Gwen and I were her support system we helped her through the PT and surgeries. And we spent a lot of time together just talking and understand the pain we were going through…Have you ever met someone and just know there was something between you that you just couldn't resist?
(Amber takes a deep breath to control her anger)
Amber: Well, it doesn't matter how you feel about Gwen what matters is your wife. She deserves to know; you understand that right?
Eddie: I do. After the baby is born…I'm gonna leave Leanne and be with Gwen.
(Carina exits the room and approaches Eddie)
Carina: She's contracting and is now three centimeters dilated, things are going satiny.
Amber: Smoothly, you should go back in there, your wife and mistress will notice something is wrong.
(Eddie ignores the insult and goes back. Carina looks at her sternly)
Amber: Don't even, that selfish pig deserves more than an insult and you know it. God, I don't understand how he can just stand around acting innocent while he's sleeping with his wife's siter.
Carina: You understand it you just don't like it because it reminds you of what happened with Andrea and your sister.
Amber: No! that is not it its…life isn't some cheap romance novel, there are commitments and you have to honor it.
Carina: Sometimes but other times passion can make a person do stupid things they would normally never do.
Amber: (Groans in disgust) 'Passion', 'Smassion' you think Leanne is gonna care that passion caused the two people she loved to literally screw her over?
Carina: I feel bad for Leanne I do but it's not our place to judge our patients and I hope that you understand that and act professional while we deliver this baby.
Amber: Nope I can't do it Carina. If I go back inside that room it's gonna turn into a crime scene.
Carina: (Stern) Dr. Karev, I know its hard but you have to-
(Levi approaches them with his tablet)
Carina: What is it?
Levi: Amber texted she said it was urgent.
Amber: It is, that offer to switch with me is it still standing?
Levi: Um yeah why do you-
Amber: Great you're with Carina today and I'm on scut.
Carina: (Knows she's avoiding the problem) Amber.
Amber: Carina I am being a mature adult here and choosing to give you an intern who will not murder one or both of those traitorous sons of bitches in there while I chart and hope my anger subsides by punching a tree. Do you disagree with my suggestion?
Carina: (Sighs and knows she will be difficult on her case) No I do not.
Amber: Great. Schmitt you should know before going in that the so-called husband is currently having an affair with his surrogate.
Levi: Ouch.
Amber: Who is also his sister-in-law.
Levi: (Eyes widen) Double ouch, you definitely made the right call.
Amber: Yes, I am mature that way. Now excuse me while I chart countless papers and scream at the sky.
(Amber leaves them both at the station when she turns a corner and Andrew bumps into her)
Andrew: Sorry, I'm so sorry.
Amber: (Angrier) No you're not, now move.
Andrew: (Stands in front of her to stop her) Amber please can we just talk?
Amber: (Scowls) Andrew my day is a crap fest so far and it doesn't need you in it to make it worse now move.
(Amber pushes past Andrew and heads to the lounge)
LATER IN GWENS ROOM
(Levi checks Gwen's vitals while their alone)
Levi: Your heart rate increased 10 mm but it's normal when you're in active labor. I'll update Dr. DeLuca and come back to check on you in 20 minutes.
(Levi turns to leave when Gwen speaks)
Gwen: That other intern, the lady doctor.
Levi: Dr. Karev.
Gwen: (Guilty) She…she thinks we're horrible people, doesn't she? Otherwise, they wouldn't send in another doctor if she wasn't.
Levi: I-I am sorry if she gave you that impression, she's…going through something and it has nothing to do with you or Eddie.
Gwen: (Unconvinced) Really? Because I hate myself enough as it is so I can imagine everyone else would for falling in love with my sister's husband.
Levi: …If you feel so bad why don't you stop?
Gwen: (Sighs) I love my sister Dr. Schmitt and I would do anything for her, I mean look at me I am, it's just…Ever since we were little Leanne wanted to get married and have kids even when we were kids. I didn't, maybe it was because I tried to be the opposite of her but I didn't feel what she felt…until Eddie. When I met him he was just my big sister's boyfriend who I mostly shrugged off because he was older and had my sister's attention half the time.
Levi: (Sits down) So what happened?
Gwen: When the accident happened, we really got to know each other and then something happened, something…magical and I knew that feeling Leanne got. And the more we tried to fight it the harder it got until…I love Leanne Dr. Schmitt I always will but now especially since I'm carrying Eddie's baby-
Levi: (Gently tries to suggest his theory) Did you ever think that maybe it was because of your pregnancy and the hormones that you feel overwhelmed and-
Gwen: No that's not what this is, God, I wish it was believe me but…I know what love feels like and this is it.
Levi: (Nods) I can't tell you what to do but I can tell you that I know what it's like not being able to choose who you fall in love with. But I know that you can choose to tell the truth, Leanne deserves that and it should come from you two.
(Gwen contemplates his words as he leaves to update Carina. Andrew spots him and goes to talk to him about Amber)
Andrew: Hey can I talk to you?
Levi: Um sure what's up?
Andrew: I need to talk to you about Amber.
Levi: (Knows this will be awkward) Um I have a patient with Carina and-
Andrew: (Doesn't know that Levi knows about Jo) Did Amber tell you what happened between us? Like why we broke up?
Levi: (Doesn't want to get in the middle) Um no she didn't look I have to-
Andrew: Great I was hoping that maybe you could talk to her as her best friend maybe get her to actually talk to me instead of yelling at me and pushing me when we run into each other at the hall. I mean the least that she can do is at least try to hear my side of things don't you agree?
Levi: …Yeah sure.
Andrew: Great so you'll talk to her?
(Levi knows he won't get out of this unless he agrees so he nods)
Andrew: All right get back to me with her response thanks.
(Andrew leaves the floor as Levi sighs over his predicament)
LATER IN THE DOCTORS LOUNGE
(Amber leans back on the couch working on charts when Link walks in looking for her)
Link: Hey I thought you were on OB.
Amber: I was I switched with Schmitt, I'm on scut.
Link: (Surprised) Really? I've never heard an intern choose scut over treating patients.
Amber: Well, you have now, what do you want?
(Link sits across from Amber on the coffee table)
Link: I talked to Jo an hour ago, she told me what she told you last week.
Amber: (Groans) Let me guess she gave you her version where I'm the villain in this scenario and she's the poor and helpless victim. If so, you can get the hell out.
Link: Amber there are no villains here not you and not Jo. Look I don't know what she's going through but it's bad if she-
Amber: (Grumpy) Tells me that my boyfriend was madly in love with her?
Link: I know your mad but don't take it out on Jo she's obviously going through something and she needs the people in her life including her sister.
Amber: (Spiteful) I only have two brothers no sisters.
Link: (Looks at her surprised) Amber-
(Nico enters the lounge)
Nico: Hey Link I just checked on your post ops what-
Link: We're talking here Nico you can go.
Nico: I was just-
Amber: (Cranky and takes it out on Nico) Get out.
Nico: (Surprised by her) Excuse me?
Amber: (Angry) You heard me get out. (Nico still stands there) Scram!
(Nico scoffs and leaves them)
Link: Good to know your taking your anger out on everyone and not just Jo and DeLuca.
Amber: Yeah, I'm a walking tornado right now I wreck everything in my path because it's in my nature. You tell that to Jo if she thinks she can apologize after wrecking my relationship for no reason other than she wanted to.
Link: Amber you know Jo and that's not-
Amber: I thought I knew her but I don't I…I don't know anything anymore. I have to go I have a lot of scut to finish.
(Link sighs as Amber prepares to leave)
Amber: Oh, and next you see Jo give her this for me.
(Amber flicks Link on his forehead causing him pain before leaving)
Link: Ow!
(Amber walks down the hall seething with anger until she stops at the station and spots Sam)
Amber: Hey I need the chart on Mr. Ross, Mr. Willis and Mrs. Olivier.
Sam: (Helpful tone) Yeah sure no problem it's no problem at all. And you know what I'm just gonna give you Mr. Ross's chart because you're such a good friend and you deserve good friends too who do your charts for you.
Amber: (Creeped out) Okay that's not what I-
Dahlia: (Carrying two cups of coffee) Hey Amber I went to the coffee cart on the south entrance and I know you like the drinks there so I got you your fav. Large Americano extra shot with three sugars.
(Amber looks at the coffee with concern before taking it from a grinning Dahlia)
Dahlia: So, what are we talking about?
Amber: Um I was just asking Sam for some charts and-
Dahlia: Oh, do you want some help? I've been told I am a scut master; my typing speed is 80 words per minute so if you want, I can lessen your case load.
Sam: You know I don't have a surgery until this afternoon so I can help too.
(Amber looks at the two of them freaked out by their over kindness)
Amber: Okay what is wrong with you two?
Sam: Nothing's wrong.
Dahlia: Yeah, we just want to take some stuff off your plate and help you with whatever is bothering you.
Amber: Why would I be bothered?
(Sam and Dahlia look at each other knowingly which Amber notices)
Amber: All right what's going on?
Sam: What do you mean?
Amber: I mean that you're offering to do charts and Dahlia here gave me a coffee from the other side of the hospital and you two surgery hungry freaks want to help me fill out paperwork. Explain.
(Sam and Dahlia try to stay quiet)
Amber: (Annoyed) Okay how about this then, if you two don't tell me what is going on in the next ten seconds, I am going to find an 18-gauge needle and shove it in your throats. Your choice.
Sam: (Sighs) Fine he told us what happened and he asked us to be extra nice to you today so that you wouldn't get angry.
Amber: (Assumes she's talking about Andrew and gets angry again) He told you we broke up? He told you what happened? He told you that to all of you.
Dahlia: Yeah, and we know it was messy and we just want you to know that-
(Amber slams the tablet on the station and stomps out in a huff to find Andrew)
Dahlia: (Scared) She-Karev's gone She-Hulk!
Sam: You think?!
(The two of them follow Amber who grabs a bin of gauze wraps as she turns right and spots Andrew talking to Casey down the hall)
Amber: (Angry) Parker move!
(Casey quickly gets behind her after sensing the angry tone and Amber greets Andrew by throwing a wrap at him hitting his forehead)
Andrew: (Shocked) Ow! What the hell Amber?!
Amber: (Boiling mad) What the hell is wrong with you?!
(Amber throws more wraps at Andrew who shields himself as Casey and the bystanders looks on in shock. Dahlia and Sam finally arrive)
Casey: She's gone She-
Sam and Dahlia: We know!
(Sam and Dahlia stop Amber from throwing more wraps. Sam grabs her throwing arm as Dahlia grabs the bin)
Sam: I think you made your point.
Dahlia: Breath in and breathe out.
(Amber groans as Andrew approaches her in confusion)
Andrew: What the hell are you thinking? I know your pissed at me but-
Amber: You told them what happened?! It isn't enough you humiliated me at home, you had to humiliate me at work?!
Andrew: (Notices people looking) Not here come on.
(Andrew guides Amber to the stairwell and the others follow behind them)
Andrew: You need to calm down.
Amber: Calm down?! You expect me to be calm after finding out that you told everyone here that you were in love with Jo?!
(Andrew tries to shush her from spilling but the others heard it behind them and express shock)
Sam: What?!
Dahlia: Jo Karev?!
Casey: You were in love with her sister?!
(Amber freezes on the spot in equal shock and turns to Andrew who rubs his eyes frustrated over their new situation)
Amber: You didn't tell them?
Andrew: (Frustrated) No, I didn't. What could possibly make you think I did?!
Sam: (Gingerly raises hand) Levi told us you two broke up but he didn't say why and I told Amber he told us but didn't mention his name at all.
Casey: (Still shocked) And now we know why he didn't tell us.
Dahlia: (On Amber's side) You fell in love with her sister? What the hell?
Andrew: (Clarifies) Was! I was in love with her sister! Not anymore.
Casey: It's still twisted man.
(The five of them stand there for an awkward moment before Amber gets angry that the secret is out)
Amber: Damn it!
(Amber stomps out of the stairwell and slams the door behind her. Andrew rubs his temples after what happened)
Andrew: (Calmly) And now if you all will excuse me, I am going to neuro to get this raging headache checked out.
(Andrew leaves the stairwell and the three of them stand there still shocked)
Sam: Her sister?
Dahlia: Right?
Casey: I'm pretty sure there's a Greek complex about it somewhere.
AN HOUR LATER AT L&D
(Levi and Carina continue to observe Gwen who breaths raggedly as her labor gets stronger. Eddie and Leanna are also in the room)
Levi: There's late decels on the monitor and her pressure is dropping
Eddie: What does that mean?
Carina: It means the baby is in distress. We have to do a c section.
Gwen: (Groans) It hurts!
Leanne: (Hold Gwen's hand) It's okay, it's gonna be okay Gwen I'm gonna be right here with you.
Eddie: (Strokes Gwen's hair back) It's gonna be okay honey.
(Leanne notices the tender way Eddie's looking at Gwen and figures out what's happening. Eddie notices her look and pulls back)
Leanne: E-Eddie, are-are you and Gwen-
Levi: I'm not sure now is the best time-
Carina: We need to move now! Schmitt let's go!
Gwen: I'm sorry Leanne, I'm so sorry.
(Carina and Schmitt wheel Gwen out of the patient room leaving Eddie and Leanne there in shock)
CUT TO BLACK
SCENE: O.R. 3
(Carina and Levi work on Gwen at the table)
Carina: Suction here Schmitt.
Levi: Okay, can we get this baby out? Is he gonna be, okay?
Carina: His heartbeat is struggling so we have to move fast.
Sam: (Intercom) How's it going in there?
(They look up to see Sam in the gallery with a worried look on her face)
Carina: Baby boy is in distress so we need to get him out fast.
Sam: Yeah, I won't keep you I just want to tell Schmitt to steer clear of Amber for a while.
Levi: What? Why?
Sam: It's a long story but basically because of what you told us and after a series of comical events the whole hospital now knows that Andrew was in love with Jo before he shacked up with Amber.
Levi: What?! I told you what happens in the locker room stays in the locker room!
Sam: Where have you been working at all year?! Nobody can keep a secret in this damn place you should've known that!
Levi: (Groans) How mad is Amber? Like on a scale on one to ten.
Sam: Eh maybe at like a 29. I wouldn't worry about it unless your particularly attached to your limbs. And your head.
Levi: (Sighs) I should've taken that internship in Chicago. There are no angry blondes who can kill you in Chicago.
Sam: Yeah, that parts all on you. All right I'm gonna go I'll make sure there's plenty of food at your shiva.
(Sam leaves the gallery as Carina looks at Levi in confusion)
Carina: Do I need to know what that was about?
Levi: No, you just need to know that friends who can kill for you are also friends that can kill you.
(They successfully get the baby boy out and he cries as he's taken away. Suddenly Gwen's monitors beep)
Levi: What happened?
Carina: There is a posterior tear, she lacerated her uterine artery. Put pressure on the bleeder.
(Levi puts pressure as Carina works to save Gwen)
LATER IN THE ICU
(Carina and Levi enter the room to find Gwen and Eddie holding hands)
Eddie: How's the baby?
Levi: Your son is doing fine; the nurses are with him now.
Carina: Unfortunately, there was a complication with your delivery.
Gwen: I know, Eddie said there was some bleeding and that you had to do a c section.
Carina: Gwen, I'm sorry but your uterus ruptured during labor, we tried to control the hemorrhaging but there was too much. I had to perform an emergency hysterectomy.
(Gwen pales at the news)
Eddie: But that means-
Levi: I'm sorry Gwen but you won't be able to have any more children.
(Gwen's breath shakes and she starts to sob while Eddie holds her hand)
Gwen: (Voice breaking) I…I didn't think I'd ever want to be a mom but after I had this baby-
Carina: Leanne's baby.
Eddie: It's not just Leanne's baby, he's my baby too…and Gwen's it's her egg.
(Levi and Carina look at each other shocked)
Levi: Gwen, you promised your sister-
Eddie: Things are different now; we want to be a family.
Levi: Gwen it doesn't matter what's happening between you and Eddie, you promised your sister a baby and you can't just-
Carina: Dr. Schmitt.
Eddie: With all due respect this is none of your business and if me and Gwen want to keep this baby then that's our choice.
(Levi and Carina look at the couple in disbelief)
TWO HOURS LATER IN RADIOLOGY ROOM 5
(Amber sits in the dark room on the table working on scut when Carina walks in)
Carina: I thought you should know that Gwen is out of surgery and the baby is out and completely healthy.
Amber: Great.
Carina: (Sits with her) We had to remove her uterus and now she and Eddie want to keep the baby from Leanne and raise him.
Amber: (Still typing) Those two are really winning humanitarian awards, aren't they?
(Carina gently closes Amber's laptop to get her attention)
Carina: He's not Andrea, Amber. I know you think that but he's not.
Amber: Carina with respect this is none of your-
Carina: I have seen him suffer this past year due to being rejected by Jo and Sam. I saw him torturing himself at the wedding but all that changed when you came along. I have seen the way that he looks at you and acts around you and it is…indescrivibile. That is the difference between him and Eddie, Eddie doesn't care about his wife at all not like Andrea cares about you. And he is stupid but I know that he adores you and I know you are angry but can you find it in your heart to forgive him for this one stupid mistake?
Amber: Carina…he was in love with my sister. They have both hurt me by keeping this from me and making me feel like an idiot. I know you want this to have a happy ending but there isn't going to be one. I don't know how to move past this and nothing that you will say will give me the answers.
Carina: It was a long time ago, it was before-
Amber: (Hold hand up) Don't say it was before we met. I hate it when your brother and everyone else point that out. I don't care if it was before we met, I care that it was with someone who I have grown to love like a sister. And who kept this from me until blowing it up in my face when I was happy with the guy. If you were in my shoes, you would be angry at them too and you would want to throw both of them over a bridge and don't even deny it.
Carina: I…would be angry but I would also ask myself why I should make this harder than it needs to be.
Amber: I'm not making this harder I…I am not just angry at him I am angry at myself for not seeing this coming. Carina, even before this whole Jo thing we were doomed from the start what with my brother beating him up and then him rejecting me because of that and suddenly we go from enemies to friends to lovers it…we don't make sense at all. I should have seen that but instead I let my feelings cloud my judgment and I let him in and here I am working alone in a dark room after humiliating myself again. Tell me if that makes sense to you.
(Amber sighs and Carina looks at her in thought)
Carina: Bambina, sometimes love doesn't have to make sense.
Amber: (Wants to leave) I have to go find another hiding spot.
(Amber leaves the room)
LATER IN OB
(Amber walks to pass the babies when she see's Leanne observing her baby from outside the room. She feels sympathy for her and decides to approach her)
Amber: Hi Leanne I don't know if you remember me, I'm Dr. Karev I was your OB's intern this morning. I wanted to see how you were doing.
Leanne: They won't let me hold my baby Dr. Karev. Why won't they let me hold him?
Amber: Um Dr. DeLuca told me there were complications during the delivery and she had to perform a hysterectomy on Gwen. She won't be able to conceive any more children.
Leanne: (Blank face) Is Gwen…
Amber: Gwen is fine she's recovering but…she and Eddie want to keep the baby.
Leanne: (Looks at Amber and becomes distressed) No.
Amber: (Rubs her arms to calm her) Leanne this doesn't mean that you'll get your son taken away from you it just means that Eddie and Gwen changed their minds.
Leanne: (Cries) This can't be happening to me; do you know how I imagined this day to be like? I imagined my husband and I inside that room singing 'I'm a little tea pot' and my sister…my sister would be at home getting the nursery set up so that she can play with her niece or nephew and now…what am I supposed to do?
Amber: Your gonna take a deep breath, muster up all the strength you've got and you are gonna fight this.
Leanne: (Shaky breath) I'm scared Dr. Karev. I've lost my husband, my sister and now my baby. (Voice breaking) I'm all alone.
Amber: No, you are not alone I know it feels that way believe me I know but you need to remind yourself of the people that you have in your life. You have a beautiful son who has a mother that wanted him more than anything. If you believe that you can be a good mother to that little boy then you will be but you need to believe it and you need to fight for it. You need to be willing to do anything to protect him because parenthood isn't as simple as you imagined it's a fight and you need to be strong enough to get in it. Do you understand?
(Leanne looks at Amber and nods)
Amber: Okay then tell me what you want to do and I will help you do it.
Leanne: …I want to hold my baby, I want to raise him, I want to be his mother.
LATER THAT NIGHT AT GWENS ROOM
(Carina and Levi treat Gwen's c section sound with Eddie by her side when Amber walks in with Leanne by her side)
Carina: Dr. Karev?
Amber: Leanne has something to say to the two of you.
Eddie: (Sighs) What is there to say?
Amber: Go on tell them.
Leanne: I wish I could yell at the two of you for what you did to me but that won't make a difference and it won't change what happened.
(Gwen looks away in guilt)
Leanne: But I can change what happens to our son, I want my baby.
Eddie: It's not your baby Leanne.
Amber: It takes more than biology to make a parent and I should know because both of mine were train wrecks.
Leanne: She's right Gwen it takes more than a sperm, an egg, and nine months to make a mother, you know that.
Levi: I'm sorry but she's right Gwen you made a promise to your sister.
Eddie: (Stands up) Look you guys can't just come in here and bully us.
Carina: (Tries to defuse the situation) No one is trying to bully anyone Mr. Hart.
Eddie: This is our baby and if we went to court-
Amber: Do you really want to do that? Go to court and counter your genetics with how you screwed over your wife and left her outside her baby's room?
Eddie: We never meant for this to happen. We didn't want to hurt her.
Amber: No but you did anyway and now there's only one person who's the victim here and it's not either of you. Leanne is fighting to be a part of her son's life in spite of the fact that you two have hurt her immeasurably.
Carina: Dr. Karev-
Amber: I don't know anything about the legal system but I can tell you that if I was in that jury, I would rather leave that defenseless baby in her hands than yours.
Eddie: Gwen we don't to listen to-
Gwen: (Voice breaking) Stop Eddie!
(The room quiets as the tension rises)
Gwen: Their right all of them. This baby isn't mine… (To Leanne) it's yours.
Eddie: Gwen-
Gwen: It's always been your baby. I'm sorry, I wish I could explain how all this happened but I can't…can you ever forgive me?
Leanne: …No.
Gwen: (Heartbroken) So that's it? We aren't sisters anymore?
Leanne: Gwen…you and me will never go back to what we were, we will always be sisters but I don't know if we can ever be a family again. I'm sorry. (To Carina) Will you take me to see my son?
Carina: Of course.
(Gwen cries into Eddie's shoulder as Carina leads Leanne out of the room. Amber and Levi walk side by side exhausted)
Amber: What a day huh?
Levi: Tell me about it. Are we okay? Do you still feel the need to strangle me?
Amber: Eh I think helping a woman get her son back got all the anger out and I know you were just trying to help in your own Schmitt way so…thanks.
Levi: I'm sorry I made things worse for you, I just…it happens with me.
Amber: I've been your friend long enough to know that for a fact.
Levi: What are you doing tonight?
Amber: The same thing I've done the last few nights; watch horror films at Dr. Grey's living room while killing myself with carbs and sugar it's very therapeutic. I'll see you tomorrow.
Levi: Amber wait (Amber turns around) I know you feel like your alone right now but you know that's not true right?
Amber: (Unconvinced but lies) Yeah, I know that I'll see you in the morning.
(Amber walks away from Levi who looks at her concerned)
LATER AT THE GENERAL FLOOR
(Levi goes to Andrew while he's charting)
Levi: Amber loves you. She hasn't said it and she hasn't realized it because Amber is intuitive with everyone except herself. The reason that she can't talk to you without yelling at you is because someone she loves screwed her over like everyone else in her life has.
Andrew: (Confused) Wait hold on a minute, you don't know-
Levi: I know that you were in love with Jo and I want to defend you because you were right that it was years ago-
Andrew: (Thinks Levi is on his side) Thank you.
Levi: I'm not done, it was years ago but despite that I want to punch you in the face along with Amber. Your so busy defending your side of this argument that you haven't taken the time to imagine how she feels right now. And let me tell you she feels like roadkill that's been left on the street to get run over repeatedly until she becomes part of the pavement. Care to guess who's been running her over?
Andrew: (Inhales and exhales) …Fine maybe your right so tell me what I need to do, how do I fix this?
Levi: Leave her alone for a while, not forever just long enough so that she can process and punch trees and cry. If you care about her at all and if you're really the good guy she thinks you are. You will stay out of her way and not make things harder for her, that is how you can fix this.
(Levi leaves the floor and Andrew is left there to contemplate his words)
LATER THAT NIGHT ON THE THIRD FLOOR
(Amber stands outside the elevator waiting for the door to open and is taken back by Andrew inside checking his phone before he looks up and is also shocked. Amber shakes her head and enters anyway with her back to him closing the door. There's an awkward silence between them as Amber's anger towards Andrew slowly shifts to sadness over how hurt she is because of him. At the same time Andrew tries to come up with what to say to her but comes up with blank oblivious to Amber looking at the wall trying to hold back her tears. Finally, just as Andrew was about to speak the doors open to the lobby and Amber exits the elevator quickly and Andrew just looks at her walking away saddened as well)
LATER AT MEREDITHS HOUSE
(Amber walks through the door to find Alex on the couch playing Call of Duty with an aggressive look on his face)
Amber: Hey, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at the loft?
Alex: (Sighs) Jo kicked me out she said she needs some time alone and that it had nothing to do with me.
Amber: Hmm, still got you mad enough to play a video game deemed too violent for children though.
Alex: (Slightly angry tone as he plays harder) Yep that got me plus we haven't found a match for Gus yet even when we've called everyone, we know who has some sort of connection outside of the hospital. So yeah, Call of Duty is how I am taking my anger out as opposed to getting into a bar fight. Damn it! I'm dead!
(Amber sits next to him as Alex goes through the guide)
Amber: You know I'm sort of at the same place you are right now.
Alex: (Numb) I highly doubt that.
Amber: Do you feel like you want to scream at the skies until they tell you to shut up? Or smash every breakable thing in the room? Or maybe stab your mattress because you can kill it without going to prison?
Alex: Yep, that pretty much describes my mood right now, how do you know?
Amber: Because I feel the same way…Andrew and I broke up four nights ago.
Alex: (Looks at her with concern) What? What happened?
Amber: (Doesn't want Alex to get mad at Andrew too) It just…didn't work out.
Alex: Why didn't you tell me?
Amber: (Shrugs) I took a break from my boyfriend while your wife is going through a mental crisis, it hardly seemed like the time to focus on my problems.
Alex: (Sighs as he feels guilty) I'm sorry, I'm…I'm sorry. Look you know that you can talk to me, right? It doesn't matter how small your problem is how big mine is, you can always talk to me. Whatever you're going through I've probably been through it so you know I can handle it, okay?
(Amber looks at Alex gratefully and tears form in her eyes as her day comes back to her)
Amber: He thinks that I hate him. I mean a part of me does and my actions and words make it seem like I do so he's not to blame for thinking it but uh…I also miss him you know?
(Amber starts to cry as her sadness comes back)
Amber: (Voice breaking) I really miss him you know and I-I want to tell him that but awful things come out of my mouth when I'm near him and I don't know why I make things harder.
(Alex rubs Amber's back in comfort as she cries harder)
Amber: (Voice breaks) And now he gives me space when I ask him too but…but I don't want space too. God what is wrong with me?
(Amber keeps crying and Alex looks at her in sympathy as he rubs her back more)
Alex: It's gonna be okay.
(Amber sniffles with Alex there to share her pain with)