Bye, Bye Birdie
The ambulance lights were flashing, the sirens screaming, as Mariana and Alexandria walked up to the emergency entrance into the ER. Jing-mei ran out, with Carter and Abby behind her to meet up with EMT's who were putting the stretcher on the ground.
"A woman was hit by a drunk driver, the driver's on his way in," the EMT informed the staff.
Jing-mei nodded, "What's her condition?" She rushed up to the stretcher and looked down as she exclaimed, "Oh my gosh!"
"She's critical. I don't know how the other driver is," the EMT replied.
"Carter! Abby! We have to get her in now!" Jing-mei yelled and started running with the stretcher. Abby rushed ahead to find an empty room.
Carter looked down as he joined Jing-mei and the EMT. "Oh my gosh!"
The two doctors and the EMT rushed out of sight. Mariana and Alexandria stopped beside the ambulance. Mariana looked at it, and then back into the ER through the doors.
"So, this is what it's like to not be the one in the ambulance," Mariana said.
Alexandria laughed slightly and turned to look at her sister. "Well, at least it was never when you were brought in."
Mariana nodded. "I know. I thought April showers were supposed to bring May flowers, not kill them."
Alexandria nodded in agreement as another ambulance screamed into the ambulance bay. Alexandria turned and rushed out of the way. "Well, the April showers aren't killing the May flowers alone. The May showers are helping," she said as she turned around and saw that her sister was standing in the same place. "Ana! Unless you'd like to be run over get out of the way of the ambulance!"
Mariana looked behind her and saw the ambulance driving in. Her eyes widened and she rushed out of the way. She got by her sister just before Alexandria hit her arm. "What was that for?!"
"You are such an idiot! Why didn't you move out of the way? An ambulance was coming!" Alexandria exclaimed.
"I know! And all the other times I have heard an ambulance, I've had to stay where I was so they could come get me," Mariana said as Alexandria glared at her. "Old habit I guess."
Alexandria rolled her eyes and shook her head as Luka and Dave ran out of the ER with Haleh close behind.
"This man is in serious condition. He was driving drunk, he hit the person who just came in," the EMT said as everyone ran with the man on the stretcher.
Alexandria watched them closely, "I wonder if they'll be okay."
"Yeah," Mariana whispered beside her.
Alexandria started walking towards the doors. Right before she waked in she turned around said, "Mariana, you coming? I thought you wanted to get out of the rain."
Mariana snapped out of the trance-like state she had been in when she had heard the man had been driving drunk. She shook her head and smiled a little, "Yeah."
When they entered the ER Randi smiled at them. "Hey girls. You can go into the lounge. I'll let Luka know you're there when he comes out."
"Thanks," Alexandria said as she and Mariana walked past Randi into the lounge.
~*~*~*~*~
A half-hour later the monitor still beeped, its green light flat. Wearily Jing-mei said, "One, two, three, charge!"
Carter dutifully followed Jing-mei's hoping for a miracle. But the monitor still beeped, the green light stayed flat. Jing-mei looked up at the clock. "Time of death, 4:30 pm."
Carter pulled away from the body sighing. Abby picked up the clipboard and jotted down the time. When she was done, she hugged the clipboard to her chest as she stared at the body. "I-I can't believe it."
Jing-mei nodded her head, blinking back tears. "Either can I."
Carter looked down at the woman. "Look at her left hand."
"Why?" Abby asked.
"Just look," he said and the two women did. On the woman's hand was a gold ring with a sparkling diamond.
Jing-mei brushed tears out of her eyes.
"Benton proposed?" Abby questioned.
Carter shrugged, "I'm not certain. But, if I had to make a guess, I'd say that it is Benton who was her fiancé, not some other guy."
Abby sighed as Jing-mei and Carter both pulled the white blanket up. "Goodbye, Cleo," she said as they covered Cleo Finch's body completely.
~*~*~*~*~
Abby walked over to the phone. She picked it up and looked at the card in her hand that they had found in Cleo's wallet. She dialed the number and waited as the phone rang. The machine picked up and Cleo's voice said, "Hi. You have reached Peter, Cleo and Reese. Please leave a message," there was a beep as Abby hung up and looked through the ER's phone book, looking up the number of Benton's new work place.
When someone answered she said, "Hi, may I please speak to Dr. Benton?"
"Who's calling?"
"This is Nurse Abby Lockhart, from Cook County General," she replied.
"One moment please," the woman said and put her on hold. Music floated through the receiver for the few minutes before Peter picked up.
"Abby? What's up?" Benton said into the phone.
Abby sighed and said, "Um, we need you to come here right now."
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"It's Cleo."
"What happened?" he asked.
"She was in a car accident."
"Is she okay?"
"Peter, you need to come here now," Abby said, not wanting to tell him over the phone, knowing he already knew.
"Oh my gosh! No!" he whispered.
"Peter, please, just come here now," Abby said.
There was silence for a moment before he said, "Yeah. I-I'll pick up Reese from the daycare here and come over."
~*~*~*~*~
"This doesn't seem too good," Alexandria said looking at the clock.
"Why?" Mariana asked.
"It's taking a long time," Alexandria replied. She got up off the chair she was sitting on and said, "I'm starving, I'm going to go get something to eat from the cafeteria."
"You just had an extra value meal, and ice cream at McDonalds before we came here!" Mariana replied.
"Hey! I'm eating for two here!" Alexandria exclaimed sadly.
Mariana nodded sadly. "Yeah. I'll stay here and wait for dad."
"Good idea," Alexandria replied as she walked out of the lounge.
~*~*~*~*~
Luka walked out of the name and over to the board that held patient names. He grabbed a marker and pulled the cap off. He quickly jotted down the name of his patient.
Abby looked up. "He made it?"
Luka nodded. "Yeah, he did. Did your patient make it?"
"No," Abby said as she shook her head, Cleo's wallet still open in front of her, the drivers license showing. Luka saw it.
"Is-is that your patients wallet?" Luka asked.
Abby nodded. "Yeah."
"Cleo was your patient?" Luka clarified.
Abby nodded, "Yes."
"Cleo died?"
Abby nodded once again. "Yeah."
"Did you call someone?" Luka asked.
"Benton. They were…they were engaged," Abby replied.
Luka sighed and looked up as Benton rushed in, Reese in his arms. "Abby!"
Abby looked up. "Dr. Benton! I'll go get Dr. Chen or Dr. Carter."
"No, Abby! Tell me what happened. Please," Benton asked.
Abby nodded and walked over. In a low voice she said, "Cleo was hit by a drunk driver. She flat-lined immediately. We worked for a half-hour. We tried as hard as we could, but…"
Her voice trailed off so Benton finished, "she didn't make it."
Abby nodded. "I'm so sorry, Peter."
"We were going to get married. I just…I just proposed last night," he whispered.
"I'm so sorry," Abby whispered again.
"Can I go see her?" he asked as Carter walked up.
"Dr. Benton! Did Abby tell you already?" he asked.
Peter nodded. "Yes, she did. I'd just like to see Cleo."
Carter nodded, "I'll take you to her."
Peter nodded, "Abby, would you please take Reese?"
Abby nodded. "I'll take him into the lounge. You can meet us in there."
Randi looked up as Peter and Carter walked down the hall. "Dr. Kovac. Mariana and Alexandria are in the lounge too."
Luka nodded, "Okay. Thanks."
~*~*~*~*~
Luka and Abby walked into the lounge. "Hi, Mariana," Abby said. "Would you hold Reese for a minute?"
Mariana looked up, "Uh, sure."
Abby set Reese in Mariana's lap. Mariana wrapped her arms around the little boy and looked down at him. She smiled at the little boy who stared up at her and smiled. "Hi, Reese," she said and then noticed the hearing aids. "Dad, why does he have hearing aids?"
"He can't hear. They help him a little," Luka replied.
Abby grabbed two coffee mugs and poured coffee into each. She handed one of the mugs to Luka who sat down at the table and looked at Mariana, "Randi said you and Alexandria were here. Where's Alexandria?"
"She went to the cafeteria to get something to eat. She can't seem to get enough to eat lately," Mariana replied.
"The joy of being pregnant," Abby said sarcastically. "I wish this wasn't happening to her."
Luka and Mariana nodded their heads in agreement. Mariana looked down at Reese who was still staring up at her, watching her intensely. The door opened and Carter, Jing-mei and Benton walked in. Benton walked over to Reese and Mariana. Looking at Mariana he said, "Are you Mariana?"
Mariana nodded and smiled, "Yeah. You are?"
"I'm Dr. Benton. I did your surgery," he replied.
"Oh! Yeah! I remember you! Thank you," she said.
Benton tried to muster a smile, but failed. Instead he just said. "You look a lot better. I'm glad to see it."
"Thanks," Mariana said. "Is Reese your son?"
Benton nodded as he knelt down in front of Reese. The little boy signed something, and Mariana watched him, amazed to watch his little fingers move into the signs so quickly.
Benton started sighing and said, "We're here because of Cleo."
The boy signed something again and Benton took a deep breath and signed while saying, "Cleo was driving home. And she was hit by someone. Cleo was hurt really bad. And when she was brought here, the doctor's realized that her heart wasn't working. And they tried to restart her heart for a long time. But, but they couldn't. And Cleo's not going to come home again. She, she went into a deep sleep for a very long time. She, she died," Benton finished.
The little boy blinked as tears shimmered in his eyes. Then he quickly signed something and Benton sighed, a long heavy sigh. He signed back, saying, "Yes. Just like mommy."
Everyone was silent for a moment. The door flew open and Alexandria burst in, holding a plate with a hamburger and fries in one hand, pizza in the other. Her arms were close to her abdomen as she held a closed container of fresh tropical fruit and a bag of cheetos.
Mariana was the first to respond, trying to save her sister from the confused looks Jing-mei and Benton were giving her as she came in with a lot of food. "Thanks for getting me those fries!"
Alexandria walked over and set the food on the table, pushing the fries towards Mariana. Looking over at Abby and Luka she said, "I thought you two might be hungry. I got you two a hamburger…" realizing that wasn't enough she shoved the cheetos towards them, "And these ch…cheetos," she said as she looked towards the fries. Mariana bit into one and looked down at the small plate of fries and then up at the hamburger and cheetos.
"You know, fries go better with hamburgers," she said and pushed the plate forward grabbing the bag of cheetos, opening it up. She grabbed one and put it in her mouth, then looked down to see Reese looking into the bag. She looked up at Benton and asked, "Can he have some?"
Peter shook his head, "You eat them. I can get him something from the vending machines on our way out."
Mariana shook her head, "No, really. I-I'm not really all that hungry at the moment actually. I don't know why I told her to get me something."
Peter nodded. "If you don't mind."
Mariana gave Reese the chips who started munching on them right away. Alexandria kicked her foot and Mariana shot her a look. Alexandria finished her fruit and picked up the pizza. Abby took one French fry and slowly ate it, Luka did the same. Peter looked back at Reese, signing he said, "Would you like to go see Cleo?"
Reese nodded and Peter picked him up. "Thanks for holding him, Mariana. I'm glad to see you're doing better." Looking at Alexandria he said, "Alexandria, right? Dr. Benton."
Alexandria had just bit into her pizza. She pulled back, the cheese on the piece in her mouth and the rest of the pizza breaking. She chewed a couple times and quickly swallowed before saying, "Yeah. You're the guy who did Ana's surgery, right?"
Dr. Benton nodded. "Yeah. It's nice to see you again. Thanks for holding Reese, Mariana."
He walked out of the lounge with Reese, Carter and Jing-mei following. When they were gone Alexandria glared at Mariana. "Why did you give him the chips?"
"I wasn't hungry!" Mariana exclaimed.
"I am! And I did buy those chips for me you know!" Alexandria exclaimed.
"Sorry! I'll pay you back! He just seemed really sad, somebody he knows died!" Mariana exclaimed bewildered. Abby and Luka, eyes wide, pushed the French fries and hamburger back towards Alexandria.
"Someone he knows died?" Alexandria asked, her eyes wide.
"Yes," Mariana said.
Alexandria broke out into tears as she sat down in a chair. "That's s-so sad!"
"What's wrong?" Mariana asked, getting out of her chair and backing away from her sister.
"Mood swings," Luka replied.
The door to the lounge opened right as he said that and Dave walked in. "Mood swings. Who has them…woh! What's wrong with her?"
"What does it look like?" Mariana asked.
"Well, why is she having mood swings?" Dave asked.
Luka and Abby looked at each other, not sure how to respond. Alexandria just burst into even more tears not seeing a answer besides the true one. Mariana was quick to respond. "PMS."
"PMS?!" Alexandria exclaimed standing up angrily.
"Woh! Calm down Mrs. Frankenstein!" Mariana exclaimed.
Alexandria glared at her, breathing heavily before she broke out laughing. Dave stared at her, then shook his head and turned to Luka. "Dude, you know that guy who killed Cleo?"
Luka nodded.
"Turns out, he's a police officer."
"What?!" Luka exclaimed.
Dave nodded, "Yeah, can you believe it. A police officer goes to a bar, gets drunk and drives home. Only, along the way he crashes and kills someone."
Alexandria stopped laughing and sat back down, picking up the hamburger and taking a bite. Luka and Abby stared out the window, thinking about this new bit of information.
Mariana started walking around saying, "Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh,"
Dave looked over at her. "Okay, the twins are starting to scare me! What's wrong with you now?"
Mariana stared at him, tears in her eyes, before running out of the lounge. Alexandria, who had just finished half of her hamburger and had taken another bite, stood up and shouted, "Ana!"
She started choking and sat back down. Luka ran around the table to her, just as she swallowed the piece that had gotten lodged in her throat. Abby stood up, looking at Alexandria and out the door where Mariana had just run.
"You stay here with Luka and Alexandria, I'll go find Mariana," Dave said and ran off after Mariana.
Abby looked back at Luka and Alexandria. Alexandria leaning forward, Luka was patting her back. He looked up, "Get her a glass of water," he said and turned back down to Alexandria. "Are you okay?"
Alexandria nodded and picked up the hamburger taking another bite.
~*~*~*~*~
Dave followed Mariana to the sidewalk and saw her turning, ready to the cross the highway. The lights had just turned green, and cars were starting to move across the crosswalk. Mariana took a step off the sidewalk. Dave sped up and called out her name. She turned around for a second.
The second was all Dave needed to catch up with her, grab her arm, and pull her back. "What are you doing?" she asked angrily, her dark hair whipping around her face as he pulled her back. Tears glistened in her eyes.
"What is the matter with you?" he asked. "You were about to cross the street while the light was green!"
"So?" she asked.
"What's wrong? Why did you run out like that?" he asked her.
"That man who hit and killed Cleo was a police officer!" she said through gritted teeth.
"Yes, I know," Dave said.
"A police officer had a few drinks, got drunk, drove home, and hit and killed someone Dave!" Mariana said.
"I know that Mariana! What's the problem?" he asked.
"If a police officer can hit and kill someone, a teenager can. I can!" Mariana said as a tear slipped down her cheek.
Dave put his hands on Mariana's shoulders and whispered, "Mariana, the police officer was drunk. He was drunk Mariana. You don't drink," he said. She looked up at him sharply and he said, "Y-You don't drink, do you?"
Mariana looked away again, not answering. "You do. Does Luka know about this?"
Mariana nodded. "He knows I got drunk one time. He told me not to do it again."
"And have you?"
"Not yet. And now, with, I just, I never realized what could happen. You get drunk, you drive, you hit someone, you kill that person, and their loved ones have to suffer," Mariana said. "Is it worth the high you get when you're drunk? Is it worth those few feel-good hours to spend the rest of your life with a persons death on your conscious and, and putting their family through hell?"
"No, no, I'd say it isn't worth it," Dave whispered.
"Exactly! That's what I think too," Mariana said, a tear slipping down her cheek. Dave moved one of his hands from her shoulder to her face and wiped it away.
"So, does…does that mean you're done drinking?" Dave asked.
Mariana sighed, "Yeah. Yeah, I think it does."
Dave smiled, "Good. Now, let's get out of the rain. Why the hell is it still raining?! It hasn't stopped since I came here! I'm surprised Chicago isn't flooding yet!"
Mariana smiled slightly. Dave looked at her, "Are you gonna be okay?"
Mariana nodded, "I think so."
"Good," he said and put his arm around her shoulder.
They started walking back towards the hospital when they heard someone yell, "She did not cheat on you!"
"Mitchell?" Mariana whispered, recognizing the voice.
"Yes she did! How else could she be pregnant?" another voice yelled.
"Do you think Alexandria would really cheat on you, Michael?" the first voice said, more quietly this time.
"What the hell?" Mariana asked as she turned around.
~*~*~*~*~
Mitchell and Michael were sitting in a coffee-shop. "You actually found some time to spend with me!" Michael exclaimed, surprised.
"Of course I have time for you buddy! You're my best friend!" was Mitchell's response.
"But lately, you've just been spending time with Ana," Michael pointed out.
"I know. I know. But, you know, Ana's just been through a really hard time. And I love her…more than anyone!" Mitchell said.
"I know you do. I just miss you. I miss being able to spend time with you. I'm sick of…being home and watching Powerpuff Girls with my little sister," Michael said.
"I know. I'm sorry. But now you have Alexandria to chill with when I'm with Ana," Mitchell said.
"Actually, I'm gonna break up with Alexandria. Once and for all, I can't be with her again," Michael said looking down into his cup of coffee.
"What? Why?" Mitchell exclaimed stunned.
"Because she…she cheated on me!" Michael exclaimed.
"What?!" Mitchell exclaimed. "She did not cheat on you!"
"She's pregnant! And I haven't slept with her!" Michael exclaimed.
"You-you know she's pregnant?" Mitchell asked.
Michael stared at him. "You knew she was pregnant? And you didn't tell me? How could you not tell me? I'm your best friend!"
"Alexandria doesn't want anyone to know. Ana told me. I'm not even sure if Alexandria knows that I know she's pregnant," Mitchell said.
"But you knew she was cheating on me!"
"She's not cheating on you!"
"Yes, she is! I didn't do anything with her Mitch. She didn't just get pregnant on her own you know!" Michael said.
"Michael –" Mitchell started.
"You know what, I'm sick of this," Michael stood up and put money down on the table. "She cheated on me, and I can't be with someone who cheats on me. I'm sorry."
He left the coffee shop. "Shit," Mitchell swore as he pulled some money out of his jeans. He slapped his money down on the table and ran out after Michael shouting, "She did not cheat on you!"
Michael turned around, "Yes she did! How else could she be pregnant?"
"Do you think Alexandria would really cheat on you, Michael?" Mitchell asked, catching up with him.
"I never would have thought that she would. But, come on. Face the facts. She's pregnant. She's gonna be a mother. And I sure as hell am not the father. I've never touched her in that way, I never would because I'm not that kind of person!" Michael said. Mitchell was staring over his shoulder, "What? Just because I'm going to dump the sister of the love of your life you suddenly can't even look me in the eye?"
Mitchell sighed. "No, actually I'm not looking you in the eye, because the love of my life is standing behind you."
"What?" Michael asked as he turned around. "Oh, hi Ana."
"So exactly what type of person do you think my sister is?" Mariana asked him icily.
~*~*~*~*~
"Do you think Mariana's all right?" Alexandria asked. She had finished her fruit, hamburger, fries and pizza.
"I don't know," Luka said looking out the door.
Abby looked at the clock. "We're both off shift. Should we go relieve Dave of his duties and take Ana home?"
Luka nodded, "Yeah. Let's clock out and get going."
~*~*~*~*~
"I don't know! She's uh, she's uh…" his voice went off.
"You better not say the s-word," Mariana told him. "Because, that's the only thing you could use to describe her in this situation, and she's not one."
"I wasn't going to say a slut!" Michael shouted.
"Good!"
"She's just someone who's…more intimate with the people she's cheating on her boyfriend with," Michael said.
"She's not cheating on you!" Mariana exclaimed. Then a thought hit her. "How do you know she's pregnant anyway? Mitchell, if you told him I will kill you."
"I didn't tell!" Mitchell said, backing up with his hands raised in the air.
"He didn't tell. I heard you and Alexandria talking on the canoe the other day," Michael said. "And I didn't sleep with her. If I didn't, how else could she be pregnant?"
"Think about it Michael!" Mariana yelled, then lowered her voice. "You two just started dating again two weeks ago, after the two months you guys were just friends. If she knows she's pregnant now, then obviously it happened before you two were together again. Especially if she just found a month ago."
Michael nodded. "Okay. She didn't cheat on me. But…I still can't be with her."
"Why? Because you don't like her? That's an okay reason, even though you're crazy if you don't!" Mariana shouted.
"No, it's not there. I really like her a lot!" Michael said.
"Then why? I don't get it Michael!" Mariana said.
"Because she's pregnant. That means she slept with someone. And I'm not ready to be in a relationship with someone who does sleep with the people she's with," Michael said.
"Do you really think that Alexandria would sleep with anyone?" Mitchell asked.
"No. But she's pregnant Mitchell. You know how women get pregnant just as well as I do," Michael said.
"You don't know the circumstances of her pregnancy, Michael. Don't jump to conclusions," Mitchell said.
"Well then, why don't you tell me the circumstances?" Michael said.
"She was raped," Mariana whispered. "Someone raped her when we went to Croatia."
"Ana! What are you doing?" came a voice from behind her.
Mariana turned around and saw Alexandria standing behind her, her face one of surprise, shock and hurt. Luka and Abby were behind her, both looking disappointed. And Dave was standing beside them, a look of pure confusion and bewilderment on his face.
"Why did you tell him? I don't want anyone to know! It's fine if Mitchell knows, but…not other people!" Alexandria exclaimed. "Why did you tell him?"
Mariana sighed, "Thanks Michael."
Michael stepped forward. "Is it true? Were you raped?"
Alexandria nodded. Glaring at her sister she said, "Well, now that she told you, yes. I was raped. And I'm pregnant."
Michael sighed. "She was only defending you Alexandria. I heard you talking to her in the canoe about being pregnant. I thought you were cheating on me, and then when she pointed out that you wouldn't have cheated on me since we haven't been dating long enough I said that I didn't want to be with someone who slept with the people she was dating. And that's when she told me what happened."
"Oh," Alexandria whispered. "I'm sorry, Ana. I should have known you wouldn't tell him."
Mariana nodded, "Don't worry about it Al. I would've thought the same thing if I had heard you talking if the situation was reversed."
"Alexandria," Michael whispered taking her hands. "I'm sorry I thought you were cheating on me. I should've known that you would never do something like that. I should have trusted you."
"It's okay Michael! Don't worry about it!" Alexandria said.
"I was planning to break up with you. But, like I told your sister, I really like you. So, if you don't mind after everything I've accused you of, could we still go out? Even if it's only for a little while?"
Alexandria nodded, "Yeah."
"When the baby is born, I'll be here if you ever need me. Just call me, and I'll be there to help," Michael said.
"Thanks," Alexandria smiled.
Michael pulled her closer to him, hugging her tightly. "I'm sorry," he whispered.
Alexandria smiled and put her arms around him, "Don't worry about it Michael."
Mitchell walked closer to Mariana, who had moved out of Alexandria and Michael's way when they had started talking. He smiled at her as he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer to him, kissing the top of her head. "I love you, Ana."
"I love you too, Mitch," she whispered back.
Luka and Abby watched the twins, smiling themselves. Caught up in the moment they walked into each others arms and kissed each other lovingly. Dave, who was watching sighed in disgust as he saw his coworkers kissing, and then smiled at Alexandria and Michael. Then he looked at Mariana and Mitchell who were now gazing into each others eyes, smiling.
Dave's smile disappeared, and jealously built up inside of him. "You know, we should get out of the rain, or all of us will get sick!"
The three couples parted and nodded in agreement. Luka and Abby started walking across the street, where the cars were now stopped. Michael and Alexandria followed. Mitchell and Mariana started following but stopped in front of Dave.
Mariana pulled away from Mitchell and hugged Dave. Dave was surprised but soon recovered and wrapped his arms around her. "What's this for?"
"I just wanted to thank you," she said.
"For what?"
"For listening when I was upset," she said.
"No problem," Dave smiled.
All too soon for him Mariana pulled back and walked back into her boyfriend's waiting arms. "Thanks," she said again. Dave watched as she and Mitchell quickly ran up to Alexandria and Michael.
Coming Soon: The Gun Things are getting rocky in Chicago for the Luka, Abby, Mariana and Alexandria. What will happen next?
