Chapter 3: Going the Distance
SCENE: ANDREW AND AMBERS APARTMENT
(Amber stands in front of the bedroom mirror adjusting her makeup excited for her first day as a resident)
Amber: (Smiles) Today's the day.
(Andrew enters the room yawning holding two cups of coffee)
Andrew: (Tired) You do realize that you're going to work at the same hospital you worked at two days ago, right? The only difference is that you set your alarm clock 2 hours before we regularly leave.
Amber: (Takes coffee) Andrew, this is a big deal. I'm a resident, not an intern, a full-blown surgical resident!
Andrew: I know I was there when you got your test results back and I definitely remembered when we celebrated after Jo and Alex left. Maybe we can celebrate some more before we go to work.
Amber: Nope. I want to make a good impression on my first day. Bailey is still in a mood and I don't want her to find an excuse to fire another Karev.
Andrew: You honestly believe that?
Amber: Of course, I do, it's me. And Bailey is Bailey, she fired three of her best surgeons one of whom used to train her. Do you honestly think she'll have a problem firing me as she sees fit?
Andrew: Look I know Bailey isn't…easy but she's not evil. She's not gonna use you to get back at your brother. You've earned your place and your gonna do everything you can to show them that, so show them.
(Amber grins at Andrew before kissing him)
Amber: I'll see you at the hospital?
Andrew: You bet. Baileys got something big planned for us and by us, I mean all the residents.
Amber: (Intrigued) Ooh what is it?
Andrew: (Grins) That's for me to know and you to find out.
Amber: (Catching on) You don't know what it is either do you?
Andrew: Just because I'm a senior resident doesn't mean that I know everything.
Amber: (Chuckles) Oh I am very well aware of that, thank you.
(Andrew smirks and pulls Amber in for a kiss that turns into a passionate makeout before Amber pulls away)
Amber: (Stops herself) Nope! I cannot be late so no sex until tonight.
Andrew: (Laughs) Seriously?
Amber: (Serious) Seriously.
Andrew: (Realizes she's serious) Seriously?
Amber: Yes, I need to be at full capacity today and you…occupy my capacity. That sounded way dirtier than it sounded in my head.
Andrew: (Grasps with the no sex) Okay how about a quickie before work?
Amber: No.
Andrew: What about-
Amber: No.
Andrew: (Whining) 5 minutes come on, you know I can do a lot in five minutes.
Amber: No! I'm driving to work I'll see you there. And no ambushing me in the closets, closet sex is very distracting.
(Amber leaves Andrew in their apartment causing him to take a cold shower)
LATER AT THE RESIDENTS LOUNGE
(The interns excitedly enter the lounge and see Amber sitting at the table drinking coffee already in her scrubs)
Amber: (Excited) What up second years!
(The new residents gasp at their new lounge)
Sam: (Smiling) I cannot believe we are residents. I must be dreaming, nobody pinch me.
Levi: I can't believe I'm actually gonna do surgeries.
Amber: Neither can I. Check it out we've each got our own cubbies mine is right here next to Casey.
Taryn: Are they assigned to us?
Amber: (Excited) Yes, we've got our new lab coats inside! Check it out! (Motions to her coat) 'Amber Karev M.D.' my name and medical status is embroidered on my coat!
Dahlia: (Whispers to Taryn) Have you ever seen her this happy?
Taryn: I didn't even know she could do happy.
Sam: My cubby is right next to Andrew…do you want to switch? I kind of want to be next to my boyfriend and not next to yours.
Taryn: Who was also your boyfriend.
Levi: Taryn!
Taryn: What? It's true. It's not my fault they have the same…taste.
Amber: (Groans in disgust) Did you have to use taste?
Sam: Seriously. So, do you want to switch?
Levi: I'm right here too. Now you have a cubby boyfriend and cubby buddy.
Amber: (Shrugs) Why not? I mean I live with the guy so it shouldn't be hard to be cubby buddies. Did I seriously just say cubby buddies?
Levi: (Chuckles) It's catching on.
Sam: It's not.
(Amber and Sam switch cubbies when they get an alert on their phones)
Amber: Fourth floor with Bailey immediately.
(The rest of them hurriedly head to their cubbies to change while Amber grabs her coffee and calmly walks away from the panicking residents)
Amber: Good luck!
(Amber finishes her coffee on the way and throws it away before standing in front of Bailey outside the patient's room. Andrew and Blake stand beside her)
Bailey: She-Karev, your late.
Amber: I-I got here before the rest of my friends.
Bailey: If you want to impress me on your first day as a resident then you should've gotten here before these two.
Amber: (Scoffs and notices Blake) Who the hell are you?
Blake: (Grins) Blake Simms fifth year from Hopkins. Dr. Koracick sent me here, I think you know him.
Amber: (Groans) Unfortunately I do.
(The residents powerwalk and finally arrive at their destination)
Bailey: Nice of you all to finally show up. We're gonna do things differently today. Keep up or get out of my sight. (Writes on window) 55-year-old male, presents with weakness of the hips after walking short distances and erectile dysfunction.
Levi: (Whispers to Taryn) Who do you think's gonna have to clean the window after this?
Bailey: Whoever asked that question. Now, someone tell me what to do first.
Andrew: Check distal pulses, ABIs.
Blake: And if needed, proceed with CT Angio.
Taryn: Who is he? Who are you?
Amber: He's Koracick's protégé. Fifth year from Hopkins.
Bailey: We are rounding, not talking. Now, physical exam revealed non-palpable femoral pulses, low ABIs, and the angio shows near-complete blockage of blood flow in the distal aorta. Diagnosis?
Andrew and Blake: Leriche syndrome.
Dahlia: (A second later) Leriche syndrome.
Bailey: Little late, Qadri.
Dahlia: They're three years ahead of us.
Bailey: (Chuckles) See, uh, you all have been sulking around for the last month since I made changes to the attending staff. But Alex Karev and Meredith Grey are my creations. I made them the surgeons they are. And I will make new ones. So, do you want to be the new Grey and Karev, or do you want to keep making excuses?
Taryn: I want to be Grey.
Levi: Karev!
Amber: Uh no I'm Karev.
Bailey: Grey and Karev would have been studying the case by now. Go.
(The residents scurry off. Amber follows Andrew)
Amber: Hey I need you for something. It's an emergency.
Andrew: Yeah, what is it?
CUT TO THE CLOSET
(Amber and Andrew make out in the cramped closet)
Andrew: (Moans) This is an emergency?
Amber: (Keeps kissing him) Yeah, my lips are dry and they need your lips moisture by close contact.
Andrew: (Chuckles) What happened to no sex?
Amber: That doesn't mean we can't walk our way around the no sex rule. Are you complaining?
Andrew: (Grins) Not at all.
(Amber and Andrew continue to kiss until Andrew groans and pulls away)
Andrew: (Sighs) I want to be in here with you but I need this surgery. It's my fifth year and I can't afford to screw up. You're a doctor so you can understand…right?
Amber: (Inhales and exhales) So the shoes on the other foot. I actually feel bad for leaving you dry this morning. Fine go we can celebrate tonight and the morning after.
(Andrew grins before giving Amber a quick kiss and leaving the closet. Amber sighs and waits a few minutes before she leaves the closet)
Jo: Hey!
(Amber turns around at the familiar voice and is surprised by Jo in the floor)
Amber: Jo! Oh my god, what are you doing here?
(Jo chuckles and hugs Amber)
Jo: I actually came here to tell Bailey about the job offer Alex gave me but then-
Amber: Wait hold on, what job offer?
Jo: Oh, he didn't tell you? (Amber shakes her head) He offered me my own fellowship at Pac-North with no oversight. I would be my own boss.
Amber: (Really?) Wow, that's…unexpected.
Jo: You think that's weird well prepare yourself for this. Bailey also gave me full control of my fellowship.
Amber: What? Are you serious?
Jo: Yes. I mean it just took me by surprise, with Alex and then Bailey. Do you think Alex put her up to it? Told her to make me the same offer out of pity?
Amber: Jo, you are a brilliant surgeon in your own right and you want to advance medicine by 100 steps. If they made you these offers it's because they know they'll get their money's worth. Don't think otherwise.
Jo: (Sighs) Your right.
Amber: Of course, I am now which offer are you gonna take?
Jo: …I need to find Link.
(Jo leaves Amber in the hallway confused)
Amber: At least let me know when you decide!
LATER IN THE SKILLS LAB
(Amber and Andrew are at the same table. Bailey walks around questioning them about the surgery)
Bailey: Who can tell me the most difficult part of an ax-bi-fem bypass?
Dahlia: Subcutaneously tunneling the graft?
Bailey: Wrong. Your prize, rectals for the week. Next incorrect answer gets to empty bed pans in the ICU. She-Karev?
Amber: Um, anastomosing the graft to the axillary artery?
Bailey: Congratulations. And that is why you see vascular instruments and PTFE grafts in front of you.
Amber: Dr. Bailey.
Bailey: What?
Amber: Dr. Grey uses Dacron grafts.
Bailey: And I don't. Is there a question? I didn't think so.
(Amber eyes narrow and looks at Andrew who mouths 'relax')
Bailey: For the rest of you, studies have shown that one synthetic material is not superior to another in this procedure. Now, the first person to complete perfect anastomoses gets to do it in the OR.
(Amber and Andrew look at each other in shock)
Dahlia: You just confirmed that it was the hardest part of the surgery.
Bailey: Then if I were you, I'd start practicing.
(The residents sit down and get started)
Andrew: Good luck.
Amber: (Exhales) All the luck in the world…
LATER
(Amber and the others are in the final stages of their anastomoses)
Andrew: Done!
Amber: (Almost the same time as Andrew) Done!
Taryn: (A second later) Done! So done!
(Bailey reviews their sutures)
Bailey: All right, Karev will do the anastomosis this afternoon.
Amber and Andrew: (Shocked) What?
Bailey: Dr. DeLuca, you'll still join us in the surgery. Prep the patient and transport to OR.
(Andrew looks at Amber who sits there in shock before reluctantly going to Wade's room)
Amber: (Still in shock) What just happened?
LATER IN THE SCRUB ROOM
(Amber goes in the room to scrub finding Andrew putting his mask on)
Amber: (Awkward) Um hi.
Andrew: Hi.
Amber: …Look I don't know what game Bailey is playing but I just want to know if we're good here. I-I know you were looking forward to doing this surgery and I don't want things to be awkward in there.
Andrew: Why would things be awkward?
Amber: Maybe because I'm just starting my second year and you're a fifth year but Bailey's letting me do a critical part in this surgery. I don't want us to get all competitive and weird and go to bed angry at each other because we tried to bring the other person down I just-
Andrew: That's not gonna happen. We are two mature adults who live together and love each other. I am jealous that you get to do this but I am also mature enough to know that Bailey had to have picked you for a reason. You don't need to worry about us getting competitive, what you should worry about is this surgery because your gonna perform the anastomoses on a living man. Bailey and I will be there in case you screw it up which is highly unlikely since you've performed surgeries on beating hearts so this should be relatively easy for you.
Amber: …So we're good?
Andrew: Yeah of course.
Amber: Okay.
(Amber and Andrew scrub together)
LATER IN THE O.R.
(Bailey is halfway through the surgery. Amber and Andrew are on standby)
Bailey: Okay. All right let's start heparin, and then let's prepare for anastomoses.
(Bailey moves and Amber takes her spot while Andrew looks at her carefully)
Amber: (Inhales and exhales) Angled DeBakey, please. I'll obtain proximal and distal control before performing the arteriotomy.
Andrew: All right, now, remember, the artery is fragile, okay? So don't be too-
Amber: Aggressive. Right. I know Andrew I've performed on fragile arteries before.
Bailey: If anyone's gonna operate from the sidelines, DeLuca, it'll be me.
Andrew: (Angry at Bailey) Dr. Bailey!
Bailey: Yes?
Andrew: I beat her. I beat her time.
Bailey: Should have beaten her by more than one milli-second, Deluca. Amber let's get to it.
(Amber glares at Andrew before starting)
LATER
(Amber finishes her anastomoses flawlessly)
Amber: Done. Okay, ready to tie.
Bailey: Time to remove the first clamp. And flush the graft. The graft is…good.
Amber: (Sighs) Good from you means barely adequate, doesn't it?
Bailey: You did the surgery She-Karev and the graft is holding don't let anybody (Glares at Andrew) tell you otherwise. Air's out. Now for the second one.
(Amber prepares for the second tie when the monitors beep and the graft starts to bleed)
Andrew: Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Amber: (Panicking) Why-Why is he bleeding? Where's it from?
Bailey: (Calmly) Uh, seems to be coming from your suture line.
Amber: What?!
Andrew: Suction.
Amber: Why are you just standing there?! Do something! Can you do something?!
Bailey: (Calmly) I don't know. Can I?
Amber: Oh, God. Clamp.
Andrew: (Trying to fix the bleed) No give it to me I got it.
Bailey: DeLuca.
Andrew: He's bleeding out too fast, Bailey.
Bailey: So, what do you do?
(Amber tries to fix the bleed to no avail putting Andrew into action)
Andrew: Clamps. I'll get proximal and distal control. All right. Ahh. All right, coming around.
(Andrew takes over Amber's spot to her shame)
Andrew: 6-0 Prolene. Right now. Come on.
(Amber silently leaves the O.R. with Andrew and Bailey not even noticing)
LATER IN THE RESIDENTS LOUNGE
(Amber sits on the table eating chocolate turtles when Bailey walks in)
Bailey: Wade Foltz is gonna make it. DeLuca was able to repair the bleed and the anastomoses.
Amber: (Numb) Super.
(Amber shoves a whole turtle in her mouth in sadness. Bailey takes pity and sits with her)
Amber: (Mouth full) Do you want one?
Bailey: I already broke my regimen and ate donuts this morning, their all yours.
Amber: Great…Why did you pick me?
Bailey: Because your graft was good.
Amber: Andrew's was better, I know because I saw it while I did my subpar one. He's a fifth year with experience in general surgery, I'm barely a second year who screwed up so bad in the O.R. What-what game are you playing here? Are you trying to make me miserable because of what my brother did?
Bailey: This has nothing to do with Alex.
(Amber scoffs unconvinced by Bailey and shoves another turtle in her mouth)
Bailey: Your job is to be taught how to take the stress that comes with being a surgeon. I choose you because I knew that you needed the practice and the adrenaline because all of that is what makes you a surgeon. And if you learn from this then it will make you a great one. I saw to it that your brother evolves into the amazing surgeon that he is when he was in your shoes. I want to see to it again that there's gonna be amazing surgeons here even with Grey and Karev gone. I'm giving you that chance regardless of what your last name is. Don't let Alex Karev or Andrew DeLuca make you think that you haven't earned your place here because you have. Otherwise, you never would've made it into this program and chosen firsthand by me and Richard Webber.
(Amber considers her words before Bailey stands up)
Bailey: Come on. Wade's gonna wake up and you should be there.
(Amber groans before standing up and putting another turtle in her mouth as she and Bailey walk side by side)
LATER IN WADES ROOM
(Amber and Andrew hear the blood flow through the doppler)
Andrew: You hear that, Wade? It's the sound of blood flowing through your body.
Wade: That's good.
Andrew: That's right.
(Amber grins and Andrew leaves the room to meet up with Bailey)
Bailey: Monitor proximal and distal pulses every hour.
Andrew: (Scoffs) Really? That's it? Nothing else to say?
Bailey: What? Oh, you want praise? Um, good work, Dr. DeLuca. You did your job.
Andrew: (Unsatisfied) You let someone who wasn't ready do the most critical part of his surgery. I should have been doing that anastomosis from the beginning. But instead, you sidelined me because you wanted to get back at Alex Karev through his little sister.
Bailey: (Offended) Excuse me?
Andrew: I aced that skills lab, Bailey. My suture technique was far more advanced-
Bailey: (Angry) Karev needed the practice! She needed the adrenaline and the fear because all of that is what makes you a surgeon! And don't you dare question my methods! This is not personal, DeLuca! Unless you make it personal. And if I were you, I'd start thinking of an apology to the woman I love who I just insulted because she is right behind you.
(Bailey leaves. Andrew sighs and turns to see Amber with a hurt and angry face)
Andrew: (Remorseful) Amber I-
(Amber walks away and flips off Andrew while she walks)
Andrew: (Mad at himself) Damn it.
LATER THAT NIGHT IN ANDREW AND AMBERS APARTMENT
(Amber hears a door opening while she's in bed trying to sleep. Andrew comes in the bedroom exhausted. He takes his pants and shirt off and gets under the covers. Amber pushes Andrew off the bed making him land on his butt and screech in pain)
Andrew: What the-
Amber: (Angry) Couch. No bed and no sex.
Andrew: (Disbelief) Are you serious?
Amber: Deadly.
Andrew: It's my bed.
Amber: Actually, it's our bed and I don't want to sleep in it with a jealous man child who undermined me all day. Now couch!
(Andrew looks at her incredulous before standing up and grabbing a pillow. He walks to the couch in anger while Amber goes to sleep in anger)