Chapter 11: Legally Blonde
SCENE: AMBER AND ANDREWS APARTMENT
(Amber stands in the bedroom rolling the lint off her blue pantsuit for the fourth time. Andrew ties his tie)
Andrew: Honey you need to put the roller down or you'll roll the material off all together and show up to court naked.
Andrew: (Stressed) You know I get OCD when I'm super nervous.
Andrew: I know otherwise we would still have a pile of dirty dishes and our bed wouldn't have been made. Twice.
(Amber sighs and puts the roller down and straightens her suit and black blouse under)
Amber: How do I look? Do I look professional and not slutty?
Andrew: You look very professional, your being called as a witness, you probably won't be up for longer than ten minutes.
Amber: (Chuckles nervously) Right and during that time my testimony will either save Meredith Grey's career or flush it down completely. I need the roller again.
Andrew: (Grabs the roller) Nope. Let's take a deep breath, okay? Breathe in.
(Andrew breathes in and Amber follows suit)
Andrew: And out.
(Andrew breathes out with Amber)
Andrew: Better?
Amber: No. I knew Andrew; I knew what they were doing and I didn't say any-
Andrew: Alex told you there was nothing to worry about and you choose to believe the chief of peds at the time.
Amber: Who is also my brother, do you honestly think the medical board is gonna overlook that? And he didn't tell me he subtly told me to go along with his lie. I'm not stupid Andrew, I'm not Alex I knew what he was trying to tell me.
Andrew: (Rubs her arms) I know your worried but you're not the one on trial here, okay? Meredith is the one that put her daughters name on the chart and you were just an intern on the case that had no idea what was going on. The board will see that, they just need to hear it from you and then you'll be done, okay?
Amber: (Slightly calmer but still worried) Meredith is Alex's best friend, before we made up, she was the closest thing he had to a sister here. I tried to help by calling their old friends and getting letters but that was so my brother won't be mad if I say something that's gonna make things worse. Andrew, I can't lose him not again.
Andrew: (Cradles her face) You won't, okay? You won't. Amber, you forgave him for leaving you to the wolves when you were vulnerable, I know Alex won't hold whatever you say against you. All they want is to hear your side of this, so just go up there, tell them what happened that day from your viewpoint and walk away when they tell you to, that's all. Now are we ready to go or do we need another moment to freak out?
Amber: (Sighs) Almost, black or beige heels?
Andrew: (Considers) Beige.
Amber: Black it is then.
(Amber goes to the closet with Andrew looking confused at her answer)
LATER AT THE HOTEL
(Andrew drives into the porte-cochere with Amber in the passenger seat picking at her nails. Andrew parks and turns the car off)
Andrew: Are you ready?
Amber: (Sighs) No.
Andrew: (Holds her hand) Think of it like this, if you're this nervous imagine how Grey feels right now.
Amber: (Breathes in and out) Okay let's go.
(They both exit her car and enter the lobby with Alex, Meredith, Maggie, and Amelia)
Amber: Hi.
Meredith: Hey.
Amber: Nervous?
Meredith: Petrified.
Amber: Me too.
(They all walk into the waiting area where they see Webber, Bailey, Owen, Teddy, Jackson and Link also there. They all walk through the double doors into a ballroom that's been prepared for this event. Amber and Andrew walk to the chairs in the back. Andrew sees Amber picking at her nails again)
Andrew: (Holds her hand) Breathe and relax.
(Amber breathes and slightly calms down as they begin)
Judge Benson: Good morning. Based on the number of witnesses on the list I just read, this one's gonna be a circus, so let's go ahead on record. My name is William Benson, I am the judge who's been assigned to this case. We have Ms. Ashley Cordova, who's representing the Medical Commission, and Ms. Nancy Klein, who will represent the respondent. The commission panel includes Dr. Aaron Rosenberg, Dr. Maria Lang, and-
(The door opens and Paul Castello runs in)
Paul: I'm here. I'm here. I'm here. Sorry. Traffic. Light was out on Broadway.
Judge Benson: Dr. Rosenberg, Dr. Lang, and panel chair Dr. Paul Castello.
AN HOUR LATER
(Amber sits next to Andrew after Bailey and Luis went)
Judge Benson: Next witness is Dr. Amber Karev, please come forward.
(Amber's breath hitches. Andrew squeezes her hand to reassure her, Amber stands up and walks to the chair by the panel)
Judge Benson: Please state your full name for the record.
Amber: (Clears throat) Dr. Amber Stevie Karev, your honor.
Judge Benson: Please raise your right hand.
(Amber raises her right hand)
Judge Benson: Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? So, help you God.
Amber: I do.
Judge Benson: Ms. Cordova, your witness.
Ashley: (Walks over to Amber) Dr. Karev can you describe in detail what happened on May 2nd of 2019? More specifically your involvement in the case of Gabriella Rivera.
Amber: Yes, I was assigned to the clinic that day and I went to treat Gabby with her father present. She presented with abdominal pain and vomiting but due to circumstances I was unsure of whether it was new or recurrent.
Ashley: What circumstances Dr. Karev?
Amber: Gabby was recently released from the detention center at the border due to her being sick and her father wasn't present so he didn't know when the pain started and for how long.
Ashley: Okay and what did you do after you were given this information?
Amber: I paged the chief of pediatric surgery at the time, Dr. Alex Karev who then paged Dr. Meredith Grey to consult. We tried to get Luis under state insurance to pay for treatment but they denied his request. We ran tests and did a CT that revealed an ileocecal mass, under Dr. Grey's instructions I booked an O.R. for an ex-lap. It was during surgery that the biopsy revealed Gabby had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and would require years of treatment.
Ashley: And we're you aware that Dr. Grey had committed insurance fraud?
Amber: No, I wasn't. Dr. Webber came in the scrub room before we started surgery worried after he saw Ellis Grey's name on the board but I was sent in the O.R. to check on Gabby. I didn't hear what they were discussing while I was inside.
Paul: Ms. Cordova, can I jump in here?
Ashley: By all means.
Paul: Dr. Karev I understand that you were working with your oldest brother on that case, is that correct?
Amber: Yes.
Paul: Can you state for the record who sent you in to check on Gabby when Dr. Webber came in?
Amber: …Alex Karev
Paul: And from what I read here from your statement to Dr. Catherine Fox it says that you approached your brother concerning this matter and you told no one else is that right?
Amber: (Gulps) Yes that's right.
Paul: Can you tell us why you didn't share this with anyone else?
(Amber looks at Alex nervously who nods that it's okay)
Amber: He told me that…it was a mistake that the computers made an error.
Paul: Dr. Karev, can you tell us if you suspected that Dr. Grey had put her daughters name on the insurance form instead of Gabriella Rivera's?
(Amber gets nervous and looks at Meredith who nods that it's okay to tell)
Paul: Dr. Karev, might I remind you that you are under oath and will be perjured if what you say is revealed to be false so, please answer honestly.
Amber: …Before I was sent into the O.R. I suspected that was the case given what Dr. Webber told us. After the surgery I confronted Alex and he told me that it was a misunderstanding.
Paul: And so, you believed your brother who was also your supervisor.
Amber: He was an attending and I was a surgical intern I saw no reason to-
Paul: Can you tell us why you moved to Seattle, Dr. Karev?
Amber: (Confused) I'm sorry?
Paul: From what I read in your file you were matched to other hospitals outside of Grey-Sloan including Mount Sinai, UCLA, and St. Luke's, yet you choose a residency program at the same hospital where your brother was the chief of pediatric surgery.
Amber: I came in spite of my brother working there, some of my role models have worked there that was a major factor to my decision. I choose a program that I felt would challenge me, I didn't move across the country so that I could have an easy way into life from my estranged brother at the time.
Paul: At the time yes and now what is the relationship between you two?
Amber: …We made up shortly after I started my intern year and I lived with him and his wife for about a year.
Paul: And you are in a romantic relationship with your chief resident, there's documentation from Human Resources. Is that correct?
(Amber looks at Andrew who shrugs)
Amber: (Shakes her head in disbelief) I'm sorry but how is my personal life relevant?
Paul: Other than your brother you didn't alert a supervisor when you suspected of Dr. Grey committing a crime and you are currently in a relationship with a man who is your boss. I suspect that you let your familial relationship cloud your professional judgement at the time and your personal relationship only adds to this theory, so yes, I'd consider it relevant. Well unless, is it consensual?
(Amber bites her tongue to keep herself composed from the frustration she feels)
Amber: It is, we've been dating for a year now and are currently living together.
Paul: Thank you Dr. Karev.
(Amber stands up to leave and sits next to Andrew still fuming)
Andrew: (Whispers) You did great, it's over now.
Amber: That guy is a pompous ass.
Andrew: That he is.
45 MINUTES LATER
(Levi sits on the chair nervously with Ashley questioning him but he looks on in anxiety and doesn't hear her)
Ashley: Dr. Schmitt. Dr. Schmitt. Dr. Schmitt.
Levi: (Gasps) I'm sorry. I, uh I've never been in a courtroom before.
Ashley: You still haven't. We're in a hotel.
Levi: Right. Um What was the question?
Ashley: Dr. Grey is one of your teachers, correct?
Levi: Yes. And she's the best teacher I've ever had. Dr. Grey always gave me an opportunity. And she didn't jump in with the mean nicknames like everybody else. And when the hospital got hacked, it locked the blood bank, so Dr. Grey had me become a human blood bank. For the patient. It was incredible. I did pass out in the O.R., but I saved the patient.
(Amber smirks and shakes her head at Levi's awkwardness)
Ashley: Wow. That is…very helpful. I was more interested in your involvement with Gabby Rivera.
Levi: Right. I rounded on her once during a peds rotation, but I was barely there. Well, you were there long enough to see a name on Gabby's I. D. bracelet.
(Levi looks at Amber who looks at him confused)
Levi: Dr. Schmitt. I'd like to remind you you're under oath. And I don't recommend perjuring yourself.
Levi: …I had heard Mr. Rivera call his daughter "Gabby," but the bracelet said Ellis Grey, so I thought that the hospital had made an error. I wanted to take it to Dr. Grey and ask, but she wasn't there that day.
Ashley: So, what did you do? Dr. Schmitt. What did you do?
(Amber looks at Levi in suspense as he gets tears in his eyes)
Levi: I brought it to Dr. Bailey. (Voice breaking) I thought it was a mistake. And I c-I couldn't make any more mistakes.
(Amber's mouth gapes as she's shocked by what Levi did. Levi notices her face and feels tremendous guilt)
Ashley: No further questions.
Levi: I-I'm sorry, Dr. Grey, I'm sorry Amber. I-I-I thought that I was doing the right thing. I'm sorry.
(Amber leans forward to her knees as Andrew rubs her back in comfort)
CUT TO OUTISDE THE BALLROOM
(Amber runs out first with Levi behind her after they call a 15-minute recess. Amber runs into Jo)
Jo: God what happened?
(Amber ignores her and goes to the back with Levi still chasing her)
Levi: (Voice breaking) Amber I am sorry please; you have to know how sorry I am. I was just doing my job.
Amber: (Wants to get away from him) Don't Levi just don't.
(Amber fast walks to the bay. Andrew runs out to check on her, Levi tries to follow her again but Andrew stops him)
Andrew: Schmitt just leave her alone for now and let her cool off.
(Levi sadly nods and Andrew follows Amber. Amber plops on a bench overlooking the bay and city view. Andrew sits next to her)
Andrew: Are you okay?
Amber: No, I am not okay, I just admitted that I knew that a crime was committed and then my best friend admitted to starting the chain of events that led to my brother getting fired. And on top of that I think I might get fired too because Bailey is now an emotionless robot who knows I knew what happened.
Andrew: Amber, I know things look bad but it's not over, there's just a recess.
(Amber sighs and leans back in stress)
Andrew: What do you want me to do?
Andrew: Just…let me sit here in silence for the next 12 minutes and pretend that the world doesn't exist during that time.
Andrew: Okay, I can do that too.
(Amber and Andrew sit there in silence)
TWO HOURS LATER
(Amber and Andrew sit in the back while Alex is being questioned by Paul)
Paul: Did Dr. Grey's insubordinate behavior almost cost her her daughter's adoption, Dr. Karev?
Alex: I'm sorry. I don't I don't see how her family life is relevant here.
Paul: Well, she seems to be fairly cavalier about the law in both her professional and personal life, so I'd say it's relevant. In fact, she used her youngest daughter's identity to commit insurance fraud, so-
Meredith: (Stands up) Alan Brown, Farrah Alazari, Deborah Greene, and Sam Carter.
Paul: Dr. Grey, we have your list of your patient testimonies here. You don't need to repeat them.
Meredith: Those are the names of the spouses of every patient I've ever lost. I remember every single one of them.
Paul: Okay. Uh, thank you for that.
Meredith: You don't get to sit up there and ask questions about my daughter. If you want to take my license and make sure I never see another patient again, then you do that, but you have absolutely no right to ever mention my daughter's name because you are the one who killed her father.
(Amber widens her eyes in shock as Meredith continues)
Meredith: You don't remember me. But I remember you. As the coward who stood over my dying husband, the love of my life, and you didn't even attempt to do burr holes after he failed to get him a head CT. Burr holes! I was doing burr holes as an intern. That one night should have cost you your entire career, but instead you're sitting up here judging me? You don't deserve to judge anyone.
Paul: (Rattled) Your Honor, if we could, um, just take a short recess to evaluate the situation, see if Dr. Grey's, um, conflict of interest is, um
Meredith: (Slaps the table) My conflict of interest?! My medical license should not be in this man's hands. He is dangerous.
(Meredith is taken back to the table by her lawyer when Paul seizes and faints. Amber and Andrew stand up in shock)
AN HOUR LATER IN THE WAITING ROOM
(After Paul left for the hospital. Amber meets up with Alex and Jo with a swarm of people behind them)
Amber: Hey, is this all of them?
Alex: Yeah, you got the letters from Torres and Robbins?
Amber: (Hands the papers) Yeah, I got them.
Jo: I printed statements from April and Dr. Montgomery.
Alex: Okay and I reached out to Yang and Izzie and they emailed too, that's pretty much all of them.
Amber: Do you really think this is gonna work?
Alex: It has to, let's go.
(Alex burst through the doors)
Alex: You can't postpone.
Judge Benson: Dr. Karev, we're not exactly holding a town hall. Can you please find a seat?
Alex: No, you can't postpone because these people have come from all over to speak for Meredith.
Judge Benson: I-I'm sorry. What people?
(Jo and Amber open the doors to let all of Meredith's former patients come in to give their statements)
Ashley: Were all these people on the witness list?
Alex: No idea. You gonna tell them all they need to go home?
TWO HOURS LATER
(After hearing statements from all of Meredith's patients, Alex comes up to read a statement from Cristina Yang with Jo and Amber at his side)
Alex: "Dear Medical Commission, people who know me would describe me as selfish to a fault. After that, they'd say honest. I can honestly tell you that if I were dying and a surgery stood between me and death, Dr. Grey's hands are the only ones that I'd want inside my body. Taking away her license is signing the death certificates of countless future patients. She is a light in a broken system that she will fix, whether you want her to or not. She is the sun, and she is unstoppable. Sincerely, Dr. Cristina Yang. " Um, I have more. I've got, uh, Dr. Calliope Torres, uh, Dr. Arizona Robbins, Dr. April Kepner.
Judge Benson: That's enough. Thank you. That's fine.
Alex: Um, no, I can keep going if you want. Addison Montgomery. You don't?
Judge Benson: That's good.
Alex: Okay.
Judge Benson: Thank you, everyone, for your time. Again. Now if I could please have everyone clear the room.
Bailey: Uh, excuse me. Sorry. Sorry. Excuse me. Hi. Hi. I'm sorry. Your Honor. Uh, I I have something more to say about Meredith Grey.
Judge Benson: (Sighs) For God's sakes, who doesn't?
Bailey: Okay, well, ever since I first met Meredith Grey, I knew she was going to be a thorn in my side. You're worried about her breaking rules? Well, that's not gonna stop. She's been doing that since day one. And, yes, she broke a law to save a life. So, she deserved to lose her job. She deserves to pick up trash. No one should be questioning her license. She's too good at what she does. And she's worked too hard to get to where she is. And with all…all that she has survived, it hasn't made her hard. It hasn't made her mean or or cold. It hasn't made her not care. It's made her…better. It's made her better than anyone in this room. Well, except me. I'm Dr. Miranda Bailey, chief of surgery at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. And I approve this message.
(Bailey leaves after her statement)
Amber: I think this went well.
Alex: Yes, it did.
AN HOUR LATER IN THE PARKING LOT
(Amber and Andrew walk to the car exhausted after the long day along with Jo and Alex)
Amber: (Exhales) I need a drink but I don't want to be around more people right now.
Alex: I could go for drinking at a bar, maybe a bottle of scotch with beer on the side.
Andrew: Hey uh why don't I take you man my treat, we can take your car. Amber, are you cool hanging out with Jo?
Amber: Yeah, sure I don't mind.
Jo: As long as there's someone to share the vodka at home with then yeah, Alex?
Alex: Well DeLuca says he's buying so yeah why not.
Andrew: (Chuckles) Come on man, well see you girls at home.
Amber and Jo: Bye.
(Alex and Andrew leave to hang out. Jo and Amber wave goodbye before turning to each other)
Jo: Wine?
Amber: You got a bottle each?
LATER THAT NIGHT AT RUSTYS BAR
(Andrew goes back to the table with beer for him and Alex)
Andrew: There you go man.
Alex: Thanks, cheers to Meredith not losing her license.
Andrew: Cheers.
(Alex and Andrew clink their drinks and sip their beer)
Alex: So, uh why did you want to meet here? I mean it's nicer than Joe's but I figured that everyone was gonna celebrate there so…
Andrew: Yeah, that's exactly why I took you to a bar on the other side of town. I just wanted a chance to talk to you without Amber around or Jo around or Webber around or Schmitt around.
Alex: In other words, you wanted to get me alone with you? What is it? Is it about Amber? Is she okay?
Andrew: She's fine but this is about her or about me and her. This is a big thing and I wanted to talk to you first seeing as how you practically raised Amber and it only seems right in my book.
Alex: All right so talk to me. (Drinks his beer)
Andrew: (Takes a deep breathe) I want to ask Amber to marry me.
(Alex stops sipping his beer and looks up at Andrew in shock)
Andrew: (Grins) I've thought about this for a long time now since we got back together and…I want to be with her and only her. I'm in love with her and I want to be her husband. And I would really love it if I got your blessing. What do you say?
Alex: (Puts his beer down and processes) Wow um well this is uh-
(Alex stops when his phones rings and he sees the caller id and freezes)
Andrew: Um Alex? Is something wrong?
Alex: (Ignores him) I gotta take this.
(Alex stands up and goes outside leaving Andrew at the table in disbelief)
MEANWHILE AT JO AND ALEXS LOFT
(Jo and Amber sip their third glass of wine when Amber asks what she's been dying to ask)
Amber: When are you and Alex gonna get pregnant?
Jo: (Chokes on her wine) What?
Amber: You heard me, you guys have been married-well not legally married for a year now, you just signed the license, you love each other and want kids. What is taking so damn long?
Jo: (Chuckles) Where is this coming from?
Amber: (Sips wine) This is coming from me dying to be an auntie and spoiling your kids rotten. I'm not getting any younger and neither are you.
Jo: (Sarcastically) Thanks.
Amber: Seriously though honey when is it gonna happen? I need to know so I can set up the nursery.
Jo: Um…I think it might happen soon, maybe sooner than you think.
Amber: (Eyes widen) If you are drinking knowing that you are pregnant, I will beat you with that chair.
Jo: (Chuckles) No I'm not, I'm not it's just…I don't know, the timing didn't feel right after I got treatment and Alex got fired and I became an attending. But I'm better now, not cured but better, Alex is finally getting the hang of Pac-North and I'm settling into my new job so uh…I think the timing is right.
Amber: (Gasps) Are you saying that you are going to try? Like really try? Throw out the condoms and finally have a gorgeous chubby cheeked baby that you'll name after me?
Jo: (Smiles) If all goes well and Alex is on board then yes, you'll have that very soon.
Amber: (Happy) Yes! Finally!
(Amber laughs in joy and hugs Jo who laughs and hugs her back)
Jo: What happens if Alex isn't on board?
Amber: He will be unless he wants his kid to see him purple and bruised when he comes out. Now let's drink up hopefully it'll be your last one for the next nine months.
(Amber and Jo pour another glass)
LATER AT RUSTYS
(Alex talks on the phone outside when Andrew walks out of the bar steaming)
Alex: All right I'll talk to you later bye. (Hangs up) Sorry man it was something I had to take.
Andrew: (Incredulous) You had to take a call after I asked for your permission to marry your only sister?
Alex: Look I'm sorry it's just uh it's…
Andrew: (Eyebrows raised) It's what? What could be more important than what I asked you?
(Alex stands there silent for a moment unwilling to answer)
Andrew: Yeah, that's what I thought. Look man if you don't want to give me your blessing fine but the least you could do is tell me to my face, I'd think I'd earn your respect enough for that.
Alex: …Your right I'm sorry for not answering back when I could.
Andrew: (Scoffs) You know I only asked as a courtesy out of respect because you mean so much to Amber. But I don't need your permission, I'm gonna propose to Amber whether you like it or not. I paid the tab already so we should head back to your loft and get the girls.
(Andrew walks ahead of Alex back to the car in tense silence. Alex discretely looks into flight plans for what he plans to do)