Chapter 14: A Simple Favor
SCENE: LEVIS BASEMENT
(Levi and Nico are curled up in bed asleep at 4 A.M.)
Amber: You know you really should get a more convincing rock to hide your key in.
(Levi and Nico immediately wake up and Levi shrieks at the sound only to see that it's Amber standing in front of the bed in her casual clothes with her hand on her hip)
Levi: (Panting) You almost gave me an actual heart attack! What are you doing here at 4 in the morning?
Amber: I need to talk to you about something important. Kim, get out of the bed I can't get in with you in there.
Nico: Wha-You can't just kick me out of bed.
Amber: I need to talk to my best friend about a matter that has nothing to do with you so leave.
Levi: (Sighs) Nico I love you but do what she says or she'll drag you out by the ear.
(Nico groans and gets out allowing Amber to take his spot)
Nico: (Puts his shirt on) I guess I'll make us some coffee since I'm up.
Amber: (On the bed) Oh yeah, coffee would be great I take mine black and sweet.
(Nico grins sarcastically and heads upstairs leaving Amber and Levi in bed)
Levi: (Rubs his eyes) I am on two weeks bed rest after having a cardiac episode you of all people know how crucial that is.
Amber: Yeah, and I also know that the right amount of time to recover after a cardiac episode is 10 days, I gave you an extra day because I'm nice.
Levi: You broke into my house and kicked my boyfriend out of bed, which he is gonna hold against you as well as me, so you are not nice right now.
Amber: Whatever I need to talk to you about Alex, it's very important and your one of the two people I can tell this to. Jo doesn't even know.
Levi: Know what?
Amber: (Inhales and sits up against his headboard) Okay so last week after the bar incident, my mom called me the morning after to check if I was okay.
Levi: That's nice.
Amber: Yeah, and while I was on, I asked her to put Alex on the phone and you know what she said.
Levi: (Shrugs) I don't know? That he was busy?
Amber: No, she said he wasn't there!
Levi: Okay maybe he took a detour or something.
Amber: Levi the flight is not even six hours and he left Sunday morning that's two whole days he would've been at Iowa by then. I tried calling and texting him these past 11 days and he hasn't answered. I even tried the find my phone app and he turned that off it's like he just vanished.
Levi: (Processes and plops his head on the pillow) Okay so what do you think happened then?
Amber: I…I don't know but I'm starting to get worried, he communicated even when we were estranged so this could mean something bad happened like John Carpenter bad. My mind is spinning out from another plane crash happening to him getting murdered on the way to our mother's house or our mother murdering him in a psychotic episode and forgetting, am I overthinking this?
Levi: (Gives a look) I didn't think it was possible for your brain to go this crazy.
Amber: Well, that's because you had to have a stupid broken heart leaving me to deal with this without my person to go through every scenario with and calm me down just a little bit.
Levi: Even so I'm not the only man in your life, what did DeLuca say?
Amber: (Sighs) He says I'm probably freaking out over nothing and Alex will get back to me when he gets back to me.
Levi: You haven't told Jo this?
Amber: No of course not I don't want to scare her and it could be nothing or at least I hope it's nothing.
Levi: It's probably nothing. Amber, you have a tendency to spiral over small things.
Amber: (Glares at Levi) Alex lied to his wife and sister about where he was going and now, he's God knows where doing God knows what and I am the only person who knows about this except for my boyfriend and best friend who are both zero help!
(Levi winces and Amber gets out of bed just as Nico comes down with coffee. Amber takes the mug with her coffee)
Amber: I'll give you back the mug via Kim. Good morning and good day.
(Amber heads upstairs in a huff)
LATER AT THE RESIDENTS LOUNGE
(Amber calls Alex again with Andrew next to her getting ready but it goes to voicemail)
Amber: Damn it. I'll try again after rounds but I'll leave a very creative text consisting of a lot of angry emojis.
Andrew: Amber it's probably nothing if it was important, he would tell you, you know that.
Amber: Yeah, just like he told me where he was actually going?
Andrew: All right come here, you need to destress.
(Andrew rubs her shoulders)
Andrew: (Astonished at the knots) Wow I might need a hammer just to get to these stress points.
Amber: You haven't told Jo, right?
Andrew: Of course, not. But don't you think you should tell her? I mean it is her husband.
Amber: Yeah, her husband who for some reason lied to her and left to an unknown location. If I know where he is and why I can tell her and make it easier for her, so please-
Andrew: Keep my mouth shut got it. What was Schmitt's opinion on this?
Amber: (Groans) Same as yours.
Andrew: See, maybe it is nothing if two people think it is.
Amber: That's because you two aren't worried about your favorite sibling.
Andrew: (Wants to change the subject) Hey, are you excited about tonight?
Amber: Tonight?
Andrew: Canlis at 8? I made reservations and told you about it last week?
Amber: Oh, right sorry I've just been preoccupied.
Andrew: You're coming though, right?
Amber: Yeah, I'll meet you in the lobby at 7.
Andrew: Great I have an appy patient of mine I have to check on but hopefully I can take you and we can see how the other side lives.
Amber: I have neuro with Shepherd but hopefully I can clock out early. I'll see you then.
Andrew: (Kisses her) Bye.
(Andrew turns to leave but goes back to give her some helpful advice)
Andrew: Look maybe he did lie but maybe there is some truth to what he told you and Jo did you ever think about that?
(Amber scoffs but stops as she looks on while she brainstorms)
Andrew: (Worried) Okay you have thinky face. Why do you have thinky face?
Amber: Maybe there was some truth to what he told us, maybe he wasn't lying about everything.
Andrew: (Confused) Okay so…
Amber: So, he said he was flying out so maybe he did that but to a different location.
Andrew: Honey I am at a loss here your gonna have to tell me what exactly is going through your beautiful but chaotic head.
Amber: He paid for a plane ticket with his card so maybe if I hack into his bank account, I can find out what plane ticket he bought and where it leads him.
Andrew: Okay and how are you gonna hack into his account? Casey and Sam are in neuro rehab out of the state so he's out.
Amber: …I'll figure something out, thank you so much that was very helpful advice.
(Amber gratefully kisses Andrew before heading out. Andrew looks on in worry)
Andrew: Oh god please don't let this end up with me paying my girlfriend conjugal visits.
LATER AT NEURO
(Amelia leads Amber to a patient room where a man in his forties is lying in bed)
Amelia: Hello Rick, Karev do you want to-
Rick: (Looks over Amber) Whoa I would do her in a minute with a ball gag in her mouth and her hands cuffed to my canopy bed.
Amber: (Eyes wide and offended) Excuse me!
Rick: (Closes his eyes in despair) Dr. Shepherd will you please explain to this woman before she-
Amelia: He has frontal lobe disinhibition due to a 5-centimeter benign meningioma in his frontal lobe that I plan to take out.
Rick: Which I hope is soon because I want to tell you about a fantasy that I have with both of you in my bed with nothing but micro bikinis riding up your-
Amelia: (Interrupts) Karev present.
Amber: Gladly. Richard Fring, 43, was admitted to the neuro wing two days ago after a CT showed a benign meningioma invading his frontal lobe causing him to-
Rick: Say everything that I am thinking at this moment. Sorry about what I said, I'm married and I respect women but it's just in my mind that I imagine doing deviant things to them. And if I couldn't have both of you together, I would definitely choose you. I don't really have that many fantasies involving pregnant women mostly because I think their fat, I am so so sorry Dr. Shepherd.
Amelia: No worries, Rick we got this, we'll go over the plan with you one more time and then we'll prep you.
Rick: I probably won't pay attention because I'll be focused on the killer breasts of your very hot resident who I'm surprised hasn't chosen to do porn for man kind's benefit.
(Amber curls her fist to compose herself as Amelia explains the surgical plan to Rick)
LATER AT THE NURSES STATION
(Amber stands by waiting for Shepherd outside of CT when Andrew comes up to her)
Andrew: Hey, I heard about the guy who can't lie that said you should be in porn, are you okay?
Amber: I'm fine it's not the first time a man degraded me with misogynistic comments it's just the first one who has a good excuse for doing it.
Andrew: Are you sure? Because you seem kind of bothered.
Amber: (Sighs) …Do you know any computer hackers that can get into a bank account.
Andrew: Oh Amber-
Amber: I just need to know where he went that's it that's all I need and then I will stop spiraling.
Andrew: You'll stop spiraling about this until something else comes along and we're back to square one. Amber if you hack into a bank account you could go to jail and maybe lose your license did you ever think about that?
Amber: …Your right, you are so right. I should be more careful about this.
Andrew: Exactly.
Amber: Enough about me, how are you? How's that appy patient of yours?
Andrew: It's not going well. She's post op day three and fevering and has a high white blood count. I did a sepsis workup it came back negative, I'm at a loss here.
Amber: Okay well run it by Bailey or Grey they should know what's happening.
Andrew: (Still upset) Yeah.
Amber: (Knows he's beating himself up) Hey, you're a great surgeon I'm sure whatever is happening it has nothing to do with your technique so don't go down that road. There's only room for one neurotic mess in this relationship.
Andrew: (Chuckles) You're not a mess, neurotic yes, but not a mess.
Amelia: (Comes up to Amber) Hey Rick's scans came back and their the same so prep him in three hours and take him to O.R. 4
Amber: (Whimpering) Do I have to? Can't you get an ugly person to go?
Amelia: He will probably do the same thing only make fun of their deformities so…
Amber: (Groans) Wish me luck baby and pray that I don't cause him more brain damage.
Andrew: Good luck don't use any sharp instruments.
(Amber leaves to get the O.R. prepped)
LATER THE SIXTH FLOOR
(Andrew finds Bailey and goes to her)
Andrew: Welcome back, Dr. Bailey. Quick update on the residents, we've removed Simms' trach and started him on a soft diet. Helm's chest tubes were removed, and she actually took a couple steps today with PT. Parker left for neural rehab and Bello went with him for support, and Schmitt was discharged with a couple weeks' medical leave.
Bailey: Sounds like you're pretty busy.
Andrew: Yeah, I am.
Bailey: So, why are you glued to my side right now?
Andrew: I was hoping you could weigh in on an appy patient of mine. She's post-op day three. She's been giving me more questions than answers.
Bailey: Mm. Lead the way.
Koracick: (Approaches them) Dr. Bailey. A funny thing happened yesterday. I came to your office for a budget meeting, and you weren't there.
Bailey: I took some personal days.
Koracick: Even when half your residents are on bedpans? That's great timing, Chief.
Bailey: I asked some of the other departments to lend us some residents for surgical floor and ICU coverage. They were happy to help.
Koracick: Even so, next time you want to take a vacay, run it up the flagpole, as in me.
(Andrew leads Bailey to the room)
Bailey: (Relieved to be away from Koracick) Uh, thank you.
(They find two women and two girls inside with a girl and woman crawling on the floor while a teenage girl plays the ukulele)
Mei Li: Mom?
Suzanne: Yes, honey?
Mei Li: Can I be done?
Suzanne: Just a few more times, sweet girl. You got this. (Notices Bailey and Andrew) Oh. It's her therapy.
Hadley: I know it looks nuts.
Suzanne: Mei Li was adopted from an orphanage, and she was recently diagnosed with attachment disorder, so we've been doing this crawling therapy because it's supposed to rewire her brain. But you got to do it every day, and you got to be super consistent with it every day.
Hadley: (Stands up) Hi. I'm her sister. It was an appendectomy. You said it went without a hitch. So, um, why are we still here?
Bailey: (Gives her sanitizer) Take this. Please.
Andrew: She's been spiking fevers every night.
Hadley: Yeah, I know. I'm asking why.
Andrew: And I have brought our chief of surgery to help determine that.
Bailey: (Sprays Mei Li's hands) Uh, here. You, too, sweetheart. Here.
Andrew: Dr. Bailey, Suzanne Britland.
Suzanne: Hi.
Bailey: Good morning. Ms. Britland, how are you feeling?
Matty and Hadley: She has a sore throat.
Suzanne: It's just a little sore. I'm probably just getting a cold.
Andrew: It could still be from the intubation.
Bailey: Could be.
Suzanne: I know that the answer is probably "no," but is there any way you could just send me home with some antibiotics?
Andrew: Not until you've been fever-free for 24 hours. I'm sorry.
Suzanne: Oh, it's just, the kids are missing so much school.
Hadly: Well, I can take them to school.
Matty and Mei Li: No!
(The kids curl up against Suzanne in fear)
Suzanne: Okay. It's okay. Their dad died last year. He had a migraine, and then when it got really bad, we took him to the ER, and the doctors told us we could go home and he would be fine, and then…he very much wasn't.
Andrew: We are running a fresh set of labs, and we hope to know more soon. Okay.
(Bailey and Andrew leave the room to get the labs)
THREE HOURS LATER AT NEURO
(Amber goes over Rick's chart to make sure things are in order when something catches her eye in Rick's occupation section)
CUT TO RICKS ROOM
(Amber enters the room with her laptop and closes the blinds for privacy)
Rick: Wow a closed door and blinds, I've dreamt of this with you only you didn't have scrubs you only had a black lace thong and-
Amber: It says in your chart that you're an assistant bank manager at First Sound on Madison, right?
Rick: Yes, I'm sorry what is this about? Because if you're not gonna ride me and take me twenty different-
Amber: I need to look at my brother's account, he has a debit and credit at your bank and I'm hoping that you can log in through my computer and let me see his recent purchases before I take you into surgery, can you help me?
Rick: (Confused) …This feels like a trick.
Amber: It's not its just…Okay your gonna go under the knife after this so you won't tell anyone and you'll be back to lying after so I can just tell you.
Rick: Tell me what? I am getting very scared here and slightly turned on because your breasts are the best, I've seen I wish my wife had those but their just saggy and pointed down.
Amber: Anyway, my brother left town two weeks ago, he said he was going to Iowa but our mother said he never showed. I've been thinking that he lied about where he was gonna go but maybe he didn't lie about flying out and so-
Rick: You want me to access his accounts so you can find out if he actually bought a ticket.
Amber: And if he did then where, yes, your getting it.
Rick: …Look you seem nice and weird which is covered up by your fantastic body but I'm not going to get fired because you took a trip to crazy town in a clown car.
Amber: I'm going to blame that on the disinhibition.
Rick: You shouldn't that was my logical side I know the difference.
Amber: (Sighs) Okay, do you have any siblings?
Rick: I have a brother.
Amber: Okay are you guys close?
Rick: We were when we were kids but we grew up and went to our different places in life, we still talk though.
Amber: Okay I want you to imagine what you would do if your brother who raised you because your parents were either too high or crazy to do it. Suddenly took a trip somewhere without notifying anyone of where he was actually going and you haven't heard back from him in weeks, how would you feel?
Rick: (Sighs) …Worried, I guess.
Amber: Yes, and that's where I am right now. I am worried, I am terrified for my brother who has protected me as best as he could and who has a beautiful and kind wife who doesn't know that her husband is missing and possibly…I-I need to know where he is, I need to because if I don't I will go crazy and I will blame myself for not doing everything I can to make sure he is safe. I just want to see his account that is all and if you get caught then report me, okay? And tell them I coerced you if you want to but just, please out of the goodness of your heart help me find Alex.
Rick: (Touched by the speech) …Do you have a full name and last four socials?
(Amber nods and opens her laptop granting him access)
Amber: The laptop is mine so you can help the cops trace it to me.
Rick: (Logins into his website) Oh, I will your hot but I don't want to go to jail because you went crazy. Name and socials.
Amber: Um Alexander Michael Karev, last four socials are 3710.
Rick: (Types in) Okay give me a second…done, here's his latest purchases with his debit and credit.
Amber: (Looks over the account) Okay here's one from two weeks ago he bought a ticket from SEA and…is that right? Is that where he went?
Rick: (Looks at it) Yep that's from his debit, he bought a one-way ticket to that location.
Amber: (Scoffs) Why would he go there? There is nothing there, literally nothing but referencing from a classic movie. What could possibly make him go to that pile of nothing?
Rick: (Shrugs) Maybe it's not a what but a who, do you have any relatives there?
Amber: No there's no one there, no one that we-
(Amber freezes and pales as she realizes who lives in that state)
Rick: I'm guessing by the look on your face and your skin turning white it's bad like really bad.
(Amber snaps out of it and closes the laptop)
Amber: (Clears throat) Thank you for your help, Rick sincerely. I-I am going to put my computer back and prep you for surgery.
(Amber walks out of the room with her breath shaky from what she just learned)
LATER AT CT
(Andrew and Bailey are observing the scans while Suzanne is in the MRI)
Suzanne: Oh, wow. I do not like it in here. Feels like the inside of a coffin. You know, I've never actually been in a coffin, but this is definitely how I pictured it feeling.
Bailey: (Clicks on mic) We're almost done here, Suzanne.
Andrew: There's no signs of abscess in the right lower quadrant.
Bailey: So, whatever this is, it's likely not your screw-up.
Koracick: (Drops by) Oh. So, I-I heard right. Nurse told me my chief was doing follow-ups on an appy. Seemed too crazy to be true, but here we are. I guess it makes sense, though. Ease yourself back into the real work. Y-
(Bailey closes the door on Koracick's face)
Andrew: Everything okay?
Bailey: Not really, but thanks for asking.
(Suzanne's monitors beep rapidly all of a sudden)
Bailey: What?
Andrew: (Run inside the room with Bailey) I'm calling a code.
Bailey: Oh, get her out. Get her out! (Looks over Suzanne) Blood pressure's dropping. JVD.
Andrew: And muffled heart sounds.
Bailey: She's got cardiac tamponade. She's not gonna make it to the OR. We need to aspirate her right here.
Andrew: Okay, give me an 18-gauge needle on a syringe. Betadine.
Bailey: Come on, Suzanne.
Andrew: Inserting the needle. (Inserts needle) Come on. Come on!
Bailey: Come on. Suzanne, come on! Those kids need you.
FIVE HOURS LATER ON THE SURGICAL FLOOR
(Amber walks out of the O.R. still shell shock from what she learned with Amelia behind her)
Amelia: Hey, are you okay?
Amber: What?
Amelia: You've been quiet in the O.R. for five hours straight I talk a lot in the O.R. and usually the resident on my case answers or makes a quip and you didn't say a peep. What's going on?
Amber: (Tries to find an excuse) Um…I don't know I guess I'm just feeling off today I'm sorry it's nothing just a mind thing that's all.
Amelia: Okay, if your sure about that, thanks for the assist.
Amber: Yeah.
(Amber walks away and sees Jo at the station talking to a nurse. She takes a deep breath and goes to her)
Jo: Hey I heard about the frontal lobe inhibition guy you operated on how was he?
Amber: Um he was brutally honest made a lot of comments on my body and how I should be a porn star.
Jo: (Groans in disgust) Thank God men have some restrictions, am I right?
Amber: Yeah, Jo um can I-
Jo: Although that is probably not as crazy as my patient who swallowed a bronze catfish and nearly choked to death.
Amber: What? Why would he do that?
Jo: Because he's an idiot who had a bachelor party with his idiot friend.
Amber: (Chuckles) Wow and I thought your bachelorette party was crazy.
Jo: (Smiles) Right? Although the party was moot since his fiancé broke up with him because he was too chaotic. She said and I quote when people show you who you really are over and over your supposed to believe them. I mean thank God Alex shows me who he really is and I still love him for all the mistakes he made because he makes me feel more loved than conflicted.
(Amber internally struggles at that statement but keeps herself composed)
Jo Hey speaking of Alex have you talked to him at all? I've called and texted but he's hasn't responded, is everything okay?
Amber: Um… (Decides to lie to spare Jo) I talked to him last night he said he wanted to call but our mom now wants new furniture and decorations for the new house and he's so busy helping her pick out a bed and a couch. He says he loves you and that as soon as he's done, he'll call you back.
Jo: Okay, thanks. I'll talk to you later.
Amber: (Grins to save face) Yeah bye.
(Amber walks away and her grin falls as she feels bad for Jo and the pain that she's gonna go through with Alex's betrayal)
LATER IN THE SURGICAL IMAGING ROOM
(Amber finally finds Andrew looking over papers and closes the door behind her to give them privacy)
Amber: I love you; I love you; I love you please believe me when I tell you that and don't be mad when I say I can't do dinner tonight. I know the table is expensive as hell and they probably won't give you a refund but I was just hit with a metaphorical truck full of lard and I need to think this situation through and come up with a plan.
(Andrew still reads the papers as Amber continues freaking out)
Amber: I'm going to kill him Andrew, I swear to God I am going to kill him and it won't be instantaneous either. I am talking torture for months and then a gun to the head and bang I only have one brother left and then-
Andrew: Her name's Suzanne, she's got two young kids, she's a single mom, and I think she's dying.
Amber: (Stops spiraling) What? Is this the appy patient you told me about?
Andrew: Yeah, she crashed on me. I had to aspirate a cardiac tamponade in CT. I don't get it. It was a simple appy, a no-brainer case, and-and now, I mean, look at all this. She's-She's getting worse. And I don't know why or how to help her.
Amber: (Cradles his face) Hey, hey, hey Andrew, look at me. You said so yourself it was simple appy so something else entirely must have happened to this woman.
Andrew: Yeah, but what?
Amber: …I don't know, I'm not a general surgeon so I don't know and I'm not the right person to go to for answers in this but I am the right person for you to unload on. I am right here, okay? You are allowed to be a neurotic mess or just a mess in general because you have put up with it from me so…what do you need me to do?
Andrew: (Sighs) …I need to cancel dinner tonight.
Amber: That is completely fine and if anyone asks you did it first and not me if you want.
Andrew: Thank you.
(Amber steps back and sits in a chair, Andrew notices her tormented look)
Andrew: (Sits across from her) What is it? Did Alex call?
Amber: (Shakes her head) No…It's nothing.
Andrew: (Holds her hand) Hey, I unload on you so you unload on me, okay?
Amber: (Inhales) I had a patient of mine hack into Alex's bank account.
Andrew: (Eyes wide) Amber Stevie Karev what the hell?
Amber: I know, I know it was stupid and reckless but it wasn't a dead end.
Andrew: (Pinches the bridge of his nose) It will be when you end up in jail for forcing a patient to commit a crime for you.
Amber: The guy is a bank manager so if anything, he didn't technically do anything illegal he just used his account.
Andrew: Because you coerced him to, for some wild goose chase that ended up being you freaking out over nothing.
Amber: It's not nothing Andrew not this time.
Andrew: Amber-
Amber: I saw the plane ticket he purchased and I know where he is.
Andrew: (Exhales) Okay so where is he?
Amber: He's in Kansas.
Andrew: Ka- (Confused) I'm sorry did you say Kansas?
Amber: Yes, he bought a one-way ticket to Kansas City International Airport on Saturday night and left the next morning and I'm assuming he's still there.
Andrew: (Still confused) …Okay so what is he doing there? Do you have any theories?
Amber: (Inhales and exhales) Do you remember how me, Alex and Jo banded together and got all of Meredith's patients to testify for her?
Andrew: Yeah, it's really hard to forget, what does that have to do with Kansas?
Amber: I am getting to that. I also helped to get letters of support from everyone they worked with I got Torres and Robbins and Alex got Yang and Izzie. The letters came with resumes to support their character and make Grey's support stick. I typed them up myself and Izzie's…Izzie's resume has her currently working as a surgical oncologist…in Baldwin City, Kansas.
Andrew: (Eyes widen and he freezes in shock) Amber…What are you saying?
Amber: (Closes her eyes in despair over the situation and speaks calmly with a hint of anger in her tone) I am saying that Alex lied to me and Jo about going to Iowa when really, he was going to the same state his ex-wife and first love happens to live.
(Andrew sits there frozen with Amber as they both try to process this information)