Chapter 24: Reign Over Me
SCENE: ALEX AND JOS HOUSE
(Amber approaches the house at midnight with her suitcase. She enters to find Alex and Jo on the couch waiting for her)
Alex: (Stands up and goes to her) Hey welcome back, how are you?
Amber: (Hugs him) I'm good I decided to take an early flight out here so I can get a good night's sleep. And I didn't want to burden the others over there so…
Jo: (Hugs Amber) How is he?
Amber: He's good, he's…I don't know what he is but it isn't good.
Alex: (Sighs) Was it as bad as I saw it on the screen?
Amber: Worse actually.
Alex: When does he get here?
Amber: In the morning, Maggie and Catherine are with him.
Jo: Were there tests for a stroke or hemorrhage?
Amber: Yeah, their negative, same for tremors and UTI.
Alex: What about a tox screen? Did they run it?
Amber: Clean for drugs and alcohol so whatever this is we haven't seen it before.
Alex: (Sighs) Well I hate everything.
Amber: I'm sorry but we'll know more in the morning. I'm gonna go get some sleep, you should too. Good night.
Alex: Night.
Jo: Good night.
(Amber heads down to her basement and changes into her pajamas. She gets into bed and checks her phone finding messages and missed calls from Andrew. She inhales deeply and turns her phone off to go to sleep)
THE NEXT MORNING
SCENE: GREY SLOAN PARKING LOT
(Amber and Alex walk behind Jo and Levi who chat and drink juice)
Amber: Birthday is tomorrow, when do the twins come?
Alex: Tonight actually, Izzie is sending them off this afternoon and I'm taking an early leave to pick them up.
Amber: (Shocked) Seriously? I haven't gotten them a present yet. Oh well maybe I can take them bowling or laser tag. Kids still like bowling and laser tag, right?
Alex: Last I checked. I get out at the afternoon tomorrow.
Amber: Oh, great I can take them sightseeing until then, show them their second home it'll be fun.
Alex: You uh you can't do that.
Amber: Why? I can take care of two kids on my own Alex you don't need to worry about me losing them.
Alex: No that's not it, I…I got Izzie to agree to let you back into Alexis and Eli's lives on the condition that I don't leave you alone with them.
Amber: (Looks at Alex and looks away hurt)
Alex: I-I'm sorry I tried to convince her but-
Amber: It's fine, you tried that's what matters. Thanks for letting me back into their lives even if I have to be monitored like I'm on parole.
Alex: (Pulls her in for a side hug) Hey come on, it's gonna be a great week. It's just you, me, the twins and Jo and…Schmitt.
Amber: (Grins) Come on he's not that bad.
Alex: He is luring my wife away with homemade juice. My wife he once slept with.
Amber: (Snorts) I'm pretty sure Jo is the reason he found out he was gay so that one night stand was more his coming out journey.
Alex: Even so it's weird.
Amber: Yeah, I find it strange that my sister and best friend are now joined at the hip but there are worse things happening in the world as I have witnessed in real life not too long ago.
Alex: I guess so, I'm gonna be in peds all day, text me with any updates on Richard.
Amber: Will do.
(Alex leaves Amber who walks beside Jo and Levi)
Amber: Okay seriously you guys those things can't be that good.
Jo: (Sips the juice) But they are, these are homemade?
Levi: Yeah, my mom made them for me in the morning when I lived at her house.
Amber: Wow just when I think your life back then couldn't be sadder you continue to prove me wrong.
Jo: (Chuckles) Your mom made these for you every day? Why did you move out?
Levi: She also folded my underwear, threw away articles of clothing that didn't flatter my nice butt, and every time I tried to talk about a problem, she just shoved a plate of food at me.
Jo: Like I said, I don't get it.
Levi: Well, I can't go back.
Amber: Come on let's go to the lounge.
(Amber and Levi leave Jo to get ready)
LATER IN THE LAB
(Amber, Levi and Taryn stand by as Bailey explains Webber's condition to them, Meredith, Koracick, Amelia, Maggie, Catherine and Teddy)
Bailey: We've got a 65-year-old male suffering from memory lapses, tremors, depression and mood swings, and erratic behavior. Yes, I am talking about Richard Webber, but today, he is not the Richard Webber you know and love. He is our number-one patient. Two days ago, he suffered a public…episode at a medical conference. Patient's history includes an appendectomy, a hip replacement, surgery for a brain tumor pressing on his optic nerve. He was also electrocuted several years ago, which led to surgery for a pancreatic pseudocyst.
Levi: (Whispers to Taryn) Jo did that surgery for the pseudocyst. Oh, sorry. Uh, Dr. Jo.
Taryn: You're crashing with two attendings. We get it.
Amber: Who are also my brother and sister so I win.
Bailey: This is a list of possible diagnoses. Some, we have already ruled out. This, we still need to. Meredith.
Meredith: Uh, we'll run all the labs. We'll do the blood cultures, vitamin levels, check the thyroid function, and we'll check the urine for heavy metals.
Maggie: Prepare yourselves. He's not himself.
Taryn: We saw the video.
(Maggie and Catherine look at Taryn irritably. Amber steps in)
Amber: I got this.
(Amber slaps the back of Taryn's head hard)
Taryn: Ow!
Bailey: Okay you three go and check the results and report back, this is your job for today unless your called in for something emergent.
(The three of them leave)
Taryn: (Rubs the back of her head) Why did you have to hit me?
Amber: Why did you have to be born with no zipper in your mouth?
Levi: (Sighs) This is gonna be a fun day.
LATER AT THE STATION
(Amber approaches Levi at the station after being in path)
Levi: Hey any luck?
Amber: None the ER is slammed so the blood cultures are taking time, I'm trying to clear post ops here so that Webber is the main priority.
Levi: Shouldn't our main priority be the patients?
Amber: And they are but Webber is practically the lord and savior of this place so his wellbeing right now is beyond that.
Levi: Is that a fact?
Amber: Yeah, Alex thinks so too I mean the guy mentored him and pulled his head out of his ass so Alex has a right to worry.
Levi: Speaking of Karev, how's the preparation for the twin's arrival coming along?
Amber: (Inhales and speaks in an uncertain tone) Um great it's going great.
Levi: (Notices) What is it?
Amber: Nothing…I mean I want to say something but it's about her and I don't want to trigger any old resentment that you had towards me when-
Levi: (Shakes his head) No, no absolutely go ahead I won't judge I'll just listen and give an opinion when you ask.
Amber: (Relieved) Okay, she doesn't want me alone with them. Alex talked Izzie out of the restraining order but I have to hang out with them with Alex as the chaperone.
Levi: Oh wow.
Amber: Yeah, I mean I should be grateful that I get to hang out with them but God that woman just finds new ways to irritate me even when she's a thousand miles away and it's- (Groans in anger) you know?
Levi: Oh, do I give an opinion now?
Amber: Yes.
Levi: Okay well I understand where you're coming from and you have a right to not like her but she's just doing what she's feels is best for the kids.
Amber: (Groans) I know she's being a good mother to my niece and nephew which makes me hate her more. I hate her because she didn't turn out to be the bunny boiling child hitting hag, I was hoping she was. I was hoping for that so that Alex can sue for custody and win and I never have to see her bleached head again.
Levi: (Rubs her arm in comfort) I know, I know it's hard to have her be a decent human being. I know you had horrible expectations and she didn't fill them like you wanted. I know it's awful for you.
Amber: (Looks at Levi touched) It is awful, it's awful I have to see her again and try to be nice to her so I can see those twin angels she has somehow spawned from the molten lava filled hole that is her uterus. Why does she have to be involved in this Levi?
Levi: Because she's the mother of those twin angels and she's gonna be in your life no matter what.
Amber: Not unless her cancer comes back, at least, I hope.
Levi: (Gives Amber a look)
Amber: (Looks down in shame) I heard it too and I feel awful.
Levi: You should, joking about cancer is something Roy might have done.
Amber: (Shudders) I feel disgusted now, you are so mean.
Levi: …Any word back from DeLuca?
Amber: (Holds her phone up) 19 missed calls and 33 texts. He's officially out and back on technology.
Levi: No response back to him?
Amber: No and even so what do I say? 'Hey Andrew welcome back from the looney bin, do you want to talk about you wanting to propose?' or 'Hey Andrew do you still want to talk about who gets to keep the apartment where you broke up with me before I tried to do the same?' no, no this might be good, 'Hey Andrew do you want to talk about how I had sex with my ex while you we're doing paint therapy?' or-
Levi: (Shocked) Wait what did you say?
Amber: What?
Levi: You slept with someone? Who?
Amber: (Sighs) It was X.
Levi: X? X- (Remembers her) Dr. Rojas? The Langone resident? You slept with her? When?
Amber: At the conference we ran into each other and…
Levi: Talked?
Amber: (Sighs) We talked all day and most of the night.
Levi: (Mouth gapes) How did I not know about this? Why didn't you tell me?
Amber: I didn't tell anybody, well except for Jo the morning after.
Levi: What? Jo knew? Why didn't she tell me?
Amber: (Can't comprehend the new friendship) Okay since when are you and my sister besties? What happened while I was away?
Levi: Nothing we just clicked same as you and me. I mean Link has a new baby on the way so she needs a new BFF and I'm filling it for both you and her. Now back to Rojas aka: X the Ex.
Amber: (Chuckles) Nice, okay so we talked and it was so good but I feel so…dirty somehow, I don't know why.
Levi: I don't know why either I mean you and DeLuca broke up so you weren't cheating.
Amber: True and we slept together before so it was like recycling, compost. I don't know…no I do know I played with the idea of moving back to New York with her.
Levi: What? Your moving? You're leaving me? Why?
Amber: Okay easy I said played meaning I am not going so pull up your bra strap. I just…I was unraveling from the DeLuca thing and a little drunk on alcohol and high on endorphins so I was loopy. I could've slept with you and asked you to move with me that night.
Levi: Gross so you and X are…?
Amber: Not happening but that doesn't change the fact that the day before my boyfriend was supposed to be released, I was doing an extended yoga session with a woman I had casual relations with. Should I feel bad?
Levi: In my opinion no, and Andrew shouldn't hold it against you especially since he was the one who dumped you.
Amber: (Sees clearly) Right, right! I mean he broke up with me and it was a month later so I shouldn't feel bad I don't, I don't feel bad.
Levi: Say that again and you might just convince yourself.
(Levi gets a page)
Levi: Jo wants me in the pit.
Amber: Go I got it from here, we'll talk later.
Levi: Okay.
(Levi leaves Amber on the floor. Amber walks toward the elevator turning left when she sees something that stops her. Andrew DeLuca talks to Bailey outside of Webber's room. Amber stands there frozen in shock and Bailey leaves Andrew there. Andrew turns his head and passes a glance at Amber not recognizing her due to her new hair color but stops and turns his head fully recognizing her)
Amber: (Under her breath) Shit.
(Amber snaps out of it and turns around. She walks as quickly as she can while Andrew walks away from Webber's room and heads towards Amber's direction)
Andrew: Amber?
(Amber ignores him and walks faster causing Andrew to run ahead of Amber and stand in front of her. Amber stops breathing as she finally stops and looks at Andrew)
Amber: (Sighs) Your back.
Andrew: (Shocked by her brown hair) Y-Yeah, I am or I will be I'm still talking to the chief um…wow I almost didn't recognize you with the hair.
Amber: (Tucks a dark strand behind her ear) Needed a change.
(Amber walks past Andrew who walks beside her)
Andrew: Well, um you look good, it looks good on you. I wasn't sure if you got my texts or voicemails when I got back, I thought you were busy with the whole Richard thing.
Amber: Yeah, um…I was in LA so I stayed a little bit and came back last night.
Andrew: Okay do you have time to talk or…?
Amber: Jo needs me in the pit and you need to talk to Bailey so I'll see you later, I guess.
(Amber walks past Andrew and goes to an elevator exhaling as it closes)
LATER AT THE PIT
(Levi approaches Jo in the crowded pit)
Levi: Hey. Hey, what's up?
Jo: Oh, we're swamped. I need you to jump in. I need you to evaluate beds 2 through 7 for smoke inhalation and clear them.
Levi: But I've been helping with Dr. Webber.
Jo: Hey, Schmitt, no offense, but whatever's wrong with Webber won't be solved by a resident.
Levi: (Doesn't move) Oh. Uh, okay.
Jo: (Impatient) Why are you still standing here?!
Levi: (Scared) All right. I'm going. (Moves to the beds) I'm going. Sorry.
(Amber enters the pit frantic and goes to Jo)
Amber: (Needs a distraction) Please tell me you need me.
Jo: (Looks at her tablet) I need you; we're swamped with a building fire I already have Schmitt so you access beds 8 through 12 for smoke inhalation and clear them.
Amber: (Sighs in relief) Bless you Jo.
(Amber goes to the beds to do as she was told)
LATER AT WEBBERS ROOM
(Alex enters the room to find Webber in bed)
Alex: Hey how are you?
Webber: Lousy, I'd be better if I was discharged and I could go home to my wife. Do you think you can do that?
Alex: You know if I did Mer and Bailey would kill me.
Webber: And what do you think I'll do to you?
Alex: Nothing worse than those two can come up with.
Webber: …True. Is there anything from the tests that can get me out sooner?
Alex: Cultures are still backed up; I just came up here to see how you are after what happened.
Webber: You saw my presentation too?
Alex: Yeah, and I was…worried about you.
Webber: Well don't be I'm fine, you and Meredith and DeLuca can stop hovering because-
Alex: (Looks up) DeLuca? DeLuca was here?
Webber: Yes, he was here a little while ago and we got to talking but he left with Bailey.
Alex: (Big brother instincts) Did Amber see him?
Webber: Well, he was calling out for her so I guess so, why? Are they in a fight or something?
Alex: (Sighs) Or something I gotta go, I'll check on you later.
Webber: Oh, hey have you and Wilson set a date yet?
Alex: (Confused) What?
Webber: A wedding date, have you two finally set a date so I can RSVP? I might be busy with the PATH pen and I want to make time.
Alex: (Looks at Webber in pity and plays along) We're still deciding I'll let you know; you better be there.
Webber: (Chuckles) I'll try my best.
(Alex nods and leaves the room)
LATER AT THE PIT
(Alex enters the pit and goes to Jo)
Alex: Hey I need to-
Levi: (Runs over and butts in) Nico just posted again on Instagram. He's having the time of his life. His smile doesn't even look fake. It's like I never existed!
Alex: (Irritated) Schmitt do you mind?
Jo: (Sighs at the two of them) Are you really talking to me about this while we're in gridlock?
Levi: Well, I just assessed beds 3 and 4.
Jo: (Sarcastic) Congratulations. We're still gridlocked.
Levi: Is that my fault?
Jo: It's not not your fault! (Takes Levi's phone) Schmitt, half the attendings are in a room right now working on Webber. This is your moment to step up, to rise, to shine, to take care of incoming before you get run over by a gurney!
Alex: Go.
(Levi takes his phone and walks away)
Jo: And if you look at your phone one more time, I'll give you so much scut, you'll wish you were never born!
(Levi sighs and pockets his phone, Jo turns to Alex who grins)
Jo: What is it? We're busy.
Alex: Have you seen Amber? I need to check on her.
Jo: I sent her to access beds 8 through 12.
Alex: Okay thanks.
(Alex leaves and finds Amber by the station charting)
Alex: Hey are you okay?
Amber: Yes, I'm fine I'm just helping Jo out, why do you ask?
Alex: Um nothing it's just…did you know that DeLuca is here? Like in the hospital?
Amber: (Unbothered) Yes, I did, he said hi and wanted to talk but I told him I was in the pit today.
Alex: But you're not, you're supposed to be helping with Webber.
Amber: Do you honestly think a resident is just gonna up and discover what's wrong with him over the best minds in the field? No, I wanted to help out as much as I can around here.
Alex: And work to avoid your ex in the meantime. (Amber glares at him) Look do you want me to tell him to stay away? Do you want me to beat him up again?
Amber: No because I don't need my big brother to come in and rescue me, I can handle myself.
(A man in bed 10 screams in pain)
Man: (In pain) Oh god there's something inside of me!
Amber: And now if you'll excuse me, I am gonna rescue a patient.
(Amber approaches the man in the bed whose boyfriend is by his side)
Amber: Hey I'm Dr. Karev, what's your name?
Clay: (Groans) Clay.
Graham: Graham, I'm his life partner.
Amber: Hi okay Clay can you tell me what your feeling?
Clay: (Holds his stomach) I don't-I don't know it's like I got cramps or something but it's worse. It's like I'm gonna give birth or something you know?
Amber: (Listens to his heart) I don't actually.
Graham: Oh, stop it, Clay. (To Amber) We had sushi last night. He always orders the omakase and he orders seconds because it's so good. I think it's just an upset stomach.
Clay: (In pain and grumpy) If you tell me I have a stomachache one more time, I'm gonna take that stethoscope of hers and strangle you with it.
Amber: (Wide eyes and puts the stethoscope in her pocket) Okay I hear no heart abnormalities, is the pain stabbing or pressing?
Clay: It's like it's moving I felt something moving inside me I'm like John Hurt in Alien. It's the one where he-
Amber: Gets eaten alive by an alien baby on the inside, I've seen it. How long have you been having these cramps?
Clay: About a week, I came here because I couldn't take it anymore and I made an appointment with my doctor in three days.
Amber: Okay any other symptoms? Dizziness? Headache?
Clay: No just-
(Clay stops and screams in pain)
Amber: What is it? Is it your stomach?
Clay: (Groans) I feel something, there's something moving it's crawling up my back.
Amber: Okay turn over I'm gonna see what's happening.
(Amber turns Clay over to his side and lifts his shirt exposing his back. Amber screams in horror and jumps back as what she see's shocks her)
Clay: (Freaking out) What? What is it? Is it bad?
(Alex notices and runs over)
Alex: What happened?
Amber: (Shudders and points to Clay)
(Alex looks over and sees a thin tapeworm wiggling out from Clay's pants up his lower back)
Graham: (Shocked) What the hell is that?
Amber: Ugh that's a tapeworm.
Clay: (Freaking out) Tapeworm? I have a tapeworm?!
Alex: (Holds the worm by its end) Yep and it's coming out of your…rear end.
Graham: Oh, I'm gonna be sick.
Clay: Get it out, get it out!
Alex: We will, we're gonna do an ex-lap to remove it but first we need an abdominal CT to see where it's coming from, Amber run ahead and book it.
Amber: (Still disturbed) Don't gotta tell me twice.
(Amber runs away from the bed and shudders in disgust to Alex's amusement)
LATER IN RADIOLOGY
(Amber goes inside the dark room to find Jo observing the scans with fascination)
Amber: Hey you paged me? I thought you were still in the pit.
Jo: I was but Mer and Bailey are busy so I had Owen take over the pit so I can do this ex-lap.
Amber: (Looks and recognizes the scans) Tell me that is not the worm boy that I had an hour ago?
Jo: (Smiles) It is the worm boy.
Amber: (Groans in disgust) And I'm out.
Jo: What? What do you mean you're out? This is a tapeworm inside the abdomen, do you know how rare these are?
Amber: Not rare enough, ugh how long is this thing?
Jo: Um from the scans I'd say about 14 feet long.
Amber: (Shudders) I knew there was a downside to eating sushi and it's staring at me right in the face. You're doing the ex-lap?
Jo: Yep, and your scrubbing in.
Amber: No! Forget it woman, find someone else like your new BFF Schmitt that you stole from me.
Jo: (Chuckles) Okay I did not steal him; can't a person have two best friends?
Amber: Yes, and that person can assist you in this extraction of an abomination.
Jo: Amber, Levi will probably faint when we pull the worm out, or vomit inside the body cavity. I mean he dropped his glasses in one so you know it's possible. Come on you need this, a surgery with your sister, doesn't that sound fun?
Amber: (Sees the ruse) Cut the crap and tell me why you want me there.
Jo: Fine I want to talk to you about something and a quiet O.R. is the perfect place instead of a busy pit. Do you want to scrub in or not?
Amber: (Apprehensive) How important is this talk?
Jo: So important that I feel like I am going to explode if I don't get advice from my only sister. Do you want to scrub in or not?
Amber: (Still apprehensive) Can't you talk to Alex about this? Or literally anyone else?
Jo: No because I need to unravel on someone and you have unraveled on me so many times that I could write a tell all book about your problems. Now I ask one last time, do you want to scrub in or not?
Amber: (Sighs and thinks it over) …I'm not touching that thing at all.
Jo: Done.
(Amber and Jo shake hands in agreement)
MEANWHILE ON THE SECOND FLOOR
(Alex approaches Meredith who walks with Maggie and Bailey)
Alex: Hey what happened?
Bailey: Richard failed the cognitive tests.
Meredith: It's only a written test, he's lucid and is able to recall steps for a Whipple.
Maggie: Even a person with a degenerative disorder can recall procedures they've done most of their life. Richard clearly has some type of rapidly progressive dementia, and so far, none of our tests can point to a cause. This could very well be-
Meredith: (Gives a look)
Maggie: Meredith, I'm not gonna not say it. It could-
(They enter Webber's room to find it empty)
Alex: Where is he?
Bailey: Richard? Okay, let's split up. Uh, I'll look around here.
Meredith: I'll take the OR floor.
Alex: I'll come with you.
Maggie: I'll find Catherine.
Bailey: Page when you find him.
LATER AT O.R. 4
(Amber suctions and retracts while Jo works to gain access to the peritoneal cavity)
Amber: All right before we take this monstrosity out tell me what you wanted to talk about.
Jo: Right um…I uh…I wanted to talk to you about the twins.
Amber: (Looks up surprised)
Jo: I wanted to know what their like and whether they will hate me on sight.
Amber: Um well they are five soon to be six and their adorable. They love to bake unlike me who can barely make mac and cheese out of a box. They love to read and I imagine us cosplaying soon. They like anything and anyone they deem nice and I imagine it will apply to you too. Have you talked to Alex about this?
Jo: I did and he says he told them nice things about me but I wanted to hear it from you as well because…I'm scared Amber.
Amber: Scared to meet them? I imagine you are.
Jo: No, I mean yes, I am scared about the meet but I'm also scared of screwing this up this whole…stepmom thing. I mean I didn't have a mom or a stepmom, I had no one to model after as a parent. I don't know how to be a mom, I thought I would figure it out with a baby and have the answers as it grows but now, I have to have answers for two 5-year-olds that my husband unknowingly had with his ex-wife. I mean…what if they hate me? What if they hate me because I took their dad away from them? What if they hate me because of popular advertisement that stepmoms are naturally evil? Amber, what if…what if I disappoint them like my mom disappointed me?
(Amber looks up at Jo in shock over her words and sighs)
Amber: Okay I am gonna be brutally honest with you because I love you and you clearly need it. Get your shit together right now and stop beating yourself up or I am gonna take that tapeworm and put it inside you.
Jo: (Eyebrows raised) Wow you said that because you love me?
Amber: Yes…look I had a lousy mother; I mean negligent beyond belief my childhood is a case study for therapists.
Jo: Yes, I know all that and…
Amber: And I am here assisting a surgery to remove a tapeworm which is gross but cool. I like to think I'm a good person not perfect but good. I mean I'm violent and judgmental and I fool around like a hooker but given the circumstances I turned out better than expected. And you, you have a cold shell of a mother who dumped you the second she could and yet you're the most competent, together person I know. I want to be you when I grow up.
Jo: What's your point?
Amber: My point is that we ended up here in spite of our mothers screwing us over or not raising us. We're surgeons and marginally good people in spite of our bad moms. If we can get here without moms then I can't even imagine how spectacular those twins are gonna be raised by not one but two amazing moms.
Jo: (Looks at Amber touched)
Amber: Look there are gonna be times when you screw up, that's a given for a new mom but at the very least your gonna try. Your gonna try and be there for the kids through the homework and the puberty and packing up for Harvard. I know this because you know what a bad mom is so your gonna do the opposite because you don't want them to be in pain like you were as a kid. I mean if you try to make sure those kids know they are loved then you will already do better than your mother. Do you understand me?
Jo: (Grins) You know aside from the fooling around your more than a good person Amber Stevie Karev.
Amber: (Grins) …Never tell anyone I called that hag Izzie an amazing mom.
Jo: (Chuckles) Come on she can't be that bad, I mean if anything Alex should be more mad at her than you.
Amber: He should but he's whipped and I have to be the one to call her out on her awfulness. Did you know she's keeping me from being alone with the twins?
Jo: Well at least, she's letting you see them, that's something right?
Amber: (Groans) Yeah something for me to hold against her, as if I don't have enough already. I swear this worm is more appealing than that woman at least it makes you lose weight.
Jo: Oh! Here we go we got access people, basin please.
Amber: (Shudders) Your gonna need fire on the side to burn the little bastard straight back to hell.
Jo: (Reaches inside the body cavity) Seriously what is the deal with you and worms? I mean you're a doctor, gross things are kind of in the job description.
Amber: I can handle blood and vomit and cleaning out bed pans but I draw the line at worms especially if they're inside a human being.
Jo: (Still inside the body) You know these things can actually live inside of you for 20 years?
Amber: Ugh it makes sense with all the sushi this guy ate, it's like he licked off a Petri dish.
Jo: (Finds it) All right I got it, it's beside the ileum. Karev hold out the basin.
Amber: (Shudders but holds the basin) There are times when I really hate this job.
Jo: Okay I got the end and I'm cutting off the head to keep it from wriggling.
(Jo slowly pulls out the end of the tapeworm keeping a tight grip and cuts off the head killing it)
Amber: (Gags) I am cutting back on sushi or just calling it off completely.
Jo: (Puts it in the basin) Same.
Amber: (Waiting anxiously for Jo to finish) Why are you going so slow? Can't you just yank it out?
Jo: Nope I have to be careful. If it breaks it'll crawl back inside and regenerate.
Amber: (Groans in disgust) This is like a case study for my pathogenic bacteriology final. I hated pathogenic bacteriology.
Jo: (Continues pulling it out) I can tell from how you screamed like a little girl in the pit.
Amber: Well, I'm sorry if not all of us are bug freaks like you. How are you not grossed out right now?
Jo: (Shrugs and calmly continues) I once took out a leech up a patient's nose, nothing grosses me out anymore. Plus, we had a patient who had about a hundred of these tiny worms inside her bowel we had to use two basins to get them out. It's just nature, that's all, the circle of life.
Amber: I don't think this is what Elton John had in mind when he wrote that. (Scared) Could I have a tapeworm in me?
Jo: (Focused on pulling) Probably.
(Jo finally pulls until the other end is shown and puts it inside the basin)
Amber: (Observes the worm in disgust) You were way off, this thing has gotta be like 22 feet long.
Jo: Dang it the world record is 82 feet.
Amber: (Shocked by her knowledge of this) Who are you?
(Amber hands the basin to the nurse and helps Jo close up)
LATER AT WEBBERS ROOM
(Alex and Meredith stand outside Webber's room observing him)
Alex: You found him in the O.R. about to operate on himself?
Meredith: (Grimly nods) He had a scalpel to his stomach; I talked him down. He…He called me Ellis, he thought I was my mother, Alex.
Alex: (Sighs) Mer…are you sure it's not-
Meredith: I'm sure, I know what it's like, I know what it looks like and it is not this. I know it Alex, I know it in my bones.
Alex: Okay, okay I believe you. Let's figure out what this is then and fix it.
Meredith: Thank you.
Alex: (Checks his watch) I have to go to the airport. The plane lands in an hour and I want to be there when they get out.
Meredith: Okay, let me know when you can bring them over so our kids can have that playdate we talked about.
Alex: Will do.
(Alex leaves Meredith to observe Richard alone)
LATER THAT NIGHT AT AMBER AND ANDREWS APARTMENT
(Amber knocks on the door and is face to face with Andrew. She silently looks at him with a blank expression before going inside. Andrew closes the door)
MEANWHILE AT ALEX AND JOS HOUSE
(Jo paces back and forth the living room in anxiety. She stops when she hears the door open and is faced with Alex as he walks in with Eli and Alexis causing her to stop breathing)
Alex: All right guys this is your new home, what do you think?
Alexis: (Grins) It's pretty.
Eli: It's so big.
Alex: Yeah, it is.
(Alex takes Alexis and Eli to Jo who smiles and kneels down to their level)
Alex: Alexis, Eli this is Jo Karev.
Jo: Hi Eli, Hi Alexis.
Alexis: (Grins) Hi.
Eli: Hi.
Alex: (Grins) Jo this is my daughter Alexis and my son Eli.
Jo: It's nice to meet you guys, your dad and auntie Amber told me do much about you. I heard you two want to be doctors someday.
Eli: I want to cure cancer someday.
Alexis: Me too.
Jo: (Chuckles) I have no doubt that you guys will you have your daddy's smart brain.
Alex: (Smiles at the scene) Okay you guys do you want to rest up before your big day tomorrow?
Alexis: Where is auntie Amber?
Jo: (Stands up) Um she's visiting an old friend right now but I'm sure she'll be back soon and she will be excited to see you guys again. In the meantime, let us show you your new rooms upstairs.
(Alexis and Eli excitedly follow them upstairs. Alex looks at Jo lovingly and kisses her cheek in appreciation)
LATER AT AMBER AND ANDREWS APARTMENT
(Andrew pours himself a glass of wine and holds another glass out to Amber who looks at him silently across the room)
Amber: No, I'm driving back.
Andrew: (Sips wine) You're driving back? Have we had a discussion over who gets the apartment and I somehow forgot?
Amber: (Sighs) There is no discussion, you can keep the apartment. I knew to give it back to you the second we broke up. I've settled into my brother's new home nicely and I'm staying there so you don't have to feel bad about kicking me out. I am kicking myself out actually.
Andrew: …So that's it? You're not gonna fight at all?
Amber: No, I'm not because this place has been depressing since you left and I feel like I am suffocating in here. I want you to have it, the apartment is yours, it was yours before I moved in so it's only fair. There that's it, this conversation is done so I am gonna go.
Andrew: Amber wait um…is the conversation the only thing that's done here? Is it the only thing that brought you here?
Amber: …What do you mean? You broke up with me Andrew, you said we were done and that we had to have this talk and we did so…what else is there to say?
Andrew: I…I broke up with you because I wasn't sure I would keep up with my treatment at the time but…I've been doing the work. I'm taking my meds and I talk to a therapist and…I'm trying to make it so I can deal with this so I can have a normal life with this. I…I was worried I wouldn't but I have so far and I want to know if you would be with me through that. I want to know if you would be with me if you knew I wasn't gonna end up like my dad or your mom. I…I want to know if you would accept my proposal knowing I was tackling this head on. Would you?
(Amber internally panics and inhales deciding to push him away with new information)
Amber: I had sex with Ximena Rojas.
Andrew: (Looks at her in surprise) …What?
Amber: (Calm voice) At the conference three days ago, I ran into her and we got to talking and…we had sex. It wasn't a one-time thing either we did it all day and most of the night so if anything, I did it with her so many times it amounts to a few weeks. I had a fling with my ex knowing your discharge date was due and I was unashamed of it. I am not ashamed because we were broken up and it was with someone, I had sex with before.
(Andrew licks his lips and looks at her with a blank expression)
Amber: I just thought you should know. (Grabs her purse) I'll see you at work.
(Amber turns to leave and Andrew snaps out of it)
Andrew: No, Amber you don't get to do that.
Amber: (Stops and turns) Do what? Tell you I screwed my ex while you were in therapy?
Andrew: Yes, because I know you, I know how you operate when your faced with tough decisions.
Amber: (Throws her purse on the couch) You don't know the first thing about me.
Andrew: Oh, that's crap! I know that you try to push people away and make it so they make the choice for you and I am not gonna do that. Do you hear me? I need to know if what we have is salvageable and hearing that you slept with someone when we were broken up is not gonna change that.
Amber: (Tries again) Really? Not even if I tell you I wanted to move back to New York with her?
(Andrew looks at her hurt)
Amber: Yeah, I played with the idea of moving back to New York and actually being with her because she made me feel happy since the moment you left me in this apartment alone!
Andrew: Yeah, because I had to! I did what you wanted me to do, I did what our parents couldn't do! I did that for you because I love you! You know that and I know you, I know that you appreciate I did that because you didn't run the day of the intervention. You didn't run you sat there and told me that my illness didn't define me. I know that me leaving to get better is what you wanted. I know your using this to hurt me and push me away. I don't accept that! So, grow the hell up and tell me what you want!
Amber: (Breaks) I want you!
(Amber yells and turns away pulling her hair in frustration)
Andrew: You want me?
Amber: Yes, but I don't want to want you, damn it! I don't want another head case in my life but I can't stop loving you that's why I rejected X the next morning, that's why I backed out of being with her.
Andrew: Then why tell me you wanted to?
Amber: Because I can't be with you! I can't have another crazy person to take care of again that's why I wanted to break up with you the day you left. (Andrew looks at Amber shocked) I wanted to break up with you and you beat me to the punch only you thought of me and I thought of myself.
Andrew: So, you wanted to end it that day? Is that what you're telling me?
Amber: Yes. I wanted to end it because I can't do this Andrew, I can't be collateral damage in this mental war again!
Andrew: I wasn't asking you to!
Amber: That is literally what you asked me two minutes ago! You're asking me to marry you in spite of this. You're asking me to make a lifelong commitment to someone whose mental illness will trigger me every day. That is what you are asking of me and I don't want that, that is my answer!
Andrew: (Angry face) Thank you! You could've said that but instead you bring up the fact that you had sex with your ex to push me away.
Amber: (Exhales) God why couldn't you have had a worm?!
Andrew: (Confused) What?
Amber: I had a patient with a tapeworm that was easy to take out. And I wish you had that instead because it would be easy to deal with and we could fix it and actually be together but we can't!
Andrew: (Downs his wine) Yeah well believe me I wish I had a removable worm too, more than you in fact.
Amber: No, you don't! You don't want it more than me! (Voice breaking) You broke my heart and left me to pick up the pieces. That is what you did to me.
Andrew: (Puts glass down and stands in front of Amber) And you avoided me at all costs and tried to hurt me so we don't talk about our problems. That is what you did to me.
Amber: (Frustrated) Listen to us this is toxic; we are in a toxic relationship Andrew. I just told you I had sex with X so that you can kick me out because I can't talk to you. I wanted to break up with you the day you left because I didn't want your problems to become mine.
Andrew: (Pinches the bridge of his nose) I know.
Amber: (Exhales) You compared me to my father to hurt me. You compared me to my mother to hurt me. You kicked me out of your hospital room to hurt me.
Andrew: (Sighs) I know.
Amber: (Breathes heavily) And the worst part, you told me you were gonna propose to me the day you break up with me and I have been a wreak because of that, because of you! I should hate you Andrew I should want to rip you to shreds right now but I don't because I love you!
Andrew: Then stop loving me!
Amber: I can't!
(Amber exhales and looks at Andrew who looks at her with a frustrated face as well)
Andrew: And that's the problem. We don't work!
Amber: (Swallows) I know.
Andrew: (Sighs) Then we agree. There's nothing to salvage here.
Amber: (Nods) Yes, there's nothing here, not anymore. It's over, we're over.
(Amber and Andrew stand there for a tense moment. The sexual tension is clear as Andrew sighs before giving in and kissing Amber who responds as well. They make out passionately and Amber moans in pleasure before taking Andrew's jacket off. Andrew lifts Amber up by her legs and she wraps them around his waist. Andrew walks while kissing her and puts her on the bed)
Andrew: (Panting and takes his shirt off) God, I missed you.
Amber: (Panting) I missed you.
(Andrew rips Amber's blouse open popping out a few buttons. Amber pulls him back to kiss him)
TO BE CONTINUED