Disclaimer: I do not own these characters



Setting: Tuesday, December 23, 2003




Chapter 2: Unexpected Visitor





"Morning, Lu." Dr. Nick Biancavilla greeted Lu the next morning."

"Hey, Nick." Lu answered, sounding tired.

"You okay?"Nick asked, concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just didn't get much sleep last night, that's all. Let's get started with the day, shall we?"

"Yeah, sure." Nick answered as he headed towards the ER, then stopped and turned around again.

"Hey Lu, how about lunch in the cafeteria later?"

"I don't know, Nick. I have a full load of patients today. But thanks."

"Sure. I'll see ya later." Nick wasn't surprised by the young doctor's answer, as she often didn't take time to eat lunch. But there was a sadness in her tone, in her eyes.

Lu went into her office and closed the door, glad she had a few moments to herself before her first patient was due. She picked up her first patient's file, quickly glancing at the picture on her desk as she did so.



She stood on the steps of the RWHC, staring at the large hospital, the place where she had once called home. In her arms was a small child, with another child standing beside her. On her other side was a woman younger than herself.

"This is it, Julie. Rittenhouse Women's Health Center." The younger woman stared at the large building.

"Wow. This is where you used to work?" Dr. Dana Stowe nodded.

"Yes. This was home."

"This place is huge. I'd get lost in a place like this." Julie said, still staring in awe at the large facility. Dana smiled. "Yes, it is huge. But a wonderful place."

"Do you ever miss it?" Julie questioned. Dana was silent for a moment as she thought back to just over a year ago when she had made the decision to move back to her home in Virginia with her two newly adopted daughters.

"Yeah, sometimes I do miss it." She finally answered. "It was hard to leave, but I knew it would be best for the girls. I felt it important for them to grow up with family nearby. And with my hectic work schedule here, it wouldn't have been good for any of us. They had already been rejected by one mother. I didn't want them to feel that they were rejected by another."

"Does anyone know you're coming?" Julie asked. Dana shook her head.

"I thought I would surprise them. I haven't really kept in close contact with any of them since I left over a year ago. With my folks on the cruise, I thought this would be a good time to come back and see everyone, unless they are gone for the holidays or something. But I doubt it."

"What about that partner you told me about? Do you think she'll be here?" Julie asked. Dana nodded.

"I'd say that is a pretty safe bet. She never takes time off to go anywhere. She's always here."

"Can we go in? Or are we just going to stand here staring at the building?" Julie asked with a smile.

"I'd say we can go in now." Dana led the way up the steps and into the building. She glanced around. The halls were fairly empty. The reception desk was also empty.

"This is weird." Dana whispered softly. "Where is everyone?"

"Maybe everyone left for the holidays." Julie offered.

"That would be very unusual." Dana replied. She glanced down the hall towards where her office had been, reading the name that was now on the door: Dr. Andy Campbell.

"Andy Campbell. Interesting name for a women's health specialist." Dana said under her breath.

"But I know one person who will be here." Dana headed down the hall towards Lu's office, followed by Julie and 6 year old Annie. When she reached the office, she first peeked in the window. As expected, she found Lu sitting at her desk. She knocked lightly on the closed door.

"Yeah?" Dana opened the door.

"Hi Lu." Lu glanced up, expecting it to be her next patient. Surprised, she dropped her pen on the desk.

"Oh...my...god. Dana?" Lu stood up. "What are you doing here?"

"Hi Lu. How are you?"

"I'm fine." Lu answered quickly. "And you?"

"I'm fine." Lu gently touched the baby's cheek.

"She's gotten so big, Dana. She's so pretty." Lu then knelt down in front of the other little girl as she shyly stood beside her mother.

"Hi Annie. You're growing into a beautiful young lady." Lu stood up and glanced at Julie, then at Dana.

"Oh Lu. I'd like you to meet Julie, our nanny. Julie, I'd like you to meet Dr. Luisa Delgado. Or Lu."

"Nice to meet you, Dr. Delgado." Julie said as she shook Lu's hand. Lu smiled.

"Please, call me Lu. Noone calls me Dr. Delgado. Or Luisa."

"Where is everyone, Lu? It's so quiet around here." Dana questioned.

"Lana's boys are coming for the holidays, so she took some time off. Peter is off on a motorcycle somewhere. Dr. Jackson and his family are on a Christmas cruise or something. Andy and her kids are in D.C. with her parents. And Nick is in the ER."

"Oh. I imagine you and Marc have something special planned for the holidays?" Lu shook her head.

"Nope. Marc went to Arizona with Bill and his family to spend it with Bill's parents." Lu said, referring to her son's father, his wife and their 4 year old twin daughters.

"You're spending Christmas alone?" Dana asked. Lu nodded. "Yeah, I guess. But we both know that it will not be lonely here at the clinic. Seems holidays is when people get sick the most." Dana nodded.

"You've got a point there."

"So Dana, what are you doing back in Philly?"

"My folks are on a cruise, so I decided to bring my girls back here for the holidays. We're renting a condo about 30 miles from town out on Kanyon Bridge Drive"

"Cool." Lu answered. "Want me to page Nick?"

"No, I'll just surprise him in the ER." Lu glanced at her watch. "I hate to rush you off, Dana. But I've got a patient due any minute."

"It's okay, Lu. We need to get going soon anyway. It's time for naps. I'll just drop in on Nick quick first. How about we get together for lunch soon? We can catch up on the gossip. And there is always plenty of that around here I am sure." Lu nodded.

"As usual. Sure, Dana. That would be great." Dana smiled. "Good. Talk to you later."




Dana walked in the emergency room and glanced around, spotting Nick across the room talking to a nurse. Wanting to surprise him, she quietly walked up behind him. "Excuse me."

"Just a moment please." Nick said without looking up.

"Ummm...excuse me." Dana touched him on the shoulder.

"I said just a mom..." Nick said as he turned around, stopping in mid sentence when he saw Dana.

"I don't believe it. What are you doing here?"

"My folks are gone for the holidays, so I thought I would bring my girls to Philly. Besides, I kinda miss everyone." Nick smiled.

"It's great to see you again. Did you see Lu?"

"Yeah. She was in her office, as usual. She sort of didn't seem like herself, though." Nick nodded.

"Yeah, I know what you mean. She's had a tough year."

"Oh? Like what?" Dana asked, concerned.

"How about we have dinner tonight? Catch up on old times? Say around 7?"

"That'd be nice. Sure. We're staying in a condo out on Kanyon Bridge Drive. Julie, our nanny came with us, so she can keep the girls. How about I meet you somewhere so you won't have to drive way out there?"

"Hmmm...how about I pick you up? I'd rather you not be driving way out there at night."

"Okay. Sounds wonderful, Nick. I'll see you at 7." Dana said, handing him a piece of paper with the address on it.

"Umm...I'd better get back to work. I'll see you tonight."

"Bye, Nick."

"Bye, Dana."