Changes
Spoilers: Episode 18 – "Where There's Smoke"
Chapter 16
"She's in Exam 2."
"Thanks," I said, as I walked to Exam 2 and knocked on the door.
"Come in."
"Susan, are you okay?" I asked when I saw Susan with a monitor on her belly.
"I think it's just Braxton Hicks."
"It probably is," I reassured her.
"Have you called your OB/GYN?" I asked. Susan nodded. "She is coming soon, but I wanted to see myself that my baby is okay."
{{
A while later,
"You are going to need bed rest for the remaining 5 weeks," the OB/GYN told Susan.
"I can't," Susan protested.
"She will," I said, as the doctor left the exam room. I sat down. "I failed my boards," I said, in a desperate need to break the silence. She looked at me. I shrugged. "You need a 182 to pass and I got a 167."
"You can't study when you are doing double shifts."
I smiled. It was true. It was hard to study when I work so much, but if I didn't work, I wouldn't be able to go to med school.
"But it's not like a building collapsed on me, I can take them again," I told Susan.
I realized today that even though I didn't pass the exams, worse things could have happened to me, like what Kerry is going through with Sandy.
"Do you need a ride home? I can take a break," I said to Susan.
"No, I'm going to take a cab home. I'll be fine," Susan said as she got up.
Suddenly my pager went off. "I have to go now, but call me later and tell me how you are,"
Susan smiled. "Okay." I waved back to her as I walked out of the room.
{{{
As I was sitting in the lounge on my break, I started to think of Kerry and what she was going through right now with Sandy. I don't what I would do if someone I loved was in that situation. I then started to remember a happier time for both of them.
The day that Henry was born… I never saw Kerry as happy as she was that day. She wasn't the same Dr. Weaver that she is down in the ER, she was the happy mother of Henry.
Suddenly someone walked into the lounge, and interrupting my thoughts. I looked up and saw Chuny. "How's Sandy?"
She looked up at me. "She's died an hour ago."
"Oh my god. How's Kerry holding up?"
"I don't know. Elizabeth just said that Sandy die, that they tried all they could, but it wasn't enough."
I sighed. This wasn't right. Kerry and Sandy just had Henry, but sometimes bad things happen, and there is nothing you can do.
My pager then suddenly went off. "I should be getting back to work," I said, as I walked out of the lounge.
As I closed my locker, I heard someone calling my name. I turned around and saw Sam standing in front of me. "Hey Abby, do you want to go get some coffee?"
I smiled. "Thanks, but I have something that I need to do."
Sam nodded. "Did you hear about Sandy? That must be so hard for Dr. Weaver."
"I can't imagine what she is going through right now."
Sam opened her locker and grabbed her jacket. "I'll walk out with you."
"I'm not going home yet, I'm going to go and see Kerry," I said, as we left the lounge. Sam looked at me. "I didn't know you two were friends."
"I wouldn't say we're friends."
I waved goodbye to Sam, and started to walk towards the elevator. I pressed the button and walked in. I didn't know what I was going to say to Kerry. I didn't know what you say to someone who just lost the person that they love.
As I walked to the admitting desk in the OR.
I opened the door and saw Kerry sitting on a chair.
"Kerry," I started, searching for words. "I'm so sorry."
She nodded.
"Do you need a ride home or someone to watch Henry?" I asked, as I sat down next to her.
"He's with Sandy's family,"
"Okay"
She looked up at me, but didn't say anything. Then she started to cry. I hugged her and let her cry in my arms.
"Do you need a ride home?" I asked her again.
Kerry shook her head. "No."
I stood up and said goodbye to Kerry as I left the waiting area.
{{{
I walked out of the hospital and up to stairs towards the El when I saw Neela.
"Neela?" I replied. She turned around. "Abby."
I could tell Neela was upset about something. "Is everything okay?"
She looked at me. "Gallant went to Iraq."
"I heard that."
"I don't know if we could have been anything, but I wish he could have stayed and I could figure it out. I found him just before he was leaving and we kissed each other."
"I'm sorry, Neela."
"Its fine, Abby, he's gone. So are you on your way home?" Neela asked, as we got into the El.
Neela and I sat down. "Yes, I have some studying to do."
"So are you going to take the boards again?" Neela asked. I smiled. "Of course I am and I'm going to past it this time for sure."
"Of course, you are going to." Neela said. "Maybe if you weren't working both as a nurse and a med student you would have time to study."
I laughed. "I wish I didn't have to work as a nurse, but that is the only way I am going to be able to pay for med school."
Neela stood up. "This is my stop, I'll see you tomorrow," she said, as she waved at me.
" Bye," I said, as Neela walked out of the EL.
I walked into the apartment, threw my jacket on the chair, got myself something to eat, and then I walked towards the living room. I started to think of the day that I just had, and everything that happened, first with Kerry and then with Susan and her having to be on bed rest. I didn't have a great day either, what with failing my boards.
But I realized that I can just take them again, that there are worse things that could have happened to me. At least I didn't lose the love of my life today or have to be on bed rest for the sake of my baby's health.
I leaned over to the coffee table and grabbed my textbook. The only way that I was going to pass my boards next time is if I study more, and that is exactly what I am going to do.
I will pass it.