Disclaimer: I do not own these characters





Chapter Twelve: In His Mother's Defense




"Hey Lana. Where's Mom?" Marc approached the reception desk at RWHC the next afternoon.

"Hiya Kid. Last time I saw her I think she was upstairs on the maternity ward."

"Oh. Is she with that sick baby?" Marc questioned.

"Well, I can't say for sure, but I think that's where she could be. She spends as much time as possible with her in the NICU. Poor thing. I don't think she'll make it much longer."

"Thanks, Lana." Marc said as he headed down the hall towards the elevator, deciding to surprise his mother instead of waiting for her in her office as he often did.

Marc approached the NICU a few minutes later. The area was quiet. He knew he wasn't allowed in the room, but he stopped outside the door when he spotted his mother standing beside an incubator, gently caring for the tiniest newborn baby he had ever seen.

Even from a distance, Marc could see the sad look on his mother's face, and the gentleness for which she cared for this very ill child. And he knew how very much it would hurt her if she lost this tiny patient. Any time she lost a patient, it affected Lu deeply. But when she lost a child, the hurt was even deeper.

Marc glanced up when he heard voices in the distance. He saw Dr. Robert Jackson and another man whom he didn't know. Not wanting them to see him, he quickly hid around the corner, where he could hear what the two men were saying. It only took him seconds to realize that they were talking about his mother.

"Dr. Jackson, I'd like to know what you are going to do about it. Have you even talked to her?"

"Yes, Mr. Kollier. I spoke with Dr. Delgado yesterday. She insisted that delivering the baby was the only way to save her life." Bob answered.

"And you believe her?" Bryan asked. "She didn't even try to do anything else. She should have tried to stop the labor. The baby wasn't due for another eight weeks. Now because of that so called doctor, my daughter may not even live. Dr. Delgado examined my wife that very afternoon and she told Randee that all was fine. Then within hours, my wife shows up here and our baby practically dies. Where did you find this doctor anyway? In the streets?"

"Mr. Kollier, Rittenhouse prides itself on it's fine doctors and professionalism of the staff. Now I'm sure..." Bob started but Bryan interrupted.

"Maybe so, but what about this Dr. Delgado? I should have known better than to allow my wife to go to a free clinic. I guess it really is true that you get what you pay for. Now I can see why she runs a free clinic...no other medical facility will hire her."

As Marc listened to the two men, he could feel the anger rising within him. All he wanted to do was to run down the hall and confront the two men. But he held back, knowing that it would only get himself and his mother into trouble.

By now, the two men had reached the NICU. Standing by the door, they watched for a moment as Lu cared for the newborn infant.

"Dr. Jackson, I think you should know that I have contacted my lawyer, and I think you should do the same. He says that I have a definite case against Dr. Delgado. He is already drawing up the papers." Bryan informed him.

"Mr. Kollier, I realize that you are upset. And you have every right to be. But is a malpractice suit necessary?" Bob asked.

"Yes, I believe it is. You claim that Dr. Delgado is a good doctor. But I strongly believe that she made a huge medical error here. And she needs to be accountable for it. She will pay for it. I am going to sue her for everything she's got, and make it so she can never practice medicine again in the state of Philadelphia."

"Mr. Kollier, you are making a very serious accusation here. I suggest you make sure your accusations are justifiable....make sure without a doubt that what Dr. Delgado did was not necessary." Bryan was silent for a moment as he watched Lu with his newborn daughter.

"One more thing, Dr. Jackson."

"What's that?" Bob asked.

"I don't want her working with my daughter. I want another doctor to take over, a doctor with more experience."

"I really don't think that is necessary," Bob replied.

"I am her father, and I said that I DO NOT want this Dr. Delgado to be near my daughter. She has already caused enough trouble." Dr. Jackson watched for a moment as Lu gently took care of the baby. He knew this would not make her happy, but he also knew that he had no choice. He had to do what the baby's father requested. Taking a deep breath, he walked into the NICU.

Lu glanced up when he approached.

"Hi Dr. Jackson. What brings you up here?"

"I need to talk to you, if you have a minute."

"Yeah, sure." Lu led him over to a corner of the room.

"What's up?" She asked.

"Mr. Kollier has already started drawing up the papers for a malpractice suit against you." Bob waited for her response.

"What? And you just let him do it?" Lu questioned, her voice rising. Her reaction didn't surprise him at all. In fact, he would have been surprised if it had been anything less. Lu was not known for remaining calm when she was upset.

"Lu, I don't..." Bob started, but Lu interrupted.

"You are always so worried about the reputation of the RWHC." Lu said, her voice rising louder yet. "But what about my reputation? What are my patients going to say when they find out that I was sued for malpractice? You want me to just admit that Bryan has just cause for this? Because he doesn't. I did what I had to do to save the baby's life. "

"Lu, I tried to convince him otherwise. He said he spoke with his lawyer, and the lawyer told him that he has a good case against you. I'm sorry. This is beyond my control. Now, if you'd like, I can contact the lawyer for Rittenhouse. I'm sure he will meet with you if I ask him." Lu tried to speak around the large lump in her throat, fighting back the anger that she felt rising to the surface. Lu took a deep breath and slowly let it out, trying to calm herself down. Dr. Jackson waited, knowing that if he were to say anything, she would become angry again.

"Lu, I'm sure you are aware of the fact that with a malpractice suit, you will need to go before the board. And I've already mentioned that if they win the suit, you may face suspension or even termination. You need to be sure beyond a shadow of a doubt that you did the right thing for that baby." Lu glanced over at the tiny baby who was fighting so hard for her life, then she looked at Dr. Jackson.

"I already told you what happened, so it's not gonna do any good to tell you again. I guess Dana was wrong."

"Dana? What does she have to do with this?" Bob asked.

"She said that you always support your staff. Maybe you do...as long as that staff isn't me. Now if you will please excuse me, I have other patients to tend too." Lu pushed past him as she headed for the door.

"Lu, there's one more thing." Bob said as she reached the door. Lu stopped and turned to face him.

"What?" she asked. Bob took a deep breath, knowing that what he had to say would only anger her more.

"You will no longer be caring for this baby."

"What?" Lu asked.

"Her father requests a new doctor. I'm sorry. I'm assigning Dr. Harrison to her case." Lu opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Instead, she just shook her head and bolted from the room, leaving Dr. Jackson staring after her.



Marc had been listening to the conversation between his mother and Dr. Jackson, and he had had to force himself not to rush into the room and verbally attack Dr. Jackson. As his mother stormed out of the room, Marc quickly ducked around a corner, not wanting her to see him. But as she rushed past him, he could see the tears streaming down her cheeks. And this only angered him more.




Bob glanced up as the door to his office burst open, expecting to see Lu, as she was the only one that often barged into his office without knocking. He was surprised to see Marc.

"You are definitely your mother's son." Bob said. "She never knocks either. Is there something I can do for you, Marc?"

"How could you do this? How could you allow this to happen?" Marc questioned angrily.

"Marc, I think you need to calm down. Then you can tell me what you are ranting about." Bob answered, quickly realizing that at that moment, he sounded exactly like his mother.

"How could you allow that guy to sue her? Don't you care about anything besides the reputation of this hospital? What about mom's reputation? You know perfectly well that she would never do anything like what that guy is accusing her of. Why won't you listen to her?" Bob removed his glasses, leaned back in his chair, and took a deep breath.

"Marc, I understand why you are upset. But there is nothing I can do. I was not there. It is his word against hers. I'm sorry."

"Sorry? Is that all you can say?" Marc asked. "My mom's job is at stake here. And you don't even care."

"Of course I care, Marc. But like I already told you. And I already told her. This is beyond my control now. The baby's father has already started proceedings."

"But he is wrong, Dr. Jackson. You must know that. Do you think Mom would purposely do anything to harm anyone? Especially a baby? She would risk her own life to save someone. You know that. Can't you at least talk to this guy?" Marc asked, fighting back the tears.

"Marc, I've tried to talk to him. He insists that your mom delivered the baby unnecessarily. And she insists that it was necessary. Now without actually being there, I can't fairly say one way or another." Bob answered the angry boy.

"You are the chief of staff here, Dr. Jackson. Isn't it your job to support your staff?" Marc challenged.

"Well, yes. But..." Bob started, but Marc interrupted.

"Then why won't you support mom? You never support her. You are always on the other side. You always supported Dr. Stowe in everything, but when it came to my mom, you never did. Maybe you don't like her, but she is a good doctor."

"Marc..." Bob tried again, but Marc continued.

"Is it because she runs a free clinic? Is it because she treats people who can't afford medical care? Is it because she treats homeless people and drug addicts? What is it, Dr. Jackson?"

"Marc, this has nothing to do with whether or not I like her. I like her just fine. And yes, she is a good doctor. But as Chief of Staff here, I have to look at both sides. I have to listen to both sides. I have to ask questions. Do you think I want a malpractice suit on our record here at the hospital?"

"On the hospital records? What about mom's record? It will ruin her. What chance has she got against this guy? She has to hire a lawyer that she can't afford, just to prove what we already know...she did the right thing." Bob glanced at his watch, then got up and walked around his desk, standing in front of Marc.

"I'm sorry, Marc. I am late for a meeting. Now if you'll excuse me..." Marc turned to leave, then stopped and turned around again.

"When she was raped, you said you believed her and supported her. But you let that jerk come back to work and you put her on a leave of absence. When the clinic was shot up by someone in a gang, you blamed her that violence had come here because one of her patients was in a gang. I guess I should have expected you to blame her for this too." With that, Marc stormed out of the office, slamming the door shut behind him. Bob stood there for a moment, then pushed the button on the intercom on his desk, speaking quickly to his secretary.

"Hillary, get my attorney on the phone please."

"Yes, Dr. Jackson." The young woman answered.