Disclaimer: I do not own these characters

Chapter Seventeen: A Losing Battle

"So how'd it go, Kid?" Lana questioned as Lu poured herself a cup of coffee. Lu sighed heavily as she sat down in the nearest chair.

"I don't know, Lana. From where I'm sitting, it doesn't look good."

"Didn't Miranda tell them what happened?" Lu bit her lower lip as she remembered Miranda's words, the words that had betrayed her.

"Yeah. She said exactly what her husband said, that she begged me to stop her labor but I delivered the baby anyway."

"That is so wrong, Lu. You saved their baby's life. Why can't they see that?" Lu shrugged, then took a sip of her coffee.

"I don't know, Lana. Sometimes people need someone to blame I guess."

"But that doesn't mean they're right." Lana argued. "Lu, you've worked darn hard to get where you are. They can't take that away from you. If you lose a malpractice suit..." Lana's voice trailed off.

"I gotta be honest, Lana." Lu said. "Right now my chances of winning don't look good. Before, it was Bryan's word against mine. But now that Miranda sided with Bryan, there's no way I can win. They won't rule against the mother. I have no proof that the baby was in distress." Lana was silent for a moment as she studied her friend, seeing the unmistakable look of worry in her dark eyes.

"What about Dr. Jackson? Did he back you up?" Lana asked.

"Yeah, he did. But I doubt that it did much good." Lu replied.

"So what's the next step, Lu?"

"I guess we just have to wait and see what the mediator says. Then if a decision couldn't be reached, we'll have to go to court."

"Lu, if the parents win the suit, what is a malpractice going to look like on your record?"

"Lana, I am full aware of what will happen if they win. I'll be suspended, with possible termination. I know that. But right now I am facing a losing battle. There's nothing more I can do." Lu glanced at her watch. "I've got a patient coming in a few minutes. I've gotta go."

"Wait a minute, Lu. This isn't like you. It sounds like you are giving up. You are a fighter. You never give up. You always fight for things that are worth fighting for. Isn't your career worth fighting for? The career that you've worked so hard for?" Lu sighed, suddenly feeling exasperated.

"You know what, Lana? Bryan has already turned Randee against me. Bryan has told Dr. Jackson that I can no longer care for the baby. They've got a lawyer to prove that I was wrong. And..."

"And you've got a lawyer to prove that you were right." Lana said, interrupting. "He will help you fight. And you've got all of us here right behind you. You don't have to fight alone, Lu. Don't give up. Keep fighting. That little girl is alive because of you. Doesn't that count for something? Because of you, their daughter is here. If you had done what they had asked, she would have died. They are blind not to see that."

"Lana, please skip the pep talk. You're wasting your breath. There's no use fighting a battle that I've already lost." With that, Lu headed down the hall towards her office. Lana shook her head as she stared after her. There must be something else that could be done, she told herself. Lu had fought hard to get to where she was, and she was determined to help her best friend fight, no matter what Lu said. There had to be a way, something that could be done to make her want to keep fighting. But what? Lu had already made it clear that she didn't feel she could fight anymore.

"Don't you worry, Kid." Lana said softly to herself. "Lana's not going to let them take your career away from you. I can promise you that."