Disclaimer: I do not own these characters

Chapter 20: The Truth

"Hey Lana." Lu greeted her friend as she entered the clinic. "Any calls?"

"Nope. You expecting some?" Lu poured herself a cup of coffee, then sat down in the nearest chair.

"Yeah. I'm hoping to get a call from my lawyer. We should be hearing the results of our mediation meeting."

"They sure do like taking their time, don't they?" Lana asked. Lu nodded as she took a sip of her coffee.

"Yeah." Lu stood up and began pacing. "I don't know, Lana. I don't have a good feeling about this. There's no way I can win. Not after what Randee said. There's no way a judge is going to rule against the baby's mother."

"Now don't you go giving up, Lu." Lana said firmly. "You're a fighter. You gotta keep fighting." Lu was silent for a moment as she continued to pace. Lana watched her for a few minutes, then she quickly got up and grabbed Lu's arm.

"Lu, stop pacing before you wear a hole in the floor."

"Ya know Lana, I know in my heart that I did the only thing I could do. There was no other way to save the baby's life. But with all of this going on, sometimes I find myself questioning what really did happen. I mean, maybe there was something else I could have done, should have done." Lu bit her lip. "Maybe Dr. Jackson was right."

"About what?' Lana questioned.

"Maybe I've been under to much stress since Dana left and made a poor judgement call."

"I agree that you've been under a lot of stress since Dr. Stowe left. You've been running yourself ragged, covering your patients, her patients, and frequent trips to the ER. But you did not make a poor judgement call. You..."

"She's right, Lu." A voice interrupted from behind her. Lu turned to see Randee approaching the reception desk.

"Randee. Hi. What are you doing here?" Lu asked, trying to be pleasant to the friend who had betrayed her.

"Can...can I talk to you, Lu? In your office? Please?" Lu glanced quickly at Lana.

"Yeah, sure." Randee followed Lu down the hall to her office. Once inside the office, Lu closed the door and motioned for Randee to sit down.

"I'm not sure I should be talking to you without my lawyer present." Lu said as she sat down at her desk. "Why are you here?"

"I know you're upset, Lu, and I don't blame you."

"I'm more than upset, Randee. I feel betrayed. I thought we were friends. Randee, I've worked damn hard to get where I am right now. And because of your lie, my career in on the line here. If I lose a malpractice suit, I could lose my job here at Rittenhouse, and the clinic I've worked so hard to keep going." Lu answered, trying to keep a calm voice.

"I'm sorry, Lu. I'm sorry I hurt you. But I was afraid to go against my husband, even though I know you did the only thing you could do." Randee admitted.

"I'm afraid you're a little late in admitting the truth, Randee. The damage has already been done." Randee was silent for a moment as she searched the young doctor's face. She could see the hurt in her eyes.

"I'm sorry I hurt you, Lu."

"Is that why you're here, Randee? To apologize?" Lu asked.

"Yes. But there's more to it." Randee replied.

"I'm listening." Lu said, leaning back in her chair.

"Lu, there isn't going to be a malpractice suit."

"What? I don't understand. What are you talking about?" Lu questioned.

"Yesterday I called our lawyer and told him that I wanted the suit dropped. I...I told him what really happened in the ER that day." Randee replied.

"But what about Bryan? He was okay with that?" Randee shook her head.

"No. He was angry when he found out. Lu, I'm sorry I put you through this. I never wanted to sue you for malpractice. I tried talking to him. But he wouldn't listen. I was afraid that if I sided with you, I would lose him. And I couldn't stand that thought." Lu took a deep breath.

"Thank you for dropping the suit, Randee. I know it wasn't easy for you to go against Bryan."

"There's more, Lu." Randee said softly. "I found out that Bryan was planning to sue you no matter what."

"What? What for?" Lu questioned.

"If the baby had died, he would have sued you for wrongful death."

"Randee, I don't think I fully understand what is going on here. He blames me for the baby's medical issues, and he would have blamed me if she had died. So in other words, Bryan is just doing this to get a settlement?" Lu could feel the anger rising within her, and fought to remain calm. "He would do anything for money, wouldn't he?" Randee lowered her gaze as tears began streaming down her cheeks. Lu immediately knew that the young woman was hurting, and there was something else weighing heavy on her mind. Lu got up and walked around her desk, sitting on the desk in front of Randee.

"There's something else, isn't there?" Randee nodded slowly.

"Lu, I swear I didn't know anything about this. I didn't know why Bryan was doing this. Really, I didn't. I...I just found out yesterday. He was so angry when he found out that I had called the lawyer."

"Randee, I don't understand. What are you trying to tell me?" Lu asked. "Did Bryan do something to you when he found out?" Randee slowly shook her head.

"No, he didn't hit me if that's what you're thinking. But I found out the truth about why he wanted to sue you."

"And?" Lu raised her eyebrows in question.

"He said that if he could win a malpractice suit, it would give us money we would need for McKenzie's medical expenses. He said that...he said that he can't do this. He said that he can't stay and take care of a sick baby and watch her die." Randee's voice was barely above a whisper.

"I...I don't understand, Randee. What did he mean? Is he leaving you?" Lu asked.

"He...he gave me a choice, Lu. Either him or the baby."

"What? He's making you choose between him and your daughter?" Randee nodded.

"Yeah. If I choose to keep the baby, then he's leaving. He doesn't think we can take care of her. He thinks we should place her in a home with someone who can take care of her special needs."

"And what do you think, Randee?" Lu asked gently.

"I love my baby, Lu. I don't want to give her up. She belongs with us. We are her parents. I tried telling him that, but he wouldn't listen." Randee was crying now. "Lu, what am I going to do? I love Bryan more than anything in this world. And I love my new daughter. She needs us. If Bryan leaves...I don't think I can do it on my own. His mind is made up. He won't even listen. I tried talking to him. All he says is that I have to make the decision. If I want him to stay, I have to agree to give up McKenzie. Please, Lu. Help me. I don't know what to do."

"I know you love him, Randee. But he is making you do something that you don't want to do, just to stay with him. He is forcing you to turn your back on your newborn daughter, an innocent baby. Can you honestly say that you would be willing to do that? I know you, Randee. That is not something you could do and live with yourself."

"So you're saying that I should keep my baby and let Bryan go?" Randee asked.

"I'm saying that only you can make that decision. But you need to think long and hard about the consequences before you make your final decision. If you choose to give her up, will you regret it later on? Will you always blame your husband because he made you choose? Or will you be able to give her up and forget about her?" Lu questioned.

"I would never be able to forget about my daughter, Lu. No matter what. She is part of me. Just like Taylor. Just because she has special needs, does not make me love her any less."

"I know that, Randee. But you need to search your heart and do what is best for you...and your daughters."

"Thanks, Lu. Thanks for talking to me. I know we've put you through hell these past several days, and I wouldn't blame you if you never talked to me again. But I didn't know who else to turn to."

"If you need to talk again, I will be here. But I can't make this decision for you, Randee. Only you can. But take time to think it over carefully. Don't make a hasty decision that you will have to live with for the rest of your life." Randee nodded.

"I'll let you k now what I decide." Randee stood up and walked towards the door, pausing briefly and turning around to face Lu.

"Lu, if it is okay with you, I'd like you to take over caring for my daughter. I'll talk to Dr. Jackson and authorize it."

"I'd like that, Randee. Thank you." As Randee left the office, Lu sat down at her desk, leaning back in her chair and closing her eyes. She felt a great relief knowing that she would not be sued for malpractice, a suit that could cost her the career that she had worked so hard for. But her heart went out to Randee. Would the young mother be able to make the right choice? Would she turn her back on the daughter who needed her?

"I know you'll do what is right, Randee." Lu whispered. She glanced at the clock on the wall, quickly realizing that her first patient of the day was due any minute. "Well, time to get down to business." She said, then hurried out to the reception area to call her first patient.