Adventures of Supergirl 7x02
Alex came to the stage with other MU medical graduates. "Alexandra Danvers, from Midvale, Maine," she introduced herself to the crowd. She was then allowed to put on her white coat. Alex smiled as Eliza took her picture from the front row. Alex then exited the stage and reunited with Eliza, Jeremiah, and Kelly.
"I'm so proud of you," Kelly said, only giving her a hug for Jeremiah's benefit.
"Not bad," Jeremiah said shaking Alex's hand.
"I know you've wanted this for so many years," Eliza said giving Alex a hug.
"Yes, I finally know my place," Alex said tearfully.
In the back, Kara and Brainiac 5 looked on. "With our connections and ability to manipulate the system, we can make Alex a cardiologist at Metropolis General. Normally, it would take several years even from this point, but she's been given all the training she needs from the Matrix program," Brainiac 5 said.
"Make it so," Kara said softly.
"Your missionary activity was fruitful, I hope?" Brainiac 5 asked knowingly.
Kara gave him a haunted look. "Relatively uneventful," she downplayed. "I had an epiphany out there on Apokalips. Jesus could have stuck around longer than 40 days after his resurrection."
"Yes," Brainiac 5 noted.
"But he didn't because he wanted the humans to figure it out on their own. He set them free to make their own way, their own mistakes, and their own accomplishments. He was far more powerful in Heaven watching from afar than in their presence ordering them around," Kara said.
"If you say so," Brainiac 5 allowed.
Kara shuddered as she felt the whips on her. She closed her eyes as she organized her thoughts and pushed her PTSD aside. "Begin preparations for me to go back to the future. I'm done here."
"As you wish," Brainiac 5 replied.
After the graduation ceremony, Alex and Kelly went to a bar to party along with many of the other medical students. "To the best med student at MU," one student toasted Alex as they all took shots.
"Damn straight," Kelly agreed.
"How did you get a perfect score on every test?" one med student asked suspiciously.
"Larry, stop being a party pooper and get yourself a drink," Kelly scolded him. "We're not going to discuss quizzes or exams ever again."
"I'll drink to that," Alex agreed.
"Whoa, pour me another," Kelly said feeling the burn.
Alex gave her a passionate kiss after she finished her own shot eliciting enthusiastic clapping and hooting from the men in the bar. As time went on, Alex and Kelly danced seductively, both enjoying a good time. At this point, Kelly was clearly intoxicated while Alex was merely buzzed. "I have to go to the restroom," Alex said after she gave Kelly a kiss.
"Hurry back," Kelly allowed.
As Alex departed to the restroom, Hank stopped her. "Danvers, hell of a job," he complimented.
"You've come to disturb my party with some disaster or supervillain on the loose?" Alex asked narrowing her eyes at him.
"I'm here to give you a job," Hank said vaguely.
"I've heard that before," Alex said skeptically.
"On paper, you're perfect as a cardiologist at Metropolis General. Kara, Barney, and I are on the board of directors now. You're exactly what we're looking for. Come back with us to Metropolis and start saving lives on the operating table," Hank ordered.
Alex merely laughed at him. "You're pretty damn good. You being black. Who's idea was it for you to appear black? My father? That's just brilliant," she said incoherently. "I'm not drunk enough for me to believe your bullshit, Hank."
"You start next week," Hank said seriously. "All expense, first-class travel, and lodging, you and your girlfriend. A starting bonus regardless of whether you get the job. Just take a look," he said handing her a check.
"You think you can tempt me with money?" Alex asked skeptically as she glanced at the check.
"With your skills, you can save lives. As a cardiologist, it will look really impressive for adoption agencies," Hank said.
Alex eyed Hank's stone face. "Alright, I'll play along."
Midvale
Alex patiently waited for church services to end and then got her parents' attention. "You're going to be a cardiologist at Metropolis General? That's great, sweetie," Eliza said amazed.
"I'm finally getting the respect I deserve," Alex said pleased.
"Why do I get the impression Miss Olsen's hands are on this adventure?" Jeremiah asked skeptically.
"Your routine is awfully tired, Dad," Alex glared at him.
"You going to work on Sunday, too?" he asked antagonizing her.
"Listen, asshole. I love Kelly. Okay? I love her all the way. Just like you and mom," Kelly said to him.
"Metropolis is modern-day Babylon. It's a place of demons, Revelations 18. Wouldn't hurt you to look it up," Jeremiah lectured.
"Couldn't forget even if I tried," Alex shot back referring to how she was drilled as a child.
"Oh, really?" Jeremiah scoffed. "What happened to Babylon?"
"Thou mighty city, in one hour, has thy mighty judgment and the light of a single lamp shall shine in thee no more," Alex perfectly recited.
Jeremiah nearly cracked a smile upon hearing her memorization. "Good luck," he said finally and walked off.
"I'll miss you," Eliza said breaking the tension and giving Alex a hug.
Alex walked over to Kelly as she was on the phone. "No, Jeanie, listen to me now. I've gone the extra mile with you. I'm trying to work with you," Kelly said to one of her clients. Alex held Kelly from behind, kissed her cheek, and pointed to her watch.
"Okay, I got to go," Kelly said. "Look, Jeannie, I gotta make a plane. I'll schedule you a replacement therapist. Don't kill yourself in the meantime."
Alex and Kelly got in their car as Jeremiah and Eliza drove off. Eliza and Kelly exchanged waves as they passed each other. "Let me guess, he still doesn't approve of me," Kelly assumed, referring to Jeremiah.
"Yep," Alex confirmed.
"We better give your parents grandkids so they can get off our back. What do you say?" Kelly asked.
"It won't help," Alex said knowingly and then drove off towards the airport.
Metropolis
At Metropolis General, Kara, Brainiac 5, and Hank were on the board of directors having sacked the previous members some time ago. With Hank's mind-control powers, the rest of the board was under their thumb. "It's rare for one individual to make a donation significant enough to make an impact on an organization as large and as chaotic as a hospital. This donation is actually a bribe, that he be made chairman of the board. In the spirit of corruption and nepotism, I think it's a reasonable request. I think he has the right to know where his 100 million dollars is going before I spend it all," Kara smiled.
"Welcome our new chairman of the board, John Milton," Kara introduced.
John Milton stood up and gave everyone a smile. He was relatively short, had black hair, pale complexion, and looked to be in his mid-fifties. His expression was friendly and charismatic. "You know, my father was a bit of a hardass. For him, it was always about hard work and no play. As for me, I was all about working smarter, not harder. My businesses took off and I started putting my fingers into law firms, security agencies, hospitals, universities, and so on. Overnight, I realized I was worth billions," John smiled.
"I know exactly what you mean," Kara said referring to her marriage to Bruce Wayne.
"So, I went back to my dad...you know, to rub it in his face but he had no reaction. Apparently, he didn't give a shit about what I had accomplished on this planet. He was off in his own universe focused on what mattered to him. It was then that I realized that you can't force anyone to appreciate how awesome you are, you simply have to acknowledge it for yourself and enjoy it for what it is," John said.
"Here, here," Kara agreed.
"By curing diseases, saving lives, we're all going to be rich as fuck under my leadership," John promised. "So, things are going to change...a lot."
At Catco, Cat Grant was in front of her board. "Let's talk about Asia," she said as a map of the world was behind her. "We're in the preliminary stages of forming a strategic alliance with AsiaOne. Within three months, our magazines will be on every corner of Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Hong Kong."
"That's incredible news, Cat. We had no idea plans were so far along," one executive said.
"Well, you know, with Asia, nothing is done until it's done," Cat downplayed.
The board chuckled with Cat not realizing she was BSing her way through the meeting. Cat's hand shook as she lowered her coffee cup. "Cat, could you go through what you were thinking on other Asian territories?" the same executive asked.
"Absolutely. India has a half-billion women. In terms of spending power, it's the single largest demographic in the world, and they're all going to want the latest in gossip and celebrity news," Cat said. She then had to pause as she was visibly sweating and her right leg tensed up. Inside, her muscles tightened up to the point of paralysis.
"We've hired a local firm to look into cultural differences. After all, how we talk shit out here is not always appropriate over there. However, I can't go into the specifics of that plan until tomorrow. Right now, I have a meeting and I need the room," Cat said visibly distressed and holding her right leg. She pushed the button on her watch to summon Supergirl.
"We were just getting started. What the fuck, Cat?" another executive asked surprised.
"I know and I'm not going to apologize. It's last-minute but I have a meeting with three state department officials on how to deal with China," Cat lied.
"China? This is so incredible, just incredible," the executive said amazed.
"Right, so I need you all...to get the fuck out," Cat said urgently.
"We'll be in touch," the executives said to Cat as they exited.
As they were gone, Kara zipped into the room. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"I need a doctor. I can't move my leg," Cat said painfully.
At Metropolis General, Alex got into scrubs and assisted a senior cardiologist on open-heart surgery. Hank was also in the room supervising the procedure using his X-ray vision and monitoring the mental state of everyone in the room. The patient was a big client of the hospital and, therefore, wasn't allowed to die. "Here," Alex pointed out helpfully as the cardiologist missed a spot.
"Look, kid, maybe back in MU, you're the next best thing. This is Metropolis General, one of the best hospitals in the world," the cardiologist told her off.
"If you don't follow my advice, you're going to damage the heart," Alex said plainly.
"How the hell do you know that?" the cardiologist asked dismissively.
"I don't know," Alex said declining to tell him about her Matrix learning.
"Look, either you put a stop to this or I walk," the cardiologist told Hank.
"Walk," Hank shrugged.
"Alright, here's the deal. You finish up with the patient and then you do the explaining," the cardiologist said as he walked out.
"Well...shit," Alex said anxiously as she looked over the complexity of the surgery.
In another room, Cat was texting away as she was on a medical bed. Kara came in wearing a doctor's coat. "I'm going to have to ask you to get rid of the cell phone," Kara told her.
"Do what you need to do. I'm okay," Cat told her off.
"My X-ray machine is going to fry your phone," Kara told her.
"Something wrong with your eyes that you can't do it yourself?" Cat mocked.
"Believe it or not, there are limitations to that BS power of mine," Kara said. "Now, give me the damn phone."
Cat reluctantly handed it over to her. "Alright, hold still. The X-ray machine is going to pass over your leg," Kara told her and then analyzed the results.
John and Brainiac 5 walked down the halls of the hospital. "I want to run this hospital like a business," he said.
"More vending machines in the hallway?" Brainiac 5 assumed.
"Nice one," John smiled amused. "But I'm serious. If your product is good health, it shouldn't be a tough sell. If you don't want to sell, it means you don't care if people get your product. You too proud to be a salesman?" John asked him.
"Not at all," Brainiac 5 said nonchalantly.
"Who is that?" John asked of Alex as she was taking a break in her office without a doctor's coat on.
"That's just one of our doctors. Nothing to see here," Brainiac 5 said dismissively.
"Aren't doctors supposed to wear lab coats?" John asked as they went by her office.
"She's different," Brainiac 5 said vaguely.
"Everyone's buddy?" John assumed.
"She's the sister of our board member, Kara Wayne," Brainiac 5 explained.
"So that's how she gets away with it," John realized with a smile.
"She's very good. I taught her, myself," Brainiac 5 said.
John nodded accepting that answer and then walked off.
Not long afterward, Brainiac 5 met up with Alex. "You need to wear your lab coat," he told her.
"I'd rather not. I feel like such a fraud. What the fuck am I even doing here? I just finished surgery on a patient and I'm praying to God he doesn't drop dead within the hour," Alex said stressed out.
"Wear the coat," Brainiac 5 said unconcernedly.
"The fuck is your problem?" Alex glared at him.
"An investor gave us 100 million dollars and all he wants in return is for every doctor to wear a lab coat," Brainiac 5 said simply.
"That doesn't make a lick of sense," Alex said confused.
"You putting on your lab coat will cure cancer," Brainiac 5 told her.
"Don't fuck with me, Barney. You already know the cure to cancer, to heart disease, to AIDS, to malaria, to every fucking disease out there that kills millions of people each year. All you care about is keeping Kara happy as she plays Sims Hospital," Alex said scornfully.
"Are we talking about how I can save lives or how you can save lives?" Brainiac 5 asked condescendingly.
"You're unethical," Alex spat as she entered her office.
"Since when were ethical lapses a concern for you?" Brainiac 5 mocked as they entered her office.
"I did what I had to do to save lives. You do what you do to babysit Kara and collect information on patients that should be private," Alex accused. "When the public finds out, it's going to kill this hospital."
"Wear the damn coat," Brainiac 5 ordered and then walked out of her office.
Meanwhile, Kara came by Cat's bed. She was in a fetal position clutching her leg painfully. "Our initial tests didn't find anything," Kara said to her. "I'm thinking you had a clot that resolved itself on its own. So, we're going to keep you here overnight for observation and you can go back to work tomorrow."
Cat didn't respond to her and looked to be in pain. "Wait...you okay?" Kara asked concernedly and then went around her bed. Cat then screamed bloody murder as she felt the greatest pain in her life. "Holy shit," Kara realized.
Cat continued to scream while clutching her leg. Kara snapped her fingers knocking her out and then summoned a squad of nurses to her.
Kara walked with Brainiac 5 through the halls. "It's some kind of inflammation," Kara said.
"Probably the beginnings of bone cancer," Brainiac 5 said. "The test is tricky. You'll need a bone scan."
"That's why I'm talking to you," Kara said obviously.
"I have a lot of better things to do with my time," Brainiac 5 declined. "I have budget reports, a cardiologist going through mental distress, and a new chairman of the board."
"Cat is important to me. That makes her important to you," Kara stared him down.
"Very well," Brainiac 5 said switching priorities. "Alex is not wearing her lab coat."
"Holy shit," Kara said stunned. "So fucking what?"
"Doctors wear the coat to command respect. If one decides not to, it damages the respectability of all. She'll be a pariah," Brainiac 5 said.
"Doctors just want to show off their coats to get laid," Kara said lacking all self-awareness as she wore her own without earning it.
"Alex needs to realize how good she has it. No other hospital would accept her appointment. She needs to wear the coat," Brainiac 5 said.
"Relax, I got this covered," Kara assured him. "Get me that bone scan."
Kara entered Cat's room and assisted her with her communications and appointments. "Your mother wants to know when you'll be back from your trip," Kara said reading her emails.
"Tell her it's taking longer than I thought. She doesn't need to see me like this," Cat said.
"Hello, I'm Doctor Dox," Brainiac 5 said entering the room.
"Do I have cancer?" Cat asked bluntly.
"There is no cancer in your bone," Brainiac 5 said.
There was a long awkward silence between them. "So?" Cat asked finally.
"You may have cancer in one part of the body that presents in another. Given your age, your family history, I'm thinking it's your colon," Brainiac 5 theorized.
"Just great," Cat said pissed off. "Look, just give me some drugs, let me get back to work, and I'll die in my office."
"Very well," Brainiac 5 agreed.
"No, fuck no," Kara rebuked them both. "There's a very easy test to find out if you have it, a colonoscopy."
"I know how that test works. Fuck that," Cat refused.
"If you have colon cancer, we can treat it. It's early," Kara insisted.
"Yeah, that's what they told my dad. He was dead six months later," Cat said.
"You're a very smart person about to make a dumb as fuck decision. Cancer treatments have come a long way in one thousand years. If you don't do this...," Kara rebuked her.
"I don't want to be looked at," Cat refused.
"Don't make me knock you out and force it on you," Kara threatened.
"You'll lose your medical license for this," Cat reminded her.
"Do I look like I give a fuck?" Kara asked about to snap her fingers.
"There is another noninvasive test to get the answers we seek. It's a virtual colonoscopy using a CT scan of your colony. It's very expensive. I imagine that isn't a problem for you," Brainiac 5 brought up.
"Do it," Cat relented.
Not long afterward, Brainiac 5 and Kara met up. "Her virtual colonoscopy was clear."
"Then, we do it the old fashion way until we find it," Kara pressed.
"She's uncomfortable doing any more tests," Brainiac 5.
"She'd rather die than get naked with you? It all makes sense now," Kara mocked.
"She's uncharacteristically scared," Brainiac 5 noted.
"Not of tests, just the embarrassing ones," Kara considered. "If it's not inflammation, a clot, or cancer, then what the fuck is it?"
Alex came home to her apartment and found Kelly busy painting the walls a new shade of white. "Your mother called. She had a baaaad feeling," Kelly said.
"Every now and then, she gets it right," Alex said reflectively as she looked out the window.
"You okay? Something's up. I can sense it. You want some free therapy?" Kelly asked.
Alex slumped on her couch chair. "I did open heart surgery for three hours. During the last thirty minutes, the senior cardiologist bailed on me and I had to lead it, myself."
"Alex, honey, I'm sorry. What the hell did they expect? You just got out of med school. No other recent graduate would have been able to pull it off," Kelly said sympathetically as she took a knee next to her.
Alex gave her an odd look. "He lived. It was a success."
"Oh my God! You did it!" Kelly said excitedly for her.
"I'm just that good," Alex smiled as she got up and embraced Kelly giving her a passionate kiss.
That night, Kara looked over Cat as she slept. Cat had a recent scare where her lungs had filled up with fluid nearly drowning her before the doctors stabilized her. With her X-ray vision, Kara noticed several cutting scars on her leg. Disturbed by this, she scanned the rest of the body and found that her heart was severely damaged. "Oh, God," Kara sighed and then left the room so she could cry.
The next morning, Kara came to visit Cat. "You need a heart transplant," Kara said bluntly.
"I run, I workout, I drink wine," Cat listed off.
"You cut yourself. Probably works better than any anti-depressant," Kara accused.
"How is that relevant?" Cat asked annoyed.
"You're bulimic as well. You had to find the most efficient way to do it without making it obvious because that would look very unseemly for a CEO. So, you started using emetic ipecac which is useful if your kid suddenly swallowed a bunch of pills. Not so much if used regularly. It causes muscle damage, the pain in your leg, and it destroyed your heart," Kara explained.
"How often do you do it?" Kara asked.
"Three times a week," Cat said softly.
"In an hour, there will be an emergency meeting of the transplant committee to discuss where you fall on the list should a new heart become available. I'm supposed to tell the committee about your bulimia, it ranks up there with suicidal. Makes you a very bad risk," Kara said.
"So, I have a few hours to live," Cat realized.
"Unless I lie to the committee. But if they find out, I lose my medical license. This would be a very good time to offer me a bribe," Kara said casually. "How much is your life worth? How much is my job worth?"
"Why are you here doing this to me? What do you want, Kara?" Cat asked impatiently.
"I want to know what's right," Kara said simply.
"Am I worth it? You think I'm pathetic. I have a good job, everything in the world, but she doesn't like the way she looks," Cat rolled her eyes.
"You want to live or die? You can't even give me a straight answer!" Kara shouted at her.
"What do you want me to do? Cry?" Cat mocked.
"Yes! I want you to tell me your life is important to you because I don't know. That's what's is on the table right now: your life. So, put your pride aside and think about your company, your mother, your...daughter, all those you're going to leave behind," Kara yelled at her.
Cat said nothing to that. Kara sighed and turned to leave only for Cat to grab her arm. "I don't want to die. I don't," she said tearfully.
Kara went before the transplant committee composed of Brainiac 5, Hank, and a collection of other skeptical doctors. There, she explained the situation to the committee including Cat Grant's net worth and the probability she would donate handsomely to the hospital if she were allowed to live. John then entered the room to observe the meeting.
"Is there any exclusionary data we should know about?" Brainiac 5 asked.
"No tumors and no traces of cancer," Kara evaded.
"Any other criteria?" Brainiac 5 pressed.
"Such as?" Kara asked playing dumb.
"Substance abuse?" Brainiac 5 asked.
"She drinks only occasionally and no drugs," Kara lied.
"Any psychiatric conditions?" Brainiac 5 asked.
"She's a little blue. That's all," Kara lied.
"If you subvert or mislead this committee...again, you will be subject to disciplinary action," Brainiac 5 threatened.
"I'm shaking," Kara mocked.
"Answer the question: Is there anything on the recipient exclusion criteria that would disqualify your patient from getting a heart?" Brainiac 5 asked.
John gave Kara a curious interested look. "No," Kara lied.
Not long afterward, Hank entered Kara's office. "You lied. Big mistake," he lectured her.
"Then, you should have voted against putting her on the list," Kara said obviously.
"You're my friend and she's your friend," Hank said simply.
"You value our friendship more than your ethical responsibilities?" Kara asked amazed.
"Yes," Hank replied.
"Well, okay then," Kara smirked.
"Our friendship is an ethical responsibility because as long as you're sane and happy, the world is safe," Hank said.
Kara got a text message on her phone. "Cat is getting a heart. Last chance to stop me."
"I'll keep my mouth shut so long as Alex does the procedure," Hank said.
Kara narrowed her eyes at Hank. "She's not ready," she doubted.
"You have your agenda and I have mine," Hank told her.
Kara and Hank watched as Alex led the surgery on Cat. "Alright, bring over the donor-heart," Alex ordered as Cat was put on a pump. After the surgery, Alex turned to the onlookers. "Textbook, she'll outlive us all," she joked dryly.
"Thank you, Dr. Danvers," Kara said sincerely.
Afterward, Kara watched over Cat as she slept. "Hey," Cat said as she awoke.
"The cardiologist has prescribed you a medication and a strict diet. That's something someone like you really needs. So, I got you something to get started," Kara said handing her a bucket of KFC.
"You're kidding," Cat shook her head dismayed.
"Afraid not," Kara frowned.
"Kara, why did you fight for me?" Cat asked.
"You're my boss," Kara said simply.
The next day, Alex went to meet with John at his business office in downtown Metropolis. She went to the top floor and was escorted to his office. Alex couldn't help but notice how busy the office was with so many different international departments. Alex was then led to a circular concrete office with a fireplace, a couch, and a desk. The walls were bare of anything. Alex gave the office an odd look.
"Behind you," John said from behind.
"Holy shit," Alex said softly, startled by him.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you," John smiled.
"Please, Dr. Alexandra Danvers," Alex shook his hand.
"John Milton," he introduced himself to her.
"Nice to meet you," Alex said politely.
John eyed her intensely as if studying her. "So, have we been treating you well?"
"More than I deserve," Alex said appreciatively.
"And your wife, she having a good time?" John asked.
"We're not married yet...and she is," Alex said awkwardly.
John gestured Alex a chair as he went behind his desk. "That's our secret. Kill you with kindness," John said. "What's your secret?"
"I couldn't say," Alex evaded.
"You were a DEO agent," John said interested.
"I was there for 6 years," Alex downplayed.
"Sixty-four kills. What a number," John laughed amused.
Alex frowned feeling very uncomfortable with how John knew that specific number. "I was in the field a lot."
"What's that like? One day, you're killing fools, and then the next, you're saving them?" John asked curiously.
"Takes a little getting used to," Alex admitted.
"Pays better, isn't it?" John assumed.
"It sure does," Alex said weirded out by the direction of the conversation.
"The Cat Grant case. I heard you were brilliant," John said getting out of his chair.
"The senior cardiologist dropped the ball," Alex downplayed.
"Really? Maybe you should take his place," John suggested.
"I wouldn't say that," Alex said nervously.
"How would you say it?" John asked curiously.
"Once I began the surgery, it all fell into place," Alex said.
"I was sure you had a secret," John probed.
"The Matrix program. It gives me the knowledge and experience of any profession within a fraction of the time. The program downloads directly into my brain," Alex explained.
"I love it," John said impressed.
"Just don't tell anyone about it," Alex said anxiously. "It's highly classified future tech. I'm not sure MU would appreciate it if they knew about it."
"My lips are sealed," John promised. "You don't really want to go back to MU to do research, do you?"
Alex simply gave him a blank look. "Walk with me," John invited.
The two exited the office only to find themselves on the roof of the skyscraper with a pool in the center. The pool was designed in such a way that it appeared the water dropped off at the edge. "What do you think? Some people can't handle it," John said of the view.
"I don't mind it at all. It's peaceful," Alex said of it.
"My sentiments exactly," John agreed. "So, fill in the resume. Tell me, your father, what does he do?"
"He was a special forces agent for the government. I never really got to know what he did. He disappeared on me for ten years or so," Alex admitted. "My mother raised me and Kara by herself, basically."
"Your mother ever remarry?" John asked.
"No, she always told me that my father was still out there somewhere," Alex recalled.
"Well, that can't be easy in a town like Midvale," John said knowingly.
"I don't think it's easy anywhere," Alex said uncomfortably.
"Your mother, how is she like?" John asked.
"She's a preacher's daughter. She's tough. She's been a medical researcher for as long as I can remember. She's got a church she really likes, so she's usually there to volunteer," Alex said.
"Behold, I send you out as sheep amongst the wolves," John quoted.
"I've had my fair share of wolves," Alex agreed.
"It didn't rub off?" John asked curiously. "The Book? The Church?"
"No, I'm on parole. Early release for time served," Alex said resentfully.
John smiled at that. "A lot of potential clients down there," he said looking over the city.
"What is this? A negotiation?" Alex asked.
"Always," John grinned.
"Can I ask you a question then? Why are you into the hospital business?" Alex asked.
"Our clients need hospitalizations like anyone else. When you save a client's life, you own them forever. That's what gratitude is all about. You understand the concept of gratitude, right?" John quizzed.
"Of course," Alex nodded. "You offering me a permanent position?"
"I'm thinking about it. I know you got talent. I knew that before you got here. It's just I'm wondering about the other thing," John said as he stepped very close to the edge.
"What would that be?" Alex asked confused.
"Your sister. She changes everything. She came into that transplant committee and sold them a bunch of BS without fear, without hesitation, in order to save her dear boss. A nurse found a bottle of ipecac in her purse. Tell me, would you do the same for me?" John asked.
"No," Alex said flatly.
"You have integrity. I like that. I know you've been under a lot of pressure before, care under fire. I know you can focus and summon your talent at will. I want you working at Metropolis General with me," John said.
"Look, I'm not in this for the money. I just want to do the science and save lives," Alex told him.
"Well, that's the hard part. The money part is easy," John smiled.