Disclaimer: I do not own these characters

Setting: Rittenhouse Hospital, Lu's office

Chapter 4: Decisions

Lu glanced up as the door to her office opened.

"Got a minute, Dr.Delgado?"

"Sure, Dr. Jackson. Come on in." Lu closed the file she had been reading. "What can I do for you?" Robert sat down in a chair across from the young doctor.

"I was just wondering if you've given any thought to what we talked about yesterday."

"I really don't think I can do it. I'm sorry. I can sympathize with what your friend is going through because I've been there. But my life is here. My son's life is here. I can't just uproot him." Lu answered. "Not even just for the summer."

"Have you talked to Marc about it?" Robert questioned.

"Yes, last night. He offered to stay with his dad." Lu replied.

"So what's the problem?" Lu took a deep breath.

"I can't leave my son for two months. I'm sorry." As if on cue, the door opened and young Marc Delgado stood there.

"Marc, what are you doing here? You're supposed to be at your dad's today." Lu said. Marc glanced quickly at Dr. Jackson, then turned his attention to his mother.

"I called Dad and asked him to pick me up here. I told him I needed to talk to you." Marc replied.

"And it couldn't wait til I got home because...?" Lu questioned.

"We can talk later, Dr. Delgado." Robert said. "I'll let the two of you talk." Robert stood to leave.

"It's okay, Dr. Jackson. You can stay." Marc said.

"Marc, what's going on?" Lu asked her son.

"Mom, I've been thinking. Maybe you should go to that clinic in California."

"What?" Lu asked, surprised at her son's words.

"Well, I remember how hard you had to struggle to get the clinic open, and you had to fight to keep it open. I saw what it did to you. Mom, you gave everything you had for that clinic. If it hadn't been for you, a lot of people wouldn't have good medical care. And if it hadn't been for Dr. Jackson, the free clinic may not have been able to stay open. It wouldn't have been able to merge with Dr. Stowe's practice," Marc said, referring to his mother's former partner here at the clinic. "I was thinking that maybe that clinic in California doesn't have anyone that would fight to keep it open. And if it closes, there might be a lot of people who won't be able to afford to see a doctor. Mom, I think they need you there until they can get back on their feet." Lu bit her lip thoughtfully as she thought about what her son had said.

"Marc, I don't know. I don't really think I can go to California for two months and leave you here with your dad. I know your dad would love to have you, but..." Lu's voice trailed off.

"Mom, that's the other thing. I don't want to stay with Dad. I want to go with you." Marc answered.

"What? Are you serious?" Lu asked. Marc nodded.

"Mom, you've always made sacrifices so that I could have things. You've gone without things that I know you would have liked to have. I want to do this for you. My friends will still be here when I get back. So will Dad. Besides, it could be kind of fun. I think we should go for it."

"I don't know. I don't think I could leave my patients." Lu said slowly.

"You won't need to worry about that, Dr. Delgado." Dr. Jackson said, joining the conversation. "I've already talked to Dr. Campbell and she has agreed to cover your patients in you absence.

"You already talked to Andy?" Lu asked. Robert nodded.

"Yes, I did. I wanted to be ready, just in case your answer was yes. Andy said she would be happy to cover for you. She thinks it would be a great opportunity for you...she thinks you should go for it." Lu glanced at her boss, then at her son, suddenly feeling defeated. She bit her lip as she thought about the situation. Maybe they were right. Maybe she should do what she could to prevent the free clinic in Glenoak from closing, knowing how she had felt when she had had to fight to keep her own free clinic open. She took a deep breath, then slowly let it out.

"Okay, Dr. Jackson. Tell your friend that I will do what I can to help them out." Robert smiled.

"Thank you, Lu. I know Dr. Hastings will be pleased with your decision." As Robert left the office, he patted Marc on the shoulder, giving him a silent thank you.

"I just hope I am pleased with my decision." Lu said, almost under her breath. Marc glanced at his watch.

"I'd better go. Dad will be here in a few minutes." Lu put her arm around her son as they walked out of her office together.

"Are you sure about this, Marc? I mean, we'll be spending two months where we don't know anyone. Once I agree to do this, there's no turning back." Marc nodded.

"I'm sure, Mom. It'll be kind of an adventure. Neither of us has ever been to California." Lu gave him a hug.

"I love you, Kid. Have fun at your dad's."

"Bye, Mom." Lu stood watching as her son ran out of the clinic. He sure seemed to be sure of his decision, she thought to herself. She wished that she herself could be as sure as her son seemed to be.

"I hope I'm doing the right thing," she said softly.

"What was that, Lu?" Lu turned to see Lana standing beside her. Before she could reply, her pager went off. She glanced at it.

"ER. Gotta run, Lana."

Meanwhile, in Glenoak, a similar conversation was taking place at the Camden home.

"Got a minute, Eric?" Eric glanced up from his computer screen.

"Sure, Hon. What's up?" Eric answered Annie.

"Eric, I've been thinking. Maybe having that doctor and her son here wouldn't be so bad. At first, I wasn't thrilled with having another kid here for the summer. I mean, we don't know anything about this woman and her son. But after thinking about it, I decided maybe we could give it a try and just see how it goes. I realized that if the free clinic has to close, there will be a lot of people who won't be able to have quality medical care. And if this woman can help keep it open, then maybe we should do our part and give her a place to stay."

"Are you sure, Annie? I mean, you've already got your hands full with me, 7 kids and a dog." Annie smiled.

"I'm sure, sweetheart. I've been thinking about it, and praying about it. I feel that it is the right thing to do."

"Okay then. I'll call Hank and have him make the arrangements." Eric answered.

"I'll start working on the sleeping arrangements. Maybe you can ask Hank to find out some information about this doctor and her son. It would be nice to at least know a little bit about them before they arrive." Annie said.

"I'll see what I can do." Annie kissed him quickly on the cheek before exiting the room.