2 Days Earlier - December 23rd, 2010

"Can I be Jewish Mama? Can we make a Menorah?"

"Hanukkah was at the beginning of the month Henry."

Henry sighed and resumed squeezing frosting on the cooling sugar cookies. "It's a cooler story than Christmas."

"How about next year, we'll set up a menorah and between now and then you can read all about it."

Henry nodded, "Do you know somebody Mama?"

"I know a lot of people Henry."

"Mama... someone Jewish."

Kerry pulled out another batch of Christmas cookies from the oven. "I'll see." She put down her oven mitts and ruffled Henry's hair, "That good enough for you champ?"

Henry nodded, "Can you help me please? The frosting's not squishy anymore."

She stood behind Henry, who sat on a high kitchen stool, put her hands over Henry's and they both squeezed.

They were nearly done when Juliana toddled into the room, "Mama..."

Kerry picked up the two year old. "So, I'm betting you want to try a cookie, you little cookie monster."

Juliana practically fell out of Kerry's arms as she reached for one. Surprisingly it was Henry who spoke to his little sister, "Can't have one 'cause it's before dinner. Wanna play?" She didn't look like she wanted to play, but to have a cookie, but Henry wasn't done with his distraction. "You can use my Nemo coloring book a little."

That beat cookies by a mile and little Juliana wiggled until Kerry let her down and she ran, a bit unsteadily, after her older brother.

Kerry watched them go and started cleaning up the mess she, with a bit of help from Henry had made. The doorbell rang and Kerry wiped her hands. She beat her kids to the door and opened it. "Fiona. Right on time."

Fiona Legaspi slipped in the door and shook her head a bit, snow flying to and fro. A flake landed on Henry's nose and he sneezed. Fiona looked sheepish as she shed her backpack and coat. "Sorry, it's snowin' outside. But... I'm not late."

Kerry put her hand on Fiona's shoulder, "Get warm. Dinner's ready to be warmed and there are cookies..." Juliana practically floated off the ground until Kerry continued, "...for after dinner." Juliana made a face and crossed her arms over her chest.

Kerry hid her smile as she put on her own coat and knelt down in front of her daughter. "We made you a very special Santa too."

Juliana threw her arms around Kerry's neck and kissed her cheek, "Love you Mama..."

Kerry hugged her daughter, "I love you too Juliana. Take care of Henry."

"Hey."

Kerry kissed her son's cheek as well, "I'll see you tomorrow."

Henry nodded, "Bye Mama." They watched as the door closed behind Kerry. Henry sighed, "I wish Mama didn't have to go."

"Well, she'll be back before Christmas Eve ends, and you get all day Christmas with her." Fiona pulled a book from her backpack, "And, then you wouldn't get to read this. Picked it up from the library on my way here for ya bud." Henry's mouth dropped open, "Ah, cool. Thank you Fiona."

"Oh, in payment, you'll be explaining some Calculus to me young boy."

Henry rolled his eyes, "Can we have dinner first Fiona?"

Fiona waved a hand towards the bedrooms, "Yeah, yeah, go get yourself and Jules cleaned up and I'll heat up dinner."

Henry nodded, "C'mon Jules, I'm hungry."

Juliana parroted her brother, "I'm hungry."

Fiona watched them go and let out a breath she'd been holding. For some reason, babysitting for Henry and Juliana always kept her on edge. She shook her head. It'd be more stressful if Juliana didn't get her cookies soon.

"I'm fine, I tell you." Maggie Wyczenski shook her head and her gaze went to the one woman who had always been on her side. "Kim. Doctor Legaspi. Tell her I'm fine."

Kim looked like hell, her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, her cheeks hollow and somehow the rest of her body looked skinnier than she had been before. "You know that you will never be cured Maggie." Her voice was flat as well.

Maggie barely noticed though, she was much more focused on her daughter. The three women were in Kim's office. "I'm only better when I'm on my meds. I know that. I swear Abby, I miscounted, and was a day short. The refill is probably at the pharmacy right now."

Abby stared at her mother. "I... I'm sorry."

"Apology accepted, and... I'm sorry that I've given you even the thought that I'd go off my meds on purpose." She paused, "Should I pick up Joe from school tomorrow?"

"No. Randi was going to do it."

"Oh."

"No, no, no..." Abby stood, "That's not what I meant Maggie. She was, before..." Abby gestured, "all this, going to get Joe."

Kim spoke up, "Do you trust Maggie with Joe?"

"Yes, Maggie, Mom... I do trust you again. This, this has been the longest you've been on your meds my entire life, but I know myself and every time I see a bottle of booze there's a pull and... I don't know if going off your meds is anything like that, but..."

Maggie took a step forward and hugged her daughter. "I love you Abby." She stepped back, "And I really am so sorry that I've screwed you up so much. It means so much that you trust me again. I will triple count from now on. I will. I have so much to live for in this world, in the real world now."

Maggie turned and spoke to Kim, "Thank you Doctor Legaspi."

Kim nodded, "Next week."

Maggie nodded, "Next week." With one last squeeze of her daughter's hand she left the office.

Abby turned to Kim, "Are you okay Kim?"

Kim nodded as she stood and went behind her desk. "I'm fine, and you should get back to the ER. How's Allison doing? Settled in yet?"

"I think she's about to bail. Something about New Jersey?" Abby sighed, "She was seeing Tony though."

"Gates?"

Abby shrugged, "No accounting for taste I guess. And you're right, I should get back down to the ER." Abby paused at the door, "She's not doing great either you know. She doesn't look like death warmed over, like you do, but she's down too."

Kim looked up from her paperwork, "We'll both survive and move on. Keep caring about her. She likes to pretend that she needs no one, but she needs family just as much as the rest of us."

"We will care for both of you, and wait for the day you two remove your heads from your asses and reconcile."

"Goin' home for Christmas Cassie?"

Cassie took a chart from the rack and glanced up at the board. "Nope. Home's coming to me, I hope. We'll see. You?"

Allison Cameron shook her head, "I'm on for Christmas, volunteered. I don't mind, might as well give someone a chance to have time with their family."

Cassie held up two charts, "Want me to take the possible UTI?"

Allison grabbed the other one, "All yours."

Cassie chuckled as Allison caught Chaz and an Inter and they went into exam four. Cassie studied the chart and with a sigh started towards exam two. She was stopped when a short man got in her way. He had curly salt and pepper hair and he squinted through a pair of glasses up at Cassie. "I bet you're all legs love."

"Can I help you with something sir? If you're hurt you need to check in with the triage nurse."

"Kerry Weaver. She works here?" Cassie nodded, "I'd like to see her."

Cassie glanced around, but didn't spot the shock of red hair that indicated the Chief's precense. "She's probably with a patient, or perhaps in a meeting. Can I give her a message?"

"No, no, I think I'll surprise her."

"I'd advise you against that Mr..."

"Doctor Todd Ramos, and she'll love to see me. I'll wait in the lounge."

Cassie opened her mouth to object, but he was into the lounge before she could get out a word. She shook her head, "Right then..."

"Mrs. Donovan?"

Kerry exited the trauma rooms as the brunette looked up. Next to her stood a young boy who looked nine or so.

The woman spoke, "You don't recognize me?"

Kerry looked up from the chart, "I'm sorry, I don't. Now if you'd..."

"You saved my life, and Kerry's as well."

That got Kerry's attention, "Excuse me?"

"Vicky Donovan. You delivered Kerry Michael. It took quite a bit to finally find out your name."

Kerry stood, stunned for a moment, then her professionalism kicked back in,

"It's good to see you're doing well. Your... Sean is stable and should be on his way to surgery momentarily."

The nine year old cleared his throat and Kerry looked down at him. "Will my Dad be okay Doctor Weaver?"

"I don't know son. He hit his head very badly, but we have very good surgeons who are going to try to help him."

Vicky pulled her son closer to her. "Thank you Doctor Weaver."

They all moved as a nurse and orderly pushed Sean Donovan's gurney out into the hall and towards the elevator.

Kerry watched them for a moment before she turned to go back to work. She wound up looking up at Kim. "Kim."

"Kerry."

Kim moved to one side and Kerry continued to the doctor's lounge and pushed through the door.

Everyone in the ER looked up as a growl came from just inside the doctor's lounge, followed by Todd Ramos stumbling backwards out into the ER. "Hey babe, I was just stopping down here to say hello, see if you wanted to get a drink."

Even from where Kim stood she could see a muscle on the left side of Kerry's face jump. "No thank you Todd."

Todd put a hand on Kerry's shoulder, "That is perfectly okay hon. I was just hired here. Taking the place of an... Eddi... son?"

"Edson, Dale Edson."

Todd nodded, patted Kerry on the shoulder and took his hand away. "Exactly." He leaned over and kissed Kerry on the cheek, and then sauntered towards the elevators.

No one in the ER spoke, they didn't know what to say, and for once, after a brief pause, almost everyone resumed working without any urging.

Kim bit her tongue and closed her eyes for a moment so she wouldn't go over to Kerry and ask what the hell that scene had been about. Instead, she turned and went to find her consult. She slowly let her breath go and looked up as Allison Cameron joined her at the door to one of the trauma rooms.

Allison glanced over her shoulder, "Do you know who that was?"

Kim hugged her clipboard closer to her chest. "I have a sinking feeling that I do.. So... tell me why you want a psych consult on Mr... oh..." Kim trailed off, "...Kamtovik. Okay. I take that back. Has he asked for a popsicle enema yet?"

"Ah, no."

Kim nodded, "That's good. The last time I saw him he was setting himself on fire with alcohol wipes. We're gonna try to prevent that this time."

Allison pushed open the door and held it for Kim. "Sounds good to me."