Kayla paced nervously in the staff lounge. She reached for a cup to pour herself another cup of coffee, but stopped when she felt Steve's hand on hers and he said, "Whoa, baby. Any more coffee and you'll be bouncing off the walls in that meeting."
From behind Steve, Bo tried to be reassuring. "I don't know why you are so nervous, Sis. Didn't I promise I would be right there with you?"
Kayla gave a small smile. "Yes, as a matter of fact you did."
Bo nodded. "Once I explain everything to the Board, you'll get your job back."
Just then, Carly entered the lounge. She stared at Bo. "I guess you decided to go through with this."
Kayla gave Bo a curious look, wondering what Carly was talking about. Before she could say anything, Bo ushered Carly out to the terrace, leaving Steve and Kayla alone.
"Do you know what Carly was talking about?" Kayla asked. "Why would she ask Bo if he had decided to go through with this?"
Steve turned away and reached for a cup of coffee for himself, saying "I don't know, baby. But it looks like Bo has things under control, so I wouldn't worry about it."
Kayla had the distinct impression that Steve knew more than he was saying, but let it go. She started pacing around the room again. She stopped only when Steve took hold of her arm.
"Hold up, baby. You're going to wear a hole in that carpet if you keep pacing around like that." He pulled her into his arms as Bo and Carly returned to the room.
At that moment, Neil appeared in the doorway. "Kayla, the meeting is about to start. We'll be ready for you soon."
"Uh . . . okay," Kayla said, stepping back from Steve. "I'll be in there soon." She felt her heart pound as Neil nodded and left the lounge.
"Looks like it's showtime," Bo said.
Kayla smiled nervously. "Do you think we'll be a hit?"
"Of course you will." Bo grinned. "You have a good audience."
"Thank you," Kayla said. She walked over and gave Bo a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
Bo returned the embrace. "I should be thanking you."
"Good luck, Kayla," Carly said, standing next to Bo.
"Thank you." Kayla was surprised when Carly also pulled her into a warm hug.
"Everything is going to work out fine," Bo said. He nodded to Steve. "We'll see you in there." Bo and Carly left the room, leaving Steve and Kayla alone once more.
Steve smiled at Kayla. "Don't worry, Sweetness. By this afternoon, Kayla Brady Johnson, R.N. will be back to work."
"You know, Steve . . . when you say it, I can almost believe it."
"You'd better believe it, baby," Steve said. "And whatever happens in there, I'll be right here waiting when you get done."
"Thank you," Kayla said softly. "But you really don't have to wait. I don't know how long this will take. It could take hours."
"I don't care, Sweetness," Steve replied. "Nothing is more important than being here to support you."
"So, you'll be here when I'm done?" Kayla asked.
"I'm not going anywhere," Steve said.
"I'll be holding on to that." Kayla embraced him.
He held her tightly for a moment, before pulling back and looking into her eyes. "Let me give you something else to hold on to." He leaned down and gave her a soft, lingering kiss.
After a long moment, Kayla pulled away and said, "I better go."
She gave Steve one last kiss, headed out the door, and walked down the hall to the hearing room. Kayla took a deep breath before opening the doors and stepping inside.
Entering the room, she found the board members, including Victor and Julie, already seated around the table. Bo and Carly sat in chairs on one side of the room. Kayla took a seat next to them while Neil called the meeting to order and discussed some preliminary matters.
Once Neil finished his statements, he asked Kayla to stand up. Despite her pounding heart, she stood and calmly began to tell the board what had happened. First, she explained how she had learned that Bo had the virus. Then, she explained how he threatened to run away if anyone else found out he was sick. Finally, Kayla explained why she had switched her blood for Bo's - she had believed his threat, knew Carly was close to finding the cure, and feared if he fled, he would die before he could be cured. As she spoke, Kayla tried to get a read on the board's reaction, but found it impossible to tell what they were thinking.
After Kayla testified, Carly stood before the board. She detailed her understanding of what had happened and concluding by saying, "In summary, I believe that Kayla Johnson acted in accordance with the dictates of her own conscience and she should not be punished for that." Kayla gave Carly a grateful smile as Carly returned to her seat.
Neil thanked Carly for her testimony, and was about to conclude the formal portion of the meeting, when Bo asked to make a statement. Neil agreed that, as the patient in question, Bo had the right to speak.
Bo stood. "All the testimony that has been given is well and good, but it wouldn't be fair for the Board to vote without hearing the real reason that Kayla did what she did."
Walking to the other side of the room, Bo continued. "When I got the disease, I asked Kayla to help me out. I begged her to help me out. First of all, just to keep my condition a secret from the woman I love." Bo glanced at Carly, then said, "Kayla didn't agree at first, until we couldn't find a cure. Then I guess she figured she might as well grant her brother his last dying wish." Smiling at Kayla, Bo said, "I wish she hadn't now, because she's in trouble and it's all my fault." Turning to the Board, Bo asked them to weigh Kayla's history at the hospital against this one mistake - a mistake that was Bo's fault, not Kayla's.
Kayla felt her heart swell with love for her brother, as he tried to take the responsibility for her decision. It swelled even more when he told the board that she deserved their faith and trust. When he was finished, Bo thanked the board and returned to his seat, taking Kayla's hand in his.
"That concludes the formal portion of our hearing," Neil said. "Now we'll take a vote to see if Kayla will be reinstated." He thanked Bo and Carly for their testimony and told Kayla she was excused. "I'll let you know when we get the results."
Kayla nodded. "Thank you." Then she left the room with Bo and Carly. Her future was now in the hands of the hospital board and she could only pray they would not take her career from her.