Chapter 15: Say Anything
SCENE: GREY SLOAN MEMORIAL
(Amber charts at a nurse's station in PPE when Alex comes to her with a smile)
Alex: I have the best news ever, guess what it is.
Amber: Herd immunity has been discovered.
Alex: Let's not go crazy, Meredith is awake!
Amber: (Shocked) What?! Are you serious?!
Alex: I know it's amazing! Finally, some good has come our way!
Amber: How are her lungs? Are her markers decreasing?
Alex: Her lungs sound good and her inflammatory are decreasing, if this continues, she'll be out in a week.
Amber: I can't believe this; I can't even imagine how happy you are. I haven't seen you smile like this since elementary school. Who's with her now?
Alex: DeLuca is checking her ABG's constantly and Altman is on call.
Amber: (Sighs) Thank you God, now I can finally stop killing myself so you don't. I take it by your scrubs and PPE your back at work?
(Bailey comes by to hand a chart to a nurse)
Alex: Yeah, although I would hardly call it work if I'm chief of an empty floor. Maggie put you on my service today she's gonna be busy with Koracick.
Amber: (Groans in disgust) What does that human blister want now? Is he here to badger us for another covid test? Or has he gotten so bored at home he thought stealing a surgery during quarantine would help?
Bailey: (Harsh tone) Tom Koracick is at the covid ward.
Amber: (Stops talking and freezes in shock)
Bailey: (Continues) He came in yesterday with low oxygen and high temperature. After that he had a seizure due to a lesion on his thalamus. He is awake and we are trying to make sure he stays that way so we don't run the risk of losing two of our own to this damn virus. Does that sound like a good reason for him to be here, Dr. Karev?
Amber: (Guilty) I-I'm sorry I wasn't here yesterday I was-
Bailey: (Cold tone) I don't care where you were, just get information next time before you insult one of your attendings while he's in a hospital bed.
(Bailey leaves and Amber turns to Alex with a curious face)
Alex: Her mom came in yesterday morning; she was tested positive.
Amber: Is she okay?
Alex: She's dead, last night.
Amber: (Groans) Damn it. Wait her mom died last night and she's here?
Alex: It's how she operates; she just works till she has to face it. I know it's what I would do.
Amber: …How's mom? Is she staying at the house?
Alex: Yeah, she called an hour ago, she's just catching up on Breaking Bad and sewing. I think she's taking this pandemic thing a lot better than we are.
Amber: (Chuckles bitterly) Oh god what is going on with the world?
Alex: Yeah, tell me about it.
(Alex's pager beeps)
Alex: Incoming peds trauma, two actually. Come on.
CUT TO AMBULANCE BAY
(Alex and Amber stand outside waiting for the ambulance that stops in front of them. The back doors open and two paramedics wheel Shanice out in a gurney)
Paramedic: Shanice King, 13, firefighters rescued her from a house fire. She has a little trouble breathing, we already put her on 80 percent O2.
Alex: (Listens to Shanice's lungs) You said it was a house fire, were there any other survivors?
Paramedic: It wasn't her house.
Sharon: (Steps out with Shanice) She and her friend snuck out after messaging a predator. He lured them out and kidnapped her and her friend.
Amber: (Shocked) Oh my god, is her friend, okay? Is she with you?
Sharon: She's in another ambulance, my daughter started a fire to get help to get someone to know they were there. Me and Joyce had to stand outside while that animal had our daughters locked up in his basement. If Shanice hadn't done what she did-
Alex: She did it and she was very brave for doing that, let's get her inside. Ma'am you can come inside but you need to keep your distance.
Sharon: I'm not letting her out of my sight again.
(They head inside where they transfer Shanice to a bed. Shanice starts to wake up)
Amber: (To Shanice) Shanice can you hear me?
Shanice: Wh-Where am I?
Alex: You're at the hospital, you and your friend were in a fire do you remember?
Shanice: (Alert) Jada, where is she?
Sharon: She's in another ambulance honey, their bringing her here right now.
Alex: Can you lean forward for me? I need to hear your lungs.
Shanice: (Leans forward) I-I didn't want to start a fire I just I knew…I knew what he would do to us.
Amber: You don't have to explain honey, we're not here to judge, we just want to help you.
Shanice: He-He said that he was gonna sell us t-that he was handing to uh Aunt Opal's replacement I think is what he said.
Amber: (Freezes as she recognizes the name)
Shanice: (Continues) I-I knew what that meant, our mom's told us about guys like that, guys that take girls like us and… (Crying) I didn't want that to happen to me. I thought 'if this fire kills me at least I won't live like that.'
Alex: You did what you had to do, and the important thing is that you're alive, you got out and you saved your friend too. Take a deep breath for me Shanice. Good. Another one.
Shanice: I didn't want anyone to get hurt.
Sharon: Hush, sweetie. You are brave. You are a hero.
Amber: (Snaps out of it) She's right, what you did took courage and resilience, that's something most girls your age don't have. You don't have to fight and you don't have to explain yourself, it's over now and we're here to make sure you're healthy and safe.
(Owen comes in with a girl in a wheelchair)
Owen: Jada Williams. Smoke inhalation, second degree burns to the left hand.
Shanice: Jada! Are you okay?
Sharon: Where's your mother?
Jada: (Crying) They took her. They arrested her!
Amber: (Appalled) What? Why would they-
Owen: Montgomery from 19 said there was an altercation with police at the scene. Obviously, some mix-up.
Amber: (Disgusted tone) 'mix up'.
Sharon: It's okay. It's a mistake, okay? They'll let her out. Where's your father? Did your mother call him?
Jada: He went to see my grandma in Nevada. She wouldn't stop going out in public without a mask.
Sharon: Okay. We'll figure it out. We'll be okay.
Alex: (Goes to Jada) Amber, get Shanice a chest X-ray and page Avery to come and have a look at Jada's hand.
(Amber nods and leaves the pit. She waits until she's in the elevator and the doors close before she throws her phone at the wall in anger. She breathes heavily in anger for a few seconds before picking up her phone)
Amber: (See's the cracked screen) Damn it!
(Amber composes herself before getting off the elevator)
CUT TO BLACK
SCENE: THE PIT
(Amber comes back with Jackson behind her. He goes to check on Jada while Amber goes to Alex who's treating Shanice)
Amber: Radiology is ready.
Alex: Okay thanks, Shanice I'm gonna take you up now. We're gonna have a chest x ray to make sure the smoke didn't damage your lungs, it won't take long. Sharon I'm sorry but we need to do this without you, is that okay?
Sharon: I'll stay with Jada, make sure her father knows what happened.
Alex: Okay, my sister will stay here and help you and Jada with whatever you need. Let's go.
(Alex leaves with Jada leaving Amber with Sharon)
Amber: If there's anything I can do to help just name it.
Sharon: Thank you, I wish the cops were as compassionate as you and your brother are.
Amber: (Bitterly nods)
Sharon: (Phone rings) I have to take this it's Jada's dad.
Amber: Of course.
(Sharon answers the phone and approaches Jada)
Sharon: This is Jada's father. Can they talk?
Jackson: Of course. I'm almost done here.
Jada: (Takes the phone) I-I'm so sorry. Daddy, I'm-I'm so sorry. We didn't mean to do anything bad.
(Amber joins Owen and Jackson a few feet away)
Amber: Any word on Jada's mom? I can't believe they arrested her.
Jackson: I can.
Owen: Nothing yet, but we need to get them transferred upstairs.
Amber: What? Why? They just started to calm down.
Owen: (Angry) They're bringing the kidnapper here, and Montgomery said that he is belligerent.
Amber: (Disgusted) Are you fucking kidding me?
Jackson: Absolutely not. We're not bringing him to this hospital.
Owen: I'm as against it as you are. But Seattle Pres has closed their doors, and he has to go somewhere.
Amber: Yeah hell. (Exhales) Okay I'll talk to Sharon tell her about the situation and come up with some excuse for the girls if they ask.
Owen: We got about twenty minutes till they get here.
(Amber gingerly approaches Sharon while Jada is busy talking to her dad)
Amber: Sharon? (Sharon turns to her) Can we talk privately?
(Sharon nods and they step out of Jada's earshot)
Sharon: What is it? Is it Shanice, did something show up?
Amber: No, not yet it's not about that, it's…we have to move you and the girls to a private room upstairs.
Sharon: Why?
Amber: (Swallows the bile in her throat) The paramedics are bringing the man who kidnapped Jada and Shanice here. (Sharon's eyes widen in shock) The other hospitals are closed and we have to treat him I am so sorry.
Sharon: (Appalled) Is this a joke? Some sick joke?
Amber: I wish it was but it's not, we have to move them we won't tell them the reason we'll just say a room is the best place for patients with smoke inhalation. I wouldn't do this if there was another option. I know it's hard to look at the face of the person that ruined your life so believe when I say we will do everything we can to make sure these girls don't go through that. I know you've been through hell today but please trust us on that.
Sharon: (Exhales) …How long?
Amber: Their 18 minutes out.
Sharon: Okay get her out of here quickly.
Amber: (Signals a nurse and heads to Jada) Okay Jada we're gonna go upstairs, you and Shanice are gonna rest up in a private room.
Jada: Is something wrong?
Amber: (Calmly) No nothing's wrong we just thought some quiet time is what you and your friend need after what happened. (To nurse Ginger) Get her up to the fifth floor and page Dr. Karev to put Shanice in the same room as Jada. Sharon, you can follow them a nurse will inform you when Shanice is out of CT.
Sharon: Thank you.
(A nurse wheels Jada out of the pit with Sharon following. Amber stands back and notices her left hand shaking which she squeezes to keep steady)
18 MINUTES LATER
SCENE: AMBULANCE BAY
(Levi stands by with Owen waiting for the ambulance. Jackson runs outside)
Jackson: Alright, we got the girls upstairs, so the coast is clear down here for Satan's arrival.
Levi: Do they know what this guy was doing? Is he, like, a serial killer? In a pandemic?
Jackson: Sex trafficker is more likely. The house they burned down could have been a way station or the destination from what Shanice told the Karev's.
Levi: (Looks at him) The Karev's? Was Amber there when they came in?
Jackson: Yeah, she checked them out and got them upstairs before Satan arrives. (Ambulance arrives) I don't want to be anywhere near this guy.
(Jackson leaves while Levi tries to stay focused despite worrying about Amber)
LATER
SCENE: JADA AND SHANICE'S ROOM
(Amber checks Shanice's vitals)
Amber: Okay your lungs sound good, the O2 is working so far. I think supplemental oxygen for the night is what you need and if the chest x ray is clear we'll discharge you in the morning.
Shanice: What about Jada? Where is she?
Amber: She's with Dr. Avery, her injuries were more severe but she's okay. She's just getting her hand bandaged but she should be better by the time you are.
Shanice: Better? I don't even know what that word means anymore.
(A code blue is called causing an alarm that causes Shanice to jump in fear)
Amber: (Sympathetic) It's okay it's just an alarm no one is here to hurt you. I know you're not gonna feel like it for a while but you're safe here. We're gonna fix you up and get Jada's mom out, Dr. Avery is already doing that and your mom is calling to get a hold of her for Jada. Just get some rest, a nurse will be here to monitor you, I'll be back to check on you.
(Amber puts her stethoscope around her neck and proceeds to walk out when Shanice speaks up)
Shanice: I heard a couple of nurses say that there was a human trafficker coming here…to this hospital. Is that true?
Amber: (Turns around and faces her) …Yes.
Shanice: (Breathe hitches) It's him, isn't it?
Amber: …I'm so sorry Shanice. You need to know we wouldn't let that monster anywhere near here unless we had to. He's downstairs in handcuffs, there's a security guard down there and up here. He is not going anywhere near you two we are making sure of that. Are you okay?
Shanice: …I was the one who suggested we sneak out. Jada wanted to meet up with some girl who wanted to teach us to become influencers, make a ton of money. She wanted to wait till the morning but…but he wanted to meet us at midnight. We snuck out, went to the place and…he grabbed us and put us in his van. (Voice breaking) I'm so stupid.
(Amber looks at Shanice in sympathy and closes the door till there's a creak. She grabs a chair and sits beside Shanice)
Amber: You know I have a niece half your age, she's six years old and she's just as smart as you. I say it as a compliment because sometimes she's as smart as me too. It's hard to forget that she's a kid, she makes it hard to forget that she's a kid but she is just like you. Kids aren't perfect, they're supposed to make a few mistakes and learn from them. I have been afraid for her since the moment I met her. I have been afraid of someone taking her from the streets and…it kills me a little but I try to hang on to her as long and as tight as I can. But if God forbid, she goes through what you went through I wouldn't want her to blame herself for it. I would want her to remind herself that she is brave and that she is a survivor, so I want you to do that. Whenever you feel like you could've done something different or blame yourself for this day just say to yourself, 'none of it was my fault' I want you to say it.
Shanice: (Sniffles) N…none of it was my fault.
Amber: Good again.
Shanice: (More conviction) None of it was my fault.
Amber: None of it was your fault. If you keep saying that every time a bad thought crosses your mind, you'll start to believe it.
(Amber stands up)
Amber: I have to go, tell the nurse to page me if you need anything.
Shanice: Thank you.
(Amber leaves and a nurse enters the room. Amber tries to keep calm until she goes inside a supply closet. Amber paces the small room for a few moments trying to keep her anger inside with breathing exercises. Unfortunately, she loses that battle as she grabs a yellow bin with gauze and throws it at the wall. She pushes the small shelving unit entirely with all her strength. Next, she grabs as many bins as she can thrashing them around trying hard not to yell or scream. She cries as she pushes another shelf and finally leans back against the wall sobbing as she slides down sitting on the floor with her face against her knees. She hears someone coming in and closing the door. She hears them picking the items up off the floor)
Amber: (Crying) I'll clean that up.
Person: (Still picks it up)
Amber: (Stand up suddenly) I said-
(Amber stops when she see's it's Levi who looks at her concerned)
Levi: Hey.
Amber: Hey…what are you doing here?
Levi: (Picks up bin) I was gonna ask the same thing but I see what you did and now I'm not gonna.
Amber: (Sniffles) …I just…I just needed to get away from this damn case it was…God it was awful.
Levi: Yeah, I heard, a human trafficker and two of his victims. How are the girls?
Amber: Their okay physically at least. I got them up here so they wouldn't see that animal.
Levi: I know, it's good that you did. It's good they had someone like you to look after them.
Amber: As a doctor or as someone who's been raped?
Levi: (Looks up surprised) …Both. I wanted to check on you to see how you were. How are you?
Amber: (Sarcastic) I'm peachy keen.
(Levi nods and continues cleaning with Amber feeling bad)
Amber: I'm sorry, I know your trying to help its just…
Levi: You don't have to explain I get it. I'll just clean and you stand there and get that anger out.
Amber: …They replaced her.
Levi: What? Replaced who?
Amber: (Anger in her voice) Opal, that piece of crap who brought Erin Banks here they replaced her. Shanice told me that that monster who took her said he was gonna take them to Aunt Opal's replacement…like it's some job that can be filled.
Levi: (Shocked) Oh my god that's…oh my god.
Amber: There is no god, not today. God wouldn't have found someone to replace a human trafficker. God wouldn't have put those 13-year-old girls in a basement to be sold off to be raped. God wouldn't have forced one of those girls to start a fire because the police didn't raid that house. God wouldn't have put two ignorant as hell police officers on that scene where they took the side of a sex trafficker instead of the side of two mothers whose daughters were kidnapped! God wouldn't have made those officers arrest one of those mothers and take her in front of her daughter who was just kidnapped! God wouldn't have sent that same sex trafficker to the same hospital his victims are being treated! Does that sound like something a rumored good god would do?! Does it?!
(Levi stands there looking at Amber blankly after she finishes ranting)
Amber: (Voice breaking) God I hate this I need to get out I just-I want to get out. I need to breathe and wipe all these tears and boogers but if I do, I'll end up sick. I have to get out.
Levi: Okay I can look after Shanice if you want, I checked our hours and you've just hit your quota so you're free to go. Go to the lounge and rest and wipe away. I can call you if Shanice asks for you.
Amber: (Sniffles) …Thank you. I'll go in a minute I just need to get my sanity back.
(Amber inhales and exhales as Levi continues cleaning up Amber's mess)
Levi: Are you experiencing flashbacks?
Amber: No nothing like that it's nothing I can't handle; I've learned to get used to it.
Levi: …You know I think therapy might help you with…what happened. I'm sure Jo has some good recommendations.
Amber: Yeah, but that would require me telling her why I need therapy and I…I can't do that.
Levi: Okay it was just a suggestion. Do you want to talk about something else? Maybe Gilmore Girls?
Amber: (Chuckles lightly) Sure why not, what did I miss?
Levi: Well, uh Luke and Lorelai have been pretty cold recently. He's dating some girl named Nicole and she's too focused on Rory graduating.
Amber: God when are those two gonna get together.
Levi: Rory and Jess are going hot but she's jealous that Dean's dating, I think this is the part where her character arc falls. Jess tries to have sex with her but she refuses and he snaps at her. Dean finds out and he and Jess fight.
Amber: Verbally?
Levi: Physically they nearly destroyed a house.
Amber: (Nods) Good times. I'm sure Jess deserved it.
Levi: What? I thought we were Team Jess.
Amber: (Deflecting) We're not, Jess can shove it where the sun don't shine, Dean is a better choice. He's kind, generous and he looks like he stepped out of a Calvin Klein catalog. Jess is unpredictable, unstable, unreliable, and just a wiseass in general. If Rory is as smart as she claims then she should go back with Dean, Jess can suck it.
Levi: …I feel like we're not talking about fictional characters anymore.
Amber: Is it never fiction with me Schmitt!
(Levi widens his eyes at her outburst as Amber sighs in despair)
Amber: (Decides to tell him) Andrew.
Levi: (Sighs) Oh god.
Amber: I know say it, go ahead say it you think I am crazy. I mean, Andrew, he broke my heart, he lied to me, he said things to me he can never take back and you would sooner drink acid than hear me bitch about him again. Believe me I am just as disappointed in me as you are right now.
Levi: …I probably would drink acid but I wouldn't be disappointed in you. If anything, I get where your coming from, I'm currently having casual sex with my emotionally distant ex. You getting back together with Andrew when he's stable and better isn't worse than what I'm doing. At least you guys didn't have shameful ex sex.
Amber: (Lips curl in irony) …Twice, day after he was discharged and week two of covid.
Levi: (Eyes wide in shock) Hypocrite. You are a giant hypocrite.
Amber: I know, I'm just as bad as you are. I have been trying to deny it for days since the night I had a dream we got back together. I mean we know what happened the last time I had dreams about DeLuca.
Levi: Yeah, I remember you cornered me in an elevator and tried to get me to play shrink. Now we've moved on to supply closets so that's something.
Amber: I don't want there to be something I don't want there to be anything that involves me getting back together with him. I don't want it but I can't stop wanting it.
Levi: Is that such a bad thing?
Amber: (Glares at Levi) Where have you been this past year? Did you have a twin take your residency spot so I could complain to him instead?
Levi: I'm just saying…maybe things will be different this time, maybe you won't get hurt again.
Amber: Really? What's changed?
Levi: Everything's changed, you've both changed. He got treatment and is learning to live with his bipolar disorder, you've learned to live in a new world since this pandemic started that's changed everyone.
Amber: Do you think I've changed?
Levi: Well, you want DeLuca back.
Amber: I don't.
Levi: (Looks at Amber with a raised eyebrow)
Amber: (Sighs) I do, I want him but…I asked my mom for advice because I was afraid me wanting DeLuca meant I would become her and she said…she said to ask myself 'is my life better with him or without him?' and I don't know the freaking answer!
Levi: Why not?
Amber: Because…because I don't know how to live with his mania, there's no separating the two it's a package deal and I don't know if I can live with that. I have had too much crazy in my life and he is a part of it. How do I know if I can live with that? How do I know it's not gonna break me? How do I know if I love him enough to do that this time?
Levi: …I'm still figuring out my relationship problems so I'm not really the best person for this.
Amber: Yeah.
Levi: But I think I know someone who is just the right person to ask this question.
Amber: Who?
Levi: Maybe your brother who's had twice as much crazy as you and still choose to stay with his wife after she got treatment for depression. It's just a thought.
(Amber looks at Levi and realizes he's right)
CUT TO BLACK
SCENE: ATTENDINGS LOUNGE
(Alex is sitting at the table alone talking to Izzie on the phone)
Alex: Look I know it's late but can you please put them on the phone, I just want to hear their voices…thank you…hey honey, did I wake you? I'm sorry I just wanted to hear your voice…no, no reason at all I just wanted to talk to you and see how you and your brother are…
(Amber enters the lounge)
Alex: Hey your aunt Amber just walked in do you want to say hi?
(Alex puts Eli and Alexis on speaker, Amber smiles and comes closer to talk to the phone)
Amber: Hey, how's my favorite niece and nephew doing?
Alexis: (Laughs) I'm your only niece.
Amber: Still my favorite, how are you liking the book I gave you? Did you finish it?
Alexis: I did and I loved it!
Amber: (Smiles) I bet you did and I bet you didn't see that twist coming, were you surprised when Quirrell turned out to be the bad guy?
Alexis: Nuh uh.
Amber: (Chuckles) No? I didn't think so, a smart girl like you could see that coming a mile away, I wish you were a mile away so I could give you an air hug in person. And what about you little man? Are you excited about Guardians of the Galaxy tomorrow night? I know I am.
Eli: Yeah! I want to see a talking racoon and tree fight aliens!
Alex: (Raises an eyebrow)
Amber: (Chuckles) So do I kid, and hey maybe we can find another infinity stone before Thanos does, winner gets ten scoops of ice cream what do you say?
Eli: Mommy says we can't bet on ice cream anymore, she says it'll make my teeth hurt.
Amber: Did she? Well don't worry once you and your sister are here, I'll sneak you as much treats as you want, doesn't that sound like fun?
Alex: (Looks at Amber disapprovingly over the junk food)
Amber: (Mouths) Bite me. (Out loud) I can't wait to see you guys; I miss you so much!
Alexis: (Sad) Me too. Mommy says we can't leave until tomorrow, she says she wants to make sure the road is safe so we can stop.
Eli: We told her we can hold in our pee but she doesn't believe us.
Alex: (Grins and chuckles)
Amber: (Smiles) She's probably right I mean unless you have a portkey bathroom breaks are essential for road trips. But don't worry we'll have plenty to do once you get here so there's no rush.
Alexis: What are we gonna do?
Amber: Well…we can play with my new dog, how does that sound?
Eli: No way!
Alexis: (Excited) A dog? You have a dog?
Amber: That's right I do, his name is Jazz and he is so stinking cute, he's almost as cute as you two.
Alexis: What kind is he?
Amber: He's a pitbull and he is the sweetest, he's got three legs so he's gonna need help getting around. Can you do that? Can you help him?
Alexis: Uh huh, I can!
Eli: I can more than she can.
Amber: (Grins) Good because he's gonna need some company while I'm at work and what better company than you two wonderful doctors of the future.
Alexis: Really?
Eli: We can keep him?!
Amber: Well, he's still my dog but yeah while I'm at work you two can play with him and take care of him. I know things are gonna be boring at home for you two so I thought a dog would keep you two busy, what do you say?
Eli and Alexis: (Excited) Yes!
Amber: (Laughs) Okay I'm glad you guys are psyched for this, that energy is just what Jazzy bear needs.
Alexis: (Giggles) Jazzy bear?
Amber: Trust me, you will see what I mean when you get here. How are you two doing? Are you okay?
Alexis: I'm fine I'm just in bed, me and Eli are gonna switch beds.
Alex: (Chuckles) Yeah, it's this game of theirs called sleepover. They swap beds all night until like 4 am when they give up and go to Izzie's bed and sleep with her.
Amber: (Grins) That's sounds fun.
Eli: Did you have games like that when you were a kid?
Amber: Um…no not really your dad and uncle Aaron didn't really like games and neither did I. Hey! Maybe we can play games when you're here, have you guys ever played Sorry?
Alexis: What's Sorry?
Amber: (To Alex) Oh god are we getting old?
Alex: (Grins) You are.
Amber: (Sticks tongue out at Alex) Well I will be happy to introduce you to the world of board games. And let me tell you that is only the tip of the iceberg for the Karev fun express.
Alex: And until that day comes you guys should really get some shut eye it's 4 am.
Alexis: No it's not it's 6 am here daddy.
Eli: It's two hours later here than over there.
Amber: (Chuckles) Well even so you guys should go eat breakfast and get ready for school.
Alexis: Why? It's online now.
Amber: Well, if you get ready for school the same way you did before it'll prevent you from being lazy after this thing is over. Unless you think you can't handle it.
Eli: (Takes the challenge) We can handle it!
Alexis: Yeah, we can!
Alex: Then prove it, go shower and get some breakfast. I'll talk to you guys during your break and make sure you learn things by then. We love you both.
Amber: Yeah we do.
Eli and Alexis: We love you too, bye!
Amber: Bye.
Alex: Bye.
(Eli and Alexis hang up. Amber hands Alex the phone and drops the grin like him. She sits across from him exhausted from the night)
Alex: How are Jada and Shanice?
Amber: (Pulls her phone out) Shanice is doing good; the oxygen is working. Jada got her hand treated and her mom just got out of jail and is with her now. God look at this.
(Amber shows Alex a video of Dean and Sullivan being arrested by cops at the scene as well as Jada's mom. Alex shakes his head at the vile actions of the police officers)
Amber: (Appalled) It's all over the news, national news. I swear if they don't arrest that racist cop for what this video shows clear as day, I say we pack up, put the kids in the car and move to Canada.
Alex: (Disgusted) God what kind of person do you have to be to arrest the mom of a kidnapped girl?
Amber: (Turns phone off) I don't think those cops fall under the person category. I'll tell you one thing though, I'm grateful for Izzie.
Alex: (Eyebrows raised) Wow those are words I never thought I would hear from you.
Amber: I'm just saying…she kept them safe. She could've been the exact kind of person I imagined her to be all these years but she didn't, thank God. I mean if it was Eli and Alexis in that kind of situation-
Alex: (Barely keeping it together) Please don't let me imagine that god awful image.
Amber: I'm just saying if it did happen Izzie would do the exact same thing as Sharon and Joyce. She would bulldoze that door with her car if there was even the slightest chance the twins were in there. I mean as a person I detest her but as a mom I have nothing but respect for her.
Alex: Yeah, she would do that, the only difference is she wouldn't have gotten arrested and not in front of the kids.
Amber: God those poor girls are gonna need so much therapy. Have you heard word about the monster of Seattle?
Alex: I just heard from Hunt he had a stroke in trauma and Shepherd is doing a CT angio to save his worthless life. I swear if I was in that room, I would just skip the angio and put a scalpel in his brain.
Amber: I would've castrated him then put a scalpel in his brain.
Alex: Is it wrong that I'm jealous you thought of a better way to torture him than me?
Amber: A little but I think we're in the right to be all dark and twisty tonight. Do you think the world was this messed up to us before we had two perfect little angels come into our lives?
Alex: I notice it more now. I thought this was gonna be a good night after Grey woke up but no, I guess the universe wants me to be miserable all the time. Did you know they just converted the cafeteria to a covid overflow room?
Amber: I heard; it was to be expected.
Alex: Yeah, but still one minute I think that things can't worse and then bam prove me wrong.
Amber: Same…I'm grateful for you too.
Alex: (Confused) What?
Amber: (Sighs) Do you remember when I was 6 and you were 18 and already whoring around in college?
Alex: Fondly.
Amber: Then you should remember that was the year mom got sentenced to a psych ward for three months after she crashed her car into a flagpole because God told her to.
Alex: Yeah, I remember that not so fondly.
Amber: Child services put me and Aaron in foster care. They separated us because we were more likely to get a home that way. Aaron went to the Miller's in Davenport and I went to that group home in Ankeny. It was the first time we had been separated and I didn't want to admit it but at the time I was scared.
Alex: Yeah, so was I.
Amber: I know, you used to visit me everyday and make sure I was okay.
Alex: (Grins nostalgically) That's right I failed Math that year because the drive was 2 hours long. I didn't have time to study and catch up.
Amber: (Nods) Yeah at the time I thought you were just being an overprotective helicopter parent but…that was before I really knew what was out there. You and Aaron tried to shield me from that and it worked until I was 10. By then I knew that crappy foster parents were only one of the horrible things out there in the world. I knew at that time that you were making sure those people I stayed with didn't do to me what Jada and Shanice went through.
Alex: (Bitterly nods) Yeah well whether I liked it or not you were my responsibility and I had to make sure you were okay. Even when I left, I tried my best, I sent you money I sent mom her meds…but I know I could've done more. I'm sorry you had to be there alone when Aaron snapped. I should've considered the possibility he was gonna inherit mom's illness especially since he was same age she was when her symptoms started.
Amber: (Inhales sharply) It's okay.
Alex: No, it's not. I should've stayed there longer, or hell take you with me I should've made sure you were safe.
Amber: I emancipated myself after that night so I was pretty much golden. Besides as far as crappy childhoods go you take the bat. I mean I got to be a kid for a while but you didn't not really.
Alex: (Sighs) It wasn't that bad.
Amber: Are you kidding me? I grew up with crazy and neglect but you had crazy, neglect, abuse and addiction. You were a kid and you were the dad and the mom. If it wasn't for you Aaron and I would've starved or offed ourselves. You fed us, clothed us, taught us how to tie our shoes and no one did that for you before we came along. I get it if eventually you saw us as burdens and had to leave, I probably would've done the same.
Alex: (Looks at Amber thoughtfully) …For a while I did but seeing you here now, I don't regret it one bit.
Amber: (Doubts him) You don't have to say that, I understand.
Alex: No, you don't…if I had even the slightest hand in making you into who you are today, I would've done it again in a heartbeat. I think that's why I choose peds, taking care of kids comes naturally to me.
Amber: (Touched) Well if it's any consolation you did great all things considered. And you're gonna do better for Alexis and Eli, they're lucky to have a dad like you and do not think otherwise.
Alex: (Touched) Thanks.
Amber: …Can I ask you something kind of personal?
Alex: We're already deep into our childhood and familial love so I don't see how it could get more personal.
Amber: Okay…how did you know you wanted to stay with Jo after her depressive episode?
Alex: (Eyebrows raised) Where is this coming from?
Amber: (Tries to lie) No reason?
Alex: (Stern) Amber.
Amber: (Sighs) DeLuca.
Alex: (Groans)
Amber: I know, I know believe me I know how exhausting this is for you but I need help. I need to know if I can be with Andrew after everything that happened with us. And let's be honest, who better to turn to for advice than you? I mean even before Jo you had a long list of crazy girlfriends, Izzie, that Ava woman, Grey's sister and before all of that mom. I mean you had crazy women left and right, up and down.
Alex: (Sighs) Yeah you don't need to remind me kid.
Amber: Okay even so…how did you stay after all of that? How did you know you wanted to be there after a lifetime of mental instability? How…how did you know you loved her enough to stay?
Alex: …I'm not gonna lie the idea of leaving crossed my mind but…I know that my life is better with her in it than without her. I look at the person I was before I met Jo and I don't recognize him. I was a mess after Ava and Izzie and Lexie and Lucy, I got through it with meaningless one-night stands and flings with interns.
Amber: (Disgusted) I think it was a good thing I came to this hospital after Jo straightened you out.
Alex: She didn't though, she didn't straighten me out. I did that myself because she made me want to do that for her. I'm a better person because of her, I know it, you know it, Jo knows it. She made me want to be better, she made me want to marry her, she made me want to grow old with her. She made me want to do all those things because she loves me, post it note loves me.
Amber: (Confused) What?
Alex: It's a thing it's-never mind. The point is I choose to stay because I know without her in my life, I would be that sad, broken mess of a fellow she met when she came here. Mental illness or not she is the love of my life and I love every part of her, good, bad, stable, unstable or otherwise. I stayed because I knew I would rather spend the rest of my life loving all the best and worst parts of her than to have a life without her in it.
(Amber looks at Alex in awe over his confession and finally concludes on her decision about Andrew)
LATER AT THE SOUTH ENTRANCE
(Amber is in her casual wear walking out of the hospital ready to leave. Andrew is on the bench in casual wear too)
Andrew: Hey, are you headed out?
Amber: Yeah I am I just finished my quota for the week, you?
Andrew: I'm knocking off, I gotta take my meds and get some sleep.
Amber: (Nods) Yeah sounds good.
Andrew: Yeah have a good night.
(Andrew turns to walk away when Amber speaks up causing him to stop and turn back to face her)
Amber: Andrew wait, I uh I-I need to uh…
Andrew: (Confused) What is it? Is something wrong?
Amber: (Blurts out) I love you.
(Andrew freezes and looks at Amber in shock)
Amber: (Realizes what she said and panics) Oh my god! That is not how I wanted to say it, that is not how I wanted to uh-I love you. (Chuckles awkwardly) There it is, I did it again! I-I love you; I am in love with you and I have been ignoring you because of that because I thought I was crazy. I have been trying to ignore it, trying to rationalize it as residual feelings but it's not. I know that now and so did everyone else before me. Caleb is a great guy, he is, he's gorgeous and kind and he doesn't have any mental problems. He didn't compare me to my parents and my brother never beat him up and he liked me. He really liked me but I couldn't feel that way with him. I couldn't and he knew it, he knew that I was still in love with you and I am. I love you. I have been a wreck for days thinking that I was in love with you because I was convinced you and me would be triggering. It would trigger my past but you are not triggering. (Voice breaking) You…you make me feel things I didn't know was capable of. You make me happy which is something foreign to me. And you make me angry, which is something I am used to but not a lot since we met. I look at the person I was before we met and I don't recognize her. Before I met you, I laughed at the idea of someone having a better half because that is just crazy but I found mine. You are my better…everything. You're my heart and my conscience and my joy. When I'm with you I don't feel like I have to change, I'm just a better version of me. You make me a better version of me, you make me into someone who deserves a guy like you. And I just…I. Love. You.
(Andrew stands there frozen in shock by her confession)
Amber: Andrew? Please can you just say something so I don't-
Jackson: DeLuca.
(Amber turns and sees Jackson and Link approaching them)
Link: Hey are you headed out?
Andrew: (Snaps out of it) Um yeah I just clocked out, what's up?
Amber: (Looks at Andrew)
Jackson: Well, me and Link were going back to my place, have a beer and play pool, want to come? I promise our tests came back negative.
Andrew: Um…yeah mine too I guess I'll come I can't stay long.
Link: That's fine, I'm driving, lets go. Good night Amber.
Jackson: Good night.
(Jackson and Link walk away while Andrew stays behind. Amber looks at him with pleading eyes)
Andrew: Um…take care now.
(Andrew turns around and catches up with Jackson and Link. Amber stays in that same spot heartbroken)
CUT TO BLACK
TWO HOURS LATER
SCENE: AMBER'S CAR
(Amber is in the driver's seat leaning her head against the window in despair watching the sunrise for a few silent moments. She reaches over and opens the glove compartment pulling out the tickets for Camp Anarchy Andrew got them a year ago. She looks at them reminiscing over their past before putting them back in the glove compartment, closing it and starting her car)
CUT TO THE COVID WARD
(Alex stands by Meredith's room worriedly along with Bailey, Webber and Amelia while Teddy is inside checking her vitals before coming outside)
Teddy: Her sats are plummeting.
Alex: What the hell Altman? She was talking an hour ago.
Bailey: Yeah, until she got out of bed and tried to resuscitate a coding patient.
Webber: The exertion, it just pushed her over the edge.
Teddy: Maybe. Or maybe her lungs already looked that way. The experimental drug doesn't reverse damage that's already occurred. She might have been on a COVID high.
Amelia: What about putting her on BIPAP?
Teddy: It won't be enough. If she's not already responding to high flow. Where's Pierce?
Amelia: She went home. She's not answering her phone.
Teddy: …I think it's time. Dr. Webber-
Bailey: No. Mnh-mnh. She said she didn't want to be on a vent.
Webber: Unless it's a last resort.
Alex: And this may be her only option right now. Are we seeing promise with covid patients being put on a vent?
Teddy: Well, Meredith's lungs are at a breaking point. I know early results weren't good, but more and more patients are surviving after they go on a vent.
Alex: Dr. Webber we have to jump on this as soon as we can, if she has any chance to beat this.
Bailey: (Adamant) Richard-
Webber: It's my call.
(Webber thinks on it as he looks at Meredith in bed asleep)
Webber: Do it.
(Teddy goes inside to prep Meredith)
TEN MINUTES LATER
SCENE: STOPLIGHT AT WESTLAKE AVENUE N AND THOMAS STREET
(Amber is at an empty street waiting for the light to turn green when she gets a text from Altman which she views)
Text: Come back to the hospital, 911.
(Amber puts the phone down and the light turns green. She drives forward hearing a honk and a pickup truck hits her from her left)
CUT TO BLACK
I KNOW I'M AWFUL FOR LEAVING IT AT A CLIFFHANGER BUT THE NEXT TWO CHAPERS ARE GONNA BE POSTED DAILY NOT WEEKLY SO HANG TIGHT FOR TOMORROW'S CHAPTER TO SEE THE AFTERMATH OF AMBER'S ACCIDENT.