HEY GUYS HERE'S THE NEXT CHAPTER, I FELT BAD LEAVING YOU WITH A CLIFFHANGER SO I'M POSTING THIS CHAPTER AND THE NEXT ONE TOMORROW. CIRCULATION WILL BE BACK TO NORMAL BY SUNDAY, ENJOY AND REVIEWS ARE WELCOME!
Chapter 16: Curve
SCENE: SEATTLE STREETS
(Travis and Maya drive back to the station after getting Dean and Sullivan out of jail)
Travis: (Groans) This night.
Maya: Yeah, I know, how are Sullivan and Miller?
Travis: Angry, pissed off, all the synonyms of those words.
Maya: Can you blame them?
Travis: When does the shift start?
Maya: In about an hour, you can take the day off if you want you, I know you must be exhausted.
Travis: No, I appreciate it but I feel better when I'm working.
Maya: Yeah, I think if I take the day off, I'll just bring all this anger to Carina and she does not need that right now. Plus, we have inspection day tomorrow and I want to make sure things are in order by the time the chief gets in. I know that sounds OCD but I think it'll-
Travis: (Notices something) Whoa, whoa stop look.
(They stop at the stoplight at the empty Westlake Avenue N and Thomas Street. They spot a black 1969 Ford Mustang in the middle of the street with the driver's side door badly dented and the engine blowing fumes)
Maya: (Recognizes the car) Oh no.
Travis: What is it?
Maya: (Gets out) Please let it be someone else, anybody but her.
(Maya and Travis run to the car where they find Amber in the driver's seat. They find her inside breathing shallowly due to having a shard of glass on the left side of her chest just below her collar bone with blood dripping from the wound. Her head is leaned back with her eyes flickering trying to stay awake)
Travis: (Shocked) Oh my god.
Maya: (Feels her pulse) Pulse is threading and breathing is shallow, get an ambulance here now!
Travis: (Pulls phone out) I'm on it, can you get her out?
Maya: (Talks to Amber) Hey Amber, it's Maya do you remember me? We're gonna get you out just hang tight and stay awake okay.
Amber: (Breathing shallow and nods slightly)
Maya: Okay good girl.
(Maya opens the car door and it falls off from the hinges revealing Amber's leg to be squished between the car seat and the dashboard. Amber's phone is on her lap ringing)
Travis: (On the phone) What do you see? They want to know what the scene looks like.
Maya: Side impact car collision, hit and run, tell them to get the jaws ready her leg is crushed. Possible whiplash and a glass shard that penetrated her chest wall, tell them to get their best paramedics here.
Travis: (Repeats to the ambulance)
Maya: How long until they get here?
Travis: Three minutes.
Maya: Okay Amber, the ambulance is on the way and we're gonna be here till then.
Amber: (Breathing shallow as her phone rings again)
Travis: God who the hell is calling her?
Maya: (Grabs phone) Altman, I know her she's the chief of cardio.
(Maya answers the phone)
MEANWHILE AT GREY SLOAN
SCENE: COVID FLOOR
(Andrew approaches Teddy with Meredith's latest chart. Teddy is on the phone trying to call Amber)
Teddy: DeLuca, what is it?
Andrew: I just got Grey's results back they're still the same but we just put the vent in her so hopefully they improve.
Teddy: (Hangs up phone) Yeah and hopefully my good for nothing resident gets here.
Andrew: Amber reached her weekly quota.
Teddy: (Clipped tone as she calls again) Does it look like I care about Karev's needs? (Phone answers) Karev get back in the hospital right now or-
(Teddy stops talking as she listens)
Andrew: What is it?
TRANSITION TO ACCIDENT SCENE
(Maya is talking to Teddy while Travis looks after Amber who is awake but barely keeping her eyes open. Travis applies pressure to the bleeding wound)
Travis: Keep them open for me, okay? Stay awake you stay awake.
Maya: Dr. Altman this is Captain Bishop from station 19, I'm at the scene of a side impact collision, Dr. Amber Karev was the one hit. Her breathing is shallow and pulse is threading. I'm requesting an O.R. to be prepped and your best trauma surgeon on standby.
CUT TO HOSPITAL
Teddy: (Shaky breath) Wh-What's the damage?
Andrew: (Worried) Hey, what's going on?
Teddy: There was a car accident, Amber was hit.
Andrew: (Eyes widen in fear)
Teddy: (Continues) Their telling me there's a glass shard through her chest cavity, possibly hit her heart, massive blood loss at the scene.
Andrew: (Shaky breath) Oh my god.
Teddy: (See's Alma Ortiz) Ortiz! Get an O.R. ready right now, we've got an incoming MVA. DeLuca get Dr. Hunt and Link tell them I need them with me in the O.R. go!
(Andrew runs out to get Owen despite the fear and worry forming a rock in his stomach)
CUT TO ACCIDENT SCENE
(Maya continues talking to Teddy as Travis works to put pressure around the glass to slow the bleeding)
Maya: We're almost there Amber, Altman is prepping an O.R. for you. (To Travis) Are you slowing down the bleeding?
Travis: Sort of, tell them to have units of O-neg on standby.
Amber: (Mutters) B…B.
Travis: What? What was that honey?
Amber: (Slurred) B positive…it's my blood type.
Maya: Okay I'll tell them, get units of B positive on standby.
(The fire truck and ambulance comes rushing in two paramedics come out with a stretcher and two firefighters come out with the jaws)
Paramedic: What do we got?
Maya: 26-year-old female, side impact car collision, possible whiplash, crushed leg stuck between the dashboard and the seat and a shard of glass impaling her left side. She's a surgical resident at Grey Sloan we called the hospital and an O.R. is being prepped as we speak.
Firefighter: (Approaches the car) Damn your dotting your i's and crossing your t's huh?
Maya: I don't want her to die and I definitely don't want her family to blame me if she does.
Paramedic: (With neck brace) I need to stabilize her neck, Montgomery you need to step aside.
Travis: (Stays there) No, I am not your just gonna have to work around me.
Paramedic: Montgomery I need to stabilize her spine.
Travis: And I need to make sure she doesn't bleed out and have two kids and one on the way miss out on having a badass surgeon aunt, I am not moving!
(The paramedic works around Travis and puts a neck brace on Amber who tries to be awake while the firefighters numb her injured leg before using the jaws to get her leg out)
Travis: We're almost there, we're just gonna get you out and on the gurney do you understand?
Amber: (Nods)
Travis: Okay in three two one!
(They get Amber off her seat and lay her gently on the stretcher while Travis applies pressure on her wound)
Paramedic: BP is 180/50 breathing is shallow and I'm hearing fluid in her lungs.
(Amber coughs and spurts out blood)
Maya: Alright let's get her in the ambulance, Travis keep holding pressure on that wound. Get there as fast as you can without crashing. Move!
(Travis and the paramedics get Amber in the ambulance quickly and drive away with the sirens blaring)
MEANWHILE AT THE HOSPITAL
(DeLuca runs to Owen catching him at the nurses station)
Andrew: (Rushed) Dr. Hunt there's an incoming MVA with major trauma, we need you in the O.R.
Owen: Who is we?
Andrew: Link and Altman are gonna-
Owen: (Immediately) No.
Andrew: What? What do you mean no?
Owen: I mean I cannot be in the same room as Teddy so get someone else anyone else.
Andrew: (Worried for Amber) Look there is no one else you need to come with me right now!
(Alex walks down the hall behind Andrew who tries to get Owen to come)
Owen: DeLuca page the trauma surgeon on call I can't.
Andrew: It's Amber!
Alex: (Looks up at the mention of Amber)
Andrew: (Continues) Amber Karev's car was totaled with her in it. They say there's penetrating trauma which we need you to come and access so get your head out of your ass and come down and save her life!
Alex: (Frozen in shock) What? What did you just say?
(Andrew turns and sees Alex there with a worried look on his face while Owen stands there shocked as well)
CUT TO AMBULANCE
(Travis is able to put gauze around Amber's wound while Amber tries to keep her eyes open)
Travis: Your gonna be okay, your gonna be okay, you hear me you are gonna make it out of this.
Paramedic: (Hangs IV) Don't make promises, the damage is extensive.
Travis: It's not a promise it's a fact, the same thing happened to me and I was in way worse shape than Amber. Do you hear me? You are gonna keep your eyes open because you are stronger than me and I am not gonna have your blood on my hands. How much time?
Drive: Two minutes out.
Travis: Alright hang in there Amber.
(Travis keeps talking to Amber who fights to keep her eyes open despite the blood loss)
MEANWHILE IN THE ICU
(Khan presents while Jo does a physical on Val Ashton)
Khan: Val Ashton. Two days post extended liver resection. LFTs are still elevated. Blood cultures are growing gram-negative bacteria.
Jo: How are you feeling? Any tenderness or nausea?
Val: Honestly, I think I can get out of bed and do a couple laps.
Jo: (Feels sad for her) She's still septic. Start her on Levophed, add an antifungal, and order a repeat CT. You feel like crap, and you're acting like you don't.
Val: Why would I-
Jo: So I'll let you out of bed so you can see Luna.
Val: I've tried this your way. It isn't working.
Jo: Val, I know that this-
Val: Please don't say you know how this feels, because I like you, and I want to keep liking you. But unless you've had a baby that you haven't been allowed to hold or even see in person her whole life, you don't know… (Sighs) I finally got a hold of Luna's father. He signed over his parental rights.
Jo: Isn't that what you wanted?
Val: Yeah. But I expected at least a little fight. Not a text back that says, "Good luck." Baby emoji. So, yes, I feel like crap. I feel sick down to my bones that I made a child with someone who doesn't even care she exists.
Jo: …Let's get the sepsis under control, and then we can talk about seeing Luna.
(Jo walks out of the room)
2 MINUTES LATER AT THE AMBULANCE BAY
(Alex, Owen and Andrew run out with gowns and meet Teddy and Link who are anxiously waiting for the ambulance)
Alex: (Scared) What the hell happened?!
Andrew: Any updates from the paramedics?
Owen: How much damage are we looking at?
Teddy: Truck vs car, it was a hit and run. Bishop told me there was penetrating trauma through her chest cavity.
Link: (Scared as well) Firefighters got her out but her left leg was crushed possible closed fracture we won't know until we get her to an O.R. is it ready?
Andrew: Ortiz got O.R. 3 ready and I instructed the interns to make a hole for us.
Owen: Good job we got this, well take her straight to the O.R. and we'll access the damage there.
Teddy: I'll find the bleed in her chest and patch it up, I've got a bypass team in there.
Alex: (Starts to gown) You do what you do and I'll help.
(Owen looks at Link for help and he approaches Alex)
Link: Alex-
Alex: (Knows what he's about to say) I'm not leaving do you hear me? I am not gonna leave my baby sister alone.
Link: Exactly she is your sister, that's why you can't be a doctor on this one.
Andrew: (Gowns up as his anxiety grows) I'm not family so I'm getting in there.
Link: DeLuca I know you two have history that you were almost engaged or whatever but-
Andrew: (Stern) I am getting in that room and if you stop me your gonna be the second ortho god to get knocked out.
Link: (Knows he's serious) Okay fine but give us room to work.
Alex: (Angry at Link) Screw you, I am getting in that damn room.
Link: Alex listen to me, I might not be her blood but I think of her as a little sister same as you. I will be there and I will be the surgeon that can think rationally while she's on the table. The best way you can help her is to let us do our job and save her life. Okay?
Alex: (Sighs) …I get every update, you hear me?
Owen: Okay. Incoming.
(The ambulance screeches to a stop and the doors open. Travis and the paramedics wheel her out)
Andrew: (Sees the glass in her chest) Oh my god.
Travis: 26-year-old female, side impact car collision obvious chest and leg injuries. She's hypotensive and tachycardic but responding.
Amber: (Groans slightly)
Alex: (Stands by her side) Hey I'm here, I'm here kid. How long was she like this?
Travis: Five minutes maybe the streets were empty so nobody was there to call it in. We drove by and saw the accident it was just her on the scene.
Teddy: Okay let's move!
(All of them except Alex and Travis stay behind but Alex grabs Owen's arm)
Alex: Hunt.
Owen: Yeah?
Alex: Please save her, please.
(Owen nods and runs to the O.R.)
TRANSITION TO THE SURGICAL FLOOR
(Owen, Teddy and Link rush Amber down the hall while Andrew holds an IV bag running with them)
Teddy: Move!
Owen: Make a hole!
Andrew: (Talks to Amber) I'm here baby I'm right here.
(They get her inside the O.R. where the nurses quickly prep her and cut open her shirt to expose the wound)
Teddy: Someone page Pierce tell her we're doing a left thoracotomy to find the bleed tell her who it is.
Andrew: (Scared) Is it in her heart?
Teddy: We won't know until we get in there.
Owen: DeLuca get her on the table, the rest of us will scrub in.
Andrew: (Nods) Okay.
(Link, Teddy and Owen quickly get in the scrub room and scrub fast)
Teddy: (Notices Link's tense face) Can you handle this?
Link: (Inhales) Yeah, I'm fine she's gonna be fine.
TRASITION TO O.R.
(Andrew gets Amber on the table who breathes shallowly and her eyes start closing)
Andrew: Amber, I'm right here. Stay with me, okay? Stay with me.
Anesthesiologist: Heart rate is 100 BP is 55.
Andrew: (Cradles Amber's face and looks in her eyes) Please stay with me, stay with me sweetheart look at me. We're gonna fix you.
Amber: (Gasping as she grows more tired)
Andrew: (Swallows as he tears up) Stay awake please I love you. I'm in love with you, Amber. I'm right here, okay? Keep your eyes open for me, (To the others) Hurry! (Strokes Amber's cheek) Stay with me. Stay with me don't give up do you hear me? Don't give up.
(Amber's head rolls to the side as she closes her eyes and the monitor flatlines. Andrew looks at the monitor in terror)
Andrew: (Voice breaking) No, no, no, no (Yells) Altman!
(Andrew pulls the shard of glass out of her chest and does cpr to revive her. The others go inside)
Teddy: What are you doing?
Andrew: (Continues compressions) I can't do compressions with the glass in.
Owen: Get me iodine and a scalpel we're opening her up.
Andrew: (Continues as his fear skyrockets) Somebody tube her!
Teddy: (Gloves up) DeLuca move.
Link: (Stands across from him) I've got compressions.
Andrew: (Ignores them and continues)
Teddy: I need to cut her and find the bleed now move!
(Andrew reluctantly obeys and lets Link do compression as Teddy grabs a scalpel and cuts Amber's left side)
I KNOW I'M THE WORST BUT HANG TIGHT FOR TOMORROWS CHAPTER, SEE YOU THEN.