HEY GUYS SORRY FOR THE LATE SUBMISSION, ITS A LONG CHAPTER AND I HAD TO DIVIDE IT UP TO THREE PARTS BUT DONT WORRY I'M SUBMITTING ALL THREE AT ONCE. TO START OFF I AM INTRODUCING AN CANON OC FROM THE SHOW THAT HASNT BEEN SEEN ONLY HEARD SO HERE'S A LITTLE CHARACTER PROFILE FOR YOU CURIOUS READERS.
CHARACTER PROFILE
FULL NAME: NICHOLAS KIRK EVANS
HAIR COLOR: BLACK
EYE COLOR: DARK BROWN
HEIGHT: 5 FT 10 IN
AGE: 20 AT THE START OF THE STORY
DOB: JULY 15, 1999
PLACE OF BIRTH: MIAMI, FLORIDA
GENDER: MALE
SEXUAL ORIENTATION: BISEXUAL
MBTI: ISFP-T
BLOOD TYPE: AB NEGATIVE
EDUCATION LEVEL: HIGH SCHOOL GRDUATE. FIRE ACADEMY GRADUATE WITH TOP MARKS.
FANCAST: DREW RAY TANNER AKA FANGS FROM RIVERDALE BECAUSE HE IS TOO GOOD FOR THAT SHOW AND SEVERELY UNDERRATED
Chapter 18: Recovery Part 1
APRIL 28, 2020
SCENE: STATION 19
(Maya is at her desk waiting for an answer back as she is on the phone with Grey Sloan along with Ben who is in it with her)
Ben: (Pacing) Just call me back when you get this.
Maya: Okay thank you. (Hangs up)
Ben: (Hangs up) I think Miranda could go in and see how she is but I can't reach her. I think she took a sedative.
Maya: I called Alex but he wasn't answering, I called Jo she wasn't answering I even tried Levi and he wasn't answering.
Ben: Yeah, having your sister and best friend bleeding on a table would make you forget to turn the ringer on. How long ago did you and Montgomery find her?
Maya: About five hours ago, it took us twenty minutes to get her out and into an aid car.
Ben: Okay based on what you told me she definitely needs a trauma and cardio surgeon so it should be six hours on the table at least.
Maya: (Exhales) Six hours is still a long time.
(Maya sits at her chair in anxiety)
Ben: Are you okay?
Maya: Yeah, it's just…I know she's my ex so I shouldn't feel residual feelings for her and I don't but seeing her out there it just made me worried.
Ben: Well, she's someone you dated and together or not there was a point where you had affection for her. You worried about her and that was brought back when you saw her in that state. It doesn't mean you still love her Bishop; it just means you still care for her.
Maya: Yeah, and I like her brother and sister-in-law and can't imagine what this is doing to them.
Ben: Yeah.
(They hear a knock at the door and see a young man outside in casual wear and a black mask)
Nick: Captain Bishop?
Maya: That's me.
Nick: I'm Nick Evans. I'm scheduled for an interview for the open position at the A-shift. You called me personally and wanted to discuss me possibly joining your team.
(Maya and Ben look at each other over this untimely event)
Nick: (Catches on) Is this a bad time?
Ben: Y-
Maya: No, it's not come on in and take a seat.
Ben: Seriously? Are you sure you're up for this?
Maya: I have a job to do and this will take my mind off things. You can go back to the barn Warren.
Ben: Okay, nice to meet you.
Nick: (Sits down) Nice meeting you too.
(Ben leaves the room. Maya and Nick sit across from each other)
Maya: Sorry about that we had an…unexpected event happening this morning.
Nick: It's fine, may I ask what it was about?
Maya: Uh yeah, our resident ride along from last week just got into a side impact collision this morning. Me and Montgomery happened upon the scene and got her out.
Nick: I'm sorry to hear that.
Maya: Okay Evans it's been a long day yesterday and it's been a hell of a morning so I'll just cut to the chase. I want you for this job.
Nick: To be perfectly honest Cap I didn't even apply for a position here I applied over at 23 but uh they denied me.
Maya: They did but one of their lieutenants brought your application, covid is hell for us and we need as many first responders as we can get. I looked at your resume and I gotta say I am impressed. (Reads the application) Born and raised in Miami, applied to the fire academy right after high school, you set MFD academy records in multiple categories, finished your probation period in 6 months with high marks at station 184 and did a year out in the field.
Nick: And I'm guessing you know the reason I was denied over at 23.
Maya: 11 reprimands in one year and you were fired in 2019 after getting into a physical fight with one of the firefighters at 184, is that right?
Nick: Yep, now you see why they denied me.
Maya: …Captain Herrera didn't believe a piece of paper automatically tells you what makes a good firefighter and a bad one it just tells you one side of a story. He heard all of our stories and knew that we would make a great addition to his team and family. I want to live up to that so…tell me your story.
Nick: (Scoffs) I tried doing that with 23 and they didn't want to listen.
Maya: Well, I do so tell me. I mean what else do you have to lose?
Nick: (Inhales and exhales) …I was a diversity hire for 184, my captain made that clear the second I walked through that door and the others loved to remind me of that. The chief thought it would be good publicity for an all-white team to have one half Japanese bisexual man to balance it out. I endured the abuse a normal probie gets for 6 months. I kept my mouth shut when I was the only one denied requested rotation. I put up with the occasional jabs on whether I was a top or a bottom and offensive nickname like Jackie Chan and Gangham Style even though I'm not Korean. I just bit my tongue and ran from my anger.
Maya: Yeah, I did that too, where did the reprimands come from?
Nick: I occasionally made a jab back with a clever insult and of course I get called into the captain's office. The other times were because I used an ax too early or administered the wrong dosage by about 5 millimeters. The other guys did that stuff regularly and the most they get is a slap on the wrist but not me never me. It got so bad my mom got worried and asked that I see a therapist because she thought I was depressed.
Maya: (Looks at him sympathetically) What about this? It says here you were suspended shortly before your fight what happened?
Nick: (Sighs) We got a call on a city bus that drove off the MacArthur, it's bridge over the ocean just outside of Miami. We got there and there were people swimming away from the site except for two they were still inside. Our captain told us to wait out for a marine unit but I didn't think that was a good idea. The unit was five minutes out and by that time those two could suffer brain damage from drowning. So, I put my gear down, dove into the water and got them out. That was the last straw for me. When we got back my captain suspended me for defying a direct order even though two lives were saved because of my actions.
Maya: Yeah, there are captains who let their egos get in the way of saving lives believe me I've wrangled with them. So, after you were asked to leave, did you contest it? Did you go to internal affairs and file an official complaint?
Nick: I didn't get the chance.
Maya: Why not?
Nick: (Inhales) Because after I left that day one of the men in my crew approached me and…he asked what bar my mom goes to so he could talk her up and see if it's true that Asian women are tight down there.
Maya: (Looks away disgusted) And that's why you fought him.
Nick: I was angry after they suspended me and I came off a 36-hour shift and…I cracked two of his ribs and split his lip before the captain and the others separated us. Three men carried me out kicking and yelling. And after that the chief called and said I was fired from the 184.
Maya: I'm sorry. Did you apply for any positions in Miami?
Nick: No, I…I decided to take a break, I told my mom I needed to clear my head from all the toxicity and poor leadership. So, I took my savings, put my bags in my jeep and headed out for a road trip. That was 11 months ago and in March I ended up here and we both know what happened after that.
Maya: Okay so you decided to try firefighting again just in a different state?
Nick: I'm living in a hotel in one of the biggest cities in the country during the worst pandemic of this century. I figured if I'm stuck here indefinitely I gotta find a place of my own and rent isn't cheap.
Maya: Well at least you're honest, I admire that quality.
Nick: Thanks, I tried applying for five different stations and they all rejected me.
Maya: And what would you do if I rejected you? hypothetically of course.
Nick: (Shrugs) Get a job in construction, maybe do vocational training, I don't know being a firefighter is something I feel I need to do and…I want to see if there's something better for me.
Maya: Maybe there is. Has all that driving made you lazy? Lost your physique?
Nick: No ma'am every town I hit I run 10 miles and every gas station stop I do 100 push-ups. Why?
Maya: I want to test you out in the field, see how you get along with the team. If I like what I see, you might just become a new addition to 19.
Nick: (Eyebrows raised in surprise)
Maya: When can you start?
Nick: (Shakes it off) Um I-Immediately.
Maya: (Stands up) Okay you start tomorrow morning report to Gibson, he'll show you the ropes and take you with him on calls.
Nick: Yes ma'am-I mean captain, thank you so much. I won't disappoint you.
Maya: I should hope not, 6 AM tomorrow, show me what you got.
(Nick smiles gratefully at Maya before leaving her office)
APRIL 29, 2020
3:10 AM
SCENE: ICU
(Amber is in the bed getting extubated by Maggie with Alex in the room. Jo, Levi and Andrew are outside waiting)
Maggie: Okay Amber, I want you to inhale for me and exhale when I count from three can you do that?
Amber: (Thumbs up)
Maggie: Okay inhale (Amber inhales) and exhale in three, two, one.
(Amber exhales as Maggie pulls the tube out as fast as she can. After the tube is out Amber coughs)
Alex: It's okay relax don't try to talk. How do you feel? Hold up your fingers for what your pain is at.
Amber: (Holds up 7 fingers)
Alex: Do you want us to up your morphine?
Amber: (Nods with her index finger)
(The nurse ups her morphine)
Alex: When can we move her to her own room?
Maggie: We're keeping her here overnight for observation, she's been through a lot, and she just came off the vent, so we need to be prepared. Otherwise, she'll have her own room tonight and it's 5 days of recovery after that and then she can go home. She'll have to be on bedrest for six weeks though due to the leg.
Amber: (Glares at Maggie over six weeks of no surgery)
Maggie: Hey don't give me that look, it's protocol you know that. Look on the bright side, you'll have plenty of time to catch up with your niece and nephew. Although you can't run after them, you can talk to them when they sit on the couch after being exhausted from playing.
Amber: (Looks at Maggie confused and then Alex who purses his lips)
Maggie: (Inhales) You haven't told her, have you?
Alex: I was gonna tell her when she got her own room and is starting to recover.
Amber: (Gives a tell me what? Look)
Alex: (Sighs) Izzie and the twins found a buyer for the farm and they left yesterday in the moving truck. And before you say anything and strain your throat remember that I told you this would happen. I just didn't think it would happen this soon and before you found your own place so you could avoid, she who will not be named. Remember that.
Amber: (Gives Alex an angry glare before making a shooting head gesture)
Maggie: I'll give you two some space, page me if anything changes.
Alex: You mean page you if her frustration causes her stiches to bleed out?
Maggie: That too. Hey (Amber looks at Maggie) I'm happy you're okay.
(Amber gives Maggie a grateful grin as she leaves)
Alex: Look I-
Amber: (Holds hand up in front of him to stop him talking)
Alex: (Sighs and bitterly nods before sitting in a chair)
CUT TO OUTSIDE HER ROOM
(Maggie walks outside where Jo, Andrew and Levi are waiting)
Andrew: How is she?
Maggie: She's stable, we're keeping her overnight and moving her at sundown.
Jo: How long is she gonna be here for?
Maggie: A week, after that it's six weeks bedrest.
Levi: Is that why she 'killed' herself?
Jo: (Knows Amber) No it's because Alex told her Izzie and the kids are on their way here right now and she might pull a coronary the moment they hit land.
Andrew: Why? Amber loves the twins.
Jo: But she hates the woman who birthed them.
Levi: Does this mean I need to move out?
(Jo and Andrew look at Levi offended that he's asking at a time like this)
Levi: What? I need to know if I should book a hotel room or move to her basement so I don't scare the kids.
Jo: You couldn't scare a hamster. If you want to increase your chances of staying go home and get Amber what she needs for the week.
Levi: (Thinks) That's seven days of clothes, a deck of cards, three Harry Potters, and a couple Neil Gaiman's.
Andrew: Add some peanut butter M&M's we need to pacify her so her hatred towards Izzie doesn't land her back in the ICU.
Levi: Got it.
(Levi leaves the ICU)
Jo: (Faces Maggie) Do you think the patch is gonna hold?
Maggie: I do, Altman is very good and this kind of surgery is something she and I could do in our sleep.
Andrew: Where is Altman anyway? Shouldn't she be the one checking on Amber?
Maggie: She's uh taking some personal time.
Jo: We heard Owen found her catatonic in the parking lot after Amber woke up, is everything okay?
Maggie: I don't know Owen is with her and Amelia is helping. I'll come back to check on her in an hour. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
(Andrew and Jo nod as Maggie leaves the ICU)
Jo: (Exhales) Okay now that we're alone I need to ask you something.
Andrew: About helping you take some of Grey's patients so you can be with Amber?
Jo: About you and Amber.
Andrew: (Looks at Jo surprised) You know?
Jo: I'm her sister of course I know. I was the one who figured out what was keeping her up at night and I'm the one who repeated her mantra to her so she could be reminded of why you two are a bad idea. I take it that it didn't stick with her otherwise I wouldn't hear rumors about her pulling a Say Anything to you in front of the hospital. Is that true?
Andrew: (Sighs) Yeah, she found me two nights ago and told me that she was still in love with me.
Jo: And what did you say?
Andrew: I uh I froze for a bit and then Link and Avery invited me for a beer and…I said, 'take care now'.
Jo: (Eyebrow raise) Take care now? That's what you said?
Andrew: I…I was in shock, okay? I mean for the past few months she told me she doesn't want to be with me that she can't be with me and now…now she says all the things I've wanted her to say since that night we were stuck in a Target together. I-I mean how else was I supposed to react to that? I needed time to think and figure out if this is what she really wanted and then-
Jo: And then she got hit by a truck.
Andrew: (Bitterly nods) And I told her I loved her right before she coded on the table. Is it just me or are the two of us cursed with bad timing?
Jo: Well, me and Alex were gonna try to have a baby and then his two kids with his ex-wife showed up, so I think we got you beat there.
Andrew: (Chuckles drily) …Look I know you have an opinion on this, and I know you were there after I hurt Amber-
Jo: I was there, I was there more than you and I know better than you how you broke her already fragile heart.
Andrew: (Looks away guilty)
Jo: I was there to get her out of bed the week you broke up with her after you told her about the ring. I was there the night you told her you lied to her and picked her drunk ass off a barstool and endured her projectile vomiting on me. Twice.
Andrew: Sorry about that.
Jo: The point is she doesn't need any more pain, especially now. I like you, Andrew, and I want her to be happy but if history serves you haven't been the best source of comfort.
Andrew: (Sighs) What do you want me to do? What do I do?
Jo: You've already done enough; you've sat vigil the last two days hoping she gets better, and she is. Right now, she needs some time to heal with the people she is closest to and that includes me, Alex and Levi so just…talk to her when she's discharged that way the worst pain is subsided, and she can handle more. In the meantime, go back to work, get some sleep and take your meds. I think seeing you in a stable mindset during the worst week of her life will cheer her up.
Andrew: (Inhales and exhales) You'll call me if there's any change?
Jo: Yes, you can go now.
(Andrew passes a glance at Amber who is lying in bed angry before she sees Andrew and her anger shifts to surprise. Andrew waves her goodbye that she responds with a wave before leaving the ICU)
CUT TO AMBERS ROOM
(Amber sees Andrew leaving and closes her eyes in low spirits, Alex notices)
Alex: Do you want to talk about that?
Amber: (Gives Alex an angry glare in response)
Alex: Nope, okay got it, I'll just…
(Alex silently looks at his phone while Amber leans back and closes her eyes to sleep)
THREE HOURS LATER
SCENE: STATION 19
(Nick is outside the firehouse with a duffel bag for his locker. He takes a deep breath before going in through the front door)
Ben: (At the desk) Can I help you?
Nick: Uh yeah, I don't know if you remember me, I'm Nick Evans I was here yesterday.
Ben: Right, of course, Ben Warren. I assume you're the new firefighter.
Nick: Yeah, that's right, I'm supposed to report to Gibson.
Jack: Yeah, that would be me.
(Nick turns around and sees Jack behind him)
Jack: Hey how are you doing man?
Nick: Good, I'm Nick Evans.
Jack: Jack Gibson, why don't you go the lockers and get changed your uniform is inside.
Nick: Thanks
(Nick leaves Jack and Warren)
Ben: Do they keep getting younger or do we get older?
Jack: (Grins) Do you really want me to answer that?
CUT TO LOCKERS
(Nick puts his uniform on and looks at himself in the mirror nervous and excited for his first day back)
Vic: Feels weird the first time, doesn't it?
(Nick turns and sees Vic Hughes and Dean Miller enter the room grinning at Nick)
Vic: Hey Vic Hughes.
Dean: Dean Miller.
Nick: Nick Evans I would shake your hands but you know.
Dean: Yeah, we could bump elbows but…that would just be weird.
Vic: Weird how? It's a signature pandemic move man.
Nick: (Chuckles and recognizes them) Hey don't I know you two from somewhere?
Vic: Um maybe from the academy?
Nick: No, I'm from Miami.
Vic: Oh Miami, tell me was the biggest emergency there a girl jet skiing naked or doing too many body shots?
Dean: Please let it be the first because I might want to move.
Nick: (Chuckles) God I wish spring break is all drinks and good times for college students but vomit and hell for first responders. I think having girls repeatedly puke on me made me lean more towards guys. (Realizes where her recognizes them) Oh…I recognize you two from that video.
(Vic and Dean's grin falls as they are overcome with memories from that horrific event)
Nick: I'm sorry that happened, it was rough for me to watch I can't even imagine. How are you guys holding up?
Dean: (Clipped tone) Fine. I gotta go.
(Dean leaves Vic and Nick alone)
Vic: Sorry about that he's uh still raw from it and so am I.
Nick: No problem, I get it.
(Klaxons sound)
Dispatch: Engine requested to 545 Union Street.
Vic: I guess you better go.
Nick: Yeah, wish me luck.
(Nick leaves the locker room to head to the barn)
CUT TO FIRETRUCK
(Nick is sitting in the back with Dean while Jack drives)
Nick: Um so listen man I'm sorry for bringing what happened up I was just-
Dean: Don't worry about it, I gotta get used to it at some point.
Nick: What happened to that girl's mom who got arrested? Is she still being held?
Jack: No Avery got her a lawyer and got her out just when Jada got to the hospital.
Dean: If there's one thing cops pay attention to its money. Never mind the racist officer who arrested the mother of a kidnapped girl and the only two black male firefighters on scene.
Nick: Yeah, I hope they get justice and you too.
Dean: Thanks…can we talk about something else? Maybe Karev, how is she?
Nick: (Recognizes the name) Karev? Wh-who is that?
Jack: Amber Karev she's a surgeon she was our resident ride along a few days ago but we knew her back when she dated the captain. She was in a really bad car accident yesterday morning, Bishop and Montgomery were on the scene.
Nick: Is she okay?
Jack: She's fine, Bishop called, and they just got her off the vent she's breathing and awake. Her brother Alex is with her and helping her.
Nick: (Looks away as he realizes who Alex is) Well it's uh it's good that she made it out and that she has family.
Jack: Yeah, what about you?
Nick: What about me?
Dean: You got any family? Parents, brothers, sisters, kids?
Nick: (Clears throat) Uh no not much it's just me and my mom, she's back in Miami and of course she's freaking out that I'm across the country during a pandemic.
Dean: Yeah, I would be freaking out for my kid too.
(Nick nods and stares out at the window to hide his inner conflict)
CUT TO 545 UNION STREET
(Nick, Jack and Dean get out and see a Hyundai that crashed head on into the back of the gardening truck)
Jack: Alright Miller check on the gardener he might have whiplash or brain injury, Evans you're with me.
(Jack and Nick run to the Hyundai where they see a woman in the passenger side passed out. The driver is breathing heavily and groaning due to the garden shears in his lower left abdomen)
Nick: (Shocked) Oh…boy.
Jack: Yeah, we got to extract carefully get me the jaws and saws and get a collar around the passenger see if she's breathing.
(Nick didn't hear his order as he freezes due to being out of the field for a year)
Jack: Evans!
Nick: (Shakes it off) Yeah sorry what?
Jack: Saws and jaws.
(Nick nods and gets the items. He and Jack get the jaws ready as the driver continues groaning)
Jack: Sir you're gonna be okay, what's your name?
Man: T-Trevor.
Jack: Trevor, okay, we're gonna get you out, Evans how's the passenger?
Nick: (Checks woman's vitals) Vitals are stable, but pupils are dialated I think it's a concussion or a contusion we won't know till she gets a scan. Sir, do you know if she has any allergic reactions to medicine? We might need to sedate her on transport.
Trevor: (Scared) No. Sh-She's my wife w-we just back from the courthouse.
Jack: Okay what's her name?
Trevor: Tatum.
Jack: Tatum, okay my friend is getting her out she wasn't too badly hurt but we need to get you out and to the hospital. I'm not gonna lie it's gonna hurt but we're gonna take good care of you two. How are we looking Evans?
Nick: (Groans) Her arm is trapped, it looks like she was reaching for something in the back, they crashed and her arm is stuck between her seat and the door.
Jack: Can she feel her fingers?
Nick: (Presses the fingernails) No radial pulse, no cap refill. Tissue is about to go necrotic, what do I do?
Trevor: W-What is he saying? Is she okay?
Jack: She just got her arm stuck Trevor, we're gonna get it out. Evans get her arm out of there and reset it.
Nick: What?
Jack: You heard me newbie, get that arm out and reset it otherwise she loses circulation and the arm.
(Nick nods uneasily and opens the door to gently lean Tatum forward as she's still passed out before getting her arm and shoulder ready)
Nick: Okay get ready Tatum this is gonna hurt like a bitch.
(Nick resets the arm with a loud crack causing Tatum to wake up screaming)
Nick: You're okay, you're okay, you were in an accident your arm was broken but I just reset it breathe Tatum breathe.
Tatum: (Breathes uneasily) Trevor?
(Tatum looks over and is shocked to see Trevor with the shears in his abdomen)
Tatum: Trevor! Are you okay?
Trevor: I am now that you are, I'm fine honey it's just a flesh wound.
Tatum: Flesh wound my ass you have freaking garden shears stabbing you.
Trevor: (Sarcastic) Really, I didn't notice.
Jack: Okay you two need to relax and let us do our jobs. How's the arm?
Nick: (Checks) Pulse is back.
Trevor: Does that mean she's not…
Jack: It means he saved your wife's arm.
Tatum: (Calmer and faces Nick) Thank you.
FIVE MINUTES LATER
(Jack and Nick get back to the truck after getting Trevor and Tatum to the hospital)
Jack: Great job, she's gonna have an arm thanks to you, not a bad first day newbie.
Nick: (Chuckles) Is that my name now? Newbie?
Jack: Until there's a new firefighter at 19 yeah.
Nick: Thanks lieutenant and uh what happened there before I helped I-
Jack: Yeah, you froze, what was that about? They don't have garden shears in Miami?
Nick: Not on men but that's not why. I've been on sabbatical for the past year. I took a road trip and ended up here in March.
Jack: Lucky you, so what brought you back to the field?
Nick: A man's gotta eat and…I wanted to try this again with a station that's not gonna bring me down every five minutes because I'm queer and half Asian. And from what I saw on the video with Miller and the cops…I think I found the right place.
Jack: Yeah, you did, we're not just a team here, we're a family and your part of it now. Or if that's too weird for you since you started here it's fine.
Nick: No, no it's fine I'm glad to hear I'm not making a colossal mistake again. Should we go back now? There's gonna be more car crashes and fires.
Jack: (Chuckles) Yeah come on man I'll let you drive in the front you've earned it.
(Jack and Nick get on the truck)
APRIL 30, 2020
SCENE: AMBERS ROOM
(After getting to the patient room Amber is lying in a bed with her full leg cast elevated. Bailey is examining her stiches with Alex and Levi in the room)
Bailey: (Pulling Amber's shirt up) Is it chafing?
Amber: Yeah, my bra rubs against the staples so I'm going commando till I have work. I feel like Frankenstein with these things on and not the hot one.
Alex: Frankenstein is hot?
Levi: It depends on the actor.
Bailey: Well stitches would have traumatized the skin; your incision looks clean and you feel minimal pain there?
(Bailey pulls her shirt down and lies Amber on the bed)
Amber: Yeah, the ribs felt bruised from the spreader but it's getting better. No painkillers though, that's how it starts and I can handle the pain from now on. I handled it when Aaron stabbed so this should be a cake walk.
Alex: I know we dared you to stay off drugs but I think this calls for an exception.
Amber: Opioids were Jimmy's side dish and I don't want to risk it being mine too. I will be fine Alex, I'll just stay in bed and read Goblet of Fire trying not to go stir crazy.
Alex: Well, let us know if you change your mind.
Amber: How's mom doing? Is she in the tent?
Levi: I saw her yesterday and she was sewing like crazy, she told me she almost had a heart attack when she heard what happened.
Alex: Yeah, but she didn't. She wanted to come by but I told her not to, that it's too risky. She wants to videochat with you though.
Amber: Okay well tell her she can do it after my physical.
Bailey: (Checks Amber's vitals) BP is stable and heartbeat is normal. Webber told me you gave us quite a scare, Hunt said you were down for five minutes.
Amber: Yeah, I uh…I don't really remember much when I was down. I had this dream or I think it was a dream. The things that pop out at me the most was I was in the hospital; it was empty except for this one guy who uh… (Scoffs) Okay if I tell you guys who I saw in my…time out will you promise not to laugh or freak out or call a 5150 on me?
Alex: (Chuckles) Amber come on, I mean whatever you have to say we'll support you and I'm sure it isn't as crazy as some of the things me and Bailey have seen.
Amber: Alright…It was George O'Malley.
(Alex and Bailey froze as soon as she said his name. Levi looks at them confused)
Levi: Who's George O'Malley?
Alex: (Clears throat) He was a uh he was a 2nd year in my class. He was here back when you and Amber were learning addition and subtraction.
Levi: Oh, did Amber know him? Where is he now?
Bailey: (Sniffles) He's dead, he died over 10 years ago.
Levi: (Wide eyes) …Oh I-I'm so sorry…wait so that would mean Amber…I mean…maybe it was the ketamine neurotransmitter thing m-maybe that's what caused her to see a ghost.
Alex: (Nods) Yeah that's right…although why it would be someone, I knew who she never met is still mind boggling. I mean a-are you sure it was him? I mean you've only seen pictures of the guy.
Amber: He was older but yeah it was him.
Bailey: (Shell shocked) How are you sure?
Amber: Um…he talked about that time he and Shepherd were quarantined together. I never heard that story before, not like when Alex gave him syphilis.
(Levi almost chokes on his water bottle in shock and Alex looks up at the ceiling in torment over that unpleasant chapter in his life)
Levi: What? Who didn't you spread this thing too?!
Alex: Relax it wasn't like that I slept with that nurse who used to work here Olivia, do you remember Olivia?
Amber: Intern year her kid swallowed a whistle, and she was mad at you rightfully so.
Alex: Right well after…that she moved on to O'Malley and he caught it from her after she caught it from me and punched me in the face. If it makes any difference, you punched harder than him.
Bailey: You punched your brother?
Levi: Yeah, I was there it was scary although I think the more pressing matter is his obvious sexual harassment behavior and the fact, he's a doctor and he didn't get his STI treated by then.
Alex: (Irritated) Does he have to be here?
Amber: He's my best friend and what's he's saying isn't worse than what I want to dish out at you over your misogynist attitude.
Bailey: Back to O'Malley.
Alex: (Doubtful) Oh, come on it wasn't O'Malley.
Bailey: Humor me, what else did he say to you?
Amber: (Sighs) We just talked we talked about how this pandemic is something we both didn't expect. We talked about how his friends laughed at his funeral. (Alex's eyes widen) And we talked about what it was like growing up with two brothers. (Bailey's eyes widen) After we talked, he uh…he showed me how to get out, how to come back home. I did some things I had to do and it was grueling but it helped.
Alex: What things?
Amber: (Doesn't want to tell him) I don't remember it was all such a blur but uh…he helped me to the exit and before I left, he said, 'tell your brother I said hi and that he owes me one.' After that I woke up.
(Bailey and Alex look at Amber in silent shock. Levi sits there awkwardly)
Alex: Um…wow that's uh wow.
Amber: You want to send me to the psych ward, right?
Alex: No, no, no this doesn't mean anything.
Bailey: (Sighs) That's not entirely true.
Alex: Bailey come on it couldn't have been him.
Levi: I mean there are patients who woke up from comas and they said they saw a dead loved one while they were down.
Alex: Okay don't you have somewhere to be? Like a surgery or scut?
Levi: No not really, I-
(Levi gets interrupted by his pager)
Levi: Dr. DeLuca is paging me to the surgical floor.
Alex: (Sighs in relief) Thank you DeLuca, go!
(Levi sighs and reluctantly leaves)
Amber: (Shakes her head at Alex) Come on Alex we both know he's telling the truth. Some of your kids wake up and they tell us they saw their great grandpa.
Alex: They met their family O'Malley he's not family, you never met him. And I didn't get along with the guy enough that he could feel the need to help my sister in her hour of need.
Bailey: He wouldn't have needed a reason to, he was just that kind.
Alex: Oh my god Bailey tell me you don't believe-
Bailey: In the past two months our world has turned upside down. We live in modern times and yet we have a pandemic in our midst. I don't know if she saw George maybe she didn't…but it wouldn't be the most impossible thing that has happened. I know if George O'Malley had a chance to bring back the sister of a man, he detested he would do it in a heartbeat. And I think you know that too. So yeah…I say you own him one.
Alex: (Sighs) I'm not saying I believe she did but…I really do. Damn it, even when he's dead O'Malley is still pissing me off.
(Amber snorts at his comment before laughing. Alex smiles and laughs with her; Bailey joins in last. They laugh for several moments before Amber says ow while laughing)
Amber: (Calms down as she smiles) Ow don't make me laugh.
(They all calm down and stop laughing but still smile)
Alex: (Sighs nostalgically) We shouldn't laugh about him.
Amber: (Eyebrow raise) Oh you'll laugh at the guys funeral but not 10 years after?
Bailey: (Snorts) Does your side hurt?
Amber: When I was laughing but it stopped now…I heard about your mother I'm so sorry.
Bailey: (Nods sadly) Thank you, hearing about you two days after didn't help either, don't do it again.
Amber: I'll do my best. How's Koracick? I can't believe I'm concerned about that leech's wellbeing but a virus isn't how I imagined that man getting his comeuppance.
Alex: I'm afraid to ask how you imagined it. He's recovering in the covid ward, he's awake and talking although I wish the talking was affected. Amelia says his scans look good and the EEG worked.
Amber: What about Mer? How is she?
Alex: …She's on a ventilator as of two days ago. What we saw was a covid high that sunk when she was resuscitating a patient across the hall.
Amber: (Groans) Damn it. I'm sorry Alex, Andrew and I thought the protocol was the best chance for her.
Alex: And it was, don't blame yourself for something we don't have a full understanding of yet. A vent isn't the end, there's positive results so far from other patients and they were all worse than Mer when they came in. Let's just wait and hope she's one of them.
Amber: Yeah.
Bailey: She will be, she's strong and so are you, keep getting better.
(Bailey leaves the room)
Amber: So, who else did you spread syphilis to?
Alex: (Sighs) I knew this was gonna bite me in the ass one day.
LATER AT THE SURGICAL FLOOR
(Levi approaches Andrew who is outside a patient room)
Levi: Hey you paged me? I was with Amber but Alex is with her so I'm free.
Andrew: Great, (Hands tablet) Read this and catch up.
Levi: (Reads) 37-year-old male came in yesterday after a head on collision with a garden truck and was extricated with garden shears in his lower abdomen ouch.
Andrew: Yeah, ouch is right I did a small bowel resection when they brought him in and I packed him last night. I gave him a day to rest so I could go back and do a renal reconstruction on his kidney to remove the dead tissue. He's awake now and his wife is there with him.
Levi: I thought visitors weren't allowed.
Andrew: They aren't but she was in the accident too. She had a concussion and dislocated shoulder but she's awake and responsive now. I'm letting you present and your assisting me with the reconstruction.
Levi: Why me?
Andrew: Because I'm a nice guy and I was a bored resident not that long ago, are you saying no?
Levi: No-I mean yes I'll do it thank you.
Andrew: Okay let's go.
(Andrew and Levi enter the room)
CUT TO PATIENT ROOM
(Trevor is in bed with Tatum standing by him with her arm in a sling and her forehead with a bandage)
Trevor: (Worried) So how much longer do I have to stay here, don't tiptoe around me just give it to me straight.
Tatum: Trevor, you're wearing a mask and their wearing protection you're not gonna get covid. He can be neurotic sometimes.
Andrew: It's fine if this surgery goes well barring any complications you should be out of here within a week. Schmitt.
Levi: Yeah Trevor Harris, 37, came in yesterday after a head on collision caused penetrating trauma to his lower abdomen. He had part of his small bowel resected yesterday and is gonna get part of his kidney resected today.
Trevor: Is that necessary?
Andrew: There's dead tissue on the lower part of your left kidney after the trauma. Removing it will keep it from spreading. But don't worry, the kidney heals on its own and it should be back to normal within a week.
Trevor: (Groans) Great, one minute we decide to go to Olympic National Park for our honeymoon after the courthouse and the next thing you know you're cut up like a rotisserie.
Tatum: Don't be so dramatic he just said it'll heal; God I was the one who suggested Redwood but you vetoed it.
Trevor: Canada is closer and California is polluted with fossil fuels and bad traffic.
Andrew: (Narrow eyes) You two just got married? You seem like you've been together for a while.
Tatum: It's our third wedding in 13 years, Olympic was his honeymoon idea this time.
Trevor: We went to Aruba the first time it was my choice.
Tatum: Oh, it was so beautiful.
Trevor: (Grins) Yeah then we got divorced. Then she picked Maui the next time.
Tatum: The beaches and the volcano.
Trevor: Yeah, and then we got divorced, that was in February then March happened and we had to pod together.
Tatum: (Grins) We just can't seem to stay away from each other.
(Andrew and Levi stand there mute with surprise)
Levi: Well, uh congratulations, I guess.
Andrew: Yep congrats, Trevor we're gonna prep an O.R. for you now and my resident will be back in an hour to prep you. Schmitt.
Levi: Yep.
(Levi leaves to prep an O.R.)
LATER IN O.R. 2
(Andrew is resecting Trevor's kidney while Levi assists)
Andrew: Suction here. This guy was insanely lucky, a few more inches up and it would've hit his kidney completely and had been on dialysis while UNOS tried to find him an organ.
Levi: Yeah, he dodged a bullet or garden shears, I guess. It's too bad they have to choose a honeymoon destination so close I would've picked Bora Bora.
Andrew: With their frequent flyer miles from their last honeymoon's, I think they could afford it.
Levi: I think it's kind of romantic, they try to be apart but they get pulled back to each other. I mean if it's true love then it's true love.
Andrew: True love that had two divorces in it?
Levi: I don't know I just broke up with the only guy I've ever dated so what do I know? I haven't told Amber yet, although I think that might make her physically better and get her to dance with joy.
Andrew: (Chuckles) Yeah it would, hey how is she doing? Was she stable when you saw her?
Levi: Yeah, she's recovering nicely, heartrate is normal, BP is stable but she's cranky from being chained to the bed by her cast.
Andrew: (Resects part of kidney) How's her incision?
Levi: It's clean, no sign of infection.
Andrew: Has she been sleeping?
Levi: Uh she slept about five hours last night but given what she's been through it's a miracle she went down at all.
Andrew: Good, that's good.
Levi: (Looks up and realizes Andrew's motive) Wait a minute, did you page me specifically so I could update you about Amber during a surgery?
Andrew: (Tries to play coy) What? No.
Levi: (Eyebrow raised) I appreciate the surgery but if you want to know how she is you could just go up and ask her yourself or videochat her.
Andrew: Yeah, I highly doubt Jo would allow that or Karev. And honestly, I agree with them she needs to rest and heal and seeing me after our rollercoaster love confession would probably interfere with that.
Levi: Yeah, I heard about her scene the night before your scene, I would think you'd run towards each other in the hallway. It's not a crime for you to check on her or be there for her.
Andrew: Amber has a lot of support plus she's got two of the best cardiac surgeons in the country looking after her.
Levi: Yeah, and one of them is lying in bed catatonic.
Andrew: That's not the point, the point is she doesn't need me and I don't need criticism from you. What I need from you is a satinsky so I can grab this dead tissue.
(Levi hands him a satinsky)
LATER THAT NIGHT
SCENE: AMBERS ROOM
(Amber is lying in bed while Nico checks on her leg)
Nico: Do you feel any pain?
Amber: No, it's just itchy, can you fix that?
Nico: (Grins) Sorry try to ignore it and it'll go away. What about your ribs? Do you still feel sore?
Amber: A little but not so much as yesterday. I used that spreader plenty of times but I never knew how much it hurt after, I'm surprised I haven't been punched.
Nico: (Chuckles) Yeah like they would get a punch in, you sucker punched me and I'm a black belt.
Amber: (Snickers) I'm sure you must be enjoying this then.
Nico: Not so much no. It looks like things are looking up for you, just keep that leg elevated and try not to do anything too strenuous.
Amber: So, I guess I can cancel that hot sex I arranged with a hooker tonight then.
Nico: (Grins) I'm glad you're doing better, I'll be back to check on you tomorrow, get some rest.
(Nico walks to leave just as Levi enters the room in casual wear. They stand there awkwardly for a moment)
Levi: Hey.
Nico: Hey. She's doing better, just don't wear her out too much.
Levi: (Nods) Will do thanks.
(Nico leaves the room and Amber rolls her eyes as she navigates through the tv)
Amber: That's still going on huh? I guess movie night is canceled and you're here to tell me that.
Levi: It's not and movie night is sacred especially now so you get to pick.
Amber: (Surprised) Wait what? He ended it?
Levi: (Sits in a chair next to Amber) No I did, now what do you want to watch?
Amber: (Surprised) You ended it?
Levi: Yes.
Amber: (Clarifies) You ended it?
Levi: (Irritated) Yes now can we please watch something; I'll even watch one of your horror movies.
(Amber puts the remote down and looks at Levi with questioning eyes that he knows won't go away until he tells more)
Levi: (Sighs) It was the night of your accident that was a wakeup call for me. I realized I didn't want to be with a guy who made me feel worse about myself and who can't fully commit to a relationship so I…ended it. I told him I would rather take a 0.01 percent chance of finding someone else in the middle of covid instead of turning to something painfully familiar. And now here I am reminiscing about it in my best friend's room before movie night instead of doing that. I'm sure this makes you happy.
Amber: As long as I don't walk in on another shame sex scene, I'm good.
Levi: Oh, like you haven't had shame sex with your ex, speaking of I had a surgery with him today.
Amber: Yeah, I know this cast is the only thing keeping me from beating you out of jealousy. What was the case?
Levi: 37-year-old male had penetrating trauma the day before after a car collision with a gardening truck. The object was garden shears. DeLuca did a small bowel resection yesterday and I scrubbed in on the kidney resection this morning.
Amber: (Groans) You suck.
Levi: Yeah, I know, DeLuca asked about you, you know. He called me to assist so he could check on you.
Amber: Oh, that's uh that's nice. Did he say anything to you about me? Did he say if he was gonna come by?
Levi: He's giving you space, not to be spiteful but to let you heal. You did that when he was in treatment and he's doing the same.
Amber: Yeah, I know, Jo told me she told him to step away. I know he's doing this for my benefit, he's a good guy…still a hello might have been nice or maybe a funny reel sent to me. Enough about my sad love life, what's your plan?
Levi: What do you mean?
Amber: I mean what's you plan to get back on the horse?
Levi: In case you haven't noticed we're in a pandemic we can't exactly go out and meet people for drinks anymore.
Amber: We didn't do that before, find someone here, I heard nurse Hank broke up with his boyfriend.
Levi: (Snorts) Right because dating someone who works here worked out so well for both of us.
Amber: There are people who pass by here and they don't work here. Firefighters, paramedics, doordash they don't work here and we see them every day. Check one out and see how you like it.
Levi: (Insecure) I uh I don't think they would ask me out.
Amber: Of course not. Levi your sweet but you are way too shy which is fatal in the dating world right now. We live in a generation where men have to be told what they want and when it's two guys it's pretty much a coin toss on who makes the first move. This is me telling you to make the first move before you end up geriatric, alone, suffering from dementia in my basement because nobody else took you in and wondering, 'why didn't I listen to Amber?' picture that in your head now.
Levi: (Pictures it) …I don't even know what I would say.
Amber: (Groans) Ask him out just go up to the next queer guy you think is hot and ask him out on the spot. At this point you have nothing to lose.
Levi: Except my dignity.
Amber: Since when do you have dignity?
Levi: (Glares at Amber) I will think about it.
Amber: Not good enough. You need incentive if you want to keep living in my house you have to ask out at least one guy by the time I get out of this jail cell.
Levi: (Shocked) What? You can't do that!
Amber: It's my house and I let you move in and I can kick you out, don't test me.
Levi: You are being despicable more so than usual.
Amber: (Narrows eyes) Three days ago I was hit by a truck on my way back to work. I had major surgery on my heart after being stabbed for the second time in my life. I was legally dead for five and a half minutes, resulting in me going on a vent. I have an itch on my big toe that I can't reach because my leg was crushed and I have to wear this damn cast for six weeks. I have a dog at home I'm worried thinks he lost another owner as well as a niece and nephew on their way here to find out their only aunt is in the hospital. And the man I love told me he loved me the day after I told him I loved him and I haven't heard from him since. (Levi's eyes look away in guilt) Oh but let's keep discussing how much of a wuss you are.
Levi: (Sighs) You are really good at guilt tripping.
Amber: It's the one good thing that comes from having a crap life like mine.
Levi: Fine I will ask a guy out if it gets you to shut up about my dating life.
Amber: Or lack thereof.
Levi: Or lack thereof yes, I will do it now can we please watch a movie.
Amber: Fine.
(Amber navigates through the tv as Levi leans back wondering what he just agreed to)