Chapter 23: People Like Us Part 1
SCENE: AMBERS BEDROOM
(Amber is sleeping in bed soundly when her alarm rings. She wakes up groggily and groans before hitting the snooze. Amber yawns and sits up; she hears snoring and groans again looking to her right and seeing Andrew sleeping next to her as she predicted)
Amber: (Sighs) Not again.
(Amber gently shakes Andrew to wake him)
Andrew: (Groggy) What is it?
Amber: Wake up, you fell asleep. Again.
Andrew: (Groans) Damn it, I'm sorry.
Amber: That's the third night in a row you fell asleep here and this is the third time you're gonna have to sneak out. Why do you do this?
Andrew: (Yawns) Because sleep is so good, and I need it to keep the mania away.
Amber: Fine I'll give you that.
Andrew: You know I wouldn't need to sneak out if we did this at my place. I said that the last two mornings.
Amber: And I will repeat my answer a third time. I have a brother who wants me to recuperate close to him in case anything goes wrong. (Realizes) Oh! Speaking of which, it's my first day back!
Andrew: Oh congrats, maybe we can do this in the on-call room instead.
Amber: Not a chance, that place is a biohazard. The kids are here no doubt, breakfast is better here than at the hotel.
(Amber gets out of bed in her tank top and underwear before grabbing her robe)
Amber: (Puts robe on) Okay I'm gonna go upstairs, give the code and text you when you can sneak out.
Andrew: (Sits up) I know the drill. I'll get ready.
Amber: I'll see you at work. Wish me luck!
Andrew: (Grins) Like you need it.
(Amber grins back and heads upstairs where she finds the twins at the counter eating waffles while Alex and Jo are on the table drinking coffee)
Alexis: (Smiles) Good morning auntie Amber.
Eli: Good morning.
Amber: (Smiles) Good morning, how are the waffles?
Alexis: Good, I don't like the syrup so much.
Amber: Aww well you know what I like on my waffles? Strawberry jam.
(Alex and Jo stop and look at each other in annoyance as they know strawberry jam is code for 'Andrew is downstairs' they get up and walk toward the twins)
Amber: So, you guys will be happy to hear it's my first day back at work. I am very excited about it.
Alexis: Are you nervous?
Amber: Heck no, I've been trapped in my bed for weeks and I've rebinged every fantasy show I know. I will kick surgical butt and make that O.R. my-
Alex: Read the room.
Amber: Right, I will make that O.R. my destiny. Don't ever be afraid to claim your destiny because it will not claim you.
Jo: (Chuckles nervously) Yeah hey guys can you come outside with me and Amber for a minute? I think Jazz is sneaking out to meet that poodle two houses over, we need you to search for any holes under the fence.
Eli: (Whines) Again?
Alexis: We did that yesterday and the day before.
Amber: I know but do you two want pitbull poodle mixes running around the house, making a mess?
Alexis: (Brightens up) Yes!
Eli: Yes!
Jo: Well, the adults don't and last we checked our old age trumps you so come on, get going you two.
(Jo and Amber lead Alexis and Eli outside. Amber discreetly texts Andrew while Alex stays behind and finds Andrew's helmet by the doorway. Andrew comes up fully dressed with a sheepish look)
Andrew: I'm sorry.
Alex: (Hands him the helmet) This is exactly why alarms were invented, come on let's move it.
Andrew: (Power walks to the front door) Look again I'm sorry I know this isn't how you want to spend your morning it's the same for me.
Alex: I'm gonna make this quick before the kids come back. I love my sister and I am happy that she's getting better but she doesn't need me around her 24/7 anymore. You're a doctor and so is she so I trust you to be in charge of her recuperation. The point is-
Andrew: Your okay if she spends the night at my place.
Alex: I'm not only okay with it, I want it. Talk to her and see if she will spend the night at your place instead of repeating this so much it becomes routine.
Andrew: Yeah, actually I was thinking of asking her to move back in. What do you say?
Alex: Good, great, fantastic, ask her today because the sooner she's gone the sooner I get my mornings back. Now go.
(Andrew quickly heads to his bike and rides off to work)
LATER
SCENE: RESIDENTS LOUNGE
(Amber inhales and exhales as she stands in the hallway, Andrew finds her and approaches her)
Andrew: You nervous?
Amber: No I'm not nervous I'm just anxious. I'm anxious over how I'm gonna start the day and how I'm gonna make a good first day back impression on all of you.
Andrew: (Grins) Well don't be okay? Your gonna do great now come on, let's get you ready for your first day.
(Andrew walks Amber to the lounge where they stop outside the door)
Amber: Hey you remember what I said right? About no extravagant welcome back? You know I don't want to make a big deal out of it, just act like its any other regular day.
Andrew: (Grips the doorknob) We know, you told us. (Rushed) Which is why we ignored you.
(Andrew opens the door quickly and Amber sees Alex, Jo, Izzie, Owen, Bailey, Webber, the interns and residents on the other side)
Residents and Interns: Surprise!
(Amber chuckles as she sees all of them gathered around the table in the middle of the room where she sees a round cake decorated with Disney Car's theme. Andrew grins at her reaction)
Amber: (Approaches the table) I told you guys just like any other day.
Alex: Yeah, we decided not to listen. We need happiness and an excuse to eat cake so deal with it.
Andrew: Yeah, that and coming back to work after a near death experience is something to celebrate.
Bailey: Ha I don't remember a party after my heart attack.
Webber: You told everyone you were on vacation.
Bailey: Well even so congratulations on your first day back Dr. Karev.
Amber: Thank you, and thank you guys for the party, and I love the cake. Cars like my accident?
Jo: The twins picked it out they wanted to help.
Amber: Well, tell them thanks and I'll save some cake for them.
Taryn: (Grins) Ah! This is the second-best day of my life, the first being Dr. Grey's first day back. But uh it didn't make it more important because she didn't almost die. I mean not die die but you know only in the clinical sense and-I'm not making this better I'm just gonna shut up, right now right this second, I-I'm gonna-
Alex: (Annoyed) Hellmouth!
Taryn: (Shuts up)
Amber: (Chuckles) Believe it or not I actually missed your nonsensical rambling. What flavor did you get me? Please say-
Andrew: Chocolate with chocolate chips inside I made sure.
Amber: (Exhales in relief) Thank you.
Izzie: (Chuckles) Wow and I thought I loved chocolate. Welcome back by the way.
Amber: Thanks, I'm uh actually surprised that you're here.
Izzie: It's cake I can't miss it, plus a clean slate and I thought celebrating your return would help with that.
Amber: Okay. So, when do I get back to the O.R.?
Webber: (Chuckles) Soon, we're taking this slow Karev. Now HR policy states any doctor who suffers a trauma in the hospital has to undergo a four-hour supervised shift. You'll have an attending overseeing you and reporting back on your progress and ability to work.
Amber: (Sighs) Got it. (Fears the worst and looks at Izzie) It's not her, is it?
Izzie: (Grins sarcastically) Thankfully for me no.
Owen: That would be me, we're gonna start you off easy, a day in the pit.
Amber: The pit, straight into the deep end great.
Owen: You'll have patients I'm just gonna be tagging along, that's why they call it a buddy colleague.
Amber: Sounds so friendly, are you sure you're the one who should do this?
Owen: (Chuckles) It's protocol Karev.
Amber: I'm back Hunt, I'm ready to work.
Owen: Good prove it to me and I'll see about getting you back in cardio with Pierce.
Amber: (Smugly) I will prove it.
(Andrew grins at Amber's overconfidence)
Alex: Great, until then let's eat some cake.
(Amber gets the first piece to her delight. Izzie moves away from the crowd to talk to Webber and Bailey)
Izzie: It's a lot of hupla for an intern, wish I had this back then.
Webber: She's a resident.
Izzie: (Taken back) what?
Bailey: She's a third-year resident Stevens.
Izzie: (Confused) She's a child. When did they start giving children scalpels?
Amber: (Clears throat) For your information I'm 26. You remember that age, that was back when you used alcohol instead of anesthesia.
(Andrew and Alex look at each other worryingly while Jo watches the show intrigued while eating cake)
Izzie: Well, you look like a zygote.
Amber: Maybe don't say that so loud, your voice carries it's very loud.
Izzie: (Scoffs) I do not have a loud voice, it's not like I make it a point to yell at people every five seconds like you. I heard some of the stories from the interns and they have less than kind words about you.
Amber: Kind words for bosses show weakness in their work structure. You know firsthand about that don't you?
Alex: (Annoyed) Really? Are you two still doing that? I thought we were past this.
Amber: Oh, Alex that's the beauty of our relationship, we never move past snippy quips and backhanded insults. Right Izzie?
Izzie: (Grins) It's what keeps me going in the morning.
Andrew: (Tries to see the positive) Well isn't this nice? All of us together under one roof.
Alex: Yeah, it's fantastic.
Izzie: (Grins) Agreed, but just to be clear I hope to never have you on my service.
Amber: You and me both bottle blonde.
(Alex and Andrew's eyes widen as they wait for the carnage)
Amber: What? It's progress, last month the sight of her made me want to scalp her, now I just use friendly insults. She gets it.
Jo: (Mouth full) Well I enjoy a front row seat to Venus vs Serena. It makes me feel less like the crazy woman in this family. I mean come on Alex for those two it's a miracle they didn't chew each other out like cannibals.
Alex: (Sighs) Fine I guess that is the best you two can do right now. I'm off to peds, call me if you need anything.
Amber: I won't.
Izzie: You know keep puffing up that ego your gonna end up like Hindenburg. Of course, it wasn't nearly as full of hot air as you are. I have to go I have chemo rounds in five.
(Alex and Izzie leaves the room and Amber notices someone is missing)
Amber: Hey where's Levi?
Jo: I don't know, he's scheduled to come in at 12.
Amber: Well still I expected him to be here, what could be more important than that?
(Jo gets a text from Levi saying, '911 need u in the break tent, don't tell Amber or Alex')
Jo: Um I think he's just resting; he had the night shift and you know how brutal it is. I have to go; I have post ops to check up on.
Amber: Okay.
(Jo leaves the room. Andrew and Amber are left to catch up)
Andrew: So now that we're alone, I need to talk to you about something. It's about me having to sneak out every morning because I fall asleep right after sex.
Amber: (Eats cake) Okay well it's nothing that can't be solved with an alarm.
Andrew: (Sighs) Amber it's not just that. I talked to Alex and he agrees that you don't need him around 24/7 anymore. He says he trusts me to look after your recuperation.
Amber: He said that? Did he explicitly say I can get out and go to my own place?
Andrew: (Relieved) Yes, he did.
Amber: (Exhales relieved) Okay great, now that that is settled, I will talk to Levi and Helm about moving into the loft and you don't have to sneak out anymore. But I will need some help moving some stuff if you're up for it. (Sees Hunt signaling her) I gotta go, wish me luck we'll talk about this on my break.
(Amber leaves the room. Andrew is left confused over what happened)
LATER AT THE BREAK TENT OUTSIDE
(Jo and Levi are sitting at a table with Levi looking slightly disturbed)
Levi: Thanks for coming to meet me. I half thought you would take Alex or Amber with you because he's your husband and she's your sister.
Jo: Well Alex is working and Amber is eating cake at the party you missed.
Levi: Yeah, I know I should've been there it's just…I just couldn't face Alex or Amber right now.
Jo: (Concerned) Levi what's going on? You look like you slept in those clothes and you won't even look at me. Look at me, tell me what's wrong.
Levi: (Numb tone) …I've been dating Alex and Amber's brother.
Jo: (Confused) Aaron?
Levi: No, not him although I wish it was him, it would make this less painful. But then again, I would take waterboarding for torture right now.
Jo: Okay, okay Levi calm down and explain to me as calmly and more detailed as you can.
Levi: (Sighs) Did you know Jimmy had a family after he left Alex and Amber? That he forgot about them and just had another kid.
Jo: Yeah, his wife Naomi, I met her and she had a son with him.
Levi: Well…that son has been in the city since the pandemic started. And he is the new firefighter at station 19 and I have been dating him for the past month.
Jo: (Shocked) Wait, the new guy at 19 is-
Levi: Alex and Amber's half-brother…and I found out after I had sex with him. I don't even know why it took me this long, no I do know why. I never asked questions about his extended family and he never asked me about my friends at work. This is a nightmare.
Jo: Okay, okay let's just take a breath. Does he know about Alex and Amber?
Levi: Yeah, he said his mom told him about them when he first came here.
Jo: And he didn't know when he asked you out?
Levi: He says he didn't which (Chuckles darkly) makes this a complete coincidence that just had to happen to me! I mean am I cursed? Did my mom make a priest put some kind of bad juju on me that makes it so the guy I was finally happy with turns out to be my best friends long lost brother?!
Jo: (Looks around) Okay keep your voice down, you know how word travels around here. Look you didn't know, and now you do that's not on you. Do Alex and Amber know?
Levi: I don't think so, he said he didn't want to tell them…but maybe I should.
Jo: No, no you should not do that. That is for him to decide and him alone, if he doesn't want to know them then there's no point in telling them. Are you still seeing him?
Levi: He broke up with me, he says he didn't want to run the risk of seeing them and…I'm sad about that on top of everything else.
Jo: I'm sorry about that.
Levi: I just-I don't know what to do. I mean Nick says he doesn't want to meet them and he wants me to tell him if I tell them about him and…(Groans) What do I do?!
Jo: Here's what you don't do, you don't tell them. He doesn't want them to know and you shouldn't make that decision for him. I'm gonna tell Alex though because he already knows about Nick and he can handle this better than Amber. She's been through a lot so I don't need to tell you she doesn't need this added.
Levi: (Clears throat) Will you uh…will you tell Alex about the uh…when I found out?
Jo: I'm not gonna tell him you dated him I'm just gonna make something up.
Levi: (Relieved) Thank you.
Jo: Just don't act weirder than usual. Amber can tell something is up by how you missed her welcome back party.
Levi: (Groans) I'm the worst person in the world.
Jo: No, you're not your just an idiot who doesn't know how to handle a crisis. Now is the time to learn, I'm gonna go back inside you should too. I'll let you know what to tell Nick.
(Jo and Levi head inside)
LATER
SCENE: THE PIT
(Amber finishes patching up a coffee burn and heads to the nurse's station where Levi is charting)
Amber: Hey.
Levi: (Tries to be normal) Hey.
Amber: I missed you at the party this morning. A welcome back party for me after I was almost killed by a drunk driver, I would think you'd do me the courtesy of showing up and celebrating. I mean I'm only your best friend. And without me you would be out in the streets running the risk of getting impaled by dirty needles. I'm just saying.
Levi: (Clears throat) Yeah uh sorry I was uh I was doing something.
Amber: Something or someone?
Levi: (Sighs) Does it matter?
Amber: (Grins) It was the firefighter, wasn't it? (Gasps) You finally sealed the deal! You missed my party because you were having hot sex with a hot firefighter!
Levi: (Inhales sharply) N-No I wasn't.
Amber: Yeah, you were you have an aura that you had when you and Kim first did it. (Exhales) You are so lucky me and Andrew got back together when we did because from those photos, I probably would have hit that next.
Levi: (Closes eyes over the pain of that comment)
Amber: Okay tell me everything, how was he? Were there any setbacks? Will you do it again?
Levi: (Chuckles nervously) I uh I don't really want to talk about it.
Amber: Oh, come on this thing where we hand by the station and talk about what our boyfriends are like in bed is what I need to feel normal again. It's just like the good old days come on tell me. Tell me now.
Levi: (Scoffs) Do we have to share every detail? Do we have to be joined at the hip? We're not 12.
Amber: (Offended) Oh glad you could clear that up for me. I was so sure we were 12. Now I don't feel bad about not saving that last piece of cake for you.
(Amber leaves the station with Levi feeling bad. She approaches Hunt who is with an elderly couple treating a man for his head lac)
Amber: Dr. Hunt? I discharged beds 2 and 5 and 8 is waiting for a consult from ortho for a dislocated wrist.
Owen: (Stiches head) Great, assist on 8 and come back to assist me when more patients come.
(Amber nods and notices the wife with a pained look on her face rubbing the right side of her eye)
Amber: Ma'am are you okay?
Edith: Oh, it's nothing dear, it's just a headache that's all. My Tom is the patient here, don't worry about me.
Tom: Edith's had a headache for the last two weeks. I've tried to get her to see a doctor but she refuses. I fell and hit my head on the counter and she immediately took me here.
Amber: Okay Edith, do you mind if I take a quick exam? See if it's more than a headache?
Edith: (Shrugs) Well I suppose since we're here you might as well.
Amber: (Puts new gloves on) Do you have any history of migraines or seizures?
Edith: No.
Tom: She's the healthy one.
Amber: (Pulls out flashlight) Okay I'm gonna check your pupils now. (Puts light on left eye) First here. (Puts light on right eye) Now here. Oh, I see irritation here. Edith, do you wear contacts?
Edith: I do, it's easier than trying to remember where my glasses are.
Owen: (Finishes head lac) Do you forget to take them out sometimes?
Edith: Well they fall out but it's not a problem their disposables.
Amber: I don't think they always fall out. I think you have an old one stuck in there. (To nurse) Get me a swab and saline solution.
Owen: I got this Karev you can go.
Amber: Respectfully Dr. Hunt it's my find, my patient.
(Owen's eyes widen and he steps back. The nurse comes back with the supplies. Amber leads Edith on the bed)
Amber: Okay Edith this is gonna be quick, you won't feel a thing, just lean your head back. (Edith lays head back) Okay the nurse is gonna apply saline in your right eye and I'm gonna take a look inside.
(The nurse applies saline to Edith's right eye and Amber pulls out a cotton swab and sweeps the fornix)
Edith: (Scared) Oh heavens, do you really think I have two lenses in?
Amber: (Taken back by what she found) Um not two.
(Owen observes and sees at least four lenses in view inside the fornix as well as Tom to their shock)
Owen: Oh.
Tom: Oh my.
Edith: What? What is it?
Amber: (Soothing voice) Shh it's okay just be still we got this. (Sweeps out twelve lenses slowly and carefully) Okay I think I got it. Bag and saline.
(The nurse applies saline as Amber puts all the contact lenses inside a waste bag)
Tom: How many were in there?
Amber: Um at least a dozen.
Tom: How is that possible?
Owen: It's actually more common than you think. They get lodged in the fornixes, the area under the eye.
Tom: Oh, my goodness.
Edith: Oh, I feel so foolish.
Amber: Don't be it's no more foolish than losing your keys, how's your head?
Edith: Gone, oh my thank you dear.
Amber: (Grins) Your welcome, just remember that the thing about disposable lenses is to dispose of them.
Edith: I will.
Amber: Okay we'll have our ophthalmologist check on you for a follow-up to make sure there's nothing else hidden deep in there.
Tom: She's gonna be okay though?
Owen: She'll be fine, are you two comfortable staying for a follow up?
Edith: Oh yes dear I want to make sure I don't have anything else in my eyeballs.
(Amber and Owen leave them to page the ophthalmologist)
Owen: Impressive Karev.
Amber: (Grins) I told you I would prove it.
(Owen chuckles as Amber smiles proudly)
LATER
SCENE: STATION 19
(Nick is at the beanery prepping his oatmeal for breakfast tensely while the others are at the table eating)
Travis: Hey Evans, you never gave us an update on that date you went with the resident. You know the one with the place where we pulled that girl out of the meat grinder.
Maya: (Chuckles) What? You took him there? We're you trying to end it before it began?
Vic: Oh it didn't end he has an aura that tells me it ended good.
Nick: (Cranky) My aura told you that? Does my aura give you a red or purplish color that you can see with your third eye Hughes?
Vic: Wow, okay someone is a little mean this morning.
Jack: Yeah what's the deal newbie, date didn't go so well? Did he end it after the deed?
Nick: (Groans) Can we just drop it?
Dean: Wow, I see it was bad, come on newbie tell us what happened. Cry on our shoulders and we'll pacify you.
Andy: (Chuckles) Okay what he means to say is there's nothing you can say that isn't anything we haven't heard before.
Nick: (Chuckles darkly) Really? You believe that?
Ben: You don't? I mean you haven't been here long so you don't know half the things we've done. We won't judge you…much come on man.
Nick: …Fine. The date ended with sex.
Vic: (Chuckles) Lucky.
Nick: And shit hit the fan when I found out the guy, I've been seeing is my half-sister's best friend.
(They all pause in shock)
Maya: What?
Nick: (Sighs) You guys know that my dad abandoned me when I was little? That he left and he died?
Vic: Yeah.
Nick: Well before he married my mom, he left another family. He had a wife and three kids before he came to Florida.
Dean: So, he left two families in a row?
Nick: As far as I know, from what my mom told me he was like an NBA player. There could be 50 other Evans' running around Seattle. As far as I know there are two.
Jack: Two? You have two siblings that live here?
Nick: Half and yes.
Ben: Well, what are their names?
Nick: (Sighs) …Alex and Amber.
Ben: (Chokes on his coffee) Alex and Amber? As in-
Nick: The Alex who works at the hospital and the Amber you saved last month, yep that's them.
Travis: (Still processing) Alex and Amber are your siblings?
Nick: (Numb) Yeah.
Travis: (Processing) They're your siblings?
Nick: Yes.
Travis: …Alex and Am-
Nick: (Yells) Yes, they're my siblings!
Vic: Whoa okay I see we reached yelling.
Maya: (Rubs her temples) And I thought my double date was complicated. Do they know about you?
Nick: As far as I know Alex does, I don't know about Amber.
Vic: Wait so the surgeon your dating-
Nick: Dated I ended it when I found out.
Vic: Found out that he was your half sister's best friend. You unknowingly dated your sister's best friend?
Nick: Yep, how's that for crap luck?
Jack: Well, are you gonna tell them that you're here? Are you gonna introduce yourself?
Nick: Hell, no I'm not doing any of that.
Jack: What?
Nick: I don't know them and they don't know me, as long as Levi keeps his mouth shut, we can keep it that way.
(Jack looks at Nick incredulous over his decision when the Klaxons are heard)
Dispatch: Ladder 19, Engine 19 requested to 239 Devon Avenue, rooftop.
Nick: (Exhales) Just what the doctor ordered.
(The team leaves for the call)
LATER
SCENE: ATTENDINGS LOUNGE
(Jo and Alex are in the lounge eating their lunch with Jo picking at her food nervously)
Alex: Wow I think this is the first time I've seen a pregnant woman reject food. Are you okay?
Jo: Yeah, I'm fine it's just…there's something I need to tell you, it's important and you should know firsthand.
Alex: Okay, what is it?
Jo: (Clears throat) Um…do you remember when your father told you about that family that he left in Florida? The one he tried to get clean for.
Alex: Yeah, I remember he had a wife Naomi and they had a son Nicky, what about it?
Jo: Alex…Nicky is here in Seattle.
Alex: (Wide eyes) …What?
Jo: (Sighs) He moved here in March and he's the new firefighter at 19, he goes by Nick Evans now. I found out through Warren when he told them about you guys.
Alex: (Shocked) He uh he told them? About us?
Jo: Well Alex it's a firehouse they're much closer there than we are here. They don't keep secrets from each other. Ben thought that we should know.
Alex: (Still shocked) …Have you talked to him?
Jo: No, I haven't, I'm talking to you first and maybe Amber if you want to tell her too. Are you okay?
Alex: (Sighs) Yeah, I'm fine it's just…it's weird. I thought I had my fill of siblings showing up unannounced 3 years ago but uh…I guess not.
Jo: (Looks at him sympathetically)
Alex: And I know I'm supposed to have a lot of questions but it's like that life Jimmy had was another life in another universe.
Jo: If that's how you want to keep it that's fine with me.
Alex: (Looks up surprised) No rousing speech about the importance of getting to know your family while you still can?
Jo: You're my family, Amber is my family, the twins are my family and this baby is my family. What's important to me right now is knowing you're okay.
Alex: (Inhales and exhales) I just…I need some time to figure out what I should do here.
Jo: Let me know what you decide and I'll support you. I always have and I always will.
Alex: Um…can you do me a favor and not tell Amber until I do. She needs to hear it from me and she deserves to be a part of this decision.
Jo: Of course. Don't worry, I'm sure that Amber is having the time of her life after what she pulled in the pit this morning.
Alex: (Curious) What did she pull?
Jo: (Grins) A dozen contacts out of an old lady's eyeball.
Alex: (Chuckles) Yeah, it's official, Amber's back.
Jo: (Smiles) Amber's back.
LATER
SCENE: OUTSIDE ON THE BRIDGE
(Amber is leaning against the rail waiting for Andrew who comes up with two sandwiches)
Andrew: (Grins and takes mask off) Hey I got you a BLT I heard about what you did in the pit and thought we should celebrate.
Amber: (Chuckles in pride) Well you thought right, guess how many contacts were in that poor woman's eye.
Andrew: Uh five?
Amber: Plus, seven.
Andrew: Wow.
Amber: Yeah, and that's not even a record. I goggled it and a woman in the UK had 27 removed.
Andrew: (Wide eyes) Damn I gotta admit I'm kind of jealous of you right now.
Amber: And you should be. With this plus me finally getting my own place everything is coming up.
Andrew: (Looks at Amber uncertainly) I mean do you really need to move into your brothers' loft? There are other places to look, ones with actual bedrooms.
Amber: Yeah, but real estate is hell right now and I can't exactly afford a place on my own. Unless you got something better.
Andrew: I do, move in with me again.
Amber: (Surprised) Oh, that's what you meant this morning.
Andrew: I know we just got back together and I know we're still working through this new dynamic and seeing how it plays out. But we're not some young couple, we've been together before and us living together is something we've done before and…I want to do that again. If that's what you want.
Amber: (Smiles) Yeah, I do.
Andrew: (Smiles) Okay great, I'll get Carina's car and we can pack up and put your stuff back in my place. It's not a problem, the closet and drawers are still empty from when you left so it shouldn't be as difficult as last time.
Amber: (Frowns) Oh no we're not moving back into your place.
Andrew: (Frowns) What? But you just said-
Amber: Yeah, I want to live with you but I don't want to move back into that apartment. We need to move.
Andrew: Whoa hold on slow down, what's wrong with the apartment?
Amber: It's too grungy, the neighbors are freakishly chipper, and I highly doubt your hard ass landlord is gonna put me on the lease a second time.
Andrew: Let me worry about him okay. Let's just take a second and think about what you're saying.
Amber: Plus, there's Jazz, I have a dog and your place isn't pet friendly.
Andrew: He's spending most of his time at the house with the twins.
Amber: Even so I don't want him to forget me, dogs have a short attention span.
Andrew: You know what? This is not fair. I went out of my way to make that place feel like ours. I took down that Hokusai waves print, I let you pick out the new bed spread.
Amber: I'm doing yoga, I need space.
Andrew: Okay, this is not something that should be discussed over lunch. Because one, we don't have enough time left, two, we need to eat to live and three this is something big that should be left alone until we're in private to discuss this further. So, let's save this for my place tonight where I can reason with you why we should stay and you can reason with me why we should move. Okay? Let's take a minute and discuss this like a healthy couple and decide what we should do. Can you do that for me?
Amber: (Sighs) Fine but I'm not easily swayed you should know that by now. Get ready to call a realtor to set up appointments.
(Amber eats her sandwich as Andrew sighs eating as well)
MEANWHILE
SCENE: 239 DEVON AVENUE, ROOFTOP
(Maya, Jack, Travis, Dean and Nick are all riding an elevator to the rooftop as elevator music plays over the intercom)
Nick: So, what was the call again?
Maya: Window washer fell and he's dangling from the 22nd floor by his foot.
Jack: Yeah, we won't know his condition until we get down there and access.
(They arrive at the rooftop and look down to find the window washer five floors down dangling in the air with his right foot tied around the wire from inside the boom that is leaning toward the left)
Dean: Oh wow, now that is a faulty window washer.
Nick: Boom.
Travis: What? Boom what?
Nick: No that's what those things are called Boom, we had plenty of cases like this back home. Of course back there-
Jack: Yeah, nobody wants to hear your story Evans, let's just get to work.
Nick: (Looks at Dean confused who shrugs)
Maya: Okay I see an adult male possible broken leg, if we move the boom, we run the risk of him losing grip. Gibson, Evans you're with me, we're gonna rappel down anchor that boom. Miller and Montgomery, you're gonna access the window washers' condition, start to send him down.
Jack: Captain someone needs to work the winch up here, Evans is new so it should be him.
Nick: Wha-Come on man what gives? When do I get to do the fun stuff?
Jack: Working the winch is fun and I'm your lieutenant so do as I say got it?
(Nick scoffs and gets the supplies reluctantly as Maya glares at Jack)
Jack: What? Somebody has to make sure we don't fall to our death.
LATER
SCENE: THE PIT
(Amber is charting her latest patient when Maggie comes by and approaches her)
Amber: (Surprised) Dr. Pierce, what brings you to the deep end? Not that we're not graced with your presence.
Maggie: (Chuckles) I actually came down here to check on you and see how you were doing. It's been four hours and you're still standing.
Amber: Yeah, and why wouldn't I be?
Maggie: Well, I know how difficult it is for doctors to come back to work after they were a patient for an extended period of time. I also know that coming back after a trauma to the place you were operated on can cause feelings of anxiety.
Amber: Maggie, you've known me a long time. I am not someone who is easily rattled and I've come back from way worse than a glass shard to the heart. I am here I am ready to work and I am ready to operate.
Maggie: I'm glad to hear you say that because I have a welcome back present for you. Howard Bryer our patient who was scheduled for a VAD in March is here and I rescheduled it for today. I thought you could assist me and you can show me if that accident took-
Amber: (Excited) Yes! Yes, I'm ready I am so ready. Thank you so much I needed this, I needed this so bad, badder than sex.
Maggie: Okay let's not say anything we'll regret. Go log out of the pit and read up on Howard's chart, you need to know everything you can and go up to cardio to present.
Amber: I love you so much right now.
(Amber leaves to get ready and Owen approaches Maggie concerned)
Owen: Are you sure that's a good idea? The reason we're putting her on the pit is so she can ease back into work before going to an O.R. where she was just dying on a table. Don't you think it's too soon?
Maggie: No I don't. I was Amber's age when I became head of cardio, and they also thought I wasn't fit to do the job.
Owen: Right but you didn't just come back from a brutal car accident, an 8-hour surgery and a ventilator. Pierce, you and I both know how difficult it is for doctors to come back after being patients, that can cause mistakes in an O.R. and more trauma to move past. Are you sure Amber is mentally fit to handle this?
Maggie: It's a VAD Hunt and she's gonna be assisting. Nothing fancy nothing complicated I'm easing her back same as you. Besides Amber's tough she's survived worse and come out on the other side with her mind intact. I wouldn't ask for her help if I wasn't confident in her abilities. Don't worry so much, you had her for four hours but she's mine now.
(Owen chuckles and Maggie walks away)
LATER
SCENE: STATION 19
(Nick and the others get off the engine where they meet Vic who is loading the aid car and Sullivan mopping the floors)
Vic: Hey I heard you got to scale a skyscraper, how was it?
Maya: It would have felt fun if a guy was dangling in midair.
Nick: Yeah well, I missed out on it, I had to work the winch.
Jack: (Rude) Yeah there's no use in complaining about what life dealt you newbie.
Nick: (Shakes his head) Do you have a problem with me lieutenant?
Jack: What makes you think that?
Nick: I don't know how about the backhanded comments you've dealt me since breakfast. Even at six feet I can feel the chill you're emitting towards me.
Jack: (Mutters) Yeah well ice cold is your specialty, isn't it?
Nick: What did you say?
Jack: Nothing, I'm sorry I didn't mean anything by it.
Nick: Of course, you meant something by it 'ice cold being my specialty' there's a lot of meaning behind it. Did I do something to you and I just forgot?
Jack: (Sighs) I never said it was to me.
Nick: And what does that mean?
Jack: (Shakes his head and looks away)
Nick: (Triggered) No come on out with it man. I dealt with the cold shoulder at my last station and I'm not doing that again, you hear me?
Jack: You know I am your boss so you can't speak to me that way.
Nick: Oh, but you can hold me back at a scene, make me do the mediocre chore?
Maya: Okay guys let's calm down okay.
Nick: No Bishop I left that shit behind and you said I wouldn't get that here but this guy is just silently judging me and muttering to himself. That's how it started in Miami and I'm not gonna stick around for the following.
Jack: I didn't mean it that way.
Nick: (Frustrated) Really because I barely know you man and yet you're judging me one second and shutting down the next why is that? Where is this bullshit coming from?
Jack: …You know what your upset, let's just drop this. (Starts to walk away)
Nick: (Angry) Oh my god Gibson, just say it what is it?! Say it!
Jack: (Breaks) All right you're being a coward man!
(They all stop and stare at the tense scene)
Jack: You moved to the same place your siblings live and you're doing nothing about it. Do you know what I would give to see my brother and sister again? I would give everything and yet here you are wasting your chance. You dumped a guy you liked because you didn't want to see them, your blind to how their father left them too and…you're wasting an opportunity not many of us get and… (Chuckles darkly) Not only is that dumb it's pathetic.
Nick: (Scoffs) You know what I feel really bad for your girlfriend I do. It must be tough living with someone who's so passive aggressive he's shit in love and work.
(Nick walks away)
Vic: Nick-
Nick: (Clipped tone) No I'm getting some air.
(Nick leaves the barn slamming the door behind him loudly)
CUT TO BLACK
SCENE: CATH LAB
(Amber puts her scrub cap on in the scrub room. Maggie is next to her prepping as well. They see the man on other side of the glass getting prepped)
Maggie: Okay I hope your not rusty with hearts because I'm putting a lot of faith in you in this surgery. This guy had to wait for over a month to get a procedure because a pandemic happened and I don't want him to come out with more problems.
Amber: I got it, you'll do the cutting, connecting him to bypass and placing the VAD.
Maggie: And you'll close the chest with wires and continuous dissolvable stiches. Can you do that?
Amber: Easy Peasy, lemon squeezy boss.
Maggie: (Raised eyebrow) Easy Peasy, lemon squeezy?
Amber: I live with two 6-year-olds, I have to learn to filter now.
Maggie: (Chuckles) I've been there, the O.R. is where I can curse so enjoy this opportunity. Let's go.
(Maggie turns the sink on and starts to scrub as well as Amber. Amber scrubs for a minute feeling slightly anxious until she sees Howard on the table and her mind flashes to her accident. She tries to push through it and scrub but the next moment her mind flashes back to being on the table with Andrew standing above her just before coding causing her hands to shake and her stomach to feel queasy. Her breathing turns shaky and she stops scrubbing to grip the sink and try to breathe. Maggie notices)
Maggie: Amber? Are you okay?
Amber: (Breathing shakes) No. I feel sick. I think I need to sit this one out.
Maggie: (Feels guilty) Okay go home. (Opens door) Page Helm, tell her I need an assist.
Amber: (Tries to stay) I can still do my shift with Hunt.
Maggie: (Goes back to scrub) No, go home you're not ready to be back.
(Maggie scrubs and Amber sighs before leaving in shame)
LATER
SCENE: STATION 19
(Nick goes to the beanery where he runs into Jack and Ben)
Nick: (Sighs and gets coffee)
Jack: (Feels bad) Listen man what I said back there it was-
Nick: (Still mad) Don't worry about it.
Jack: …I am passive aggressive I will give you that and…I'm so caught up in my shit I didn't think that you also had some too. I'm sorry for being a jackass.
Nick: (Sighs) Sorry about what I said too. I don't know you man and you don't know me so maybe let's save judgment for later.
Jack: I will take that. And hey it's up to you if you want to know your family-
Nick: They're not my family.
Jack: Even so it's your decision. I got to go check on Marsha and see how she is, later.
Nick: Later.
(Nick is left with Ben as they both sit at the table. Ben chuckles lightly)
Nick: (Confused) What?
Ben: You know newbies like us are gonna get stomped on all the time, it doesn't mean they're racist it just means they want us to reach our potential here. Maybe don't be so defensive because you can only get away with it so many times.
Nick: So, I'm angry, I got a right to be. You don't know me; you don't know what I've been through.
Ben: I know your brother Nick.
Nick: (Looks at him in surprise)
Ben: Alex Karev, he's my friend, we used to work together when I was a doctor.
Nick: (Scoffs) Of course you do, just when I get away from it, this crap follows me like the freaking Mona Lisa. Unbelievable.
Ben: (Chuckles light) You know Karev used to detest authority too when I worked with him. He used to bad mouth the chief, the attendings and everyone with rank because he was an aggressive ass who thought he was right all the time. Does that sound familiar?
Nick: (Chuckles darkly) So let me guess now that you know I'm related to your buddy you think you know me and want to fix me huh?
Ben: No, when I found out you were related to him, I realized the reason you're so angry. You tried to do everything you could to get away from what your father did to you. And working at a station filled with bullies and toxic coworkers only brought that back for you so you got in your car and left. You moved states, you met a guy, you got a new job, you did everything to get away from it all. When you realized, Schmitt was connected to what you were running from you broke up with him. Even though you liked him you broke up with him because you didn't want to face that awful past again. And now you told us and Gibson is making it a point to bring up your choice not to know your half siblings and get you to reconsider. Is the captain gonna expect a resignation tomorrow?
Nick: (Sighs) …I like this job and even though you guys are crazy I like all of you. You actually make an effort to know me and be friends with me, which is more than I got last time.
Ben: I'm glad to hear that man, look I'm not gonna tell you what to do that's for you to decide. But the only way to get this chip off your shoulder is to confront the problem, not run from it. I mean that's my advice, you using it is up to you.
(Ben continues eating as Nick sighs and drinks his coffee)
MEANWHILE
SCENE: ATTENDINGS LOUNGE
(Amber is sitting at the table with her head resting on her forearms. Izzie enters surprised to see Amber)
Izzie: What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at the resident's lounge? Where the residents you know lounge?
Amber: (Still lying on her arms) I like this place better, it's more private although I'm gonna have to rethink it now that you lounge here. I bet this place was a cave back in your time.
Izzie: (Chuckles darkly) Yeah well back when I was a resident here you were in glee club making out with some hick under the bleachers.
Amber: (Groans) Just shut up I'm depressed and the sight of you makes me damn near suicidal.
Izzie: (Sees she's sad and tries to cheer her up) Hey look I know we have this thing where you call me grams and I call you a high school musical Sharpay reject but it's only because I'm slightly jealous.
Amber: (Sighs and stands up to do the dishes)
Izzie: I mean you're young, you're beautiful, and not to brag on but look who you're dating.
Amber: Do not talk down to me.
Izzie: It goes away you know, not the beautiful you'll always be beautiful. But the young, it happens really slow and you don't even notice it. I look at you and I think about what I missed out on when I was your age because I thought I was better than that that I was better than most people my age. I'm not talking down to you, I am saying that you're lucky to be at that age. I would give anything to be that young and bright again.
Amber: (Scoffs as she washes a dish) You know I don't think I'm better than most people my age, I'm not like most people my age. I haven't been like most people my age since I was 5 when my mom smashed the tv because she thought the government was watching us. (Angry) I have had fantasies of growing up and getting away from her instead of the stupid vampire, werewolf triangle the other girls in my class had. I was a kid and I couldn't wait to grow up and now…now I am grown up and I still feel worthless and weak and helpless. I'm 26 years old and I still feel exactly how I felt when I was 5 that's not lucky Izzie that's sad so just… (Smashes dish in sink) shut up about lucky!
(Izzie looks at Amber surprised by her outburst. Amber sniffles and sits on the couch breathing heavily. Izzie cautiously sits on the other side)
Amber: …I tanked my first surgery back. I froze in that scrub room and I just…I freaked out and I was asked to go home by my mentor. God you were right I was boastful I thought I was past it but I'm not.
Izzie: Okay so why are you still here?
Amber: (Scoffs) Because I am afraid if I leave, I will never come back.
Izzie: (Looks at her in sympathy)
Amber: Izzie the last time I was in that O.R. I was dying on the table.
Izzie: I know that and I know how hard this is for you.
Amber: No, you don't, you don't know.
Izzie: (Glares at her) You were a patient here for 6 days I was a patient here for 6 months.
Amber: (Stays quiet)
Izzie: I had stage 4 metastatic melanoma with mets to the liver, brain and skin. I had a death sentence hanging over my head and I wanted to call it quits but I didn't. I didn't because everyone around me fought like hell to get me surgeries and treatment. I am alive because of them; my kids are here because of them just like your alive because of them. The second I got the all clear I was back at work and I mean right after I got the all clear. I had cancer back then and I still got back to work.
Amber: If this is you showing off when I'm at my lowest-
Izzie: It's not. I am telling you I went back to work too soon and too fast and because of that a woman lost her one shot at a kidney after waiting for three years. I ordered her a Zero K bath even though her labs showed her potassium was at 3.4. I did that because I was angry at a colleague at the time and I didn't read it thoroughly enough. Did you know that? Did you know I made a mistake that stupid?
Amber: (Looks away in thought)
Izzie: I was arrogant and I thought I could get past what I went through but I was wrong. Amber (Amber looks at her) I was wrong. I'm not telling you to do what I did God knows you don't want to be like me my third year. I am telling you to take care of yourself before you take care of your patients. I did that after I imploded my life but you still have time, you still have time to get better and really ease yourself back into work. Don't be me, be you, be your best self, whoever that was before the accident be that person.
Amber: And how do I do that?
Izzie: You take it one step at a time, one day at a time, one surgery at a time.
(Amber exhales and leans back on the couch)
LATER THAT NIGHT
SCENE: FRONT ENTRANCE
(Nick waits outside until he sees Amber exit the building in her casual wear)
Nick: Hi um are you Amber Karev?
Amber: (Exhausted) I am, who are you?
Nick: I'm Nick Evans I'm-
Amber: Right, right your Levi's boyfriend well he's inside working the night shift you'll have to come back tomorrow.
Nick: I'm not really here to see him, I'm uh…I'm here to confront the problem instead of running from it.
Amber: (Exhausted) Good for you I'm gonna leave now. I'll see you when you bring a trauma.
Nick: There's something I should tell you, something you probably know already but-
Amber: (Groans) Look I don't have time for this whatever you have to say it can wait bye.
(Amber walks away when Nick finally blurts out the truth)
Nick: My father was Jimmy Evans.
(Amber stops and turns around to face Nick with a blank face due to not comprehending his words)
Nick: (Clears throat) When I was five years old my dad left me and my mom, he just took off and never came back. It was just me and my mom and we didn't hear about him until I was 14 and his son, your brother, our brother told us that he died. I went on after that, my mom and I went on living the simple life in Florida.
Amber: Florida? That's where Jimmy was this whole time?
Nick: Until he left us yeah. I became a firefighter, crap happened and I ended up here. And it was here that my mom told me about you, about Alex and…I have been wrestling with this for two months but I decided to run from it to run from the two of you…until God decided to be funny and hook me up with your best friend.
Amber: Levi? Y-You and Levi? Did he know? Did you tell him?
Nick: I didn't know about you two until three days ago. I thought he would have told you by now and if he did…I wanted you to know for yourself that I am here and I am here to stay and you can deal with it however you like.
(They stand there for a tense moment)
Amber: (Cold tone) Who are you?
Nick: What?
Amber: What do you want? What are you after here? Money? You think because my father is dead you can take advantage of his surgeon children? Pull a long-lost brother card and sink your claws into our house and our bank accounts.
Nick: No that's not what this is, I know it seems like that Levi thought so too but-
Amber: If Levi knew about this, he would have told me the second he found out which makes you a liar as well as a fraud.
Nick: I wouldn't make something like this up, just ask your brother. He called my mom personally and she flew out here to see our father.
Amber: (Angry) My father, he was my father not yours. You are not my brother you are a con artist and if you come anywhere near my family, I will call the cops, that is your first and only warning.
Nick: Just listen to me please-
Amber: Stay away from us.
(Amber walks away in a huff while Nick is left behind in shock. Levi is watching from the inside and comes out approaching Nick)
Levi: (Sighs) I take it that went well.
Nick: (Shakes his head) One big happy family huh?
Levi: Just give her time, she'll get over the shock and-
Nick: What do you want?
Levi: I'm just here to make sure your okay, even though we're not together anymore-
Nick: (Cold tone) Yeah, we're not together anymore which means this is none of your business, how I feel is none of your business so just stay out of it.
(Nick walks away from Levi who groans and looks up to the sky)
Levi: (To the sky) You just love to test me, don't you?
LATER
SCENE: ALEX AND JO'S HOUSE
(Amber is waiting in the living room for Alex who walks in alone)
Alex: Hey, what are you doing here? I thought you would be spending the night at DeLuca's.
Amber: Thought or hoped?
Alex: Both. What's up? Was your first day back rough?
Amber: (Chuckles lightly) In more ways than one.
Alex: I'm sorry kid but you know you're not gonna be 100 percent right away, it's gonna take time.
Amber: Yeah, I know I'm taking it easy doing OB and the pit until I can handle being in an O.R. but I'm not here about that. I'm here to talk to you alone, are Jo and the twins with you?
Alex: The twins are spending the night with Izzie and Jo is getting some donuts for herself and no one else. It's good that I got you alone because we need to talk.
Amber: Okay well I guess you can go first since it is your house.
Alex: (Sits down) Thanks…oh god this is not fair for you Amber I know that after everything you've been through you do not need this but you have to know soon enough and I should be the one to tell you.
Amber: Alex, come on whatever you have to say I can handle it, it's not like a glass to the heart.
Alex: Okay then…you remember when I told you about Jimmy three years ago? About how he left another family after he left ours?
Amber: Yeah, I remember, what about it?
Alex: Well, uh that family was a wife and one son and that son…is here in Seattle working as a firefighter at 19.
Amber: (Looks at him with a blank face due to being shocked)
Alex: Jo found out from Warren who found out from Jimmy's son, our…our half-brother. His name is Nick. Nick Evans. He's here in Seattle and he's gonna be working closely with us.
Amber: (Breathing shudders and stands up with her hand over her mouth)
Alex: Look I know this is a lot but I wanted you to know so we can figure out how to handle this together.
Amber: (Sniffles) I met him.
Alex: What?
Amber: An hour ago I met him outside the hospital, h-he was there and he told me all of this. He told me he was Jimmy's son and I thought he was a liar, I thought he was after us.
Alex: He told you himself?
Amber: (Nods uneasily) He did and I called him a liar and a con artist but he wasn't either of those things, was he? He…He's our brother? We have another brother Alex and I just told him to stay away from us.
(Amber and Alex stand there in tense silence over this revelation)