TRIGGER WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS THEMES OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Chapter 30: The Truth Will Set You Free
SCENE: BAILEY'S OFFICE
(Amber sits there in silence next to Levi while the others process her news)
Bailey: (Swallows) Amber, what are you talking about?
Jo: (Angry) Well obviously he blackmailed her with her education and forced her to be with him or she gets kicked out.
Izzie: (Concerned) Amber, is that right? Is that what happened?
Amber: (Nods uneasily) Y-Yes um…the worst was the last night when…I refused him and he beat me up and knocked me out so he could…
Alex: (Breathes in) I am gonna kill that bastard.
Amber: I-I told you not so you could kill him I told you because I know that Mance might be working here and…I was sick to my stomach when I saw him this morning.
Alex: (Furious at Mance) You saw him? You saw him here? Did he hurt you? Did he say anything?
Amber: No, he didn't he just-
Alex: (Stands up and faces Bailey) I cannot believe you let this happen to her, how could you do this?!
Bailey: Do you think I knew when-
Alex: You didn't vet him enough and now that son of a bitch is walking around and Amber is here suffering because of you! Firing me wasn't enough, you had to torment my little sister?!
Bailey: Alex I-
Izzie: (Stands between them) Stop it you two stop it! This isn't about you and this isn't about the hospital this is about Amber and she doesn't need this right now so shut up!
(They stay silent after that)
Izzie: Okay Alex let's just-
(Alex furiously puts his mask on and heads to the door)
Izzie: Alex!
Jo: Alex don't just leave!
(Alex ignores them and slams the door behind them)
Bailey: (Guilty) I…I didn't know, I swear I didn't know anything about this and if I did-
Izzie: We know and Alex will too. Amber, how are you?
Amber: (Sighs) I'm…
(Amber looks behind Bailey at the window showing the bridge where Mance is talking to a nurse and realizes Alex saw him)
Amber: (Shocked) Oh my god.
Izzie: (Looks out and freezes) Oh no, Jo come on.
(Jo, Bailey and Izzie run out to try to stop Alex while Amber stays behind with Levi breathing heavily watching the bridge)
CUT TO BRIDGE
(Alex walks briskly out to the bridge where Mance is still talking to a nurse. He is blinded with rage and as soon as he reaches Mance he punches him in the face as hard as he can causing the nurse to gasp and security to run. Alex continues punching Mance repeatedly and thrashing when the security guard pulls him away as Jo, Bailey and Izzie enter the bridge)
Mance: Get him off me!
Jo: (Stands next to a security guard) Alex stop please!
Alex: (Yells) I'M GONNA KILL YOU, YOU SON OF A BITCH!
Mance: (Bleeding) What the hell is wrong with you?!
(Alex continues thrashing until Jo stands in front of him)
Jo: Alex breathe okay breathe.
Izzie: (Picks Mance up and pushes him away) Get the hell out of here! Now!
(Mance looks on in shock but walks away)
CUT TO BAILEYS OFFICE
(Amber and Levi watch the scene as Alex punches Mance)
Amber: (Gasps) Oh my god!
Levi: It's okay it's gonna be okay.
Amber: (Breathes heavily) I-I can't be here I shouldn't have told them I have to go.
Levi: (Chases after her) Amber wait.
(Amber slams the door behind her and sniffles as she walks away)
CUT TO BLACK
SCENE: BAILEY'S OFFICE
(Alex is sitting on the couch holding an ice pack to his hand getting reprimanded by Webber while Jo and Izzie are observing)
Webber: What the hell were you thinking Karev? Do you realize the storm you just started? You're not some cocky intern anymore you're the chief of peds!
Alex: (Angry) That bastard raped my sister.
Webber: (Shocked) What?
Jo: Amber told us that he blackmailed her into letting him rape her so she could continue going to med.
Webber: Even so you can't go assaulting people no matter what.
Alex: (Scoffs) Yeah, I figured you would side with him hell your wife sided with Handsy Avery and let him assault young girls like Amber left and right why shouldn't you.
Webber: (Offended) What did you just say?
Alex: (Angry) You heard me!
Izzie: Okay guys we don't have time for this we have to take action and figure out how to deal with this. Now Bailey is talking to the board right now about Amber's confession we just need Amber to come in and recount her story to them so they can fire him and he can leave.
Alex: Oh, he's gonna leave and I'm gonna make it so it'll be in a body bag.
Jo: (Sighs) Amber was gone by the time we got back, let's just let her calm down and come back when she feels like it.
Levi: (Comes inside) She's gone.
Alex: (Alert) Gone? What the hell do you mean she's gone?
Levi: She ghosted, vanished, she found a port key. I tried to catch up with her after you bashed Mance's face in but she disappeared in the crowd. I called her and texted but she's not answering.
Jo: She's probably at our place or DeLuca's I'll check.
Izzie: I can take care of the house you go to Andrew's we'll call with updates.
Alex: (Sighs) Okay, call me when you find her and…tell her I'm sorry.
(Jo nods and squeezes Alex's shoulder before she and Izzie leave the room. Webber clears his throat)
Webber: I'll give you a minute.
(Webber leaves the room and Levi and Alex are the only ones left. Alex pinches the bridge of his nose in guilt)
Levi: Look they'll find her, okay? She just needs to rest.
Alex: (Sighs) …How long did you know?
Levi: …A couple of months but I didn't know who it was all I knew was that she was…If I knew who I would've never gotten in that O.R. with him you have to believe me.
Alex: I do, your loyalty to my sister is the one thing I like about you. How was she?
Levi: She was angry when I found her, she was screaming at Mance and pushing him around for what he did.
Alex: (Numb) Good. Who else knew before?
Levi: Just me and Ximena Rojas she…she found her the night he attacked her and helped her.
Alex: (Closes his eyes) I want to kill him…I want to rip him to pieces.
Levi: Me too.
(Levi and Alex sit there in silence over what happened)
Levi: (Stands up) I'm gonna check in Nick's room, maybe she went in there instead. Don't worry I'll leave out why she would run away.
Alex: (Groans) No I'll-I'll tell him we'll go together.
Levi: (Surprised) Are you sure?
Alex: (Stands up) It's better that he hears it from me instead of some gossipy nurse. Let's go.
(Alex and Levi leave the office and go to Nick's room just as he's changing to get discharged)
Alex: Hey man how are you feeling?
Nick: (Puts shirt on and grins) Like a million bucks.
Levi: (Can tell he's lying) Really?
Nick: (Shrugs) All right maybe like a couple of grand but I'm alive right? And I am ready to get back on the rig and save lives.
Alex: Your captain called last night she told us to tell you you're on bed rest for the next week. If you want to defy them, go ahead but it'll probably cost you your job.
Nick: (Groans) Seriously?
Levi: You were hit with a beer bottle to the back of the head I think that warrants concerns over your recovery. Hey uh has Amber come by here today?
Nick: No, it was just you this morning and nurse Ruth and I gotta tell you man she could work on her bedside manners.
Alex: (Disdains her as well) Yeah well mummified corpses don't really have manners.
Nick: (Chuckles) So what's up with Amber? Is she sick or something?
Alex: (Cold) Or something…um sit down.
(Nick is surprised by his tone but sits down on the bed with Alex and Levi sitting in chairs in front of him)
Nick: Okay you guys are scaring me what's wrong?
Alex: Um…Amber came to me and the chief a little while ago and…she told us that our new general surgeon…assaulted her when she was in med.
Nick: (Taken back) W-What do you mean assaulted? Do…Do you mean he-
Levi: Yes, she told us and…Alex saw him in the bridge and beat him up.
Nick: (To Alex) Did you make him bleed?
Alex: I was a wrestler in high school. I made him bleed and hopefully caused permanent damage.
Nick: Good. H-How did she know this guy again?
Levi: She was his research assistant when she was in NYU med and…he blackmailed her with her scholarship so he could…rape her.
Nick: (Angry for Amber) I'll kill him.
Alex: Look as much as I want the both of us to team up and take turns torturing him. Amber takes precedence. Do you know where she might have gone? Maybe the station?
Nick: (Stands up) I'll uh I'll head down there and check don't worry I won't tell them why I'm checking for her.
Levi: I'll come with you if she knows I told you she's gonna run again and Bailey needs her to tell the board what happened so this…monster can walk out of the hospital and she never has to see him again.
Nick: (Puts jacket on) Okay yeah come on.
Alex: Call me and let me know if she's there, I'll be here waiting in case she comes back.
Levi: Yeah.
(Levi and Nick leave the room to search for Amber)
LATER
SCENE: ANDREWS APARTMENT
(Andrew gets ready to check out an open house for a new apartment when someone knocks on his door stopping his mid button up. He opens the door and finds Jo on the other side)
Andrew: (Surprised) Jo what are you doing here?
Jo: (Rushes inside) Is Amber here?
Andrew: (Closes door) What? No, she's not here, she was supposed to clock out in an hour and meet me at an open house.
Jo: Did she call you or text you recently?
Andrew: No, I texted her this morning and she hasn't responded, what's wrong?
Jo: Damn it. (Phone rings and sees it's Izzie) Hey is she there?
Izzie: No, the kids and the babysitter said nobody came by. I checked the rooms but she's not in any of them. What about your end?
Jo: (Sighs) She's not here damn it. I gotta go, call Alex and tell him I'll search for her at her favorite places.
Izzie: I'll stay here in case she comes and call you guys.
Jo: Thanks, bye. (Hangs up)
Andrew: (Worried) Whoa what's going on? Is something wrong with Amber?
Jo: Um she ran away I don't know where, we searched my house and here and haven't found her. I really have to go; I'll call you if I find her.
Andrew: Jo, wait a minute, what is this about?
Jo: …It's nothing.
Andrew: Clearly, it's not or you wouldn't be here and tell me that she ran away. What is going on?
Jo: (Sighs and contemplates whether or not to tell him)
Andrew: Jo, this is my girlfriend we're talking about and the last time I didn't hear from her she ended up in a car crash in the middle of the street with a shard of glass in her heart. Tell me what this is about, I deserve to know.
Jo: I know you do and…promise me you won't be mad that you heard this from me and that no matter what you will not make any reckless decisions.
Andrew: Fine.
Jo: Promise me.
Andrew: Yes, I promise now tell me before I call the cops and put out a BOLO on her.
Jo: (Sighs) She…Amber was raped.
(Andrew stands there frozen in shock by Jo's words)
CUT TO BLACK
SCENE: STATION 19
(Levi is sitting in the locker room in torment while Nick calls Alex)
Nick: She's not here, nobody saw her and nobody came in except us I'm sorry…yeah okay bye. (Hangs up) Still no sign of her at the hospital, god where could she be.
Levi: (Sad) I don't know.
Nick: (Sighs) Do you want a ride home?
Levi: I can't go home until I know where she is and…and that she's safe. Could she…could she kill herself?
Nick: (Exhales and sits next to Levi) If this was a regular woman who experienced an unspeakable trauma, I would think so but it's Amber and she wouldn't do that to herself or to Alex and Jo. Don't go there, you know her better than I do so I think you know the answer to your question already.
Levi: …She told me two months ago that she was raped. We worked on a case together with a woman who was beaten and raped by a robber. After that…I asked her if she could imagine the pain she went through and she said 'I don't have to imagine'. I knew what she meant and I didn't pry, I didn't ask more questions because I didn't want to upset her.
Nick: You were a good friend to her under those difficult circumstances.
Levi: (Voice breaking) But if I had asked questions, I would know who he was and I would've warned her that he was at the hospital. And now my best friend in the world is missing possibly dead because I was so concerned with making her feel uncomfortable that day. I mean what kind of a friend just walks away after that confession and never mentions it again? Who does that?
Nick: (Sad for him) …Look I don't know Amber that well but I can tell that she's built like a Fort Knox vault, you couldn't have broken past her many locks if you tried. She was gonna keep this to herself until she couldn't. You could've left her to deal with this on her own and tell the chief on her own but you didn't, you helped her tell them. Don't blame yourself for this, there's only one person you should blame, the guy who did this to her.
Levi: (Tears up) I just…I just want her to be okay.
(Levi starts to sob and Nick feels sad with him and pulls him forward in a hug cradling his head as he cries on Nick's shoulder)
MEANWHILE
SCENE: ALEX AND JO'S HOUSE
(Izzie watches Alexis drawing in her coloring book from a distance and she tears up for her after hearing what happened to Amber and covers her mouth muffling her sobs)
Eli: (Behind her) Mom, are you okay?
Izzie: (Composes herself and smiles at Eli) Yeah I'm okay peanut I'm just so allergic to this candle wax your dad and Jo are using it's criminal.
Eli: You were crying.
Izzie: (Sighs and knows she can't talk her way out of this)
Eli: Is this about auntie Amber? You called for her and asked us if she was here, is she okay?
Izzie: (Nods) Your auntie Amber is fine she's just out resting after a long day; don't worry she'll be back and you and your sister will fight over her before you know it. Now come on, you said you were gonna build me a Legos castle so come on.
(Izzie picks up Eli and carries him upstairs to his room)
LATER
SCENE: ANDREWS APARTMENT
(Andrew is sitting in his armchair rubbing his hands between his knees leaning forward in thought and guilt after Jo explained the whole story. Jo is sitting on the couch looking at him thought and guilt too)
Andrew: (Inhales) How is she?
Jo: She was a wreck when she told us. Schmitt was there and he helped her to tell us, she left right after Alex put a number on Mance.
Andrew: (Shakes his head) It's the one time I would condone him beating a man to near death. (Sniffles) She was going through all of that, and I made it even worse for her with the hell I dragged her in.
Jo: You didn't know, none of us did.
Andrew: (Blames himself) I should've…I should've seen it God it was staring me right in the face and I didn't see it.
(Andrew stands up and pulls his hair back feeling guilty)
Andrew: The day you and her treated that rape victim Abby she…she flinched when I touched her, she pulled away like I was on fire and-and she called in sick the week after that. Amber never called in sick a day in her life and suddenly she got the flu after she helped Abby. God why didn't I see it? We were living together and I never saw the signs.
Jo: You can't blame yourself, and you can't blame Amber. She was just trying to get through the day and get through what happened to her. Eventually she did until she treated a woman who was in the same position, it's become routine for her to get over it and move on. But now she needs to face this and that means she needs us, she needs you.
Andrew: (Inhales and exhales) What am I gonna do? I don't know what to say or how to fix this for her.
Jo: You'll figure it out, you always do.
Andrew: (Sighs and sits in the armchair) Now I know why Amber wants to move out of here so badly. I know the thing about bad memories in every corner she was talking about. God, it makes the on-call room I lived in seem more pleasant. Are there any houses in your area for sale? I don't care about the cost I just want to be out of this place and be done with it.
Jo: (Eyes furrow as she comes to a realization)
Andrew: Jo, what is it?
Jo: She wouldn't leave the hospital.
Andrew: What?
Jo: Somebody would see her leave and she wouldn't want that; she would want to be alone. Maybe she didn't disappear into the crowd when Levi chased her.
Andrew: (Realizes) She locked herself in an on-call room.
Jo: (Stands up) I gotta go.
Andrew: (Stands up) I'm coming with you.
Jo: No, no Andrew I have to do this alone. I have to be the only one there otherwise she'll be overwhelmed and run away again. I'll tell her to call you when she feels like she can.
Andrew: (Sighs) Fine just…just tell her that I'll be here waiting if she needs me.
Jo: I will.
(Jo leaves the apartment and Andrew sits on the couch sighing from exhaustion)
AN HOUR LATER
SCENE: ON CALL ROOM
(Amber is in the single bed curled up reading a book when she hears someone coming in and wakes up. She sees Jo standing there relieved to find her and closes the door behind her)
Jo: I thought I'd find you here. Red Queen or Twilight?
Amber: (Sits up) Red Queen.
Jo: (Sits in front of her) Good choice.
Amber: How did you know where I was?
Jo: I know you wouldn't leave a witness to tell us where you went so, I figured out the only way you would leave the hospital was to not leave the hospital.
Amber: If you weren't a doctor, I think you would make a good detective.
Jo: (Hands Amber a sandwich in a Ziplock) Fluffernutter sandwich, more on the fluff and less on the nutter.
Amber: Thanks…I'm sorry I bailed I just-I had to get out of there. I didn't want to see my brother get dragged off to prison because of me.
Jo: It wouldn't have been your fault if he did, he reacted in anger hell I reacted in anger only I kept it in control.
Amber: How is he? How's everyone?
Jo: Worried about you, so was I, so was Andrew. I told him what happened, I'm sorry.
Amber: (Sniffles) Better you than me I guess…how did he take it?
Jo: He blames himself. He thinks he added more to your pain and that he didn't see the signs in front of him the day…the day we treated Abby.
Amber: (Shakes her head) He shouldn't have to, he didn't see because I didn't want him to, I didn't want anyone to.
Jo: (Guilty) Yeah…but that doesn't stop us from feeling guilty about not helping you sooner.
Amber: (Looks up and sees Jo's eyes glistening)
Jo: I'm so sorry Amber for not seeing what was in front of me the day we helped Abby. I was so busy trying to keep my emotions in check so I didn't fall apart in front of everyone that I didn't…I didn't realize you were doing the same thing.
Amber: (Sniffles and holds Jo's hand as she cries)
Jo: (Voice breaks) I can't-I can't imagine what you've been through and the fact that you had to go through that alone it…it kills me.
Amber: (Tears up) I wasn't really alone.
Jo: But I should've been there.
Amber: … (Grins slightly) You're here now.
(Jo tears up and hugs Amber who hugs her back)
Jo: (Pulls back) You have to report this, Amber.
Amber: (Sniffles) I know, I know I have to tell the board and get him kicked out I know that and I will.
Jo: No that's not it. You have to report him to the police, you have to go public with this.
Amber: (Shakes her head)
Jo: He can't get away with this, he needs to pay.
Amber: It's not possible. It's Charles Mance, everybody loves him and everybody knows him, and me…I'm a nobody. He's not gonna see a day in a jail cell.
Jo: (Déjà vu) Okay listen to me, Paul was a big name in the surgery world too and I have been exactly where you are only, I loved him and I married him. I thought I couldn't get justice either but that was because I never tried. I was gonna testify against him with Jenny but then he died you remember that. I lost my chance at getting back at the man who ruined my life and I will not let that happen to you, okay? You deserve to be heard and you know that predators like Mance repeated this till they got it right so-
Amber: So, there will be others he did this too.
Jo: All it takes is one voice, one person willing to come forward and then another comes forward and another and soon he's not gonna be able to hide behind his ivory scalpel anymore. You're a person, you're my person and we're gonna fight this. You, me and Alex, we're the original Karev Bunch and we don't back down from a challenge. I know you can do this because you are the strongest person I have ever met.
Amber: (Cries and looks at Jo touched)
Jo: I'm gonna be there with you every single step of the way, okay?
Amber: (Sniffles) …Okay.
Jo: Come here.
(Jo and Amber hug again with Amber holding on to Jo tight grateful for her)
CUT TO CONFERENCE ROOM
(Bailey comes out from the board meeting to find Alex outside)
Bailey: Any sign of her?
Alex: No.
Bailey: …I didn't know, if I did, I wouldn't have had that man anywhere near this hospital unless I personally do surgery on him without anesthesia.
Alex: I know you didn't it's just…I was blinded with rage.
Bailey: Me too. She's my resident and I didn't do enough to protect her.
Alex: (Anguish) She's my sister I was the one who was supposed to protect her and I didn't. Instead, I drove her away from me when she asked for my help. I'm the worst brother ever.
Bailey: You beat the man who assaulted her to a pulp, only a good brother would respond like that first.
Alex: …I hate this.
Bailey: I hate this too.
(They stop when they see Jo and Amber walking down the hall arm in arm. They stop in front of them)
Amber: I…I'm sorry I had to leave I couldn't-
Alex: I know it's okay, are you…how are you?
Amber: (Sighs) I'm managing, I'm here to tell my side of the story and hope they believe me.
Bailey: They will, I'll get him out of this hospital with a pair of pliers if I have to. This is my mess and the least I can do is clean it up for you.
Amber: Thank you. I'm ready.
Jo: Do you want us to go with you?
Amber: No this is something I have to do on my own, but thanks.
(Amber lets go of Jo and goes inside the conference room with Bailey leaving Jo and Alex out in the hall)
Alex: I know I reacted badly but you need to know-
Jo: Don't.
Alex: I'm still the same person I was, it's just-
Jo: I mean don't apologize because I wanted to do the same thing to him when she told us. I had about five different torture methods in my head by the time you walked out that door. I…I understand why you were angry when I told you, you were angry for me just like I am angry for Amber. I am furious and it is taking everything in me not to hunt him down and make him suffer for what he put her through.
Alex: (Nods and has a grim look) Tell me we're not gonna let him get away with this.
Jo: We're not gonna let him get away with this and neither will Amber. We are gonna make sure he pays for this, the right way. I know you and I know you want to find him and finish what you started but don't. Amber isn't gonna get peace that way and I know it's a one in a million chance but if a jury finds Mance guilty maybe your sister will finally stop suffering in silence and move on. Okay?
Alex: …Okay.
(Alex and Jo holds hands comforting each other as they watch Amber recount her story to the board)
TWO HOURS LATER
SCENE: ANDREWS APARTMENT
(Andrew is waiting inside sitting on the couch when he hears the door opening and is relieved to find Amber coming in. Amber looks at him in thought trying to figure out what to say)
Amber: …Hi.
Andrew: (Looks at her with love) Hi…Is it true?
Amber: (Nods)
Andrew: (Sighs) …Can I hug you?
Amber: (Touched) Yeah you can.
(Andrew walks to Amber and gently pulls her in for a hug holding her tight. Amber puts her face against his shoulder and closes her eyes feeling safe again)
Andrew: (Rubs her back) I am so sorry. I…I'm sorry that this happened to you and that I added more to your pain and that I didn't make you feel safe enough to tell me.
Amber: (Pulls away) No it's not your fault. I-I hid it, I wasn't ready for anyone to know, please don't blame yourself for this. I chose to carry this alone and…I don't want to do that anymore, I'm too tired.
Andrew: (Caresses her face) I had so many things I wanted to say to you but looking into your eyes and seeing you in pain. Right now, all I want to do is whatever you want me to do so you can feel even a little bit better because I am sorry. I'm sorry that I didn't see it, I'm sorry that this happened.
Amber: I know you are and I know you want to help and I am grateful because I am going to need it more than even.
Andrew: I'll do whatever I can to help you like you helped me.
Amber: (Sighs) I'm going to press charges against Mance, official charges. I want to come forward and tell the world what he did to me and encourage other women to do the same. I don't know if it'll amount to much but I have to try. Will you help me?
Andrew: (Looks at her lovingly) Of course I will. I love you and I am gonna be by your side through all of this no matter what.
Amber: I love you too, especially now at this very moment.
(Andrew pulls Amber in and they hug again holding each other as they relieve each other of their pain)
THANKS FOR READING GUYS AND REVIEWS ARE WELCOME LET ME KNOW HOW I DID.