HEY GUYS SORRY FOR BEING AWAY FOR SO LONG I WAS BUSY BUT I'M HERE WITH A NEW CHAPTER. THIS CHAPTER FOCUSES ON AARON'S REACTION TO AMBER'S RAPE SO BE PREPARED FOR ANGST.
Chapter 33: Brothers
SCENE: ALEX AND JO'S HOUSE
(Alex is watching Jo trying to cook spaghetti and meatballs and holds a pitcher of water in confusion)
Alex: I don't understand why the water. All the ingredients laid out but why put water in meatballs?
Jo: Carina says that it helps the meatballs not turn into tiny little rocks and I trust her judgement because the DeLuca's are better cooks than us and it helps that they come from the land of pasta. Although Carina didn't specify how much water.
Alex: (Chuckles and chops celery)
Jo: Hey! Birthday rules, no help from the guest of honor.
Alex: Well, I think an exception can be made since my birthday was a month ago.
Izzie: (Enters to get a water bottle) Ah yes but that birthday was delayed due to covid and your sister almost dying so this is a late celebration.
Alex: Well, it feels weird celebrating with everything going on and not just the pandemic.
Izzie: Well Amber says it's okay to celebrate, in fact she is bringing the cake as we speak.
Alex: What kind?
Jo: Ice cream cake your favorite.
Alex: (Persuaded) Well I am owed a birthday so continue then wench.
Jo: (Scoffs and grins) Wench?
Alex: I mean honey?
Jo: Better.
(The doorbell rings)
Jo: Can somebody get that please?!
Izzie: The twins are with Andrew and Amber getting the cake inscribed.
Alex: I got it.
Izzie: Nope I got it; you make sure that your wife doesn't burn the house down because my hotel room is cramped enough as it is.
(Izzie runs to the door and opens it. Aaron Karev is on the other side in his jacket, mask and beanie. Izzie doesn't recognize him due to never meeting him)
Aaron: (Confused by her presence) Hello.
Izzie: Hello.
Aaron: Is Alex here?
Izzie: Um he is and you are?
Aaron: I'm Aaron.
Izzie: Okay are you a friend of his?
(Alex appears and is shocked by his brother's presence)
Alex: Aaron?
Aaron: Hey man, are you gonna let this stranger invite me in?
Izzie: I'm sorry, are you a friend or a neighbor?
Alex: (Still in shock) No, he's my brother.
(Izzie is shocked and turns back smiling awkwardly at Aaron who grins back and comes inside)
Aaron: I'm sorry, who are you exactly?
Alex: Um this is Izzie.
Aaron: Izzie? (Realizes) Oh your-
Izzie: The bitch wife who left your brother at least that's what I'm assuming your sister told you.
Aaron: Um in so many words yeah basically.
Alex: Aaron, what are you doing here?
Aaron: I was making a delivery in Great Falls and had some time to kill so I thought I'd stop by and finally meet my niece and nephew. I mean I'm five years overdue right?
Jo: (Appears and is surprised) Aaron? What are you doing here?
Alex: He was on a job and he stopped by.
Jo: You were driving on the road across states? In the middle of a pandemic?
Aaron: Don't worry I've been safe I took a test before coming here, I didn't want to risk you and the baby getting sick. Oh, and congratulations by the way, Amber must be ecstatic to be an auntie again. Where is she by the way? Did she move back in with Andrew?
Alex: Um yes and no, they'll be here in a little while they're just getting a cake for the party.
Aaron: A party? What's the occasion?
Jo: Um we're celebrating Alex's birthday. I mean we didn't really celebrate it that day because of covid and Amber and we're trying to make it up to him.
Alex: Against my will I might add.
Aaron: Hey come on man you got a wife and ex-wife celebrating your birthday a month after. I'd be lucky if Emma would remember.
Alex: (Jokes) Well, that's because she's been either pregnant or working nonstop to care about your ungrateful ass.
Aaron: Shut up man.
(Andrew and Amber chuckle at Eli and Alexis's antics as they come inside and stop at the sight of Aaron)
Amber: (Holding pink box) Aaron?
Aaron: (Smiles) Hey sis, I see your still alive thank God.
Amber: What are you doing here?
Aaron: I was on the road and I thought I'd stop by for a visit.
Amber: (Wide eyes) On the road? You're still driving on the road?
Alexis: (Looks at Amber) Who is he?
Amber: Um Eli, Alexis this is your uncle Aaron, remember we told you about him? Say hi.
Eli: Hi.
Alexis: (Grins) Hi.
Aaron: (Grins) Hey it's so nice to meet you guys, wow you look just like your dad and aunt when they were your age.
Alex: Well except for the eyes they get that from their mom.
Jo: Hey guys, why don't you come with me to the kitchen and help set up dinner for your dad and uncle? Your uncle Aaron can catch up with them in the meantime, come on.
Alexis: Sure.
Eli: Can I get a second slice of the cake?
Alex: You guys can get the first slice if you do a good job on the table now come on.
(Alexis and Eli eagerly run to the kitchen following Jo. Amber waits till they leave before slapping the back of Aaron's head with Izzie wide eyed shocked. Andrew snickers quietly behind Amber expecting this while Alex keeps a respectable distance)
Aaron: Ow! What the hell was that for?
Amber: (Angry and worried for him) You're still traveling across state lines? Are you insane or have you gotten stupider?
Aaron: (Looks to Alex for help)
Alex: Don't look at me man, you're not getting anything from me on account of me wondering the same thing. And I don't want to get killed by her in the crossfire.
Izzie: Amber, he's your brother he's allowed to come by and say hi.
Amber: And that would be great if he wasn't a reckless idiot.
Aaron: (Grins) I see that car accident knocked out all the manners you had and made you more crabby.
Andrew: Ignore them, this is just how they talk and show love.
Amber: (Sighs and let's go of her anger) Your clean?
Aaron: Relax I tested negative.
Amber: Well in that case come here.
(Amber moves to hug Aaron who hugs her back and pulls back noticing her restless eyes)
Aaron: Jesus have you been sleeping? You look like mom.
Amber: (Smacks arm) You're looking at the typical face of a doctor working in a hospital during a pandemic.
Aaron: Yeah, well shipping is pretty popular now so I think both of our businesses are booming.
Amber: Is Emma here? The boys?
Aaron: Uh no she's back in Iowa taking care of her dad, he got sick and the boys are staying with mom. She told me to get on the road and save myself.
Alex: She's a saint.
Aaron: She's pregnant.
Amber: (Shocked) Again?
Aaron: It's really boring in Cedar Rapids and corona forced us to pass the time somehow.
Andrew: Well, hey congrats man, do you know if it's a boy or a girl?
Aaron: Not yet she and my mom are praying for a girl though, that way they can shop for dresses. Leave it to us Karev's to get knocked up in the worst time possible.
Amber: Well better you guys than me.
Izzie: Yeah with everything going on along with the pandemic, I can see your point.
Aaron: (Confused) What is she talking about?
Amber: (Swallows) Um just me getting back together with Andrew and trying to get back on my feet after the accident that's what she was talking about right?
Izzie: (Realizes her mistake) Right, that's what I meant.
Alex: (Clears throat) Hey uh we should get to the kitchen Jo is probably struggling with the balls.
Aaron: Balls?
Andrew: I'll help come on.
(Andrew, Alex and Aaron head to the kitchen leaving Amber with Izzie)
Izzie: I'm sorry I thought you told him and-
Amber: (Harsh) Yeah do me a favor and stop thinking, it'll be good for everyone.
(Amber pushes past Izzie to the kitchen)
LATER
SCENE: DINING ROOM
(Jo opens the gift Aaron got her and is delighted that it's a video baby monitor with Izzie and Andrew at the table. Alex and Amber are in the kitchen drinking beer. The twins are asleep upstairs)
Jo: Oh my gosh this is so thoughtful thank you Aaron.
Aaron: Yeah I figured you guys were so busy you don't have time to shop so I got you something to start. A device to spy on your kid before you put a tracker on it's phone.
Jo: (Chuckles) Well it'll look great on the nursery upstairs.
Andrew: You're setting it up?
Jo: Uh close we picked out the room we just need to paint it. And get the furniture out…and buy a crib. Oh god are we gonna screw up this kid?
Izzie: Nope do you know how long it took me to get the nursery set up? When the kids were in the cabbage stage, you'll be fine it's your first your supposed to screw it up.
Aaron: She's right, I mean I can't even tell you how many times I almost dropped Dominic after he was born it's a miracle, he didn't end up brain dead.
Jo: (Chuckles uneasily) That's comforting.
Andrew: You know Amber and I don't have much to do outside of work and finding a new place is put on pause until the market is more stable. We could come by and get some of the furniture out if you want.
Jo: Really? (Andrew nods) Thanks, how does tomorrow sound?
Andrew: Uh yeah we don't work so tomorrow is good let me talk to Amber, I'm sure she'll love to do it.
CUT TO KITCHEN
(Amber and Alex drink their beer and talk about Aaron)
Alex: He looks good right? Does he seem stable to you?
Amber: Well, he's not chasing us with knives so that's a good sign. I'm sure him driving on the road is just usual stupidity instead of mental illness. He's fine Alex don't worry, if he wasn't he wouldn't risk being around us believe me he's learned his lesson that night. The gifts he got us were pretty nice right?
(Amber holds us her Oh for Fox Sake mug and Alex holds up his Lazy Mans beer mug grinning in amusement)
Alex: I think this is probably the nicest gift I'm ever gonna get from him on my birthday…during a pandemic. Do you think he still resents that I didn't invite him to the wedding?
Amber: Dude I still resent that you didn't invite me to the wedding and it didn't help that you punched him the day of his surgery.
Alex: (Defensive) He started it.
Amber: You both started it and you're both idiots, let's agree to that and move on. Besides, you're not the only sibling keeping important information from him.
Alex: (Sips beer) Well I didn't think of you guys when it happened, you're thinking of our schizophrenic brother suffering in jail after he murders Mance.
Amber: Yeah do me a favor and don't tell him, I just-I don't want to see another Karev blowup.
Alex: And you think reading about it in some article is gonna make it better?
Amber: I told you I was still thinking about being a named source. If I decide to then I will tell Aaron and mom and hope that they don't literally go insane.
Alex: Okay well if you want, I can be there to hold him back from running to the bastard even though I want to help him.
Amber: I'll keep that in mind thanks. (Groans) And then there's the half brother from our abusive father he still doesn't know about.
Alex: Yeah, for once we have good timing since he's on call tonight. I'll take the half-brother; you've got enough on your plate to reveal as it is.
Amber: (Sighs) We Karev's really have shit timing, don't we?
Alex: (Scoffs) Yeah, we really do.
(Alex and Amber drink their beer in unison)
THE NEXT MORNING
SCENE: STATION 19
(Nick is wiping down the desk when Amber knocks on the door in her casual wear and mask, he lets her in)
Nick: Hey.
Amber: Hey, how's it going? Are you still on call?
Nick: Uh for the next hour yeah, I'm sorry I couldn't make it to party but B shift is skimping and I volunteered to help out.
Amber: No that's fine in fact I think you chose the right time to work overtime.
Nick: What do you mean?
Amber: Um…do you remember when I told you about my brother-our brother Aaron?
Nick: Yeah you said he lives in Iowa and is a mover right?
Amber: That's right well (Chuckles uneasily) He's here in Seattle paying us a visit.
Nick: (Wide eyes) Oh…that's…oh.
Amber: Yeah, oh is right this was as much of a surprise to me believe me. I mean he hasn't visited in over a year and last time he ended up in the ER with a broken leg so hopefully this goes better.
Nick: I take it you came here to warn me in case he comes by for another awkward family reunion.
Amber: More like tell you that Alex is going to tell him and see how he reacts and if that's going to happen. Look, we're not asking much of you; we know that you're still trying to figure us out so if you don't want to meet him that is completely fine. I'm sure he'll be more weirded out and won't object to you guys not meeting, he'll understand.
Nick: (Sighs) …Well you can tell him I am open for a meet and greet if he is.
Amber: (Surprised) Really? It's no trouble at all, I don't want you to feel pressured.
Nick: No, it's fine, I mean you talk about him all the time and how great he is so the least I owe him is the courtesy of a visit. And besides it can't get worse than the half-sister I met who called me a stalker and a psycho.
Amber: (Grins and rolls her eyes) That is an oddly positive spin on a low point in both of our lives.
Nick: I don't have any plans tonight anyway; the black firefighters are going to this yacht banquet Gregory is hosting. I'm sure Miller and Hughes would rather meet their schizophrenic half-brother than listen to the same old tired speech about PD pride when they're suing PD.
Amber: Well, when you put it like that, I have faith there isn't gonna be another brother's showdown.
Nick: One where I kick his ass?
Amber: (Chuckles) Dude my brother would kick your firefighter ass any day of the week with three of his limbs tied.
Nick: (Grins) Oh really?
Amber: Hell yeah we Karev's are a very scrappy bunch, so don't piss him off. I'll keep you posted, see you later.
Nick: See you.
(Amber leaves the station)
LATER
SCENE: NURSERY ROOM
(Andrew is dismantling the desk with Amber beside him setting up the baby monitor camera)
Amber: (Sees him drilling) I think your supposed to dismantle the top first that way the bottom doesn't completely collapse.
Andrew: Babe I got it, I have taken apart furniture before believe it or not.
Amber: Okay but I'm just-
Andrew: Amber I got it okay?
Amber: (Takes a step back) Okay.
(Andrew dismantles the bottom left corner and his finger is hit when a board drops and hits it)
Andrew: (Stands up holding his thumb) Ow! Son of a bitch!
Amber: What did I tell you? I told you that would happen but no you guys always say no to the women offering advice. It's a wonder why Eve was made, Adam would've gotten slaughtered without a woman's wisdom.
Andrew: Your not religious.
Amber: Pfft, doesn't mean I don't believe women were created to help you fools.
Andrew: Okay well can you help this fool with his sore thumb please?
Amber: (Sighs and comes over) You'll live, it's just soreness, take ibuprofen and limit thumb movement. Do you need me to take care of the desk for you, Bob the Builder?
Andrew: Yes.
Amber: Now was that so hard to admit? Take the book shelf out you can manage that.
(Amber takes the drill and works on the desk while Andrew sides the shelf to get it through the door)
Amber: How did therapy go by the way? Did she give you grief when you told her about punching someone in the parking lot?
Andrew: Not really, she said my reaction was that of an angry loved one and not from mania. But she did give me breathing exercises and remedies to avoid certain triggers.
Amber: That's good, the last thing you need on top of everything is to be seen having another bipolar breakdown. I mean the nurses and residents are convinced it's just a lover's quarrel which makes me sick but what are you gonna do?
Andrew: (Looks at her in worry) Have you given the idea of coming forward much thought?
Amber: I'm giving it all the thought I can but with my brother visiting it's kind of making me more reluctant.
CUT TO LIVING ROOM
(Aaron enters the room after going on a run and collapses on the couch with the baby monitor screen on viewing Amber and Andrew talking in the nursery)
CUT TO NURSERY
Andrew: You know…I think you should talk to Aaron about this and see what he says about it.
Amber: (Stops drilling) What? No absolutely not.
Andrew: Why? It might be a good idea, Amber; he could help you like Alex is helping you.
Amber: The only help he's gonna give is straight up murder and I can't do that to him.
Andrew: You don't know that he might not do it if he knows that's not what you need.
Amber: The last time Aaron had a truth bomb in this city he headbutted my brother, do you think he's gonna take this well? He's gonna do something to get himself in prison and he won't get help for his illness. You know how screwed up that system is for people like him. He'll slip, he'll go crazy and he'll end up like our mom. The idea of him becoming the person he was that night scares me more than anything.
Andrew: Amber-
CUT TO LIVING ROOM
(Aaron listens to the audio attentively as Amber continues)
Amber: No you have to promise me okay? You have to promise me that you won't tell him that Mance raped me.
(Aaron's mouth slightly gapes open in shock as he hears this)
CUT TO BLACK
SCENE: ALEX AND JO'S LIVING ROOM
(Amber and Andrew come down and see Aaron standing up from the couch with a tense face as they approach him)
Amber: Hey, you're here good maybe you can help me dismantle the desk and actually listen to directions unlike-
Aaron: Is it true?
Amber: (Stops and looks at Aaron confused) What's true?
Aaron: I overheard what you said upstairs. Did Mance…did he…did he rape you?
Andrew: (Looks at Amber with worry)
Amber: (Inhales sharply and looks at Aaron sadly) …Aaron please don't make me answer that.
Aaron: (Angry) Is it true? Tell me right now.
Amber: (Swallows) …Yes.
Aaron: (Inhales and looks away in fury)
Amber: It happened years ago and I tried to move past it and forget it.
Aaron: Why didn't you come to me and Alex with this?
Amber: I…I wanted to forget it as soon as it was over and I knew how you and Alex would react I knew you two would get on a plane, corner him like an animal and kill him.
Aaron: (Furious) Your damn right we would!
Andrew: Aaron, calm down please.
Aaron: Calm down?! My sister was raped by some fucking animal and your gonna tell me to calm down?!
Amber: Look please listen to me I didn't tell Alex or you until now because I didn't think I would ever see him again but then he came to the hospital and-
Aaron: (Angry) He was at the hospital? You saw him there?
Amber: Yeah, after that I told the chief and I told Alex and Jo and the reason I didn't tell you was because I knew you would do something stupid and land yourself in prison.
Aaron: (Huffs and tries to leave the house)
Amber: (Grabs his arm to stop him) Please Aaron stop! You need to hear this (Voice breaks) You are my brother and I didn't want you to know because I wanted you to be okay.
Aaron: (Grunts and punches the wall)
Amber: (In tears) Aaron!
(Aaron leaves the house and slams the door behind him)
Amber: I can't let him do this.
Andrew: Let him go he needs some air and time to cool down.
Amber: No, I can't because if he does what I know he's gonna do Emma and the boys are gonna lose him and so will I, I have to fix this.
Andrew: (Grips her shoulders) Right now he thinks Mance is at the hospital and he's not gonna find him there. Your brother and sister are gonna be there and they're gonna help him calm down but they need to know he's coming.
Amber: (Sniffles) Damn it, when is this nightmare gonna end?
Andrew: (Rubs her arms) Do you want me to call Alex and tell him Aaron is coming?
Amber: (Shakes her head) No, this is my mess I have to be the one to do this.
(Amber pulls out her phone and calls Alex who answers)
Amber: It's me, Aaron is on his way to the hospital. He knows Alex.
LATER
SCENE: GREY SLOAN LOBBY
(Aaron enters the lobby in fury with Alex standing there waiting for him)
Alex: We need to talk privately.
Aaron: (Ignores him and walks past him) I'm busy.
Alex: (Walks beside him) Busy with what?
Aaron: (Angry) Killing Charles Mance or castrate him and then kill him or scoop out his eyeballs force feed them to him and then kill him I'm still deciding.
Alex: Well good luck with that because he doesn't work here anymore.
Aaron: (Stops in his tracks and faces him with fury) If you're protecting that piece of shit, I swear I am-
Alex: I'm not believe me I would point you in the direction but I am telling you the truth. He got fired after Amber reported him to the board.
Aaron: Do you know where he is?
Alex: No and I am not gonna find out.
Aaron: And why the hell not?
Alex: (Furious) Because if I do, I'm gonna do the same thing you're doing right now.
Aaron: (Calms down)
Alex: Now can we talk privately?
Aaron: (Inhales and exhales before nodding)
CUT TO ATTENDINGS LOUNGE
(Alex opens the door and lets Aaron in)
Aaron: Tell me this, what did you do when you found out while he was still working here?
Alex: (Tense) I punched him in the middle of the hospital until his nose broke and threatened to murder him in front of everyone.
Aaron: Did you put your weight on it?
Alex: Of course, I did.
Aaron: (Cold) Good…this guy is a doctor?
Alex: Yeah, a pretty famous one too.
Aaron: Tell me how it happened.
Alex: Aaron-
Aaron: I need to know Alex because all of these scenarios I have in my head aren't gonna go away until I know so talk.
Alex: Are you sure about this?
Aaron: No but tell me anyway.
Alex: …It was her first year of med he…he picked her to be his assistant and…pretty soon after he blackmailed her into letting him rape her so she wouldn't be expelled. The worst…The worst was when he beat her up, knocked her out and…she was out of her mind after that and didn't come to anyone about this, including us.
Aaron: (Shakes his head) This is all my fault.
Alex: No it's not.
Aaron: Yes, it is. I stayed when you left, I didn't want her to be alone with mom and all her crazy. Every day I felt bad for her because she only had me and not you…and she didn't have either of us that night. I…I didn't stay in touch with her because I was too scared of triggering her. I was scared of reminding her of the worst night of her life every time she saw me but instead… (Voice breaks) instead that night was replaced by something worse something…something I let happen to her.
Alex: …I feel that way too. I ignored her for years because I didn't want to get pulled back into that insanity and as a result I left Amber to that. I left her to that monster and she tells me it's not my fault but I know that's not true. I failed her.
Aaron: (Tears in his eyes) We both failed her…I want to kill him. I don't want him to go to trial and walk away I want to kill him and expunge him from Amber's life. I think it's the very least I owe her after everything.
Alex: She doesn't want that for you bro. She doesn't want to risk you going insane in prison and neither do I.
Aaron: (Cold) I don't care, I'll plead insane and say I was off my meds.
Alex: Would that be true?
Aaron: Hell, no I would know what I was doing and I wouldn't regret it, would you? Would you regret killing him and making sure he doesn't do this to someone else's sister?
Alex: Look I nearly beat our dad to death and I felt worse about it after. I mean he was a cold, mean tempered bastard but he was still my old man you know? And now…now I can't stop wishing that I never laid a hand on him, that maybe we could've worked it out. I don't want that to happen to you. Amber doesn't want that to happen to you, she made that clear when she ran after I beat Mance up. I know your angry but don't act on it not now, not when she needs us the most.
Aaron: And what if he does this again? What if me not acting on my anger is gonna get some other poor girl hurt?
Alex: Amber is pressing charges, she's gonna come forward and put him on trial.
Aaron: 'Ghetto girl prostitutes herself with her accomplished professor for success' that is the nicest thing they are gonna say about her and I won't let her go through that scrutiny.
Alex: It's her choice.
Aaron: (Angry) This bastard has taken enough from her and you know he is gonna humiliate her the second she's on that stand. I won't let him do that to her and I won't let her do this to herself.
Alex: …Your really serious about this aren't you?
Aaron: I am and there's nothing you can do to stop me.
Alex: I can call psych and have you committed until the trial is over.
Aaron: Save the crap Alex I know you wouldn't do that.
Alex: …Your right I'm not gonna do that when you're in a stable mindset but that being said don't do this. You going to prison is just gonna make this worse for Amber. She doesn't want you to slip back to what you were that night and you know that will happen if you get caught and sent away.
Aaron: You don't know that.
Alex: Dude you and I have both seen the inside of a cell it sucks and that was before you were diagnosed. You're not gonna take your meds, you're not gonna get therapy and you're not gonna keep up your routine in there. You're gonna literally go insane and we can't have that, Amber can't have that, think about that before you decide to ruin your life and hers.
Aaron: (Slightly calmer) …I still want to kill him…but if I hear this from Amber…I'll back off.
Alex: Okay.
Aaron: …It's good that you were here when it happened, at least she had one brother here for her. I just wish she had both of them here for once in her life, I bet that would've made some difference in this mess.
Alex: …She did…she did have both of her brothers here when this happened.
Aaron: (Confused) What are you talking about?
Alex: (Clears throat) His name is Nick, he's a firefighter that we work closely with. He's brave and kind and funny. He's the only good thing Jimmy did after he left us.
Aaron: (Shocked) …Jimmy had another son?
Alex: Yeah, with another woman and he left them like he left us. He doesn't think of himself as our brother but he was just as angry as we were when he found out.
Aaron: (Processing) …Well at least one good thing came out of our bastard father leaving us.
(Alex slightly grins at Aaron taking it well)
LATER
SCENE: NURSERY ROOM
(Amber is sitting on the floor leaning against the wall with Andrew holding her close to him as she works through her emotions. Nick comes upstairs and enters the room with a brown paper bag)
Nick: Hey I finished my shift I just stopped by the liquor store so I could get past meeting the new bio sibling. I hope he likes whiskey.
(Nick stops when he notices the tense scene)
Nick: Hey what's wrong?
Andrew: (Sighs and rubs Amber's arm) Aaron overheard us and he found out about Mance and now he's out there trying to find him.
Nick: (Wide eyes) Oh, I take it he's not gonna yell at him and walk away?
Amber: He's gonna kill him, he's gonna him and end up in prison and wither away into that awful part of his psyche because of me.
Andrew: Hey, it's not your fault and you can't think like that, Aaron is not gonna let that happen to himself.
Amber: (Pulls back and looks at Andrew bewildered) You don't know that you don't know anything about this, I do.
Andrew: Amber I know your worried about Aaron and I know-
Amber: (Stands up) No you don't know; you don't know anything about this Andrew. And for the record I am not worried about him, he can take care of himself I am scared for him and what he's gonna do to Mance. Damn it why did I let you stop me I should be out there looking for him right now.
Nick: Should we call the police?
Andrew: No.
Amber: Yes, and get your team out there and find Mance's address, he'll be there trust me.
Andrew: Listen he's angry and he has every right to be just like Alex.
Amber: (Angry) Are you fucking kidding me? You're gonna compare him to Alex?
Andrew: When Alex was angry, he beat Mance up but he didn't kill him I'm sure Aaron can control himself too.
Amber: (Angry) Yeah and the last time my mom was angry she came at me with a sledgehammer and I locked myself in my room until Aaron came and sedated her before she got in.
Andrew: Okay you're right he has an illness like me and I should've considered that.
Amber: (Furious) No that is not the point Andrew! Aaron is not like you or Alex he is like our mother! And if he hadn't knocked her out before she found a way in, she would be going insane in prison right now after murdering her own daughter!
(Andrew and Nick look at Amber in sympathy as she takes a breath)
Amber: (Sighs) I'm sorry… (Voice breaking) I don't want to be the reason all his progress gets flushed down the toilet.
Andrew: I know. Look he's with Alex and they're gonna come back and you can tell him that okay?
Amber: (Sniffles) Okay.
Nick: (Clears throat) I have a cop buddy at PD I can get him to track down Mance and watch his house. Just in case Aaron decides to go through with it.
Amber: Thank you.
(Nick walks away to make a call while Andrew stays with Amber)
Amber: I'm sorry, I'm so sorry-
Andrew: It's okay I get it; you're worried about your brother. I actually feel worse about leaving to get a liver through a blizzard and not thinking about how worried you would be.
Amber: (Harsh) You should.
Andrew: (Knows she's mean when she's stressed) I know, come here.
(Andrew pulls her in for a hug and kisses the top of her head easing her worries)
LATER
SCENE: STATION 19
(Nick enters Maya's office to find her filling out papers)
Maya: Newbie, what are you doing here? You're not on call.
Nick: Yeah, I know I'm not cap I just came to ask for a favor. Can you get on the phone with the commissioner and request a protective detail on Dr. Charles Mance?
Maya: Is he a friend of yours? Is he in immediate danger?
Nick: He might be and I wouldn't care if he was in fact he deserves a bullet to the chest but that's not the case right now. He needs protection and the person seeking to harm him needs to be treated respectfully and not die as a result.
Maya: Okay look Nick I can try to call in a favor but I need to know the full story right now and why this is such a urgency.
Nick: (Groans) Carina told you about Amber? About how she was-
Maya: Yeah she did, I visited and hugged her but what does Charles Mance have to do with this?
Nick: He was the one who raped her and now her other brother Aaron is in town and he knows. He is hellbent on killing him and he has schizophrenia so jail is not an option for him. I am asking you to put a detail on this bastard so a good man doesn't go to jail where he will slowly lose his mind. Can you do it?
Maya: (Sighs) I'll call Captain Rendon and get him to send two of his best guys that won't shoot on sight at the address.
Nick: Thank you.
Maya: (Dials number) Do you really think he's gonna kill him in his right mind?
Nick: Wouldn't you if it was your sister? Tell him Aaron is stable and is unarmed, thank you captain.
(Nick leaves the office)
LATER
SCENE: ATTENDINGS LOUNGE
(Amber enters the lounge to find Alex alone drinking his coffee)
Amber: Aaron?
Alex: He's on the roof he said he wanted a smoke and I told him that's the only place he could do it.
Amber: (Groans) I thought he quit.
Alex: He did but he said it would help him calm down and the alternative was letting him hunt Mance down and doing the world a favor.
(Amber sits in the table across from Alex exhaling)
Amber: You know the last time we sat here we were talking about Shanice and Jada and debated how we would kill the animal that tried to sell them.
Alex: Now we're here worrying about our brother and whether on not he's gonna kill the animal that did this to you. (Sighs) Izzie was right, our family resorts to violence first and therapy last.
Amber: (Scoffs) And yet she decided to add two more to the family, I feel like she should've looked at Craigslist.
Alex: (Chuckles lightly) Are you insulting my sperm?
Amber: Okay we're not talking about your juice because one it's weird two I feel sick thinking about it and three we have a bigger problem on our hands. How was Aaron when you saw him?
Alex: Like he's ready to kill. I almost convinced him to back out when I told him it would land him in jail but…honestly Amber I have never seen him this angry ever. I mean that man would kill for you.
Amber: (Sniffs) You said he was on the roof?
Alex: Yeah and I bet there's a pack already emptied as we speak.
CUT TO ROOF
(Aaron is smoking his sixth cigarette when Amber walks in shaking her head at him)
Amber: 11 minutes, what did I always say to you every time you inhale that shit? Tell me so I don't repeat it and make you look like an asshole.
Aaron: (Groans) Every cigarette I take is 11 minutes of my life I waste for a second of poison in my lungs.
Amber: Yeah, and that was before I got my MD now, I can tell you exactly what's going on in your body after you lit that damn thing. When did you start this filthy habit again?
Aaron: An hour ago when I found out my little sister got beat up and assaulted by a predator.
Amber: Well, give it to me or you're gonna be the next one to get beat up.
Aaron: That's not funny, and contrary to what you think I'm not too old to kick your ass.
Amber: (Stern) Give it!
(Aaron groans and hands her his pack, she takes it and motions her hand for more. He rolls his eyes and puts the second pack in her hand)
Aaron: I'm supposed to be the one to scold you like a child…I'm supposed to be the one to protect you from the bad things in this life.
Amber: (Looks at him in sympathy) …Don't kill him. I know you want to but I don't so I am asking you to not kill him, okay? Please.
Aaron: …Yeah, okay.
Amber: Thank you.
Aaron: But I want to.
Amber: I know, it's the one thing you and Alex can agree on. But I don't want that for you guys not after everything you've done for me.
Aaron: (Scoffs) You mean ignored you and let you suffer alone all these years after something horrible happened to you?
Amber: I know you think you and Alex started this by not keeping in touch but don't. I choose to carry this alone and even if you and I were talking I wouldn't do it differently.
Aaron: You don't know that.
Amber: I do, I do know that. I know that because this is something a woman doesn't want to happen to her and when it does, she tries to be strong and pretend it didn't. (Voice breaks) I wanted to forget this happened and talking to both of you would have made it hard for that to happen.
Aaron: (Sniffs) Yeah, we would have made it hard for you to do that. A-Are you okay?
Amber: Yeah, I will be I'm just trying to push through it instead of running from it, it's a new thing for me but I'm trying.
Aaron: Are you gonna press charges?
Amber: Yeah, I am but…
Aaron: But what?
Amber: (Sighs) I don't know if I want to be a named source for the article. It's too messy and it's gonna backfire on me we both know that.
Aaron: But it will tell people what he did and get you one step closer to sending him to jail? Amber, you can't let him get away with this, he needs to pay not just for what he did to you but for all the other girls he took advantage of, you owe it to them.
Amber: Even if 100 women come forward there's no guarantees.
Aaron: Not true that Weinstein guy is facing 20 years as we speak and he was more influential than Mance.
Amber: Yeah, and that cop who murdered George Floyd on live tv is sitting in his living room away from jail.
Aaron: Your right and I made the same point to Alex but that doesn't mean you can't try. I mean Amber think about…think about what he did to you and what he could do to someone else.
Amber: If mom reads this, she is gonna lose her mind.
Aaron: Not if she hears it from you first.
Amber: I can't, I can't take that risk, I just can't.
Aaron: 10 years ago, I would agree with you but mom is doing better, not cured but better and so am I. I'm still standing here and I am just as stable as I was this morning.
Amber: Aside from you wanting to murder someone?
Aaron: I admit I was angry but that's it, I was angry and so will mom but she and I will help you like you have helped us.
Amber: What if it doesn't work?
Aaron: You'll never know unless you try and yeah it might not work but at least you tried and you were heard. And at least that bastard is gonna know that he didn't break you into silence. You're the best of all of us Karev's and you can do this, I know you can.
(Amber looks at Aaron touched and hugs him kissing his cheek)
Amber: I love you.
Aaron: (Hugs her) I love you.
LATER THAT NIGHT
SCENE: ALEX AND JO'S HOUSE
(Andy and Nick walk on the sidewalk on the way to the house after getting dinner)
Nick: (Exhales in anxiety)
Andy: (Carrying bags) Stop it.
Nick: Stop what? I'm just breathing.
Andy: No, you're trying to keep your anxiety in check I know because when I met my mom for the first time in 20 years, I had a panic attack.
Nick: Well to be fair you thought she was dead but me I'm anticipating the worst in meeting another bio sibling. God why are there so many Herrera? Couldn't my dad have taken up crocheting or something to keep his dick in check?
Andy: Hey come on things are going well with Alex and Amber right?
Nick: Yeah, but this is a brother who grew up abused by our dad and inherited his mom's schizophrenia and me-
Andy: You had a dad who left you and a best friend who died in front of you. You have your own scars and so do they but that can't be the only thing connecting you guys and making you insta family. Just meet the guy and if it goes well that's great and if it doesn't at least you have two more bio siblings to fall back on.
Nick: (Chuckles) That's a positive spin on my complicated situation.
Andy: Hey I am reconnecting with my extended family who kept my mother's abandonment from me trust me I am an expert at this Evans.
Nick: Well thanks for coming with me, I know you and Sullivan would rather have a night on a boat party.
Andy: Well, he said he wanted to come with Warren and Miller and told me to save myself from an argument between Miller and Chief Gregory.
Nick: Husband of the year. Here we are.
Andy: (Looks at the house) Wow, I probably should've gotten to med school.
Nick: Yeah, it's like an episode of The Brady Bunch here only more dysfunctional and more cursing.
(Alex and Aaron park in the driveway and come out chuckling but Alex stops as he sees Nick and Andy)
Aaron: (Notices and looks) I'm guessing that's him?
Alex: Yep, come on, the sooner we do this the sooner it'll not be awkward.
(Alex leads Aaron to Nick who stands there anxiously with Andy rubbing his back in comfort)
Andy: (Whispers) It'll be okay, I'm right here.
Alex: (Stands in front of them) Nick this is Aaron Karev, Aaron this is Nick Evans.
Nick: (Clears throat) Um hey it's nice to meet you.
Aaron: Hey, I see you got the good looks like the rest of us.
Nick: (Chuckles lightly) Well most of us anyway.
Aaron: Smart ass huh?
Alex: He's related to us, what do you expect?
Aaron: A bee in the bonnet I guess or whatever the term is.
Andy: Uh hey I'm Andy I'm Nick's friend at the station.
Aaron: Hey.
Alex: So come on let's head inside there's still leftover cake to finish.
Nick: I'm down, hey is Amber here?
Alex: Um no she uh she went to clear her head and took the twins to the park.
(Nick nods and heads inside with them)
LATER
SCENE: PLAYGROUND
(Amber sits in the bench watching Eli play on the swings grinning at his energy and sees Alexis playing with her horses and looks up smiling at Amber who chuckles and smiles back waving. Amber looks at Alexis for a few moments in thought and finally comes to a decision before pulling out her phone and calling Julia)
Julia: (On the phone) Amber hi, how are you?
Amber: I'm good, I'm good I'm just in the park with my niece and nephew.
Julia: That's great.
Amber: Look I've been thinking really hard about this with my friends and family and what I should do concerning the article.
Julia: Okay and?
Amber: …I'm prepared to be a named source in your investigation. I have to, not just for me but for all the other women out there and for my niece so she doesn't go through this.
Julia: Okay thank you Amber, you're very brave for doing this.
Amber: One thing I need to know when you're gonna publish this, my mom still doesn't know and I would rather it come from me.
Julia: Well, we're still in the early stages the earliest it could be published is a week but I will email you all the information when I can.
Amber: Okay thank you Julia. Call me if you need any more information.
Julia: I will thank you.
(Amber hangs up and exhales slowly and looks up to find Alexis still playing with her horses. Amber grins at her and knows she made the right decision)
THE NEXT MORNING
SCENE: ALEX AND JO'S LIVING ROOM
(Amber is sitting on the couch holding her phone with a painful look on her face. Alex is next to her looking at her with patience and Aaron is sitting in an armchair in tense silence. Amber inhales and turns her phone on dialing their mom and holds the phone to her ear waiting for her to pick up)
Alex: (Holds her hand) We're right here.
Aaron: And we're not going anywhere this time.
Amber: (Nods gratefully)
Helen: (Answers the phone) Hello?
Amber: (Sniffles and voice breaks) Mom.
Helen: Honey? What's wrong?
Amber: …Mom I need to tell you something and…first I need you to know that I am okay and that everything is going to be fine. Please know that and please tell me if this is too much for you.
Helen: Of course, I will, Amber sweetie what is it?
Amber: (Purses her lips and sniffles) Mom I was raped. I got raped by my professor six years ago and I am telling you now so you can know before anyone else.
CUT TO HELENS HOUSE
(Helen is on the front porch knitting and stops when she hears this and covers her mouth in shock as Amber continues)
Amber: I-I got hurt and it was horrible but I'm okay now.
CUT TO LIVING ROOM
(Amber is still talking on the phone with Alex and Aaron still there anxiously waiting for their mom's response)
Amber: Mom? Are you still there?
Helen: (Voice breaks) I'm here, I'm right here. Are your brothers there with you?
Amber: (Looks at them gratefully) Yeah, they're here and they're not going anywhere.
Helen: I know, I know they're not…oh my sweetest children, my truest loves.
(Amber tears up and holds Alex and Aaron's hand gratefully as they are still there looking at her with love)
I HOPE YOU GUYS LIKED THIS CHAPTER REVIEWS ARE WELCOME.