HEY GUYS HAPPY WINTER! I HOPE YOU ALL ARE READY FOR THIS NEW STAGE IN AMBER AND DELUCA'S LIFE CUZ IT'S GONNA BE ROMANTIC WITH JUST A LITTLE BIT OF ANGST IN FUTURE CHAPTERS SO BE PREPARED. THE FOLLOWING CHAPTER TAKES PLACE IN GREY'S ANATOMY SEASON 17 EPISODE 16 AND SO WILL THE NEXT TWO CHAPTERS BUT FOR NOW HERE'S THE LATEST CHAPTER. READ ON AND ENJOY!
Chapter 41: A New Beginning
SCENE: DR. COLBATH'S OFFICE
(Amber is sitting on the couch across from her talk therapist who is writing down on her notebook)
Amber: So…I have this dilemma right now, not like a big dilemma just a little one it's like a mini crisis. Well, I don't know if it's a crisis per say but it's something unexpected in my life and you know how I am about that.
Colbath: Okay how about we start with how this 'mini dilemma' came into your life. Is it about your engagement? Are you having second thoughts?
Amber: Oh no god no, if anything this ring on my finger is making me happy every time I look at it. It's not relationship stuff, Andrew and I are great although the long distance is hell but we're working through it. It's not personal it's…well it's professional.
Colbath: Okay can you tell me what happened at work that is as you described it a mini dilemma?
Amber: (Sighs) Yeah, it started two days ago…
TRANSITION TO TWO DAYS AGO
SCENE: LEVI AND TARYN'S LOFT
6:45 AM
(Amber goes through her purse looking for her keys while Levi sleeps and Taryn whisks crepe batter on the kitchen island)
Amber: (Groans) Has anybody seen my keys?
Levi: (Tired) Ugh!
Taryn: (Holds up keys from her spot) Here!
Amber: (Grabs her keys and notices the batter on it) Great I love waking up to pancake batter on my hands.
Taryn: Crepe, actually.
Amber: (Glares at Taryn)
Taryn: But that's not your point sorry.
Amber: It's fine, this place wasn't built for three people. The only reason me, Alex and Jo made it work was because we're low maintenance.
Levi: Hey, you took pity on me.
Amber: It was either take you with me or let my brother kick you to the curb so be more thankful. You're lucky Helm's a good cook.
Levi: (Suddenly sits up looking at his phone in shock)
Amber: What is it?
Levi: I got accepted in the vaccine trial.
Amber: (Shocked) Oh my god. This could really end someday. And just in time for my wedding!
Taryn: I mean he might get the placebo.
Levi: (Scoffs)
Amber: (Glares at Helm)
Taryn: (Retracts) Right. Not your point. Yay!
(Taryn accidently throws batter on the pan behind her)
Amber: (To Levi) She's your problem after I move out.
Taryn: (Cleans pan) You know for someone who just got engaged you are very cranky today.
Amber: (Sighs and looks at her engagement ring) Yeah well you'd be cranky too if you sent your fiancé into the covid hotspot the day after he proposes. And then the time difference and our work schedules make it hard to set up virtual chats. I'm just glad Maya and Carina got engaged and I can have Andrew back in the states in a month.
Levi: (Hopeful) You know Nick offered to let you use Station 19 as a venue instead of the courthouse.
Amber: Did Andrew propose to you? Did I miss that somehow?
Levi: Come on please, I need some happy and watching my ship officially sail in a super romantic way is the answer.
Amber: I let you live with me and I gave you permission to date my brother, I've already done enough for you.
Taryn: She's got a point plus DeLuca could barely get her to agree to marriage I doubt there's gonna be a wedding. Maybe a flower arch at Arby's.
Amber: See Taryn gets it but there will definitely be a registry.
Levi: (Expected this) Of course there will be.
Amber: Well, I gotta go Maggie says she has a surprise for me, apparently, it's a wedding gift.
Taryn: And with no registry I wonder if that's good or bad.
Amber: I'll let you know when I unwrap it. See you later.
(Amber leaves the loft)
MEANWHILE IN ITALY
SCENE: PAOLO CALVINO
3:35 PM
(Andrew takes off his mask the moment he steps outside and takes a deep breath. Carina follows him and stands next to him)
Carina: (In Italian) How are you?
Andrew: (In Italian) Better now that I can breathe. I thought Seattle was a mess.
Carina: I know it's insane, one of the nurses fainted from exhaustion after a 36-hour shift. I had to monitor her and give her fluids; all this is making me miss Maya even more.
Andrew: Yeah, I've been rotating five patients and all I could think about is Amber and finally tying the knot with her. I haven't spoken with her since I got here and I miss her voice so much, hell I even miss her yelling at me is that weird?
Carina: Not at all (Grins) although Zia Elena will definitely yell at you tonight over not introducing Amber to her before you proposed.
Andrew: It was a spur of the moment I was being passionate and in love. Besides you proposed to Maya first before talking to Zia so I think we're both in for an earful.
Carina: If you even think about bailing tonight I will hunt you down and you won't live to see your wedding.
Andrew: (Chuckles) Don't worry we're suffering together I promise. (Sighs) Back to it.
(Carina and Andrew go back inside)
LATER
SCENE: ATTENDINGS LOUNGE
7:25 AM
(Amber walks in after being paged by Maggie to find her on the couch with Winston. Izzie and Webber are getting a coffee and Link is getting ready for work)
Amber: Hey guys.
Maggie: Hey maybe you can answer this Amber would you recommend any wedding venues with a natural landscape?
Amber: Uh the last wedding I went to was Alex and Jo's at Bainbridge and it was outdoors. You get a great wedding planner and designer and it will be like it came from a romance novel.
Winston: Oh, that's perfect let's do that venue.
Amber: Yeah, it would've been a great wedding…except the bride and groom got stuck in a shed with a dead body, the wedding planner had a severe allergic reaction and the cake ended up on the ground.
Winston: (Taken back) …Got it not Bainbridge then.
Amber: (Chuckles) Well the one good thing that came of that disaster was Andrew kissing me for the first time…even though he was blind drunk and I slapped him.
Link: (Chuckles) Man that island has stories, doesn't it? I wish I was there.
Izzie: Me too even though I'm the dreaded first wife, hey She-Karev let me ask you something.
Amber: Shoot.
Izzie: Are we not gonna talk about the fact that you're engaged?
(Maggie whoo-hoo's, Winston and Webber clap while Link laughs in joy and gives a flustered Amber a bear hug lifting her off the floor. Amber smiles at the attention and Link let's her back on the ground)
Amber: Thanks guys and hey Maggie and Winston if you guys want to do a double wedding me and Andrew would be more than happy with that.
Maggie: (Sees through it) You just want us to plan the whole thing, don't you?
Amber: Damn you caught my scheme.
Link: Well, hey you could always do a shotgun wedding, maybe a road trip to Vegas as soon as DeLuca gets back.
Izzie: You do know that shotgun is for when the bride is pregnant…you're not pregnant are you?
Amber: Oh god no that would be horrible.
Izzie: (Raises an eyebrow at the comment)
Amber: No not the whole kids' thing just the timing and us being in different continents that's what I meant. You know I love those twin angels and they love me probably as much as they love you.
Izzie: Oh they do I'm convinced they love you more than me hey speaking of which Alexis is asking me if she's gonna be the flower girl at the wedding and Eli wants to be the ring bearer.
Amber: Aww well you can tell them they got the jobs. I mean assuming we're not gonna hitch it at city hall or Vegas.
Richard: Have you and DeLuca set a date yet?
Amber: No, we haven't done much planning…or any planning. We're both just really focused on work and trying to make this long-distance work. Also, I'm trying to numb the pain of seeing my fiancé go to the covid hotspot by watching Full House reruns and stuffing my face with sweets my niece and nephew make every chance I get.
Maggie: …So any day now?
Amber: Sure, hey what's this surprise you texted me about? You said it was a wedding gift and that if I wanted it I should get here as soon as I could so come on where's the gift wrapped box?
Maggie: It's not giftwrapped, I had to think this over and wonder if it was the best choice and after careful consideration and help from Winston, I opted to give it to you.
Amber: It's not a puppy, is it? Because I already got a dog and he's enough.
Winston: (Smiles) We got you a heart.
Amber: (Taken back) What?
Maggie: A heart, it's on its way here from San Francisco for Liam Hall, he's 45 has obstructive coronary artery disease and has been on the list for two years now. He's gonna be prepped to go to O.R. 3 and you are gonna be the primary surgeon on the case.
Amber: (Frozen from shock) …I-I get to be primary on the case? As in…as in-
Maggie: As in you'll do it solo, it's nonrefundable and time sensitive.
Winston: And for the record this is from both of us so count me out of the registry. You can say thank you it's our wedding gift.
Amber: (Smiles) Ah! Thank you, thank you a million times! You will not regret this I promise, boy if I knew it would take an engagement to get a solo transplant, I would have proposed to Andrew years ago.
Izzie: (Rolls her eyes in amusement)
Amber: (Squeals) Excuse me I have to rub it in my roommates faces.
Maggie: Surgery is in five hours don't be late.
Amber: (Smiling) I will not be late!
Winston: Congrats on the engagement.
(Amber leaves the room walking giddily. Izzie and Link chuckle at her)
Izzie: (Sighs) Residents.
Link: Yeah, I know…I wonder what I should give them.
MEANWHILE AT STATION 19
(Nick is sleeping on the couch in the lounge covered by a blanket when he's met with a harsh light from Alex opening the curtains)
Nick: (Groans) What the-
Alex: Rise and shine sweetheart, come on get up.
Nick: (Groans and stands up in his pajamas) Is there a reason you're visiting me in my work?
Alex: Your captain called me after catching you in here snoozing for the past three nights. She thought a visit from me would straighten you out. Now what's going on? Don't you have a hotel room your staying at?
Nick: (Stretches his neck) I did but I was in charge of covid tests last week and a patient tested positive. She's a single mom working at a grocery store and can't afford a hotel room for two weeks. She and her kids live in a one-bedroom apartment and didn't want to expose herself so I gave her my room to quarantine.
Alex: And now you're living at the fire station.
Nick: Sleeping on this incredibly uncomfortable couch yes.
Alex: No luck on the apartment hunt? What's the hold up?
Nick: Uh let's see covid, high cost of living in the city, and the city barely gives me a five-figure salary take your pick.
Alex: You know you have a boyfriend with a loft of his own.
Nick: (Chuckles) A loft he shares with two other people and one of them is my half-sister, even Levi knows that would end badly. Besides, it's on the other side of town I would need to wake up two hours earlier and I need my beauty rest. Look don't worry about me; I'll be fine. I lived in my car for six months I can handle my living situation.
Alex: (Gets a text) I gotta go Luna is spitting up and her heart rate is dropping.
Nick: (Lies on the couch) Yeah don't let me keep you man I'll be right here…as usual.
Alex: (Sighs) …All right I'll tell you what Nick why don't you just come and…stay at our place until you get your feet up?
Nick: (Shocked) Really? I don't want to take up space with the kids and all.
Alex: Don't worry there's plenty of room now that Amber and Schmitt moved out plus I told the kids about our relation and they really want to see you again if you're up for the uncle title.
Nick: Yeah, absolutely thank you and I swear it'll only be for a night or two.
Alex: (Sighs) Yeah, I heard those words before, I gotta go come by tonight and I'll set you up.
LATER
SCENE: NICU
(Alex and Jo walk to the NICU together to check on Luna with Jo showing a slightly visible pregnant bump under her PPE)
Jo: You invited Nick to come live with us?
Alex: I know I should've asked you first but you had to see him it was pitiful plus it's only for a couple of days I swear.
Jo: (Processing) Okay.
Alex: (Taken back) Was than an "okay" okay or a "you can't be serious" okay?
Jo: We live in a big house, it's not like when we asked Amber to live with us in a tiny loft. Also, if there's a fire at least one of us will know what to do.
Alex: Leave it to you to look on the bright side of things and don't worry Nick will be gone in a couple of days I swear.
Jo: (Chuckles) Isn't that what your sister said when we invited her to live with us?
Alex: I'm hoping this younger sibling is more independent and has enough in his bank account.
Jo: (Arrives at the NICU) Let's focus on our patient, Luna spit up after every feeding?
Alex: And her heart rate dropped. Only slightly, but every beat counts. Poor little girl just when she's out of the woods something else pulls her back in.
Carmen: (Checks incubators) Vanell. Nope. Harrison. Nope.
Alex: Can we help you with something?
Carmen: Carmen Delgado from CPS. I've been assigned as the legal guardian to Luna Ashton. And I hear she might have gastroesophageal reflux?
Alex: Possibly, but Luna here was intubated for a very long time, so she hardly has any gag reflex.
Carmen: And your recommendation?
Alex: I'd like to order a KUB and labs to rule out necrotizing enterocolitis. After that, we'll do a swallow study if necessary.
Carmen: Okay. Run the tests, let me know how she does. (Leaves the room) I'm off to county.
Jo: Do we have to run everything by her?
Alex: She is her guardian Jo and it's the law.
Jo: Since when did you care about that?
Alex: Since I had kids and a pregnant wife who don't need to visit me in jail.
Jo: (Grins) So I have an ultrasound tonight, I'm supposed to find out the baby's sex, do you have a preference?
Alex: Healthy. (Looks at Luna) God I hope this kid is healthy.
LATER IN ITALY
7:35 PM
SCENE: ZIA ELENA'S HOUSE
(Andrew and Carina arrive at the front door dressed for dinner and ring the doorbell)
Andrew: Okay now remember no matter what happens we gotta stand together and let her know we're grown adults and in very happy relationships.
Carina: Right, we are not little kids she can chew out anymore.
Andrew: That's right we got this.
(The door opens revealing an Italian woman in her 50's wearing a mask with a serious look on her face)
Andrew: (Get's scared) Carina got engaged to Maya before she told you about her.
Carina: (Slaps his arm) Andrea has been with Amber for two years and just proposed to her without even telling you about her so be mad at this idiota.
Elena: (Chuckles) Ay you two haven't changed at all, I'm not mad at you two just…just as long as your not mad at me.
Andrew: (Confused) Zia why would we be mad at you?
Elena: Andrea, Carina…your papa is inside right now and he wants to talk to you two.
(Andrew and Carina stand there frozen in shock)
Andrew: (Keeps voice even) What does he want? Money? Or help in whatever crazy project he's obsessed with this time? No wait does he want to blame us for his screw ups again?
Elena: Andrea, you know I wouldn't have let my brother in my house if that was the case.
Carina: (Sighs) Then why is he here?
Elena: He finally saw a doctor in April and he's been taking his meds ever since and…for the first time in years I'm seeing the brother I once had and father you had before his illness came. He's been taking his recovery seriously, the reason he's here is to apologize to the both of you and I pray that you hear him out just once.
Andrew: (Shakes his head) No I don't want to see him and I don't want to hear his excuses, I'm out of here Carina let's go.
Carina: Andrea maybe-
Andrew: (Frustrated) Maybe what? Don't tell me you actually want to hear what he has to say, why would you want to after everything he's done?
Carina: …Because at this point, he can't say anything worse than what he already has. I'm going inside, you can go.
Andrew: (Inhales and exhales) I'm only going for you, not for him.
Carina: No matter what we stand together.
Elena: Come in, I'll take you to him.
(Elena leads a tense Andrew and Carina to the living room where they find their father looking well rested wearing a mask and standing up)
Vincenzo: Andrea, Carina.
Carina: (Tense) Hi papa.
(Andrew just stands there looking at his father with contempt while Vincenzo looks at them in remorse)
CUT TO BLACK
SCENE: ZIA ELENA'S LIVING ROOM
7:43 PM
(Andrew and Carina sit on the couch next to each other facing their father who is sitting in the armchair reading from a piece of paper he wrote his apology in)
Vincenzo: Carina, Andrea I-I'm so deeply sorry for all the pain I put you through and for being so ignorant of what was wrong all these years. I-I wish I could go back and shake my younger self out of it and put a stop to all that happened…but I can't. I am not here to ask for your forgiveness I am asking for a chance to earn it and be back in your lives so…so I can make up for all the time we lost together and show you the real me. (Folds paper) I missed you both and I hope you can accept my apology.
Andrew: (Tense) …You've been recovering for months now?
Vincenzo: Yes, since the pandemic started.
Andrew: Why?
Vincenzo: …I took a hard look at myself and realized I needed to-
Andrew: (Angry) No why did it take you this long to get help? Why did it take a freaking pandemic for you to realize what was wrong?
Carina: Andrea-
Vincenzo: It's okay Carina.
Andrew: (Stands up) No none of this is okay. I can't believe you put your own sister up to this and made her lie to us.
Vincenzo: I…I didn't know if you would take my calls.
Andrew: The last time we talked on the phone you said you never wanted to see me again because of your screw up. You blamed us for putting logic in your delusional thinking and told us we let that baby die.
Vincenzo: (Guilty) I did.
Andrew: (Scoffs and rubs his eyes in frustration) Why would you think I would ever want to see you again?
Vincenzo: Andrea I-I made a mistake and I've thought of you and your sister every day since-
Andrew: (Yells) A mistake?! That's what you call the last twenty years a mistake?!
Vincenzo: Son I-
Andrew: No, you don't get to call me that anymore, you made it clear I meant nothing to you that day in the lab.
Vincenzo: (Guilty) …What do you want me to say Andrea?
Andrew: (Angry) You could've said all this when I was 12 and maybe mom wouldn't have left and Carina and I wouldn't have been separated. The minute this happened to me and the minute I saw what it was doing to the people I love I got better, why didn't you?! Why weren't we reasons enough?! Why?!
Vincenzo: (Struggles to find the words)
Andrew: No, you know what don't bother, it wouldn't matter to me anyway. I'm out of here.
(Andrew walks out of the house slamming the door behind him without saying bye to Elena. Carina catches up to him a few moments later)
Carina: Andrea-
Andrew: (Tense) Don't.
Carina: Andrea-
Andrew: (Teetering on edge) Just don't Carina.
(Carina keeps quiet while walking with Andrew who walks in tense silence)
LATER
SCENE: GREY SLOAN HALLWAY
11:55 AM
(Amber is outside watching Levi get the vaccine with a crowd. Levi waves to them and they all cheer)
Amber: (Whistles) Go Levi!
(Amber chuckles and gets a phone call from Andrew and motions to Levi she's going to the closet. She goes to the supply closet and answers her phone)
Amber: (Smiles) Hey future Mr. Karev you caught me at a good time Levi got the vaccine and I am getting my first solo surgery. Yep, you heard me right you are getting married to a woman who did her own heart transplant can you pick them or what?
CUT TO ITALY
8:55 PM
SCENE: ANDREWS BEDROOM
(Andrew is pacing in his bedroom still reeling from seeing his dad and talking to Amber on the phone)
Andrew: I saw my dad tonight.
Amber: (Smile fades) …What? You saw your dad?
Andrew: (Angry) Yeah at my Zia's house. He was there and he looked better than the last time I saw him, you know when he told me to screw off and never talk to him again.
Amber: Oh god what did he say?
Andrew: (Chuckles darkly) He said sorry, he said sorry for making mine and Carina's life so miserable. Now that he's on his meds and doing better he suddenly wants to be a family again after he wrecked it. Twenty years, it took twenty years and a worldwide pandemic for him to finally take care of himself.
Amber: What did you say?
Andrew: I don't know, I don't know I was angry and I said a bunch of things I don't remember and I'm here in my hotel room thinking of everything he did to me. Like when I was eight and I broke a plate and I was scared my dad would get mad but instead he laughed and broke all the plates. He was just laughing his ass off that day and I didn't know what to do so I just broke the plates with him and then the next day he'd be in bed the whole day and didn't drive us to school. I almost had to repeat third grade because my dad took all the extra shifts at the hospital and couldn't help me with my homework. My whole childhood Carina and I had to walk on eggshells so that we wouldn't upset him because we all know how manic's are when they get pissed and an eight-year-old can barely defend themselves. A-A-And it was just-it-it was-
Amber: (Can tell he's spiraling) Okay Andrew breathe, breathe with me okay, in and out through your nose, okay? In and out.
(Andrew stops and takes a deep breath with Amber for a few moments calming himself down)
CUT TO GREY SLOAN CLOSET
Amber: Better?
Andrew: Yeah thanks.
Amber: Okay you came to the right person to talk about this with, tell me what's going on in your head right now.
Andrew: My head feels like it's getting unscrewed from my body and put through a meat grinder. The man I saw tonight was someone I thought died a long time ago but there he was. He was just sitting in that chair apologizing and looking guilty and taking every hit I could give without hitting back like I expected him to. The last time I saw him he was talking nonsense and screaming that me and Carina were the reason he screwed up and made everything worse. I called him after that and he told me he never wanted to see me again. I have spent the past five months worried about him even when I was angry at him. He never followed the rules and without Carina there he was good as dead but ironically not having her there made him sane.
Amber: But it's good that he's better, right? I mean it's what you and Carina wanted and now it's come true.
Andrew: (Anger in his tone) Yeah, it's great, he's great. He's sleeping and he's eating and he's finally owning up to his mistakes and actually making an effort to be a dad.
Amber: Okay so why are you still angry then?
Andrew: Why the hell now?! Now, why now?! Why now instead of two years ago when I still cared what he thought of me? Why now instead of twenty years ago when he killed those four patients and forced my mom to take me to the states? Why now instead of when Carina and I needed a dad? Why now when all the fucking damage is done?!
Amber: (Looks down in sadness and sympathy over Andrew's confession)
Andrew: I did the work before I made a mistake that could've cost me everything and everyone why didn't he?! (Chuckles darkly) And the worst part is I can't say any of this to him.
Amber: Because you don't want to see him anymore?
Andrew: No because I have made it my life's mission not to become him and me screaming nonsense at him is exactly what he did and I am not about to repeat the damn circle.
(Amber tries to figure out what to say when a nurse comes in)
Nurse: Dr. Karev, Dr. Ndugu is waiting for you to prep Liam Hall for his transplant.
Amber: Yeah, I'll be there thank you. (The nurse leaves) Andrew I-I'm so sorry but I have to go, I'll call you tonight I promise please don't do anything reckless while I'm in surgery.
Andrew: (Sniffles) Yeah, I promise…I love you.
Amber: I love you, see you later.
(Amber hangs up the phone and runs out of the closet)
LATER
SCENE: O.R. 3
12:45 PM
(Amber gowns up when Winston walks in gowning up as well)
Amber: (Confused) Dr. Ndugu you're scrubbing in? I thought I was doing this solo?
Winston: You are.
Amber: Then why aren't you on the cardio floor with your patients?
Winston: This is your first solo surgery Amber I'm just taking precautions that's all.
Amber: (Walks to the table) You're afraid I'm gonna kill my wedding gift? It's a heart transplant. I'm pretty sure even a monkey could do it if he got an MD.
Winston: As entertaining as that would be to watch Maggie and I have more confidence in you than a primate.
Amber: Oh, that's nice and for the record new guy if you heard about me, you would know I've handled some pretty hardcore cases that would put the other residents to shame.
Winston: (Stands six feet behind her) I know about the umbilical hernia and the solo chest tube. I believe in you you're gonna do great, just pretend I'm not even here. The donor heart is being retrieved now and will be here once you've made an opening for extraction.
Amber: (Exhales) Okay here we go. (Holds hand out) Ten blade. (Handed scalpel)
Winston: (Nods approvingly) Great very nice.
Amber: (Raises eyebrow) What?
Winston: The way you asked for the scalpel, you didn't mumble you took charge right off the bat loud and clear 'ten blade'. It was good very impressive.
Amber: Thanks. (Notices Winston staring) I'm gonna start the incision now so…
Winston: Oh right of course don't worry Dr. Karev you won't even know I'm here.
(Amber nods and starts to make the incision with Winston sneaking a peek at the progress)
LATER AT THE PIT
1:00 PM
(Levi is charting when he feels a tap on his left shoulder and looks to find no one there. Nick is at his right)
Nick: Boo.
Levi: (Chuckles) Hey, what are you doing here?
Nick: I came by with a MVC and thought I'd check on my BF after he got his vaccine. How are you feeling?
Levi: Fine…I mean other than the fact that I have an unknown substance in my body that could either revolutionize modern medicine and save us from this horrible disease…or it could kill me and scientists would be fighting for my corpse to see what went wrong.
Nick: (Grins) Relax I've read the studies multiple times and you're not gonna die from this you'll probably die from your neurosis if it's any indication.
Levi: Big help thanks. Wait when did you read the studies?
Nick: My boyfriend tells me he's gonna volunteer to test a new vaccine I want to know what he's getting into and if I should be worried.
Levi: (Teases) Aww you do have a soft side.
Nick: Yeah, what can I say you're rubbing off on me and not just in a dirty way. Hey, speaking of rubbing each other, is there a chance your roommates are taking the night shift tomorrow and leaving the loft to us?
Levi: (Groans) I wish, Amber clocks out at 7 and Taryn is cooking up a storm. Hey, how about tonight? Maybe you can try to clock out early and so can I.
Nick: I'm sorry I can't, I have to pack and move.
Levi: Oh, thank God you finally got an apartment. I was afraid we were gonna do it in that awful couch again and someone was gonna walk in on us.
Nick: Nope not yet Alex offered to let me live with him at his house until I find a place.
(Levi looks at him in paralyzed shock while Nick's radio blares with urgency)
Nick: I gotta go. I'll call you later, bye.
(Nick leaves the pit oblivious to Levi's shock who turns around and tries to process this new information)
LATER
SCENE: ANDREW'S BEDROOM
10:14 PM
(Carina walks inside Andrew's bedroom to find him lying in bed listening to rock music blaring from his earbuds. He notices her and takes them off sitting up on the bed)
Carina: Ciao, what are you doing?
Andrew: I'm trying to rock the anger away. I've been with Amber for two years and her playlist can deafen Alice Cooper so I thought I would give it a shot. Needless to say, it's just making me more mad.
Carina: (Sits next to him) Did you think it made your fiancé less mad watching her do this method?
Andrew: Not at all…I told her about papa.
Carina: And what did she say?
Andrew: She has her first solo surgery so she left before we could talk more. I thought that if anyone in the world could understand what I'm going through it's her.
Carina: She does have a specific skillset for this problem…as do I.
Andrew: (Sighs) Carina I'm sorry. I'm sorry that you had to grow up with papa all alone. You didn't even get to be a kid, you were responsible for his moods, his success, I'm really sorry.
Carina: And his failures as he always reminded me and…I'm sorry I lied to you when mama died. I guess I just wanted to protect you.
Andrew: (Bitter) Yeah better you than him. (Sighs) You know mama would be just as mad if she was alive right now.
Carina: She would and she would yell at him just like you did, only louder and with more cursing.
Andrew: (Chuckles) Yeah she would yell a storm and papa would be drowning…why do you think they split us up? I mean, I know I've always just kind of accepted it as what they did, but I mean, why would you do that to a couple kids? Why send me away? Why not just keep us together?
Carina: (Sighs) …Andrea, that was actually my idea.
Andrew: What do you mean?
Carina: One night, I was tucking you in, and I heard them talking about divorce, and Mama said she wanted to move to the U.S. and start fresh, and Dad was screaming that he would rather tear the family apart than be left alone and childless, and I knew already there that something was wrong with him. You know, his extreme mood swings. I, um… (Voice breaking) but I can handle him, and I didn't want you to be stuck with him, you know? I didn't want you to be stuck with Dad. So I told Mom to take you with her.
(Andrew looks on in thought over this new information and Carina lightly laughs)
Carina: I think it is a family curse. The-The desperate need to help others, even if it hurts.
Andrew: (Exhales) And I thought our fiancés were the ones with problems.
Carina: Why do you think we fit so well with them?
Andrew: (Chuckles) …Did Zia tell him about Maya and Amber?
Carina: She did…and I talked to him on the phone a little while ago and…he was happy for us. He tells me that he wants to meet Maya to see how she got me to finally get married. He was especially happy for you; he tells me Amber is too good for you and he hopes you know that.
Andrew: (Grins) Yeah, he always did like her…do you forgive him?
Carina: (Inhales) I don't have an answer for that, a part of me wants to cut all ties with him.
Andrew: And the other part wants to do what?
Carina: (Sighs) Maya's father abused her not because he had mental illness but because he was a horrible man who wanted to boost his ego through his own child. Because of that Maya didn't get to grow up like normal girls and she idolized someone she just realized is the cause of her trauma. Before papa got sick he was…he was just papa, that man you looked up to and worshipped is what was before the illness before all this pain set course. And that's why it took me so long to realize it wasn't healthy to walk around on eggshells and not set him off your whole childhood. I wish I could say it was the bipolar that was at fault but he chose not to get treatment and that choice led to so many bad decisions on his part…but seeing him like that makes me grateful that he's finally getting better that he's finally being the father I thought I lost.
Andrew: (Looks at Carina in thought) So does that mean you're giving him another chance?
Carina: I'm saying…at this point in my life there is nothing else he can do to disappoint me more than he already has so what do I have to lose?
Andrew: (Sighs) …Your right it is a family curse.
(Carina grins at Andrew and puts her head on his shoulder)
LATER
SCENE: O.R. 3
2:37 PM
(Amber puts the new heart in the chest cavity with Winston by her side viewing the surgery)
Amber: The organ fits the chest cavity. I'm gonna start attachment with the left atrium first and remove the aortic cross clamp immediately after, 3-0 poly.
Winston: (Disapproves but keeps to himself and grunts his disapproval instead)
Amber: (Notices) Do you have something you'd like to say Dr. Ndugu?
Winston: Oh no you're doing great, just get back to the anastomoses.
(Alex comes inside the O.R. and views the body cavity by Amber's left side with Winston at her right)
Alex: I heard about your first solo surgery. I wanted to see how it was going.
Amber: I think it's going great but you should probably ask Winston here.
Winston: (Chuckles) It's going fine don't worry you're doing great…I mean I would've waited to remove the clamp until after the right atrium but to each his own.
Alex: Well so far she's doing better than I did my first solo surgery. Although I don't know if this counts as solo since it's a gift and gifts aren't earned.
Amber: (Glares at Alex) Don't you have a whole peds wing to run?
Alex: I'm co chief so I'm doing half the work also I wanted to let you know I invited Nick to stay at my place until he finds his own.
Amber: (Sews left atrium) Isn't that what hotels are for?
Alex: No, I think they're for draining your accounts and it was either that or you take him in at your loft.
Amber: (Wide eyes) You know I think some structure would be good for the kid plus the twins love him and the basement is roomy enough for him and Levi.
Alex: Don't give them any ideas.
Winston: (Looks at the surgery) Hmm.
Amber: (Frustrated) What now?
Winston: Oh no it's okay, it's fine everything's fine right Dr. Karev?
Alex: (Looks at surgery) Hmm.
(Amber purses her lips in annoyance as she continues the anastomoses)
TWO HOURS LATER
(Amber and Winston remove their gowns after successfully doing the surgery)
Winston: Great job.
Amber: Really? I never would have guessed with all the Hmming you did.
Winston: You know I do that with all the residents on their first solo surgery. I make it seem like they're making mistakes and let them second guess themselves to see how they pull through.
Amber: And how did I do?
Winston: Well, I can definitely see why Maggie picked you as her star student. She said you were brilliant and tough but always in your own way.
Amber: (Scoffs) Yeah, I've always had that problem in work and in life. Thank God for therapy because I think I would've killed this guy if I didn't get my head on straight.
Winston: Well, I'm glad and so is Maggie, of course she would be mad that I stole her hmming method so let's keep this surgery between us.
Amber: (Chuckles) Yes sir. (Winston turns around to walk) Hey Dr. Ndugu (Winston turns back) how did you feel after your first solo surgery?
Winston: (Sighs) I felt like all the joy in the world entered in me in that moment when I saved that life from start to finish. How about you how do you feel right now?
Amber: I feel the same.
Winston: Best wedding present ever right?
Amber: Don't worry I'll exclude you guys in the registry.
Winston: (Exhales in relief) Thank you and happy engagement.
Amber: You too.
(Amber and Winston leave the O.R.)
CUT TO BLACK
SCENE: ANDREW'S BEDROOM
4:15 AM
(The alarm clock goes off and Andrew wakes up groggy turning the alarm off. He remembers it's for facetiming Amber and does so sitting up on his bed)
MEANWHILE IN AMERICA
7:15 PM
SCENE: LEVI AND TARYN'S LOFT
(Amber is in bed writing in her journal when her phone rings and she sees that Andrew is calling and answers it. His tired face appears on the screen grinning at her)
Amber: (Grins) Hey, I wanted to call you but I figured you'd be in a sour mood after what happened.
Andrew: Yeah there's nothing like a meeting with your estranged father to put a damper in your day. (Sighs) I'm sorry I'm making you marry into my dysfunctional as hell family.
Amber: (Rolls her eyes) Shut up.
Andrew: Yeah I heard it as I said it sorry.
Amber: Look I could tell you to be grateful that you have a dad who is making an effort to be in your life instead of wasting it in the streets getting high but I know that's not what you need. I know that your relationship with your dad is complicated and every part of you wants to chew him out for the things he did wrong. It's what I wanted to do with my mom after she got better when I didn't need her.
Andrew: And did you?
Amber: …No and do you know why? Because it's what I did at my high school graduation that she came to five months after she let Aaron attack me. I said all the thing I wanted to say and more. I told her she ruined my childhood, that I hated her, that I wish Aaron attacked her and…I told her I wished she was dead. Whatever you said to your dad I'm sure it wasn't worse than what I said.
Andrew: (Sighs) No it really wasn't…but to be fair your mentally ill parent was around to make your life hell unlike mine.
Amber: Yeah, she was…and you know what chewing her out didn't make me feel better. It didn't make me feel avenged it made me feel vindictive and mean…it made me feel like I was turning into my father. I felt like I was the one who was beating her up instead of him and that…that terrified me.
Andrew: You know if your father was still alive, I would kick his ass for making you feel like that.
Amber: (Chuckles) My knight in navy armor.
Andrew: I try…you know growing up he was my hero, my idol. Before his moods he was just my dad, he taught me how to do a Whipple at 10, took me on the back of his motorbike and taught me the names of the stars. For my sixth birthday he let me in the gallery so I could watch him do his surgery and it was then that I knew I wanted to be a doctor like him…and then I wished more than anything I wouldn't be a doctor like him. But I guess life has a cruel sense of humor.
Amber: Just because you have the same mental illness as him doesn't make you like him.
Andrew: Amber, I appreciate what you're trying to do but-
Amber: I'm not done, you always tell me I'm not like my parents and now I'm telling you that you're not like yours either. You are so good and so kind and you know what's good for you, you have this strength in you your father didn't have back then. You're a good doctor and a good man, if you weren't I wouldn't have said yes when you proposed to me. And that's why I know chewing your father out isn't gonna make you feel better.
Andrew: (Looks at Amber in thought)
Amber: Andrew, you're a better person than I am and if I felt awful for what I said to my mom I can guarantee you that you'll feel worse. All the yelling in the world isn't gonna turn back the clock and take back everything he did to your family. It's not gonna prevent you and Carina from being separated and it's not gonna bring those four patients back, what's done is done. It's like with me and mom, it was really hard, but I let her back in my life, and I can't tell you how much better it's been for us since we reconnected. I mean with all that happened between us it was a freaking miracle.
Andrew: How did you do that? How did you get past all those years of torment and misery?
Amber: (Sighs) I guess the one thing I'm grateful to her for is showing me what kind of woman I don't want to be and the kind of future I'm never gonna give my kids. I am who I am because of her and I know how to survive in a cruel world thanks to her so…I guess in a way she did help me out that night. And I would rather have her in my life better as an adult than never have her in her most sane in my lifetime. Can you tell me you would be where you are now if your dad didn't do what he did?
Andrew: (Ponders for a few moments) Have I told you how amazing you and how lucky I am to get you to marry me?
Amber: (Grins) Not since we last spoke no.
Andrew: Well you are extremely amazing and I am extremely lucky to have you marry me Amber Karev.
Amber: Well I feel the same way, I'm lucky to marry someone I know isn't gonna hurt me like my dad and who is gonna be a better husband than either of our fathers ever were. Now if only he could just believe that I would be golden.
Andrew: (Grins) I gotta go there's something I need to do.
Amber: Keep me posted, I love you.
Andrew: I love you more.
(Amber hangs up and Andrew exhales before standing up to get dressed)
BACK IN AMERICA
SCENE: LEVI AND TARYN'S LOFT
(Amber sighs after talking to Andrew and stands up to get a drink when Levi walks in after his shift groaning in exhaustion)
Amber: Hey how are you feeling so far? Any pain or nausea?
Levi: No more than usual so that's a good sign.
Amber: (Opens fridge) You know it's really great your doing this, that way me and Taryn get to watch personally if you're an example of the world getting better. Or another casualty this year (Levi glares at Amber) I'm kidding, I'm kidding I'll resuscitate you if you go down.
Levi: (Groans) I've had a long day.
Amber: (Uncorks mineral water) Yeah you and me both.
Levi: Please you had a perfect day. I spent the day in the pit you spent it doing your first solo surgery. Me and Taryn were taking turns over who should kill you.
Amber: (Pours herself a glass) Well I had some other things to take care of while I was doing the surgery so it wasn't completely perfect. Also, I didn't imagine my first solo surgery being in a pandemic.
Levi: Fair. Nick is moving in with your brother.
Amber: (Sips water) Yeah I heard, he says it's for a few days but that's what I said and I didn't move out till a year later. (Chuckles)
Levi: (Chuckles uneasily) Yeah.
Amber: (Notices his tense face) Okay what's up?
Levi: Nothing.
Amber: Try again what's up?
Levi: (Sighs) Okay I know that your cool with me dating Nick and I appreciate that and I know that Alex is fine with it too it's just…things are gonna get awkward now that he lives with them. I mean what happens if Alex walks in on us kissing or…something what happens then?
Amber: You put your clothes on I hope and the kids don't see anything. Or I might suggest an obvious solution, lock your doors.
(They both sit at the table)
Levi: I know you think I'm being ridiculous but this is my first real relationship since Nico and I want it to keep going. I mean what if it becomes too much for Alex and he kicks out Nick and he dumps me and once again I am the sad one and you're the one in a thriving relationship what happens then?
Amber: Do you see this table right here?
Levi: (Confused) What?
Amber: This table we're leaning our elbows in do you see it?
Levi: (Still confused) Um…yes?
Amber: What would you say it's made of?
Levi: Is there a point to this?
Amber: Just answer.
Levi: I don't know cherry I guess.
Amber: Mm-hm you guessed right and this cherry wood table right here is where my idiot brother Alex Karev beat up my current fiancé Andrew DeLuca to the point where he needed an eye aspiration so he could see and a reduction on a nasal fracture.
Levi: (Eyes widen and leans away from the table) I completely forgot about that.
Amber: (Bitterly nods) Yeah well as much as I try to its hard to forget it happened. My point is that there is nothing, nothing Alex will do if he catches the two of you together that will top what he did to my fiancés beautiful face. And you two are legal and consenting adults as long as you keep it behind closed doors and don't do anything beyond PDA in front of the kids you'll be fine. Does that make you feel better?
Levi: (Purses lips) Oddly enough hearing about how your brother bashed a guys face in and yet you somehow got him to propose to you did make me feel better.
Amber: I'm glad my family's horror tales can brighten you up. Pizza?
Levi: (Exhales in joy) You read my mind.
CUT TO ITALY
SCENE: ZIA ELENA'S HOUSE
7:02 AM
(Vincenzo is sitting in a chair at the patio reading a book when he sees Andrew approaching the patio)
Vincenzo: (Stands up) Andrea, this is a surprise.
Andrew: (Tense) Yeah for you and me both. I know I left things heated last night, I guess seeing you here brought back some unsettling memories and I needed time to process. I needed time to think about what I was gonna say to you if I saw you again.
Vincenzo: Well I'm glad you decided to come here again.
Andrew: Maybe wait until you hear what I have to say. I know better than anyone how hard it was for you to have to live with this disease. To feel like you can't move one day to bouncing off the walls the next and how that can mess you up. I know as hard as it was for me and Carina to witness that it was harder to actually live it so…I get it.
Vincenzo: The last thing I would ever want is for you or your sister to go through what I'm going through. I'm sorry I passed the worse of me to you Andrea.
Andrew: Yeah well the gene pool doesn't make requests. With that being said it was your choice not to get help and it was my choice to get it thanks to the people who didn't give up on me. I know it wasn't easy for you at the time but we needed you, we needed our dad not…the man we tried so hard to avoid.
Vincenzo: (Remorseful) And I will carry that guilt with me for the rest of my life you and your sister those patients…Andrea you and your sister should've been reasons and I know that now please don't ever think it was your fault.
Andrew: I don't I never thought that thanks to Carina and as much as you hurt me I know you did the best that you could and in your own messed up way…you made me into the man I am today.
Vincenzo: That was all your mother I can hardly take credit.
Andrew: Trust me I'm not giving you much credit. The best thing I can say about you as a father and a husband is that you showed me how not to treat my family. And Amber is my family and she's gonna become my wife and we want to have kids. I'm gonna give them a better life than she and I had, I want them to have a mother, a father, aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. I don't want my son to hear over a phone call how I never want to see him again. I want to be someone he feels safe with and proud to call his dad.
Vincenzo: I would take all that back if I could.
Andrew: You can't, nothing we do will turn back the clock and take the last 20 years back but we might be able to move forward.
Vincenzo: (Looks hopeful for the first time)
Andrew: I want Amber to have at least one dad in her life who's not gonna disappoint her. I want my kids to know their grandpa, but not the man that I grew up with. You have to keep up with your treatment, be better to me and Carina, treat Amber with respect and think before you act. If you do that then we can start over otherwise I gotta protect my family from you.
Vincenzo: (Grins proudly) Look at that, you're already a better husband and father than I was.
Andrew: (Grins slightly and clears throat) Do you want to get breakfast?
Vincenzo: I would like that and you can tell me about your wedding plans.
Andrew: Uh we made no plans at all.
Vincenzo: (Laughs) In that case we will make plans so you can marry that wonderful woman before she comes to her senses.
Andrew: (Chuckles) Come on let's go inside I'll make us something.
(Andrew and Vincenzo go inside the house)
CUT TO GREY SLOAN
10:30 PM
SCENE: OB EXAM ROOM
(Jo lies on her back in an exam table with Alex next to her as Kate Lachman preps her for the ultrasound)
Kate: How are you feeling so far?
Jo: Good morning sickness has passed and now I just have to cope with looking like a walking planet. If I'm this fat at 21 weeks I don't want to imagine how I'll be at the end of this.
Alex: Jo you're not fat your-
Jo: Please don't say glowing that is incredibly cliché.
Alex: I was gonna say pregnant but it's nice to know what not to say so I don't trigger any killer pregnancy hormones.
Jo: Yeah for that you should buy yourself medieval armor and maybe a shotgun.
Alex: (Grins) Jo I've lived a childhood from hell I think I can handle a pregnant woman.
Jo: I don't know I'm pretty unpredictable.
Kate: Okay shall we get started?
(Kate waves the wand over Jo's stomach and the monitor shows the image of the fetus with Jo and Alex looking in awe)
Jo: Oh my god.
Alex: (Smiles) That's our baby.
Jo: (Grins) It's our baby…how is she? Is she okay?
Kate: Your baby is fine she's thriving so far and I see a strong heartbeat. I know you know the drill about covid you are to take maternity leave when you reach 28 weeks for you health as well as the baby's.
Jo: (See's something on the monitor) Wait I see something like an extra toe or a finger.
Alex: (Looks and grins as he can tell what it is) That's not a toe or a finger.
Jo: (Eyes widen and chuckles in joy) Oh it's a boy!
Alex: (Chuckles) We're having a son.
(Jo and Alex kiss and pull apart happy with the news)
CUT TO BLACK
TRANSITION TO PRESENT
SCENE: DR. COLBATH'S OFFICE
(Amber has finished recounting her story to Colbath who looks at her curiously)
Colbath: So, is this dilemma about your first solo surgery? You said that you did the work flawlessly and the patient has a new heart responding well.
Amber: Yeah and it is it's just…okay have you ever felt a jolt of joy in your job like you did this great thing and you feel happier than ever. You did the one thing you've wished you could do all your life and it feels like everything is complete, do you know what I'm talking about?
Colbath: Yes I do I am a doctor same as you.
Amber: Okay well after that surgery after I did my first solo…I lied to Dr. Ndugu. I told him that I felt joy but I didn't I just felt like I did the job and that was it. I should've felt happy I should've felt something but I didn't I just felt a sense of accomplishment like I ran a mile instead of saving a life. I felt…nothing. What's wrong with me doc?
Colbath: There is nothing wrong with you, your not the first doctor I've seen this year to have questions on life choices and where their careers are going.
Amber: But all I've wanted since I was an intern was to be a cardiothoracic surgeon.
Colbath: (Interested look) I didn't mention that actually but interesting that you did.
Amber: (Realizes what she's insinuating) I…I don't even know when I started to feel less joy in cardio, do you think it's the pandemic?
Colbath: Amber you're a young woman who is starting to dive into her own psyche to move on from past trauma. The pandemic could be a factor into this change or it could be what's coming to the surface after so many years.
Amber: (Chuckles lightly) I wouldn't even know where to begin…I mean switching specialties is not like switching shoes I am already deep in cardio with Dr. Pierce and…it's not bringing me joy anymore.
Colbath: In my professional opinion I believe pursuing your true passion will do better for your mental health than staying in the same place and letting all that time and opportunity pass. You're in your third year, you're young, you have plenty of time to explore each specialty and feel that joy you told me about. You want to know where to begin, start with the first step and keep walking till you know where you want to go. Come on Amber, what do you have to lose really?
(Amber looks at Colbath in thought and ponders on her next move)
I DECIDED TO LET AMBER EXPLORE A NEW SPECIALTY AND HER CHOICE WILL BE REVEALED IN THE FOLLOWING CHAPTERS. I WANTED TO GIVE THE DELUCA'S CLOSURE WITH THEIR FATHER AND HOPEFULLY THIS SUFFICES. I HOPE YOU GUYS ENJOYED THIS CHAPTER REVIEWS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME.