INTRO: This story is a collaboration between Gail and myself about two very different
couples and a third party who, woefully or not, just doesn't belong.  It doesn't include any of the
new cast and is a Jeffrey Geiger story, for the most part.

     The disclaimer applies:  Used without permission, characters are all David E. Kelley's, with
the exception of Hugh Donagal, who is Gail's character from her previous story
("Confrontations").

Rated "TV" 14 for some upsetting content and strong language (i.e., Kronk). Comments to
gatorgme@execpc.com or jesskay@pressenter.com or both.

                        PARTNERS: Part 1
           by Gail M. Eppers and Jessie Kay Bylander


     Jeffrey Geiger walked through the doors of Chicago Hope hospital with a certain amount
of trepidation.  Philip had seemed very different on the phone this time.  He wouldn't tell Jeffrey
exactly what the case was.  He probably could have left a message on the machine for all the
interaction that had taken place.  "Jeffrey, I've got a job for you.  Meet me in my office at 1:00
tomorrow afternoon.  Bye!"  Nothing like curiosity to pull people in.  But there was also
something in his voice.  Something...
     Jeffrey scanned the hospital lobby.  It had been a long time.  So long, he didn't even see
anyone around that he knew.  Camille wasn't behind her desk anymore, he'd known that.  But it
seemed even the orderlies had  changed. Some of them looked at him looking, and seemed to
wonder if he were a patient or a visitor.  That didn't help the odd feeling in the pit of his
stomach.  He checked his watch.  It was 12:55.  He could hear the Twilight Zone theme song in
his head, and Rod Serling saying "You have entered the Twilight Zone".  He shook his head. 
Don't be ridiculous, he told himself. It's just Chicago Hope.  Just a hospital.  What, do you think
Philip's got an alien for you to operate on?  
     Enough imagination.  Time to get the answers.  He headed up to  Philip's office.  As he
opened the door, Jeffrey noticed that Philip was staring out at his terrace.  Philip turned abruptly
when he heard the door open, like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar.  No.  That
analogy wasn't quite right.  Children do those types of things with a look of mischievous delight. 
Like the other night when he'd caught Alicia with what had recently been clean folded laundry in
a basket.  Instead, it looked as if the basket had just recovered from a severe case of hiccups. 
But she'd been caught having fun, and was smiling with that mischievous delight.  
     There was no delight of any kind on Philip's face.
     "Jeffrey, close the door.  Have a seat."  Philip indicated one of the overstuffed leather
chairs in front of his desk, while he seated  himself behind it.  
     Quietly, Jeffrey closed the door, and sat in the chair.  "Okay,  Philip, what's with all the
secrecy?"
     Watters took a deep breath. "Someone needs a bypass."
     "Someone.  Who, Philip?"
     "Someone you know."
     That brought up Jeffrey short.  There had to be more to it.  Philip wouldn't allow him to
operate on just someone he knew.  It was bad medical practice to operate on family members or
friends.  Family members.  Well, Jeffrey knew that wasn't it.  Alicia was his family and he knew
she didn't need one.  Friends.  There were several of those, he thought.  Most notably...."You,
Philip?"  Those damn cigars.  If he'd been smoking one at this moment, Jeffrey would have torn
it from his hand.
     Philip shook his head.  "No, not me."  He got out a manila envelope and removed its
contents, a couple of X-rays.  He handed the X-rays to Jeffrey, but placed the envelope label side
down on the desk.
     Jeffrey held them one at a time up to the light, sandwiching glances at Philip between
them.  "That's a lot of blockage," he said.  "Aaron?"
     Again, Philip shook his head.
     Jeffrey plopped the films back on the desk. "How many guesses are you gonna give me?"
He stared Philip in the eyes.  "I didn't leave Alicia to come up here and play Twenty Questions,
Philip." And Philip read his eyes correctly.  Tell me a name or I break both your kneecaps.
     There was silence for a long moment as the two men stared each other down.  Jeffrey had
Philip's anxiety on his side.
     "It's Gilbert."
     Another silence, highly unusual when Jeffrey was in a room, broken only by Jeffrey's
sudden intake of breath.  
     Now that the name had been spoken, Philip continued.  "He collapsed at Huron yesterday
morning, and they brought him here.  I stablized him, and ordered the standard tests.  This
morning, I got the results and discussed them with him and Laurie."
     "Laurie?  She's here?"
     Philip's eyes moved behind him briefly. "They're on the terrace."  Jeffrey looked through
the windows, but couldn't see them.  How long had it  been since he'd seen her?  He felt the
twinge that told him despite everything that had happened, he still loved her. 
     Jeffrey lifted one of the X-rays again.  Now that he knew who it was... God, it was bad. 
He thought of what Laurie must be going through; she wasn't stupid, just crazy.  He was sure she
knew how serious this was, and understood why she wanted him to do it.  But Gilbert... 
     "Why would Gilbert want me to operate?"  He knew Gilbert did not share Laurie's
affection for him.  Why would someone want the man he hated to operate on his heart?
     "You'd better discuss that with them.  You can use my office." Philip rose and collected a
pile of papers into a folder.  "The other test results are here, and I have a meeting to attend.  You
wouldn't believe the trouble Kate's put us in."  He paused. "Sorry.  Not your headache."  He went
to the rear doorway, opened it, leaned out, waved, then came back in.  In a moment, Laurie and
Gilbert, hand-in-hand, entered the room.     Instinctively, Jeffrey stood, then remembered he'd
be moving behind the desk anyway.  He vacated his chair, then the three of them sat down.
     

     Billy Kronk sat beside Hugh Donagal at The Puddle, moodily nursing a Budweiser while his
"companion" watched a soccer game on one of the bar's three television screens.  Soccer, Billy
mentally snorted.  What was it about Diane that attracted such wusses?  First that book-smart,
tree-hugging pantywaist Luft and now Donagal, sitting in an American bar drinking an Irish beer
and watching soccer, a sport more unrecognized in the US than synchronized swimming.  And
besides that, the two guys next to them were having a discussion about "Star Trek."  He decided
he was in Wuss Hell.
     "Have you figured it out yet?"  Hugh said out of the corner of his mouth.       Examining the
guy's aristocratically rounded chin, wondering if he could knock him off the barstool with just
one punch, he asked, "Come again?"
     "I said have you figured it out yet?"  Indicating the tv screen with the neck of his beer bottle,
he finished the question, "Why soccer is the world's most popular sport."
     This time, Kronk didn't bother to restrain the snort.  What was Diane thinking when she stuck
the two of them together?  Get to know him, she said.  After all, he did save my life.  And, she
stressed strongly, he is my friend.  Friend?  What kind of a friend watched soccer?
     The phlegm-clearing sound made Hugh's face crinkle in disgust. "Soccer," Kronk began
sarcastically, "is the world's most popular sport because most of the world can't compete in an
ice rink."
     "That's not true.  England has some very fine ice skaters."
     Horrified, Kronk set his Bud down.  "That's not what I meant!  I meant hockey."  Adopting
the superior tone he had used earlier, he said, "The two superpowers of this planet excel at
hockey."
     "I didn't know Canada had been elected a superpower." Without allowing Kronk a breath (or
bellow), he continued, "The British Empire, at one time, covered most of this planet.  I'd
conclude, therefore, that soccer is a much superior sport."
     "Welcome to the 90s, H.D..."
     "...And the Japanese prefer baseball to any other sport."  While Kronk blustered and
reclenched his fists, Hugh added the icing on the proverbial cake.  "Honestly, I don't know what
Diane sees in you."
     Meanwhile, two barstools away from the sparring pair, another argument was going on. 
However, this one had reached a fevered pitch.  One of the inebriated participants announced in
a loud voice, "Oh, I'm not saying Captain Kirk is a *moron*.  It's just that if he were given a
blowtorch and a pair of sharp scissors, he *still* couldn't get out of a paper bag."
     "You'd better back off, man," the other guy said.
     "HEY!"  Kronk yelled in their general direction, "Martin!  Lewis! We're trying to have a
SERIOUS discussion down here."  They were temporarily shocked into silence that Kronk took
advantage of.  "What exactly do you mean, 'What does Diane see in me?'"
     "Well, William, to be honest, you're rather...uncouth.  And hyperactive.  And boorish.  The
list goes on and on, actually.  Diane is an intelligent, beautiful woman.  Frankly, I think she's
wasting her bloody time on you."  The young man smiled and raised his beer bottle to his lips,
waiting for Kronk's reaction.
     After a few measured deep breaths, Billy said, "If I didn't know I was risking jail time, I'd
break your arrogant, judgmental nose with my fist. Instead, I'll point out that I graduated from
the University of Chicago, summa cum laude, with a biology/english double major.  I then
entered medical school and graduated second in my class.  As for being hyperactive and boorish,
well, I don't count those as faults.  As an ER physician, energy and a strong, professional attitude
are two qualities that help me survive.  That reminds me, H.D., what exactly do you do?"
     Hugh's answer was drowned out by another insult by Inebriated Trekkie #1.  "And *Spock*! 
What kind of first officer wears blue eyeshadow? RuPaul?"  And that was enough for Trekkie
#2; you could rip Kirk, but *no one* rips Spock.  He was off his barstool in a shot and punched
#1 squarely in the nose, sending him on top of a customer in a chair.  Kronk and Hugh watched
the chain reaction with some fascination as the bar broke out into a raging fight.  Billy decided
that enough was enough and was ready to step in between some of the participants when
someone's head connected squarely with his own.  He dropped to his knees and the last thing he
saw was Hugh grabbing his cel phone and dialing what he hoped was 911.


     Jeffrey paged through the test results in the folder, trying to keep his professional persona
awake.  Philip was right; a bypass was indicated. Possibly even a double bypass.  Angioplasty
might have helped in the short term, but the arteries showed too much damage to last for long. 
He raised his head, and the sight of Laurie and Gilbert holding hands across the gap between the
chairs made him pause.  He pushed those thoughts aside. "Gilbert, you're the patient.  Are you
sure you want me to do this?"
     "Laurie and I already discussed this,"  Gilbert said. "She trusts you."
     "But do you?"  Jeffrey came around to the front of the desk and rested one buttock on the
edge in front of Gilbert.  He spoke softly; "We both know how we feel about each other.  Why
wouldn't you want a doctor who's *not* emotionally involved?"
     "Because I know that your personal feelings about me will not affect the outcome of this
procedure,"  Gilbert said.
     Jeffrey considered it.  So did Gilbert have confidence in Jeffrey's professionalism and
skill?  Or was he just going along with Laurie's wishes?   Looking back, Jeffrey thought about the
many patients he'd operated on.  Some of them he disliked, and the vast majority of them
survived.  And the patients he *had* liked, the ones he had tried his very best to save, and
couldn't.  He gritted his teeth.  But personally, he'd never really worried about his own ability to
be objective.  But he had to know, for sure, if Gilbert could do the same.  "Laurie, could you wait
outside?"
     Laurie was caught off guard.  "Jeffrey?"
     He nodded toward the terrace. "Just for a few minutes.  Please?"
     Hesitantly, Laurie untangled her hand from her husband and did as Jeffrey asked.
     When the door closed, Gilbert asked, "Why did you do that?"
     "You'll see."  He paused, and leaned closer to Gilbert.  "Gilbert, a surgery like this is a
partnership.  I promise you I'll do my part, but I need to know you'll do yours."
     "Huh?"
     Jeffrey spoke softly. "There's more to this than just surviving the surgery.  Even to do
that, you need stamina, and a strong will to live.  Do you have those qualities?  And recovery
isn't easy, either.  I'll tell you, Gilbert, if you plan to give up and die, or turn into a lumpy
mattress cover after the surgery, I'm not interested.  You gotta be prepared to fight.  Can you give
me your word on that?"  He paused, seeing that Gilbert was understanding the scope of the
argument.      
     Gilbert looked Jeffrey in the eye with an intensity Jeffrey had never seen before.  "I love
Laurie." He began, stressing all three words.  "I have no intention of putting her through anything
more than necessary.  The sooner I'm back to healthy, the easier it will be. For both of us."
     Jeffrey straightened.  He believed every word.



                        PARTNERS: Part 2
           by Gail M. Eppers and Jessie Kay Bylander 

    Kronk regained consciousness in the ambulance.  Hugh sat beside him, nursing a bloody nose. 
"Hello there, chap.  Hey, William's awake!" he announced, nudging one of the E.M.T.'s
monitoring his blood pressure.  The young lady smiled and said, "Hello, sir.  Could you tell me
your name please?"      
      "Billy Kronk."  He felt like shock waves were coming in from all sides and centering
themselves in his brain.  A low-key buzzing, accompanied by an intense pain, wriggled between
his ears.
     "And your place of residence?"
     This took him a few minutes.  Was he still living with Nyland or had he gotten a place of his
own?  He tried to picture his apartment, but all he could imagine was Di's apartment and
Nyland's flat.  "I used to live at Nyland's place.  I'm not sure where I am now."
     "O-kay.  How many fingers am I holding up?"
     When Billy looked, it appeared to be a set of "W's" that were neon blue.  "It's probably two,
but it looks more like a picket fence."
     "Hold on, Dr. Kronk, we're going to get you to Chicago Hope and Dr. Shutt will be sure to
take care of you."  The other E.M.T. had stopped talking to the driver and turned to reassure
Kronk briefly.  He didn't feel too reassured.  He realized that any friend of Nyland's was
immediately a suspicious character to Shutt.  Living with him was probably a capital offense--or
at least an accidental vasectomy.
     When they reached the E.R., he heard the E.M.T.'s rattling off his vitals and the situation that
had caused it.  Diane was suddenly  rushing towards him in a blur that he convinced himself was
caused by speed.
     "Billy, what happened to you?"  He stared at her blankly.  He had heard his name, but he
hadn't seen anyone move their mouth.  
     When it became clear that Billy was having a little difficulty with simple comprehension,
Hugh took the liberty of answering the question. "Some bastard head-butted him."
     "Billy!"  The accusing tone in Diane's voice rang in his ears. 
     "It's not like that, Diane..." he started, but nausea swept through him.  Far away, he heard
Hugh continue to plead his case.  "There was a fight and William tried stopping it.  He was just
in the wrong place at the wrong time."
     "And you?"  She indicated the bloody handkerchief with the HGD monogram.
     "This?  Took an elbow to the nose trying to get to him.  Nothing that'll put me back in the
hospital."
     "Damn it!  I thought I told you to keep him conscious!"  Aaron Shutt came storming up to the
gurney and grabbed the chart.  "Let's get him to third.  Diane, you stay here with...uh...him." 
Aaron rushed away with Kronk and Hugh took her hand gently.  "Don't concern yourself, Diane. 
I'm sure he'll be fine.  He does have rocks in his head, you know."  Diane's laughter was choked
with tears as he led her to the cafeteria.
      Billy tugged on Shutt's lab coat.  "Hey, I only lived with Nyland and I barely tolerated him..." 
Shutt looked down at him, his dark eyes reflecting a mixture of amusement and relief.  
     "Good, you are conscious.  Can you tell me what happened?"
     Billy thought, but all he could remember was Hugh's cool words...an altercation that started
because someone insulted Spock...and a big blast of pain on his forehead.  "Not exactly.  Hugh
could tell you."
     "Mr. Bloody Nose, I'm assuming.  He's with Diane right now."
     "That bastard!"  Kronk tried getting off the gurney, but Shutt expertly clotheslined him with
his free forearm.
     "Calm down, Kronk.  We need to figure out how severe this concussion is, so just relax and
worry about Hugh later."
     Jeffrey Geiger picked that moment to catch up with Shutt.  "Hi Kronk. Who's Hugh?"
     "That English weasel who saved Diane."
     "I think it's best if we don't discuss the British Rodent right now, Jeffrey.  What do you need? 
I'm kind of busy right now."
     "I can see that, Aaron, but I have a little situation right now and it involves you in a way. 
When you're done with Rocky Marciano here, could you come to my office please?"
     "I'm not a boxer.  Phillip's the boxer.  I'm the hockey player." Kronk's voice was becoming
slurred with effort.  Jeffrey patted him on the shoulder.  "Don't strain yourself, Billy.  It takes
enough juice for your brain to run when there's *not* a dent in it."
     Billy grabbed Geiger's hand and, before he passed out, said, "Don't let him get Diane, Albert. 
She's all I've got."
     Jeffrey stood still in the middle of the hallway and tackled the one question that needed
asking:  "Who's Albert?"


     Laurie finished tying the hospital gown and tried to pull it a little closer in the back. 
"There," she said and helped Gilbert into the bed. He took a deep breath, but it sounded shaky. 
"Aww, Gilbert," she added, "I know. I know."  She stroked the side of his face, prompting a bit
of a smile.  "But it's Jeffrey.  Jeffrey and his magic fingers."  She said it with awe.
     "You still love him, don't you?" Gilbert couldn't look at her, but snuggled her hand with
his cheek, holding it there gently with his own hand.
     Laurie sat in the nearby chair.  "Gilbert, I've explained this to you before.  I'll always love
Jeffrey.  But that doesn't mean I can't love you just as much."
     "Sometimes...."  Gilbert paused, "Sometimes, I think you only married me because I'm in
Huron with you."
     "That's ridiculous."
     "But you wouldn't have even met me if it weren't for Huron.  And Dr. Joseph."
     "Dr. Joseph!"  She suddenly remembered something.  "I have to call him, Gilbert.  We'll
get in trouble if I don't."
     Gilbert wouldn't let go of her hand.  "It can wait.  Please."  She could see that he didn't
want to be left alone.  
     "I'll be right back."  Gently, she pried her hand free. His eyes pleaded with her, but she
refused to let it sway her.  She leaned in to kiss him, but closed her eyes.  "It's just a phone call. 
It'll only take a minute." She stepped away.  "They won't let me stay here at all if I don't check in
with Dr. Joseph like I agreed to."
     Gilbert nodded sadly.  "Hurry back?"  His eyes still pleaded.  Did he think she wouldn't?
     Laurie smiled at him. "Back in a flash."  Then she turned and left.


     After Shutt finished his examination, he concluded that Billy had a mild concussion. 
However, for safety measures, he put him in a room for overnight observation.  Billy, feeling a
little better, was getting restless.  It had been two hours and there had been no sign of Hugh or
Diane.  He was bored and worse, he was becoming suspicious.  When the door began to swing
open he prepared to tear into both of them, when a solitary figure stepped through the door. 
Billy sulked, "You're not Diane."
     "Nope.  Not pretty enough to be Diane.  A little too heavy to be Diane too.  Have you noticed
how skinny that girl is?  Well, of course you have, you've probably seen her naked or at least
tried on her underwear..." Jeffrey noticed that Kronk's eyes were scanning the vicinity for
throwable objects, so he let it go and sat beside him.  "Just wanted to let you know that Diane
went home to get you some videotapes and Hugh went back to his motel.  I didn't want to have
you worrying when you should be resting."
     "Well...thanks, I guess.  Why'd you check up on her?"
     "You asked Albert to, but I didn't see him around, so I thought I'd chip in."
     "Albert?"
     "My thoughts exactly.  How's your melon?"
     Billy rubbed the goose egg thoughtfully.  "Not too bad now.  Felt like Gretzky and Lemeieux
were firing pucks at it for a while."
     A moment of uncomfortable silence went by, while the two of them stared off into space. 
Billy felt slightly uncomfortable with this attention from Geiger.  While he had been around, he
had taken every opportunity to make fun of him behind his back; the truth was he had always
admired Geiger.  Not just for his surgical skill, but for his wit as well.  He also felt a kinship
with him that he would never admit to anyone. He had heard  about Geiger's demons concerning
his mother, who railed on him to succeed, and he understood better than most.  His father, the
surgeon, had been a good one for that.  
     "What are you here for now?"  he asked, finally breaking the silence.
     "My ex-wife wants me to help her new husband.  He needs a bypass. Problem is..." Geiger
stopped, looking at Kronk.  "Never mind, you don't wanna hear about this.  See you later, kid."
     Billy felt a sinking feeling he couldn't identify, but he thought it had something to do with
Geiger.  "Wait!"  he hollered.  Shocked, he turned back and Kronk tried to compose something
that would sound normal for him to say.  "I...don't have anything better to do."  Reflecting on it,
it sounded callous, but then he remembered who he was talking to.  Geiger returned to his seat
and continued.  "Thanks, Kronk, I'll try not to bore you too much. Problem is that I don't know if
I should.  If something were to go wrong..." a break in his words, allowing them both to briefly
visit another time when something did go wrong with one of their friends, "...if something went
wrong, there'd be questions.  And it's not that I hate him, or even dislike him. He's a nutjob who
goes looney tunes every time you bring up Bill Buckner, I mean, how are you supposed to feel
about someone like that?" He laughed, "Look who I'm talking to.  You probably throw bricks at
passing cars every time the Blackhawks lose.  Point is, I think I'm jealous of him. And y'know
why?  Not just 'cause he married Laurie, but because he's eveything I'm not, with the exception
of being nuts, because we at least got that in common.  He's quiet, caring, he listens to her and
she feels grateful to him.  I don't know if it's a good idea."  He looked at Kronk, who suddenly
appeared troubled.  "What's wrong with you?"
     "Nothing," then, "so what are you going to do?"
     "What do you think?"
     "What do *I* think?  Suck it up!  You're the best cardio specialist in America and you're
wondering whether you should do the procedure.  Sheesh! Do you honestly want *Austin* to do
it?"
     Geiger contemplated and stood.  "You're right, Billy.  What the hell was I thinking?  I am the
best..."
     Kronk interrupted, "Damn straight!"
     "...and if Weeks needed his ticker unclogged, I'm the man to do  it. Man, not *wo*man,
although Austin wishes in her wildest dreams, I'm sure." He stormed out the door, but not before
yelling, "Thanks, Kronk!"      
     Kronk sat back, satisfied.  "Yeah.  Damn straight."  For now, he'd think about Geiger saving
another life thanks to him, and not of the other frightening parallel between him and Geiger:  the
women they loved always seemed to like the wusses better than the warriors.


     Meanwhile, Geiger cruised down the hall, exhilerated by his ego. Aaron, sprinting to catch up
to him, said, "Jeffrey?  I've been calling you for about three city blocks.  What did you want to
talk to me about?"      
     "Never mind, Aaron.  I cleared it up with Billy."  Jeffrey walked ahead of him and Aaron was
left to stand calling after him, "Billy?  Billy Kronk? What...?  Never mind."


                        PARTNERS: Part 3
           by Gail M. Eppers and Jessie Kay Bylander

     Jeffrey Geiger put on a white lab coat for the first time in far too long. Even without the
name badge, it gave him a good feeling.  He didn't have to wear it.  He wasn't on staff here and
both Laurie and Gilbert knew that.  He wore it partly for his own comfort; it was like a uniform
to him. He also wore it for Gilbert's comfort.  Credentials aside, he knew it was more comforting
if the doctor looked like one.  So, he shrugged his big shoulders into it, grabbed a spare
stethoscope, and left Philip's office.
     Gilbert would be admitted and in his room by now.  The surgery was scheduled for first
thing in the morning.   Everyone needed a good night's rest before this began.  He doubted any of
them would actually get one.
     Gilbert looked uncomfortable in the badly fitting hospital gown, and seemed to be
constantly pulling his covers up.   He'd been expecting to see Laurie sitting in the chair by his
side, holding his hand, but Gilbert was alone.  "All settled in?" he asked, as if he were a hotel
manager and Gilbert was merely a guest.
     "Yes."  
     Jeffrey grabbed the clipboard from the foot of the bed and glanced through it.  Vital signs
were good.  He'd been given a mild sedative to help him stay relaxed.  Jeffrey placed the
earpieces of the stethoscope into his ears as he came toward the head of the bed to listen to
Gilbert's heart. After a moment, he stood straight.   "Everything looks good.  Any questions?"
     Gilbert thought about it, but the procedure and everything had already been explained to
him in great detail, more detail than he personally would have liked, and shook his head.  Jeffrey
put a reassuring hand on Gilbert's shoulder.  "You'll be fine, Gilbert."  He said with confidence. 
"Rest easy, and I'll see you in the morning."  A quick pat, a grateful look from the patient, and
Jeffrey rehung the chart and headed for the door.
     As he opened the door, Laurie was on her way back to the room.  He closed the door
anyway.  Something in Laurie's expression gave him concern.  "Laurie?"
     "I had to call Dr. Joseph," she explained, and Jeffrey nodded in understanding.  "How is
he?"
     "Just fine.  Are you okay?"  She seemed a bit agitated, and a bit put off that Jeffrey had
noticed. 
     Trying to be casual, she leaned against the wall.  "Why do you ask?"
     "Laurie," Jeffrey said in an 'isn't it obvious' tone.  She wasn't looking at him.  She was
concentrating on something inside, Jeffrey could tell. "Laurie?"  
     Her eyes rose up to his face.  "I love him, you know."  She didn't voice the rest.  She
didn't have to.  
     Jeffrey pulled her away from the wall and into his arms.  She didn't resist.   He could feel
her trembling.  "Hey,"  he whispered in her ear, "It's all right.  Everything's all right."  He stroked
her hair, and remembered how he used to do this to comfort her all the time.  Even before
Huron.  He wondered if Gilbert ever did it.  
     She didn't cry, but gradually found herself putting her arms around him and holding on
tight.  After a few moments, the trembling eased, and he let her pull away.   She managed a
confident smile, and with Jeffrey's silent approval, returned to her husband's bedside.


     The scrub sink could use a good scrubbing, Jeffrey thought as the warm water ran over
his hands.  He opened a sterile brush and reached for the soap, the old routine coming back
without thinking.  His mind raced ahead to the procedure and he visualized the end, seeing
Gilbert's heart regain color and begin pumping.   He backed into the OR and allowed a nurse to
stretch a pair of rubber gloves over his upturned hands.  He flexed his fingers and turned to the
table.  Gilbert was already under, with drapes covering all but his chest.   He recognized Kate
Austin underneath her mask, "Where's Shapira?  I thought he was assisting."
     "He was called away," the anesthesiologist replied.  
     "Great." Then something drew his gaze upward to the gallery.  "Shit."
     Laurie was there, watching.  
     Knowing he'd have to change his gloves, he went right to the phone and called Philip's
office.  He waited while the secretary paged him, then "Philip Waters."
     "What the hell is going on, Philip?"
     "What do you mean?"
     "I really don't think Laurie should be watching from the gallery.  She should be in a
waiting room, Philip."  He pulled his mask down so his voice wouldn't sound muffled.  
     "Dr. Joseph is there, too.  And I've arranged for Aaron to be there as soon as possible. 
And I'll come myself in about an hour.  There'll be plenty of supervision."
     "I don't care if every shrink in America is in there, I don't think she should be watching
her husband's bypass surgery."  What could Philip be thinking?  Laurie wasn't like everyone else. 
Sure, she'd seen surgeries before, but this was a lengthy operation, and the tension could get very
thick.  "You're making a big mistake."
     "It's Dr. Joseph's recommendation.  He thinks the worry of not knowing what's going on
will be more detrimental.  And Laurie wants to be there."
     Jeffrey saw Laurie watching him on the phone, slight confusion on her face.  Then he
saw Dr. Joseph hovering in the background.   "I think he's wrong."
     "Jeffrey,"  Philip explained as if to a child, "Dr. Joseph is Laurie's therapist.  I'm sure he
knows what's best for her.  And from the conversation I had with them, I tend to agree.  She's a
worrier, Jeffrey. Does it make you nervous, having her there?"
     "No, of course not."  He said immediately.   He'd make sure it wouldn't, in any case.
     Jeffrey remembered how intensely she had worried that a Christmas concert she'd
organized at Huron go off perfectly.  If a simple holiday concert had set her off, what would this
do?  Perhaps they were right.  "All right," he relented, "get your ass in there.  And Aaron's."  He
hung up the phone and accepted a new mask and clean gloves from a nurse.
     He stepped to the table and looked at the bare chest, shaved and stained orange from the
antiseptic swabbing.  "Scalpel," he said.


     "Got any Sondheim?"  Jeffrey asked the nurse in charge of the music.  She looked
through the collection, and held up a copy of  'Into the Woods'. Jeffrey shook his head.  It didn't
quite fit his mood.  She put it back and held up 'Sunday in the Park with George'.  "Yeah, that'll
do."
     "Must you, Jeffrey?"  Kate asked.  Broadway was far from her favorite musical genre.
     That made Jeffrey smile broadly under his mask.  "Yes, I must."
     Once the surgery had begun, Jeffrey completely forgot about the gallery. He concentrated
on his task.  It seemed like no time before the heart was exposed; its color was awful.  


     Up in the Gallery, Laurie stood nose to the window.  She heard the door open, and
glanced up only long enough to see that it was Aaron.  He came and stood beside her silently.  
Dr. Joseph, already bored with the surgery itself, sat in a chair by the back wall, observing
Laurie.  "It's going well," Laurie said.  She seemed to relax, and put one foot up on the short
window sill.  "Thanks for coming, Aaron."
     "No problem."  He put one hand on her shoulder lightly, and she reached up to pat it.  
"You want some coffee, or something?"
     Laurie shook her head. "No, thanks. "


     "Start the pump,"  Jeffrey ordered, and very quickly the heart lost what color it had as the
blood was diverted to the machinery.  
     "Not very talkative today, Jeff."  Kate said, trying to break the tension.  Jeffrey was
creating most of it by his silence.  If he treated this surgery as no different from any other, maybe
everyone would be more comfortable.
     "Shutt up, Kate," Geiger said without looking at her.  Actually, he was trying very hard to
imagine Kronk was there.  Stupid bar fight, he thought. "And don't call me Jeff.   You call me
that one more time, I'll throw you out of my OR."
     Austin didn't reply.
     The music continued; "Having just the vision's no solution," George Seurat sang,
"Everything depends on execution.  The art of making art is putting it together, Bit by bit...."


     Aaron had pulled two chairs close to the window.  One for Laurie and one for himself to
Laurie's right.  That's where they were when Philip entered the gallery.  He pulled up another
chair and sat on Laurie's left.  Laurie seemed not to notice at first, then smiled at Philip.  Philip
began to wonder if maybe Jeffrey had been right.  He smiled encouragingly back at Laurie, and
exchanged a wordless glance with Aaron.  And they both heaved a sigh.   Aaron turned and
looked back at Dr. Joseph, who sat calmly with his eyes on Laurie, unconcerned.  The hands on
the clock seemed not to move at all.


     "Cut here."  Kate deftly snipped the suture for Jeffrey.  The last one. "Stop the pump," he
said, removing clamps.  "And turn off that music." There was complete silence as they all stared
at the gray lump.  Slowly, it grew pink, but remained still.  "C'mon Gilbert,"  Jeffrey whispered,
suddenly conscious of his audience.
     In the gallery, Aaron grasped Laurie's right hand.  He probably could have ripped it off
the wrist and it would not have diverted Laurie's attention.  
     They waited.  Finally, "Amp of epi," Jeffrey ordered.  He reached in and began a gentle
heart massage.   The monitor maintained its steady flat line and monotone.   "Internal paddles." 
Someone handed him the paddles and he called out the charge.  As soon as he heard that the unit
was charged, he called "Clear" and sent electricity through the heart.  There was one beat, two,
then it again flatlined.  He upped the charge and did it again.  "Don't you dare die on me,
Gilbert."  He would have simply told Gilbert that he wasn't dying, but it would have been too
much like Alan's surgery. "Again."  He shocked the heart again, but nothing worked.  He
shocked it two more times, massaged it some more, added more drugs, but still the heart did not
respond.
     "Jeffrey,"  Kate said gently, "it's been 30 minutes."  He saw the compassion in her eyes.
"Do you want me to call it?"
     Jeffrey looked up at Laurie, who seemed to be staring into nothingness, then at the clock. 
"Time of death......11:17 am."  He said, then pulled off his gloves and mask as he escaped from
the OR.


     Diane burst into Billy's room with a clutch of videos in one hand and a VCR under the other
arm.  "I hope you appreciate this, you pain in the ass, because your idea of organizing video
tapes is really f..."  She was stopped by Billy putting one finger up to his lips in a shushing
motion.  He motioned for her to sit beside him and she obliged, but not before dumping the
collection of "Rambo" movies and hockey videos all over the foot of the bed and the floor.  He
took her hand gently and looked into her eyes solemnly.  "I've been a jerk about Hugh and I'm
sorry.  I just figured, with Luft and now with Huey Boy, you were trying to tell me something
about what a slob I am.  I should have been nicer to him and I should have shown you a little
respect..."
     She sighed.  "Billy, you are a slob, but I didn't date Jake Luft back in my college years to tell
you that.  And I didn't befriend Hugh to tell you that either.  I can look past the fact that you're a
slob, just like I looked past the fact that Jake used to keep all his coffee cups turned up in his
cupboard so they could collect dust and he used to watch opera on PBS."
     "Opera!"  Billy burst out, but Diane moved to quiet him with a palm clapped over his mouth.
     "I was just starting to respect your sensitivity, Kronk.  Don't ruin the moment."  She smiled
and she could feel his smile underneath the cup of her hand.  She released him and moved to
kiss him.  Before her lips touched his, he whispered, "What exactly does Donagal do?"
     "Does it matter?"
     "Yes!"
     "He's a..."   Diane started, but Hugh cut her off.  "Flower delivery boy.  That's right, William. 
These are from the nurses down on second.  And this little bouquet here is from Austin and
Nyland."  He held up a cactus prominently.
     "Take a hint, Donagal, and get the hell out of here.  And throw away that cactus while you're
at it."
     "Certainly, mein Fuhrer.  Diane, don't get him too excited, he needs his rest.  It takes William
a lot of energy just to add small numbers." With that quick parting shot, Hugh was out the door,
cactus still in hand.       
     In the peace and silence that followed, Diane and Billy finished their kiss, without discussing
Hugh's occupation...


                        PARTNERS: Part 4
           by Gail M. Eppers and Jessie Kay Bylander

  Geiger burst into the observation room to find that the scene hadn't changed.   Laurie still sat in
her chair, looking through the window, as Kate solemnly closed.  No one seemed to know what
to do.  Aaron stared at Jeffrey, Philip stared at Jeffrey, and Jeffrey stared at Dr. Joseph, who also
still watched Laurie from behind, from a distance.  Geiger spoke low, but not softly. "Aren't you
going to do anything?" he hissed.  Dr. Joseph held a finger to his lips, and Jeffrey nearly ground
his teeth to the roots resisting the urge to strike him.  
     Slowly, Laurie rose to a standing position, and placed a hand on the glass.  She
swallowed thickly.  "No."  If it hadn't been so absolutely quiet, no one would have heard it.  
     Jeffrey started to move toward her, but Dr. Joseph pulled him back, shaking his head. 
But Jeffrey yanked his shoulder free and went to Laurie anyway, Philip moving out of the way as
he approached.   He didn't touch her, or even speak right away.  He just needed to be there.  He
looked at her face, her eyes, trying to read her like he'd always been able to before. What did she
need and who did she need it from?  Gently, slowly, he reached to touch her shoulder.  "Laurie?" 
She did not react, just kept staring through the window as unnamed personnel carried out work
very few were willing to do.  He wanted her to turn to him, to reach out to him, crying
uncontrollably, so he could comfort her, but she denied him that.  
     He looked back at Dr. Joseph questioningly.  "She's withdrawn," he said quietly, though
his voice seemed to boom in the silence.  He rose and stepped closer to Geiger. "It's a technique
she's been trying.  Instead of going berserk, she crawls inside, where she won't hurt anyone, or
herself. Only her new medication allows her to accomplish this.  She'll come back out when
she's ready. "
     "When will that be?"
     Dr. Joseph looked at the floor.  "When she's ready."  Then he raised his head again.  "This
episode is a bit more intense than others.  Don't be alarmed, but it could be days."
     Jeffrey didn't look alarmed, he looked furious.   
     Dr. Joseph motioned to an orderly, and in a moment what must have been a collegue
came through the door, and helped Dr. Joseph guide the catatonic Laurie out of the room.  After
the door closed behind them, Geiger picked up a chair and prepared to throw it.  "Jeffrey, no!" 
Philip called out, stopping him with the chair above his head.  Jeffrey hesitated only a moment,
then resignedly set the chair back on its legs, and fell into it. 
     "What have I done, Philip?"
     "Jeffrey, she'll be all right.  It makes sense, if you think about it. This way, no straitjacket,
no hypodermic, no hysteria.  It's a step."  
     Jeffrey sensed Aaron standing behind him and looked up and back. "Aaron?"  
           Aaron, who had begun massaging Jeffrey's tense shoulders, released his friend's neck and
came around to stand in front of Jeffrey. "I've heard of it.  It's partially drugs, and partially
Laurie's own doing.  I didn't know Dr. Joseph was a proponent..."
     "But..." Jeffrey prompted.
     "But I agree with it," Aaron finally admitted. "In cases like Laurie's, it's best to reduce the
physical trauma, for her own safety if not for those around her."
     "What would you expect her to do, Jeffrey?"  Philip added, "If she lets loose like a
normal person might in this situation, she might have thrown herself through the window."
     "She shouldn't have been here."  Jeffrey muttered, but he knew better than to place
blame.  Aaron placed a hand on his friend's shoulder.  "And Gilbert..." He wanted to say
'shouldn't have died', but he couldn't. Sometimes, people just died, he knew that.  "Philip, make
sure Dr. Joseph keeps me informed.  Guys," he added, indicated both Aaron and Philip, "I need
to be alone now.  I promise not to throw any chairs."
     After encouraging pats on the shoulders, Jeffrey was alone.


     Hugh was walking towards the elevators, carrying what he now considered to be his cactus. 
It reminded him of his little adventure with William and he'd always cherish the memory of that
prickly bastard getting thunked on the head.  He had just started pondering his fancy for Diane
when someone blindsided him with an armful of charts.  He tripped backwards about ten feet
while she dropped her charts everywhere.
     "Damn it!  Why don't you watch where you're going!"  Hugh was meticulously trying to repot
his cactus, when the smoky voice caught him off-guard. 
     "Terribly sorry, of course.  My fault entirely, I...," his words stopped cold when he saw the
length of leg running up into the black skirt that was now mere inches from his face.  "I...I...can't
help but notice that I stuck you with a needle, I'm afraid."
     The brunette casually plucked the cactus burr from her blazer and said, "I'm sorry if I ruined
your plant.  Can I help you up?"  Hugh stood on his own, but couldn't take his eyes off her face. 
"My apologies, Ms.?"
     "Infante.  Geri Infante.  I'm here to help stitch an old friend back up.  He got in another bar
fight."
     Hugh ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.  Why were all these classy women
flocking to that obnoxious git?


     Geiger hefted Alicia a little higher in his arms to free one hand to open the door.  The
large diaper bag over his shoulder swung around and slipped down to his elbow.   As soon as he
was through the door, he let the handle slip down into his hand as he headed for the sunroom. 
"This is where your Aunt Laurie lives, sweetheart," he told her.  Alicia was looking around at the
new environment, just a hint of that hospital air about it, with a mixture of curiosity and worry.  
He nodded at the desk nurse at the corner. "Bring her to the sunroom, please."
     The nurse came out and stood in front of him. "I'm sorry, Dr. Geiger, but that child hasn't
been authorized through Dr. Joseph."
     Jeffrey sighed, "Screw Dr. Joseph."  Immediately, he added, to Alicia, "Sorry, Alicia,"
then continued to the nurse.  "That quack has had three weeks for his therapy and there's been no
progress.  I'm gonna try a little therapy of my own.  Now, I'm going into that sunroom, with
Alicia, and I want Laurie brought in ASAP.  Understand?"
     "I'll have to check with Dr. Joseph."  But she stepped to the side.
     "Fine," Jeffrey said.  He pushed the handle of the bag back up to his shoulder, and waved
his hand, vertically, fingers downward, in the air. "Run along and tell.  But if Laurie isn't in here
in five minutes, I will, as her legal guardian, check her out of this place permanently."  Without
waiting for acknowledgement, he pushed into the sunroom.
     Alicia relaxed in his arms.  This room was much more friendly.  There were big windows
along two walls letting in plenty of natural sunlight.  There were big, bouncy sofas, and a TV,
and a bookcase.  "Isn't this nice, Alicia?"  He set her down a few feet in front of the couch, then
dug a bag of blocks out of the diaper bag and dumped them on the floor.  "Let's build a tower." 
Alicia scooped up blocks and then scattered them, giggling. Jeffrey lay down on his side next to
her and began building a tower while his adopted daughter watched.  It grew taller than her
before Jeffrey ran out of blocks.  "All done!"  Alicia leaned forward and knocked the tower over,
laughing as the blocks tumbled out of even Jeffrey's reach.  He scrambled to gather them up and
began to build again.
     The door opened, and the nurse was wheeling in Laurie in her wheelchair. She was still
catatonic; didn't seem to see anything.  Jeffrey pushed himself up off the floor. "Go ahead and
play, sweetheart.  I'll watch from over here."  And he sat on one side of the couch.  The nurse
positioned Laurie right next to him, then left.
     He took her hand in his.  "This is Alicia, Laurie.  I adopted her."
     Laurie kept staring straight ahead, uninterested in the child playing delightedly with the
blocks.  Well, Jeffrey thought, I didn't expect her to crawl down on the floor and join in, either. 
But Laurie needed to see that there was something out here for her.   Keeping her cooped up
with nothing but therapy sessions for stimulation only seemed to drive her further inward. 
Jeffrey kept holding her unresponsive hand, fingers entwined with his, as they watched the child
at play.
     After several minutes, Alicia grew bored with the blocks and looked up at Jeffrey.  She
walked up and stood by his knees, looking warily at Laurie in the wheelchair.  "It's okay, Alicia. 
This is your Aunt Laurie.  She's sick, but she's going to get better."  Alicia pulled herself along in
front of Jeffrey, deftly stepping over his feet, and quietly touched Laurie's knee.  Laurie did not
react.  
     Then Alicia returned to Jeffrey, arms upraised. "Up", she said. 
     Jeffrey sat her in his lap. "Do you want me to read you a story?"  he asked, pulling a
Little Golden Book out of the bag.  She pushed the book away, and kept staring at Laurie. 
Jeffrey let her stare, though Laurie's gaze never wavered.  After another five minutes he set
Alicia on the floor again. "Time to pick up your blocks.  C'mon, I'll help you."  He didn't want to
stay too long.  Not at first.  Together, the two of them gathered the blocks, now scattered all the
way to the television set.  He tossed them toward Alicia and she plopped them in the block bag. 
"See any more?" They both looked around, but saw no more blocks.  Jeffrey took the bag and
stuffed it into the diaper bag.  "Thank you, sweetie.  You're a good little helper."
     Then he sat Alicia back on the couch next to the bag.  "I'll be right back.  I'm just going to
call for a nurse to take Aunt Laurie back to her room."  He went to the door, opened it and got
someone's attention, then returned to the couch.  The blocks, along with everything else that was
in the diaper bag, were again on the floor.  "Alicia!"  Jeffrey mock yelled at her.  "I didn't tell you
to do that."  So once again, he recruited Alicia into helping and the two of them began to pick up
the items.
     A nurse arrived and began to steer Laurie away.  Jeffrey stopped briefly to lean over and
kiss her on the forehead.  "I'll see you again, soon, Laurie."  Then he nodded to the nurse and
continued to help his daughter reload the diaper bag as she was wheeled away.
     Neither Jeffrey nor Alicia saw Laurie turn her head to look back at them as she left.

                             THE END