Waking up, Lucy smiled, as she remembers the night of passion she shared with her husband. Thinking they could continue where they left off, she turned over to wake him, but immediately realized he had already gotten up. Hurriedly, she slips on her robe and slippers, as she begins her search. After checking the nursery and the other upstairs rooms, she begins her journey downstairs, “John?” she yells, going down the stairs, “Are you down here?”
“Yeah,” comes his voice from the kitchen.
As Lucy reaches the kitchen door, John comes out holding two cups of
coffee.
“Decaf, right?” he asks handing her a cup.
“You got it, thanks,” taking a sip, she continues, “What time did you get up?”
“About a half hour ago. You were sleeping so soundly, I didn't want to
wake you. Thought I'd make breakfast.”
“I wish you would have-”
“What?”
“Gotten me up,” she says, starting grope him.
“Why's that, as if I didn't know,” he smiles.
“Come here, and I'll show you.”
Lucy pulls him closer to her and gives him a deep, sensuous kiss. After
finally coming up for air, she continues, “You want breakfast or-”
“Or what? he asks, knowing exactly what she was offering.
“More where that came from,” she smiles mischievously.
“Let me see? A bowl of cereal, or another round of unbridled sex and
passion?” he kids.
“JOHN!” she yells, throwing a pillow at him.
He laughs and begins running up the stairs. Lucy takes a step on her
left foot and immediately begins to whine.
“John, my foot,” she whines.
John stops and returns to where Lucy is standing, “Let me see.”
As he bends down to look at it, she pushes him back, where he lands on
the couch, and she runs up the stairs to their room,with John in hot pursuit. He catches up with her, as they reach the bed, and playfully lays her on their bed, and begins kissing her all over, just as things begin to heat up the phone rings.
“Let the machine pick it up,” Lucy says breathlessly, as they continue under the covers.
“John, this is Kerry. I really need you to come in for a four hour shift. Mallucci's in bed with the flu, or so he says, Chen and Susan won't be in
until noon, so you being Chief Resident, you need to come in.”
Before the message had finished, Lucy was out of bed.
“Where do you think you're going?”
“To get dressed.”
“She just said me-you don't have to go.”
“We're a team, John, if you have to work today, I'm going too.”
“That's my girl,” he says getting up.
After grabbing a bite to eat and getting dressed, they arrive to the ER
to find it crowded with patients. As they head to the lounge, they're met
by Weaver, who is busy snapping orders.
“John, I had no choice, but to call, I hope you both realize that.”
“We both knew, when I took this position this could happen, only it's
not a very good way to start a marriage. Somebody,” motioning to Lucy, “had other plans for today.”
“Oh please,” she replies, rolling her eyes, and becoming totally embarrassed.
“Lucy, why don't you stick to minor stuff today, it may make the day go
faster for you.”
“Great,” she whispers disappointed, under her breath, not loud enough
for Dr. Weaver to hear, but loud enough for John too.
“Luce, what'd you say?” John asks with a grin.
“I said, that sounds great,” Lucy replies, punching him on the shoulder.
Leaving the lounge, John immediately meets an incoming trauma and Lucy heads to pick up a chart to begin a shift of scut work.
FOUR HOURS LATER
Finishing his shift, John finds Lucy cleaning up the suture room, “Hey,
haven't seen you all day.”
“I've been in here the whole morning. It was a foot lac here, a head lac
there, you name it, I probably sutured it today.”
“Bad day, huh?”
“You got it,” she says, sounding tired.
“Well, as of five minutes ago, we're officially off, Deb and Susan are here, and somehow, Dave had a miraculous recovery and is on his way in.
“Good, it's been a long four hours, all I want to do is see grandpa and go home.
Turning to leave, John doesn't see Lucy hop up and sit on the bed. As she does, she lets out a heavy sigh, “What's wrong?” he asks, while turning around.
“I've been thinking,” she says quietly.
“What now?” he smiles, trying to get her to smile.
“Nothing's ever been easy for us has it? From the time I first came here
till now.”
Coming over to the bed, John stands face to face with her, takes her head in his hands and gives her a kiss, “No, it hasn't, but I can think of one thing that was easy for us.”
“Oh?”
“You and me making that baby, putting his hand gently on her stomach.”
“What would I do without you?”
“Oh, be married to Dale,” he grins.
“Give me a little more credit then that. Let's go put this stuff away and head upstairs.”
“Give me your lab coat, and stethoscope, I'll put them away, clock us out, and meet you upstairs.”
Heading out the door, they go their separate ways, Lucy to see her grandfather and John to finally, end their day a work.
Going into her grandfather's room, Lucy greets her mom, grandmother, and grandfather with hugs, “There you are, we've been trying to get hold of
you all morning.”
“John had to work, so I came in and put in four hours too. Sorry.”
“We were just concerned, so where's that husband of yours, kiddo?” her
grandmother asks.
“He'll be here soon, he’s just finishing up downstairs. How are you doing grandpa? You're looking great!”
“Well, I'm feeling better. Good enough to be released if only temporarily.
Dr. Romano said it was okay to make the flight home, then go to Boston
General, for continued observation.”
“Do you want me to come with you?”
“No, he's hired a nurse to make sure everything goes okay on the flight.
Then your grandmother has arranged for an ambulance to take us to the
hospital, where Dr. Taylor will meet us.”
Sounds like everything's been covered, then. I'm sure going to miss you
guys, you don't know how much it's meant to me to have you both here.”
“You know, Lucy, we wouldn't have missed your wedding for anything in
the world,” Elsie adds.
“And John,” George says, acknowledging the fact that he had arrived,
“it's been a pleasure finally meeting you.”
“It's been my pleasure too, sir,” John answers, wrapping his arms around
Lucy's waist.
They're flying home tomorrow, informs a tired Lucy, then turning to her
mother, continues, “Are you going too?”
“Yes, mother,” she laughs,"I'm going to make sure he gets settled, then
fly right back.”
“I'm afraid to ask why. Because of Robert?”
“Not really, it's business, the firm landed a new client here in Chicago, and since I was the one who did, they told me it's my baby. Looks like I'll be racking up the frequent flyer miles for awhile.”
“That's fantastic!” Lucy exclaims.
“Actually, I have the two of you to thank, in a round about way for this.”
“Us?” asks John.
Barbara nods her head.
“Who is it?”
“The Carter Foundation.”
“What?” they both ask at the same time, with a stunned look on their faces.
“Millicent and I were having a nice long talk about the two of you, and
what happened after the attack, and that's when we both came to the
conclusion, that if someone would have intervened, right after the
attack, maybe you, John wouldn't have turned to drugs and you, Sweetie, would have gotten your life back on track, long before you did. So, Millicent wants to set up a program, that will work directly with local hospitals to help diagnose and treat, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.”
“I don't know about Lucy, but in my case, I felt nobody really knew what I'd been through. Lucy almost died because of my negligence and that
guilt, coupled with the pain and me thinking I could just erase what
happened, led to the drug use. I'm not making excuses, but Atlanta
showed me, it's not a sign of weakness to admit you need help.”
Turning to Lucy, who has tears streaming down her face, looks deep into
her eyes, “I am so sorry,” he whispers in her ear.
“And I'm sorry, I wasn't here when you needed me. I love you so much,”
she whispers, holding him tightly.
Barbara breaks the silence, “That's my point, if the victim has the help they need immediately, maybe they will face life and the future easier.
That's what Millicent and I have in mind, immediate intervention.”
“I think if ANYONE can get this done, the two of you can. You both are
VERY determined people and we love you both, for doing this, Lucy manages to say, after regaining her composure.”
“Lucy, you're looking awfully tired. I think the two of you better go
home and get some rest,” Barbara says giving her daughter a much needed hug, “Before you leave, mom and dad have something for the two of you.”
“Guys you've already done enough for us. Just being here is all I
wanted. Besides, if I recall, our house was also a gift, we don't need anything else from you, do we John?”
“She's right, you know, you've done way too much for us as it is.”
“We're not going to take "no" for an answer, here's a cheque for you to
use in anyway you see fit. If you don't spend it on yourselves, please
spend it on the baby. I remember seeing a nursery, in great need of paint
and furniture,” Elsie says.
Turning to her husband, “John,please try to talk them out of it, they've
already done too much for us.” Lowering her voice, “I'll be right back,”
heading out he door to the bathroom.
When she returns to the room, she seems a little preoccupied, but in
tune to what's happening-saying their good byes, they turn to leave, “Did you give it back?”
“Nope, I tried, now I know where you get your stubbornness from, your
grandmother's sweet on the outside, but just like her granddaughter on
the inside, he laughs tweaking her nose, only to have her push his hand away.
“What's wrong now? Are you mad about the cheque? She said we could use it on the nursery.”
“That's not it.”
“Let me guess, hormones again, right?”
“No, it's not,” she snaps back “It's just-”
“What?”
“Something, just doesn't "feel" right.”
“Do you want me to page Dr. Coburn?”
“No, let's go downstairs, maybe Abby or Susan can take a look.”
“Do you want me to go back and get your mom?”
“I don't want to worry her, if it's nothing. Let's just wait and see what we find out.
After returning to the ER, they decide to discreetly ask Susan to check
Lucy out. As Lucy waits, and John talks to Susan, Lucy's thoughts go back
to one of her and John's first patients together- a woman, in her early
weeks of pregnancy, who had just miscarried. Remembering how distraught she was after only a few weeks of pregnancy, how would she feel if any thing happened to her baby after all these months. Shaking her head, trying to get these thoughts out of her head, she realized that John was talking to her, “Susan will meet us in exam three, in a few minutes. Come on Luce, let's go on in.”
Entering the room, Lucy finally let's go of her emotions, “John, I'm so
scared,” she cries.
Taking her in his arms, “Shh, everything's going to be alright. We've
been through so much, nothing's going to happen, I'm not going to let it.”
Coming up from behind, Susan quietly touches him on the shoulder, “We
need to get started before we need the room or Weaver starts snooping around. Lucy you need to put the gown on.”
“Okay, thanks Susan.”
“Anything for an old friend,” she smiles.
After putting on the gown, and sitting on the bed, Susan turns to Carter.
“You might want to wait outside for a few minutes, I need to ask some... personal questions.”
“Come on Susan, I'm a doctor, nothing's going to-”
“It's alright, Susan. I want him to stay,” Lucy pleaded.
“That settles it, I'm staying.”
“Okay, if that's what you want, Lucy.”
“Yeah, it is.”
As Susan begins writing down Lucy's vitals, the questions begin, “How
many times, in the last 24 hours, have you had intercourse?”
“Okay, I'm out of here, let me know when it's safe to come back in,” he
says with a sheepish smile and hasty exit. Lucy and Susan break out into
uncontrollable laughter. After regaining their composure, “Well, how
many?”
“Give me a break, I'm on my honeymoon, what do you think?” she laughs.
“I'll put down, three,” she smiles.
“Actually four.”
“Whew! Next question-any symptoms?”
“Some cramping, a little spotting, could it be stress? You know what it's been like the past few days.”
“It could be. When did this all start?”
“About ten minutes ago. Please don't let anything happen to my baby.”
“Lucy, you just need to relax. How far along are you?”
“Twenty five weeks.”
“And your last ultrasound?”
“About two months ago, that's when we found out we're having a girl.”
“Carter in a house full of women?”
“Looks that way,” she smiles.
“Okay, feet in the stirrups.”
“Could you get John?”
“Sure,” motioning to Carter to come back in.
After an examination, Susan prepares her for another ultrasound. After
squirting the gel on Lucy's stomach, the room is immediately full of rapid heartbeats.
“John?” Lucy whispers to her husband, “That doesn't sound like ONE
heartbeat, does it?”
“No, it doesn't. Susan, can we see some pictures?”
Moving the inductor to where the baby was, they see their daughter, sucking her thumb, and behind her, they see their other child.
“How the hell, did that happen?” John asks, in shock.
If you don't know, you have no business being a doctor, Susan laughs, ”So, do you want to know what it is?”
“Give us a few minutes, for all of this to settle in,” Lucy says quietly.
From down the hall, they could hear Weavers voice, “Take her into exam
three, I'll be in, in a few minutes.”
“Looks like your exam's over,everything looks fine,just take it easy, I
suggest abstinence for at least twenty-four hours. Seeing as though, the
two of you looked a little surprised, you better get an OB appointment soon.”
“Can we have a couple of pictures?” Lucy asks.
“Sure, you get dressed, I'll have them ready before you leave.”
After a couple of years of working in the ER, as a medical student and
doctor Lucy had mastered the art of getting dressed within a matter of
minutes, which came in handy at this moment. As Lucy and John, and Susan walked out of the room, a patient, followed by Weaver walked in. Handing John and Lucy a small envelope with the babies pictures in it, Susan returns to the desk, where Randi attempts to take Lucy's chart.
“If Weaver needs me, I'll be in Records, and since I'm headed upstairs,
I'll just take these charts with me,” informs Susan taking Lucy's in her
hands.
“Dr. Lewis, that's the clerk's job,” Randi persists.
“That's okay, Randi, I got 'um,” she smiles as she takes the stack of charts and walking away, leaving Randi confused and defeated.
Outside the ER, John and Lucy quietly walk hand in hand to their car, each stunned at the news they had just received. Finally, John breaks the silence, “Do you want to grab something to eat across the street?”
“Yeah, I'm not that hungry, but I don't feel like going home right away.”
“You really do need to try and eat something, Luce.”
“I don't know if I can.”
“I insist,” he says, practically forcing her to go with him.
Entering Doc Magoo's, they take a seat in a booth, near a window, where
Lucy immediately begins staring out.
“I don't know if I can do this,” she finally sighs, turning away from the window. Gently wiping the single tear coming from her eyes, John
whispers, “It's going to be alright. Women have twins all the time and survive. Look at Carol, she was raising hers by herself, until she left, and
Elizabeth, with Allison and Olivia. You've told me several times in the last few days, that I was going to be a good father, but you know what?”
“What?”
“You're going to be a terrific mom.”
“You really think so?”
“I know so, just remember we have lots of friends and family that will
be there to help and of course, there will be-me,” he smiles.
“You? Changing a diaper?”
“Well-”
“That's okay, I'll teach you.”
“Hope you're a good one.”
“About as good as you were,” she laughs.
“Promise?”
“Yeah, well, I hope you're right.”
“Of course I am, I'm ALWAYS right, don't you know,” he smiles.
“Give me a break,” she smiles.
“There's the smile, I've been missing. Are you ready to order?”
Motioning to their waitress that they are ready to order, John asks, “So,
what shall it be?”
As the waitress arrives to their table, Lucy smiles, “A double Banana
Split.”
John smiles and shakes his head, but she adds, “And two spoons, please!”
“Boy! You had me worried there for a minute.”
“I did, huh? Eating for three, you know.”
“Isn't that the truth! Suddenly a thought enters his mind, “Shall we go
ahead and tell the family or what?”
“Let it be our little secret for awhile, as soon as we let them know,
I'm sure we'll never have any peace. If I know mom, she'll make up the
littlest excuse to come to Chicago, on some kind of business. I don't want her hovering over me like she did before.”
“She won't.”
“And why not?”
“Because that's what I'm here for,” he smiles.
“Oh please,” she replies, rolling her beautiful blue eyes, but giving him a smile.
“Let me see the pictures?”
“Here, you can have yours, handing him a set of the ultrasound
pictures.”
“We never found out what the sex of twin B was, by the look of this picture, it doesn't want us to know, so do we want to know?”
“I've been thinking about that-”
“And?”
“Let's be surprised. We already know about the girl, and if we decorate
the nursery in yellow and Winnie the Pooh, we'd be covered, if the other is a boy. John, just think.. a son!”
“You think so, huh?”
“Who knows,” she smiles.
“It's totally up to you.”
“I say...look at that chocolate sundae!”
“Lucy, you were saying?”
“Oh yeah, I don't want to know, you know the element of surprise? OH MY
GOD! Look at that Banana Split! I can hardly wait to get started!”
John had to laugh, it had been a long time since he had seen the little
girl come out in her, the last few days, which were suppose to be the
happiest of their lives, had turned out to be more stressful than they
either had imagined.
Squealing in delight as their dessert was sat in front of her, immediately takes a spoonful, then makes a funny face.
“You know, I'm really not hungry anymore, let's go home.”
“LUCY! Would you PLEASE make up your mind,” he teases.
“I just want to get away from that...” pointing to the hospital, “I wish now we would have left town like we were planning too.”
“You know you couldn't have left, knowing your grandfather’s condition.”
“No, you're right,” she sighs.
“Of course, I am,” he grins, “Let's go home.”
I'm with you, it's been a long day. So, we've decided, we don't tell anyone for awhile, right?”
“You're the boss,” she smiles, helping her to her feet.
“Of course, I am,” she says, smiling and giving him a kiss.
“Don't you guys EVER stop?” they hear, as they get ready to leave.
Turning around they see Malik, entering Doc Magoos, “Why don't you guys
do that in the privacy of your own home,” he kids.
“That's exactly where we're headed,” informs John.
Spying the perfectly good dessert on their table, he asks, “Are you wasting that perfectly good ice cream?” pointing to the barely touched banana split.
“If you want it, you're more than welcome to it.”
“Thanks, I'm not going to get stuck with the bill or anything, am I ?”
“No, our compliments.”
John and Lucy leave Doc Magoos, happily coming to terms with the news
they had received earlier.
