Coming into the ER, Lucy slowly makes her way to the lounge to begin another day of suturing and paperwork. It had been decided by her husband and Dr. Weaver, this was all she would do until the time came for her to give birth. At thirty weeks, she was unable to take part in traumas. Today, however, would test her, her husband's, and the ER staff's ability to give equal and compassionate care to all who enter the ER.
“Hey Lucy, where's Carter?” asks Susan, as the two doctors get ready for work.
“On a paramedic run, Weaver noticed he needs to get caught up before he takes time off next month.”
“He'd better be careful, the weather's suppose to be bad all day.”
“Well, at least it's him and not me out there,” Lucy laughs.
“Can you imagine how you'd look trying to keep up with the paramedics,” Susan jokes.
“Keep it up and I'll know who to call at 2 am, when both babies won't sleep and it's just me at home.”
“I've had some practice, with my niece when she was little, don't hesitate to call,” she smiles.
“Yeah right,” Lucy smiles.
“No, I really mean it,” she says, seriously.
“Thanks for everything. I know you and John are close, I'm just glad you and I've been able to become good friends too,” she says, giving Susan a quick hug.
Heading to the admit desk, Lucy picks through the charts to find something to do.
“Hey Lucy, phone call, it's Carter,” Randi hands her the phone.
“Hey, Luce, just wanted to make sure you got to work okay.”
“Well, I'm here. I miss you already,” she giggles.
“Uh hum,” he replies.
“Can't talk right?” she smiles.
“You got it,” he smiles, knowing exactly what her expression would be.
“Love you, see you later,” she gushes.
“Me too, see you later. Bye.”
“Oh John, I love you so much,” Jerry teases.
“Oh please,” rolling her eyes, she grabs a chart.
Lucy proceeds to the suture room where she was destined to spend her entire shift. As the day wore on, the ER had it's share of trauma's and weather related injuries, and every thing had gone smoothly until-
“Twenty eight year old head lac. BP is normal. Didn’t want to be transported here, we tried to explain he had to be taken to the nearest hospital.”
“I can't come here. Please take me someplace else,” he pleads.
“Sir, the paramedics are required to go to the nearest hospital, I'm sorry, but that's the procedure,” Susan explains. “Take him to Curtain three, I'll be right in. Lucy's doing sutures right?”
“Yeah,” Malucci answers from the desk.
“Tell her, I've got a patient for her after I work him up.”
“Which one is it?” Malucci asks, as another gurney was in the same area.
“That guy over there,” Susan motions.
“Are you sure?” Malucci asks, studying the familiar face.
“Yeah, I'm sure,” she reiterates.
“Lucy's NOT going to take him, and I suggest you get him in a room as soon as possible.”
“Why?” Susan asks.
“That's the guy who stabbed Carter and Lucy a year and a half ago.”
Reading the name on the paramedics chart, “Sobriki?” Susan asks.
“That's the one,” he solemnly replies.
“Randi, put his name on the board, and page Kerry, we need to keep Lucy from finding out he's here. NO ONE, tells her anything, do I make myself clear?” Susan orders.
“Sure thing, Dr. Lewis,” she replies, and for once, immediately does what she was told.
Arriving to the admit area, Weaver goes straight to the desk, “This better be important Randi, I was in the middle of a meeting with Romano.”
“Dr. Lewis needs to see you in the lounge about...pointing to the board.”
“Sobriki? What the hell is he doing out, and here of all places.”
“Don't know, paramedics just brought him in and Dr. Lewis, admitted him.”
“Don't let Lucy know he's here,” Weaver cautions.
“That's what Dr. Lewis wants to see you about.”
Going into the lounge, Weaver sees Susan pacing the floor, “How was I suppose to know who he was, all I did was admit him, I can't believe I did such a stupid thing. Lucy's been like a little sister to me ever since I've been back, and now, I've done something like this,” Susan says, out loud to herself.
“Don't blame yourself, there was no way for you to know, besides, this hospital is open to anyone who comes through that door, whether we like it or no. Now, we need to think about Lucy and make sure the two of them don't accidently meet.”
“Why don't we just have a student stay with her, kind of keep an eye on her, at least until Carter gets back at the end of the day.”
“That sounds good, but not a student, they can be more of a hindrance, then help sometimes. We can't have her wandering the halls looking for help, can we?”
“No, we need someone, who's dependable and who know's what's going on.”
“Susan, find Lydia for me and have her come see me.”
“Sure, Kerry,” Susan says, leaving the lounge, “Kerry?”
“Yes?”
“Thanks.”
“You're welcome. Now, we've got a very special intern that needs our help.”
As the day wore on, Lydia helped Lucy treat patients, and clean the room. All the time, Lucy had no idea, who was being treated just a few rooms away.
Everything was going just as planned, Sobriki, who had been on meds, was being held for observation, because of possible of head injuries and Lucy had been successfully, unknowingly, sequestered in the suture room tending to minor injuries and lacerations.
“County this is Rescue 51, we've got two male stab victims, ETA ten minutes. Additional victims on their way.
"Copy 51, this is County, over.”
“Okay, listen up everyone,” Kerry yells. “We're short handed with Carter being gone and Lucy doing sutures. The minors will be Lucy's, I need everyone else to get the trauma rooms ready,” she orders.
Sticking her head out of the suture room, Lucy looks out to see everyone rushing to get ready for the incoming patients. Starting to leave the room, she's stopped by Weaver.
“Lucy, you stay put, there's minor lacerations coming, someone will triage them, then send them to you. Unfortunately, I have to pull Lydia, we'll have Security close by if you need some help.”
“Thanks. What squad's coming in?”
"51.”
“Was kind of hoping it would have been 49. It would have been nice to see John.”
“It would have been nice to have him here too,” Weaver says.
All of a sudden, the ER became Grand Central Station with gurney's being wheeled in and out, and people complaining about waiting. Working at a fever pace, Lucy gets ready to finish the last of the minor wounds.
“If you'll excuse me, I need to find some more dressings, I'll be right back,” she tells the young woman.
Walking through the ER, unnoticed, Lucy goes to Curtain three to get the supplies she needs, not knowing who's in there. Going directly to the medicine cabinet to get what she needs, when she realizes she has intruded on a patient.
“I'm sorry, I just need to get a few supplies, I'll be out of the way in a few minutes.”
“That's alright,” the patient answers.
It couldn't be, Lucy thinks to herself, surely he hadn't been released without them being told. Turning slowly around, she comes face to face with Paul Sobriki.
“You're out,” she whispers.
“Listen, I'm really sorry about what happened. I'm on meds now and everything's okay. How is the other doctor?”
She just stared at him, the words he spoke seemed to swim in her mind. All she could feel was the knife making an impact on her body, not once, not twice, but four times. Giving into the feeling, she collapses to the floor.
In the meantime, the ER had quieted down and Dr. Weaver was reviewing all the charts of the victims connected with the incident and soon realizes she doesn't have any of Lucy's charts. Going to the suture room, Weaver sees Lucy's last patient, patiently waiting for her return.
“Excuse me, where is Dr. Carter?” Weaver asks.
“Is she that pregnant doctor?” the woman asks.
“Yes she is.”
“She left about a half hour ago to get some more supplies.”
She smiled, “I'll get another doctor in here to finish you up.”
Leaving the room, she has Deb suture the young woman, while she begins her search for Lucy.
“Randi have you seen Lucy?”
“Thought I saw her heading that way, pointing to Curtain three. “Oh God.... Get Kovac and Susan, Now!” Kerry yells.
Making their way to Curtain three, they burst open the door to see Sobriki standing over an unconscious Lucy.
“Get away from her!” Kovac yells.
“Security!” Weaver yells.
“I didn't do anything, please, no,” Sobriki pleads.
“Move away from her now!” Luka repeats.
Doing as he was told, Sobriki moves back to the bed, as Security comes in and holds him down, as Susan, Weaver, and Kovac check Lucy.
“We need a gurney in here!” Susan yells.
“Lucy? Can you hear me?” Kovac asks.
No response. Turning her over, they check for any physical injuries, seeing there are none, they lift her carefully to the gurney.
“I didn't do anything, please believe me,” Sobriki pleads.
“I want Security to stay in here until I can talk to Romano. Take her to one,” Kerry orders.
Taking Lucy to trauma one, they begin taking her vital signs.
“Everything looks good, but we need to be concerned about the baby,” Kovac says quietly. Each one in their own mind, flashes back to that night, not so very long ago, when things didn't look so right.
“Lucy can you hear me?” Weaver quietly asks, as Lucy's eyes flutter open.
As she does, millions of questions go racing through her mind, trying to digest what has happened. All she can say is, “Why is he here?”
“He had an accident, the paramedics brought him here because we were the nearest medical facility.”
The look on Lucy face was one of understanding, but it didn't make sense.”
“Get OB down here, we'll need to have her monitored.” Realizing two heartbeats and two babies would show up on an ultrasound, Weaver makes a decision.
“Haleh, I need for you to step out,” Weaver orders.
“But-” she starts.
“Please,” Weaver asks.
Waiting for Haleh to leave, she continues, “Barring any other emergency, the three of us will be the only ones staying with her. No nurses, no Chen, and especially, no Malucci,” she decides.
“But Kerry…” Luka asks.
“She's carrying twins, and doesn't want the whole hospital to know.”
“Okay then, we should call Carter,” he advises.
“And Romano. He'll have to make a decision about getting Sobriki out of here. I'm not going to have him disrupt the ER again.”
“Oh God! I feel like I have to push,” Lucy screams from the bed.
“Breathe through it Lucy, you can do it!” Helping Lucy through her contraction, the three doctors begin working faster. “Lucy honey, we're going to start you on Ritodrine, to try to stop the contractions. How far are you?”
“Thirty weeks. I can't have the babies yet, Kerry, please don't let anything happen to my babies,” she cries.
“Susan call John, we need him here,” Kerry whispers. Turning her attention back to Lucy. “Shh, we won't, you just relax, Susan's gone to call John, he'll be here soon. We're going to give you a mild sedative to help you get some rest.”
“I need John,” Lucy whimpers.
“He'll be here soon, just get some rest,” she quietly says, brushing Lucy's hair back.
Semi waking up, Lucy realizes she had been moved to another room, the sound of all the monitors take her back in time to a year ago, when she was being hospitalized for her injuries. Besides, all the monitors for the babies, she herself was on a heart monitor.
“Susan?” she asks, lethargically.
“Welcome back,” she replies, checking the numbers on the monitors.
“How are you feeling?”
“How long have I been out?”
“Only about an hour. Why?”
“I had the weirdest dream, more like nightmare.”
“Oh?” not saying more.
“Sobriki, I saw him, here in the ER.” After looking around her, she continues, “Oh God, it wasn't a dream, was it?”
“I'm afraid not.”
“And all these machines are being used to make sure nothing happens to me and my babies, right?” she says, beginning to cry.
“Lucy, you need to rest, the contractions are slowing but we're not out of the woods yet. Before you ask, Carter will be here anytime now.”
“Good,” she sighs, and falls back to sleep.
Feeling John's presence, she slowly opens her eyes to see him with his head laying next to hers and resting one of his hands on her stomach. As she stirs ever so slightly, he raises his head and seeing her wake up, gives her a kiss on her forehead.
“John, the babies?” she panics.
“There hasn't been any contractions since the second round of Ritrodrine, but now, we're concerned about you.”
“I'm so sorry,” she cries.
“It wasn't your fault,” he says, taking her hand and reassuring her.
“I'm sorry too,” he whispers.
“John, you haven't done anything.”
“I wasn't here, when you needed me, after all our talks about being there for each other, I wasn't here, when you needed me.”
“You're here now, that's all that matters,” she's able to say with a little smile. “Have you seen him?” she whispers.
“No, I just don't know if I can. Looking at the face that almost killed you. If anything had happened to you, I can't imagine what my life would have been like.”
Before anything else could be said, Romano walks in her room, “How are you feeling Lucy?”
“Okay, I guess. The babies... baby is doing fine. Any word on...you know?”
“Yes, he's being transferred to Mercy. He won't be causing any more trouble here.”
“Can the hospital get into trouble by making him leave?”
“No.”
“Have you seen him?” she asks quietly
“Yes, very remorseful, the little prick, wouldn't trust him with my mother, and I hate my mother,” he jokes. “Besides, I worked too hard to put you back together, to take any chances.” Turning serious, “Would you like for me to call your mother? She really should be told.”
“Yeah, go ahead, but let her know everything's okay. Thanks for everything, Dr. Romano.”
“You just get to feeling better Lucy. John, take care of our girl. See you both later,” he says, leaving the room.
Lucy gives out a deep sigh, “You know, deep down inside that arrogant exterior, he's really a decent guy,” Lucy says taking John's hand.
“Well, I think, ever since that Christmas, you went pounding at his door, he's had a soft spot for you in his heart.”
“Oh please,” she says, rolling her eyes, and letting a little smile form.
For the first time since she had seen Sobriki, Lucy was able to finally relax. Her babies health, was no longer a concern and her husband was by her side, she was finally able to fall into a "natural" sleep.
“Luce, I'm going to go get a cup of coffee,” he whispers.
“Um hum,” she smiles and mumbles.
“Be right back,” he gives her a light kiss on the lips.
Going to the lounge, John sees Kerry and Susan resting on the couch. “How's she doing?” Kerry askes.
“Doing good, the contractions have stopped. Coburn's going to admit her upstairs for a few days, to make sure she doesn't have any side effects for the Ritrodrine.”
“That's good news, John, I know how upsetting today's been for the both of you. How are you holding up?”
“Okay I guess. Worried about Lucy and the babies.”
“That's understandable, have you seen him?” Kerry asks.
“No, not planning to either. I just don't know what I'd say or do,” he sighs, shaking his head.
“That's probably a good idea, he's being transferred anyway,” Kerry answers.
“The sooner that's done, the sooner I'll feel better,” he sighs.
“You know Carter, I feel like it's all my fault.”
“Susan, you weren't here when it happened, you didn't know who he was.”
“I'm sure Lucy blames me.”
“She doesn't, and neither do I, don't be so hard on yourself.”
For a short time, silence had overcome the room and nothing was said by anyone.
“That's easy for you to say,” she says sadly. “Just when Lucy and I were getting along so good, this happens.”
“Then you should know Lucy couldn't ever hold anything against you. That's what I love about her. Well, I'd better get back, just came in for some coffee, thanks again, for everything. Thank Luka too.”
Stopping by the admit desk to talk to Randi and Haleh, John doesn't notice the paramedics wheeling a patient towards the ambulance bay.
“Dr. Carter?” comes a voice from the gurney.
John didn't have to turn around to recognize that voice from the past. Slowly, turning around and facing Sobriki, John just stares aimlessly.
“Yes?” John answers quietly.
“I want to say how sorry I am about what happened...”
Putting his hand up to stop him- “DON'T! I don't want to hear that you're sorry about what you did. As far as I'm concerned you're the same person, who tried to kill us last year.”
“I'm taking my meds and seeing a therapist. I've changed.”
“Maybe because of what you did. Because of you, Lucy suffered numerous injuries, not only the physical ones you inflicted, but the emotional ones that she carried with her long after the physical ones healed.”
“I'm sorry.”
“Just get him out of my sight,” he says disgusted. Motioning to the paramedics to take him away.
“Carter, are you alright?” Haleh asks, smypathically, putting her hand on his shoulder.
He shakes his head and clears his thoughts, “Yeah, I've got to get back to Lucy.”
Arriving back in Lucy's room, he sits down by her side and takes her left hand and begins playing with her wedding ring.
“I love you so much,” he whispers, not expecting to her to hear.
“I love you too John,” she smiles and whispers back. “I just want to go home,” she says, tears forming in her eyes.
“In a few days Lucy, in a few days,” he whispers.
Sitting on the bed, he puts his arm around her.
“Has he left yet?” she asks, getting comfortable in his embrace.
“I practically escorted him out myself,” he says forcing a little smile.
“So, it's over, right?” she asks.
“Yep, everything's gonna be alright. We didn't let him win this time. Did we?”
Quietly shaking her head, he wraps his arms protectively around her and they both fall asleep.