John and Lucy lay in bed sleeping when the phone rings, “I got it.
Hello,” says a barely awake John.
“Hello, John, this is Barbara, is Lucy up?”
“Yeah, just a minute,” he leans over to Lucy, who is still sleeping with blankets covering her head.
“Your mom wants to talk to you.”
“What time is it?” she asks, still half asleep.
“Five thirty.”
“Give me a minute, okay.”
John gives her the phone with a sarcastic grin on his face, and turns
over to go back to sleep.
“Mom, good morning,” she says, sounding more enthusiastic then she
looked, “Mom, could you hold on a minute?” In the back of her mind, she decided if she was going to have to get up, so was John. She turned to John, “John, check the thermostat, it's awfully cold in here,” Smiling, she went back to her phone conversation, hearing a groan coming from the other side of the bed. Mission accomplished, she thinks to herself.
“Sorry, 'bout that. Now what's up?”
“I'm sorry to get you up so early, but I'm going need John's grandmother's phone number if we're going to pull this dinner off tonight.”
“I'll let you talk to John, I don't know it yet. So what are your plans today?”
“Well, I'm hoping to be able to take my daughter and her fiance' out to
lunch.”
“Sounds great, stop by the hospital around three. We'll see what we can
do. Bye. I love you."
She handed John the phone, “Here, mom needs, Millicent's number,” Lucy covers her head and relishes the fact that he's still up and she's back in bed.
After putting down the phone,John covers his head with blankets and
holds Lucy close, “The thermostat was already set on eighty degrees.”
“It's like a freezer in here.”
“Heat's not working again.”
“So, what are we going to do about it?”
“Besides look for another place?”
“Yeah, but that won't take care of the present will it?”
“Come here,” he said pulling her closer.
ONE HOUR LATER
“Come on, time to get ready for work.”
“It's too early,” she whines.
“I'll take you out for breakfast,” he bribes.
“I'm up. I'll shower, you start the coffee.”
“Sounds good.”
John could hear the shower water starting and thought about joining
Lucy, but before he could even leave the kitchen, he heard a scream followed by, “DAMN IT!,” coming from the bathroom. Running to see what the problem was he stopped at the bathroom door, and tries to conceal a smile. There stood Lucy, dripping wet from head to toe, shivering uncontrollably.
“There's no hot water! How am I suppose to get ready for work? Look at
me.”
“I'm looking. Come here let me warm you up,” he says laughing.
“Just leave me alone,” she shouts back.
“Calm down, you're not doing our baby any good, getting all upset over
this. Throw something on, we'll just get cleaned up at work.”
“Whatever,” she says rolling her eyes at him.
The short ride to work, was made in complete silence. A sure sign to
John, not to say the wrong thing to Lucy before she calms sown. He could
only hope her mood swings would come to an end, and soon, or it was going to be a lone five or six months. Before they get out of the Jeep, John quietly asks, “Please don't get upset at someone, and we both know who, would make some smart-ass comment about the way you look.”
“We both know who that would be, don't we?” she says revealing a little
smile.
“Now, promise me.”
“Yeah, I promise,” she says giving him a little kiss on the cheek.
The sight of the two of them entering the ER, was almost comical, John
was dressed in casual street clothes and Lucy was in sweats with stringy
hair. The only person in the ER, was Kerry, standing at the computer,
“Morning you two.”
“Morning,” Lucy grumbles and heads straight to the lounge.
“Bad morning?” Kerry asks.
“You wouldn't believe it, no hot water and no heat.”
“Go take a shower upstairs. And Carter, *don't* get carried away.”
“Right boss,” Lucy came back out from the lounge, “Lucy, Kerry said we
could go upstairs and take a shower, if we don't take too long.”
“Great,” she grabs her bag, “Let's go... What about you?”
“I'll put these back on or just wear scrubs today.”
Lucy headed to the linen closet to get wash cloths and towels. Being too short to reach the top shelf,she got John to help her, “John, can you get the towels off the top shelf for me?”
“As he enters the closet,” he accidentally kicks the door and it closes.
“There, here you are your towels, let's get cleaned up so we can get this
day started,” he says.
They turn to leave, “The door's locked,” she says.
“It can't be.”
“John, they automatically lock when closed, so no unauthorized
personnel can get into them. Thanks a lot.”
“For what?”
“For adding to an already rotten day, and it hasn't even started yet.”
He drew her close, ”What's wrong? I know it's not just the water or heat situation, that's upsetting you.”
She takes a breath, “We never really sat down and talked about what
happened yesterday with your parents.
“I told you about it on the way home.”
“I know what you said, but it's important for them too except me.”
“Why?”
“Because when I first came to County, I felt I didn't fit in. That may have been partly my fault, trying too hard, maybe even up to the time of the
attack nobody took me seriously. Not even you."
“Probably not, but thank god, I changed. I don't care and you shouldn't
care what my parents think, if they don't come around, it's their loss,”
giving her a kiss on her nose, he continues, “Besides, you're more
important to me. You and the baby. And you've even turned into a really good doctor...”
“I know how you feel, but it seems I've been trying to prove myself to
people all my life,” she completely changes the subject, “Now, you know I would love to be stuck in this closet with you all day, but we really do need to get out of here before we get caught doing something we shouldn't.”
“And would that be so bad?” he pulls her closer and they start making out.
8:45
“Where's Carter and Lucy? Aren't they on at nine?” asks Mark.
“I sent them upstairs to get ready for work. There was no hot water at
home,” replies Kerry.
“That was how long ago?” he asks.
“About an hour. Randi, call the surgeon's lounge, see if they're still up there.”
“Sure thing,” Randi makes the call, “They never showed up.”
“Page them now!”
FIVE MINUTES LATER
“Has either one answered their page?” Kerry asks.
“Maybe you'd better check any empty exam room,” Chunni pipes up.
“Randi, keep paging them, Mark, let's split up and listen for their pagers.”
Weaver goes down a hall and hears the sound of pagers coming from a
linen closet and knocks.
“Carter, Lucy are you guys in there? Are you alright?”
“Yeah, Kerry we're locked in,” Lucy answers.
“I'll have to get maintenance or housekeeping to get you out. That might take, oh, about fifteen minutes,” she says and turns away with a smile on her face.
By the time they returned to the ER, news of their "new" escapade had
already made it's way through the hospital grapevine.
“You guys just can't keep your hands off each other, can you?” remarks
Randi.
All Lucy did was smile, no need to deny it , because it was true and she didn't care who knew it.
The morning began with minor cases such as broken bones, sick children, lacerations, minor burns, and even a pregnancy diagnosis. It was looking like it was going to be a slow day in the ER.
As Lucy left a room after tending to a patient, she was making her final notes on the chart and not looking where she was going and ran right into
Carter, who was also making final notes on a chart.
“Hey watch where you're going,” he says not realizing who he's talking
to.
“My we're busy today aren't we,” she replies.
Pulling her into an empty room says, “How are you doing? I haven't seen
you all morning,” he gave her a little kiss on the forehead.
“That's not going to do it, mister,” and gives him a long deep kiss back.
“I guess you feel a lot better than earlier, huh?”
“About that, I'm really sorry. Things just seem to get blown up out of
proportion lately. It must be those dreaded mood swings,” she laughs,
“Besides, my mom wants to have Millicent over for dinner and with there
being no heat or hot water, it's not going to-” both of their pagers go
off,
"911 ER,” they both run to the admit area, just as the patient is brought in.
“Patient found wondering O'Hare, hallucinating, saying something about
joining Mr. Spock on the Starship Enterprise. At times he's lucid and at
other times very combative.”
“Take him to Trauma One,” says Weaver.
“I got this one,” John announces.
“Get Malik to help,” Weaver orders.
“Lucy, go get him, then you come and help too.”
Lucy returns immediately with Malik, “What do you want me to do?” she
asks.
“Put him in soft restraints. Malik, stand close if she need help, then
get an IV started, order a CBC,Tox screen, and check his lytes. Let's see
what this guy's on.”
Lucy has no trouble getting on one set, but as she tries to get the other
set on, he pushes her and causes her to fall.
“Bitch!” he yells.
Malik grabs the guy and pins him to the gurney.
“Lydia, check on Lucy, make sure she's alright,” John orders.
“I'm okay,” she says as she gets up.
“Lucy, step outside,” John demands.
“I said, I'm okay.”
“Lydia take Lucy to another room, have her lie down, I'll be there when
I'm finished here.”
Lucy starts to protest, but Lydia already had pushed her out the door,
“I'm okay,” she insists.
“Listen, you heard the doctor, now lay down and wait.”
“Yes ma'am.”
Lucy gives in and lays on the gurney and waits. Making a mental note,
to try not to let any more patients wait any longer than necessary. After
a short period of time Kerry comes in, “John is still with that patient. As
soon as the Tox screen comes back, he'll treat him and then be right in.
We're going to call OB down and probably monitor you for a while, then
we'll see what they want you to do. Are you in any pain or cramping?”
“No, I really feel fine. I just want to get back to work.”
“Listen, I need to do a pelvic, put the gown on, I'll be back in a few
minutes.”
A few minutes pass, and John finally makes an appearance, “You ready?”
No way are you going to, “Don't worry, Weaver’s going to check you,
Coburn called and said it would be a while before she could get down here,” he laughs, “But I'm going to stick around, if you don't mind.”
“Sure, seeing as you have a part in all of this,” she smiles.
“Okay Lucy, feet in the stirrups,” Weaver says as she walks in the room.
Weaver checks Lucy, and finds everything is fine, “Okay, you can put
them down, everything looks okay. Like I told you before, we'll put you on a
monitor for about an hour, see how it goes, and by then Janet should be
able to get down here and let you know how everything's going. I'll have one of the nurses get you hooked up.
She turns to John, “Stay with her for a while, I'll page, if we get in a jam. See you guys later.”
After Weaver leaves they quietly begin talking, “John, my moms suppose
to be here around three, don't tell her what happened. Remember how upset she was when I told her about the fetoscopy, this would totally freak her out. So, if nothings wrong, we're not going to say anything, right?”
“It's not right hiding things from her you know.”
“I know, but you don't know how she much she’s hovered over me since the attack. She keeps saying a hospital is a dangerous place to work. How do you think she'd handle this one, when it has to do with me and the baby?”
“You're probably right, better not say anything ONLY if every things okay.”
“Thanks.”
A nurse came in and attached the monitor then leaves. They continue
their conversation.
“I think we'd better set a wedding date. We’ve officially been engaged two
days and they think I should know all the details,” she smiles.
“Well don't you?” he laughs.
“Not really, but maybe we could decide. Then we'll know what kind of time frame we have.”
“It's up to you.”
She begins to say something, then hesitates, “What about the fourteenth
of-” she stops, then continues, “No, never mind, people would think it
too be to morbid.”
“Fourteenth of what?”
“February.”
“Why, that of all days?
“I want the date to signify the importance of it to me. Not because of
the attack, but on that day, our lives changed. Maybe we didn't realize it at the time, but now we do.”
“You know every year, when we celebrate our anniversary, it will always
come up.”
“I can live with that, can't you?”
“Yes, I can,” he quietly answers.
“Listen, why don't you go back to work. I'm a little tired. I think I'll take a short nap until they take this thing off. I'll have Dr. Coburn page you when she gets here.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, now go,” she says.
“See you later kido. I love you, Luce,” he says as he kisses her on the
forehead.
“I love you too, John.”
“I can stay if you want.”
“No, that's okay, see you later.”
It was a little more than an hour before Dr. Coburn was able to make it downstairs and John was able to return to Lucy's room, “Lucy everything's okay,” Dr. Coburn says.
“See, I tried to tell everyone, but no one would take my word for it.”
“We didn't want to take any chances, there's always a chance for a miscarriage. I'm going to let you go back to work, but take it easy. I'm
going to talk to Kerry and see if she can find some paperwork you can do
until the end of your shift. Do you work tomorrow?”
“No, we have actually taken a few days off.”
“Good, then take it easy for at least the first part of the day. No strenuous activity.”
“If that's what it takes, that's what she'll do, right?” John says, giving Lucy a ‘better do it or else’ look.
“Yes sir,” Lucy agrees.
At 2:45, Barbara Knight arrives to take Lucy and John over to Doc Magoos
for lunch. As they all hurry across the street, John gently takes Lucy's arm to make sure she doesn't slip and fall. As they enter, and take their place at a booth, Barbara begins, “I want to apologise for calling you so early, I really thought you'd be up.”
“That's okay, we were having trouble with the heat anyway, we would have
gotten up soon anyway,” Lucy said.
“And the hot water,” John adds with the smile.
“I'd like to forget that part,” she counters
“Do you want to cancel dinner tonight? I've already talked with Millicent, but I'm sure she'd understand, if we make it tomorrow,” Barbara says.”
“No, I'm fine with it, what about you John? John?"
“Sorry, I thought I saw an old friend.”
“Oh?”
“Couldn't be, she's suppose to be in Phoenix.”
“She?”
“Dr.Lewis. She was a resident who left about five years ago. Don't worry,”
he says as he"tweaks her nose.
“I'm not, I just think it would be interesting to talk to someone who knew
you, as a med student.”
Barbara, watching this playful bantering between the two smiles, “What's
your schedule tomorrow?”
“We're off, I think the only thing we're going to do is start looking for a new place to live. My lease is up the end of next month and we really do need one with more then one room.”
“Around six tomorrow, sound alright?”
“Lucy looks over at John, who gives a nod, “Sound good.”
“Okay, we'll cancel tonight and reschedule for tomorrow. I'll go call
Millicent right now. Excuse me.”
“She leaves the table to call her "partner in crime" Millicent Carter, “Millicent, it’s Barbara Knight. The kids aren't up to dinner tonight, would tomorrow around six be okay for you?”
“Is everything alright?” Millicent asks concerned.
“Of course, they've just had a rough day. I'll stop by and explain later. I
think I have an idea about what we can get them for that engagement gift. I'll go back and make up an excuse to leave and be right over. Bye.”
“Barbara returns to the booth, “Millicent says tomorrow's fine with her. I
got a call from your grandpa, Lucy, he wants me to bring him something from Soldier Field, so I'd better be on my way. I'll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Call on John's cell, that way we won't miss the call. Mom, thanks for
everything.”
“You're welcome, sweetie. John see you tomorrow.”
With that she gives them each a kiss and leaves. As she walks out,
someone else walks in, ”Dr. Lewis?”
“Carter is that you?”
“I guess I wasn't seeing things.”
“You look great,” she says as they hug. It finally dawns on him that he'd been ignoring Lucy, “Lucy, this is Dr. Lewis.”
“Susan, please.”
“Nice to meet you,Susan would you like to join us?” Lucy asks politely.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, please.”
“So what brings you back to Chicago?” John asks.
“The holiday's. I’m visiting the folks, then thought I'd stop by and see my old friends. A lot of new faces over there, huh?” she replies.
Lucy stands up, “I'll be right back,” she motions her head toward the ladies room.
As she does, Susan catches a glimpse of her ring.
“You okay?” John asks her.
“Yeah, I'll be fine,” she answered back.
“After she's gone, Susan asked, “Going out with married women Carter or
what?”
“No, believe it or not, we're engaged and expecting a baby,” he replies.
“Boy things sure have changed, haven't they?”
“Thanks to Lucy,” he says.
“Mark told me about what happened to you two, how are you doing?”
“The hardest part was admitting I had a problem, then feeling responsible for what happened to Lucy. But since September things are looking a whole lot better.
Just then Lucy returns, “Did I miss anything?” she asks.
No, just filling Susan in about what's been going on.”
Lucy looks at her watch, “John we really should be getting back, even
though I'm not doing much today.”
Well, some of us "do" have to work, so yeah we'd better get back, he says
tweaking her nose.
Watching the playful interaction between John and Lucy, Susan could
indeed sees he had finally found that special person he could share a
special bond with.
Back in the ER, John continued to treat the walking wounded, while Lucy
was stuck doing charts. Suddenly, she could sense someone watching her and was pleasantly surprised when Susan spoke, “Do you have a few minutes to talk?”
“Dr. Weaver stuck me doing charts today, so, yeah, I've got all the time
in the world,” she laughs.
“I had a feeling you were wanting to ask me something earlier, but was a
little hesitant in front of Carter.”
“Nothing that serious, but I was more curious then anything. What kind
of a med student was he?”
“Well, let me think... Attentive, caring, always wanting to help, of course
you know that already.”
“What I mean, is like, did he ever screw-up?”
“Why?” she laughs.
“I picture him, as this perfect example of what a medical student should be. When I first started, I kept asking what seemed to him as the most
annoying questions and wasn't really honest with him about what I knew
and what I didn't .”
“Like?”
“Like the fact, he assumed I could do simple procedures, when I really
couldn't and when he did find out, he really read me the riot act.
“You must have really pissed him off.”
“Yeah, but not anymore.”
“Let me think, yeah the big one that comes to mind, was when he got his
surgical match and he and some girl took off for what became an extended lunch. Besides not answering his page, he came back with alcohol on his breath and it almost cost him his residency.
“No way! He is human after all,” Lucy exclaims.
Just has they break out in laughter, John comes up to them, “What's so
funny?” he asks.
“YOU!” they both shout in unison, still laughing.
“Susan was telling me about John Carter, medical student and a certain
extended lunch hour.”
“Thanks a lot Susan, now that my standards have been lowered,” he
laughs.
“Listen guys, I'd love to continue this, but I've got an appointment upstairs about a possible job offer. Their opening a new teaching position in the ER that I thought I'd apply for it. Might be nice to work around some old and some new friends. Talk to you later.”
“Lucy I need to talk to you for a minute, let's go in here,” he says, motioning her to an empty room.
“Hey, Dr. Coburn said no strenuous activity,” she laughs.
“You know I'd like to, but this is serious.”
“Oh?”
“What would you think if I apply for chief resident?”
“I think, I'd be disappointed if you didn't. I know it's something you've been working towards for, as long as I've known you. You'd be a great chief
resident, John.”
“Are you sure you realize what it means for us?”
“I think so,” she says quietly.
“I will work longer hours and more responsibility will be on you, when
the baby comes.”
She stares directly into his eyes, “I know how important being chief is to
you and I am willing to make some sacrifices, because I know that you'll
be there when we do need you,” she says, as she touches her stomach,
“Besides, I think I know a great grandmother, who would love to help.”
“Now I know why I love you so much,” he says as he held her.
“Besides if I'm sleeping with the boss, maybe he'll go easy on me,” she
jokes.
“Then I should go ahead and submit my name, right?”
“Absolutely.”
As they leave the room, they see Chunni and Susan waiting for the
elevator, Chunni sees them, and shouts, “You two at it again?”
“What?” asks Susan.
“There's the elevator, I'll tell you about them on the way up.”
“Great, now she knows too,” John quietly comments.
LATER THAT DAY
“Come on Kerry, I've finished all these charts,"please" let me see at least one patient before my shift's over.”
“Okay, next one that comes in, is yours and *mine*,” she says smiling.
They didn't have to wait long until a cab driver came running into the ER,
“There's a lady having a baby in my cab!”
“Somebody get a gurney,” Weaver yells.
“There's no time,” he screams.
“Come on Lucy, grab some blankets and something to cut the cord.”
“I'm right behind you.”
They run out to the cab and there in the back seat, is a woman about to
give birth, “Lucy go to her head and calm her down and help her breathe,
“What's your name?” she asks.
“Brianna,” she replies.
“Okay Brianna, short breaths, until Dr. Weaver tells you to push.”
“She's ready,” Weaver says.
“Okay Brianna, push, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Good job, Brianna.”
“Brianna, I see the head. Lucy come around here, get ready to catch the
baby, Connie take Lucy's place.”
“Now Brianna, one last big push, now bear down, push, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,” Lucy orders.
“Okay Lucy, gently position your hands like you're catching something, as
the baby comes, gently rotate it, make sure the cord is not wrapped around it's neck, clear the airway, and wrap it up. I'll cut the cord.”
Lucy followed Dr Weaver's instructions and delivered her first baby, a girl. Lucy carried the infant inside where a team headed by Luka examined her and pronounced her healthy. Lucy return outside, just as Brianna is being brought in, “Luka's checking her out now, they'll be taking her upstairs to the nursery shortly,” informs Lucy.
“Can I see her?” Brianna asks.
Lucy looks at Weaver, who nods her approval. Lucy carefully picks up the baby and hands her over to the new mother, and stands there looking with
tears in her eyes. All this is noticed by John, who comes up behind her and wraps his arms around her waist.
“That will be you pretty soon,” he whispers.
“No, that will be us. Let's go home,” she says quietly.
As soon as they get their things from their lockers, Lucy begins to complain about the possibility of going home to no heat or hot water, “Let's go across the street and have dinner first, then maybe I can face the
prospect of no heat or hot water again.”
“Tell you what, let's go home grab some clothes and check into the Plaza for the night.”
“Sounds great!” she says with a sly grin on her face.
“Remember, no strenuous activity for twenty four hours, doctor's orders,
remember?” he reminds her.
“Okay,” she replies ,sounding disappointed.
Before they leave, Mark comes up to them, “You guys coming to the New
Year's Eve party at the Jazz Club? We're going to make it kind of a welcome back party for Susan. Haleh, may even sing.”
Unknown to John and Lucy, it was really going to be their surprise
engagement party. Everyone was curious about a wedding date and Mark had arranged a special surprise, “Sounds great, so Susan got the position here then? What time should we be there?”
“About eight.”
“Thanks Mark, see you later,” John replies.
They go home, collect some clothes and other necessities and check into the Plaza, where they are given a luxury suite with a sunken bathtub,
where John and Lucy spend a long time soaking away a very long day.
The following day with newspaper in hand, they look at several apartments. In each case, one or the other could find something wrong with each one. One not enough closet space for both their things, plus what they would need for the baby, another was too far from the hospital. The one closer, was on the same level as their current place. It seemed like a hopeless cause.
6:00 PM
Nervously, waiting the arrival of her mom and Millicent Carter, Lucy
couldn't help but wonder out loud, “Do you think they'll like each other? Mom can be pretty blunt and to the point, you now.”
“And Gamma can't?” he laughs.
“There's the door, I'll get it,” Lucy says taking a deep breath.
“Mom , Millicent, you came together? I didn't expect you both to come at
the same time,” she says in disbelief.
“Well, we worked on dinner together at Millicent's and decided to come
together,” Barbara explains.
“So, you've already spent time getting to know each other?”
“Lucy, she's a lovely lady, reminds me of your grandmother,” Barbara
says.
“Let me help you with those dishes Millicent, mom you can help me in the
kitchen. John, keep your grandmother company.”
As they enter the kitchen, Barbara asks, “How's the apartment hunting
going?”
“Not well I'm afraid, nothing we've seen so far makes an impression,”
she changes the subject, “This looks delicious, thanks for bringing dinner.”
Taking the food to the table, Lucy announces, that dinner was ready,
also asking Millicent how have she has been.
“Fine dear. John tells me you're still having trouble finding a new
apartment.”
“Yeah, we still have a week or two before we have to give notice. If we
have to, we may have to rent a two bedroom in this building.”
“Lucy how have you been feeling?” Barbara asks.
“Okay,” she answers, looking over at John, silently begging him to keep
his promise about what had happened yesterday at work.
“Lucy?” her mother continues.
“Nothing,” she answers.
“Lucy Christine Knight, I know there's something you're not telling me, now what is it?”
John looked surprised, as he never knew Lucy's middle name. And was
wondering how she was going to react to mother's interrogation, “Yesterday, we were treating a patient who became a little aggressive and I got pushed down, that's all.”
“Are you and the baby alright,” Millicent asks.
“I'm fine, Dr. Weaver and Dr. Coburn checked me out and everything is okay. I was put on chart detail the rest of my shift.”
“John, is there any way she can only take care of minor emergencies for
the rest of the pregnancy?”
Before he could answer, “See I told you, she'd get all upset about this. I
wish people would stop worrying so much about me all the time,” she yells.
And she gets up and goes to the kitchen, with her mom following close
behind.
“What's wrong Lucy?”
“I told you! I just wish people would stop treating me like some *china
doll* that could break at anytime.”
“I'm sure they just want to make sure you're alright, they know you've
been through a lot this past year.”
“Is that how you feel too?”
“Yes it is. If I had my way, you'd still be living at home and of taken the
Psych internship you were offered there. But I knew you wouldn't be
happy, so against my better judgment I relented, and let you come back to
Chicago. When you told me you were coming back to County, it broke
my heart to think you wanted to come back to the place where you almost
died.”
“I had to face the past, before I could go on with my future, and you
knew that. If I hadn't come back, John and I wouldn't have gotten together and there would be no baby. No grandchild,” she empathises.
“I still think that hospital's a dangerous place to work.”
