 | ShatterStorm Productions
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| ShatterStorm Productions
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Disclaimer: ER, the characters and situations depicted are the property of Warner Bros. Television, Amblin Entertainment, Constant C Productions, NBC, etc. They are borrowed without permission, but without the intent of infringement. This site is in no way affiliated with "ER", NBC, or any representatives of Lisa Vidal or Laura Innes. This site contains stories between two mature, consenting adult females.
Spoilers: This episode takes place some time after "Bygones.
Summary: Kerry finally has something to be happy about. Her and Sandy are together. But there is still something missing. Kerry needs to find her birth mother.
Part I
She said she wouldn't bother her again. But there was something in the woman's voice that had struck a chord in Kerry. Maybe the woman had misunderstood what Kerry was trying to say. Could she have thought that Kerry was calling regarding a patient in the ER? Or was the woman caught off guard by the fact that someone knew this secret from her past? Kerry had to find out. She picked up the phone.
You have reached 555-7659. We are unable to come to the phone right now,
but if you leave your name, number and a brief message, we will return your
call.....BEEP.
"We," Kerry thought. Her heart started to race, thinking of who the 'we' could be. Could they be her birth mother and father, or maybe she had brothers and sisters. Calm down, she told herself, You've got to do this right.
"Hi, this is Dr. Kerry Weaver," she began, "I am calling for Mrs. Meredith MacMillan. Mrs. MacMillan, I really need to speak with you, please. If you give me a call back, I would be very appreciative. You can contact me at home at 555-8053 or at County General Hospital at 555-4900. Thank you."
She hung up the phone, took a deep breath, and leaned back on the couch. So many thoughts were racing through her head. She sat there for a while, contemplating what she had just done. Kerry had let her guard down for this once before, and she couldn't believe that she was doing it again. But this time, something was different. Deep inside, Kerry knew this was her birth mother. It had to be. She couldn't handle disappointment again. All the thoughts racing through her mind, all the questions that could be answered, became too much for Kerry. She felt tears welling up in her eyes. She tried to hold them back, but the emotion was too much, and the tears fell. She cupped her face in her hands, resting her elbows on her knees.
She suddenly became aware of the sound of keys rattling in the door. Kerry's head snapped up from her hands. Shit, Sandy's home, she thought. Kerry put her hands in her sleeves, and tried to wipe the tears from her eyes, as Sandy opened the door.
"Hell-o?" Sandy called, as she entered the townhouse that her and Kerry now shared, her eyes scanning the room. She kicked off her boots, threw her keys on the table by the door, and walked into the living room.
"Hey," she said, smiling when she saw Kerry on the couch. However, her smile disappeared when she seen that Kerry's back was to her, and she wouldn't look at her. She could hear Kerry sniffing, and realized something had upset her. "Kerry? Honey? What's wrong? Are you ok? Are you hurt?"
"No," Kerry sniffed and cleared her throat, "I'm fine." She stood up and walked around the other side of the couch, wiping her eyes as she went.
Sandy walked over to her, put her hands on her arms. "Oh, Sweetie," she said softly, "It's obvious something's upset you. Maybe I can help. You know I'm always here for you."
With that the tears came again. Kerry put her hands to her face. Sandy wrapped her arms around her, and pulled Kerry close, "Come here," she whispered, "Shhhh, it's ok. It's ok." Kerry returned the embrace.
They stood there like that for what seemed like forever: Kerry softly crying in Sandy's embrace, her cheek resting on her shoulder. Kerry's crying eventually subsided to a light sniffle. Sandy held her and stroked her hair. "You ok?" she asked, in a quiet voice. She didn't want to pressure Kerry to tell her anything. All she knew was that she had never seen Kerry this upset, and she didn't want to see it again. Kerry pulled back, wiping her tear-stained face. She looked down into the small space that barely separated their bodies. "Yeah," she whispered, keeping her head down yet glancing her eyes upward to meet Sandy's, "I just...I just need to sleep."
"Ok," Sandy agreed, a little disappointed that Kerry wouldn't talk to her, "I'll be out here if you need me."
She kissed Kerry's forehead, and brushed a piece of fallen hair behind her ear. "Thanks," whispered Kerry. She turned and glanced around the room for her crutch. Sandy spied it first, and quickly retrieved it. She didn't say anything, just watched as Kerry turned and made her way down the dimly lit hallway, to their bedroom, and quietly shut the door. Sandy raked a hand through her long curls, unsure of what to do. She decided that she needed a drink. She went to the fridge, grabbed a beer and made her way to the living room again. She stood in silence for a second, and heard the sounds of muffled crying coming from the bedroom. She thought about going into the room, but figured Kerry needed this time to herself. She made her way over to the couch, turned on the tv (though she didn't really pay attention to what was on), and tipped the cold bottle to her lips.
Meredith MacMillan pulled into the driveway of her home in the suburbs of Chicago at 8:00pm. She had just finished getting groceries after completing a 12 hour day shift for the Green Oaks nursing home. She got out of the car and, exhausted, walked to the front door of her home. Opening the door, she called out, "Kyla, are you home????"
"Yeah, Mom," came the reply from Meredith's 22 year old daughter, "Upstairs!"
"There's groceries in the car," Meredith called out tiredly, as she made her way to the recliner "Can you bring them in for me? I'm exhausted."
"Sure," said Kyla, as she came downstairs, and headed towards the door, "Some doctor from County called for you. I wasn't home, but the message is on the machine."
Meredith snapped to attention. She looked up at her daughter, who was tying her shoes, disbelieving what she had just said. Panic started to creep it's way across Meredith's face. "Did she say what she wanted?" Meredith asked. "No" was Kyla's response. "Thank God," Meredith thought to herself. There was no need for Kyla to know about "the doctor". Meredith pulled herself together. She didn't want Kyla to see how much concern this call was causing her.
"Go bring in the groceries," she asked, "I'm gonna go upstairs and take a bath, ok?"
"Sure," Kyla said, and headed out to the car.
When Kyla was out the door, Meredith put a hand to her head, and began to pace. She always knew that this day would come. She headed upstairs, and made a bee line for the bathroom. She locked the door behind her, leaned back on it, and let out a deep breath. She opened her eyes and reached in over the bathtub to turn on the water.
She must have lost track of how long she was in there, because the came back to reality when she heard Kyla knocking on the bathroom door. "You ok in there?" she asked her mother, from the other side of the door.
"Yeah," Meredith responded, "Just getting out now."
She got out of the bath and put her housecoat on. She wiped the steam from the mirror and stared at her reflection. "Pull yourself together," she told herself, "Don't let Kyla see you like this." She left the bathroom, walked the short distance to her bedroom. She walked past her daughter's room, noting that the door was closed, meaning that Kyla was inside, probably studying. She continued to her own bedroom, pushed the door partially closed, and sat on the edge of her bed. She paused briefly before picking up the phone to check the message.
"...Dr. Kerry Weaver....home...555-8053...work...555-4900...."
Meredith hung up the phone, and looked at her watch. 10:32pm. She couldn't call this late. She was probably sleeping. She'd call in the morning. She turned down the bedclothes, got under the covers, and tried to sleep, but instead tears started to flow. She tried to keep her crying quiet, so Kyla wouldn't hear. Little did she know though, that Kyla had come out her room to tell her mother about the 93 she had gotten on her Physical Anthropology exam, but had stopped short of her mother's door when she heard her crying. She knew it had something to do with the call from the doctor, but what? It wasn't like her mother to get upset, especially to cry. Kyla returned to her bedroom, picked up the phone and checked the message. "Dr. Kerry Weaver, 555-8053" she wrote on a piece of paper.
Part II
Sandy glanced at the clock on the night stand. 3:08am. She rolled over to face a peacefully sleeping Kerry. Sandy propped her head on her hand, and stroked Kerry's hair with the other. Knowing she was sleeping soundly, Sandy gazed at her sleeping beauty, and whispered softly, "Why are you so upset, huh?" She leaned in and placed a soft kiss on Kerry's nose, causing her to stir briefly. "Goodnight," Sandy whispered, and closed her eyes.
Meredith awoke at 8:00 the next morning. She hadn't slept very well, as all she could think about was the call. What little sleep she did get was filled with dreams of the mysterious doctor. She got out of bed, and made her way to the bathroom. She noticed that Kyla's door was open and she was not in there. "She must be out running," she thought to herself. She continued to the bathroom, where she brushed her teeth and washed her face. She looked up into the mirror. "Better do this now, and get it over with," she spoke aloud. She walked back to her room and sat on the side of the bed. She opened the drawer of the night stand and retrieved the piece of paper with Dr. Weaver's number on it. She picked up the phone, hesitating only briefly and dialed the first number...the number to Kerry's home.
Four rings went through, and just as she was about to hang up, a tired female voice answered.
"Umm..hello?" said the voice.
Meredith paused for a minute. Could this be her daughter who sounded so tired? Collecting her thoughts, she asked "Good morning. May I speak with Dr. Kerry Weaver?"
"Yeah, just a second," said Sandy. She place the phone on the night table, and turned to a still sleeping Kerry. "Kerry," she said quietly, placing a hand on Kerry's hip, giving her a little rock.
"Oww," said Kerry, drawing in a quick sharp breath through her teeth.
"Sorry," apologized Sandy, realizing that the little rock had caused her girlfriend some pain. She had never questioned Kerry about her disability. She didn't feel that they were far enough along into their relationship to discuss it. She knew Kerry would tell her when she felt it was time.
"There's a phone call for you. Do you want to take it?"
Kerry opened her eyes slightly, and a tiny 'mmm hmm' escaped her lips. Sandy handed the cordless phone to Kerry, gave her a kiss and got out of bed. Kerry wiped her eyes and pulled herself into the sitting position, leaning her back against the head board. "Hello, this is Dr. Kerry Weaver," she spoke into the phone, looking up at Sandy who mouthed the word 'coffee' to her as she put on her housecoat. Kerry nodded, and Sandy retreated to the kitchen. "Hello?" Kerry repeated after a few seconds of silence.
"Dr. Weaver?" questioned the voice, which Kerry thought sounded familiar.
"Yes"
"Umm...I uh...This is Meredith MacMillan," Meredith blurted out. She hadn't meant for it to sound so harsh.
Kerry's eyes shot open, quickly pulling her awake. She took a deep breath and held it for a few seconds. "Hi," she said softly.
"You uh...called yesterday?"
"Yes, I was uh..." Kerry paused, "I wanted to talk to you again. I wasn't sure if I had confused you during our previous conversation, and I..."
"What do you mean?" Meredith interrupted softly.
"I mean about if you had given up a child for adoption," Kerry clarified, "I thought that maybe you had misunderstood what I was asking. Like you had thought I was asking because of a patient, or something."
"Ok," was Meredith's slow response.
Kerry drew in another deep breath before she spoke again. Letting it out, she asked, "Mrs. MacMillan, did you give a child up for adoption?"
There was a long period of silence on the other end of the phone. "Mrs MacMillan?" questioned Kerry, to see whether Meredith had hung up.
"I'm here," said Meredith.
"Did you hear my question?" asked Kerry, "I need to know whether..."
"I told you before I didn't know what you were talking about," Meredith chimed in, almost yelling, as Kerry continued speaking.
"...Or not you gave up a child at birth. It is very important that I know."
"Listen," Meredith spoke harshly, as Kerry repeated, "I need to know."
"YES," Meredith yelled into the phone, not realizing that Kyla had come home and had heard her mother yelling on the phone, "WHY???"
The words sounded like they were being spoken in slow motion to Kerry. She put her hand to her mouth, and closed her eyes to try to prevent the tears from coming.
"Boy or girl?" Kerry pressed on.
"What?!"
"Was it a boy or a girl?"
"For God's sake," Meredith said impatiently, "A girl! Why? Why is this so important to you?"
As soon as the sentence was out, Meredith realized just exactly why this was important to this woman. Still she waited patiently for the answer.
Kerry drew in a long breath, and with a strained voice said quickly, "I think I'm your daughter."
The silence was deafening, and seemed like it lasted hours. Neither woman knew what to do next.
"Mrs. MacMillan?" Kerry questioned.
"Look, stop calling me," Meredith warned, "I don't need this now."
The words stung as they entered Kerry's ears, followed by a click on the other end. It didn't register in Kerry's mind, until she heard the monotonous beeping tone, that Meredith had hung up. Kerry slammed the phone into the covers on the bed, put her hands up to her face and started to cry, again.
Sandy entered the room with two fresh cups of coffee, but stopped in her tracks when she the state that Kerry was in. She put the cups on the dresser and sat on the side of the bed next to Kerry. "Come here," she said, and she pulled a weeping Kerry into a hug, "Oh Kerry, shhhh, shhh, shhh. What's wrong? What is it? For God's sake, say something."
"That was my mother," said Kerry.
Sandy was stunned. She knew that Kerry's parents were dead, her father of a heart attack, her mother just three years ago after her car hit a patch of black ice and rolled . "Kerry, I thought that..."Sandy asked.
Kerry stopped Sandy, "She is."
"Then, how could..." Sandy began, a little confused.
"I was adopted," Kerry explained to Sandy. Kerry pulled out of the hug, and looked into Sandy's eyes, "That was my biological mother."
"Oh my God," Sandy said, and pulled Kerry into her again, "I didn't know."
Kyla's body jolted as she heard her mother slam the phone back on the cradle. She had never heard her mother so angry before. Not wanting her mother to know that she had heard her get upset, Kyla retreated to the comfort of her room, and closed the door. She heard her mother walk down the hall, stopping as she reached Kyla's door.
"You home?" she asked.
Kyla stalled for a second to think of a way to let her mom know that she was home but had not heard the conversation. "Yeah," she said trying to sound upbeat, "Just got in."
"I'm going to take a shower," said Meredith.
"Ok, Mom," replied Kyla. She heard the bathroom door close and lock. Anger started to build inside of Kyla. She didn't like it when her mother was upset, especially when another person had caused it. Whoever her mother had been talking to, clearly was the cause. Kyla picked up the phone and pressed the recall button.
The last number dialed was 555-8053, the machine-like voice said.
Kyla remembered the number. It was the doctor. What had caused this woman to
upset her mother so. Kyla was always very defensive, especially when it came to
people she loved. Her mother figured it must have been the red hair. She heard
her mother emerge from the bathroom, and return to her room, the door slamming
shut. Anger started to build inside of Kyla. This woman was going to pay for
upsetting her mother. She had to do something. Kyla looked at her watch.
8:10am. Shit, I'm gonna be late for Biology.
Part III
"Yeah, Kerry's going to take the morning off," Sandy explained to Mark Greene, "She isn't feeling very well. Mmm, hmmm. She'll be in at noon. Thanks."
Sandy hung up the phone, and nodded at Kerry. They stared at each other for a second.
"I was adopted at birth," explained Kerry, breaking the silence, as they sat in bed sipping their coffee.
"Why didn't you tell me?" asked Sandy.
"I don't know, I guess it isn't one of those great conversation starters: 'Hi, I'm Kerry and I'm adopted, who are you?'"
Sandy bowed her head. Kerry looked at her, realizing that what she said wasn't appropriate. She lowered her head and opened her mouth to apologize, when Sandy spoke, "How did you find her?"
Kerry looked up. "Two years ago, I hired a private investigator to track her down. After a few weeks, he said he found her, but it turned out to be a false lead. Then he showed up here a couple of months ago, saying that he found my real birth mother. I was apprehensive about it first, but I took the name and number and called her. I asked if she had given up a child at birth, but she said that she didn't know what I was talking about, and told me not to call back."
"But you did?"
"Yeah," said Kerry, "something inside told me that she was the one. So last night, just before you came home..."
"Is that why you were upset," Sandy inquired. Kerry nodded. "Did you talk to her?"
"No, I left a message on her machine. I guess it was all too much. I've waited for this for forty years, Sandy. I can't handle another rejection. I've had too much of that in my life."
Sandy put her hand on top of Kerry's.
"She called me back this morning, and I asked her again. Things got heated, and she admitted that she had given up a daughter. Me. Then she hung up."
Kerry stared into her coffee cup, "How come she doesn't want me? How come nobody wants me?"
Sandy rubbed Kerry's arm. She could only think of one thing to say, "I want you."
Kerry looked up into Sandy's eyes, then looked back into her mug.
"Kerry I really think you need to talk to somebody about this," Sandy said.
"I am, I'm talking to you."
"No, I mean a professional," Sandy corrected, "I mean, you can talk to me all you want, you know I'll listen. But you need to talk to someone who can help you figure this out. Will you do that for me?"
Kerry sighed, then nodded.
"Why don't you go get a nice hot shower?" Sandy suggested.
Kerry looked back up at Sandy, "Can you hold me first?"
The words hit Sandy like a ton of bricks, and she put her arm around Kerry and pulled her close. Kerry rested her head on Sandy's chest, and put her arm around her waist. Sandy leaned down and kissed the top of Kerry's head, and ran her hand down the side of Kerry's face, feeling the wetness of tears rolling down her cheek. <>
"Ok," said Kerry, "Get him up to the OR. Good job everybody."
At least Kerry had one good event occur the next day. A 40 year old man was brought in with an acute M.I., and he was being sent up to the OR for a bypass. Kerry grabbed the stool that was in the trauma room, and took advantage of the peaceful surroundings for a minute. She had only been on for three hours, but she'd been swamped since she came in. She wished Sandy had told Mark that she needed the whole day off. She really didn't feel like working, plus Sandy had the day off, so they could have stayed home together. She got up to leave, when a sharp pain shot through her hip. She grabbed a hold of the counter with her free hand, and gritted her teeth through the pain. After a few seconds, the pain subsided. She opened her eyes, which were watery due to the pain, composed herself, and made her way to the lounge. She opened her locker and took out the bottle of pain killers. She washed two pills down with a bottle of water, then took a seat at the desk. She looked at her watch. 3:08pm. Only four hours to go, she thought.
No quicker had she thought that, did Chuni stick her head in through the door. This can't be good, she thought.
"Dr. Weaver," she began, "We got a single vehicle MVA coming in. ETA 2 minutes."
"Ok," sighed Kerry, "Give it to Kovac. Tell him to page me if he needs me."
Chuni nodded, and left the room to pass on Kerry's orders. Kerry just wanted to sit down for a minute. She knew Luka could handle it. Besides, it didn't sound too serious. She grabbed her pen and began doing up her notes from the last case, when she heard the ambulance bay doors burst open. She looked up for a second, and when she heard Luka's voice accept the patient, she went back to her work.
"Gimme the bullet," Luka asked Doris, the paramedic.
"Twenty-two year old female," Doris began, "victim of a single vehicle MVA. Doing 45 on that bad corner on Gottingen Street, rolled her car and wrapped around a tree. Vitals are stable, BP's 98/62, reps 20, ran in a liter at the scene. Unconscious since we arrived."
"Does she have a name?" asked Luka.
"Don't know, police are still checking the car for identification."
"Thanks," replied Luka turning his attention to the patient, "Let's get her to Trauma 2."
They wheeled the patient in, where Abby, Conni, and a few other nurses were waiting. Luka gave them the details, and they set to work.
"CBC, Chem 7, lytes, and dip a urine," Luka started as he checked the girls eyes and ears, "Type and cross for four. Pupils are equal and reactive."
"Mmm," the girl groaned as she started to regain consciousness.
Abby move close to the girl, and bent down to talk to her. "Hi, I'm Abby, can you tell me your name, honey?"
"Kyla," the girl managed to say.
"Kyla, you were in a bad car accident," Abby continued, "Can you tell me where it hurts?"
"THERE!" she yelped, as Luka checked her abdomen.
"Tenderness in the right lower quadrant," Luka diagnosed, "Could have a ruptured spleen."
"Anywhere else," Abby asked.
"My neck, and legs, too."
"Order a head CT and get a portable X-ray in here," ordered Abby, "You're going to be just fine, Kyla. Can you tell me what happened?"
"I...," Kyla began, "I was on my way to County from school. I remember looking at the speedometer and realized I was going too fast, but before I could slow down I started to roll. That's all I remember."
Luka looked up from the patient, at Abby. "Kyla, this is County General," he said, "Why were you on your way here. Did you have an appointment?"
"No," she said, "I was coming to see a doctor, though."
"Who?" inquired Abby.
"Uhh," Kyla thought, "I think her name was Kerry Weaver."
Abby looked at Luka, who motioned toward the doors.
"Go get Dr. Weaver, Abby," he said softly.
Kerry's notes were finished, and she made her way back to the Admit Desk and put her file in the 'Completed' bin.
"Dr. Weaver?"
Kerry turned around to see Abby calling out to her, as she walked towards the desk.
"What is it Abby?" she said..
"We need you in the Trauma 2."
Kerry put her pen in her pocket, and went with Abby towards the trauma room, talking as they went.
"Twenty-two year old female, involved in a single vehicle MVA," Abby explained, "Claims to had been on her way to County to see you."
"Me?" Kerry questioned, "I didn't have any appointments scheduled today."
Abby just looked at Kerry as the two women entered Trauma 2. Luka looked at Kerry, and the two women went to opposite sides of the gurney, up near Kyla's head. Kerry grabbed her pen light, and checked out Kyla's pupils. Abby stopped and stared at Kerry and the patient, trying to grasp what she was seeing. The resemblance between the two was alarming. She looked at Luka, whose face indicated that he noted the resemblance as well.
"This is Dr. Weaver," Abby said to Kyla, diverting her attention back to the patient.
Kyla looked at Kerry, "You're Dr. Kerry Weaver?"
"Yes," affirmed Kerry, "What is your name, sweetie?"
"Kyla," she offered.
"Kyla, is there anyone we can contact for you?" inquired Kerry, "A parent or family member?"
"Can you call my Mom," Kyla said, "She's at home."
"Sure," Kerry said, grabbing a pen and notepad out of her coat pocket, "What's her name and number?"
"Meredith," Kyla began, her breathing becoming very shallow, "Meredith MacMillan...."
Kerry stepped back when she heard the name, almost tumbling over the tray of instruments. Luka and Abby picked their heads up, and looked in her direction. Kerry's face was as white as a ghost, and beads of sweat were forming on her forehead.
"You ok, Kerry?" Luka asked, noting how sick she looked, "Kerry?"
"Huh," Kerry replied, as she snapped out of her thoughts, "I...uh..."
"We got it, Kerry," Luka said, "Go sit down before you pass out."
Kerry got a firm grip on her crutch, and left the trauma room, unaware of Luka and Abby's eyes following her out. They watched as Kerry stopped just outside the doors, leaned against the opposite wall, and put a hand to her mouth. Luka and Abby looked at each other, with concern, and Luka motioned to Abby with his head to go see if she was ok. Abby nodded and left the trauma room to go after Kerry who was now making her way to the Admit Desk. Abby came up behind her and placed a hand on her back, and she came around her side.
"You ok, Dr. Weaver?" she asked, as Kerry reached for the phone. Abby noted that the woman's hands were shaking. She took the receiver from Kerry, "I'll do this, you go sit in the lounge." Kerry looked up at Abby. I can't call this woman again, she thought. "Thanks," was her reply.
Abby watched as Kerry went into the lounge. She looked back at the piece of paper with the name and number on it, and proceeded to dial the number for Kyla's mother. Three rings went in, when someone picked up and said hello.
"Is this Meredith MacMillan?" Abby asked.
"Yes."
"Uh, this is Abby Lockhart from County General," Abby began, "Your daughter Kyla has been brought in..."
Part IV
Kerry sat on the couch in the lounge, replaying the conversation in the trauma room over and over again in her mind. Abby startled her when she opened the door to the lounge and entered. Kerry looked at her, then looked back down at her own feet. "I think I'm gonna go home," said Kerry, "Will you tell Mark that I don't feel well." Abby nodded, then replied, "Got someone to pick you up?"
"Sandy has today off," Kerry said to Abby, who was looking at the floor, with a small smile on her face. By now, everyone in the ER knew about Kerry and Sandy, "She can come get me."
"Want me to call her," asked Abby, glancing her eyes up from the floor.
Kerry nodded, and Abby left. Kerry stayed on the couch for about ten minutes, thinking, then stood up, and brushed her hand down over her labcoat, to straighten it out. She opened the door and walked out into the hall. She saw Luka coming down the hall. "How is she?" she asked.
"She has a ruptured spleen, compound fracture of the right tib-fib, spiral fracture of the left femur, a bruised vertebrae in her neck, and a deep laceration to the left temporal lobe," he told her, "She'll be alright though. No signs of paralysis. They're getting ready to take her up to the OR, for a splenectomy and external fixators for her legs. She's a lucky girl."
"Thanks," said Kerry, and she walked toward Trauma Two. She walked in, only then noticing how much Kyla looked like her...the petiteness, fine red hair, and similar facial structures.
That's my sister, Kerry thought.
She asked the nurse who was there to give her a moment with Kyla, alone. "Yes, Dr. Weaver," the nurse said, and left the room. Kerry grabbed a stool, and pulled it up next to the gurney.
Kyla turned her head to look at her. "Hi," she squeaked out.
"Hey," said Kerry softly, "How are you feeling?"
"Terrible," replied Kyla. After a moment of silence, Kyla spoke up, "I was coming to see you, ya know."
"I heard," replied Kerry.
"Who are you?" she asked.
At that point, Kerry realized that Kyla did not know that they shared the same mother. She didn't feel it was her place to explain who she was. "Shhh," said Kerry, "Never mind that. Try to relax. Your mother will be here shortly, ok?" Kyla nodded, a little sleepy from the pain medication they had given her.
Romano and some nurses came barging through the doors. He looked at both of them. "My, my, if it isn't the Olsen Twins," he said sarcastically, walking to the gurney. Kyla looked at Romano, puzzled, then looked at Kerry.
"Kyla, this is Dr. Romano," Kerry said changing the subject, "He's going to take you up to surgery. You're going to be just fine."
"Quit your yammering, Dr. Weaver," said Romano, rolling his eyes, "Let's get her up to the OR...I have a meeting at 5:00 that I don't want to be late for."
He turned to one of the nurses and told her to page Elizabeth Corday, and tell that they were on their way up.
Kerry watched through the trauma doors as Romano and the nurses rolled the gurney towards the elevators. Kerry sat on the stool for a few minutes, casting her gaze to the floor, when she heard the rapping of fingernails on the trauma doors. She looked up and saw Sandy. Kerry stood up and exited the room.
"You ok?" asked Sandy.
"Yeah," sighed Kerry.
Sandy could hear the strain in her voice.
"I just met my sister."
A tiny smile crept across Kerry's face, as she looked up at Sandy who was in disbelief.
"Let's go home," said Sandy, and she wrapped her arm around Kerry's waist and they left the ER.
Meredith paced back and forth in the surgical waiting area. She had been informed that Kyla was involved in a bad car accident, and had been taken to County. This was the last place Meredith wanted to be, and if it weren't for Kyla, she would never have walked through the doors. She continued to pace until she heard her name being called. She looked around and saw a tall woman in a blue surgical gown standing beside her.
"Mrs. MacMillan," said the doctor with her British accent. When Meredith nodded to confirm, the doctor continued, "I'm Dr. Corday. Kyla is doing fine. She had a ruptured spleen which we were able to repair. She also had two broken legs. We had to use surgical screws and pins to reset the bones. There's an external fixator on her left leg because of the femur fracture. She won't be able to walk for a couple of months, and she'll need extensive physiotherapy to learn to walk again. We, also, did some exploring around the vertebra in her neck, but everything looks fine. Just a bruised vertebra. She's in recovery now, would you like to go see her?"
"Yes, I would," said Meredith, tears staining her face.
Elizabeth lead Meredith to the recovery room where her daughter was resting. Meredith gasped and put a hand over her mouth when she saw her battered daughter.
"It's ok," assured Elizabeth, "The anesthetic hasn't completely wore off yet, so she's still a bit groggy."
Meredith edged closer to her daughter's bed, coming to rest beside her. She touched Kyla's face, which was cut and bruised. Elizabeth excused herself and told Meredith that the nurses would be back and forth to check on Kyla, and that she herself would be back later on that evening to do a post-operative examination.
"Kyla?" asked Meredith in a tiny whisper, "Can you hear me, darling? My God."
"Mom?" squeaked Kyla, half opening her eyes.
"I'm here honey," assured Meredith, "How are you feeling?"
"Sore."
"You're going to be alright," said Meredith, "Just get some rest ok?"
Kyla closed her eyes, and Meredith pulled a stool close to the bed and sat down, not once letting go of her daughter's hand. They were both in for a long night.
"She looked just like me," Kerry told Sandy, "I couldn't get over it."
The two women were on the couch. Sandy was sitting close to the end, while Kerry was laid down on her side, resting her head in Sandy's lap. Sandy said nothing, listening intently to Kerry, and running her fingers through her red tresses.
"A sister," Kerry continued, "My sister."
"You never had any brothers or sisters?" asked Sandy. Seeing as the relationship was fairly new, they were still learning different things about each other everyday.
"No," said Kerry turning onto her back to look up at Sandy, "Just me. You?"
"Yeah," laughed Sandy, her smile lighting up the dimly lit apartment, "Eight, nine including me."
"Nine?!?!" inquired Kerry, "You mean there are nine children in your family?"
"I wouldn't say we're children," confirmed Sandy, "Well, Maria is the youngest and she's 16."
"Who are the rest?" asked Kerry.
"Ok," replied Sandy, "Oldest to youngest, it's Alex who's 38, Robbie who's 37, then me and Cheryl...."
"You and Cheryl?" Kerry interrupted.
"Yeah, we're twins," Sandy said.
"Identical?" she interrupted, again.
"Yeah" said Sandy, who looked down at Kerry and noticed that she had a small smirk on her face, "Hey, hey, hey, don't be getting any ideas now. Besides, I'm the cuter one."
Kerry chuckled, and Sandy bent down to give her little kiss.
"Continue," said Kerry.
Sandy smiled and bent down to give her another kiss. Kerry stopped her, "Not me. The rest of your brothers and sisters."
"Oh," Sandy laughed, "Where was I? Oh yeah, me and Cheryl who are 34, Mario is 30, Anthony is 28, Tina is 25, Ricky is 23, and Maria who is 16. That's it. That's the Lopez clan."
"Wow," said Kerry, with a little sadness in her voice. Sandy picked up it, and tried to think of something to cheer her up.
"Yeah," said Sandy trying to lighten the mood, "Nine kids, two parents, and only one bathroom."
"Wow," said Kerry, the sadness still there, but not as imminent.
Sandy looked down at her, "How about something to drink?"
"Sure," said Kerry.
Sandy lifted Kerry's head off of her lap so she could stand up, and made her way into the kitchen. Kerry laid on the couch, with her head propped up on her hand.
"What do you want?" asked Sandy from the kitchen.
"Umm, I'll have a vodka, straight," Kerry called from the living room.
Sandy made the drinks and made her way to the living room. She stopped in the entry way, and looked at Kerry who's back was to her. She could tell she was deep in thought.
"Whatcha thinking about?" said an inquisitive Sandy, as she moved around to the couch.
Kerry lifted her head as Sandy passed her the glass of vodka and sat down. Kerry pulled herself to sit up. Sandy put her arm around Kerry, and Kerry resting her head on Sandy's shoulder. Sandy rested her head on top of Kerry's and took a sip of her drink.
"Well," she began, "A month ago, I had nothing except my job. Now I have you, and in the last two days, I found my biological mother and found out I have a sister. You've been here for me so much in the last two days. It's made me realize how much you mean to me."
Sandy looked down at her and Kerry looked up at her. Sandy smiled.
"Thank you," said Kerry.
Sandy didn't say anything. She placed her drink on the in table, tilted Kerry's head back, looked deep into her eyes, and kissed her, passionately.
"What was that for," asked Kerry.
"My way of saying 'Your Welcome'," Sandy replied.
Part V
It was 9:30 am now, and Meredith had not strayed more than 3 feet from her daughter since her surgery, two days ago. Kyla hadn't slept more than 2 hours at a time, despite all the medication she was receiving. Nurses had been coming and going all night, performing post-operative checkups, and changing dressings.
She was awake now, and looked around the room for her mother, but only found the duty nurse.
"Where's my Mom?" Kyla strained to ask.
The nurse looked up from Kyla's chart which she had been reviewing. "I think she went downstairs for some coffee," was her reply.
Kyla nodded and turned her head towards the window and sighed. It had only been three days since the accident, but the depression was already starting to sink in. She could only imagine what the next few months were going to be like: painful rehabilitation, physiotherapy, possibly more surgeries. This was going to be a long haul.
Her thoughts were interrupted with the sound of a voice in the doorway.
"Hey," called the voice.
Kyla looked towards the door, and saw Kerry standing there. Kyla looked at her, then returned her gaze through the window. She remembered that if she hadn't been mad at this woman for upsetting her mother, she wouldn't have been driving so fast, and she wouldn't been lying in this hospital bed. She looked again at Kerry. This time, there was something in the woman's eyes, that put Kyla at ease. Something about her 'being', that told Kyla she couldn't be mad at this woman.
"How are you feeling?" asked Kerry as she invited herself into the room.
"Sore," was all Kyla could muster.
"I guess you would be," replied Kerry, as she pulled a chair close to her bedside.
"They've been pumping medicine into me steady for the last two days," said Kyla, finding herself oddly comfortable with this woman, "I don't get much sleep."
The two exchanged awkward glances then looked away. Kerry bit her lip, and Kyla let out a tiny sigh.
Beep beep beep, cried Kerry's pager. Both women were relieved that the pager had broken the silence. She looked down to see the message.
"The ER," she told Kyla, standing up and brushing her hand down over her labcoat, "I'd better go."
Kyla nodded, and Kerry turned to leave. She was almost to the door, when Kyla spoke.
"Come back, later."
Kerry wheeled around and looked at Kyla's mangled body.
"When you're done."
Kerry looked down at her feet, and pondered the invitation for a second. She glanced back up at Kyla.
"Sure," she replied, turned and continued through the door.
She walked down the hall towards the elevators, her eyes cast to the floor. She almost collided with an older woman, who had been walking in the opposite direction. Kerry looked over her shoulder at the woman, and apologized, not once stalling or stopping. The woman turned over her own shoulder as well, each exchanging long glances. Kerry moved her eyes towards the elevator.
"Hold the elevator!" she yelled as the doors were about to shut. The man inside put his hand out and pushed the door back open, and Kerry hopped inside, and pushed the "Ground" button for the ER.
Meredith got off the elevator and headed toward's Kyla's room, trying to juggle the coffee, sandwich and Jell-o in her hands. She looked up for a second and saw a red-haired doctor exit Kyla's room.
Must be another specialist, she thought, and quickened her pace towards the room. The doctor almost collided with her, but Meredith had managed to side step a little to avoid such a disaster. The doctor apologized as they both continued walking, not missing a step. She turned to look at the doctor, who had turned to look at her, as well. She turned back around, after the doctor broke locking glances, and rounded the corner into Kyla's room.
Kyla was sitting up in her bed, and this made Meredith smile. It had only been twenty-four hours since the surgery, but Kyla looked a lot better. Heck, she couldn't look any worse.
"Who was that?" she asked, moving towards the night table and setting the food down, "Another specialist?
Kyla looked at her mother, seeing the tired look in her face. Her mother had probably gotten even less sleep than her last night, and she didn't want to add to her mother's stress any more than she had to.
"Yes," she lied.
"What did she have to say?" inquired Meredith, unaware of the lies that were being told to her.
"Nothing really," Kyla said, making up the lie as she went, "At least, nothing that everybody else has already told me."
Meredith sensed the depression in her daughter's voice.
"Oh honey," said Meredith in a comforting voice, "Everything's going to be ok. It may seem like it won't now, but you'll see. In a few months, you'll be as good as new."
Kyla seriously thought about telling her mother about Dr. Weaver. Not
now, she thought, not yet.
PART VI
Kerry visited with Kyla after her shifts, over the last three days, each time managing to avoid Kyla's mother....their mother. It was purely coincidental. Meredith was either down in the cafeteria or at home checking on the house.
Today, Kerry was working, and decided to take advantage of the empty ER and visit with Kyla. She knocked on Kyla's door, and stepped in. Kyla was sitting up in her bed, and smiled when she saw Kerry.
"Hi," said Kyla
"Hey," replied Kerry, as she approached the bed and pulled up a chair, "How are you doing today?"
"Better," Kyla said, "They say one more week and I'm outta here."
"That's good," Kerry replied.
The two continued to talk for tens minutes, when a small knock was heard on the half open door. Both women cast their gaze towards the sound, to see Meredith standing in the doorway, a smile on her face and a bouquet of flowers in her hands.
"Hi," said Meredith, not realizing who the doctor was. How would she, they'd never met.
"Hi, Mom," said Kyla, cheerfully.
Mom? Kerry thought. She looked at Kyla, then back at Meredith. They locked eyes. That was her mother...their mother. Kerry looked her over, noting the grey hair with tiny hint of red, the petite stature. She began to panic, her pulse was racing, and tiny beads of sweat began to form on her forehead, as Meredith made her way closer to the bed...closer to her. Kerry looked away as she stood up. She slipped her arm into her crutch, straightened her lab coat, and prepared to leave.
"I, uh," Kerry stammered, "I have to go back to work."
"No, wait," Kyla said, but before Kerry could respond, Kyla introduced the two women, "Mom, this is Dr. Weaver."
Meredith was half way across the room, when she stopped cold in her tracks. Her face turned completely pale, and she almost dropped the flowers. She looked at Kerry, who was trying to avoid Meredith's gaze.
"Dr. Weaver," continued Kyla, not realizing what was going on, "this is my mother, Meredith."
Kerry looked up to meet the scornful eyes.
"Mrs. MacMillan," Kerry greeted, trying to be polite.
"Doctor," Meredith replied coldly. She inched closer to her daughter's bed, never taking her eyes off of Kerry. She, too, noted the similarities between herself and Kerry...between Kyla and Kerry. Then, she noticed the crutch.
"Mom?" questioned Kyla, noting her mother's uneasiness.
"Huh?" Meredith mumbled, snapping back into reality, "Sorry, honey. Here look what I brought for you. Add some colour to this dingy little room."
She set the flowers on the night stand next to Kyla's bed.
"Thanks, Mom," Kyla replied, "They're beautiful."
"I, um," Kerry stammered again, "I better get going."
"Oh, ok," said Kyla, "will you come back later?"
Kerry sighed, uncomfortably, "We'll see."
She turned to head towards the door, when Meredith spoke up,
"Dr. Weaver, may I have a word with you?"
Kerry looked back, and tried not to choke on the lump in her throat. There was no need for Kerry to respond, as Meredith was already at Kerry's side, leading her towards the door.
"I'll be back in a second," she told Kyla, whose face was tainted with confusion.
Meredith lead Kerry out into the hall, and shut the door to Kyla's room. Kerry opened her mouth to say something, but was silenced by Meredith's overpowering voice.
"What the hell are you doing here?" asked Meredith.
Meredith's voice was stern and powerful. Kerry laughed inside, realizing now, where she got, what her colleagues called, her 'Chief' voice.
"I saw Kyla when she came into the ER," Kerry said, defending herself, "She told me that she had been on her way to County to see me...."
"Did she say why?" Meredith said, cutting off Kerry.
"No," replied Kerry, "The surgeons came to take up to the O.R. before we could talk."
"Did you tell her who you were?" inquired Meredith.
Kerry knew where this was going.
"I didn't tell her that you were my mother, too, if that's what you're implying," rebutted Kerry, "Don't worry, you're secret is still safe!"
"I think you should leave," Meredith said, "And I don't want you visiting Kyla anymore."
Kerry took one step closer to Meredith, and looked her square in the eyes, with a look that could peel paint off a wall.
"Listen," Kerry began, in a stern but quiet whisper, "You may not want me in your life, but God damn it, I'm in it whether you like it or not. You gave up on me a long time ago, but guess what? I got over it. As far as I'm concerned, you died forty years ago! Forty years, Mrs....Meredith!..."
Kerry paused, tears starting to pool in her eyes. Kerry took a deep breath and continued,
"Kyla is my sister, and right now, she is the only living relative that I have. If you don't want a relationship with me, that's fine by me. If you want to keep this secret from her, well then that's fine, too. I won't let on, but I'll be damned if I'm going let you keep me away from her!"
Meredith watched as Kerry turned on her heel, to head towards the elevators, dumbfounded at what she had just heard. However, all was forgotten when she saw Kerry grab her left hip and fall to the floor, in a crumpled heap. For a second she didn't know what to do, but she quickly went to her side, and reached down to her.
"You ok?" she asked as she grabbed Kerry's arm and helped her to her feet.
"I'm fine," Kerry said, as she shrugged off the help, "Just another thing you'll never know about me."
With that, Kerry brushed her hand down over her labcoat, and once again, headed towards the elevator. Meredith rolled her eyes and went back into Kyla's room.
PART VII
Meredith sat by Kyla's beside every night for the next seven days. Her eyes hardly ever closed. She was constantly thinking about what Dr. Weaver...Kerry...had said to her in the hallway, and she was right. How could Meredith keep them apart. Kerry was her mistake, not Kyla's, so why should she have to suffer.
At 9:00 am, Kyla awoke. She stretched her arms and looked around her room. A smile crept across her face. Today, she was going home. She propped herself up in bed and got comfortable, when she heard a tap on her door. She looked up to see Dr. Weaver.
"Hi," she beamed, "Come in."
"Hi," greet Kerry, not as cheerfully as Kyla though.
"Where have you been?" inquired Kyla.
"I've been busy," came the reply.
"I'm glad you stopped by," Kyla continued, "I'm going home today."
At that time, Meredith walked into the room. Kerry turned her head to look at the woman. She then dropped her gaze to the floor and turned to look at Kyla.
"I'd, uh.." Kerry stammered, "I better go. I just came up to wish you good luck, and to give you this."
Kerry handed Kyla an envelope.
"You don't have to open it now," Kerry said.
Kyla sensed something was wrong between the two women, but said nothing. It wasn't her place. Kerry turned towards the door, and proceeded forward. Meredith moved towards Kerry. Meredith wasn't sure if she'd regret what she was about to do, but she felt she couldn't let this lie continue on. She had thought deeply about what Kerry had said to her, that day out in the hall, and she was right. Kerry was an adult. She didn't need a mother, nor was she looking for one. She was looking for peace of mind, and Meredith owed her this.
"I'd like you to stay for a while," Meredith spoke softly to Kerry.
Kerry picked her gaze up off of the floor and looked at Meredith. She could see the sincerity and the pain in her eyes. Kerry nodded her head. Both women turned around and walked back to Kyla's bedside, one on either side.
"Kyla," Meredith began, "I have something I have to tell you."
Sandy heard the door open around 6:15pm. Who could that be, she thought, as she got up from the couch to see who was there.
"What are you doing home?" she asked, when she saw Kerry enter the townhouse, "I didn't think you got off until 7:00."
Kerry kicked off her shoes, and looked up at Sandy.
"I know," Kerry replied, "It was slow, and I got John to cover for me."
Sandy noticed the pleasantness in Kerry voice, and when Kerry lifted her head to look at Sandy, she could see she was beaming from ear to ear.
"Well, this is a pleasant change," Sandy teased, "Haven't seen you this happy in a while. What's going on?"
Kerry reached out and took Sandy's hand in hers, and lead her over to the couch. They sat there for a minute in silence, Sandy eagerly awaiting to hear what Kerry had to say. She could see that Kerry was avoiding her eyes, thinking about what she had to say. Finally, Kerry turned to Sandy.
"Meredith told Kyla about me today," Kerry said, as a tear formed in her eye, "She told her that me and Kyla were sisters."
Sandy let out a tiny squeal of joy, and wrapped her arms around Kerry. Kerry rested her head on Sandy's shoulder, and returned the hug.
"I'm so happy for you," Sandy said, as she pulled out of the hug, and place her hands on Kerry's arms.
Kerry put her hands up towards Sandy's face, massaging her cheekbones with her thumbs. She pulled her face towards hers, until they were nose to nose.
"I think everything's going to be alright," she said, as she brought Sandy's lips towards hers.
