Chapter Text
April 8, 2025
“Hey.”
Kerry stared up at the ceiling. “Hey.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too, Kim.”
Kim was silent for a moment, “But, it still hurts.”
Kerry rolled onto her side, propping herself up on her arm, “Yeah. Yes, it does. 21 years today.”
Kim ran her fingers along Kerry’s arm, “You going to stay home today?”
Kerry sighed with a shake of her head, “I can’t. The new Chief of Surgery’s first day is today.”
“So what. You’re not the Chief of Staff anymore. Stay home.”
“I can’t Kim. You know that.”
Kim closed her eyes and spoke, “I measure every Grief I meet
With narrow, probing, eyes –
I wonder if It weighs like Mine –
Or has an Easier size.
I wonder if They bore it long –
Or did it just begin –
I could not tell the Date of Mine –
It feels so old a pain –
I wonder if it hurts to live –
And if They have to try –
And whether – could They choose between –
It would not be – to die –
I note that Some – gone patient long –
At length, renew their smile –
An imitation of a Light
That has so little Oil –
I wonder if when Years have piled –
Some Thousands – on the Harm –
That hurt them early – such a lapse
Could give them any Balm –
Or would they go on aching still
Through Centuries of Nerve –
Enlightened to a larger Pain –
In Contrast with the Love –
The Grieved – are many – I am told –
There is the various Cause –
Death – is but one – and comes but once –
And only nails the eyes –
There's Grief of Want – and grief of Cold –
A sort they call "Despair" –
There's Banishment from native Eyes –
In sight of Native Air –
And though I may not guess the kind –
Correctly – yet to me
A piercing Comfort it affords
In passing Calvary –
To note the fashions – of the Cross –
And how they're mostly worn –
Still fascinated to presume
That Some – are like my own –”
Kim opened her eyes as Kerry kissed her. “Thank you.” She paused, “Will you come with me and Henry to the cemetery after our shifts?”
“Every day and twice on Sundays if you need me to.”
A small smile came to Kerry’s lips, “You… are a unique person Kimberly Legaspi.”
Kim smirked, “You know it. Also… tonight, after the cemetery, can we have a chat?” Kerry raised an eyebrow, “Nothing bad, I promise.”
Kerry stole another kiss and got out of the bed. “No promise needed, I trust you.”
oOOOOo oOOOOo
“Voila!”
Abby looked up and blinked, “Do you need somewhere to change?”
Randi gave a short shake of her head, “Nope. I come bearing gifts. Your cosplay for this weekend. And Joe’s too.”
“Randi… you didn’t…”
“Shush, this, making all this stuff, this is what I actually like to do. It actually makes me happy, and that’s not…” Randi shook her head and smiled, although to Abby’s eyes, the smile looked a little forced. “So, take it woman. Okay.”
Abby opened it and blinked, “Uh, it’s a red leather jacket, brown leather pants, and… these all look like regular clothes?”
“They are not. They are Emma Swan, Once Upon a Time. Joe’s is Henry Mills, Once Upon a Time, Emma’s son.” Randi shrugged, “People will know who you are, and I figured that you wouldn’t want the whole… costume-y sort of costume… yet.”
“Yet?”
Randi smirked, “Oh yeah…. Chicago actually has two big cons, next one’s in August.”
Abby groaned and Randi chuckled, “The things I do for my son.”
“Why are you going with him?”
Abby fell silent for a moment, “I haven’t… I know he’s grown, but I never want my relationship with him to be what my relationship with my mother is. I’m here to support him, all of him, including his love of Art Baltazar and Franco.” Randi shook her head, “Two artists, or, I guess the better name would be… comic creators? Joe’s not wrong, their art, and their stories are really fun to read.”
Randi nodded. “You’re a great Mom.” And zipped back up and handed the garment bag to Abby. Who stowed it in a closet in her office, then came back out into the main part of the Pathology office. “I hear that there’s a new Chief of Surgery starting today.”
Abby rolled her eyes, “Andrew Fleming, yes. Do I want to know why you care?”
Randi gave a shake of her head, “Nope. Are you going up to meet him?”
Abby studied Randi for a long moment, then shook her head. “Sure, why not. I think that Kerry said that he’d be in the ED about now.”
Randi put her arm through Abby’s. “So, I haven’t seen your mother recently, have you strangled her yet?”
“I have not.” They walked towards the elevator, “We have reached a-- balance. Joe helps with that” She continued before Randi could speak, “Which I know isn’t necessarily a good thing.”
Randi shook her head, “No need to explain crazy family to me Abby.” The elevator dinged and Randi gripped Abby’s arm, “Ready to meet the newest surgeon god?”
Abby chuckled. As they got to the ED’s admit desk, so did a tall, skinny man with short auburn hair.
He spoke, “Doctor Andrew Fleming, new Chief of Surgery.”
Kerry shook his hand and then gestured to those by the admit desk, “Kerry Weaver, Chief of the ED, Zara Alim, Admit Clerk, Nurse Kathy Bright, ED, Doctor Kim Legaspi, Chief of Psych, Abigail Lockhart, Chief of Pathology, and Randi Fronczak, our IT consultant.”
Nurse Bright spoke, “We used to have a British Chief of Surgery.”
Kerry interrupted, “English.”
Nurse Bright continued, “And now we have an Australian.”
It was Kim’s turn to interrupt, “New Zealand Aotearoa.”
A smile came to Andrew’s lips, “Yes. Dunedin. You’ve been?”
“On vacation, yes. Though not to Dunedin.”
Andrew nodded, “Lord of the Rings.”
Kim made a face, “The never-ending movies based on the never ending book series? No-- right idea, but wrong IP.”
Andrew thought for a second, then nodded with a smile, “Ah. Of course.”
Nurse Bright looked between the two, a slightly confused look on her young face, “What?”
Kim just smiled, “Good to meet you Doctor Fleming.”
He inclined his head, “You too Doctor Legaspi.”
Kim gave Kerry’s hand a brush as she passed her. “Light day today.”
Kerry nodded with a grateful look on her face, then turned back to Andrew. “If you have a moment I can give you a tour of the ED.”
Randi piped up, “Or I can…” Kerry pinned Randi with a look, “What?” She held a finger up as the radio went off with incoming traumas. “So… want to rethink that tour?”
Kerry’s jaw worked, but, finally she nodded, “Yes. Fine. Thank you… Miranda…”
Randi winced at the use of her first name, but covered it with a smile. She put her arm through Andrew’s. “Let’s start with the Trauma rooms so that we can get out of their way…”
oOOOOo oOOOOo
“What are you doing down here?”
Abby blinked in surprise as she glanced over at Maggie. They were both taking off their outer coverings. “Well, hello to you too.”
Maggie shook her head, “Sorry. It was a… long morning at home. Are you double boarded?”
“More like, I went back to the start to become a Pathologist. I had spent most of my career in ERs.” She looked around, “I don’t mind pitching in, for Kerry. But, it’s-- not what I do anymore.”
“And yet, you’re down here?”
Abby pushed out of the staff lounge and followed Kerry around the ER with her eyes. “It’s a-- hard day for Kerry.”
Maggie frowned, “What happened?”
Abby sighed, “A multi-structure fire. The windy city living up to its name too. Zara--”
Zara looked up and without looking back at the admit desk grabbed a tablet and handed it to Maggie. Then spoke to Abby, “Do you know where Randi went with our new Chief of Surgery? We have two pending consults and no surgeons.”
Abby pulled out her phone and sent a text, “With Maggie here now I’m going to head back downstairs, but if--” Zara nodded.
Maggie looked between Zara and the retreating Abby. “If what?”
Zara gave a shake of her head, “It’s fine. I think Exam 2 is waiting.”
oOOOOo oOOOOo
Kerry stripped off her gloves and dropped them and her other protective coverings in the biohazard bin. A resident popped in, “Doctor Weaver?”
“Is it emergent?”
The resident gave a shake of his head, “No.”
“Will it become emergent in the next fifteen minutes?”
“No.”
She held her phone up, “If that changes, call me.”
Kerry walked through her ED. She handed the tablet from the trauma room to Zara on her way through, but didn’t speak to anyone.
A few minutes later Kim appeared, “Is Maggie still with my consult?”
“Yes. And Doctor Weaver isn’t here.”
Kim nodded, “I know. She’s where she needs to be.” Kim then pointed towards Exam 2 and Zara nodded.
oOOOOo oOOOOo
It was the afternoon. Kerry wasn’t sure when that had happened, she’d been so involved in trying to save as many from the fires as possible that the time had slipped by like a fast running river.
Arms wrapped around her and a chin rested on her shoulder, “Hey Ma.”
“Hi Henry.”
“I heard about the big fire.”
Even though it was the middle of the day, Kerry could still see the bouncing lights of the fire vehicles that were still on scene from where she and Henry stood on County’s roof.
“Two died. No firefighter fatalities. I did see Brody though…”
“Tío, Tío, Tío,... let me guess, smoke inhalation? Man is too old to be a hero like that anymore. He’s downstairs?”
Kerry nodded and stepped out of Henry’s hug. “Yes, where I should be. DId you already visit Mama today?” Henry nodded, “I’m going after my shift-- if you--”
“I’ll be there.” He hugged her again.
oOOOOo oOOOO
“Tell me what’s going on.”
Maggie slid into the booth across from Abby at the new Doc Magoos. A waitress appeared, “Are you ready to order?”
“No-- I--”
Maggie’s stomach disagreed and Abby laughed. Maggie sighed, “Do you have a non-meat burger with everything?”
“We do, with house fries?” Maggie nodded, “And something to drink?”
“Just a cola.”
The waitress disappeared and silence came over the table. It was Abby who spoke, “I’d like to go out on a date with you.”
Maggie blinked, “That-- is not what I thought you’d say next.” She glanced around, “Does this count?”
“I’m not going to talk about Kerry. Her life is her life. If she wants to tell you, that’s her decision.”
“Fair enough. So-- a date. I’m not exactly a catch at the moment.”
Abby smiled, “Oh-- I’m never a catch. Not to mention that every single one of my relationships has spectacularly imploded.’
Maggie smiled back, “Now, that, I understand.” Her burger came and she dug in. “Oh, that’s good. So-- a change from the ER to the basement? Is there a story there?”
Abby was silent for a moment, “I was married. Joe’s father. He’s still in Boston. Even after our divorce, even after I moved from Mass General to Holy Family Lawrence. He was everywhere, at every conference, everywhere. Not his fault exactly, we just… we were in the same circles, we would always be if I stayed as an Emergency Medicine doctor. So, I changed specialties. I know that it’s not very feminist of me, ceding the field to my ex husband, but… it also wasn’t the first time I’d swerved in my career path. But, it will be the last. Pathology doesn’t have the heart pounding pace of an ER, but, it has puzzles, some very complicated ones. And the answers change peoples lives too. I enjoy it.”
Maggie looked up as the new Chief of Surgery and Randi Fronczak entered Doc Magoos.
“And, now that your little detour to do your job is done.” Randi smiled, “This is the last place on our tour. Doc Magoos, or, to those who have been at County since the dawn of time, new Doc Magoos. There was a convenient mart here for a while, but Erika and Nina, the new owners, are smarter than a big company.”
Randi slipped into the booth next to Abby and gestured that Andrew should sit next to Maggie. “Bit of a break?”
Andrew gave a sheepish look to Maggie and sat down, “Ah-- Randi gave me a very exhaustive tour.”
“She can definitely be exhausting.”
Andrew chuckled at Abby’s barb and Randi rolled her eyes. Randi took one of Abby’s fries, then another. Abby gave Randi a look. “I need to work.”
Randi took the last fry. “Okay.”
Maggie shook her head, “She means move your ass Fronczak.”
Randi sat up straighter, “Oh, does she… Doyle?”
Abby put a hand on Randi’s arm, “Please Randi?”
Randi stood and gave a half a bow, “Good luck with your slides and corpses.”
Andrew also let Maggie out, without any of the talkback or pageantry.
That left Randi and Andrew in the booth. Andrew studied Randi, “Do you like her?”
“Abby? She’s not my type.”
“A woman?”
“No-- I like those-- as well as gorgeous men like you.” She reached across and took his hand, “Gorgeous men who are smart and caring.”
Andrew tilted his head to one side, “You’re who my mother warned me about.”
“Do you care?”
He smiled, “Not at all.”
oOOOOo oOOOOo
“Ready?”
Kerry gave a nod as she closed her locker, “I am.” They walked out and to the El.
It wasn't until they were at the cemetery, walking towards Sandy’s grave that Kim asked, “Henry found you on the roof?”
Kerry glanced over, “Yes.” She paused, “Every time I saved someone today-- I thanked her, is that stupid?”
Kim cracked a small smile, “Want my professional opinion?” Kim continued before Kerry could speak. “I’m kidding. It makes perfect sense. You know that there is no wrong way to grieve.” She looked up and winced, “Is that Sandy’s Mom and Dad? And brother Eddie?”
Kerry sighed, “Yes.”
Kim took Kerry’s hand and held it tight. “Us and Henry against the world. Okay?”
Kerry nodded as they got to the grave. She stayed silent, letting Florina speak first so she could judge if the older woman was going to be familial or confrontational. “You brought… a friend.”
Confrontational it was. “I did. My fiancée Kim. This is Sandy’s mother Florina Lopez, her father Gullermo Lopez, and brother Eduardo Lopez. This is Kim Legaspi.”
There were nods all around. “And where is Henry?”
Kerry took a breath and felt Kim squeeze her hand, ‘He came this morning before his shift.”
“Why you let him take that job I will never understand.” Florina shook her head,
Kerry’s jaw worked for a moment, “I even would have supported --my-- son if he’d wanted to be a firefighter.”
Carlos walked up on Kerry’s side, opposite of Kim, and gave Kerry a half a hug, “Hey Little Sis--” He gave her half a hug as Florina frowned at his nickname for Kerry, “Henry okay?”
Kerry let go of Kim's hand and turned Carlos’ half hug into a full one. Then taking Kim’s hand again after she let go of Carlos. “He’s just late.” She looked to Florina, “Could I have a moment here alone?”
“She was my daughter.”
Guillermo spoke for the first time, “Florina-- let Kerry have a moment…”
A voice finished the sentence from behind Carlos, Kim and Kerry. “...at the grave of who was basically her wife in all but the paperwork.”
Everyone turned. Randi, Henry, Abby, Janet Coburn, and Alice Upton stood there. It was Alice who had actually spoken. Alice stood up straighter as everyone focused on her, “I said what I said.”
Florina mumbled something under her breath as she, Guillermo and Eddie walked away from the grave.
Henry came to Kerry’s side, replacing Carlos and everyone made a sort of circle around Kerry, Henry, and Kim.
After a few minutes of silence Kerry spoke, “There aren’t the right words for how much Sandy changed my life. I was,” she glanced at Kim, “retreating back into myself when we met very… impactfully. And then, she never let me get away with anything after that. She wasn’t perfect. But, she was perfect for me right then. And I miss her every day.” Both Henry and Kim tightened their grips around Kerry. “Because of her I have family.” She looked over at Henry and back at Carlos, “Friends that are family.” She met Randi, Abby, and Janet and Alice’s gazes, “and I found love again.” She put her head against Kim’s shoulder and Kim kissed Kerry's forehead. “And so since she has changed every part of my life, she’ll never really be gone.”
Silence fell until Randi broke it with a smirk, “Group hug.”
Abby rolled her eyes, “Randi…”
But, Kerry smiled, “Perfect idea.” And they shared a group hug.
oOOOOo oOOOOo
Everyone but Kerry, Kim, and Randi had left the cemetery, including Sandy’s parents and Eddie.
Kim had walked over to visit her brother and father, and assured Kerry that she should stay at Sandy’s grave.
Kerry and Randi sat on the thankfully dry grass in front of the grave and Randi looked uncomfortable. “Kerry. I wanted to apologize. I'm so sorry.” She shook her head, “It was beautiful what you said, and I fucked it up because I was trying to be funny.”
“No.” She took Randi’s hand, “It was perfect. It was okay. You know… one day you’re going to find the person who not only will put up with all of you, but, with whom you will feel you’re able to be your whole self, no jokes needed.”
Randi sighed, “You promise bestie?”
Kerry smiled, “I promise… bestie. And, I do hear that you and Doctor Andrew Fleming are getting along well?”
“How?” Randi laughed, “Even my spies aren’t that good. Do you have the whole ED bugged?”
Kerry smiled, “Wouldn’t you like to know.”
“I have the technology-- I can find out.”
Kerry nodded, “Yes you can. Randi, I know that it’s horrible when you’re ready for something real and you can’t find it. I know. But, you are smart and gorgeous and funny. It will happen.”
“Are you flirting with my fiancée?”
Randi looked up and up and up, “Always. Have you met me? But, this time she was flirting with me.”
Kerry rolled her eyes and let Kim help her to her feet, “All set?”
“Hey, what about me Legs?”
Kerry reached down and yanked a surprised Randi to her feet, “Whoa, I forgot, you’ve got popeye arms from years of crutching.”
Kerry shook her head with a smile, “Go home Randi.”
Randi gave a faux salute and walked towards the cemetary’s exit.
Kerry blew a breath out as Kim wrapped her arms around her front behind. “Was this too much?”
“Nope.” Kim smiled, “Didn’t your parents teach you that with each new person you love, your heart only grows larger?”
Kerry turned in Kim’s arms, “Home?”
“Or a walk first?”
“I’d like that.” They started towards the cemetary’s exit as well. “And a talk too? Whatever you wanted to talk about?”
“No--” Kim shook her head, “No-- you’re…”
“I thought you said that it wasn’t bad?”
“It’s not.” Kim sighed, “Henry told me that in Miami you were a foster Mom, a foster family.”
“Yes, for a while, but, Kim…”
Kim stopped walking and turned to Kerry, “You liked it though.”
“No--” Kerry shook her head, “No-- I loved it. Me, the once loner ice queen-- now.” She smiled, “I loved it.”
“We should do it.”
“Kim.”
Kim nodded, “It’s okay if you think that I’d be a bad Mom. I--”
“Shush…” Kerry covered Kim’s mouth, “You will be an amazing foster Mom. I’m just… After Courtney, how she broke my heart. I-- I’m trying not to want or wish or hope as much, and just live life as it is. Enjoy and be grateful for the amazing that has happened to me.”
Kim gently removed the hand from her mouth and gave its palm a kiss. ‘I want you to wish and want and hope until the cows come home, Ker. Especially for this.”
“Are you sure? There are many hoops.”
Kim took a step back and gestured up and down her body, “I’m tall. Hoops are my jam…” Kerry laughed and Kim smiled, “Ah, actually, don’t hold me to that. I suck at basketball.”
Kerry laughed again and kissed Kim.
Kim took a hold of both Kerry’s hands and met the shorter woman’s gaze, “Seriously though, I’m oh so very sure Ker. Yes, part of it is because when you talk about fostering, your face lights up. But, I also want to do it for me. I’ve been trying to find me, the real me, the me that you seem to see without any problem. I’ve been looking for decades. This… helping any and all of these kids that we can, that feels like it’s a puzzle piece of me that I didn’t know I needed to… slot in… okay, the metaphor is sorta breaking down. Sorry…”
Kerry laughed and gave Kim a kiss. “Have I said lately that I love you?”
“You haven’t. I guess that it’s a damn good thing that I love you too.”
oOOOOo oOOOOo
“Henry, you seem far away?”
Henry shook his head and looked up at Zora, “I’m sorry-- I shouldn’t have made our first evening date tonight. What was I thinking.”
Zara reached across the table and put her hand over his, “Why?”
“It’s the anniversary of my Mama Sandy’s death. I was three months old when she died, but, Ma-- she-- she has kept Mama Sandy alive for all these years. “I should be…”
Zara interrupted him, “Yes, at home with your mother. C’mon. Let’s pay and you go home to her.”
“No-- I-- we--”
Zara stood, “I’m going to win this argument Henry-- so--”
That brought a smile to Henry’s lips, “Thank you.”
Zara shook her head and waved a dismissive hand, “Enough stalling.”
oOOOOo oOOOOo
“Mama?”
Kerry looked up, her face covered with wetness and tears, her cheeks flushed.
Henry glanced around the living room, “Mama-- where’s Kim?”
Kerry shook her head, “I’m fine…”
Henry gave Kerry a look, then sat down and gathered his mother to him. Holding her tightly. Tears came to his eyes too and fell.
It was quite a while when they both caught their breaths, but, neither of them moved. Kerry spoke softly, “I thought you were on a date?”
“Zara was aghast that I was on a date instead of here with you.” He paused, “I really like her, but…”
Kerry interrupted her son, “No buts. Don’t be like me Henry.”
Henry carefully extracted himself from Kerry and they sat next to each other instead, “Her son may not like me.”
“He’ll like you.”
Henry smiled a little, “You’re my Mom, you’re required to say that.”
Kerry put a hand on Henry’s arm, “Just be you. You’ve always been more than enough.”
“Yeah--” Henry glanced towards the Master Bedroom, “But, I’m glad that it’s not going to just be me, and Tío Carlos and Tía Randi anymore.”
Kerry pulled him into a hug and kissed the top of his head, “I love you Henry.”
“Love you too Mum.”
Chapter Text
April 12, 2025
“Uhh… this is so stressful.”
Abby looked over at Joe with a frown, “What?”
Joe smiled, “But fun too. Although, it’s weird being called Henry…” He looked down at his costume, Henry Mills. He looked back up and blinked in surprise, “Is that Maggie?”
Maggie closed the distance. She had on a blue shirt with the Superman logo on the front. “Hi.”
“Little basic isn’t it?”
“Josip Kovac…”
Maggie chuckled and looked around. “It’s not really my scene. But, I do like the Christopher Reeve movies.”
Joe gave Maggie a look, “Even the fourth one?”
Maggie gave the look right back, “Have you seen the scene between Lois and Clark in that one when he’s dying? Is it perfect, no, but…”
Joe inclined his head, “I’ll allow that.”
Abby shook her head, “You two… I need to visit the bathroom.” She looked from Joe to Maggie and back, “Are you two going to keep talking about Superman?”
“Probably Mom.” Abby just shook her head.
oOOOOo oOOOOo
Carlos bumped his hip against Kerry’s, “You're not at the Chicago Con with Henry?”
“He has a shift. Everything okay with your handoff? The MVA?”
“Yep. Not so okay at the Lopez household though. I-- of all people-- was summoned yesterday.”
Kerry handed her tablet to the clerk who wasn’t Zara. “I’m about to get lunch. I’ll walk you back to your rig. I assume your partner is pilfering supplies?”
Carlos chuckled as they went outside. When they got there Kerry turned to Carlos, “I’m not going to be a nun for the rest of my life Carlos.”
He held his hands up, “I know that. I agree. But, my Ma-- if she were in your position, she believes that she would just-- not be with anyone else, ever.”
Kerry sighed, “She may think that, but…”
“I know-- I know… she hasn’t lost her partner, she doesn’t know what she’d do. I’m on your side little sis.” He looked over as his partner gave a wave from the ambulance. “And, I have to go. I hope I won’t see you again today.”
Kerry gave Carlos a hug, “Stay safe little brother.”
oOOOOo oOOOOo
“Randi? You have a booth?”
Randi gave a whistle and got daggers stared into her forehead by a tall woman dressed as Queen Amandala. Abby blushed with a shake of her head. “You’re gonna get kicked out, Randi.” Abby looked around, “Did you piss someone else off to get a booth this close to the bathrooms?”
“Maybe… probably…” Randi shrugged.
Abby looked at some of the pictures displayed of the cosplays Randi had created. Finally she looked back at Randi, “Thank you. I haven’t seen Joe this happy in awhile.”
Randi tipped an invisible hat. “I aim to please. Did I see Maggie?”
Abby nodded, “You did, she surprised me here.”
Randi stood and stretched, “Nice. I’m meeting Andrew after this closes today.”
Abby watched as Randi stretched, “Do you want me to sit at your table so you can stretch your legs too?”
“Nah, I’m okay, enjoy the con with Joe and Maggie.”
Joe and Maggie appeared, “Aunt Randi, you look amazing. Best looking pirate ever…”
“Oh, and you can tell that how pipsqueak?”
Joe narrowed his eyes at the nickname from his childhood, then shrugged and shook his head with a smile, “Thank you for making these. They’re amazing.”
“You’re welcome. I should get back to trying to sell sell sell. And you all should get in line for Lana.”
Joe nodded, “She’s great. We don’t want to miss her…” He put his arm around Abby and led them off, Maggie following after mother and son.
Randi watched them for a moment, then took a breath and gave a smile as someone came up to the table.
oOOOOo oOOOOo
“Ma, EJ’s blowing up my phone.” Henry leaned down and kissed Kerry’s cheek. “Nanna is--” Henry sighed as his radio went off, “I have to go, but…”
Kerry patted her son on the shoulder, “I will talk to Florina when I get off. Tell EJ--”
“Oh-- I already told him to eff off that it’s none of his business who my Ma likes, dates, or marries.” Henry shook his head, “He laughed, said he was just the messenger” He gave Kerry a half a hug, “Love you Ma.” And he was off towards the roof.
oOOOOo oOOOOo
Randi was just getting done with an emergency repair for someone when she spotted mother, son, and Maggie again. She finished with the cosplayer and smiled, but, after a moment the smile turned into a bit of a frown, but, only for a moment.
By the time they got to Randi’s table, the smile was back. Joe went into the men’s room and Maggie into the women’s. “Good”
Abby nodded, “Joe loved it and Maggie asked a very embarrassing and awkward question during the Q&A.” Abby chuckled, “We’re heading out early. They needed to pee, and I just wanted to say thank you again.”
Randi smirked, “You do make red faux leather look very good.” Her smirk got larger, “And now your face matches your jacket. You are--”
Abby would never know what Randi was going to say next as there were four explosions, one right after another. Abby was knocked into Randi’s table, scattering everything.
Then there was water, so much water and Abby heard her name. She didn’t pause, but sprinted what had been the women’s room. “Maggie?”
Maggie appeared and titled her head to one side, then the other, “I’m fine. It’s Joe-- Joe isn’t…”
Abby scrambled past Maggie and fell to her knees next to her son. It seemed like half a wall was laying on top of him, “Joe, Joe, Josip-- wake up.”
Joe groaned and his eyes opened, “Mom? What?”
“Don’t. Move.” She turned just a little and blinked. Randi was right behind her. “--did you call--”
“Yes, they’re coming. And then I called Kerry.”
Maggie knelt down on the other side of Joe, “Where does it hurt?”
“Ah… back, legs, my right ankle… that’s good, right?”
Maggie, Abby, and Randi all nodded, and Maggie spoke, “But, you’re Mom’s right, don’t move.”
Randi stood as a maintenance looking person approached, "What the hell happened?”
It was Joe who groaned and then spoke, “Toilets exploded.”
Maggie blinked, “Is that a thing?”
Randi interjected, “Joe did a project on it actually. Hey-- no closing your eyes pipsqueak. I may not be a Doc like these two, but, I know that much. Look at me. Keep your eyes open kid. Eyes. Open.”
oOOOOo oOOOOo
Randi stood outside the exam room, her arms wrapped around herself. “Hey.”
Randi glanced over and sighed, looking back at the exam room, “It’s supposed to be your day off Kim. I’m fine. Unhurt.”
“You should tell her.”
Randi’s head snapped to stare at Kim for a long moment. Then her gaze changed to Andrew as he came out of Joe’s room. A smile came to her face, “Thank you for coming down personally Andrew.”
“Doctor Weaver could convince a desert to rain, and, you’re not so bad in that respect either.”
Randi chuckled, “Andrew, after I check in on Joe, do you want to get some dinner?”
“I’d like that Randi. I’ll meet you at the admit desk?”
Randi smiled again, “Sounds like a plan.”
Andrew continued down the hall and Randi went into the exam room. After a moment Kerry came out of the room. “You're frowning Kim.”
Kim shook her head, “I just saw the future, and it’s not going to be pretty.”
“What?”
Kim put her hand through Kerry’s arm, “Never mind. Ready to go home? Thankfully most of the nerds didn’t get too hurt.”
“Very much so.”
oOOOOo oOOOOo
Abby pulled Maggie to one side as Joe got the cast put on his leg. “Thank you.”
“For what? The firefighters got him out.”
“Being there. This was important to Joe and you showed up.’
Maggie shrugged, “I had fun, well, until the exploding toilets and falling walls.” She paused, “Can we go out again?”
“I’d like that, yes.” Abby seemed to see something out of the side of her eyes, “Don’t you dare even think about sticking that in there Josip.”
“I--”
Maggie chuckled, “I think you’re going to have to learn to be one with the itch Joe.”
Joe groaned.
oOOOOo oOOOOo
Florina opened the door and Kerry wasted no time or words. “Leave my son out of whatever problem you have with me.”
Florina crossed her arms over her chest, “You and my daughter were committed as if by marriage-- does that mean nothing to you?”
Kerry’s jaw worked, “No. It took 10 years after she died for me to have the right to marry here in Illinois. And so we weren’t married, something you reminded everyone you could get to listen when you were trying to take Henry away from me. You can’t have it both ways Florina. Either you thought of us as married or not. And, she’s dead.” Kerry swallowed as her heart seems to seize and not beat for a second. “I love Kim. I’m marrying Kim, and your daughter would have not only approved of that, but, told me I was an idiot for not getting back into dating and loving someone sooner. Hate me, think I’m a horrible immoral hussy, I don’t care. But, leave my son out of it.”
Kerry turned on her heel and left Florina standing in the doorway. She stood there for a moment, watching Kerry as she left. Then closed the door and went to the phone and dialed a number.
oOOOOo oOOOOo
“Do you want to get that?”
Kerry rejected the call and shook her head, “I do not.”
“It’s not Florina…?”
“No, it’s not a Lopez family thing. Although, I did stop by the Lopezes earlier.”
“I know.”
That caught Kerry by surprise, “You know?”
Kim nodded, “Florina called. Probably right after you gave her a visit. She wanted to get together. Have a talk with me. Just us. We scheduled something.”
Kerry closed her eyes, “Families are so damn complicated.”
“Oh, here’s an idea, we can sic my mother on her.”
Kerry didn’t open her eyes, but, she did chuckle, “I’d pay to see that.”