Final Choice, Part 01, The

by Clair

THE FINAL CHOICE, Part 1
by Clair

Spoilers: For parts of Season 7.
Timeline: After "Witch Hunt" (S7E16).
Story: The decision Kerry makes to get Kim back Rating: PG-13 for some language

Two months have passed since the end of Kim and Kerry. Although Kerry had tried to talk to Kim, Kim had said no. She wanted nothing from Kerry ever again. Kerry had told her she would wait, because she was her soul mate, and whatever it took to make it up, she would do it.

10:30 am in the Emergency Room

Carter: Randi, call psyche for me. Thanks

Randi: Okay ...

Kerry stood by the admit desk, always hopeful to see Kim even it was at a distance. Those brief moments kept Kerry alive. Inside she was dying and she did not know what to do about it. She settled for the stalker approach, and just watch from a distance.

The phone rings

Kim: Psyche here, who called for a consult?

Randi: Carter did, got a hot head that hates everyone. I guess he just lost his wife that had been pregnant. Both of them died.

Kim: I'll be right down.

Randi: Okay Dr. Legaspi.

Kerry just stood back, the anticipation of her lover, well ex-lover walking into the ER gave her only moments of pleasure.

"HE'S GOT A GUN, EVERYONE WATCH OUT" Carter screamed, visions of Lucy running through his head. "YOU KILLED MY WIFE AND KID, SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO DIE, YOU WAITED TOO LONG TO SEE HER....

Kerry stood protectively over her staff as she tried to talk to the man waving the gun, but he kept shouting ... she could understand his pain, she too had lost the most important woman in her life. She still kept her gift for Kim in her pocket; she was supposed to give it to her the night that everything had changed. A small container she kept with her to remind her what she had lost.

"YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT PAIN" he shoots aimlessly at the ceiling "I'LL SHOW ALL OF YOU WHAT PAIN IS" He started waving the gun at the staff as everyone was diving behind cabinets, jumping to the floor. Kerry thought where the hell is security.

All of a sudden, the elevator doors opened, and in walked Kim, not knowing what was going on in the ER. Kerry shot a look at the elevator, her heart jumped, she looked at the madman, then back at Kim. The man had turned to the elevator, taking aim.

"NOOOOOOOOOOO" shouted Kerry as she ran and jumped with all her strength to protect Kim.

The echoes of the gunfire sent an eerie silence through the ER. Not one shot, two shots, but three shots, the last being security.

Kerry stood silently in Kim's arms, looking into her lovely eyes, the past being forgotten, the future looking bright. Kim just held Kerry for what seemed like an eternity until the reality of the situation slapped her in the face. Kerry was smiling, but she was losing her strength.

Oh Kim, I've waited so long for you to hold me again. Please don't look like you're in so much pain. I love you Kim, I always have, but you know that. I have to get back to work, to control this, yet another situation.

Kerry stood up, trying to figure out what all the screaming was about. Benton, running, calling for a gurney. Oh yes, the gunman was lying face down on the floor, he probably will need surgery. Carter was just standing there, watching with a look of loss on his face. I'm going to have to talk to him after this, I know he's thinking about Lucy.

Oh no, here's Romano, his presence just makes me sick. He's spineless, but he has a position of power, a scary combination.

I just feel so free right now, where's my crutch, oh well, I guess I really don't need it. It's really bright in here today, it must be love. I'm so in love.

Where are you going Kim? Why are you screaming? Oh my God, were you shot? What are you holding? Oh yeah, I guess it's a good time to give that to you. I was going to ask you to be my lover, partner, wife that night, but I guess now would be a good time. I really love you Kim. Stay with me forever, please? Oh that looks so beautiful on you. I had it made for you. The diamond was my mother's, it was from her engagement ring. I want us to be a family, I want us to have a family!

Why is Carter crying ...Get to work Carter ... I should see how the gunman is doing.

Benton: Give two units of blood. Get the crash cart. What are the vitals?

Why is Benton screaming? I'm really going to have to talk to him about his harshness.

Malucci: B.P. 80/40, Hr 130, Oximetry is 82% on a 100% non-rebreather.

All right I'll intubate.

Luka: I'll intubate

Abby: I've got a line in, but we'll need to put in a central line

Benton: Shit, we're losing. Get the rib spreaders, the bullet must have ruptured the aorta. Get 2 more units of blood in NOW!! Get the epi, the HR is dropping, give some atropine. Where are the rib spreaders?

This doesn't look good. I can understand the heartbreak, thank God I don't own a gun. It could have been a lot worse. Kim could have been shot. Why is Kim looking in here? She doesn't need to see this. She is so kind, I know she's thinking if she would have gotten down here 10 minutes earlier, this could have been prevented. Oh good, Carter is standing near her, he'll pull her away from all of this.

I'm just going to make sure she's okay, then I'll come back and help Benton.

Hey Kim, are you okay? This really isn't your fault.

Kim: I never said "I love you," I really do, please don't leave me. We can work through this. I'm lost without you.

I love you too, I'm not going anywhere. We will talk later, maybe we can have dinner at Magoo's, just like the old times.

Carter: She'll be okay Kim. She's stubborn, remember. She'll be yelling at us all in no time.

Hmmm, why are they talking like I'm not here?

Benton: Her heart's stopped, I'm doing internal compressions. Where the hell is the bleed - there it is ... Get me the sutures.

I better go back in there, Benton probably needs my help. Why did he say her? Oh well, maybe he has a tumor ... that was mean, I should stop chuckling, this is serious. All right Benton, what can I do for you? This guy is really small, I wonder what his name is? Where's his chart. Oh there it is, his name is ... Kerry??

Who's holding my shoulder, oh, hi, Mom.

MOM, why are you here, what's going on? Oh my God, that's me on the table. Mom, hold me, it's been so long. Let's go for a walk ... I need to walk.

Benton: Shit, we're losing her, just 2 more stitches, get some more blood up here now. All right, I'm going to shock her heart, set the paddles for 40. She's still asytolic.

Mom, I have so much to tell you. I've missed you so much. I fell in love, with Kim, that's her over there. Isn't she beautiful? I messed up, but I know she still loves me. We can work this out. She's so bright, her smile ... it overwhelms me. I hope you don't mind, I gave her your engagement ring. I changed it, but it's your diamond. Why is it so bright in here? Look at that beautiful light coming through the ER doors. Is that where we're going, Mom? I've missed you so much ...

Benton: Set the joules to 80, stand clear ... she's still asytolic. Get some more fluids in her. I'm doing internal compressions again. Come on, Kerry, don't quit on us now.

Kim can see the heart monitor. Nothing.

Kim: Kerry, please don't leave me. Please, I can't live without you. Don't go. Don't die on me. Carter, I couldn't forgive her for what she did. She kept asking me what she could do to make things better, I told her nothing. Now she has given her life to save mine, I can't do this. I should've forgiven her, I did in my heart, but my mind couldn't. Don't let her die, Carter.

Mom, I feel so relaxed, so at peace right now. That light is so beautiful, let's walk over there, I want to see what it is. Wait, do you want to meet Kim? You'll love her, she stole my heart, Mom, and it feels great. Come on, let me introduce you to her.

Kim, this is my Mom. I'm so glad you finally get to meet her. Kim, why are you still crying? Everything is okay, I don't have any pain in my leg anymore, actually in my heart either. Thank you for forgiving me. Thank you ...

Kim has now dropped to her knees, sobbing out of control. Carter is crying also, holding Kim. Rocking her like a little girl.

Benton: Set the paddles for 120 ... this had better do it ...

Kim: (screaming) Don't leave me Kerry, don't ... don't leave me. I can't live without you. I can't go on without you.

Mom, am I dead? Is that why you're here? I don't want to leave Kim, let me have one more try with her. I love you Mom, but I love Kim too, please don't let me die!!

Benton: Clear ...

Everyone is looking at the monitor, suddenly it start to blip, blip, blip, blip.

Mom, I know you have to go, tell Dad I love him. Thank you for letting me stay.

Carter: Kim, Kim ... her heart is beating again, oh my God, I knew she was stubborn.

Kim: I need to see her, let me in.

Kim walked slowly up to the gurney. She took Kerry's hand and vowed never to let go.

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