Title: Two Sets of Clothes
Haleh shook her head, "Can you believe it's almost been two months?" Haleh and Randi were behind the Admit Desk watching Kerry and Kim have an intense conversation. "They haven't imploded, Doctor Weaver barely even twitches anymore when Kim touches her when they're both down here."
Randi stared at the couple for a moment and got back to work, "When you finally convince Kerry she should be something or do something. She goes all out. You don't remember the pie charts, the hideous power suit that I saved?"
It was Haleh's turn to study Randi, "What is it with you and Doctor Weaver?"
"Nothing Haleh, nothing."
"That... is not true." Haleh trailed off, which made Randi look up. Kerry was manhandling some guy, and then she planted a long, very steamy to Haleh's eyes, kiss on the man's lips. Randi frowned, "Isn't that Kerry's African guy?"
"African guy?"
Randi frowned still, "Ling, Lung Easy or something." She turned to Haleh, "Christmas after she started working here, are you losing your marbles Haleh?"
"Keep your day job Randi... Ah, Doctor Morris."
Kim shook her head as Kerry let the newcomer have his mouth back. Kerry cleared her throat as she unsuccessfully tried to fight the blush that crept to the edge of her ears. "Sorry, Kim, this is Mlungisi, one of my oldest and dearest friends. Mlungisi, this is my... my..."
Mlungisi held a hand out and finished the red headed doctor's sentence with his flowing accent, "Your Kim... It is an honor to meet the one who has captured Kerry's heart so fully."
Kim shook his hand, but also shook her head from side to side, "Nope. I come in second best every time Mlungisi."
Kerry looked horrified, "Kim..."
"To Henry of course." A breath was oofed out of Kerry as Kim continued, "Now, aren't you off Ker?"
"I... yes..." Kerry seemed to get her facilities back and strung her arm through Mlungisi's. "I'll see you at home."
Kim nodded and watched them go. They started talking in the most beautiful language and Kerry seemed to have a spring to her step that Kim had never seen before. The blonde doctor was also surprised that even with the... involved lip lock between Kerry and her old friend, she wasn't jealous at all. Interesting.
"So then, it was tie for blocks and everybody else was building towers, but I searched and searched and I found the right shaped block and I built an arch, I used a.. a..." Henry hurfed, "Mama?"
"It's called a keystone. Go get washed up, okay?"
Henry nodded and left Mlungisi and Kerry in the living room. "He is only four?"
Kerry laughed, "Yes. But, he used to be a quiet child, I don't know if it's Kim, or... but..." The smile didn't move from her face, "He won't shut up. He wants to be an architect when he grows up." Kerry shook her head, "I don't know where he even got the idea."
"He is precocious."
"He... He's my world."
Mlungisi raised an eyebrow, "And what of this blonde haired woman? Hmm... I doubt very much that she appreciated you kissing me in the middle of your ER."
"Oh... oh damn." Kerry put a hand over he eyes, "I just forget to think sometimes, huh friend."
Mlungisi laughed a low ringing laugh, "And if she has any brain at all Kerry, she will love you for it like I did."
Kerry wasn't being placated though. She shook her head again, "You don't understand, it's how it started last time, miscommunication."
Mlungisi gripped both of Kerry's hands in his bigger ones, "If she has a problem, we will sit down and talk to your Kim until she understands."
"That..." Kerry closed her eyes, "That sounds oddly adult."
"Mu... Mu..." Mlungisi started to speak, but Henry interrupted him, "No... no, I can..." He took a breath and narrowed his eyes, "Mlungisi..." Mlungisi nodded, "Wanna see my room?"
"Sure young Henry." Henry giggled at the name.
Kerry heard the door open and close as Kim came in. The tall blonde let out a long sigh. Kerry stood. "Kim, I'm sorry..."
Kim frowned, "For my patient who committed suicide successfully? Why?"
"No, for... for the ER."
Kim waved a hand, "You love him, he's your best friend, don't worry about it."
Kim started towards the bathroom and bedroom, but Kerry moved into her way. "I didn't even think. Please... communication, remember."
Kim finally met Kerry's eyes and surprise flitted over her face, "Oh, you.. you think I'm avoiding. I promise Kerry, it's okay. Don't ask me why..." The last sentence she mumbled under her breath, but of course, Kerry heard her.
"Please Kim."
Kim shook her head, "I don't know, maybe I simply trust you as well as love you."
Kerry blinked and then an eyebrow raised, "Oh, perish the thought Kimmy..."
This coaxed a smile onto Kim's face and she put an arm around Kerry, pulling her close, "So, distract me from my crummy day. Do you two have a story?"
"He's been my best friend since I was the weird white child with a crutch and red hair..." Kim smiled, "For... a while during our friendship we..."
"...Bopped like bunnies?"
Kerry pushed Kim in her gut, "Kimberly. Anyway, a few years before you... a while before you... we decided to just be friends. He's always been there for me, even if he wasn't in the same country."
"He's family." Kim spoke the words as if they explained everything in the world.
Kerry lay her head against Kim's chest, "Exactly... I... should make sure Henry's not overwhelming Mlungisi."
The phone rang and as Kim went towards it Kerry went to her son's room. "Hello."
"Kim. It's Mom..."
A tremor of fear skittered down through her chest and lodged in her stomach. "What is it?"
"I'm... we're at the hospital. Your father had a heart attack. He's... I think they're taking him into surgery."
Kim glanced around, looking for her car keys. "Where... which hospital?"
"County."
"Good, Mom... don't move." She hung up the phone. "Ker, I have to go back."
Kerry stuck her head into the living room. "Patient?"
Kim swung her coat on, "No, father. My mom's there, I have to go."
"Yes, yes... call if you have the chance. I love you."
Kim leaned down and kissed Kerry, "Love you too."
Mlungisi and Henry appeared next to Kerry. "Mama?"
"Henry... so... what do you want for dinner tonight?"
Henry blinked and frowned, his Mama was cool, and made awesome dinners, but she never asked what he wanted. "Mac and Cheese?" Still he knew when to take advantage of a situation.
Kerry nodded distractedly, "Sounds good."
Even Mlungisi could see that something was wrong with Kerry. "You wish to go with her."
"She'll be fine."
Mlungisi put a hand on Kerry's shoulder, "Go with her. I'll stay with your Henry. We'll have something better than Macaroni and Cheese."
Henry's face dropped into a frown again as Kerry knelt in front of him, "Is that okay?"
"Sure, Mlungisi's cool."
Kerry stared into her son's eyes and then nodded, "I need to go, but it won't be long, okay?"
Henry put his hands around his Mom's neck and hugged with all his strength. "Love you Mama... Kim too..."
"I will tell her that, and I love you too Henry." Kerry kissed the top of Henry's head and stood, "Mlungisi..."
"Go... go Kerry."
Kerry was out the door and Mlungisi looked down at Henry, "We will start with your mother's... Mac... and Cheese, but we will make it better."
Henry looked up in surprise at the tall man, "Better?"
"Oh yes."
Kim enveloped her mother in a hug and didn't let go until she felt her Mom's sobs subside. "He'll be okay. He's a survivor. After all, he's survived you..."
Kim got a push at her stomach, "Your sister is on her way."
"Mel?"
"No, Lori..."
Kim nodded, "Do you know who's doing the surgery?"
"The... the head guy I think. I wasn't really listening, Jack something?"
Kim nodded, "I'll find out."
"No... stay with your Mom, I'll find out."
Both Kim and Rose turned, "Kerry?"
Kerry and Kim hugged and Kerry took a step back, "Oh, yes, the other reason we went back to just friends, he's married and has three children. Henry will be fine with him. Let me go talk to Shelly..."
Rose frowned after Kerry, "I thought she was the ER Chief?"
"She is... but before... she ran the hospital Mom. was the Chief of Staff."
Rose was still frowning, trying to figure it all out, "Why would she take a step backwards?"
"I haven't asked her. Probably for her son. Maybe to actually be a doctor instead of a full time administrator." Kim watched as Kerry talked to Shelly at the nurses' station. "All I do know is that when she comes home she's tired in only the best way."
"God, you've turned into such a mush ball sis..."
"Lori."
Lori got a crushing hug of her own from Rose, and then a gentler one from Kim. "So, he was eatin' a grease lover's sub right?"
Kim flicked her sister's shoulder, "Don't joke, not now."
Lori opened and closed her mouth and walked towards the nurses' station. "Hey Kerry..."
"Lori... I was just going to update your Mom and Kim."
Lori gripped Kerry's shoulder. "Is he going to be okay?"
"I don't know Lori," Kerry shook her head, "But he didn't have as bad a heart attack as he could have."
"That's good?"
Kerry smiled, "It could be worse."
Lori rolled her eyes, "Could you be more underwhelming."
"Let's go be with your family."