Work Text:
“It’s not here, Griff!” bemoaned Vivian Katz, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), still recovering from injuries she’d suffered in the collapse of a portion of Interstate 75 in Detroit. She’d been returning to Lakeshore Sentinel Hospital (LSH) from a conference in Denver, when her car was one of dozens of vehicles overturned, or otherwise damaged; it didn’t help matters that the city was reeling from the effects of a major snowstorm, with widespread power outages. The power outages were severe enough to disable some of the hospital’s power generators overnight.
It was only by sheer coincidence that Vivian’s vehicle was caught on film by a local TV station…and that Vivian’s daughter, Dr. Sam Griffith, and ex-husband, Dr. Rob Griffith (“Griff” to his peers), saw the report. Sam headed out to find her mother, all thoughts of a recent betrayal (discovery of an old family secret) gone from Sam’s mind. Sam found her mother—minus her missing cell phone—assisting a pregnant woman who was giving birth four weeks early. The current head of Cardio/Thoracic Surgery (C/T) had to assist the CMO in the delivery before she could text Griff that she’d found her mother.
Once back at LSH, Vivian was admitted for observation. Age-old habits of “making rounds” kicked in, though, and Vivian collapsed again—this time, losing consciousness—after visiting the new mother. Vivian, who lost consciousness, became a full-fledged patient in her own hospital.
~~~~~
One who took advantage of Vivian’s absence—which, thankfully, only lasted a few days…not the six months Griff was in a post-shooting coma—was Tina Kingsley, of LSH’s Board of Directors (BoD). Tina had been summoned to LSH by Sam, during her quest to become permanent Head of C/T (a goal she eventually dropped, in favor of Griff’s eminent return (although a severe bout of PTSD—triggered by a patient whose system was producing alcohol, despite her three years of sobriety—had resulted in sessions with Vivian’s current husband, Dr. Asher Pyne, PhD, MD; it was during a family session that Sam learned of Griff’s DUI).
Tina had originally been invited to return to LSH by Sam, who first hoped her then boyfriend, Malcolm Kingsley would patch things up with his estranged mother; Sam also wanted Tina’s vote for permanent Head of C/T. However, after learning that Tina had opposed Griff’s original appointment as Head of C/T—not to mention the woman’s plans to make Griff’s position available to “outside” candidates…and her snooping into Griff’s current capabilities—Sam was now wishing she’d let that “sleeping dog lie”.
~~~~~
“What’s not here?” Griff asked, a feeling of dread overtaking him. He’d made excellent progress in conquering his PTSD…once he’d confronted and confessed the root cause. His and Sam’s relationship had taken a hard hit—and Sam and Vivian’s a harder hit—after the truth about “The Accident” had become known. Thankfully, Sam had also gone to her stepfather, Dr. Pyne, about processing her feelings of betrayal by her parents. Things were looking up for the original Griff family.
Vivian sighed. “The report isn’t here.” Griff didn’t need to ask for further details. Rushing over to her computer, she quickly entered a special code, one that wasn’t even known by her secretary…and certainly not by the intrusive woman who was trying to deprive LSH of its previous—and soon-to-return—Head of C/T.
Vivian called Griff over to her computer, from his continued search for the old DUI report, as he screen began showing Closed-Circuit shots of various offices and hallways in the hospital. As one, the former couple said “You don’t suppose…?”
Sure enough, the hidden camera in Malcom Kingsley’s office appeared on Vivian’s screen. To the surprise of neither Griff nor Vivian, Tina and Malcolm were poring over “the report”. “The one time I didn’t have it with me!” bemoaned the CMO.
”There goes my career,” Griff grumbled grimly. “She’s probably gathering funds as we speak, so she can take over the entire hospital!”
“Not on MY watch!” Vivian exploded.
Rob Griffith had, during his marriage to Vivian, long ago learned—on rare occasions, the hard way—when to challenge her…and when she’d reached her breaking point. Today was obviously the latter situation; however, knowing that—this time he wasn’t the target of “Vesuvius Vivian” (his secret nickname for her, when she was in a mood like today), he was now anticipating perverse pleasure in…whatever was about to happen. Tina Kingsley was about to meet her match, one way or another!! “What’s the plan, Viv?” Griff asked, unable to suppress the mirth in his voice. He even rubbed his hands together, in gleeful anticipation of taking down this nemesis.
”This…,” she replied, changing screens, and now showing the balance on her “special” credit card. Griff was momentarily taken aback at the amount. One glance at the CMO, and he knew: If Tina Kingsley was going to try to buy LSH, she could have more trouble than she’d ever dreamed of!
Hearing the click of Vivian’s fingernails on the keyboard caused Griff to re-focus his attention on his ex-wife. “That might just work…,” Griff told her, but I’d hate to see you deprive yourself….”
”Want to help, then…?” Vivian teased…knowing what Griff’s response was going to be.
~~~~~
A deep chuckle and a feral grin met Vivian’s ears and eyes. “What did you have in mind?” Griff asked, indescribably happy to turn Vivian’s actions into a full-blown conspiracy. A glance at Katz’s computer screen now revealed the amount in his old credit card account…the one he’d used—before Vivian had shut down his access to it—to humiliate Sam in the early days of his Proctorship under her. The $12,000,000 he’d spent had been refunded; however, the account was still inaccessible…for now. Seeing the numbers on the screen, Griff practically begged, “Viv…please let me help! We can’t let Tina Kingsley take down Lakeshore!”
The sad-puppy eyes accompanying this plea caused the CMO to laugh. As she entered more keystrokes, a knock at her office door was heard. Griff jumped up to answer. “Dr. Pyne,” he said, causing Vivian to laugh even louder. “It sounds like you’re just in time!” a grinning Griff said, first turning his head at Vivian’s outburst, then ushering the psychiatrist in, and putting up the ”IN CONFERENCE” sign, and closing the door….
~~~~~
After Rob and Vivian quickly brought Asher Pyne up to speed, the latter agreed, “No, we can’t let that happen,” careful not to look at either of the others…although he, too, now had a sly look in his eyes. “May I try to help, in preventing this gross injustice?” It was clear that Pyne didn’t like Tina Kingsley, either.
“The more, the merrier,” Griff said lightly. Even though the current situation was dire, Vivian was happy to see the light banter between her ex-husband and her current husband. Apparently, Griff was conquering his initial distrust of the psychiatrist during their ongoing sessions. Pyne was happy to report to Vivian that Griff’s progress was sufficient to allow his return to the position of Head of C/T…providing that they could outmaneuver Tina Kingsley.
~~~~~
“I’ve created a new account for these funds,” Vivian was now saying. “Here are the routing and account numbers where this money will be….”
”…temporarily!” the three chimed in unison. They all knew the funds were destined for a good cause. The two men obviously clearly believed in the idea of “The enemy of my enemy is my friend”, and while not official “friends” with each other, each doctor knew that their current common enemy was Tina Kingsley.
By now, Vivian had yielded her seat to her husband, so that he could do as he wished with his contribution to The Cause. After quickly entering his information, Pyne stood up, saying, “That should take care of it…provided Byron….”
A snort of derision from Griff, and a similar expression of disgust from his wife caused Asher Pyne to look up. “Compared to their situation—scuttlebutt has it she abandoned her child—our divorce was smooth sailing,” said Griff wryly, causing the other man’s eyebrows to rise. A nod by his wife confirmed Pyne’s suspicions…for he’d heard the rumors, too.
”When is this supposed to go down?” Griff wondered.
”Within the hour, according to what I heard, on my way here,” Pyne said. Since that piece of information was said outside his office, he had no qualms about sharing it.
“There’s no time to lose, then!” Vivian said, as she accessed a special account of her own, and submitted their bid, along with the information that—should the bid be accepted—the new owners of LSH would meet with the BoD at 4:00 that day.
Just then, Vivian’s e-mail alert “announced” three new items in her Inbox. First, she read the confirmation of the amounts that had been deposited into the new account. Next came an announcement alerting the CMO and all Department Heads about a meeting in the LGH Atrium in 45 minutes. Even though Griff was about to resume his previous position—Sam was due in the CMO’s office any time, to finalize the changeover—Sam would also see the e-mail.
As if on cue, Vivian’s new cell phone “text message alert” chimed; Sam was asking about the e-mail. Vivian quickly responded that Sam should come on up to her office. “You don’t need me here for this,” said Pyne. “Welcome back, Dr. Griffith,” he said formally, shaking Griff’s hand.
”Thank you for your help, Dr. Pyne…then and now,” replied Griff, returning the handshake.
Before her husband could leave, Vivian’s eye was drawn to her third e-mail: The last-minute bid secretly submitted by Vivian and her two husbands had just been accepted! The trap was set!
~~~~~
At another knock at the door, Griff said, “I don’t want Sam to worry about the hospital”, as Pyne went to the door…and Sam entered. She presented a packet of papers, among other things, to her mother. “Everything is signed, Dr. Katz,” she said formally, after greeting her father and stepfather. “I’m happy to report that Dr. Griffith has fulfilled all State requirements, and is certified to resume his previous position.”
”When you were first shot, I didn’t want this position,” Sam now said, looking at her father. “When you woke up, and began challenging me at every turn—even more so than before you were shot—it made me furious beyond words, and made me want this position, full-time, more than I’ve wanted anything else in a long time.”
Sam continued, “I know I’ve made some mistakes in personnel—Dr. Glass and Tina Kingsley being the biggest ones—and those served as a wake-up call about where I need to improve myself…so I decided to drop out of the running for the full-time position of Chief. Congratulations, Dr. Griffith.” She shook his hand…and was surprised when he grabbed her in a warm embrace.
Sam’s actions and words reminded Dr. Pyne of something; he dove into his jacket’s inner pocket. He said, “That’s actually why I originally came here. While I’d still like to see you,” he said to Griff, who chuckled lightly, ducking his head sheepishly, “I can also clear you as fit to resume your previous duties.” Asher handed his wife his own signed papers.
CMO Vivian Katz then made the change in command official, telling Griff his Proctorship was over… although she shot him a look that said. ”I’d better not find out you’ve missed any sessions!”. Griff blushed at her look—which told Vivian her message had been received, and understood—then he mumbled something about not to expect a “song and dance”…which nobody bought. In fact, as Griff left the office, Vivian motioned her husband and daughter to her computer. Quickly switching to the Closed-Circuit camera near the elevators, the three let out chuckles when they saw Griff spin on his heel, then Sam spied some other figures, and asked, What’s this all about?”
Her mother and stepfather maintained straight faces as Vivian said, “It’s nothing you need to worry about.”
~~~~~
A few minutes later, Sam found her father in the Atrium. Seeing her friends—Doctors Lex Trulie and Caleb Tucker, Nurse Donna Williams, and the rest…plus, of course, Tina Kingsley—Sam asked Griff, “What’s she doing?”*
”She’s selling the hospital,”* he answered, his expression giving away nothing. Sam then recalled a recent conversation with Malcolm Kingsley, during which he’d warned her that his mother never cared about the hospital. Sam felt her stomach drop. Looking at her father, Sam wasn’t surprised at the stoic look on his face. Tina Kingsley then stated that the Board would meet the new owners at 4:00.
Needless to say, those who were working the 7:00 AM-3:00 PM shift would stick around, in hopes of getting some news…and not termination notices. Practically everyone was going to be texting the Graveyard Shift (11:00 PM-7:00 AM) staff about the situation, with promises of an update ASAP.
~~~~~
As 4:00 finally came, Tina Kingsley started to address the Board of Directors. Before she could say anything, the doors to the Board Room opened…and Vivian Katz entered, flanked by Dr. Asher Pyne and Dr. Rob Griffith. The three had the immense pleasure of watching Tina Kingsley collapse into her chair. She practically slid onto the floor when Vivian Katz presented her with the e-mail confirmation of the sale to her, Asher and Griff.
”Yes…we are the new owners of Lakeshore Sentinel Hospital,” Vivian began. Our breakdown is 60-25-15, and—as the 60% owner—I assure you that I will remain as Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Rob Griffith…,” here, Vivian looked directly at Tina, “…is the official, new Head of our C/T Department, and I’m naming Dr. Asher Pyne to be Head of our upcoming Mental Health Department.”
The last announcement caused Asher to do a quick double-take…and a smiling Griff to reach around Vivian, to shake the other man’s hand.
Vivian was speaking again. “My next action is to temporarily dissolve the entire Board of Directors. Gentlemen…?” Vivian then motioned for Asher and Griff to pass out Applications for Employment. “Those of you who have shown, and continue to show, a true love for this hospital will have no trouble with the Application and Interview processes. As each of you finishes your Application, you may bring it to my office, and sign up for an interview time. I’ll be there until 7:00 tonight, and starting at 8:00 AM tomorrow.”
By now, the Applications had been distributed to every Board member…except one. Tina Kingsley looked expectantly at Asher Pyne and Rob Griffith…who each held up bare palms, showing they were out of forms; Griff’s accompanying grin oozed pure malice. Tina looked, aghast, at Vivian, who merely said, “Not one word from you…and don’t let the door hit you on the way out..Security!!” When two uniformed Hospital Security officers appeared, she continued, “Make sure she doesn’t take anything out of here that belongs to someone else.”
”That pretty much leaves her with the clothes on her back!” mumbled Malcolm Kingsley. His father, Byron, smirked and nodded in agreement.
“Don’t forget her hotel room, and my place,” Malcolm continued, handing the keys to his home to one of the Security Team. After the three left, Malcolm motioned Vivian aside. He then slipped her the packet of papers Tina had swiped from Vivian’s office. ”I wouldn’t have used this, but I think you know my mother….”
”Thank you…but it’s time for that skeleton to be let out of the closet. I’m just…relieved…that it will be on our terms, not hers.” She winked at Griff; a resigned look and, shaky half-smile, were his response.
Again addressing the Board, the CMO said, “The rest of you needn’t worry too much, although there may be some slight shuffling of positions, based on when you finish the Application and Interview Process.” The new owners turned to leave.
”Let’s go find Sam, and give her the good news…."