Sophie
Part Two
By: Carrie Verkman
carebear1025@juno.com

Special thanks to Cathy for answering all my questions. I really appreciate it!



"It will be easier to pay the rent, if you move in with me." Max Rosher begged. He was trying to persuade Anna into living with him. They had just gotten off their plane and were looking in the ads to find an apartment to rent right away.

Anna was not concerned. "There are over 100,000 apartments for rent in Philadelphia. I do not need someone to pay the rent with. I can handle living on my own, thank you very much."

Max was angry. "Anna what's wrong with you? Ever since we came to Philadelphia you've been pissing and moaning about something. I'd like to know what it is."

"My personal issues are not your business."

"How are we going to get back together if you're not honest with me?" Max asked.

Anna was furious. "I never gave you an answer before, but I can tell you what it is now. And it's no. I don't want to get back together with someone who's awfully demanding."

"Anna, what is the matter with you?"

"Max, I'm sorry. I think I need to be on my own now. I'm going to stay at my parent's house until I find a place of my own."

Anna picked up her bags and hailed a taxi. She got in, but didn't say good-bye to Max.

Anna told the cabbie her parent's home address. She realized coming back to Philadelphia wasn't one of her best ideas. But staying here might be the only thing best for her.



Anna's parents, David and Victoria Del Amico, both grew up in Philadelphia. David was a postal worker, while Victoria stayed home with her eight kids. They began their large family shortly after they married. Anna was their first child and only girl. Seven boys soon followed after. But now Victoria's children were all grown up. They were living on their own. However much to Victoria's disappointment, none were producing any grandchildren for her.

Anna's taxi pulled up to the house she grew up in. She paid the cabbie and walked to ring the doorbell, but Victoria answered before she had a chance.

"Mom, how'd you know I'd be coming?" Anna asked giving her mom a hug.

Victoria laughed. "When you have eight kids, you know at least one will come back for money, food, laundry etcetera."

Anna smiled at her mom's comment. "Don't you want to know why I'm really here?"

"Yeah, sure. Why not?" Victoria took her daughter's belongings inside. She made Anna some tea and they sat on the living room couch to talk.

"Anna, I knew that you were coming back to Philly to go back to CHOP, but why?"

Anna explained how she was going to get back together with Max, but rejected his offer at the last minute. All the explaining was done for that. "I never told you about John Carter, did I?" she asked her mom.

"No, who is that?"

Anna went on to tell the story of how she met him. She explained their friendship and how much it meant to her. "I really liked John. But I didn't want to let myself go for him because in the back of my mind I knew CHOP and Max would still be there for me. I'm not sure if I made the right decision of coming back here."

"Why do you think that?" Victoria asked.

"Did I come here to get back with Max and have life as it used to be? Or did I leave because I wanted to get away from John and that was the best for us? I honestly don't know if I made a mistake, or did the right thing." Anna said.

"Anna," Victoria said. "What you need to do first is think of what you want. Then decide if it's right for you. Things don't always go as planned."

"You're right. Can I stay here until I figure things out?" Anna asked.

"Of course. Your father will be glad to see you." Victoria said.



Over the past few days Anna enjoyed visiting her friends and family. She was having a great time, and that kept her from thinking about John Carter and the whole idea of moving back to Philadelphia. But Anna wondered what John was up to back at County General…



"Dr. Carter? My name is Lucy Knight. I'm going to be your med student." said Lucy. She was in her early twenties, with blond hair, blue eyes, and the dream of becoming a doctor.

John Carter on the other hand was sick of med students. He didn't want more med students due to his previous disasters with George Henry and Ivan Fu. "Lucy, you are here to study emergency medicine right?" John asked.

"Well… yeah." Lucy answered.

"Do you faint or vomit at the sight of blood or a grotesque wound?"

"No, it doesn't really bother me."

John was pleased. "I think you'll like it here Lucy. Let's get started on your first lesson."

She's not so bad, John thought, not bad at all. However John's thoughts changed after Lucy made her first mistake. "Dammit Lucy!" John scolded. "The needle goes in the vein! Not the artery! There's blood all over the floor."

Lucy was upset. "I-I thought I had it."

"Well you didn't. Jesus, Anna would never make a mistake like that."

"Who's Anna?" asked Lucy.

"Never mind that. Clean up this mess and call a nurse to put in that IV." John left the exam room. Lucy was mad.

Later Lucy was having lunch in the cafeteria with Kerry Weaver.

"So how do you like Dr. Carter?" asked Kerry.

"He seems nice. So far he has been a great teacher, but he has a short temper." Lucy answered.

"John? With a temper?"

"Yeah, I guess," Lucy said. "I made a mistake trying to put an IV in, he got upset, and complained that someone named Anna would never do what I did. Then he left the room."

Kerry sat back in her chair. "Anna, or Dr. Del Amico, was an intern here recently. Everyone knew John liked her. She left with some guy she was going to get back together with to Philadelphia. John is just heartbroken. Give him some time to get over it and he should be back to his normal self."

"Okay. Thanks for telling me."

"Anytime."

Carter and Lucy were doing sutures on a man who had lacerations on both arms. Things were calm and quiet.

"Lucy, I'm sorry I got so upset earlier today. I shouldn't have given you such a hard time on your first day. Forgive me?" John asked, smiling. Lucy liked his boyish smile. "I forgive you. However you should remember that I am a student. I have room for mistakes."

John nodded. He cut some string he was holding. Lucy was curious as to John's side of the story about Anna. "Who's Anna, John?"

"She was an intern here." He explained. "Went back to Philadelphia with some guy named Max. Great doctor, hell of a girl."

"I see."

"Not much of a romantic relationship, in case you're wondering." John said, with a far away look on his face like he was reminiscing about a long lost memory. Lucy on the other hand, had been wondering about their relationship.

"We got together one night before she left." He continued. "And that was the last time I saw her."

"Anything I can do?" asked Lucy as she finished her sutures.

"No, but thanks for asking. Hey, you did a fine job on those stitches. Great work." John smiled.

Lucy smiled back. She definitely liked John Carter. In a romantic way, in case you're wondering.

Telling Lucy about Anna made John wonder what she was up to. Whether she was with Max, or how she was doing back at CHOP…



Anna had been in Philadelphia for three weeks. She liked staying with her parents. Thing had been going well at CHOP also. However she knew she had to make a decision about what she wanted. Now Anna was more than ready to make that decision.

"Anna," Victoria said. "How goes the decision making process?"

"You must really want me out of the house." Anna said.

"I'm just curious."

"Well," said Anna. "I have decided what I want to do. There are some personal things that have helped me figure out what I want. I feel comfortable telling you, but I'm afraid what Daddy will think."

"Why are you afraid of what I'll think?" David Del Amico just stepped into the room. He had just gotten home from work. He still had his mailman uniform on.

"Because of you values." Anna said.

"Values on what?"

Anna took a deep breath. "Your value of marriage, and your value of children being born to married parents."

"Anna, what are you saying?" Victoria asked.

"I'm pregnant with John Carter's baby." Anna said. "I knew you'd be mad since John and I aren't married. Or even in a relationship for that matter."

"Anna I'm not mad." said Victoria.

"I am." David said. "So what you're saying, is that this was a one night stand? That you're carrying my bastard grandchild?"

"No, listen-"

"I expected more from you Anna. This is a really immature thing to do."

Anna continued to talk. "It isn't like that! At least I plan on taking responsibility for my actions! I only wanted you to back me up, that's all." Anna began to cry. David realized he hurt his daughter. He hugged her.

"Anna, I'm sorry. I just wasn't expecting this. As long as I know you'll be okay, I'm happy."

"Of course she'll be okay!" Victoria said. "She's our Anna! I'm happy I'm going to have at least one grandchild!"

Anna breathed a sigh of relief. It was easier than she thought to break the news to her parents. But Anna wasn't sure how easy it would be to break the news to John.



End of Chapter Two