Welcome to my new fanfiction.
I love reviews and hope you make time to comment, short, long or just a smiley makes my day. I still just play with Shonda's characters. It is for fun and she will have them back unharmed. Everything in this story is made up by me and has no place in the real life. This is my imagination… please enjoy.
Memories of an Endless Summer
Chapter 1
Present time
The chopper sweeps in to land on the makeshift landing area. Even before it touches down the back door is opened and a slim woman dressed in khaki jumps out of the plane. She ducks expertly and runs for the jeep waiting on the side. The pilot has in the meantime landed and is getting help by a solider to unload the cargo.
"Alex" the woman yells to the pilot "can you handle this? I want to get to base camp asap."
"Sure doc" he looks up with a bright smile and waves her off.
It is a short ride, less than five minutes before it stops outside the remains of a school building. In the distance she can see the search party working diligently going from house to house or what is left after the tornado. Car wrecks and garbage is littering the area and she just shakes her head before walking towards the entrance dragging her carry all behind her. She pushes her bangs out of her face and wishes for the heat to calm.
"Doc, good you are here, let me take your bag and show you where Julia is" a man with Scottish accent and a somber smile steps out of the open door and reaches for her. They hug quickly and enter the building with his arm casually around her shoulders.
Eight hours earlier
Julia closed the old diary when the phone on her desk went off.
"Code Storm"
"Oh… ok…yes…where?" She opened her laptop as she spoke.
"Dr Webber has put you in charge Julia"
Julia's nerves were sending butterflies into her stomach but she knew she could do this. This was what she had trained for and now was her chance to show Dr Webber that she was a superb coordinator. She was taking notes while the computer booted up and logged into the National Storm Centre. Her first job was to see who was on call. The names rolling up were mostly familiar to her but for a couple of names but she had seen three of them in the old diary she found up in the attic. She began work by talking to some of the people already on the site. They needed surgeons and supplies. An almost unharmed high school could serve as a temporary shelter and hospital after the one in the area was both flooded and partly destroyed. She worked with the planning and recruiting supplies and transportation for four hours before sending out the first page to the surgeons she needed. The TV was on when she saw the picture of a hurt dog and decided to send out a vet as well.
Four hours earlier
Miami Medical Trauma Centre
A pager is shrilling out in the almost quiet OR. The surgeon is looking up from the bowel resurrection. "Nurse Rose, can you check what they want without knocking anything more down?"
During the surgery's first thirty minutes the clumsy nurse had knocked a tray of instrument over and tripped on her own feet causing an intern to fall across the patients legs and grabbing for something to hold her up she pulled the cord to the main computer screen. They had to start all over redressing the patient and check everything as the poor intern was brought to the ER for a quick check up due to a sprained wrist.
"Doc, it is your pager and is says Code Storm" Nurse Rose whispers.
"Speak up nurse"
"CODE STORM"
"Shit… sorry folks but we need to make this quick."
Mount Sinai, New York
A pager is dancing a long a dark oak desk. The room is empty with a white coat on a hook behind the door. The phone goes off the next minute; inside the computer the mail program receives a message.
"Doc" the door handle is giggled and a feminine voice is heard.
Seattle Clinic for Veterinarian Medicine
"Doc" the receptionist knocks on the door before opening it revealing a very scared puppy on the table, the owner equally scared and Doc with a syringe just pulled from the soft skin in the neck.
"All done Mini Day" Doc rubs the soft fur and smiles towards the owner "Next vaccination will be when she turns one. This is such a beautiful little girl you got here." He lifts the puppy down and the owner hurries out the door as he finally responds to the receptionist.
"What is it April? You know you can't come in here when I'm with a patient."
"Sorry Doc" she answers still having trouble calling a vet Doc and his referral to the animals as patients.
"Why did you disturb me?" the receptionist was more than acceptable slow, no wonder she was kicked out of the surgical program he thought.
"I… you I mean… they…"
"Speak up"
"You got a call Doc"
"Ok…" he waited for the explanation but no came "You know that it is your job to answer the phone and handle it meaning scheduling the appointment…" he trailed off while thinking "… is it an emergency?"
"Yeah, emergency Julia said."
"Julia?"
"The coordinator said"
"What did what coordinator say?"
"I…" she trailed off again.
"You know, why don't you let the next patient in and think about what this coordinator said and then you can tell me after the next appointment… OK?" he figured he would have to find a replacement next week if this slow receptionist didn't pick up speed and concentration somehow.
"Ok… next is…" she looked into the waiting room before continuing "…next patient is Mr. Darcy and the owner Dr. Reed." She slunk quickly out the door to fetch the Labrador and his owner who happened to be her old colleague from med school.
Regent Congress Centre, Orlando
The room was gleaming in the sunlight shining through the window. The silence was interrupted by a shrilling phone. A golden slim arm reached out to grab it after realizing she was alone in bed.
"You've got a call"
The bath room door opened and let a very well built man out just tying a towel around his slim hips. The heated steam followed him behind and she had trouble focusing on his words.
"Who was it?"
"Oh" she swallowed before continuing "I didn't get it in time but it says Code Storm" she looked at him with questions in her eyes.
"Shit… I have to go"
"You can't leave; you are the main speaker tomorrow"
"I have to… I'm on call for the National Storm Centre. They need me."
He dressed quickly in a wrinkled shirt and slacks.
"Can you tell Dr. Greg Stiller that he will have to stand in for me?"
He pushed a couple a buttons on the phone and sent the woman a wink.
"You were exceptional May, I'll call you next time I'm here."
Three hours earlier
Mount Sinai, New York
The view from the roof top is exceptional. He is standing there trying to sort out his thoughts. Less than twenty-four hours earlier he had caught his wife since eleven years in bed with his tennis partner. Twenty-three hours ago he had thrown her along with her expensive wardrobe out into the pouring rain. He left for work after the locksmith gave him the new keys. He had been in the OR most of the night and really needed to sleep. Maybe he could fetch some in his office. The door behind him bursts open and an intern comes barging through like a bullet.
"Doc, you have a page from NSC."
He turns slowly and looks at the intern to continue.
"You didn't respond and they called the chief instead."
"What did the page say?"
"Code Storm"
The intern has not finished before the door opens and he can hear feet running down the stairs.
Seattle Clinic for Veterinarian Medicine
Miss Kepner is completing the charts of Mr. Darcy when the phone rings again.
"Seattle Clinic for Veterinarian Medicine"
"Hi again, this is the National Storm Centre. I called earlier but have not gotten any response from…"
"Oh sorry Miss but Doc has been busy with patients."
"I just want to know if he will come."
"I don't know… he…"
"May I please speak with him now?"
"I… he has a patient" she trails off as the door opens and the sharp toothed poodle Princess walks out with her owner in tow.
"Doc… you have a phone call"
He sends the animal off with a quick pet and turns to the reception desk.
"Yes" he reaches for the phone with a strange look on his face. He listens to the voice and his face changes to anger before answering with a short "Yes, I'll be there as soon as possible" When he hangs up he looks at his receptionist in silence for a short moment making his mind up.
"I want you Miss Kepner to call Doc Fiori and ask him to stand in for me. His receptionist will reschedule all my appointments and then I want you to take all your personal belongings out of here and never come back."
She looks at him with tears in her eyes. This was her last chance to work in the field of medicine. Now her life would be as a cash registrar if possible.
"Oh and tell him I have a Code Storm."
Two hours earlier
Miami Medical Trauma Centre
A chopper landed on the roof but didn't have any patient on board. A couple of janitors came running out dragging, carrying and pushing huge boxes along. The pilot jumped out to help load the supplies the hospital was offering for help.
"Is she coming?" the pilot asked.
"Yeah, doc will be here shortly, she is just finishing up after a surgery."
As if on schedule, the door to the roof opened at the same time as the chopper was stocked with boxes, a slim woman jumped into the spare seat in the back with her carry all. She grabbed for the earphones as she buckled up.
"All set doc?"
"Sure, let's go."
She was asleep before the chopper had reached the designated altitude and the pilot turned off her speakers as not to have to listen to her snoring. She amazed him every time with her ability to sleep anywhere or everywhere. He hit the call button and waited for Julia to pick up.
"Hi, Alex here, I've got her and a lot of cargo. I estimate about 120 minutes until arriving."
"Can I speak with her?"
"Sorry but she was out even before I reached my altitude."
"Oh… yeah… let her sleep. I'll meet her on site."
"See you sweetie"
"Bye Alex."
Seattle Airport
"Are you travelling with the dog Sir?"
"Yes"
"He needs to be in a cage Sir"
"No, he is a search and rescue dog" he hands the appropriate papers to the woman behind the counter.
"Oh… I'll have to speak with my superior Sir."
"Please do but hurry we can't miss this flight."
In just a couple of minutes an orange tanned man steps up to him.
"Sir, I'm sorry but the dog can't be inside the plane. We have already checked in a cat and a bird."
He looks at the airline officer with questions in his eyes.
"Excuse me officer but NSC has made this reservation."
"I can't do anything. You will be transferred to the next available flight."
"Wait a minute" he grabs his phone and punches a couple of buttons.
"NSC, this is Julia speaking"
"Julia, the airline will not let me and Daisy on. They have already checked in two animals and I will have to wait. Can you talk to them?"
"Of course, put them on." He hands his phone to the woman.
"This is Mr. Peters speaking"
"I'm the coordinator for the National Storm Centre. Your passengers are booked by me to help out with the search and rescue after storm earlier today. The vet and the dog are highly needed here."
"I'm sorry but the rules…"
"I don't care about your rules Sir, may I speak with the pilot please."
"I don't think so miss, you can't just demand…"
"Sir, I'm in charge of helping approximately 70 000 people that has been victims of the storm. I need that dog here asap. You can have the pilot call me within five minutes on this number or I will call your supervisor. Is that understood?"
The call is disconnected and he looks at the dog.
"Come with me but leave the dog tied to the wall over there please."
"I am not tying Daisy to the wall. She will come wherever I go."
They stare at each other. Before he turns and they follow. Daisy is sneaking glances to her master as if questioning the officer's sanity. The pilot is soon contacted and Daisy is let on the plane, she jumps into the first class seat after her blanket has been placed over the seat. Her leash is fastened in the seat belt and she rests her head on her pawns. When the plane accelerates she sits up and looks out the small window with interest.
North of Orlando going north
The Hummer drove steadily north. He followed the GPS direction towards road 93. Through the speakers boomed the Clash. He had a large coffee in the cup holder and prepared himself for a couple of hours on the road.
JFK
He ran through security quickly with the help of his hospital badge. In the gate he pushed his boarding card towards the airline officer and was on the run through the door even before the officer had cleared him. At the door the flight attendant was waiting for him before closing and he dashed forward and got in.
"Sorry I'm late" he mumbled as he moved forward to seat 5D.
"It is OK Doctor. Is there anything I can get you before take off?"
"Just store my bag somewhere please and bring me some water, a pillow and a blanket"
"Will do Doctor"
When the pilot signaled that they reached the designated altitude he pushed his seat into a laying position pulled the blanket over him and let his head sink into the pillow. The next three hours could give him some much needed sleep.
Present time
"Mum" she turned towards the happy voice and embraced her daughter.
"Hi sweetie, what a job you have done pulling this together."
"Thank you, please come and meet the rest of the team that have arrived. We have three new members but they won't arrive until later. Maria and Michael will be here shortly along with Aunt Cristina, Aunt Izzy and Uncle George. You know Alex is on this assignment and so is Uncle Owen. It is one big family reunion."
~mcanna