The girl walked up the tree-lined path and into the hospital. She dropped the hood of her jacket, letting it fall back to hit the backpack she wore on her shoulders. She tightened her grip on the oversized duffel bag in her right hand. As she walked the water fell from her clothes, leaving a trail of wet footprints on the floor. She stopped at the information desk to ask for directions. Thanking the woman she headed towards the elevators. She stepped inside a crowded elevator, having to drop the bag to her feet, and hit the button for the surgical floor.

When the elevator stopped, she followed a young doctor out of it. He turned right, she went left. Spotting a desk, she headed towards it, hoping she'd find someone who could point her in the right direction. Reaching the abandoned desk, she dropped the duffel bag to the floor; finally, she was able to free her shoulders from the heavy weight of the packed backpack. She looked around, taking in the scene for the first time. She'd be seeing a lot of this place during the next few months. 'Unless I get sent back to New York' After her long day of traveling, and the drama of the last few days, she was exhausted. Yet, she was able to note with unusual clarity, the irony of the situation she found herself in. Here she was, of all places, in a hospital on the other side of the country. At sixteen, she never thought she'd be here, but then again her life was never what one would call 'storybook'; it had never been something anyone would desire to live. She should be back at Berkeley Prep, nestled in the Adirondacks, smoking cigarettes with her friends, the only family she'd ever really had. But she screwed herself out of that. She screwed herself out of a lot. Had she known this is where she'd end up, she never would have done all the things that had led to her expulsion from the best private boarding school in the country. She would have chosen that regimented hell-hole over this in a heartbeat.

Noticing the whiteboard posted on the wall a few feet away, she walked towards it and searched the list of names scheduled for surgeries that day. 'Three surgeries…what else is new? I'm gonna be here all freakin' night.' She sighed. Once again regretting her actions last week that resulted in her being sent her. She hated rain. She hated hospitals. And most of all she hated him. Her. Both of them. And it was mutual. She couldn't remember the last time they talked to her. They'd made a mistake with her, and there hadn't been a single minute since the day she was born that they'd make her think any differently.

"Can I help you?" Looking up, she saw the cute guy from the elevator. 'There's no way he's a surgeon. I'm betting on an intern, if that.'

"I'm supposed to meet someone, but it looks like he'll be in surgery for awhile," she replied, gesturing towards the whiteboard.

He looked at the whiteboard, then back at her. Who was this kid? He'd never seen her before. It really didn't make sense that she'd be waiting for any of the doctors, but she didn't seem to be lying to him. "You're soaking wet. You have a change of clothes?"

She nodded. "Yeah. Well, at least I hope they're still dry. That storm is killer."

"That's Seattle for you."

"Yeah," she agreed. "So, is there some place I can change?"

"Sure, come on," he replied, picking up her duffel and carrying it for her. "I'm Alex, by the way."

"Aden. Nice to meet you, Alex."

Two hours later, she was in the waiting room, tired of watching the news and sore from sitting on the uncomfortable chairs. Pulling out an energy bar from her bag, she headed into the hall, wondering how much longer she'd have to wait. She spotted Alex standing near the desk with another male and a few females. All looked to be interns like Alex.

"Excuse me, Alex," she said, when she got within speaking distance.

"Aden. Hi," he replied, looking around. "Still waiting?"

She nodded. "Is there anyplace I can get something to drink?"

"There's a sandwich cart one floor down. Or the cafeteria." As they talked, the other interns looked on.

She thanked him and turned to walk away.

"You have enough for a drink?" Alex asked. Something about the girl called out to him. He didn't know anything about her other than her name, but he felt instantly connected to her. He wanted to help.

Turning back around she answered him. "Yeah, I'm good." 'I've got more than enough. That's the only thing they've ever done for me. Make sure I have enough money.' "Do you want anything? Any of you?"

Alex shook his head. "No, thanks." Turning to his friends, he introduced them to the girl. "Everyone, this is Aden. Aden, this is everyone." Pointing as he went, he gave her their names. "George. Christina. Izzie. And Meredith." Aden stared a little longer at Meredith after she was introduced. She just barely managed to hide the name recognition.

"Aden?" The voice came from the dark haired man standing several yards down the hall. Looking down the hall, they were all surprised to see Derek Shepard. "Aden?" he repeated as he walked towards them. "What are you doing here?"

Aden looked uncomfortable. 'Here goes hell.' "Hi, Derek."

"Aden," he repeated again, still in shock that she was standing here. "What--?" he trailed off, remembering who was standing next to them. He put a hand on her shoulder and led her down the hall, pulling her into the waiting room.

"Who is that?" Meredith asked, looking at Alex, who just shrugged.

"That's Aden," Dr. Webber said, stepping up behind them. "She's his daughter."