Chapter 1

Derek walked around the hospital. He was on his way to one of his patients. The surgery four days ago was a success. The patient was doing great, his recovery went well. Today his daughter finally made it to Seattle and he was on his way to explain her some things. But there was something else about this patient. His last name was Matthews and a little voice in his head was saying that there was something else with that name. He had tried to discard it with telling himself that it was a pretty common name, but the voice wouldn't back off.

He entered the room and was a bit surprised to see the patient alone.

'She's off to get some coffee' the patient said, he must have seen the look on his face. He nodded. Coffee, so that wouldn't take her long and he had time. His mother had come over for the week, so she had Elizabeth for some grandmother, granddaughter bonding. He didn't have to look at the time.
'Anyway, what's with your surgeons and coffee?' the man asked. Derek was snapped out of his thinking.
'Sorry?' he asked.
'My daughter, she's a surgeon too and can't survive without a serious amount of coffee gulped down and I have seen you getting more than your share as well' the man explained. It was a good question; they probably all needed it to stay awake enough so they wouldn't kill people.
'So she's a surgeon too?' he asked.
'Yep, in New York General, neuro just like you. I think this is her fourth year as a surgeon' the patient said, Derek could hear the proud father speak. He looked up. As she was already in her fourth year, which meant that she could have performed this surgery herself by now
'But then why…' he said.
'Didn't she do the surgery herself?' the man finished the sentence. 'When the diagnose came I could see in her eyes that she didn't want to. She knows the risks and I could see that she wasn't ready to take those with her dad as the patient. I honoured that and asked her who was the best one for this job and she gave me your name.' Derek nodded, he felt himself grow a bit. He wanted to ask something else, but at that moment the daughter walked in.

'Hey dad. It took me a bit longer, went to grab your book' she said as she placed the book on the table. It was only then that she noticed him.
'Hey, I'm Aurore Matthews' she said. It was then when it hit him. He had seen that name before. Aurore Matthews, fourth year as surgeon, was one of the contenders for his training program. He had set it up just after Meredith died, he wanted to let someone train and learn under him, so at one point in time that person could take over some of his responsibilities so he would have time for Elizabeth. He shook her hand. She looked different from all the other contenders. She wore a pair of dark blue jeans with a red top. She had dark, slightly curly hair that fell some inched under her shoulders and dark, dark brown eyes, so dark that it seemed they were never ending. He tore himself away from those eyes. 'Well, I guess I don't have to explain what happened to your father' he said.
She smiled. 'No, I know what happened' she said.
'Anyway, tomorrow morning, if your scans are as good as today, I'll sign the papers and you can go home. Your daughter knows what symptoms to look out for' he said. She nodded.
'Right, nice meeting you' Derek said.
'Yes, nice meeting you too' Aurore replied.

Months later.

He finally had made a decision on who would get the spot. Aurore Matthews was the lucky one. Her credits were the best of them all, but when he had met her back then at her father's hospital bed, his gut had told him that she could be in some way special. Like someone had sent her over.
'Don't forget. I'll look out for both of you'
That was Meredith had said. He had told her not to say those things, that they would find a way to save her, but they both knew that was a lie. She was dying and they both knew it, only he wasn't ready to let her go. He fought back the tears from that memory. A knock on the door announced the arrival of someone. Probably Aurore cause they had agreed to meet again in his office.