September 26, 1987
Children's Hospital of Michigan
Grace
It's 6:30am and I am exhausted. I have been at the hospital since 6:30 yesterday morning. I am looking forward to getting home and sleeping the whole day away. Just when I am about to head into the employee lounge to get my things to go home, a young nurse stops me from entering the lounge.
"Dr. Trevelyan you are needed in exam room number four. A little boy was just brought in for malnutrition and suspected abuse" she says and hands me a vanilla folder.
"I am done with my shift. Let the doctor on call take over" I say exhausted and hand the vanilla folder back to her. I hate to do this but I need to go home and sleep so I can come back and do my job with a clear head.
"Dr. Trevelyan, they asked for you specifically" she said confused.
I sigh. I rub my tired eyes and nod at the nurse. This child obviously needs my help. She hands me back the folder and walks away. If I am going to see this patient I need to wake myself up a little.
Walking inside of the lounge with a tired yawn, I walk over to the sink and turn on the water. I cup the cool water in my hands and splash the water onto my face. I splash the water on my face a couple of times and dry off with a warm white towel. I look at myself in the mirror and see just how tired I am. My hair is becoming loose from my neatly tied bun that is on top of my head, dark circles under my hazel eyes, and my white doctors coat is somewhat wrinkled. I peak into my purse and find my concealer and dap a little under my eyes to hide the dark circles. I re do my bun and smooth out my white doctors coat.
I'm ready to go.
I walk towards exam room number four and see a grey eyed little boy, but those beautiful grey eyes are wide with fear, clutching onto a child's dirty green blanket. I walk to him slowly and give him a warm smile.
"Hello sweetheart. My name is Grace. Can you tell me your name?" I ask him softly. I stay at a distance away so I won't scare him. He is looking at me with fear but also with curiosity.
He doesn't say anything for a long time. I stand there with a warm smile trying to reassure him that I will not hurt him. He sits there on his knees, still clutching the dirty blanket. His brown-reddish hair is a dirty, tangled mess. It falls just below his shoulders, and his clothes are messy and ripped. He has on some pants that are obviously too small for him since they barely reach his ankles, and he is wearing a blue torn shirt with stains and holes all over it. He is pale and his skin is dirty and it looks like he hasn't taken a bath in a while. This poor boy, he clearly has been abused, I can see some fresh scars on his chest from the various holes in his shirt. I come out of my thoughts when I hear a whisper. I freeze.
"Christian" he whispers so softly I barely caught what he said. I am surprised he is talking. Most traumatized and abused victims are non-vocal or too scared to talk.
"That is a lovely name sweetheart" I say with a smile. He gives me a small smile.
I start to walk towards him but his eyes wide in fear again while he backs away, squeezing his dirty blanket even tighter.
"I'm not going to hurt you. I need to check your tummy. Here" I put my hands up slowly, trying not to startle him. I take my stethoscope that is around my head and hand it to him. He takes it from me and starts to play with it. His eyebrows are furrowed, and he is looking at it in wonder.
"You put it on your tummy, and I won't touch you and I can hear your tummy" I explain to him.
He does what I tell him and I listen to his tummy. His heart, and he slowly moves it to his back. I do not find anything blocking the lungs, he has a good and strong heartbeat.
"Okay darling, were all done" I say. He smiles and let's go of the stethoscope. I take it and place it back around my neck.
"Can I check your chest and back as well?" I ask.
His eyes widen again and he scoots back, clutching that blanket again.
"I won't hurt you sweetheart. I need to look you over so I can make you feel better" I say softly.
He shakes his head making his head fall into his eyes.
"Mommy" he says suddenly. His voice strong yet soft. He has such a lovely voice.
"Your mommy? I don't know where your mommy is sweetheart" I frown. I pick up his chart and it reads that he was found with his mother's body. It doesn't say what happened to his mother or if she is alive or not so I need to find out for him. He obviously doesn't want me to touch him so I need to find a way to examine him.
I see movement in my periphery vision, which cause me to look up. I see Christian move slowly to where I am. He crawls over to me and when he gets to the end of the bed he snatches the chart from my hands which startles me. He looks at it. His eyes are wild, examining the piece of paper intently. I deeply frown at his actions. What is he looking for? Why did he do that?
His eyes are still wild. His eyes are moving everywhere on the page, his little hands turning the chart over again and again. I suddenly understand what he is doing. He is trying to find out what happened to his mother. I know he probably can't read yet, and he doesn't understand what the chart says but that doesn't stop him from trying.
He is obviously a very intelligent little boy. It breaks my heart that someone abused him. I can't imagine what he has went through in his short four years of life.
"Mommy" he says painfully dragging me out of my thoughts. I look up again and he has tears in his eyes.
"Oh sweetheart, it's alright" I try to sooth him by rubbing his hair but he squeals and suddenly drops the chart and rushes back to head of the bed and clutches his blanket. Eyes wide in fear once more.
"Do you want me to find mommy?" I ask him. This is just breaking my heart.
He nods his head frantically. More hair falling into his face.
"Alright darling. I will try to find mommy. You stay here. I will be right back okay?" I tell him while grabbing the chart from the floor.
He nods his head, and I see him physically relax. I smile at him and walk out of the room, hoping and praying that his mother is still with us.
"Mary, I need some information about a parent of a patient of mine" I say to her at the nurse's station.
"What is the name Dr. Trevelyan?" she asks while looking at her computer.
"Ella. Ella Mitchell. Her son is Christian Mitchell" I say looking down at the chart that is in my hands.
"It says here that she was transported to Detroit Medical Center" she said.
"How long is she going to be there?" I ask curiously.
"I don't know Dr. Trevelyan" she said apologetically.
"Alright I will try to find out. Thank you" I say disappointed.
I go into my office and sit down at my desk. I need to find out what is going on with his mother.
"Detroit Medical Center, this is nurse Nora. How may I direct your call?" a women's voice answers the phone.
"This is Doctor Grace Trevelyan from Children's Hospital, I am trying to find more information about a patient" I say in my professional doctor's voice.
"What is the patients name Dr. Trevelyan?" she ask kindly.
"Ella Mitchell" I say.
I hear her typing away on her computer in the background. While I wait, I stare at the picture of my husband and my son Elliot that is on my desk. The picture is from last Christmas day. Elliot is holding up a toy car we got him and Carrick is sitting behind Elliot with a huge grin on his face. I smile lovely at the beautiful picture, but immediately feel sad for my patient. I wonder if Christian ever got any presents on Christmas. Poor boy probably didn't get anything to eat let alone a present. Tears prickle my eyes but I will them away and lay my head back on my chair and try to compose myself. I need to be strong for him.
"Dr. Trevelyan she has been admitted to the hospital due to the fact of an almost drug overdose. Luckily the paramedics got to her in time and were able to save her. She has been admitted, I will direct your call to the doctor who is in charge of her case. One moment please" she explained.
I breathe a sigh of relief that his mom is okay for now. Before I know it the call goes through to the doctor.
"Is this Dr. Trevelyan?" a male voice asks over the phone.
"Yes this is Dr. Trevelyan. I wanted to know about your patient; Miss Ella Mitchell. I am in charge of a patient that is her son, Christian. I wanted to know what her diagnoses is and how long she will be in the hospital for? Her son is having a difficult time" I explain to the doctor.
"Yes Dr. Trevelyan. Miss Mitchell has been admitted for overdose symptoms. When the paramedics bought her in she was experiencing problems with her breathing, her heart rate and blood pressure were extremely low. When she regained consciousness, she was complaining of abdominal pain, nausea, confusion about where she was, and she was once vomiting up blood; all signs of an overdose. Once we stabilized her, we are going to keep an eye on her heart rate, blood pressure, and once she has recovered we will probably keep her here for observation due to a possible suicide attempt" he explains.
I sigh. She will probably be in the hospital for a while which means Christian will probably end up going into foster care when he gets discharged from the hospital for his injuries. If his mother wants help after this incident, who knows where Christian will end up. I don't know what to do. As a doctor you want to look after your patient and keep their best interests at heart. I stare at the picture on my desk of Elliot and Carrick once more and I have a moment of clarity. I know what I have to do.
I finish the conversation with the doctor and hang up. I need to go visit with Christian and try to examine him. After that I need to take a trip.
Detroit Medical Center
Emergency Room #14
Ella
I need to get the fuck out of here. Apparently, I had an overdose and now I have been admitted to the hospital. I need to get out of here. I know what comes next. They are going to keep me here for 72 hour observation because they think I tried to kill myself. Which was not true. It happens when you do heavy drugs. I don't even know where Christian is or what happened to him while I was unconscious. I know after this they are going to try to take him away from me, and I can't let that happen.
My only options is to either go to rehab or give him up to a nice family. I can't imagine not having Christin with me. It will kill me. I know that I need help but I am selfish, I don't want Christian to be taken away from me. I don't know what I am going to do.
I am sitting here on this fucking uncomfortable hospital bed, chewing on my dirty fingernails and contemplating on what I am going to do when the door suddenly opens and in walks a women.
She is stunning. The only way I can describe the women is she is very…clean.
She is tall with sandy blond hair that is down pass her shoulders, and kind hazel eyes.
Her clothes are clean and elegant. She has on khaki pants, long sleeved black blouse, black starve around her neck, a big tan purse that is hanging from her arm, and a long tan coat. Everything looks designer. I am confused on why this women is even here.
"Hello Miss Mitchell. My name is Grace Trevelyan-Grey and I am a doctor at the children's hospital. Your son Christian is my patient" she adds when I suddenly frown.
"My son? What happened to my son" I ask worriedly.
What happened to Christian? Why is he at the hospital? Oh no is he hurt?
"He was brought in when you were found unconscious in your apartment early this morning. He is currently being treated for malnutrition and burns on his body" she says with a frown.
"Why didn't anyone tell me about my son!" I demand. What the fuck wouldn't they say anything to me? I am his mother. They should have informed me of what happened to him. Fuckers!
"May I sit Miss Mitchell?" she said while pointing to the chair that is next to me.
I hesitate. Why would she want to talk to me? Probably to tell me what a horrible mother I am. What the hell does she know anyway? She has money obviously so she wouldn't understand what we are going through. I nod my head at her to sit down, mostly out of curiosity.
She takes off her coat and lays it on the back of the chair, and then sets her purse down on the floor.
"I'm sorry you weren't informed of your son Miss Mitchell. I have just come from examining him" she said with a smile at first but then when she says examining him she has a pained look on her face.
I bow my head in shame. I know why she is here. Suddenly I am furious now.
"Why are you here doctor? Hmm? Come to tell me what a horrible mother I am!" I almost yell at her. She doesn't seem to be fazed by my tone. She just sits there with a sad smile on her face.
"No Miss Mitchell. I am not here to tell you that. I am here to let you know about your son…" she says but stops. I know she wants to say something else.
She bows her head and swallows hard.
"You want to say something else Dr. so just say it already" I demand. Let's just get this over with. She sits up suddenly and squares her shoulders.
"What are your plans after you are released from the hospital?" she asks after a couple minutes of silence.
I frown. Huh?
"Go back home, why?" I say confused.
"You know that your son is very sick Miss Mitchell" she says seriously.
I bow my head again in shame. I know he is sick. I did this to him. I let Roland abuse him and I didn't do anything to stop it.
"Yes I am aware" I say quietly trying not to cry.
"Miss Mitchell, you are aware that if you don't get help, then they will take your son away from you" she says more softly.
I nod my head slowly and let the tears flow. I shake my head frantically and cup my face with my hands.
"It's all my fault. I let Roland hurt him. I don't deserve to be a mother. I am such a horrible person" I cry harder and harder with each sentence.
Suddenly her arms wrap around me and she embraces me warmly. Like a mother would a daughter. This makes me cry harder so I wrap my arms around her neck and sob into her shoulder. Understanding that I am going to lose my son because of my own stupidity.
I don't know how long I sit there crying but I finally stop crying and pull back. I wipe my eyes with shaky hands. I am starting to go through withdrawal symptoms. I don't know how long I can keep going like this…I need to change.
"Ella…" she says my name suddenly. I look up at her and she has tears in her eyes but she is smiling warmly at me.
"Do you want to go to rehab?" she asks.
I think for a minute. I need to get my act together and stop doing the drugs. I need to do it for him, but I can't leave Christian. I can't abandon him.
"They're going to take him away from me. I want to stop but I am afraid" I whisper to the doctor.
"What are you afraid of darling?" she asks softly and grabs my hands and squeezes softly.
"I don't know anything else. What happens after I get out of rehab? Christian still won't be able to come with me. I wouldn't have anywhere to go" I say in frustration.
"Ella I have a proposition for you" she asks after a couple of minutes of silence.
I frown and look up at her.
"What kind of proposition?" I ask in confusion.
"I know you don't know me. I have spent time with your son and he is such an amazing little boy. He deserves to have the best life possible, but you need to get help darling so you can be the mother he deserves" she said while giving me a small smile.
"I know" I whisper. I need this. I need to do this for him.
"What about Christian?" I say throwing my hands up in frustration and look up at the plain white ceiling and sigh deeply. I am starting to shake uncontrollably.
"He can live with me" she said quietly.
I snap my head up and gape at her. What?
"What?" I frown.
"This is my proposition. If you go to rehab for at least six months, get clean, and let me take care of your son during that time, then when you get out you can come live with us" she said with a warm smile.
"Why?" I ask dumbfounded. Why would she want to do this? She doesn't even know me.
"I can see you love your son very much. You need help darling. I know a cry for help when I see one" she said and squeezes my hands, smiling sadly.
My lip trembles. I can't believe this. I don't know…
"You would take care of him? You would do that?" I ask hopeful.
"I would. For that little boy and for you, yes. I would" she said with a smile.
My lip trembles some more and I burst into tears again, but these tears are not sad tears, these tears are tears of gratitude.
"Thank you so much!" I sob out the words. I look up and she has tears streaming down her face and she hugs me warmly once more.
I am going to get my life together so I can be the best mother I can be, not just for me but for Christian.
A/N: Thank you for all of the reviews/PM's and new followers. I hope you liked this chapter and the direction it is going. Next up will be Ana, Carla, and Frank. That chapter will be Ana's childhood and where she is now. After that then we will have a time jump and the story will get going. I just wanted to set up where their life is leading and how their beginning changed.
I know most of you want C&A to meet already but remember that there is a 6 year age gap with them so they wont meet for a while (under 10 chapters) maybe less, just know that they will meet and you wont be disappointed. Please stick with me, I will try to keep the story interesting before then.
Pinterest page is made for this story, look under eminshall07. I am currently updating for this chapter so keep looking periodically for new pins.
I will update next week hopefully.
See you guys soon.
Elizabeth :)