He lay on his side, his eyes closed, his body exhausted. He had no idea how long he had been sleeping, his watch having been taken off for the MRI and CT. He was in a state of half sleep, when he heard the gentle squeaking of the door, and had to think for a moment to remember where he was. He kept his eyes closed, as he listened to the sound of someone either entering the room, or seeing that it was occupied, and the squeaking of the door, the snap of the latch hitting the doorframe as he lay listening.
He heard nothing, assuming that the visitor had made themselves scarce, recognizing that the small room was, indeed occupied. He lay with his eyes closed, his ribs stinging with each breath as he tried to will himself to move. He lay atop the squeaky mattress, his eyelids being his current focus for the time being as he thought about the circumstances around his arrival to this room. It was not long after his mother had stormed from his brother's room, and he had been down the hallway waiting at the lab for the results of the testing. His grandmother had come into the room, watching his exhausted expression as he nearly fell asleep in the waiting room chair.
She had taken his arm and led him to a nurse's desk, where they informed his grandmother of an open on call room where he could rest, his grandmother promised that she would find him when the results were available. He had laid down slowly, the mattress enveloping his body, and thought it was old and creaky, it was perfectly fine for him. He had pulled his hands to his face for a moment, the faded numbers on his hands staring into his face as he took a slow deep breath and closed his fist on them, trying desperately to ignore their presence as he forced himself to sleep.
He could feel his mouth hanging open slightly, and attempted to move, the stiffness in his body was incredible, and he found his body unable to move. He groaned slightly as he tried to lift his arm, only feeling an intense pain shooting up his muscles, sending a wave of shivers down his spine as the white hot pain slammed into his body. "Oh fuck…" He muttered as he tried to move his neck, feeling that his neck was far too stiff to turn, or even tip back. "Oh, fuck… fuck, fuck…" He groaned as he rolled to his side, his eyes clenched in pain as he grimaced in pain.
"I told you that it was going to hurt in the morning." A young woman's voice skipped it's way across his eardrum as he remained awkwardly lying there, his back nearly flat against the mattress, his legs still bent in the direction of the wall. He kept his eyes closed and tried to place a face with the voice.
"Shit." He muttered as he came face to face with a well rested Harper, standing over him with her arms over her chest.
"Shit?" She said as she raised her eyebrow, her eyes gleaming down on the young man as he turned his body toward the wall. "I save you from certain death, and all you can say is 'shit'?"
"I thought you left." He muttered as he stared at the wall.
"I did leave."
"And now you're back." He muttered.
"I came back for my car, Einstein." She said as she sat down on the bed, sending it sinking a couple of inches.
"I don't see your car in here, Einstein." He muttered grumpily as he continued to stare at the wall. "How did you find me, anyway?" He asked, trying to turn his head, he grimaced in pain. "Fuck." He whispered as he moved it back.
She moved forward and crouched down beside the bed. "Here…" She said as she reached for his shoulder, he moved forward out of her reach and she sighed. "Cut it out, I'm not going to rape you." She shook her head as he tried to turn his head to glare at her. "I asked your father where you were." She said softly as her fingertips touched his shoulder.
"Where was he?" Richie asked, feeling her fingers gently pushing into his body, tender touches melting into his muscles.
"He was outside your brother's room. Someone, I'm assuming it was your mother, was inside, and he didn't want to disturb them. He told me what was going on with your brother." She whispered. "I don't understand why he was waiting outside the room though." She said.
"They're not talking." Richie whispered as Harper continued to move her hand, working the muscle in his shoulder, touching his neck gently. She watched as a trail of goosebumps raised on his neck as she touched his skin, she tried to ignore the scent of his cologne as it drifted into her nostrils.
"Does that feel any better?" She asked, watching him stare at the wall, she pulled her hands from his shoulders and he turned his head slightly. She noticed there was no wince in his movement, but he stared into her eyes for a second as he swallowed hard.
"It's still a little sore." He whispered, turning his head away from her, she tipped him forward slightly, sending him pushing his chest against the bed, his head turning in her direction as she stood up, sitting carefully on the bed. "Why did you look for me?" He mumbled into the pillow, feeling her hand move over his entire back, working its way down his muscle groups, pressing, prodding, poking, massaging. Trying to pull the stress from his body slowly.
"Does that feel good?" She whispered, ignoring his question as he nodded into the pillow. "Good." She whispered as she continued to massage his back. "Are you feeling better?" She asked as he groaned in satisfaction of her touch, her voice was tender and soft as he nodded. "Good." She said as she said breathily into his ear, her breath sending shivers down his spine as her finger lifted slowly without him knowing. "Then you won't mind if I do this…" She said as she flicked his ear hard with her finger and stood up, watching him roll onto his back and howl in pain.
"What the fuck was that for?!" He exclaimed as he grabbed his ear, looking at her angrily.
"That's for treating me like shit yesterday, you little runt." She said as she leaned down and stared into his eyes. "And so is this." She said as she leaned forward quickly and pushed her lips against his, hard and passion filled, slipping her tongue into his mouth for a moment as he kissed her back. The moment she felt his hand reach to touch her cheek, she pulled herself back and stared at him with wide eye surprise. She ran her tongue over her lips for a moment as she watched him swallow hard, his own tongue running over his lips as she glanced to the door. "I…" She swallowed hard. "I have to go now. I have to get my car." She mumbled as she took a step backwards.
"Harper?" Richie said as he whispered her name, unsure of what to say.
"I… I really have to go… I… I hope your brother feels better." She said quickly as she turned and fled the room.
"Harper!" He exclaimed as the door clicked behind her, and by the time he was able to leap from the bed and swing open the door, she was nowhere in sight.
Richie practically ran from the on call room, not having any idea what way to go, he turned toward the stairs. He climbed down the stairs quickly, listening for any sounds of the fleeing woman, hearing none. "Harper!" Richie exclaimed as he slammed his feet down the stairs until he reached the floor of the lobby, slamming his hands into the door, he swung it open and stepped out into the hallway. He ran around the corner to the quiet lobby, and peered toward the front doors of the hospital. He could see the automatic doors of the hospital closing beyond the front desk and waiting room chairs, and picked up his speed to nearly a full run as he made his way out of the hospital into the cold, whistling wind that slammed into him as soon as he stepped out the doors. He nearly stopped, his pace slowing as he got to the curb, his head snapping this way and that, the cold winter wind pushing his hair this way and that as he looked around the parking lot for Harper's SUV. The sky was lightening up, the signs of early morning were brightening up the overcast sky as the clouds glowed with a dark, foreboding gray color that matched the mood of the situation. Richie was breathing heavily, his heart pounding in his chest as he felt a guttural groan lifting through his body as he heard a slight whimper escape his lips. He had no idea why he was chasing her, he only knew that he needed to find her.
He paused for a moment, letting his tongue run the length of his lip, he could still taste her mouth on his, and he knew why he needed to find her. He looked to his hand, the faded phone number was barely visible, but when he pulled his cell phone from his pocket, he remembered why he hadn't called her. The phone was dead. "Shit!" He exclaimed to himself as he slammed the phone in his pocket. "Shit, Shit, shit!" He exclaimed as he slammed his foot into the ground.
"Shit?" A voice rang out over his swearing fit, his eyes lifting to meet a set of familiar eyes, staring at the shivering young man as he stood staring at her. "I thought that greeting was reserved for people that saved your life and you never wanted to see again." She said as she shivered against the brick façade of the building, her arms crossed over her chest as she trembled.
"You didn't leave." He breathed as he approached her slowly, knowing that he was already on thin, cracking ice, and that one wrong move or word would most likely send her disappearing to her car, and out of his life forever. He needed to take pause, he needed to be careful in this delicate situation.
"Obviously." She said stubbornly, her eyes staring into his as she watched him approach, fully aware of her escape route to her car if she needed it.
"You didn't leave…" He said again, still unsure if his eyes had deceived him, and he was just suffering some sort of post traumatic hallucination, talking to a brick column that would force his father to have him committed to a mental hospital. "Why didn't you leave?"
"I left yesterday." She said shrugging. "And I came back."
"For your car." He said.
"For you." She shrugged. "I came back to talk to you." She said as she shivered. He stepped closer to her and put his hands on her arms.
"You don't even know me." He said with a half smile, watching as she closed her eyes for a second, obviously trying to hold in her embarrassment. "Where is your coat?" he asked as he shook his head, rubbing her arms through the thin sweater that she was wearing, watching her cheeks turn pink as she tilted her head.
"It's in my car, Richard. It's filthy, and torn, and covered in your brother's blood." She said with a stern tone. She watched his eyes glaze over slightly as he bit his lower lip. "Richard, are you alright?" She asked as she felt his warm hands rubbing her arms lightly, his eyes holding a deep sadness that she was trying to understand. "What is going on with Greyson?" She asked innocently as she watched him shiver. "Jesus, you're freezing."
"I'm fine." He said as he stared into her eyes. "Grey needs a new liver. You said you talked to my father."
"He said it was liver failure. He didn't go into detail, he needs a new liver? Is he being transferred? Is he staying here? Is he on the list for a new liver? Is he going to be alright? What happened? Is it…?"
"Shh." He said, lifting his hand slightly, his fingertip touching her trembling lip. "Just, shut up for a second." He said as he took a slow, deep breath and stared into her eyes as his hand moved back down to her arm.
"Are you going to say something?" She asked as she continued to feel his hands slowly moving up and down her arms, sending shocks of warmth through her body.
"When do you have to be home?" He asked as he watched her give him a confused expression.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean can you stay for a little while?" he asked as she nodded her head.
"Good." He said as he grabbed her hand and started to pull her toward the hospital.
"Wait!" She exclaimed as she went along with him, a slight laugh leaving her lips. "Where are you taking me?"
"We need to find my grandmother." He said as he pulled her along, his hand sliding down her arm to her hand as they hurried together back into the hospital.
Richie pulled Harper along into the hospital to the elevator. He slammed his finger down on the button and paused, waiting for the door to open. "What do you need me here for?" She asked, humored by his determination and the way he continued to press the elevator button, using his persistence as an excuse not to look at her. "Richard?" She asked as she watched him slam his finger down on the button one more time, she reached across and grabbed his hand, his eyes snapping to hers. "Slamming your hand down on the button isn't going to get the elevator here any faster." She said as he didn't say anything else, only pulled his hand out of her grip and pushed the button again, the elevator opened, and he turned and smirked at her.
"That is a coincidence." She said as he laughed, pulling her into the elevator with him.
Once the elevator door was closed, he reached across to press the button on the panel, when she stood in front of him. "Hey." He said as he tried to reach around her.
"Wait." She said, pushing him back slightly as he turned her around, putting his back up against the panel as he tilted his head curiously.
"Wait for what?"
"Are we okay?" She asked, tilting her head as she watched him try not to smirk at her.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" He asked. "Are we okay after you caused me severe emotional pain and suffering when you flicked my ear? Is that what we were talking about? Because that was really, really mean."
"Richard." She grumbled.
"Or are you talking about the severe emotional pain you caused me when you kissed me?" He asked as a smile began to rise on his lips. She growled at him, her eyes narrowing as she reached her hand up to his ear. He covered his ear with his hand and swatted at her. "Hey, I'm not falling for that one again." He said as she turned around and walked across the elevator, turning sharply, she crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. "We're fine." He shrugged as he turned, pushed the button for the right floor and tipped his head in her direction. "Trust me." He said as he nodded, wiggling his eyebrows at her. "We are very fine."
"It was a moment of weakness." She muttered as he shook his head and chuckled to himself.
"Hm…" He nodded as the elevator door opened on the correct floor. "Well then, I'm looking forward to many more moments of weakness." He said as he reached across for her hand, listening to her slight giggle as they walked out of the elevator together.
"There will be no more moments of weakness!" She exclaimed as she walked with him. "No more moments of weakness." She said as he continued to tug her along.
"You say that now." He teased as he walked toward his brother's room, he stopped outside and peeked in. Meredith was sitting by her son's bedside, Greyson asleep. Her eyes were open as she stared at her son's hand, her eyes and body language screamed of exhaustion. "Mom?" He whispered as her eyes lifted immediately to the sound of his voice, she noted that his hand was in someone elses, but that person was still standing outside of the room.
"Richie?" She whispered as she tilted her head.
"Mom, is he…?"
"He's stable, sweetheart."
"Do they know anything else?" Richie whispered as she shook her head. "Do you know where GG went?"
"Your father and GG are trying to diagnose. Richie, who is that?" She asked as she tilted her head forward, watching as Richie pulled Harper into the room, taking a step farther into the room.
"This is Harper." Richie said as he pulled her in front of him. "She's a friend." He said nodding. "She was the one that got us out of the car. So I guess she's kind of our hero or something." He said, feeling her pointy elbow shove into his ribs. "Ow… uncalled for!" He grunted as Harper smiled politely at Meredith.
"Doctor Shepherd." She said with a smile as she shook her hand.
"She's a med student. She's read all your work, blah, blah blah." Richie said as Harper scowled at him.
"Richard." Meredith said with a scowl.
"Sorry."
"Harper, thank you." She said as she glanced to Greyson. "Thank you very much for being there for my boys."
"Where did you say GG is?" Richie asked as he glanced to his brother. "I had a question to ask her about something." He said, finding it obvious that his mother didn't know that he had been tested for a match, she looked at him blankly for a second.
"She's… She's down the hallway in the library… medical library. The nurse will let you know." Meredith nodded.
"Mom, have you talked to Dad?" Richie asked as Meredith turned her head toward Greyson.
"He's there too." She said as she sadly made her way toward the bed. "It was nice to meet you , Harper."
"It was nice to meet you, Doctor Shepherd." Harper said quickly as she felt Richie grab her hand, and pull her.
"We'll be back in a couple minutes." He said to his mother as they walked toward the door. "I love you, Mom." He said, fully aware that it was his pleading warning that was at the root of the rift between his parents.
"I love you too, Richie." She whispered, as she never took her eyes off Greyson, only hearing the click of the door as Richie and Harper disappeared through it.
Richie rushed down the hallway, his hand grasping Harper's, when he suddenly realized that it may be a tad presumptuous of him to be holding her hand as if he expected her to accept it. As his hand slipped from hers, however, she moved and gripped his again, watching his head turn and their eyes meet as she watched a smirk rise on his face. She shook her head and continued to grip his hand, though she could feel the color rising in her cheeks.
They turned the corner and found a nurse, Richie releasing Harper's hand as he approached the nurse. "Sir?" He asked as the nurse looked up from the chart he was working on. "I was wondering if you can tell me where the library is?"
"Down this hallway two doors from the left, I wouldn't really call it a library though." The nurse said as he smiled at Harper.
"Thank you." Harper said with a sweet smile as the nurse smiled back.
"Alright, let's go." Richie said as he tugged her along, listening to her laugh as she followed him.
"Ha, jealousy, it's adorable." She said as she felt his fingers slipping from hers again, she grabbed his wrist and yanked his arm as he twisted and faced her. "Cut it out." She said as he just smirked and shook his head.
"What are you looking for, anyway?" He asked as she glared at him, their eyes locked a battle for control as they both refused to relinquish it. "Harper?" He asked.
She could feel a lump forming in her throat, the regret and sorrow in Richie's eyes made her just want to grab him and hug him, though his question made her want to kick him as hard as she could. "I…" She paused as she watched him tilt his head, an obvious indication that he was listening intently. "I just want to find your grandmother." She said as she released his hand and pushed him lightly in front of her, letting him lead as they walked down the hallway together toward the library.
Richie felt guilty for making her feel awkward, the look in her eyes was one filled with confusion, as she had pushed him in front of her. He just wanted to take a second, to talk to her alone, but he also knew that he needed to talk to his grandmother. He rounded the corner, and immediately heard the sound of his father sighing loudly, and he stopped short in front of the door as Harper smashed into him. The soft collision against him made him turn sharply as he made sure she was alright.
"What did you stop for?" She asked, her voice was showing her irritation as he pushed her softly backwards.
"I'm not ready to go in there yet."
"Why not?" She asked, glancing around Richie to the door. "Why do we need to find your grandmother anyway? They're trying to diagnose your brother, how are we going to help that?"
"No." Richie replied as he took a slow, deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment. "She probably has the results of the tests that they did last night."
"Tests?"
"For a match for Greyson. She and my father were going to be tested and if there was a match, the surgery was going to be scheduled immediately."
"And you wanted to know which one of them were a match?" She said, trying to understand his reasoning.
"I wanted to know if I was a match." Richie said as he turned away from her, taking a step toward the room.
"Wait." She said, grabbing his shoulder, he turned his head as he stood by the doorway. "You were tested too?"
"Yes." He said as he watched her eyes, a slight sense of panic slipped over her features as she tried to understand what Richie was saying.
"You're volunteering yourself for a surgery that you don't know if it'll work?" She said as she watched Richie nod his head. "A surgery that is very often more dangerous for the person donating than it is for the person receiving?" He asked.
"I guess." Richie said as he shrugged.
"You just, volunteered up one of your organs for your brother?"
"Yes." Richie said, shaking his head. "Is that so hard to believe?"
"Um…" She paused for a second as she swallowed hard. "I just…" She shrugged as she watched the curiosity in his eyes.
"You just what?" he asked as she became slightly defensive, the way she was looking at him, he was starting to feel very self conscious, and he shook his head as he stared into her eyes. "You just figured that I'm not a risk taker, huh?" he asked as she reached out for his arm, grabbing him before he walked away.
"I've known you for less than twenty four hours, Richard." She said as she held his arm tightly. "I can't make an assumption like that."
"We can talk about this later." He said, swallowing as he started to walk, her hand still holding his arm tightly as he rounded the corner and walked into the room.
The room really wasn't much of a library, two walls covered in books, it was a closet compared to the library at Boston General. Derek and Ellis sat on opposite ends of the table, staring into books as they flipped pages and read through the various cases.
"It's about time you two stopped your little bickering fit in the hallway and walked in here." Ellis said without looking up at the two that had entered the room.
"How did she…?" Harper started to ask as Derek continued to look through his book.
"Don't ask, she's got sonic hearing or something." Derek muttered. "I think it's got something to do with her being Satan, but none of us are completely sure." He said as Harper just stared.
"It would be a lot more helpful if you'd keep your trap shut, and tried to figure out what killed your son's liver instead of trying to be a vaudeville entertainer." Ellis replied as she flipped another page.
"A vaudeville entertainer? What is this, the twenties? Maybe if you dug yourself out of your dinosaur hole, you could help figure it out. Are you over there looking up fossil recipes, or are you trying to diagnose? Because I don't see you coming up with any ideas." Derek snapped back as he looked up at Ellis, who just continued to flip pages.
Harper's head was snapping between the two doctors as they snapped at one another, and eventually her eyes made their way back to Richie. "Are they always like this to one another?"
"It's their little way of dealing with things." He said as he shrugged. "That little exchange was mild, practically a hug for the two of them." He said as if they were not in the room.
"What about hemochromatosis?" Derek asked as he looked up at Ellis.
"His iron levels are fine." She mumbled under her breath as she slammed the book closed, making Richie and Harper jump. "So you're awake?" She sighed loudly as Richie stood awkwardly in the doorway. "And who is this? This isn't Lisa. Are you trying to be your father? Flitting around the hospital with pretty little things on your arm until you get tired of them?"
"I was never like that, Ellis." Derek said as he continued to read through a book. "That's Harper." He said, looking up at her, their eyes meeting. "Richie and Lisa broke up nearly a month ago." He shook his head.
"Oh yes! The girl who wanted to wait…"
"GG." Richie whispered.
"Richard is a good boy, trying to be patient with his little flower, until he…"
"GG!" Richie growled.
"He walked in on the little flower while she was in the middle of…"
"Ellis." Derek said, her face snapping in Derek's direction. "I think she gets the point."
"I get the point." Harper nodded as Richie stood beside her with his face in his hands, his ears burning red.
"Harper is the young lady who helped Richie and Greyson. She's a third year med student, pretty smart." Derek said with a polite smile to her.
"She caused the accident." Richie said, watching as Harper glared at him, only to find that mischievous glint in his eyes, her glare softened as she elbowed him.
"Ow…" Richie groaned as he grabbed his side, catching Ellis' attention.
"I like her already." She said with a smile as she opened another book. "Third year med student, huh?"
"Yes, Ma'am." She said politely as Derek chuckled to himself.
"What are you laughing at, Doctor Doom?" Ellis asked as she glared across the table at Derek.
"Nothing." Derek said as he glared at her. "Why don't you two sit down and help. We can use all the eyes we can get." Derek said as he smiled at Harper and Richie as they smiled and walked to the corner to get a chair. As they moved toward the chairs, Harper's eyes suddenly lit up. She turned and grabbed Richie's arm and started pulling him out of the room.
"What was that?" Derek asked as the two of them disappeared out the door and into the hallway.
"Sometimes women have needs, Derek." Ellis muttered without looking up at him. "But then again, what do you know about that?" She said as Derek continued to glare at her, as she only smirked and flipped to another page.
Harper dragged Richie into the hallway and turned him around sharply. His arm flew from her hand as he backed himself against the wall on the other side of the doorway. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Your brother." She said as she looked at him with a perplexed glance. "Your brother…"
"My brother? What about him?"
"I think I know what's wrong with him." She said as she stared into his eyes, trying not to smile, she didn't know what else to say.
"You think you know what's wrong with him? Then why did you drag me out here? They're the doctors, not me." He said as he turned toward the room.
"No." She said, grabbing his arm. "They not going to listen to me. I'm just a med student. Doctors never listen to a med student. Not big time doctors like them, I'm sure they've already ruled it out." She whispered
"They'll listen to you. What's the worst that could happen?"
"I embarrass myself in front of two world famous surgeons. That's a great idea."
"Give me a break, it's my father and grandmother. I embarrass myself in front of them on a daily basis."
"Richard, I can't." Harper said as she felt him tugging on her arm. "Richard! Stop!"
"This is my brother's life. If you have any clue on how to make him better, I want you to tell me right now. Put your goddamned fucking pride on hold for ten seconds and just tell me what you think is wrong with him!" Richie exclaimed as he grabbed her arm, feeling her pull away from him, he felt guilty for being so forceful, her eyes showing a tinge of fear within them. "Please!" he begged.
"His eyes." She whispered as she turned toward away from him.
"There's something wrong with his eyes?"
"No, we have to check his eyes."
"Greyson's?"
"Yes." She replied. "We have to check for copper build up in his eyes. Wilson's disease, it's a hereditary disease caused by the inability for the liver to rid the body of copper. Through the person's life, the copper builds up in their system and causes liver failure, kidney failure, psychological disorders. It has to be Wilson's!"
"Wilson's disease?" Richie asked as he looked toward the room.
"Yes. Your dad and grandmother would know about it. It's very rare though, which is why I think it's a long shot."
"A long shot is better than no shot!" Richie said as he held his hand out to her. "I want you to tell them." Richie said as he moved his fingers.
"You can tell them. I… I should go. My dad is probably wondering why I'm not back yet." She said as she took a step backwards.
"No." Richie said as he reached farther for her. "Please?" He begged. "I need you to do this. I need you to tell them, I'm not knowledgeable in this stuff. I'm just a kid. You're in med school. Tell them."
"Richard."
"Tell them please?" Richie said as he sighed. "Please?"
"You have to go with me."
"I'll go with you." Richie said as he nodded toward the room.
"And you're not a kid." She said as she shook her head. "You're only a couple of years younger than me, and not very far behind me in stubbornness."
"Stop flirting with me, and save my brother's life." He said with a smirk as he held his hand out to her, he watched as her cheeks blushed and her jaw dropped slightly.
"You are so full of yourself." She said as she laughed out loud, taking his hand.
"You have no idea." He said as he gripped her hand tightly, and the two of them walked down the hallway a bit, entering the room.
"Did you kids get it all out of your system?" Ellis said as she continued to read the book in front of her.
"I hope you used protection." Derek muttered as Ellis snickered from across the table.
"I'm too young to be a great grandparent." She sighed as she flipped a page.
"Are you two done?" Richie asked as they both looked up at the two of them standing before the table.
"I think so." Ellis said as she looked over to Derek. "You?"
"I think I'm just about done." Derek nodded. "So why the big rush out of here?" He said as he watched the anxious looks on their faces. "What?" He asked as he tilted his head. "You guys are…"
Richie nudged Harper. "Wilson's disease." She blurted out, watching Derek and Ellis stare at her blankly for a moment. Both doctors stared at her, her eyes flashing between Derek and Ellis. "Did you…"
"I heard you." Ellis said as she glanced to Derek. "What do you think, Shepherd?" She asked as he continued to stare at her.
"Have you had his copper levels tested?" Derek asked as he tried to remember.
"I…" Ellis mumbled as she tried to remember.
Richie nudged Harper again. "His eyes." She said as they both looked up at her. "Check Greyson's eyes." She said as she watched the recognition flash over the two doctor's faces. Kayser-Fleischer rings, copper rings around his iris. They should be visible." she said as Derek nodded.
"Well, there's only one way to find out." Derek said as he stood up. He held out his hand to shake Harper's. "If you get this, I owe you." He said as he shook Harper's hand.
"What are you going to give her, Shepherd, your first born child?" Ellis said without thinking, an awkward silence filling the room.
"Let's go see." Derek said as he started for the door. "Future Doctor Sullivan, if you'd like to assist?" he said with a nod toward the door.
"Hell yeah!" She said excitedly as she took a step, shaking her head as she cringed. "I mean, um sure." She said as she followed Derek out. Derek walked quickly with Harper right behind him, when Richie went to follow however, he felt a strong hand on his shoulder.
"GG?" He said as he turned toward his grandmother as she stared up at him, her stature much smaller than his, he looked down at her, standing nearly a foot shorter than him.
"You think you're a man now, do you? No longer a little boy?" She said, her voice was strong and foreign, as she stared him into the eyes.
"Yes."
"You're an adult. Standing up to me like that. You should be proud of yourself. It didn't take half as long as I thought it would." She said as she watched him stand, taking a step back.
"What are you talking about?" Richie asked as Ellis shook her head.
"You're the boss now, Richard." She said as she turned and stepped to the table. She reached for a drawer, and pulled it out, lifting three folders from within it. She turned toward her grandson and stepped toward him. "You stood up to me and you made a valid point. Your mother couldn't have handled the disappointment of knowing that she wouldn't be a candidate for donation for Greyson."
"GG, you're scaring me." He whispered.
"You're an adult now, you can make adult decisions. You can also make adult announcements." Ellis said sternly. "That is why you're going to be the one to tell your parents that of the three tested, you're the only valid candidate for donation, Richard. It's going to be up to you to save your brother's life." She said, giving him a stern stare as she watched his jaw drop just slightly.
"GG." He whispered.
"I have to check on your brother." She said, turning on her heel, she walked out of the room briskly, leaving her grandson with the three lab folders in his hand and his jaw hanging open in shock.
