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"Well it seems like that went as to be expected in my opinion." Jackson commented over facetime.
After leaving Liam's house George and I did some sightseeing to calm me down which helped immensely.
"At least you were able to get some sightseeing in." April tried to cheer me up.
"Yeah it was a pretty great afternoon." Smiling at George. "And tomorrow we begin our first day of touring Florence."
"Bring back cool souvenirs." Alex shouted from the background.
"Only if you're good." Giggling. Though I had everyone's' souvenirs planned out in my head.
Now we were back at the villa and resting before bed. It was nice to relax after such an eventful morning.
"And you've heard nothing yet from Liam?" Meredith asked me.
"No, but to be fair he has a lot to digest. And I left him with my contact information." Giving out a little sigh. I wasn't sure if I wanted Liam in my life or not. But I wasn't sure if it would hurt more if he decided to not have anything to do with me.
"Just remember no matter what happens you still have us." Derek gently smiled.
"That is true, and I am so thankful." Truthfully revealing to them all.
"And one crack about being emotional and you aren't getting a present." Smirking at Alex.
"Oh man." He whined and it made me laugh.
"We miss you all so much." George said.
"Yeah…I can't wait to be home." Smiling at all of them and meaning it. They were my home now. No matter what.
"You bought way too many souvenirs babe." George grimaced as he carried our, well my bags, into the hotel room. The day had been amazing, but tiring as we toured through Florence.
"Yes but this just shows how strong you are." Sweetly saying as I batted my eyes.
George snorted "Nice save honey." As he set everything down.
"Wasn't it though?" Replying as I pecked his lips.
"You're lucky you're wonderful." He said as he wrapped his arms around me pulling me close.
"Such a line." Grinning back as I wrapped my arms around his neck. I stood on my tiptoes and gave him a kiss.
The kiss quickly escalated and before I knew what was going on George had me on the bed with me pinned underneath him.
"Best part of the vacation right?" Grinning up at him.
"Oh definitely." He beamed as he found the sweet spot on my collarbone.
Then the doorbell rang.
We immediately stilled.
"Did you order anything?" He asked me in puzzlement.
"No." Equally baffled as I crawled out from under him and heard the whine escape his lips.
"You'll live." Laughing as I went to the door.
"No I won't." He groaned so dramatically.
My laughter was still in full force when I went to answer the door but it instantly died down when I opened the door and saw who was on the other side.
"Mr. Barton." Croaking out in surprise.
Suddenly I prayed to God I didn't look like I had been making out with my boyfriend on the bed.
I could practically hear George bolt up in panic.
God this was weird.
"What…what are you doing here?" Asking him.
"You told me where you were staying. I thought I would come by, I hope that's okay." He said with some hesitation.
"Yes, yes of course, come in." Opening the door further to invite him in.
While I was talking with Liam, George was smart enough to straighten up the bed and make it look like our make out session never happen.
I loved that he was so intelligent.
"Mr. Barton." George nodded when the both of us came into the living room.
"Uh we can talk out on the balcony." Gesturing outside.
Liam nodded and followed me out onto the terrace. I motioned for him to sit first, then I followed.
"What can I help you with?" Politely inquiring.
"I've had some time to think about…well everything." He sighed and rubbed his forehead.
"Okay." Saying because I didn't know how to go with this, but suddenly I was nervous.
A tiny part of me was afraid of losing something that I never had the chance to know.
"There are a lot of things I wished I could have done differently when it came to your father. Things I thought I would have a chance to fix…but now I won't." He ended the last part so quietly I thought I must have imagined him saying it.
I was silent. I didn't know what to say. Or how to bring comfort to him. He was a stranger to me.
That last thought made me depressed.
"But I have a second chance." Liam looked at me "I couldn't fix things with Kalen, but I can fix them with you. I can make things right and build a proper relationship. If…if that's what you would like Charlotte."
Strangely I felt hope stir in me. I wasn't expecting to feel that. But I wasn't about to let him off the hook so easily.
"If I were to let you into my life it will not be easy. I've been hurt. A lot. You will need to earn my trust and respect. I will not just give it to you just because you are my grandfather. You're right, you do have a lot of things to make up for. I cannot forget the way you locked my father out of your life because he picked love over your logic." Sternly explaining to him.
"And if I am in your life then I will talk about my mother and her life." Adding the last part very seriously. I wanted to stress to him that I would not stop talking about my mother just because he was uncomfortable with his mistakes.
"I completely understand and I want to try Charlotte. I want to try and make this right. Not only for you and me, but for Kalen."
I bit my lip and nodded. For some reason the tears came bubbling to the surface.
"I'll get us some water." Standing up and rushing into the room.
George came to my side instantly.
"Hey you okay?" He asked placing his hands on my arms.
"Yes I am just getting us some water, please just keep him busy. He…he wants to be in my life." Stumbling over to my words trying to keep calm "And I can't figure out right now if that's a great thing or a horrible idea, so please keep him busy." Stressing to him as I grabbed glasses.
George quickly hurried out the door and went to Liam.
Letting out a sigh at doing what I asked, I went to gather everything and put it on a tray that was in our room.
Then I took an extra minute to have an panic freak out in the bathroom. Because yes, a door was now closed in my life, but a whole new one just opened up and I had no idea what to do with it or where to go with it!
After smoothing my hair I left the bathroom and grabbed the tray. I walked slowly so not to drop anything. I could hear George and Liam talking out on the balcony.
I know it was wrong to eavesdrop…but I was going to do it anyway.
"She lives with all of us back in Seattle. She is so amazing. I don't know how I managed to catch her eye." George was telling Liam.
In a second I knew I turned pink.
George!
I had to bite my lips together to keep my smiling from bursting.
"She has a way with people. Anyone who meets her immediately likes her. She is just has a special pull. She is wonderful, caring, honest, wholesome." George said.
"She does seem remarkable. She reminds me of her father." Liam said softly and it tugged at my heart.
"Charlotte is so important to everyone that loves her…which is why I need to say this. If you ever hurt her, if you break her heart, or let her down then you will not only be dealing with me, but everyone back home in Seattle. There are twenty people I can list off of the top of my head that would go to bat for her and defend her against anyone that would hurt her." George's tone turned icy at his little threat to Liam.
I blanched. On one hand it was completely inappropriate for George to be threatening Liam, but at the same time it was…kind of sweet? I was very flattered by it.
Was that weird?
Probably.
And I probably should step in.
"Here we are!" Saying a little too loudly as I stepped out onto the terrace.
Placing the tray on the table I placed a glass in front of Liam and poured him some water.
"If you would like some tea or coffee I could call room service." Asking him.
"No, I don't want to be any trouble. This is fine." He smiled.
"Well we haven't had dinner yet love." Turning to glance at George before going back to Liam "Maybe we could all grab dinner? If you haven't eaten yet I mean." Rushing out.
What was wrong with me!? I had no control over my thoughts or mouth apparently.
I met George's eyes and for a millisecond I saw him internally screaming at me before he composed himself.
"Yes, we would love for you to join us if you're free." George smiled at Liam.
"Well I wouldn't want to be any trouble." Liam started but then trailed off.
"It's no trouble plus it would be a good way for us to start getting to know each other." Telling him.
"Alright well that sounds perfect!" Liam grinned at the both of us.
He looked genuinely happy at the prospect of us spending time together.
The child in me was looking for something to grasp onto.
"Great well you know the area better than us. How about you pick the restaurant?" George suggested to him.
"I know a great place, local and all the produce is fresh." Liam stood up.
"Sounds perfect." Stilling grinning.
This should be interesting…
Dinner surprisingly wasn't a total disaster.
George let Liam and I do most of the talking, occasionally filling in here and there. Though we did evade exactly just how we met, and the age difference between us…
Oh, and I left out all the horrible things I had to endure while I was growing up in the system.
And I left out John and the recent trial.
And the fact that I could see and talk to dead people.
Other than that, completely honest dinner.
More than once I caught myself glancing at Liam out of the corner of my eye.
He reminded me of my father. A few times during dinner my mind was playing tricks on me on the little things he did with his face that made me think of dad.
I tried to not to let myself get too attached.
George and I were leaving in two days to go back to our lives in Seattle. I didn't expect Liam to pick up everything and move countries for me. Nor did I want him to. We didn't know each other.
But what would happen when we left and Liam stayed here?
At the end of dinner Liam offered to spend tomorrow with us and give us the off-beaten path tour of Florence.
George and I heartily accepted. I still needed to know how I felt about this man.
Time did what it has a habit of doing. Slipping away from you.
Before I knew it, it was the end of the next day and I was worn-out. The day hadn't been a wash like I kind of expected it to be. Liam turned out to be great tour guide.
Plus….it kind of felt nice to spend time with him.
Currently we were sitting out on the terrace. George was inside packing for our flight back home tomorrow.
"It has been an interesting, but exceptional trip." Telling Liam with a smile.
"Yes, it has been an interesting past few days." He commented with a smirk, but it quickly faded "I do wish you both could stay longer."
"George needs to get back to the hospital, and I am already a week behind in my classes for the new spring semester." Sadly replying. Deep down inside I didn't want to leave just yet either.
"Well school certainly is an important thing. We wouldn't want you falling behind." Liam said seriously.
It had been quite the shock for him when I told him that, while only 18, I was already a sophomore in college at UW.
He made a comment about me must being extremely exceptional, which George backed him up on. To which I just blushed.
Liam commented that he would love to hear me play sometime. The comment made me giddy.
"You will let me know when you get back to Seattle okay, right?" Liam asked for the fourth time.
"Yes I will." Smiling at him.
"Charlotte…" He began but my swift gaze stopped him.
I had informed Liam that everyone called me Charlie….everyone but George. Which I found odd, but I didn't mind.
"Right, Charlie." He corrected "Well I was thinking that if it was alright with you, I could come and visit for the Easter holiday in March, again if that's alright with you." Liam spoke nervously.
A stunned silence overtook me.
It was a surprise, but not an unwelcome one.
"Yes." Finally speaking "I'd like that very much. I'd love for you to meet everyone back home." Saying with a small smile.
Liam's face broke into a grin and my chest tightened once again in childlike hopefulness.
"I'm looking forward to it." He said still smiling "I can't wait to see and know everything about your life."
I could feel my smile falter, but I quickly fixed it before Liam could notice. Now my chest tightened for a different.
Everything?
A dark part, deep inside of me where my self-doubt and loathing were located told me that when Liam found out everything…he would leave my life.
The next few days flew by in a blur. Between coming home from Italy and jumping back into school and work I barely had time to think of anything, let alone stop and see George and everyone in the house.
Still, I loved being back home.
Liam and I had managed to talk twice on the phone. The time difference made it a little complicated, but we managed.
It felt good to find out more about him. When we were in Italy all he wanted to know about was me, and while I was vague in most of answers, I had managed to give him enough I think?
Now I was turning the tables and focusing on him.
Every time I thought about Liam the doom cloud in my mind formed saying not to get attached. That when he learned more, when he learned the truth about so much of my life, he'd be gone from it.
But I managed to push it away. I could deal with that at Easter.
Meanwhile everyone and their mother around me was fluttering about because of the hospital board exams that were coming up.
Most nights everyone gathered at Meredith's house to study. Poor Lexie had become their personally encyclopedia because of her photographic memory. George and I helped and quizzed where we could since George and Lexie would not be taking their boards until next year.
For the first time since I had known them, the calm, and cool doctors I had known for months were now becoming frazzled.
But I suppose exams will do that to a person.
I was informed that other things happened in the week when we were gone. There was an incident involving Dr. Bailey, Derek, and Zola on the topic of how to do a black child's hair.
When Meredith told me the whole story I was laughing so hard and felt so much pity for poor Zola having to look a mess because of Derek.
Derek though, now assured me he knew how to properly do his child's hair.
Mark, seeing how Jackson was so stressed from his boards, tried to set him up on a random hookup.
Jackson told me that it did not go well.
Mrs. Avery also picked the perfect time to visit the hospital and her son with a surgery, and stressed Jackson out even more.
I was a little disappointed I wasn't there to help him with his mother.
Oh, and Meredith quietly pulled me aside and told me some shocking, yet kind of not so shocking news.
Owen had cheated on Cristina.
Meredith told in hoping to avoid any awkward situations, or my luck I would be able to see the memories if I accidentally touched one of them and saw the pain connected to the affair. I planned to steer clear of the subject entirely.
I liked Owen I really did, but when I found out a part of me wanted to punch him in the face when I was told he cheated on Cristina. And I know Meredith certainly felt the same way.
Things never slowed down with these people.
"You liked the tile? And the master bedroom suite? And you like the way the French doors open out onto the deck?" Derek asked Meredith. Bombarding her with question after question about the house.
"You mean the now level deck?" Sarcastically commenting from my place in the backseat next to Zola.
My car was currently in the dealer for a checkup, so I carpooled with Derek, Meredith, and Zola to the hospital. I planned to kill some time there before heading over for my shift at Joes' this afternoon. George, or whoever was available would give me a ride back home afterwards.
"Not even going to dignify that with a response." Derek responded.
"It's not my fault you can't build a deck." Smirking.
"Yes I love everything so far. I especially love that I didn't have to do anything." Meredith injected and cooled down the back and forth sarcasm fight that was about to ensue.
Next to me baby girl let out a meow.
"Yes meow. That's right Zola, that's what a cat says." Meredith smiled at her before turning back to Derek "Honestly, when the house is done just bring me out for the big reveal."
"You want a big reveal?" Derek questioned in mild shock.
"I want a big reveal." She said in earnest, but I still raised my eyebrows in confusion nonetheless.
Zola then let out a rawr and I smiled at her.
"Good, Zola, rawr. That's what a lion says." Meredith told her.
Looking back up out of the windshield my face paled.
"Holy shit." Was all I could say.
"Hey!" Derek exclaimed, turning around to look at me.
"No cursing in front of the baby!" Meredith said to me.
Eyes wide, I pointed forward to get them to see what I was seeing.
A goddamn lion in the crosswalk right in front of the car.
"Is that a…" Meredith seemed to have trouble forming the word.
"That's a lion." Derek said completely puzzled.
"You both see this right? There is no need for me to go on medication just yet." Speaking to the both of them as I leaned forward to get a better look.
"No, no you're good so far. We see the same thing you see." Derek replied.
"A lion." Meredith added.
"In front of the car." Putting in my words.
Outside I heard the faint sounds of panic as the lion began to roar and move.
Meredith and Derek kept looking back at each other and me to see that this was still real. Meanwhile, Zola kept making rawring noises from her car seat and laughing.
"It walked across the road, right in front of us." Derek told Mark in the packed elevator. Both men holding their kids as I was squished next to Derek.
Mark, however, didn't seem to be paying attention.
"I feel like Julia and I are at a crossroads." He pondered out loud and I turned to the side so Mark wouldn't see my eye roll.
Out of the corner of my eye I spotted Lexie backed into the corner of the elevator. I tried to wave but there wasn't much room between me and the elevator wall.
"It's been five months. Maybe it's time to take the next step and ask her to move in." Mark continued.
A churning sensation developed in my stomach as my skin prickled in place. Glancing back I tried to get a good look at Lexie.
My heart dropped when I saw the upset on her face.
"Did you hear what I said? It was a lion!" Derek laughed in disbelief because he couldn't believe that Mark wasn't freaking out about the fact that we had seen a lion in freaking Seattle.
The elevator dinged and everyone made the move to get out.
"I'm actually going to grab something from the cafeteria. I'll catch up with you later." Telling Derek and Mark as everyone shuffled out of the elevator.
Both nodded and accepted my lie and it felt like forever before everyone left and the doors closed again leaving just me and Lexie.
"Hey are you okay?" Gently questioning as I moved over to her.
"He's going to ask her to move in with her?" Lexie said perplexed as she stared into space. Not really believing it. I wasn't sure if I even believed it.
"I suppose so." Sadly replying.
Lexie was quiet for a long time.
"I thought, I just mean…I always thought…" Her voice broke off.
Stepping forward I wrapped her in my arms "I know. I know I thought that too. I mean I haven't been here for more than a couple months but just seeing you two and…" Trying to find the words "It just doesn't make sense." Truthfully telling her.
I wanted to tell Mark not to do this. I wanted to scream at him to not make this mistake but deep down I knew that it wasn't my place. Not after everything that had happened between us when we had that fight about Julia. Especially not after everything he had done for me and George and sticking up for us.
But God I hated how miserable Lexie felt because of this. I hated how this was wrong. And I knew that it was wrong, but I couldn't say anything.
So all I could do was console Lexie and secretly want to talk some sense into Mark.
I was sitting in the attendings lounge with Derek. He was doing paperwork for some patients while Lexie was off doing pre-op care on their latest patient. I was currently picking at my nails and trying not to say anything about a certain man who said he wanted to move in with his current girlfriend.
Letting out a sigh I dropped my hands and crossed my arms.
"Alright that's the fourth sigh in several minutes. What's going on?" Derek closed his casefile and gave me his full attention.
"What nothing?" Brushing him off "I just wish it was time for my shift. Sometimes this place can be a little suffocating."
Especially because of the idiotic people in it.
Derek said nothing. He kept quiet as my nerves became frayed and I bounced my leg up and down.
"It's not right and you know it." Finally caving.
His face showed confusion.
"Mark and Julia. It's not right. They shouldn't be moving in together and you know it." Elaborating further.
"Charlie." Derek sighed.
"You know I'm right. Look me in the eyes and tell me I'm wrong." Sitting up and staring straight into his face.
Derek was quiet for a moment before saying "Okay, you're not wrong but it's not my place."
"Not your place?" Exclaiming "You're Marks best friend! Of course it's your place! Especially if he is about to make a mistake, and especially if we both know that he still has feelings for Lexie, even if he can't see it."
"This is Marks life and he deserves to live it himself." Derek told me.
"Even if he is going to be making a huge mistake?" Questioning "And what about Lexie? Doesn't her happiness count too? Derek we both know deep down they still love each other, and they should be together." Heatedly telling him.
Derek was about to respond when people came into the lounge. One of them being one of my new least favorite people in the world.
"Torres, Robbins." Derek said in a hello.
Callie stopped short when she saw me.
We had not spoken since her little blabber mouth, snitch situation a few weeks ago.
"Lovely to see you again Arizona." Smiling at her before turning to Derek "I think I need some air. I suddenly feel suffocated." Pettily remarking to my comment earlier as I brushed past Callie and left the room.
My luck seemed to be in short supply because as I headed out to find George to see if his surgery was almost done, I ran into Owen.
Crap.
"Charlie! How are you?" He was all smiles and I had the sudden urge to claw is eyes out.
"Owen." Clipping out to him and moving past him, leaving him in confusion.
"Charlie is everything okay? Are you alright?" He jogged to keep up with me.
I let out a bitter laugh "You're asking me that. That's rich. I would think you should be asking someone else that." Stopping to look him dead in the eyes.
Instantly he paled.
"Meredith told me. She said she didn't want me to accidentally bring it up, or God-forbid see it because of my abilities." Coldly telling him "But don't panic, she's told no one else, and trust me that's not for you. That's for Cristina."
Shoving past him I tried to get away from him. This place really was starting to feel suffocating.
"Charlie please just let me." Owen tried to speak.
"Yeah no I'm going to stop you right there." Stopping mid walk and swinging around at him which I could tell startled him "I don't care about your excuses. I'm not even the one you should be explaining yourself to. Maybe you should, I don't know, be doing that to your wife?" Hissing at him "Since it's her that you cheated on. Not me." Narrowing my eyes at him.
"We're done talking about this. If you want sympathy or redemption go find it somewhere else." Icily shutting him down before walking away.
Time seemed to speed up.
It was cold.
I didn't know where I was, but it felt cold.
The air felt clean.
No, not clean.
I smelled smoke.
Opening my eyes I found myself in the woods.
Scanning my surroundings I felt like had been here before.
Had I been here before?
My eyes took in the forest, the trees.
There was something different.
The smoke drew closer. The closer it got the more my lungs itched with the stench of it.
The sound of cracking and whirling filled the silent air.
I had been here before.
My feet moved of their own accord. My ears listened to the noises as they guided me to whatever was waiting.
The closer I got the worse the smoke became.
It became heavy and patchy.
Things had been on fire.
The noises grew louder.
I came upon a clearing littered with machine parts. Engine parts. Something had been torn apart. Crashed.
"What the?" Questioning into the emptiness.
What had happened here?
Metal littered the forest floor.
My blood curdled.
Bending down I kneeled between the leaves and dirt. My hands searching the earth for something. I felt blind. I didn't know what I was looking for.
I felt something soft.
Soft?
The clarity came back to my eyes. The item in my hands became clear.
It was a fleece jacket.
What?
The jacket was cold. Like it had been discarded long ago.
What was it doing here among all these various machine parts? With the smoke and fire and crackling.
Turning it over I inspected it for clues.
My hands stilled when I found embroidery on the front of the jacket reading,
Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital
I bolted up. The breath coming out of me in short bursts. It took a moment for my mind to adjust and stabilize.
No woods. You're home. Safe in your room.
I was back in Seattle not in some forest in God knows where. Picking up my phone I checked the time.
1:26 am.
Grabbing my head in my hands I tried to be calm. This was the second dream I had about the woods and the smoke.
Only this time the jacket.
The jacket.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
What was going on?
Was this all connected to the hospital somehow? Was something terrible going to happen?
More importantly,
Who was pointing me to this?
Who wanted me to see this?
Suddenly being in the dark; alone in my room didn't seem so appealing.
Lifting my blanket, I got up and made my way to the door. Opening it I swiftly made my way down the attic stairs and made my way for George's door.
Without a second thought I opened the door to his room and quietly shut it before anyone could come out of their rooms.
Letting my eyes adjust to the room I found George asleep in his bed. Padding quietly across the floor I took him in.
He was peaceful when he slept. A little smirk came to my lips as I noticed his hair sticking in different directions. I told him he'd need a haircut soon.
Reaching out I gently shook his shoulder.
"George." Whispering to him as I shook him a few times "George."
He stirred and mumbled out words of nonsense before he opened his eyes and saw me standing over him.
"Charlotte? What's going on?" Rubbing his eyes in confusion as he sat up, now fully awake.
Chewing my lip I told him "I had a nightmare, and I don't want to talk about it, but I don't want to be alone. Can I stay with you tonight?" Nervously asking him as I continued to chew my lip.
George reached forward and grasped my hand in his "Come here babe." He said kindly as I climbed into bed and cuddled next to him.
At once I was at peace.
"Thank you." Whispering against his chest.
George's arms wrapped tightly around me as he placed a kiss on my forehead.
"Love you." Saying to him as I felt myself begin to drift back off to sleep.
"Love you too." He told me softly as I slipped into darkness and what I prayed would be a dreamless sleep.
Someone was stroking my hair. My eyes didn't open at first, but I smelled George's familiar scent and I knew I didn't have to panic.
Opening my eyes I found George looking down at me as he still had me cuddled to him.
"Good morning." He kissed my lips.
"Morning." Beaming at him thinking I could totally wake up like this every day "What time is it? I don't want to make you late."
George turned and glanced at his alarm clock "Almost six-thirty. You're fine."
"Thank you for letting me spend the night."
"Anytime." He gave me a soft smile "Do you still not want to talk about the nightmare?" He hesitantly inquired.
Shaking my head I buried myself back into his chest trying to push the images of forests and fleece jackets and the smell of smoke from my mind.
"Alright, no problem. Just wanted to see if you wanted to talk about it." He replied as he rubbed my back.
"Thank you but no thank you." Murmuring into his chest.
"No class today?" He continued to rub circles into my back.
"Nope, and no work." Lifting my head to look at him.
"We should get up." Sadly telling him.
"You should stay and rest a little longer."
"I'm up now." Shrugging my shoulders before I pecked his cheek then climbed out of bed.
Taking my hand, he opened the door and we left his room.
And ran right smack into Lexie and Meredith.
"Morning guys." Smiling at the both of them.
Both of their eyes were wide as they had witnessed me emerging from George's room while we were hand in hand.
"Good…good morning." Lexie managed to get out and I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep my laughing.
"Did you guys sleep well?" Meredith asked.
"Pretty good, though someone was a pillow hog." George looked in my direction.
"Then have more than two pillows!" Staring at him "Next time I'll bring one of mine you baby." Sticking my tongue out at him.
"So mature." He grinned.
"Isn't that why you love me?" Joking with him.
Turning back I found Meredith and Lexie staring at the pair of us like we were conjoined twins.
I imagine it was really, really weird to see us interacting like this. To George and me it was normal, but to the others it was different, new. Something they would need to get used to.
"Lexie do you want to take a shower first? I can wait since I'm off from class and work today." Trying to get things back to normal for their sake.
"Yeah, uh yeah thank you." She said.
"Better hurry up before Alex uses all the hot water." Smirking at her.
"Shut up." Alex said as he brushed passed us and went downstairs.
"Love you too." Calling out to him in a laugh. He flipped me off in response.
"Oh before I forget, tomorrow, is my first performance piece of the semester. You guys are still coming right?" Eyeing Lexie because I had planned this piece last minute with her in mind.
"Yeah if nothing comes up." Meredith and Lexie nodded.
"Thanks guys." Letting myself smile "I was thinking I might even record it and send it to Liam."
"That sounds nice Charlie." Lexie commented in a kind tone.
I don't know why but that made me blush a little.
"Well I'm going to go grab some coffee before Alex drinks it all." Joking as I have George's hand one last squeeze before heading downstairs.
"Whatever you are doing today you need to get down to the hospital." Jackson rushed out over the phone.
"Why? Oh God what's wrong?" Panicking
"No everyone is fine, but you need to see what's going on." He replied and my heartrate went back to normal.
"What? Jackson it's my day off and I have homework and a solo to practice for. What could be so important?"
"Hunt and Yang are out with the flu." Jackson began but I knew that was all a lie.
They were currently shut up in their apartment trying to fix their marriage that Owen broke.
"And in his absence, he made Sloan the acting Chief."
"No fucking way." Stopping dead as I began laughing out "Oh my God I'm grabbing my stuff and I'm there." Hanging up on him as I raced up to my room and grabbed my laptop and books so that I could try and work in some studying while I marveled at what a sideshow day this was going to be.
Letting out a whistle as I saw Mark I said, "Well don't you spiffy." Admiring him in his grey suit.
"Barton what are you doing here?" Mark was surprised.
"Just bumming around and doing homework." Tapping my laptop "Plus I wanted to see you in all your Chief glory." Smirking.
He let out a mega-watt grin "Everything you pictured right."
"Boy do you got that right." Joking as I caught eyes with Jackson.
"Hey Barton, quick opinion. If you were going to have lunch with the Chief would you title it, lunch with the Chief? Or beef with the Chief?" He questioned me as he stared at Jackson who only rolled his eyes.
"Lunch with the Chief, definitely." Saying seriously.
"You millennials." Mark waved us off.
"Here's an idea. Since Jackson could be spending this precision brain power to study for the boards and caring for patients, why don't I be your assistant for the day."
The suggestion stunned the both of them and it made a laugh burst from me.
"I have no problem with it. You'll find I'm very good at multitasking." Joking to them.
"You really want to spend the day like this?" Mark inquired as Jackson looked so hopefully at possibly being free for a few hours.
"Yeah." Shrugging "I don't have anything else to do except catch up on some homework which I can always do later this evening."
Mark looked from me to Jackson before saying "Only if you're okay with this Avery."
"Yes!" Jackson said a little too enthusiastically and I had to hide my laugh with a cough "Yes sure if Charlie doesn't mind."
"Go study." Shoving him away and taking his clipboard, but not before whispering to him "You owe me for this."
The poor kid practically fled down the hall.
"So, what now boss?" Turning to Mark with a smile.
This place really was dramatic. Sure, there was more to the job of Mark acting-in Chief than I thought. Earlier in a meeting between Dr. Webber, Dr. Bailey, and Meredith I thought Dr. Bailey was going to take a swing at Mark after nixing their organ donor surgery.
See, dramatic. This place was like a soap opera.
But now it was lunch time and we were currently waiting to see if anyone would have beef with the Chief. I just sat back and ate my lunch while working on homework.
"You're still coming to my performance piece tomorrow night right?" Not risking glancing up at him so he wouldn't see why I wanted him and Lexie at this performance.
"I was there for the last one, what makes you think I would miss this one?" Mark said.
"The last one you went to by accident because you intended to confront me about my secret, clandestine relationship." Deadpanning to him, now giving him my full attention.
"True, but I was still there wasn't I?" He countered back and I rolled my eyes and decided to drop it.
"No one on the schedule for lunch?" Mark asked.
I shook my head.
"See this is why it needed to be called beef with the Chief." He sighed in disappointment.
"Look I know you're stressed out about this about being your one shot to show everyone that you can do this, but dude you need to take it down a notch."
"What?" Mark furrowed his brows.
"Mark you're acting like this puffed-out chest guy and that isn't you. You keep putting on airs to get people to see this new you, but it's not you." Telling him.
"People respect you and your work, and they like you when you're yourself. Not this wannabe Chief trying to be this mixture of Derek, Owen, and Dr. Webber." Explaining to him "Seriously just be yourself, not what you think you need to be."
"She's right you know." Derek said as he hovered over Mark.
I cast him a smile before he continued talking with Mark about a patient to which I tuned out because medical talk was white noise to me at this point.
After about two minutes I began to hear this peculiar noise. I thought it was just someone in the cafeteria, but it wasn't.
Lifting my head I slowly scanned the room to see what it was and where the source was coming from.
What was it?
I had heard it before. I knew I had.
Stopping to listen it became a little bit clearer.
Gears, whizzing and buzzing. But where was it coming from?
A crackle and hiss came from behind me and instantly I turned around to see something, but nothing was there.
"Charlie?" Derek questioned.
"Don't you hear it?" Turning back around to find the source.
"Hear what?" Mark inquired with hesitation.
"The gears. It's like machine parts, broken from their source." Explaining to them.
"You don't hear it?" Asking the both of them.
I could hear the tiniest bit of desperation in my voice.
"Charlie we don't hear anything." Derek gently told me.
I closed my eyes for a long moment and when I opened them the sound was gone.
Weird.
I saw Derek and Mark's worried faces staring at me.
"I got crappy sleep last night." Waving it off "I think it got to me for a moment." Smirking "Go back to talking about medical white noise."
I went back to my notebook but glanced back up immediately to find them still staring at me.
"I'm fine dads." Joking with a smile.
"You know we would make an attractive couple." Mark spoke and I let out a snort.
Derek shook his head "I'm not even going to go there." The comment made me giggle as I went back to my work.
They both went back to talking about the patient as I continued writing my notes when I a shot of cold burst into my blood freezing my blood.
My pen stilled in my hand.
The noises.
They were the same ones from my dreams.