Jackson kept stabbing his fork into his fruit bowl over and over.
"Stop that." Taking the fork from.
"You're a name brand. You're like the freaking Ritz-Carlton of surgery. Who cares if that's why they want you?" Alex said as he munched on a carrot.
"Because he knows deep down he's more of a roadside motel." Cristina commented lightly.
Rolling my eyes at the comment I handed Jackson back his fork.
"Oh, oh, oh, she's going for the soup." April said as she watched Holly move around the hospital cafeteria.
"Bold move she's gonna have to talk to the soup guy." Cristina said.
I had come to the hospital to have lunch with everyone. Meredith thought it would help Holly if she joined us. But they were watching her like a sideshow attraction. I looked to Meredith but she just shook her head.
"She's looking good. Looking confident." Jackson said in encouragement.
Catching his eye I mouthed a 'thank you' from where I sat between him and Alex. He gave me a wink in reply.
"And she bails. No soup for Holly." Alex responded when Holly turned around and walked away.
"She looks terrified." Lexie lamented "Why are you so mean?" She gestured to Mer "Would you just go buy her some soup?"
"Believe me I want to. This is killing me." Depressingly replying to Lexie.
"No it's not mean. She's going home soon, and Dr. Fincher says she has to learn to do things for herself." Meredith told her.
"She does, but it still sucks to see her second-guessing herself." Commenting.
Meredith shot me a poignant look.
"Hm you're finally gonna have to go to Boston for your interview." Cristina said to her and it brought a scowl on my face.
"I am not avoiding the interview." Meredith defended herself.
"Well, whenever you go, just beware they may judge you more on your personality than what really matters like your resume." April spoke.
"Meredith is not like you. Her personality doesn't suck." Alex said offhandedly.
Turning next to him I kicked him hard in the leg.
"Ow!" He yelped "What the hell was that for?"
"You know what that was for." Narrowing my eyes at him.
April smirked at us.
"Oh pizza station!" Jackson raised his voice as we all turned to watch Holly.
I bit my lip hopeful that Holly might interact with someone.
But then she turned around afraid. I sunk back down feeling dejected.
"Oh whatever!" April burst out taking me by surprise "You know what? Those programs can suck it. I'm tired of trying so hard not to be me. You know what? I like me."
"That makes one of us." Alex spoke again.
This time I turned to Alex and smacked him upside the head. Causing everyone to smirk and hide their laughter.
"Jesus!" He shouted, "Damnit kid!"
"Well if you'd learn to play nice with others we wouldn't have to keep doing this." Talking to him like he was a child.
"She makes it so easy." Alex rubbed the back of his head.
"So do you." Deadpanning.
At this point, Lexie snorted.
"Look you don't have to not be you. Just be a little less you." Jackson was saying to April but out of nowhere Mark came over and grabbed Jackson by his ear.
"Get up." He said.
"Mark!" Exclaiming.
"What are you doing?" Jackson questioned.
"Claire Hiatt just called to tell me you walked out on your interview." Mark let go of Jackson's ear "Call her back and apologize."
All of us now turned to watch this unfold.
"Look I respectfully withdrew my application." Jackson dismissed.
"You want me to drag you out by your ear?" Mark challenged.
"I." Jackson began but knew this was a losing battle.
Letting out a dejected sigh Jackson got up and left with Mark.
Fuming I knew I'd have to have a chat with Mark later.
Then to continue the weirdness Alex said, "Freaking Robbins." Before getting up and leaving us.
"What the?" Questioning to them.
Cristina just shrugged.
Holly made her way back to us looking pleased. Meredith and I smiled at her as she sat down. Then we glanced down at her tray.
"Uh so I didn't actually speak to anyone. But…I uh, did go to the self-service station. And it actually wasn't that hard." She smiled at us as we glanced at her plate full of desserts.
"What?" She asked. Her smile falling as her voice filled with self-doubt.
"Nothing, looks good." Meredith cheerily said.
Everyone else smiled and nodded at Holly.
"The important thing is that you did it by yourself." Reassuring Holly.
Her smile returned and it filled me with joy.
"Progress." She said to me.
"That's right. Progress." Still smiling, thinking she might be making more improvement.
As she happily ate her cookies, proud of herself, the rest of us tried to get the atmosphere back to normal.
"Hey love." George came up behind me.
"Hi." Grinning as he bent down and kissed me.
"Gross." Cristina rolled her eyes.
Suddenly I felt self-conscious but felt a little better as I caught Meredith elbowing her.
We caught eyes and I expressed my thanks. Like Jackson, she winked at me before going back to lunch.
"I got you you're sleeping pills for the plane." He handed me the prescription bag as he took an empty seat next to me.
"Thank you." Tucking the pills into my purse. It was several hours from here to New Orleans.
"Plane?" Meredith inquired confused.
Shit I knew I had forgotten to do something after I booked my flight.
"Yeah on Friday I'm going down to New Orleans to visit some old friends. I'm not sure if I told you about Mama Dee and her daughter, Delia, but they're family to me." Attempting to keep my tone light.
"When did you decide this?" Meredith questioned her full attention on me now.
"Yesterday. I'm sorry I completely forgot to tell you." Apologizing with sincerity "I booked the flight and just forgot about it with everything else going on." Briefly glancing at Holly before back to Meredith.
"What about school?" She lightly demanded.
"I have it all covered don't worry." Trying to pacify her.
"Wish I could go to the Big Easy." Cristina said.
"Why are you going?" Lexie asked.
"Work-related." Hoping that she would get the hint.
"Joe is sending you to New Orleans?" April's brows furrowed.
"My other job." Stressing to them "That one."
Everyone's eyes widened except for Holly who was in the dark about that particular piece of information about me.
"How long will you be gone?" Meredith resumed her questioning.
"I'll fill you in later." Hoping to close the subject as I glanced back to Holly who was watching us. Thankfully Meredith got the hint and dropped it.
George squeezed my hand under the table. I squeezed back and pecked his cheek before getting up.
"I need to catch Jackson but I'll see you all later. Holly, I'll see you later. Great job today." Smiling at her as I waved to everyone.
The truth was I lied again.
I was going to find Mark. But I didn't want to say that in front of Lexie because I didn't want her to think I was going to talk to him about them.
Nope, this time I was just going to yell at him for embarrassing Jackson.
Sending him a text I learned he was on the fifth floor doing post-op work.
"What's up little Barton? Come to bask in my company?" He greeted as he stood at the nurses' station.
"First off, hard no on that nickname. So never use it again. Second I'm here to yell at you so get ready."
"What?" Mark looked up from his paperwork baffled.
"Come on." Reaching up I was just barely able to grab him by his ear. I held it firmly in my hand and walked him down the hall as everyone stared at us.
Freaking giant.
"Barton let go!" Mark demanded.
"Nope." Not stopping till we reached an empty patient room.
Finally I let go of his ear. With a huff he stood up and crossed his arms in annoyance.
"Want to tell me what that was about?" Mark ordered.
"Oh was that embarrassing for you?" Sarcastically asking him "To be picked up by your ear in front of people you work with, no why would it be embarrassing? I'm sure Jackson felt just fine when you did it to him."
"Did the kid come and make you talk to me?" Mark snorted.
"No, I came here of my own accord because you shamed my friend when there was no need to." Matching his crossed arms.
"Avery is a big boy he can take it."
"Do you seriously not see what it's like to be in his shoes?" Rolling my eyes at his obviousness.
For a man who was supposed to be this intelligent surgeon most times, he was a real idiot. Though I said that in love because even though he was an idiot he was one of my idiots.
"His whole life the name Avery has defined him. You're an Avery so you need to be the best, the brightest, be better than everyone else. It's what always been expected of him. Jackson has always been trying to distance himself from his grandfather's name. To get people to see Jackson the great surgeon. Not Jackson, the Avery."
"Now he's going out to these job interviews desperately wanting people to see him not as an Avery but as a surgeon who has the skills to do the best damn job, because that's how he was trained, by you. So imagine his surprise when he goes on this job interview and it's going so well until his grandfather was brought up."
"Here he is thinking that this program might want him for his skills. But no. Turns out they want Harper Avery." Heatedly saying.
Mark's posture slacked as he listened to me "Turns out that Ms. Hiatt has been trying to land Mr. Avery as a guest lecturer at the university for years with no luck. Imagine how she thinks the tide has turned when Harper Avery's grandson comes in for an interview." My jaw clenching at Jackson's humiliation.
"He never mentioned that." Mark said in a mix of confusion and dejection.
"And why would he?" Countering back "It's humiliating Mark. And your little stunt in the cafeteria didn't help things either. You really want Jackson, your prodigy, to go back and interview at a place where they want him only for his last name?"
"No." Mark said ashamed.
"Good. Here's what you're going to do now." Telling him "You're going to go find Jackson and tell him that he doesn't have to reschedule his interview and kiss ass to Ms. Hiatt. You're going to tell him that he won't demean himself by going to a program that wants him only for his last name. That you will support him in whatever decision he makes, got it?"
Mark nodded.
"Glad you finally got it. I love you man, but sometimes you can be so dense." Cracking a joke.
He looked up at me and I burst out into giggles.
"Yeah, yeah I know you're always right." Mark waved off.
"Not always, just usually." Smirking at him.
Mark threw his arm around my shoulder and I blacked out.
Mark was laying on his stomach talking to Lexie.
Lexie was pinned under an airplane wing.
Oh God.
I tried shouting but they couldn't hear me.
I waved my hands and screamed in their faces but nothing.
I wasn't there. All I could do was watch.
"Cristina's, Cristina's gonna be back any minute." Mark said to her.
"Mark." Lexie panted.
"She's gonna be back, and we're gonna get you stabilized, and you're gonna be fine, okay?" He told.
"Mark." Lexie spoke again but Mark ignored her.
"Just a few minutes, okay? She'll be back any minute." Mark said.
"Mark I'm dying." Lexie said to him.
"What? No. No you're not." He told her.
"I am. Please tell, tell Meredith that I love her and that she's a good sister. Please t-tell my dad." Lexie tried to speak but Mark cut her off.
"You're not dying. You're gonna be fine." He fiercely told her.
Please God no! No not this. My lips trembling as tears spilled from my eyes.
"Lexie!" Screaming at her as I crouched down next to her "No you're not dying. Not today!"
But still, I was a ghost.
"Hold my hand." Lexie pleaded scared as she held her hand out to Mark.
"I'm not holding your hand because you're not dying." Mark replied like a stubborn child.
"Hold my hand." Lexie pleaded again.
"No. You're not dying. Do you hear me? You don't die today." Mark shook his head.
A bright light obscured my vision and then I couldn't see anything.
"She's unresponsive. Call Shepherd!" Mark shouted from the room as he continued to shine his penlight in my eyes.
"Mark?" Croaking out.
Mark turned back to me and let out a sigh of relief "Jesus Barton you scared the crap out of me."
"I'm…I'm sor- sorry." Sobbing as I laid on the floor. My head swimming with what I had just been shown. All I wanted to do was lie down and cry forever.
Mark was involved now too. And Lexie. And the goddamn plane. Cristina?
Oh God Lexie!
The thought of her made me cry even more.
"Hey, hey, Charlie it's okay." Mark soothed, slightly scared as he took me in no doubt.
"What is going on?" Covering my face with my hands as I cried harder. The question was more for the universe than for him.
He wouldn't have the answers I needed.
"You blacked out as we were leaving. Do you remember where we are?" Mark gently asked.
"The hospital." My lip trembling "I came to yell at you."
He chuckled lightly "Yeah that's right you let me have it. Don't worry I won't forget to talk to Avery."
"Mark, Mark." Hiccuping as I grabbed his hand "I'm scared." Whispering as I clutched tightly. I let the panic and fear get the better of me.
"Scared of what Charlie?" He scanned me over as I held his hand tight.
"Charlie!" Derek rushed into the room and was kneeling next to me.
"What happened?" He demanded from Mark as Derek began his own check over.
"We were walking out of the room when she just passed out. I caught her before she hit the floor so no head trauma." Mark caught him up to speed "Pupils are responsive, she knows where she is."
Without warning I lifted myself up and launched myself into Derek's arms. I caught him completely by surprise. The force of me almost knocked us on the floor.
"Charlie you're okay." Derek hugged me back. "It's alright."
"I didn't know where I was." Crying into his chest.
"You're here Charlie safe with us. You're okay. You're okay." Derek soothed to me as I tried to stop my shaking.
"You're safe. We're okay." Derek held me tighter.
Safe now. But for how long?
That was the real question.
I wasn't allowed to go home. Not at first. After Derek had been alerted then Meredith had been called, and then George.
It was a mess.
I was given a CT and an MRI. Both came back negative. The only cause as to why I could have passed out was a lack of fluids.
So after I went through an IV bag and assured everyone that I was okay enough to drive I finally went home.
Breathing a sigh of relief I walked into the empty house and plopped myself on the couch.
Grabbing a pillow, I pushed it to my face and screamed with everything I had. Something I had been wanting to do since my latest vision.
After I was done I got out my phone and called Mama Dee.
Not even bothering with a hello when she answered the phone, all I said was "It's getting worse. Much worse."
There was a silent pause on the other end of the line before she spoke "You need to get here sooner than Friday then. Can you leave tonight?"
Could I?
I felt so guilty about leaving Holly, but I knew if this kept happening, if I kept seeing these things, then something might happen to me.
I didn't have much of a choice.
Sighing I replied "Yeah I'll book a flight right now and quickly pack. I just need to go to the hospital and say goodbye to someone before I leave."
"Keep us updated honey."
"Will do." Hanging up the phone.
Not wasting any time I booked a last-minute flight leaving in four hours. That gave me two hours to pack, get everything together, and get to the hospital to say goodbye to Holly before I headed to the airport.
Jumping up from the couch I ran up to my room and pulled my carry-on from my closet. I ran between my room and the bathroom gathering everything I needed. I was sure to forget some things but I barely had time to function let alone think right now.
After fifteen minutes of packing, I grabbed a snack from the kitchen and headed out the door not even bothering to call Derek, Meredith or George.
I would call them from the airport.
It was better to beg for forgiveness at this point. And I wasn't about to explain what was going on.
I did call Joe and apologized that I would have to miss my shift tomorrow but the situation in New Orleans had grown into an emergency and I needed to leave right away.
Joe, always the sweetest, assured me that it was fine and not to worry.
After making my way to the hospital I parked my car and ran inside to find Holly, praying I wouldn't run into Derek, Meredith, or George.
Luck was on my side because when I got to Holly's room she was alone.
"Holly." Panting when I made it to the room.
"Charlie, why are you so out of breath?" She inquired.
"Just ran from my car." Sucking in more air.
"I just came to say goodbye." Speaking to her.
"Goodbye?" She sat up straighter.
"I got a call from my friends in New Orleans. There is an emergency and it can't wait till Friday. I have to go now. My flight is leaving in…" Looking down at my phone I said, "Three and a half hours."
"But I couldn't leave without saying goodbye. When you get discharged I don't think I'll be back in time. So I just wanted to give you this." Handing her a piece of paper with my contact info "If you need anything. Even just to vent call me okay. Don't think you'll be bothering me because you won't." Stressing to her.
"And I wanted to know if you were okay with it, if I could give you a hug?" Softly asking.
She nodded and I gently wrapped my arms around her. She was a little stiff but not completely uncomfortable.
Pulling back I looked at her "Now you remember everything we talked about right?"
Holly nodded "None of it was my fault. And that I can speak about what happened to me whenever I want."
"Damn straight." Grinning at her.
"It won't be easy Holly but you'll be okay. I know it. I can feel it. Your future is going to be amazing because it's going to be yours. Got it? Don't let him win. Never let him win." Emphasizing the last part.
She nodded as a few tears formed in her eyes.
"You're going to be okay." Rubbing her arm "And remember not to shut your parents out. They're trying just as hard as you are."
"I won't. I mean I'll try." Her voice cracked.
"That's all any of us can ask for."
Giving her arm a final squeeze I stepped away from the bed "I have to go. I'm going to have to rush to the airport."
Holly nodded and gave me a sad smile.
"Oh, and if you see Meredith please don't mention that I was here…she doesn't know that I'm leaving today." Cringing "She is going to flip when she and Derek find out."
"Your secret is safe with me." She chuckled.
"Remember anything you need, call me." Waving one last time before fleeing down the hall.
Running out of the hospital I almost bumped into Alex but just missed him.
I got to the airport just a little past two-hour departure mark. Parking my car and getting a ticket I grabbed my carry-on and ran to the main entrance.
By the time I made it past TSA and into my designated waiting area for my flight I was in such a state. I had made it here literally just in time. My flight was boarding in forty minutes. Sinking into a seat I let out a sigh as I pulled my phone from my pocket and decided it would be easier to tell Derek and Meredith first.
Dialing Meredith's number, she picked up after the second ring and I cursed myself hoping the call would go to voicemail.
"Charlie?" She answered.
"Hi, so I am going to need you and Derek not to kill me."
"Why? What's wrong?" She ordered.
"I'm at the airport."
"You're what!" She shouted into the phone.
"Mama Dee called me and said it was an emergency. I couldn't wait till Friday. I packed a carry-on, booked a new flight and here I am." Sighing into the phone.
"Without telling us?" She sounded pissed.
"There wasn't any time to tell you. The minute I got off the phone with her I booked a new flight, packed a bag, and left the house."
"Charlie, what is even going on? Why do you need to go down there in the first place?"
Because I'm pretty sure your sister is going to die in a plane crash.
But I didn't tell her that.
"I can't explain. Just please trust me that I have to do this. I need to go and see her." My voice almost cracking from pleading.
There was a long, and I mean long, patch of silence on her end. Each passing second only causing my stomach to form into knots.
"We will talk about this when you get home." She finally said and I let out an internal sigh.
"Yes I know."
"And you will let me know before you take off when you get there and call us every day." She said but it was more of a demand.
"Of course. I will keep you updated." Reassuring her.
"And when Derek calls you later to scream at you do not come to me for back up."
I let out a much-needed laugh "Noted."
There was another pause of silence.
"Please stay safe okay." Meredith softly said.
It made my heart constrict "I will." Knowing my voice sounded funny as I tried to keep from crying.
I hung up the phone feeling so drained, but I still had one more call to make.
George's phone, however, went to voicemail. So at least I could put off this fight until later.
"Hey babe. I…I, I'm at the airport. I'm fine. I'm okay, but Mama Dee called me. Something new came up and now the situation is an emergency. I must go down to New Orleans today. Please don't be mad, even though I know you will be, and you have every right to be. I, please trust that I know what I'm doing okay? The flight is about to board so if I don't pick up when you call that's why. I'll be alright. I love you so much." A tear slipped down my face as hung up the phone.
I hated all the lying but I had to do this. I was sure now that my friends' life depended on it.
Even though I had managed to sleep a few hours on the plane I was still exhausted by the time my Uber pulled up to Mama Dee's house at almost one in the morning.
Thanking the driver, I grabbed my bag and made my way up the walkway bursting with flowers.
Before I even made it to the front door it swung open with a burst as Mama Dee came out onto her porch.
"Oh honey." She soothed.
Dropping my bags I instantly went into her outstretched arms and let her channel much-needed comfort into me.
Nothing was said for long moments as I just soaked her in as she held me tight as a grandmother would.
"It's good you're here. Don't worry honey. We'll get this sorted out." Mama Dee consoled me.
I said nothing but only held her tighter.
Finally, we broke apart and I picked up my bags as we headed into her cozy home.
"Charlie!" Delia cheerily said when she saw me.
"Hey Delia." Letting her pull me into a hug, "Thank you guys for doing this. All last minute I know."
"We're here to help." Delia rubbed my back.
Delia was one of the sweetest people on the planet. Next to her mama of course. She was bright too. At twenty-three she was going to Tulane for her master's in chemical engineering. She wanted to work for NASA. Right now she was stuck at a pharmaceutical company to pay for school.
She, like her mama, had the gift of seeing what others couldn't. Both of them could see the spirits that still lingered in this world, thought their abilities and techniques differed from mine.
I always looked up to her like I would a big sister. She, in turn, gave me guidance and good laughs, like I imagined a big sister would.
"And help we will." Mama Dee said as she walked past us into the kitchen "Come on and sit down. We'll make a quick pot of tea before you head off to bed. Lord knows you look like you could use some sleep."
Cracking a smile at Delia I looped my arm through hers and followed Mama into the kitchen.
"Oh, I have to text Meredith. Let her know I'm here." Taking my phone out as I sat down at the kitchen table.
"How did everyone react when you told them?" Delia asked me.
"Not well. And I only told Meredith, who told Derek, who gave me an earful when I called them after I got my luggage and Uber. Derek is pissed, to say the least." Sending them a text letting them know I was with Mama and Delia.
"What about your beau?" Mama asked as she put the kettle on.
"I had to leave him a voicemail when I was at the airport. Derek's stern parenting shouting took longer than I thought, and I didn't want to have that conversation with George while I was in the Uber."
"Well, no use prolonging the inevitable. Give him a call now." She said whilst grabbing three mugs.
"What now?" Staring at her like she was nuts.
"Mama I'm sure Charlie doesn't want to have that conversation in front of us." Delia tried to reason.
"But?" I started but she cut me off.
"No buts. Call your beau. Let him know you're okay." She fired back and I knew I had lost. If I refused she'd probably call him for me.
She would do it too.
Groaning I called George and hated myself when he picked up.
"Charlotte! What the hell is going on!" He yelled into the phone "I've been so worried."
"Baby I'm sorry I know. I didn't plan this, it just happened." Sighing "I'm okay though. I'm at Mama Dee's right now. Please trust that I know what I'm doing."
"Charlotte I don't like this. First, you pass out today then you run to the airport and fly five hours to the middle of the country. You're scaring me half to death."
"I know, I know." A few tears fell from my eyes "I don't mean to. I love you. I would never want to cause you concern." Wiping my eyes.
George was silent for a second before asking "Are you crying?"
"No." Lying to him but I knew he'd be able to tell.
"Baby, why are you crying?" He softly asked.
"Because I don't want you to be mad at me." My voice coming out in high pitch as more tears came.
Delia took my hand in hers.
"Babe I'm not mad at you I'm worried about you." George lamented to me.
"I never wanted to worry you." My tears freer-flowing now. Delia let go of my hand and handed me a tissue.
Taking it from her I mouthed a thank you as I wiped my eyes.
"It's…I had to get down here immediately." Trying to explain/lie to him.
"Charlotte I know you love me and would never want to worry me, but it's difficult not to be troubled when you won't tell me everything."
"I am telling you everything." Lying once more and hating myself, "Everything that I can tell. It's a private matter George."
"Give me the phone." Mama Dee said.
"What?" Both Delia and I said.
"The phone honey." She stretched out her hand waiting.
"Uh, George hold on." Stammering as I held the phone out to her. Delia and I looked at each other with wide eyes.
"You go finish with the tea." She told me as she took the phone from me.
"Mama…" Delia tried to start but was cut off.
"Sssh baby. Mama knows what she is doing." Telling her before pressing the phone to her ear.
"Hello is this Dr. George O'Malley?" She asked. Then she turned to look at me.
"That tea isn't going to get itself." Mama raised her eyebrows at me.
"Right." Flustering as I got up and made my way to the kettle.
This was so weird.
Moving around the kitchen, I gathered the mugs and honey as I heard Mama Dee talking to my boyfriend.
"I know you love her. Believe me, it's right time she found someone to care about her the way I've been hearing you do." She said and I blushed.
"Oh I know she's stubborn." Mama said to him in response.
"Mama!" My voice rising as I swung around to look at her.
"I still don't have my tea." She shot back and I turned back around in a grumble.
"My daughter and I needed help right away. There's something going on down here." Mama lying to him.
Grabbing the mugs, I placed one in front of Delia and Mama then went to get the kettle.
"Honey, please sugar." She called over her shoulder before resuming her conversation. Picking the honey up I placed it in the middle of the table. I went over and grabbed the kettle and began to pour.
"Chamomile?" Inquiring as the scent wafted up to me.
"With a touch of lavender. Figured you could use something to relax you." She commented before saying, "No not you Dr. O'Malley."
"Thank you dear." Delia said to me as I poured her a cup before pouring my own and setting the kettle back on the stove.
"Here talk to your beau." Mama thrust the phone in my face.
"Oh, are you done?" Sarcastically asking her as I took the phone from her and went to the living room to finish the conversation.
"George?"
"Yeah, I'm still here." He responded.
"Sorry, Mama Dee was very adamant." Trying to explain.
"She does seem like an imposing figure. Really sweet, but headstrong." He commented.
"Sound like anyone you know?" Joking with him.
I heard him chuckle and it made me feel a little better.
"I miss you." He said.
"I miss you too." Replying "I promise when I'm done helping Delia and Mama Dee, I'll come straight home. I hope she was able to explain things a little bit better and reassure you."
"She didn't really give me a choice." George chuckled again and I laughed with him.
There was a pause of silence "Please be careful Charlotte."
"I will. I promise. I'll call you every day." Softly telling him.
"I love you." George whispered.
"I love you too." Whispering back, my heart gripping "I'll call you tomorrow, well later today since it is tomorrow."
"Okay, get some sleep and call me if you need anything." George told me.
"Will do." Saying before hanging up the call.
Sighing I went back into the kitchen and dropped myself down in front of my mug of tea.
"Oh, that's good." Taking a long sip of chamomile.
"Did he stop the questioning?" Mama Dee asked me.
"Yes he did." Answering her.
"Then I did my job." Mama smirked as she took a sip of her tea.
"Once you get some sleep you'll explain everything in detail to us to figure out what is going on." She continued, "We made up the guest bedroom for you."
"Thank you both for this. I just…something awful is going to happen." Whispering out, "I can feel it. From what I've been seeing. What someone has been showing me."
"I think-I know someone is going to die." Croaking out as I pictured Lexie's dead eyes.
"We'll get this sorted out." Delia grabbed my hand "We promise."
"And figure out who is sending you these visions." Mama said matter of factly "Now finish your tea and we'll head off to bed."
"Hey honey how did you sleep?" Mama Dee asked me as I came into the kitchen.
"Like the dead. No pun intended." Smirking as I sat down at the kitchen table.
"Very funny sugar." Mama Dee shook her head as she continued cooking "Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes. Hope you're hungry."
"Starving." Replying as I got up and poured myself a cup of coffee "Thank you for letting me sleep in."
"Figured it couldn't hurt. Grab some plates will you."
Going over the cabinets I grabbed two plates "Is Delia joining us?"
"No, she's got class this morning. She'll be back later this afternoon. She wants us to go out to dinner."
"You guys don't need to do that." Setting the plates and grabbing the silverware.
"Honey you look like you could use a good meal. Besides we can't let you come to New Orleans without taking you out for some great cooking."
"Yes but your cooking is amazing." Smiling at her.
"Just for that, you get an extra banana nut pancake." Mama grinned.
"My evil plan worked." Giggling as I sat down.
As we ate I filled in Mama about the happenings in my life from the past couple of months. She and Delia knew a little bit about what had been going on since I left John's care. Best to tell her everything.
"Seems like you've had quite the interesting couple of months." Mama commented as she picked up our plates when breakfast was over.
"What I wouldn't kill for some quiet." Rubbing my hands over my face.
"Come on let's go to the study and you can begin to write the map of when this all started." Mama told me.
"I'll meet you there I just want to get dressed first."
She nodded and I left the kitchen to go to my room and get changed and send a quick text to George.
Just had breakfast. You'd love Mama's banana nut pancakes. I miss you. Call me when you get a break.
I hated lying. So many lies. I could only pray I found the answers I needed.
Mama and I spent the better part of the day going over and analyzing all my visions and every little experience I had in the past few months.
By the time Delia came home from school, I felt dizzy at having to go over everything. Almost like a detective, Mama Dee had written everything down and taped the papers to her study walls.
The three of us kept going over it all, trying to solve the puzzle.
Being able to have it all out in front of me did help.
Together we had gathered this much.
There was going to be a plane crash. It was going to involve people from Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital. We didn't know when it would happen. So far it involved Mark, Lexie, and Cristina.
And so far, I knew that Lexie wouldn't survive the crash.
"You're sure it's no one who'd want to do you harm?" Delia questioned again.
"Yes, that I'm sure. There isn't any malice when the visions are shown to me, or when they are over. They are purely to show. Not to torment, at least that's what I believe." Saying from my spot, lying on the floor.
"But it does bring me torture every time I have to suffer through another one of these damn visions." Sighing as I blocked my eyes with my hand. Attempting to keep a headache at bay.
"That's because someone is trying to show you the future of what's to come without any warning." Mama Dee mused from her spot in her chair.
"Whoever this is they want you to stop this from happening." Mama concluded.
"So what now?" Inquiring from the floor.
"Now we find the rest of the answers." Mama concluded as she got up from her seat.
"Mama?" Delia questioned.
"We need to get the basement ready." She stared at the both of us "It's time to commune with the other side."
There was a small room in Mama Dee's basement that was filled as an alter to voodoo ritual. It was where she communed with the other side. It was where she was teaching Delia the craft of dealing with the dead.
To be honest the room creeped me out a bit. It didn't help that we were sitting on the floor by candlelight as Mama Dee drew voodoo symbols on the floor in chalk.
"I'm not going to end up getting possessed am I?" Only half-joking.
"Eh probably not honey." Mama Dee joked.
She began to sprinkle water onto the ground as she chanted "We here call upon the spirits of the other world to converse with us as we seek answers."
She did the same chant three more times with dirt, crumbs from a cookie, and wax from a lit candle.
Mama Dee instructed me to lie in the center of the symbol on the floor while she repeated the act again four times. She waved burning sage over the room before bending down and making a symbol on my forehead.
"Just fireplace ashes honey." She reassured me. Then she and Delia joined hands over me and I was instructed to close my eyes.
"We call upon the spirit who has been showing this child the future of what is to come. We invite you to come forward and show yourself so that we may find answers and better assist you. Now is your chance to show this child everything."
"Show her the way." Delia and Mama Dee started to chant over and over. Softly then it grew louder in my ears echoing the small room.
A burst of light exploded behind my eyelids. Gasping as I opened my eyes. I was not back in New Orleans, but I was not back in the woods either.
It was all white.
An endless abyss of white floors and sky that stretched onto forever.
It was like a…in between. Like a purgatory?
"Hello?" Calling out only to hear my voice echoing back at me.
"Hello?" Attempting again.
"I'm here! Ready to receive the full freaking picture!" Yelling out into the white never-ending space.
"Hello Charlie." A voice said to me from behind.
A familiar voice.
Swinging around I almost dropped to my knees.
"Mr. Clark?" Questioning with frantic eyes and a disbelieving tone.
"What…how..." Stumbling over my words not believing what was happening.
"We don't have much time. Please I need to show you what's going to happen."
"You've been sending me these visions? How!" Demanding from him.
"Why have you been doing this to me!" Screaming at him "Putting me through this torture!" I wanted to punch him. I wondered if here I could.
"Because they need your help Charlie." Mr. Clark replied.
"Who, who needs my help besides Lexie?" Asking.
"It's not just about Lexie. They will all die because of that plane crash." He responded.
My heart stopped beating.
"All? Who is all?" My voice coming out in a broken whisper.
"Lexie, Mark, Cristina, Alex, the pilot, Meredith, and Derek." He quietly responded as my blood stopped flowing.
"They will all die unless you save them." He stared directly into my eyes.