Evelyn Hunt paced around her daughter's hospital room. She could not relax, not with three loved ones in other parts of Seattle Grace. Megan was receiving a donated kidney, and part of Owen's liver. Nathan had donated a kidney as part of a domino plan. Nathan had been moved to Recovery, while Megan and Owen were still in surgery.
She knew what Megan did not realize – her daughter was gravely ill. The very moment that Evelyn saw her in Seattle Grace – thin, sallow skin, weak – she had been terrified that she was going to lose Megan all over again.
Needing a distraction, Evelyn walked over to the window ledge, where several cards were there. Megan's friends in Seattle, many of the people she had served with – they had immediately written to her when they'd heard of her rescuel. Many of the cards referred to a miracle, to prayers come true. Evelyn read some of the messages, feeling her tension ease. Surely if God had saved her daughter against all odds, Megan would survive and thrive?
"Evelyn?"
Evelyn turned around to see Dr Meredith Grey in the door. Meredith smiled. "Nathan is being moved out of Recovery and into his hospital room, if you'd like to see him."
"Thank you," Evelyn said. She followed Meredith through the hallways, to Nathan's room.
He was propped up in his bed, looking groggy. "Hey Ma."
"Hello." Evelyn walked over to him and kissed his cheek. "How are you doing?"
"I'm good, just feel like I've been steamrolled. How's Megan?"
"Still in surgery."
He looked at her with pleading eyes. "Keep me updated?"
"Of course." She patted his shoulder. "I've been told that the woman who received your kidney is doing very well."
"Good, good." His head swayed, and he was having trouble focusing on her.
She pulled up a chair. "Go to sleep, Nathan."
"Yes Ma."
Nathan had brief wakeful periods, and Evelyn tended to his needs. Otherwise, she sat in his room and read a new book on her Kindle. Or said a quick prayer for her daughter. One of Bailey's residents updated Evelyn on Megan's surgeries. Cristina also texted updates on Owen, as he came out of surgery and into the Recovery room. Evelyn checked on him when he was moved into the room next to Nathan's. Her son was also groggy, and in Cristina's capable hands.
"Derek says that Chloe and Mallory are having fun with Robbie and JoJo," Cristina informed Evelyn. "Since surgery ran long, he's going to keep them for a sleepover tonight. I'll stay with Owen."
Owen smiled slowly, before closing his eyes. He was paler than normal, but Evelyn wasn't very worried about him. He was made of tough stuff and he had his wife with him. One of the many qualities she liked in Cristina was her fierce devotion to family.
Finally, Megan was moved back to her room in the ICU. Evelyn sat down beside her daughter and appraised her. She took Megan's left hand, the one without any wires.
Evelyn looked at her daughter's hand. Megan had inherited Evelyn's long fingers, perfect for surgery and playing the piano.
Now her daughter's skin was yellow and marked with many new scars. And Megan was not talking about where they came from. The Army had tried to send investigators, but the medical team would not sign off on it. She had been too ill.
If Megan got better ... no, when Megan was physically better, she would have to start working on her mental health. And Evelyn would be there to love her through it.
The next day, Evelyn circulated between Megan and Owen and Nathan. They were all in different stages of alertness. She and Nathan were watching TV together when her phone started to buzz. Bailey, Meredith, and Cristina had all messaged her to come to Megan's room, stat.
Evelyn quickly went downstairs to the ICU. There was a large group of people outside her daughter's room, with Bailey standing toe to toe with a man in a major's uniform. They were yelling at each other, while Meredith was standing in the doorway, refusing to let a male soldier inside, and a few nurses were surrounding a third man.
Evelyn's heart sank. The protocol was that women would treat Megan, and absolutely no man in uniform were to approach her. She squared her shoulders and marched forward into the fray, walking by Bailey as she ordered the major out of her hospital. Meredith let Evelyn pass by her, and into the room. Curtains had been drawn around the bed. Evelyn parted them and stood at the end of the bed.
Cristina was standing beside the bed, holding a shaking Megan, whose face was buried against Cristina's stomach.
"I'm here." Evelyn moved so that she was standing next to Cristina. She reached out and put her arms around Megan. "I'm here, Megan."
They stood there, two guardians, while the shouting continued outside. Eventually, the noise subsided. Meredith joined them, straightening her lab coat.
"They're gone," she announced.
"How the hell did they get in here?" Cristina demanded.
Abruptly, Megan pushed herself away and rolled over, turning her back on everyone. She was silent.
"They just showed up, without warning," Meredith said. "They walked into the room-"
"Get out." Megan's voice was muffled. "Leave me alone."
"It's okay," Evelyn said. "They're gone."
"I want to be alone," Megan said.
"Let's talk outside." Cristina and Meredith left the room, but Evelyn stayed.
"I said, I want to be alone," Megan murmured.
"I can't leave you," Evelyn replied.
Megan flipped over and screamed, "GET OUT! NOW! GET OUT OF MY ROOM! LEAVE ME ALONE!"
Bailey and two nurses hurried into the room, as Evelyn stepped back, shaking.
"I think it's best that you leave," Bailey told Evelyn, kindly. "We've got a security guard posted outside."
Stunned, Evelyn turned and left. Almost without thinking, she walked over to an elevator. Within a few minutes, she was standing outside the hospital chapel.
Quietly, she entered the sacred space and sat down in a pew. It was a relief to be alone here. She concentrated on her breathing, until it was normal. The chapel was quiet, she could barely hear the sounds of the hospital.
"Holy Father," she whispered. "I thank you for my children. I thank you for returning them to me."
Tears filled her eyes. "I don't know everything my daughter endured. I'm not sure I want to know. But if she wants to tell me, if it will help her to tell me, then grant me the strength to hear her. Please guide her towards healing. Please help her come home. Amen."
oOoOo
Later, in Owen's room, he was fuming about the incident.
"I want the names of the officers," he told Cristina. "I'll follow up with my contacts. The plan is, they send female investigators, when the medical team thinks she's ready."
Shaking, Evelyn sank into a chair beside Owen's bed. She closed her eyes.
"Evelyn?" Cristina's voice sounded far away. "You okay?"
"Mom?"
She heard footsteps, then someone was gripping her shoulders.
"Evelyn!" Cristina's voice was close and firm. "Megan's okay, it won't happen again."
"She's not okay," Evelyn replied, tears running down her cheeks. "I know it's the trauma. I – I went to the chapel and had a talk with God."
She could feel Owen's hand on her shoulder. "Mom, the trauma ... it's making her ... not be herself. I know ... how it feels."
Evelyn opened her eyes and turned to look at her son. He smiled gently. She stood up and hugged him.
"I'll recommend that the trauma therapist starts meeting with Megan," Cristina said.
"I want to speak with Megan first," Owen said.
oOoOo
The next day, Evelyn sat with Nathan for a couple of hours, while Owen was with Megan. Nathan had heard about the Army officers and had some questions. He also had written another letter to Megan, even though she still refused to read them.
Finally, Cristina wheeled Owen into Nathan's room. Her son was pale and tired, and looked like he had been crying. He was slumped in his wheelchair.
"She'll start trauma therapy," was all he said.
"That's good," Nathan said, quietly.
Owen looked at him. "How are you doing?"
Nathan shrugged. "I'm healing as well as I can. Worried more for Megan than myself."
Owen nodded. "Who's taking care of you when you're discharged?"
"I haven't worked it out," Nathan admitted. "This happened so quickly. April will be on leave in a couple of weeks and said she can fly here. Jackson said I can stay with him before she gets here, but he can't take time off."
"I have a guest room," Evelyn volunteered. "Maybe-"
"No." Owen shook his head. "We have a guest room, too. Mom, you'd be driving all over Seattle, trying to take care of everyone. Nathan can stay with us."
Nathan looked emotional. "You'd do that?"
Owen nodded. "I'd do that for you."
"Yes," Cristina affirmed. "But don't expect home cooking until Owen feels better. There are plenty of good take-out restaurants in our neighbourhood"
oOoOo
Physically, Megan was transformed. Her skin tone was normal, she had her appetite back, and she was staying awake for longer periods. She tried to get out of bed, and fell, so the treatment plan now included physical therapy.
Owen never did share what he told Megan, but it worked. Megan didn't talk about her sessions, but the full force of her personality was coming to the surface and she began talking about coming home.
Evelyn knew that Chloe and Mallory had play visits with her, as part of the therapy. She had the feeling that Cristina knew something, but her daughter-in-law said nothing. It was delightful to see Cristina had welcomed Megan as a sister.
One day, Evelyn sat in Megan's empty room, while she was with the trauma therapist. She'd brought her laptop with her, she had an idea for a new novel. It felt good to be writing again.
She looked up when Megan was wheeled in, and her heart sank. Her daughter was crying. Evelyn and a nurse helped her into the bed.
"What do you need?" Evelyn asked, stroking her daughter's hair. It was starting to grow again, curling around her fingers.
"I have to tell you something," Megan whispered.
"I'll check on you later," the nurse said, before leaving.
Evelyn took her daughter's hands, bracing herself while sending a silent prayer to God. "I'm listening."
"I remembered something," Megan said. "I – I cheated too."
Evelyn blinked. This was not what she had expected to hear.
"Just before I – was gone – I got drunk and stupid and cheated on Nathan while he was cheating on me," Megan confessed.
"Is that all?" Evelyn exhaled. "I thought you were going to tell me something worse."
Megan looked at her, shocked. "Don't you get it, Mom? Nathan's been reaching out to me and I've refused to see him because he cheated! I blanked out on me cheating too! I've punished him for something that I did too!"
"Oh, my darling." Evelyn placed her hands against Megan's face, stroking it. "I know he's forgiven you. He loves you so much."
"I've been so mean," Megan wept.
"No, you've been protecting yourself. You were in danger for a long, long time," Evelyn soothed. "Now you're safe and you're getting better."
"I want to see him," Megan said, quietly. "Maybe, when I get home?"
"Okay." Evelyn wiped her daughter's tears. "Do you want to email him or call him first?"
"Can you tell him?" Megan looked at Evelyn. "Tell him that I remember and I'm so sorry. I'll read any letter that he sends me now."
"I will."
oOoOo
The Hunt house was full, when Evelyn arrived that evening. Owen was resting on the couch, watching TV with his daughters. Nearby, Cristina was setting the table. April was in the kitchen, finishing dinner preparations.
"Where's Nathan?" Evelyn asked her.
"In his room. Tell him supper will be ready in about five minutes."
"I will."
Evelyn stopped to kiss her grand-daughters, before going upstairs to the guest room. The door was ajar but she still knocked.
"Come in!"
Nathan was sitting on the bed, working on his laptop. He smiled to see her. He was looking better and better. Quietly, Evelyn closed the door behind her.
"What's up?" Nathan looked concerned. "Is it Megan?"
"She ... had a breakthrough today." Evelyn sat down on the bed, beside him. "She remembered something from just before her disappearance."
"What?" He looked guilty.
"She remembered that she cheated too."
Nathan's eyes widened.
"You never said anything," Evelyn mused. "All that time, while you and Owen searched for her, and then in the years that followed. While Owen was so angry at you, you didn't say a word."
"I just wanted her to come back," he said. "I didn't see a reason to tell him that she cheated. He was ... not in a good place, mentally."
"Well, Megan feels terrible about rejecting you," Evelyn told him. "So, write her another letter, because she said she'll read them now. And, after she comes home, you can come over to visit."
"I can?" Nathan laughed and threw his arms around Evelyn. "That is the best news, Ma! Thank you!"
oOoOo
On a warm sunny day, Owen and Cristina brought Megan home from the hospital. Evelyn was waiting for her, with Chloe and Mallory. With the aid of a walker, her daughter entered the house she'd grown up in. She sat down at the piano and pressed a few keys, before moving to the couch. She looked around the living room.
"You redecorated," Megan said, a little sadly. She smiled as her nieces climbed onto the couch to sit beside her.
"Cristina's mother gave me some ideas, before she passed." Evelyn brought out a plate of cookies, and glasses of milk for the little girls. She and Megan had tea, while Owen and Cristina set up medical equipment in Megan's old bedroom.
Once her room was ready, Megan made her way to it, relying on her walker. Everyone followed her. Megan stood in the doorway and was silent. The room was freshly painted in shades of blue.
"We took down your pictures and certificates years ago," Evelyn said, apologetically. "This was my sewing room. But we saved everything, all of your things are in the attic."
"It's okay," Megan said. She sat down on the bed, which was new. The sheets and pillows were also new, but the quilt had been Megan's before she disappeared. "Nothing is like it was before, not me, not my room."
"We painted the walls in Mediterranean Blue, like you requested," Cristina said. She did not add that Nathan had done most of the work.
"It's very nice." Megan sighed. "I wish Farouk was here."
The room fell silent. By now, the adults knew of Megan's lost son.
Mallory danced over to Megan and patted the bed. "Pretty."
"Yes it is," Megan agreed. "Grandma made it for me when I was a little girl!" She ran her fingers through Mallory's red curls. Then she beckoned to Chloe, who had been shyly observing from the doorway. "I understand that we'll have sleepovers here when your parents are working nights. I'm looking forward to that."
Chloe smiled and nodded, climbing onto the bed beside her aunt. Evelyn glanced at Owen, and wasn't surprised that his eyes were filled with tears. She was feeling weepy herself, looking at her daughter, finally at home where she belonged. Her prayers had been answered.
To be continued...