Chapter 14
A few days later, when Helena finally woke up in the morning, it was with an enormous headache. She shouldn't have drunk that much. She slowly sat up on the edge of the bed and put her painful head in her hands. She struggled to figure out where she was before she remembered the previous evening. After a particularly difficult day of work, James had wait for her at the hospital until late in the evening and offered to make her dinner. They went to his apartment where they ate a great prepared dinner, greatly flooded with red wine. After that James had played a piece of music with his guitar, he was an amazing player by the way and they somehow ended up sleeping together.
A lot of things changed in the last few days. Derek had definitely broken up with Meredith and had publicly started his relationship with Rose. Meredith had drawn herself in her work, she was barely home, constantly sleeping at the hospital. Mark remained himself and still tried to seduce Hahn, who seemed to be more interested in Torres than in the plastic surgeon.
James was already upright and judging by the tasty smell, he was making breakfast. Helena stood up yawning and throwing on his shirt from the evening on the way she quickly joined him in the kitchen. He was standing in front of the cooker making some eggs, wearing nothing more than loose jogging pants. He was all sweaty, probably just returned from a run in the park nearby.
"Hey you!" he greeted her as he saw her. ey you!" he greeted her smiling brightly as he saw her.
"Morning," she grumbled sitting down and reaching him a kiss over the countertop. "Do you have an aspirin or something, my head is awfully spinning, she added rubbing her temps softly.
He chuckled before reaching her the medicine and a glass of water.
"The shirt suits you by the way," he added pulling a plate full of food in front of her.
"Omelette à la française for Mademoiselle. I'm not a great cooker so please, be indulgent."
"It's tasteful!" she cheered taking a bite.
"Good, I didn't know what you usually take for breakfast," he exclaimed. "So, anything special up today?" he asked taking a sip of his coffee.
"A good friend of mine is coming to Seattle for a complex intervention on one of our patient," the Shepherd girl explained. "Addison lives in Los Angeles now."
"Isn't she your brother's ex-wife?" James questioned. "The one who cheated on him with his best friend?"
"Exactly, I never thought he would tell you about that," Helena wondered. "Although, we all kept a very close friendship."
"I get it."
He threw a quick glance at the clock on the wall.
"I'll better go shower now if you want me to take you to work in time," he added. "You're joining me?"
Helena smiled brightly.
"I think they won't mind if I'm a little late today," she smirked starting unbuttoning the shirt.
"Want to take a drink at Joe's after your work?" he asked as he stopped his car in front of the building of the hospital.
"Sure, why not," the black haired answered. "See you then," she added grabbing her bag, giving him a last kiss and getting out of the vehicle.
As she was halfway to the door, someone called her in the back.
"Helena!"
The woman turned around to face Meredith.
"Hey you," the dark-haired girl cheered.
"Why so happy?" the other one asked. "Had a good night? Weren't you at James last night?"
Helena blushed slightly while pushing the door.
"So it's getting really serious between the two of you," Meredith added. "I'm happy that you're… well… you know…"
"Move on?" the Shepherd girl questioned. "You can say it, you know."
The Auburn girl nodded embarrassed.
"Have you taken your decision about Abby?" Meredith continued. "Will you take her in?"
"Dunno yet," Helena sighed deeply shaking her head. "I know I cannot leave the child alone but just I don't think I am the right person to take care of her."
Both get in the elevator and stayed silent for a short moment.
"Isn't today the first trial's day?" the Shepherd girl asked.
"Yes," Meredith replied, a bright smile lighting her face. "I'm so freaking excited!"
"I fully understand," the black haired girl added. "I mean, it's amazing, you have your own trial! Well, with Derek of course."
Meredith sighed deeply.
"How are you going to manage with him by the way? Isn't it like really awkward that you two are gonna spend so much time together?"
"We're gonna act professionally," the other girl sighed.
"You know I love my brother," Helena said. "But he's being a total jerk and I'm totally your side."
And she walked out of the lift. In the open space, she spotted her brother happily chatting with Rose. The woman was playing with her hair, smiling very flirtily. As the couple saw her, the nurses walked away.
"You're scaring her," Derek said chuckling.
"All the better because I don't like her," his sister added. "She's so….not your type of girl."
"You say that because you don't approve, don't you?"
"I think Meredith just needed more time Derek," Helena defended her friend. "Just try to understand, her life wasn't very easy and now she struggles to make bounds with anybody."
"Don't you think I tried, Lena?" the man replied losing his smile. "Every time I felt ready to make a step, something happen that hinder her to make a step with me. I even asked her to marry me. And she just stood there without saying anything. So please tell me, Helena, why should I stay focused on somebody who doesn't want to move ahead if I can meet someone who is ready to give me that what I want from her. Tell me!"
And he walked away. She watched him leave sadly.
"Because you love her," Helena mumbled shaking her head.
The Shepherd girl stayed there for a moment sighing as a voice in her back called her.
"Hey, honey!"
She quickly turned around to face Addison who was standing right behind her.
"Addy, I'm so happy to see you!" Helena said with a big smile painted on her face.
The two woman hugged tightly.
"I'm glad to be here honey, and also glad to see you find the way to the medical path again," the red-haired said. "Love the new haircut by the way!"
Helena shook her head to move her short black locks.
"Memory from Iraq," she added.
"You have to tell me more about that by the way," her friend added. "Your work with Doctors without Borders and your time in the army in Iraq. And have you met someone in that long time?"
Helena blushed slightly.
"I'm dating someone," the black-haired girl explained. "His name's James, he is nice and cute and everything."
"And when can I have the possibility to meet that perfect man?" Addy chuckled putting an arm around her friend's shoulder.
"He's picking me up tonight for a drink at Joe's," Helena stated. "Wanna come?"
"Yes, absolutely," the older woman nodded.
"I would be glad to stay with you for hours but you'll have to excuse me, I have rounds to do," the Shepherd girl apologizes. "It was good to see you!"
"It's good to see you too honey," Addison chuckled. "It's good to see that nothing changed here around!"
Helena slightly shook her head walking away.
"If only you knew how wrong you are," she muttered.
After having changed in her work clothes she walked straight to the resident's office to check on her affectation for the day. There she crossed over Torres who was finishing her morning coffee.
"You're with me today!" the woman said cheerfully.
She obviously had a good night, Helena thought. Probably with Mark.
"You look tired Shepherd," Torres inquired. "Had a long night?" she added with a smirk full over undertone.
"Well, I was with a friend yesterday and we kind of drunk pretty much," Helena explained yawning.
"But you're ready to work?" the ortho resident worried furrowing the brows.
"An aspirin and I am ready," the younger woman nodded.
"So tell me more about your friend," Torres said as they started suturing the patient's leg. "Is he working at the hospital?"
"No, he's an attorney at the city hall. His wife is a patient of this hospital. She's in the coma for months for now," the Shepherd girl added as she saw Torres's disapproving look.
"And is it serious? Between you and him I mean."
"I don't know yet, we started dating only a few days ago," Helena explained.
"But you like him?"
"He's amazing, he's nice and kind-hearted and everything. But I don't know if I am ready for a new relationship."
"I'm sure you'll soon be," the woman added with a comforting smile.
Mark was in a lab as Addison came in smiling.
"Hey you," she said leaning against the door frame.
"There she is!" the plastic surgeon cheered.
" Just coming to check on my patient's skin flap," the woman added walking forward.
"Amazing, right? Pulled a couple of stem cells from the baby in utero, six weeks later I have grown skin. Just like God."
"Nice," Addy nodded.
"What do you say we lock the door and tear one off for old time's sake?" Mark added turning his seat to face her.
"This place is exactly the same," the red-haired chuckled shaking her head. "You're exactly the same."
"Except now I grow skin for babies. Like God. Come on, I'm horny. The nurses are shutting me down," he said with puppy eyes.
"Aww, so the infamous God of surgery still haven't found the fine match?" the obstetrician questioned crossing her arms over her chest, leaning her back against the table Mark was working on.
"It's not like my principal goal right now," he said turning back to his work.
"Oh, come on, there must be someone somewhere waiting for you," Addison added. "How is Helena by the way? She seems to feel better than when she left for Iraq."
"She grew stronger," the plastic surgeon nodded. "Her time there changed her."
A small silence took place between the two. Mark seemed thoughtful.
"Anyway, thanks for my skin flap," the woman said finally walking out.
"Is that a euphemism?" he asked with a smirk.
"Nope," she called on his back.
In that time, Helena had finished her work with Torres and was checking on Anne and Abby taking her break. She walked over to the room that her friend occupied. The woman was currently asleep in the hospital bed. She was very pale and seemed very tired. There was a noise of the water tap coming from the bathroom and Abby appeared from behind the door.
"Hey you," Helena greeted her with a bright smile.
"You're Lena, aren't' you? You're mommy's friend?" the little girl asked.
"Yes I am," the Shepherd girl laughed. "How was your mom this morning?"
"Not fine, she cought very often," Abby said sadly.
"I am sorry sweety."
"Can you take me with you today?" the girl asked. "Can I see the hospital?"
Helena threw a look at the social care lady who was sitting on a seat next to the bed. The older woman nodded. The surgeon turned back to the little girl.
"Let's go!"
Abby slid her small hand in Helena's one and followed her out of the room. Helena was first very surprised by this sudden outburst of affection. She showed her around.
"So this is where we are doing a big picture of the body to see if the patients have any fractures or bleedings in his body," the Shepherd girl explained in the CT.
"So if I go in this tube, you will be able to see if I have a broken arm or something?" Abby asked with big bright eyes. "Can you show me?"
"I'd like to, sweetie by the scans are very expensive," Helena added.
She then showed her around in the exams rooms, the prep rooms and the different OR's. In the cafeteria, they met Meredith, Izzie, Alex, and George who were sitting at a table having lunch.
"Guys, may I introduce you, Abby," Helena said sitting down to them. "She the daughter of the friend I talked to you about."
"You seemed nice," the little girl decided to look at Meredith who was eating her salad.
Meredith smiled at the girl. Cristina suddenly rushed to them, and let herself fall on a chair.
"I would like us to talk today," she announced. "I would like us to talk because I care and I want to know things and I have 15 minutes from now on to hear about your feelings."
The whole table was looking at her as she was gone mad.
"So Alex? Alex, you look thoughtful. I'm very interested to hear… I mean, what are your thoughts?" she asked the man to her left.
He looked at her with a strange glance continuing slurping his drink.
"Okay, Shepherd? What're you thinking about?" Cristina asked Helena. "Uhgh a child!" she added with a disgusted face before Helena could answer anything. "Izzie?"
"Okay, I think we're gonna leave," the black haired girl said standing up. "Say bye to everybody Abby."
"Bye everybody!" the little girl let out.
Addison was sitting at a table outside of the hospital, eating. Callie came out of the building, joining her. After a small arguing with Cristina about Hahn, the ortho surgeon sat down in front of her friend.
"Sorry about that. I mention I live with Yang now?" the woman asked. "What!?" Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked noticing her friends fixating gaze on her.
"Callie," the red-haired started with a very serious voice. "Are you speaking the vagina monologues now?"
"What?" Callie wondered smiling embarrassedly.
"I'm all for it, Ok? I think she's fantastic, Erica? I mean, she seems great."
"Wait, you want to know if Erica and I are a couple?" the ortho girl questioned.
"I really do like her, actually, I do," Addison pursue. "But are you?"
"Because I defended her to Yang?"
"Because you seem like a couple. A really happy couple."
"Um...Ok, that's….That's just….," Calli said confused. "That's insane, is what it is. I'm... I like penis. I mean, I'm a huge, huge fan of penis."
She started laughing hilarious as Addison nodded smiling.
"You've been living in Los Angeles way too long. Way too long."
In this time, Helena and Abby had reached the open space. Both sat down in the big staircase with a juice and a pack of sweets.
"So, did you enjoy the visit?" Helena asked the girl who was chewing her sweets.
"Yes," the girl smiled widely. "What I preferred was the wheelchair race in the hallway."
"Yeah it was pretty cool," the woman chuckled.
Deep inside something tightens. This little girl seemed so joyful and happy, how was it only possible that she could be an orphan within the few next days. She was still so innocent and fragile, she doesn't deserve that.
"Lena," Abby suddenly called.
The Shepherd girl turned to the child next to her.
"Am I gonna live with you when Mommy will have joined Daddy in the sky?" the little girl asked.
"I don't know honey," she answered shaking her head.
"The social care lady said that otherwise, I would live with a family with other children," the girl said. "But I want to live with you because you're a friend of my mommy!"
Helena smiled sadly.
"I'm not sure I'll be the right person to raise you."
"Why?" Abby asked staring at her with her big brown eyes.
"Because I never raised a child before and I don't know how to."
"Why don't you have any children?" the little girl asked.
Damn, why have children have to ask questions?
"Are you not in love with somebody?" Abby added.
"It's not that easy sweetie," the woman sighed. It's not only to be in love, there lot other things that play a role."
"I don't understand."
"You'll understand when you'll be older," Helena closed up.
The woman threw a quick glance at her watch.
"I'm sorry honey but I have to take you back to your mommy," she added.
The pair gets back to Anne's room. The blonde has woken up. Abby runs over to her mum and jumped on the edge of the bed.
"Mommy, Lena showed me the hospital," the girl said cheerfully.
"That's great honey," Anne said weakly between two coughs.
She looked over to Helena who was standing next to the door.
"Thank you, Helena," she added.
"It was a pleasure," the black-haired replied. "I have to go now, but I'll come back in the evening."
She was about to leave when Abby hold her back by pulling on the bottom of her blouse.
"That's for you," the little girl said with a big smile reaching her a piece of paper.
It was a drawing of her with the little girl sitting on the wheelchair.
"Thank you, honey," Helena said kneeling down to Abby. "Take care of your mum for me, would you?"
The little girl nodded vigorously.
