Chapter 3: Finding Steady Work

The nameless woman shifted her heavy bag uncomfortably. She hated this part. She took a few steps forward and silently counted the number of people who stood before her. After dropping off Carwyn on the 3rd floor of the city building, she found her way back down and hopped in line at the temporary employment office. It was here where she could be assigned to one of the numerous mundane jobs that waited to be filled each day. Most took place in the very building she stood in. The majority were custodial tasks, or for the handful of applicants who could read and had somewhat of an education, they were assigned to paperwork. Nothing stimulating, just filing, sorting, stapling, stuffing envelopes, that sort of tedious work.

The line moved again; it wasn't long before it was her turn. She stepped up to the plump, bald headed man and waited for the drill.

"Name?" he asked. She found it funny how one word, one small innocent question, evoked so many feelings inside her. Sometimes she felt like shouting out I don't know! You tell me, what my name is! Instead, she ran a hand through her hair and answered,

"Mary. Mary Smith." It was easier to just pretend. Then, there weren't so many questions, so many intrusive stares. Mary was what the nuns decided to call her back in Canada. It started out as a joke, it had stuck. So, Mary was what she went by and what she answered to. Inside, she knew, Mary was not her name.

"Oh, right," the expressionless man brought her back from her thoughts. "You have been requested today. Go find Alice Jenkins. 2nd floor, take a left 3 doors down on your right. Next!" he barked before she had time to move away, causing her to jump a little.

She felt relieved. She worked for Alice a couple weeks ago and found it to be a pleasurable experience. Alice was one of the head directors at the free medical clinic. Last time, she was assigned the duty of writing out lab orders and organizing medical charts. Alice told her she didn't usually assign temps to that sort of thing, but a rather large number of employees called in sick due to a flu epidemic, so she had no choice. Alice was amazed with how quick the new temp had caught on. She'd finished her chore in half the time it usually took others and had inquired for more things to do. Alice had decided to take a chance and assigned some more complicated responsibilities, which the mystifying woman once again tackled with ease.

This sparked suspicion in Alice, and she inquired more into the personal life of the secretive girl. The girl, who went by Mary knew better, side stepping most questions.

Mary learned early on that one careless question could land her in a dirty bed at the county hospital with psychiatric doctors poking and prodding her. One of those times she'd landed there she'd requested, as politely as possible, to be sent to a real hospital, with real Neurologists. She was laughed at and rudely told that without any health insurance and without a steady job, the closest she would ever get to those kind of hospitals and doctors, was digging through their dumpsters in the back. Each time she'd been put in the sorry excuse for a hospital, Carwyn was taken by Social Services and was scared to death thinking her mommy was gone forever. She learned that it was best to keep her secret to herself and would find another way to get to the kind of doctor who could help her.

Before entering the small office where most medical records and forms were stored, she took a breath and tried to settle the butterflies in her stomach. She did her best to smooth down her hair and straightened out the wrinkles in her casual clothes. Everything she wore she had claimed out of a box overflowing with used clothing, donated by someone to the church charity. It wasn't much, but they were unsoiled and at least her size. She knew she wasn't much to look at. Her dark blond hair was longer than she would have liked but she didn't even pretend to know the luxury of a haircut. She knew her eyes were rimmed with red, and she couldn't hide the dark circles that she felt were a result of always being in a state of confusion. She had a small frame, and since food was hard to find sometimes, she gave most, if not all, to her growing daughter and as a result was several pounds underweight. At least she was clean. She did her best each night to wash herself and Carwyn in the small sink in the church's bathroom with small bottles of shampoo and tiny pieces of soap she collected when she could. She knew she couldn't do much with their meager means, but it was one thing she took pride in, their hygiene.

She cleared her throat and opened the door only to be greeted immediately by Alice Jenkins.

"Oh great! You're here! You wouldn't believe how backed up I am with paperwork. We've had a lot of doctor changes recently. I have so much to change on all these charts…" she stopped and gestured with her arms towards the long bookshelves, groaning under the weight of thick medical charts that lined the back wall. "I hope you don't mind," she went on, "I've requested you for the next few weeks. It's going to take a lot of work from us, but I was so impressed with your skills last time that I honestly only trusted you for such an undertaking."

"Um, yeah, right, of course. No problem. Let's get started." She stammered back, surprised at the confidence this kind woman had for her. It was a new feeling and it felt good. She tossed her bag under a desk, rolled up her sleeves, and followed Alice to the back, grateful that she now had something steady for the next few weeks. If things kept going like this, she'd have enough money in no time to make an appointment at the renowned Seattle Grace.

The doorbell rang, echoing through the spacious rooms and halls of the old solid house. Izzie glanced up puzzled at who the visitor might be. It was a late Sunday morning and she, along with Alex, George, and Callie were enjoying a quiet morning. Izzie was making muffins in the kitchen, Alex sitting on a bar stool at the counter watching his beautiful girlfriend bake. George and Callie sat in the living room cuddling on the couch watching a program on TV. They invited Preston and Cristina over for lunch, but didn't expect them for a few hours yet. Izzie gave Alex a curious glance, but he just shrugged and looked back down to the Seattle Times paper he'd just noticed sitting on the counter. A few seconds later, they heard George's socks shuffle across the hard wood floor as he rushed to open the door.

George flung the door open to reveal a tall thin man, probably somewhere in his early 50's, starched khaki pants, and a button up shirt covered by a tan dress coat. His reddish-brown hair was starting to thin, and a few wrinkles settled next to both eyes.

George never saw this man in his life and was quickly joined by the other three occupants of the house who were just as curious.

"Um, can I help you?" George asked furrowing his brows together at the mysterious visitor.

"I'm Detective Henry." He reached in his front coat pocket and pulled out his identification badge and flashed it towards the collected group of friends. "I'd like to ask you some questions about Meredith Grey."