Chapter 4: Stubborn Getaway

Going against what her mom had said was definitely worth it because she had hit the jackpot. The Gallery. Well, the sign outside the door had said the gallery which made sense because there were at least seven people sitting in risers looking through a window, over an operating table. An operating table with a real person and real blood on it with doctors and nurses working on the patient. "Wow."

Derek was working on paperwork as he watched the surgery, a little girl the last thing he expected to see, but here she was as he looked up from his file, staring down at the surgery in amazement. "Pretty cool, huh?"

"They are working on his front side so it's not his back...or his brain...not his leg..." Dawsyn bit her lip, much the way her mother did. "What procedure?"

"Valve replacement." Derek replied, unable to keep from smiling at this little girl who was so intrigued by what was happening below.

"So cool..." Dawsyn grinned, a giggle escaping her lips.

"Want to sit?" Derek offered, moving his stuff of the bench next to him.

"Sure." Dawsyn beamed, handing her pink bookbag to the doctor as she climbed up.

"So, are you a surgeon?" Derek smiled.

"I'm only nine."

"It was supposed to be a joke. Not funny?"

"Just not that creative." Dawsyn giggled, looking back down at the surgeon. "I knew I would find real surgeries and blood here."

"You've come to the right place." Derek laughed.

"We already saw the babies and a bunch of different things but nothing super cool like this."

"We?"

"Oh um..." Dawsyn bit her lip.

"Field trip escapee?" Derek laughed.

"You won't tell anyone?"

"It's our secret."

"Thanks." Dawsyn smiled.

"I'm Dr. Shepherd...But you can call me Derek." He said, holding out his hand.

"Hi Derek." The young girl extended her hand. "I'm Dawsyn."

"Well...Thanks for telling me." Derek laughed.

"You're welcome."

"It's nice to meet you, Dawsyn."

"It's nice to meet you Derek...Dr. Shepherd."

"Derek."

"Are you sure?" Dawsyn asked. "My mom says it's polite to call people by their title. Mister...Doctor...you know."

"Your mom's right...But we have a special secret, so I think it's okay." Derek chuckled.

"Okay." Dawsyn smiled, looking back over the OR.

"It's too bad you weren't here this morning."

"Why?" Dawsyn frowned.

"Brain surgery." Derek smiled.

"Really?" Dawsyn gasped.

"Uh huh."

"Wow."

"Saved the guys life."

"You?"

"Yup."

"Wow...did he have a tumor?" Dawsyn asked. "Or was it an injury...was he bleeding?"

"Wow...Interested in neuro?" Derek laughed.

"Neuro or General." Dawsyn replied, suddenly appearing much older than just eleven.

"Hmm...It was an aneurysm."

"That sucks."

"Lucky for him...I work here."

"That's so cool."

"I think so."

"Me too."

"You don't think its gross?"

"Not really...My mom and I watch CSI and she hides her face more than I do."

"Wow...That's impressive." Derek laughed.

"Yeah..." Dawsyn breathed.

"So what else did you see...before you escaped?"

"A real hospital room...the lab...billing...the place where people go get MRI's...the cafeteria but I brought my lunch."

"So did I." Derek replied, picking up a paper bag from the floor.

"But doctors make a lot of money."

"This is true." He laughed, surprised at everything the eleven-year-old knew.

"My mom packed my lunch."

"Peanut butter and jelly for me." Derek said, holding up his sandwich.

"Me too!"

"It's the best."

"Yeah."

"Well Dawsyn...I'm thinking there are probably some people who are looking for you."

"It depends...what time is it?"

"One thirty." Derek answered, looking at his watch.

"No, they're not."

"I bet they are."

"No because they left at one and I told my friend Sadie to cover for me."

"You're...Wow." Derek laughed.

"My Mom told me not to pull anything, but I wanted to see a surgery."

"What do you say we go call her...and I'll tell her you got lost."

"We can call her, but she won't believe I got lost." Dawsyn laughed.

"This isn't the first time you've done this?" Derek laughed, as they stood up.

"Definitely not."

"You're a pro, aren't you?"

"Since I was about six."

"Okay." Derek laughed. "I'll see what I can do...Keep the punishment to a minimum."

"That would be nice...my mom worked extra to buy me Jonas Brother's tickets...and she said I couldn't go if I pulled anything."

"Ooh. Jonas Brothers. Well, we can't have you miss that."

"She already paid for them...she might as well not waste them."

"I agree with you."

"I can call a cab."

"How about we go up to my office and check out some cool stuff and I'll have one of the nurses give your mom a call."

"Okay...could you tell her my class forgot me?" Dawsyn asked, standing up.

"I'll see what I can do." Derek laughed.

"My mom says I came out not listening." Dawsyn giggled. "I'm stubborn like she is."

"That's not always a bad thing." Derek said, as they walked out of the gallery.

"Only when my mom is mad."

"Probably isn't good to use it then."

"To use what?"

"The skill of stubbornness."

"She says she feels bad for the boy that marries me." Dawsyn giggled.

"I think he's a very lucky boy." Derek smiled.

"I'm too young to get married."

"Obviously."

"Are you married?"

"Nope."

"My Mommy isn't either."

"I was married a few years ago."

"My Mommy was never married...I don't have a Dad."

"You have a Dad...somewhere."

"My Mom never talks about him...she just says I don't have a Dad."

"Hmm..."

"She says that she loves me enough for two parents so that I don't have a Dad." Dawsyn explained. "Plus, I have my Mom's friends."

"Sounds good to me." Derek chuckled, as they reached his office.

"I know her number...I can call her."

"I'll take care of it...If you just write it down." He said, leading her into his office.

"No...I better...she's at work."

"I think an adult should do it, Dawsyn." Derek laughed.

"Trust me Derek...I've got this." Dawsyn looked up at him.

"I'm sure you do." He smiled. "Trust me...If you call her...the worse it will be when she gets here."

"Fine...but call her Ms. Grey...and say Dr. Shepherd...maybe she'll worry more and not be so mad."

"You got it." He laughed, winking at her before leaving to call her. This little girl was amazing, funny and smart. There was something about her that was familiar, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.