A/N :
Prompt: Hayes finds Ellis wandering the hospital alone.
This one-shot took on a life of its own. It started out pretty small, and just grew. It's my first time writing dialogue for a child. Hopefully, her voice stays true to her six year old character. This past season, I was surprised by how much she grew up, talking in complete sentences and all. I guess when the show hides the kids for so long, you forget they grow up ;)
Thank you for your continued support. Hope you all enjoy :)
After an intense ten-hour surgery, all Cormac wanted to do was crash—on a couch, a chair, his desk—anywhere, really. Every muscle in his shoulders and back was throbbing, his feet screaming in protest at every step he took. What he wouldn't do for a drink right about now!
As he headed towards the nurses' station to hand over his tablet, he spied, out the corner of his eye, a forlorn-looking kid. Framed by her golden, straight hair, the little girl stared at the floor, legs swinging back and forth, the picture of utter dejection.
The uncanny resemblance to her mother left no room for doubt in his mind. None other than Ellis Grey-Shepherd, or Queen Ellis as she loved to be called. She was clasping her prized stuffed elephant under her right arm, holding on for dear life like clutching a life preserver. Gulping nervously, furtively peeking left and right, she gently wiped her damp cheeks, gnawing on her bottom lip. Ellis finally glanced up, giving Hayes a perfect view of her solemn eyes. He perused around, hoping to find a responsible adult for her. What was she doing all by herself?
As he gingerly closed the distance between them, Ellis finally spotted him. He froze for a beat, not wanting to spook the clearly scared child, his desire to calm her overwhelming. Her eyes opened wide, mouth falling open at the sight of him, before her face blossomed to life with the biggest smile. The jubilation and relief in her expression took him by surprise. As he quickened his steps towards her, she clapped her hands twice, in quick succession, greeting him boisterously, "Dr. Mac!"
"Hello there, miss Ellis," he responded as he crouched in front of her, coming closer to eye level.
She leapt off her squeaky chair, launching her tiny body at him, her arms intertwining tightly around his neck. He steadied himself to keep from falling over, patting her back in the process, soothing her as best he could. Hayes could feel her rapid heartbeat gradually find its normal rhythm. As he slowly untangled himself from her strong grip, he remained in a squat as Ellis parked herself back in her seat, reaching for her stuffed animal that had fallen over in her rush to hug him.
"You haven't called in SOOOO long," whined Ellis, voice tinged with despair, subjecting him to a pout worthy of the children's hall of fame. "You SAID we would finish Eloise next time. You never called! Did I do something wrong?" Her eyes took on a glassy-like appearance once more, forgetting her previous worries to fester on new ones.
Heart pinching slightly, gifting her with a bright smile to appease her unfounded fears, he explained, "Ellis...we used to talk when you called your mum, remember? When she was sick in the hospital."
She bobbed her head, somewhat in agreement. Nevertheless, her face scrunched up, her eyebrows furrowing in childlike confusion.
He added, "We chatted while I was taking care of her. But your mum got better, and she came home to you."
Shaking her head stubbornly, Ellis sulked, crossing her arms close to her chest, refusing to accept his answer. "So we can't talk? Because mamma's better? But how am I supposed to know how the story ends?"
Trying mightily to suppress his escaping laugh at the innocent concerns in her life, he offered a reasonable solution, "Your mum can read you the rest, no? Or your aunts? Or Zola?"
She narrowed her eyes at him, scoffing like only a child could, "NO! They don't do the voices like you do!"
Eyes bright with laughter at Ellis' candidness, he pressed his right hand close to his heart, and winked at her. "What an honour from an expert such as yourself!"
She giggled, the sound alleviating all the burdens plaguing his tired soul.
"Now, little one...what are you doing here all by yourself? Are you waiting for someone?" Wondered Hayes aloud.
Shaking her head, Ellis supplied a vague answer, "Mommy's gonna find me."
Brows knitted, Hayes rose to his feet before taking the seat next to Ellis. "She knows you're here waiting?"
"Nope!" Supplied Ellis, so matter-of-factly, as if her answer explained everything.
"How is she supposed to find you then? If she doesn't know you're here?"
She tilted her head to the side, seeming much older than her six years. "When I get lost, I have to wait exactly where I am. Mommy told me so! She always finds me."
Fighting off an amused smirk at Ellis' bossy tone, a perfect impersonation of Meredith—a tone no doubt inherited by her know-it-all mother, he asked, his lips quirking up involuntarily, "How long does it usually take your mum to find you?"
Rolling her eyes in exasperation, Ellis groaned, enunciating every syllable like an excruciating task, "FOR-E-VER."
"How about we go track her down, then? What do you say?"
"Oh! YAY!" She squealed cheerfully. He can't help the smile tugging at his lips at her unbound enthusiasm. God, he missed the time when his kids were this age!
Ellis rose, bouncing on her feet, ready to head towards the elevator.
"Wait, wait, wait! I don't know where your mum is right this instant. Give me a minute."
Ellis huffed in restlessness, planting her left foot down before tapping her right one in frustration, perfecting a diva in training pose.
Hayes retrieved his phone out of his pocket, pulling up his text threads, locating the one he was searching for.
Hayes : Where are you?
He didn't have to wait long before the general surgeon replied.
Meredith: In my office. Drowning under a mountain of paperwork. Save me? Do you need me for surgery :)
His lips and cheeks twitched with faint amusement. Meredith was nothing if not predictable.
Hayes: Stay there. I found something of yours that requires your attention.
Meredith: ? Explain!
Hayes: Heading up now. You'll see soon enough...
Meredith: Tell me now!
Smirking at her impatience, getting a rise out of her entertained him endlessly. Like mother, like daughter.
Hayes looked down at Ellis, holding his hand out for her to take. Sliding her tiny hand in his, they make their way towards the elevator.
"Mommy lets me push the button. Can I? Pretty please?" She gifted him her best doe eyes, already conscious of their effect on grown-ups.
"Go ahead." He couldn't remember the last time he had smiled this much. The infectious energy emanating from Ellis could heal a dying man.
Holding out her arms, standing on her tippy-toes, she peered up at Hayes, pleading, "Up, please!"
Lifted high enough to reach the button, she pressed it firmly, with all the enthusiasm of a happy kid. "Thank you, Dr. Mac."
"You're very welcome," he said as the elevator finally arrived. They embarked, Hayes hauling Ellis up once again to let her press the button, to her heart's delight. "Number 4."
In seconds, they had reached their desired floor. The doors opened, the general surgery floor upon them. As the duo neared Meredith's office, Ellis tightened her grip on Hayes' hand. He trained his eyes her way, noticing her chin trembling. "What's the matter, little one?"
"Do you think mommy will be mad at me?"
"She might be, at first," he answered honestly. "But really, she'll just be worried. It's scary when we don't know where our babies are. Imagine you lost this little fella?" Hayes pointed out, motioning the elephant clutched tightly under her arm.
Ellis' eyes rounded in horror. "Oh..."
Finally arriving at their destination, Hayes only had time to knock once before the door flew open quickly, a disheveled and harried Meredith bursting out.
"Hey! Sorry! Can't talk right now. The daycare just called. Ellis has gone rogue. Again! Ugh! I swear I'm going to put a tracker on her. That's not illegal, right?" She turned away from him, ready to lock her door.
Hayes' loud laugh snapped Meredith out of her frenetic panic. Her head snapped up at the startling sound, baffled by his reaction.
"Mamma!" Shrieked an animated Ellis. Relief flooded Meredith from head to toe as she finally noticed her escape artist at Hayes' side, looking carefree as can be. Meredith's heart fluttered rapidly at the sight of the Irishman holding her daughter's hand, the picture so heartwarming, and unexpectedly promising given her renowned running tendencies.
Bending down to her daughter's height, Meredith held her arms out for Ellis. Releasing her hold on Hayes' hand, Ellis ran to hug her mother.
Stroking her hair and holding her tightly against her chest, Meredith tempered her tone, trying to soothe her daughter while still admonishing her. "Ellie Belle... You can't disappear from daycare. We've talked about this."
"I know, mamma," mumbled Ellis. "But you said you would come get me when the little hand was on 5... And you didn't!"
Caressing her daughter's cheeks and peppering them with kisses, Meredith apologized, "I'm sorry, sweetie. I got distracted. But you still can't leave without telling anyone. Mamma was scared."
Ellis nuzzled her mom's neck, murmuring, "Sorry mommy."
"I know, baby. I know," Meredith consoled, rubbing Ellis' back. They stayed like that for a beat. After a while, the general surgeon glanced up at Hayes, mouthing thank you. He nodded, his face softening with the most tender look in his cerulean eyes as he watched the mother-daughter duo.
"Come in. I have to call back the daycare." Meredith ushered Ellis into her office, gesturing for Hayes to follow.
Making herself at home, Ellis grabbed a pen and paper off Meredith's desk, and headed over to the coffee table. She plopped down on the soft carpet, crossing her legs, parking her things on the table without a care in the world now that she was finally with her mom.
Leaning against her desk, Meredith dialed the daycare back as Hayes settled himself on the small couch, watching Ellis doodle mindlessly.
Excuses presented to the staff and emergency averted, Meredith ended the call. She headed over to her daughter, ruffling Ellis' hair and kissing her head lovingly before taking a seat beside Hayes.
Meredith whispered to the pediatric surgeon, "Honestly, I'm the last person who should complain. I was SO much worse at her age. I used to roam the halls, sneak into the OR galleries. I guess I should take comfort that she's not there yet."
Hayes let out a husky laugh, "Thought you were above the rules, even then?"
Meredith snorted, elbowing him lightly in the ribs, "We didn't really have a daycare back then. My mom would just expect the staff to keep me entertained. I would get bored so quickly!"
"Like mother, like daughter, I see," he noticed, eyes glittering with mirth. Laughter bubbled up, too powerful to contain. Ellis looked up at the chuckling adults on the sofa and offered her own giggle before continuing her drawing.
Hayes glanced back at Ellis, warmth seeping in at the sight of her giddiness, his ice-wrapped heart melting ever so slowly. She was bopping her head to imaginary music, blissfully unaware of the upheaval she'd caused. "Reckon this happens a lot, yeah?"
"Ugh! Too often," Meredith grunted, throwing her head back on the couch headrest, golden strands of hair strewn all over.
Hayes' hands twitched with the urge to run his fingers through her silky mane, Ellis' presence keeping him in check—but just barely.
"Thanks...for staying with her," murmured Meredith, snapping him out of his daze.
He shrugged his shoulders, like his good deed was run-of-the-mill. "Of course. Let's be honest, she's much better company than the likes of you," he teased, seeking to evade her praise.
"You're on a roll today! What is this? Gang-up-on-Meredith day?"
"Have to keep you on your toes," he countered cheekily.
She sneaked a sideways peek at him, his relaxed posture putting her at ease, even in her daughter's company. "Anyway, thanks. I know she can be a handful. No idea where she gets it from..."
Eyebrow raised in her direction, holding in his laugh was beyond even his renowned self-control. Meredith joined in, an eye roll following his correct presumption.
"Mmhmm... Well, Ellis didn't give me a hard time, unlike someone else I know," he shared, his words lingering between them.
"I'll have you know, I'm very accommodating—easy-going even," Meredith volleyed back.
"That's definitely not a word I'd use to describe you. Stubborn, bossy, commanding..."
"Is that all?" She wondered curiously, a hint of a smile gracing her features, not the least bit annoyed at his accurate depiction.
Hayes grew quiet for a moment, contemplating his next answer. "No, that's not all," he sighed. "Honourable, kind, forgiving, warm—"
"Same. For you, I mean," she voiced, blushing slightly under the simmering intensity of his heated gaze. Tension soaring between them, Meredith diffused the moment, as was her custom, "You're sure she wasn't too much trouble?"
"She was fine, Grey. At least I didn't have to pick her up off the floor."
"Never living that down, am I? Add that to the list of things people will whisper about me... So what I'm gathering is I owe you a bunch of favours I'll have to spend the rest of my life repaying?"
Mouth hooked to one side, Hayes shrugged, seemingly nonchalant but for the hesitation in his gaze. "Maybe just one thing..." His words trailed off.
Brows arched, Meredith picked up the threads of his unfinished thought, "Name it."
"A drink... A real, uninterrupted one."
No longer able to resist his charm—nor his devastating smile, Meredith flushed under his scrutiny. Eyes trained on his, she finally nodded, lips curling up. "You're on."
"Good. You were starting to give me a complex."
She snorted. "I think you can handle it."
"Just barely. Any soul less brave would have withered in wait," he joked.
"I'm sorry. You know that, right?" Admitted Meredith, earnestly.
"God, don't be! You have nothing to be sorry for. It was completely out of your control."
A bout of silence ensued as they both reflected on their journey to get to this moment.
Breaking them both out of their musings, Hayes asked, "What had you locked up in your office, anyway? I thought they were easing you back into things?"
"My service is a mess. We're down two—practically, three—surgeons with me out of commission until I'm cleared. Too many positions to fill."
"And only you can fix everything, almighty Meredith Grey?"
She rolled her eyes at his description of her. "No, but I miss it. The grind, the surgeries, the thrill."
"Even the paperwork?"
"Even that, believe it or not," she said, her melancholic expression causing his chest to contract. "In any case, I was going over some interview notes from our first round when you texted."
"Any winners?"
"Not a one! One guy actually said he doesn't do pro bono surgeries—ever! I hung up on him. Another wanted us to guarantee him one week off a month. I mean, am I crazy? Were we ever that delusional and ungrateful?"
"Bloody idiots, the lot of them. This job... It's a privilege. You know that more than anyone," he noted.
"Right?" She scoffed, her irritation rising just thinking about the poor candidates. "I have more tomorrow. God help me!"
"I'll save you, mamma," piped in Ellis, from her spot on the carpet. She scrambled up to her little feet and made a beeline for Meredith. Climbing up between the two surgeons, she wrapped her tiny arms around Meredith's neck, nestling herself against her mom's comforting embrace.
"Best kind of rescue," Meredith whispered as she snuggled with her youngest. Ticklish giggles emerged from Ellis. Hayes smiled at the picturesque scene before him.
"Are we going home soon?" Inquired Ellis.
"Soon, Ellie Belle."
"I'll leave you to it," offered Hayes.
"Can we finish the book tonight, Dr. Mac?" Asked an innocent Ellis.
Dr. Mac, mouthed a confused Meredith, eyebrows crinkled in his direction. He cleared his throat before saying, "Only if it's okay with your mum, little one."
"Please mommy. Please!"
"I... What story?" Questioned Meredith.
"Eloise at the plaza! I don't know how it ends," explained a pleading Ellis.
"When you were in the hospital, we did story time some nights—" started Hayes.
"Like I used to," finished Meredith, comprehension dawning. God! He truly had gone above and beyond for her family.
"Aye. I grabbed a few books from the peds ward, and we started a little tradition. We never got to finish that particular one."
"So Dr. Mac is going to call tonight to finish it," Ellis stated unequivocally, leaving no room for argument.
Hayes smirked at Ellis' officious tone, "Is that so?"
"Yep!"
"I better go get that book then," teased Hayes, flashing a smile in Ellis' direction.
"Baby... You have to ask, not tell," Meredith implored her daughter.
"Fine," grumbled Ellis. She peered up at him expectantly, unveiling her best puppy dog eyes to persuade Hayes. "Dr. Mac, can we PLEASE finish the book tonight?"
Expression gleaming with mirth, Hayes goaded her a little, "Well, I'm so very busy tonight. The whole week, honestly. It might have to wait until next week."
Ellis' breath hitched, the corners of her mouth dipping noticeably. "Really? Not even for me?"
Rubbing his thumb and index finger against his chin in fake contemplation, he finally replied, stretching out his words, "Alright... You've convinced me."
"Yay!" She screamed, leaping out of her mom's arms and into Hayes', celebrating her victory. The sudden weight knocked the breath right out of him, forcing a grunt. He enfolded her in his arms, grins emerging from both of them.
"Careful, sweetie," Meredith warned, stroking the back of Ellis' head. "Get your stuff ready. We're leaving soon."
Ellis untangled herself slowly from Hayes before running over to the coffee table to pick up her things.
Meredith studied Hayes for a few seconds, not wanting him to feel obligated. "Are you sure about this? You seriously don't have to entertain my six-year-old."
Hayes chuckled, "It's fine. I did promise her we would finish it." Hayes stood up, making his way towards the door.
"Hey, Hayes?" Meredith called out as he neared the doorway.
"Aye?" he said, looking over his shoulder.
"Pick a time and a place, and I'll be there," she promised, a sparkle clear as day in her eyes. "We've waited long enough."
A smooth, yet bashful smile gradually overtook his features as he simply gazed at her, both of them sinking into silence for a languorous moment. At last, words tumbled out of him, bearing his heart for her to see, "I look forward to it."