Lost and found
A/N: Thank you to my last reviewers, luciebean, mandyg67, and Patsy. And thank you, everyone who still follows this story… Let me know you're still out there kay? Cuz I miss you!
For mandyg67:)
**NOTE: For the purposes of this story… Owen's sister only Just went missing.**
Enjoy!
Jordan Airbase.
Amid howling choppers, blowing sand, and the scorching dessert heat, Owen exited the C-160. Squinting, he turned into the wind, not caring a bit about the sand that prickled every crevice of his face. He pulled out a worn yellow post-it. Major Michaels, it said, with a building number. Quickly, he hefted his heavy army rucksack and made his way to the command center.
Barging through the wooden double doors of HQ, Owen caught the attention of the young dark-skinned clerk at the desk. "Major Owen hunt," he introduced without preamble, "I need to speak to Major Michaels." It had taken him several phone calls, every favour and phone call, every trick he had in the book to get here. But he had to be. His kid sister had been a cowboy and jumped on a chopper that went down somewhere in the desert. He was going to find her.
Already preoccupied on the phone, the clerk held up one finger and nodded, signaling that he should wait. He dropped his bag, placed hands on his hips and paced in the surprisingly empty waiting room. Overwhelming anxiousness roiled in his gut. He hadn't heard anything of his sister since he left Seattle, spending a hellish week in multiple countries and airports, just getting permission to even be here.
Now that he was here he still couldn't do anything.
Owen could do anything as a surgeon. Hand him a scalpel and some duct tape, and he'd patch you up good as new. But here, in the command center, only a couple hundred miles from where his sister was lost, he couldn't do anything.
He just wanted to do something.
"Major Hunt?" the clerk called.
He spun around and strode to the desk, clenching and unclenching his fists, "Yeah."
"Major Michaels is deployed in the field sir," she said. "But he should be back by 0900 tomorrow with more information for you."
"Tomorrow," Owen repeated with a slow nod. Tomorrow meant more time, more distance…
More of that helpless feeling.
"Yes sir," the clerk nodded.
He let out a loud long sigh, looked at his watch. It was 1800 hours now. "I need to see him as soon as he gets here," Owen ordered.
"Of course, sir. The morning schedule is clear."
"Thank you," He picked up his bag, now… where was he cleared to stay? "Can you-," he started-
"Guest quarters are on the left, three buildings down." The clerk replied, reading his mind. "You're in…" she glanced at her sheet by the phone, tracing her finger down a list of names. "3C."
"Thank you," Owen said, once again hefting his bag over his shoulder and stepping out into the elemental blast.
For a moment, he was transported in time…
A decade ago, Megan followed him here like a little puppy. An annoying puppy. But a brave one too. He closed his eyes… was that her? A flash of her long reddish hair tinged the corner of his vision. Owen, stood, triggered, transfixed, hearing Megan's taunting laughter echoing around him. She was lost. How did he lose her?
Shook back to reality by the ferocious sound of a jet engine, Owen blinked. He swallowed air, plodding to his quarters. Now within spitting distance of 3C, he stopped. The man approaching him was familiar somehow… The slope of the shoulders, the jut of the chin, the spark of blue reflecting in his eyes from the setting sun.
Owen stopped, stared, "Riggs?"
The man stopped too, shocked. "Hunt?"
Owen couldn't help it, couldn't stop the rage. He took three steps forward and swung, decking his sister's fiancé, the man who used to be his best friend. The man that lost her, "You son of a bitch!"
xxx
Dashing down the stairs, Jackson paused when he saw the familiar shock of blonde hair just below him. "Arizona? hey," he called.
Arizona stopped at the second last step, looking up at him "Jackson, what's up?" she asked, smiling slightly.
"Have you seen April?" He'd been looking for her all morning. She stayed overnight on a difficult trauma case, and while Noah fell asleep beside him in their king size bed, it pained him to wake up without his wife with them.
"Umm, no I haven't," Arizona answered. "She's not in admitting?"
He shook his head. "No. She doesn't want the surgery," he hung his head. They'd argued about it on and off all week. But April was adamant for a miracle. 'We prayed Jackson, God is going to give us a miracle, we just have to have faith.' Is what she said two days ago.
"She… what?" Arizona turned around, concern etched on her smooth features as she took a few steps up to meet him.
"We had a fight." He sighed, not wanting to admit his marital problems, but desperate all the same, just for a listening ear, at least. "She said she prayed about it, and she's fine," he growled, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"But… Jackson, that tumor-,"
"I know! We confirmed on the ultrasound yesterday, it's still there." Their baby had a tumor growing in one of the ventricles of its heart. And his wife… his awesome, amazing, passionate wife thought a prayer could take it away? He sighed and rubbed his face.
Noticing his pain, Arizona came up to meet him on the steps. "Hey," she said softly, rubbing his back.
"I just- She- April-" he shook his head, helpless.
"I know," Arizona patted his hand. "Did you try the chapel?"
"The chap-," he stuttered, "the chapel. Yeah, good idea." Why hadn't he thought of that? He'd been searching OR's… but if there was anywhere April would try to get away from him, it would be where God was. If there was a God.
"Okay," Arizona smiled tightly. "Oh, and did everything go okay with Sofia last night?"
Ah yes, the sleep over. Arizona had an intense schedule, and Callie was helping with Mark, and with everything going on, they'd offered to have her over to spend time with Noah. "Sofia?" Jackson smiled. "Oh yeah…" he nodded, "they had a blast. They're going to have a lot of fun with the daycare group at the zoo today too."
"Great." Arizona sighed. "Well, I have to find Callie, but thanks so much for taking her last night." She started back down the stairs at a half jog.
"No problem." It really wasn't. It had been a real stress reliever, for the moment, anyway.
"Jackson?"
"Yeah?" He turned back down toward her.
"Miracles come in different ways. It's not like magic. If April believes that God created the world, that he created us… then isn't it fair to say he created our talent, our drive? Isn't it fair to say that he created the circumstances for one of the best cardiothoracic surgeons and the best neo-natal surgeons to be at this hospital?"
Jackson sighed thinking he knew where this was going.
"Look," Arizona continued, "This isn't about what you believe or don't believe. Or what April believes. It's about making sure that the baby is safe. As her father, that's your job. You don't need to believe in God to hope in a miracle," she said.
"Thanks, I think," said Jackson, mulling over her words.
Tilting her head in a nod of support, Arizona trotted down the stairs and out the doors for the third floor.
xxx
Jackson made his way to the chapel… Sure enough, there was April.
"April… he said slowly.
"Jackson, I already told you," she huffed, defences up.
"I know, I know… but can you listen? Just listen, kay?" Because he had to give his two cents too. April squeezed the back of the bench in front of her and stared at the rectangle of candles that lined the front.
"Look, I know you're scared-,"
"I'm not scared Jackson, I have faith," she nearly snapped.
"Whoa, okay, okay…" He backed off. "Well, April, I'm scared. I am scared, because… I'm not strong like you. Whenever I believed in something bigger than myself…" he shrugged, "It fell apart. People left me, people hurt me. Like my father."
"Jackson…" April started,
"Just listen." He swallowed. "Maybe I don't believe. Maybe I will someday. But right now, what I believe in is science and medicine. It's part of why I became a surgeon. Because you can heal things. You can fix things. Look… if God created the world, and if he created us, me, you, our baby… he also created Maggie right? And Dr. Herman… He created them… and brought them here. Two of the most brilliant doctors in America. Here. In this hospital. When we just so happen to have this problem. So if you believe that God made them, don't you think it's possible that He created the circumstances for them to be there to help?"
April sighed… "I just…I don't…"
"I know, but I mean… look, I've read the Bible, parts of it anyway. If there's anything I took away from it, it was that God still needed people to do his work. Maybe he could just wave a hand and smite a city… but he preferred to use people. Like Joseph, or David, or Moses. He picked these people to live in the world and do his work, carry out his plans. And he gave them friends and allies, he didn't leave them alone," Jackson shrugged. "Isn't that what we have here?
"I know you're a believer, April. I know you believe in Miracles. That's part of why I love you. Can you at least believe that an all-powerful God would surround us with people he's going to use, rather than wave his hand and fix it?... Please?"
"I… oh Jackson, I…"
"April…"
She swallowed and nodded, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to… I'm just… I'm scared too Jackson."
He took her hand in his, grateful that she let him. "I know… but we'll get through this… together okay?"
Xxx
"Ugh, I need some wine!" Callie whined to Mark. She needed wine. She needed to forget… about Arizona, and that Resident… Henny Penny? And Dr. Un-Human Herman. She just needed to relax, free herself and let them go.
Which is how she ended up here. After dropping Sofia and Noah off at the Daycare for their little trip to the zoo, she realized she was only a few blocks from Mark's place. She'd had a sleepless night without Arizona and Sofia and so… here she was. Quality time right?
"Wine?" Mark rolled his eyes. "It's nine in the morning…" He rumbled as he shifted uncomfortably on the sectional, "I'm trying to watch Iron Chef."
"Iron Chef?" asked Carolyn, sipping her coffee, "Oh I love Iron Chef. Especially that man… What's his name… Fay? Fry?"
"Flay," said Mark, pointing to the screen, "Bobby Flay."
"Yes him… and that Japanese man…"
Callie grinned. This is just what she needed. A little competitive show to take her mind off things, "I love it when those two battle… You know, being a chef isn't much different than being a surgeon, I think." And wine. Wine would be nice.
"What are we watching?" Lexie entered the room fresh from a shower, her hair was covered in a light blue towel turban on her head.
"Iron Chef." Callie, Mark and Carolyn said all at once.
"Oh God, I hate that show!" She exclaimed.
"What?" Mark asked, dropping his jaw in shock. "We were just watching it a few weeks ago in D.C."
"I know," she said making a face, "It's the secret ingredient. Sometimes it's gross."
"What's gross about about canned tuna?"
"Or Caviar?" asked Carolyn, watching curiously as Lexie turned a shade paler and clamped a hand over her mouth.
Callie was tired of this conversation. "Wine!" she demanded, "I need wine! My wife is cheating on me!" she blurted, thought she wasn't entirely sure.
"Shut up! She's not cheating! She's on a surgery kick! Saving the world! Saving babies!" Mark exclaimed, leaning forward in his seat, though it seemed a little uncomfortable.
Why was he defending her? Mark was supposed to be her friend first! "Arizona secured an on-call room for her and Dr. Herman. They stay overnight! Where's the wine?" She couldn't help raising her voice.
"No one is having wine," Carolyn remarked. "You need to stop whining!"
Callie scoffed. She shifted her attention to the screen, she didn't want to talk about this. "Oh, the secret ingredient is Monkfish? Amazing! What are they going to do with that?"
"Fish...?" Lexie murmured weakly. Callie had forgotten she was there."I don't think I can watch this…" Lexie murmured, rubbing her stomach, but no one seemed to be paying attention, Callie certainly wasn't.
"Callie." Mark touched her arm, trying to get her attention.
"No, it's fine. I'm fine. Arizona is an adult. She can do what she wants…" She can cheat if she wants… it's just… it-
"Callie…"
"What, Mark?" She snapped "You know, I haven't seen Arizona in three days. All we do is fight," she sighed. "I just… I thought we wanted the same things… I thought she wanted to have another baby… but then… she doesn't. Not really. I mean, she loves Sofia but…" she shook her head, "I don't know!"
"Okay, you know what? Let's think about this for a minute… let's go back…"
Go back? Go back to what? Hell, no. She didn't come here for therapy. She came here for wine, because Mark has the best wine collection, "Mark, are you shrinking me? I did not come here to be shrinked."
"Top left of the cupboard next to the fridge." He sighed.
"What?" He was gonna give her wine? Really?
"Pinot Noir, help yourself. But then you gotta listen."
"Oooh is it the good stuff?" Callie clambered off the couch and helped herself to a glass. "It is the good stuff!" she said after she filled her glass, and took a sip, "Alright. Fine. I will listen. Until this glass is finished… Go!"
Mark shook his head. "It's really not that hard, Callie. Arizona loved you enough to stick around in spite of Sofia. In spite of the part of her that didn't want children. She loved you enough to love our daughter and accept me as part of the package. That's…" he glanced down the hall to their bedroom where Lexie was likely resting. "That takes a lot of maturity. I mean, Lexie and I… we really… she really loves me… but for a long time, she couldn't share me. She couldn't handle being in my life in that way. But Arizona took that on, you know. With us. With Sofia. Hell, she gave up an amazing opportunity in Africa… A pediatric dream. She did that for you, Callie."
Callie nodded and sipped her wine, "Go on," she said, thinking… but also really, really enjoying the wine.
"You know, right now if Lex didn't want babies, if she didn't want kids, or if she couldn't have them, I would still love her." Mark rambled. "I would still want to be a part of her life. We'd figure something out, something for us to share our passions together on. Because we still love each other. When that plane crashed, all I could think of was, she's gone… she's gone… and I don't wanna live without her. No matter what, I couldn't live without her. That's how much I love her. And… you remember how I was about my hand. I was an ass. I was. But I was scared too. What if I lost all function? If I couldn't be a surgeon… I didn't have a plan B. But Lexie fought with me to the end. She made me try. Because she didn't want me to lose myself.
Crap, thought Callie, he was really starting to get to her now.
"You loved Arizona enough to stick through her bitchiness," Mark was saying, "when she lost her leg. Hell, you loved her enough to cut it off, even when you knew you could possibly be cutting her out of your life forever. So, I guess you have to ask yourself… if that feeling's still there. Can you find it? Or did you lose it forever?"
"Mark…" Callie sniffed as she sipped the wine. Dammit! Stupid wine! What was the proof of this stuff?
"Just think about it," he said, getting up slowly from the couch. "I'm gonna check on Lexie, she's got some sort of flu bug I think."
xxx
Sitting on the toilet, Lexie stared at the lines forming on the pregnancy test. Two lines. Two lines meant… but they couldn't. She couldn't… she wasn't… it…
Two lines.
A few moments ago, she'd been oblivious. But Carolyn had pulled her aside, mentioned something about being a mother of five. Four daughters. One OB-GYN. She asked a few questions… Dizzy? Check. Nauseous? Check. Food aversion? Breast tenderness? Yup.
Lexie new enough to do the math herself, but it was Carolyn who discreetly provided the test, purchasing it a few days ago when she suspected as much.
Now there were two lines.
Two small pink vertical lines that, according to the directions on the box she'd photographically imprinted in her mind, meant, 'Pregnant.'
"Lex?" Mark knocked on the bathroom door.
She pulled up her yoga pants and pulled the towel off her head, tucking the test underneath. "I'm fine," she called back. Washing her hands, she looked at herself in the mirror. Was her face puffier? Was she bustier? She swiveled, looking at herself. Automatically, her hands went to her breasts. Funny, they didn't feel any bigger… but they were a little sore now that-
"Lex?" the door opened and Marked popped his head in. "Oh," he said grinning impishly at the sight of Lexie holding her breasts (though covered) as she looked in the mirror. "Hello-"
"Mark!" she shrieked.
"What? I can look! Maybe I can… do more than look?"
Lexie smacked him hard. "Shut up!"
"Ow!" he rubbed his chest. "Ribs!"
"Oh my God! Sorry!"
"Kidding…" he smirked. "Those were just my pecs. They're just fine, he said, flexing them.
"Oh you!" Lexie pushed past him. "I'm fine Mark, really…" she said. No she wasn't, really wasn't. Pregnant? Now? It was good, but- "But I need to call Mere. Have you seen my phone?"
xxx
Amelia paced in front of the office door, clutching Zola's file. Thanks to a few well-placed phone calls and some quick thinking, she'd managed to get this chance. She just hoped she wouldn't screw it up, like everything else.
"Dr. Shepherd?" the receptionist called out. "The judge will see you now."
"Thank you," she said roughly as she entered. When the door slammed, Amelia
"Come in," the judge, an older man who appeared to be in his fifties, greeted her. "You're inquiring about Zola Limbani?"
"Yes, I um, I brought her medical file. I understand it may be needed in the future, for her care." She stepped up and placed the folder on the desk. Two more important papers rested in her hands.
"Thank you," said Judge Irving, folding his hands on the desk. "But that's not why you're here, is it?"
"Judge Irving…" Amelia started. "It's my fault. An innocent child shouldn't be punished for my mistakes," she swallowed, gathering her courage.
"Fault? Punishment?" Iriving leaned forward in his chair.
"The drugs were mine. I… I struggle with addiction. I'm-I'm an addict your honour, and my behaviour a week ago…" she struggled for breath, for words. Her heart pounded, her throat clogged. "It was irresponsible, it was reckless. And it caused…" she shook her head, just thinking about it. "Zola deserves to be in the care of someone who will give her everything. She has spina bifida, and there are things only a well trained doctor would notice and be proactive about to prevent complications. Meredith… If anyone should be Zola's mother, it's her. She's… extraordinary."
"I see, but as a judge, I have to be objective. And even if Dr. Grey is the best candidate to adopt Zola, I have to consider everyone in Zola's life, and that includes you."
"I realize that. So I prepared this." She handed him the letter she'd typed up only a few hours ago.
"What is this?"
"It's my punishment. A letter, to the medical board. My resignation. And… a letter from Hopkins, there's an open teaching position there that they've been holding for me. If you send this letter, I will have no choice but to move across the country, three thousand miles from Zola, so Meredith can raise her without… any further trouble."
Judge Irving looked over the letters. "I see."
"Meredith lost everything. Her mother, her husband, her own child. She almost lost herself. But she found Zola. And… they need each other. So, please… if we can just fix this…" she stood, feeling alone in the spacious office, but also feeling right. For once in her life she felt unabashedly right.
Judge Irving reviewed the letter again, leaning back in his chair. He pulled his reading glasses off, clomping on one of the arms. "Thank you Dr. Shepherd, that will be all," he said, dismissing her.
xxx
"Okay, this is weird…" Jo said from the passenger seat of Alex's Camaro. "We're stalking your sister's ex?"
Alex grunted. "We're not doing anything wrong okay? We're just gonna follow him. Eventually, Amber will show up. Either she'll find him or-," he stopped, staring. "Shit." He reached for his seat belt. "That's him." Pruitt had given them a description of Brent, after he'd tracked his DMV records. Average build, Brent was best identified by his crew cut sandy red hair and freckled complexion. Jo watched as he exited the house he was staying at and hop into a small black Ford Ranger. Her heart pumped with adrenaline, and if it wasn't for the strong presence of her boyfriend beside her, she might have flashed back to the good-old days of living in her car. But she did have her wits about her, tempered a little by common sense now that she wasn't a street rat. "Alex," she squeezed his forearm. "Let's just call Pruitt okay? I can-," her hand slipped around the device in her jean pocket.
"There's no point right now," Alex argued. "We don't even know where he's going."
"But this is..." Crazy. Yeah. She'll admit that. When had she ever stalked anybody? "Are you sure?"
"Jo, it's my sister, and my niece." Alex said, a little catch in his voice, "I have to do something…"
"Okay, fine…" Jo sighed, turning face to the window. She had doubts, she had fears. She was worried about him, Alex. Not only about his safety, but that of his sister. It had been her gun. She felt somewhat responsible for the fact that Amber had gotten a hold of it. And now she felt like they were getting sucked into a hole that would could bury them.
But then his burly hand took hers, he rubbed her thumb. "Look, sister or no sister, you're the one I'm gonna spend my life with, kay?"
She risked a glance into her boyfriend's eyes and saw… that fierceness, that protectiveness. His love. "Yeah, okay."
The car sped up. Alex kissed her hand briefly, his eyes still on the road as he followed the truck up a hill, around a corner, through an intersection, and past a small retail mall. Turned out they weren't going far, only a few blocks. They pulled up to an apartment building that had seen better days. Alex parked across the street, his gaze never leaving Brent's truck "Okay," he said, watching as Brent exited Ranger and headed for the front doors of the apartment. "Call him. Call Pruitt."
She already had the number typed into her dialer. Jo pressed the green phone button as they followed Brent, but it was too late, the door closed in front of them. Alex stopped and stared at the call box on the front door. "Crap," he muttered. "How'd he get in?"
On the other end of the line, Pruitt hadn't picked up yet. "Hang on," Jo muttered, pushing in front of Alex. Running her thumb against the call panel, she buzzed every apartment all at once. The lock clicked and the door buzzer sounded.
"Oh," said Alex.
Jo Shrugged, "I know a few tricks," she said.
He pushed the door open and she followed him. Pruitt still hadn't answered the phone, which didn't help the tension in her gut. "Hey, you've reached Dan, I can't answer the phone right now, but if you leave a message, I'll get back to you."
"Hey it's Jo, we're at Clearview place on 21st street. I think… Brent found Amber or something. You need to get here," she pleaded. "She's got… Dan, Amber has a gun." Jo stated definitively.
She followed Alex down the hall, still feeling trepiditous. This was dangerous. And bad… and… "Alex, what are we doing?" Jo whispered.
"I don't know," he said, glancing around the hallway. He ran a hand through his short hair and rubbed his stubbled chin, obviously at a loss.
"Well, let's just wait for Dan," Jo suggested. Backup. They really should have backup. Right now, in this town, in this moment… she felt like her security was slipping away.
But Alex looked around, the laundry room was just ahead, and an elderly woman was pulling clothes from the dryer. Alex approached her slowly, "Hi," he said, with a smile, pulling out his phone. "I'm looking for my sister…" Alex tapped the screen, pulling up his photo album. "Have you seen her?" he tapped the picture of Amber bringing it to full view.
"No," the woman said, but then she pointed to the screen, "But… wait…"
"What?" Alex followed her finger, and Jo saw his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed.
"I've seen that little girl… she's adorable."
"Which girl?" Alex asked. With a finger he showed her the thumbnails.
"Oh, that one, the African girl. The poor thing's in foster care with Elizabeth. Upstairs."
"Foster?" Alex croaked. "Which Apartment?"
"2D," said the laundry lady.
"Jo," he took her hand. "Let's go." And they were off, up the stairs… But Jo couldn't get rid of that darned feeling that something was gonna go down.
A/N: And that's all the time we have for now folks! Please Review!
Special thanks to Patsy, for checking up on me just recently… It really means a lot to hear from you, thanks for your comments about my profile! Cool! (You really should get an account so we can PM you, you know…)
Anyway, it may be awhile before I can post again, I just need some time to re-charge, and take care of stuff personally… but I'm never far from this, not ever. Cheers!