Chapter twenty
Three days later- November 27th
17 weeks old
"I'm late, I'm late, so late!" Jo says frustratedly to herself as she quickly unloads Phoebe's car seat from the car. Normally Jo would buckle the car seat onto the pram, but she had no time to spare today. She was supposed to start work 20 minutes ago, however Phoebe let off a land mine in her nappy right before she was due to leave. She had also hit traffic on the way and after being frazzled by Phoebe's larger then life bowel motion she had left her iPhone charger at home, and a dead phone battery meant that she couldn't call the hospital.
After grabbing out Phoebe she frantically pulls out the baby bag and locks the car. She rushes into the main entrance of the Hospital while holding Phoebe in her car carrier using her right hand. When she enters the hospital she bumps the bag against a pot plant, causing it's overflowing contents to spill out. "Crap," Jo whispers to herself.
She bends down and places the baby carrier down next to her and begins to pick up baby toys, Hey car keys and various other baby products that had spilled out. "Here, let me help you," Jo hears a male voice say. She feels her hand come into contact with his and they both look up. As they both make eye contact they instantly recognise one another.
"Josephine Wilson," he says stunned as he passes her a small toy elephant.
Jo takes the elephant from him and places it into her bag and continues to look at him, unable to move, "Christopher Cleaver," Jo says stunned.
"You know my surname isn't actually Cleaver, right?" He jokes.
"Yes, of course," Jo replies.
"What are you doing here? Is everything okay? You're not sick are you?" He rambles.
"No, um, I'm late... work. I work here," Jo stutters.
"Oh, okay, good," he replies relieved. The last thing he wanted was for Jo to be sick.
"Um, why are you here? Is everything okay?" She asks.
"My sister had surgery yesterday. Nothing major she just had her adenoids and tonsils removed," he replies.
Jo smiles, "Okay good," She pauses for a briefing moment, "Look, I'm late. Like really super late. But if you're still here later I think it would be good if we talked?"
Chris nods his head, "Okay." Jo quickly stuffs the rest of the toys into her bag and stands up. She flings the baby bag over her shoulder and picks up the baby carrier before heading towards the lift.
She couldn't believe that she'd just saw Chris again. It had been 9 years since she'd seen him last and the final memory he'd have of her was her never showing up to take him to College, instead fleeing out of the state.
Jo settles Phoebe into daycare and gets ready in the locker room. Once she was ready she heads of to find Meredith Grey, who was at the west wing Nurses station on floor 2 waiting for her.
"Stadler, you're late," Meredith states as she spots Jo heading towards her.
"I know, and I'm sorry. Phoebe dropped the largest bowl motion in her nappy as soon as we were about to walk out the door. Seriously, it was huge. I'm pretty sure It could of broken records. Anyway, then I hit traffic on my way in and my phone was dead and I forgot to bring the charger through all the chaos so I couldn't call," Jo explains.
"Always keep a charger in your car, that's 'Mum rule number one.' Forgetting one is something you never want to do, especially with a baby. You never know what will happen," Meredith says.
Jo nods her head, "Okay, got it."
Meredith hands Jo the tablet, "Melissa Mullen, 18. In after a joint tonsillectomy and adnoidectomy," Jo says as she reads the chart.
"And why did she stay overnight?" Meredith questions.
"She has a clothing disorder, Haemophilia B. She's had it since she was 6 and was admitted for an overnight stay to monitor this," Jo explains.
"Okay, excellent," Meredith praises as they enter Melissa's room.
"Melissa, how are you doing today?" Meredith asks as she and Jo stand at the end of her bed.
"In a little pain, but surprisingly not too much," she replies.
"That's great to hear. This is Dr Josephine Stadler, she is going to walk me through your post op," Meredith says.
"Melissa Mullen. Post op day one of a tonsillectomy and adnoidectomy. She was admitted for an overnight stay due to a cloting disorder, Haemophilia B..." Jo begins. She heard footsteps enter the room and in come Mrs and Mr Mullen, Elise and Patrick respectively. Chris followed behind them.
"Oh my gosh, Josephine," Elise says stunned.
"Hi Mrs Mullen," Jo says awkwardly. "I know you probably didn't expect to see me, but I'm sorry for what I did," Jo says.
"Stadler, Do you know each other?" Meredith questions.
"I dated their son, Chris while in high school and I kinda just took off without a word," Jo replies slowly.
"You're a Doctor now?" Elise asks cautiously.
"Well, I'm an surgical intern," Jo replies awkwardly. Jo looks up at Melissa's vitals and notes them down on her tablet. "Your vitals are looking good and blood work came back this morning indicating high clotting factors. It basically means that the medication they gave you prior to surgery to help your blood clot around your wound sites is working. We'll do a repeat blood test in four hours and if the numbers become higher then you can go home," Jo advises Melissa.
"Okay, thank you," Melissa replies.
Jo nods her head and She and Meredith begin to leave the room. As Jo reaches the doorway she is stopped by Chris.
"Could we talk to catch up when you have lunch?" He asks.
"Chris, do you really think that's a good idea?" Patrick asks.
"Mum, dad, it's fine, it's been nine years. I've got no hard feelings," Chris replies.
"Sure," Jo replies with a smile. She nods her head before continuing on with rounds.
Scene break
"I never thought I'd see you again," Chris musses as he sits with Jo in the lunchroom of the hospital.
"I know, me either. And that's my fault I guess... taking off like that," Jo admits.
"Why'd you do it? Why'd you just leave without a word. I'm well over it now, but back then it hurt a lot and I guess I just want to know why you did it," he asks.
"Because you scared me. You said all this stuff about the future and how you wanted to have everything your family had, with me... a fancy house... marriage and kids. You knew that I wasn't even sure that children were in the cards for me... or even marriage. You wanted it all with me and It scared me, I lived in my car... I was a girl who was used to running, so I ran," Jo admits.
"Okay, I can see how that would of freaked you out," he replies. All of a sudden he bursts out in laughter.
"What? What?" Jo asks with a grin.
"I was just thinking about the time when Jesse Hanson broke into your car while you were in class and took out everything you owned and left it all over the gym..." he begins.
Jo begins to chuckle, "and we got revenge at him by egging his car that night and dumping rotten fish in his car through the crack of the window he'd left down."
"He spent months trying to get the fish smell out," he laughs.
"Oh god, how could I forget. He never told a soul that it was us because he knew the school would give him crap for picking on the homeless girl," Jo adds through laughter.
"Remember in health class how we had to look after a baby over the weekend?" He asks.
"How could I forget? We had to name it and I named mine Mildred, what was I thinking?" She laughs.
"Your electronic baby came back covered in dirt, it's onsie was in shreds. She was missing both eyes, her arm was out of its socket and it's head was holding on by a thread," he remembers.
"I was homeless. I couldn't exactly keep it alive while living in my car. I was barley able to keep myself alive. That's exactly how a real kid would look after spending a weekend in that car," she laughs.
"Who is that guy?" Alex asks as he points his head over to where Jo and Chris were having lunch. He was sitting a few tables away from Jo and Chris with Arizona.
"I don't know," Arizona replies.
"She looks happy. Does she look happy to you? She's laughing and smiling, so doesn't laugh and smile over little things. That's not something that she does," Alex states while continuing to look over at the pair.
"What are we all looking at?" Meredith asks as she walks over to Alex and Arizona and sits down at their table.
"Alex is jealous of the guy that's making Jo Laugh and smile and be happy," Arizona informs Meredith.
"Who is that guy anyway?" Alex asks.
"That is Christopher Mullen. His 18 year old sister is in the hospital after Adenoid and Tonsil removal," Meredith says.
Alex rolls his eyes, "Great, she's making googling eyes with a patients brother."
"Well, Jo did rounds with me this morning and they appeared to know each other. They dated in high school," Meredith shrugs.
"Let's hope I do a better job now, although I'm not entirely sure I will," Jo adds.
"The baby you had this morning, is she yours?" Chris asks Jo.
"She is. Phoebe, she's 4 months old," Jo smiles.
"Wow, that's just amazing," He gushes, "I must admit, I never expected to see you with a child. When we spoke about children you always said that they were a slim possibility, although I was hoping to change your mind."
"Oh trust me, Phoebe wasn't planned and I'm still adjusting to motherhood. It's been a struggle... a really long depressing struggle. It's like a battle everyday, but I'm getting better now... I hope," she replies honestly.
"Well I'm sure your husband is a huge help," he comments.
"Husband?" Jo questions.
Chris feels his face going red, "Oh sorry. I just assumed that you were married. They've been referring to you as Dr Stadler rather then Dr Wilson."
"It's okay. I am still technically married, although not for too much longer... Papers have been filled now we're just waiting," Jo replies.
"I'm so sorry. That must be incredibly hard, especially with a child," Chris replies.
"There's nothing to be sorry for. Paul is an awful, awful man who abused me physically and emotionally. He almost ended my life," Jo replies.
"You don't deserve that, nobody does, I'm so sorry," he replies.
"That's enough about me, what about you and your life? Did you complete law school?" She questions.
He smiles, "I did. I Specialise in family court cases."
"That's great. Congratulations," Jo smiles. "Is There a special someone in your life?"
Chris gives a little chuckle, "There was, but Lydia cheated on me with my best friend."
"Oh man, you're kidding! That sucks. You were one of the best people that happened to me, I can't believe she'd throw it all away," Jo replies shocked.
"Sounds like someone else I know. Except she didn't cheat, she ran away," he says.
Jo gives a chuckle, "I should listen to myself ore often then, hey?"
"Hey um, would you ever consider going out on a date with me again?" He asks curiously.
"Like in the immediate future?" She questions.
"Or ever," he replies.
"Chris, I'm flattered, I really am. But I'm just not ready. And it's not because of our history. It's because I'm just coming out of an abusive marriage. I need time to heal, time for myself. I need to figure out this motherhood thing and it needs to be just me and my daughter for a while. It's going to take me a long time to open up my heart again like that, especially when it's been shattered," Jo replies.
"Have you got a good support system here? Somebody in your corner?" He asks curiously.
"I do, Yes," Jo replies with a nod of the head.
"Now you've got one more," he smiles.