As soon as Amelia and Alice stepped off of the elevator, a young brown haired boy bounced up to them.
"Hey Amelia! Who's your friend?" He asked. Amelia started to answer but she was cut off by a blonde woman who rounded the corner.
"Mase, what did we talk about? Don't be botherin' the guest now!" She smiled apologetically at Alice, who shrugged.
"My name's Alice, but the better question is who are you?" The boy grinned.
"Mason, Cooper's my dad and Charlotte is my momma." He tipped his head towards the exasperated doctor. "We had an early dismissal at school but apparently I'm not old enough to be home alone." He rolled his eyes.
"Well it looks like it's our lucky day then. Amelia's got stuff to do but I need some company- what do you say, can you hang out with me so they can get their work done?" Mason smiled.
"Sure can- c'mon. I've got all my stuff set up in the conference room." Alice smiled and followed the eager kid down the hall.
Charlotte watched the two disappear into the room before she turned to Amelia.
"She the addict?" She asked. Amelia nodded grimly.
"Jesus, how old is she?" "16- barely." Amelia replied. Charlotte winced. "She's got clean once, but relapsed and OD'd a few weeks back. They're hoping she can get a fresh start here and really get sober before going back to Seattle." Charlotte nodded in agreement.
"Change is good. How did she get into pills in the first place?" She asked. Amelia shrugged.
"I don't know, Lexie wouldn't tell me what happened."
"I can understand that. If you were in her shoes, would you want someone telling people you don't know your story?"
"Guess not." Amelia mumbled.
"Exactly. She'll tell you when she wants to. Don't push her for it." Charlotte's tone was a warning.
"I know, I know. I've got a consult in two minutes. Make sure your babysitter doesn't try and get high while on the job there." Amelia said over her shoulder as she headed for her office. Charlotte rolled her eyes and headed in her own direction.
Alice sat back in disbelief. The kid had beaten her ass at Crazy Eights, twice.
"Ready for another round?" Mason grinned.
"Nu uh. I believe that homework isn't going to do itself." Alice laughed as the kid made a face at the mention of school work. She gathered up the cards. Just as she was putting them away, she caught Mason staring at her wrists, which were patterned by scars.
"What happened to your wrist?" He asked. Alice cursed internally.
"I used to have a cat when I was younger. She really didn't like being picked up, but I kept on trying. Learned my lesson the hard way." Mason seemed to believe her, so she took the opportunity to move past it. "Hey, if you're finished your spelling homework I can probably convince your dad to get you an ice cream when he comes to pick you up in fifteen minutes." Alice persuaded him. His eyes widened at the bribery and he got straight to work. Alice took the opportunity to sit back and pulled out her phone. She clicked on new message and selected Lexie's contact.
Hey :) first day at the practice was fine, minus the session. It's so different here, so much less hustle and bustle! Hope seattle isn't suffering too much without me around ;)
Lexie's reply was nearly instantaneous.
Good to hear, other than the session news. Not exactly surprised though. The house isn't the same with you gone! Not nearly enough drama or lattes :) Alice grinned at her phone.
I'm sure you'll survive without starbucks while I'm gone. Not everyone has a coffee chauffeur you know.
So it seems. I've got to get back to the hospital so I've gotta go. We'll talk later?
Yeah sure. Say hi to everyone for me
I will!
Oh, and Lex?
Yeah?
I miss you.
I know hun, me too. We'll talk tonight. Try not to give Amelia or Addison too hard of a time.
I'll try. No guarantees.
Alice put her down on the table and glanced over at Mason, who was nearly finished his work. The door swung open and Charlotte stood at the door frame. "Mason, c'mon grab your stuff, your dad's here!" He leapt up and threw his belongings in his bag.
"Score, ice cream time! Thanks, Alice!" He shouted behind him as he was already out of the room.
"Sorry, I kinda bribed him with ice cream. On the bright side, his spelling is done." Charlotte smiled.
"Thanks for this. I don't think we've even been introduced. Name's Charlotte." The blonde doctor pushed off of the door frame and walked in.
"I'd introduce myself but I doubt anyone in here doesn't know who I am. The sixteen year old Seattle druggie. Oh, and if your kid asks about my wrists- I have a cat." Alice stood up and headed for the door.
"What?" Charlotte looked completely confused. Alice rolled her eyes and stepped around her, never answering the question. She was wandering through the halls, trying to think of what she could do when she ran into Amelia.
"Oh, hey! Glad I ran into you. I was actually able to get the rest of my afternoon cleared- you wanna go back to the house?" She offered.
"Yeah. Maybe I can finally get one of these famous California tans." Amelia smiled.
"I just have to grab my bag from my office- it's just down here." Alice followed her, glancing at all of the signs on the doors. One in the same hallway read "Violet Turner, Psychology."
"Clever bitch." Alice muttered.
"What?" Amelia glanced over as she locked up her office.
"I had a conversation with her in the kitchen, but she never mentioned what she actually did." Amelia grinned wickedly.
"Oh, I know. You're her ten o'clock appointment tomorrow." Alice sputtered in protest.
"Lex? Have you talked to Alice lately?" The young brunette whirled around and came face to face with Callie. She glanced down at her phone and then held it up with a half-smile on her face.
"Just texted her. She wants me to say hi to everyone for her." Lexie responded before slipping the device into her pocket.
"Has she heard the big news yet?" The younger of the two surgeons glanced down and sighed.
"No, not yet. I guess I'm just waiting for the right time to tell her." Callie frowned in confusion.
"Why wouldn't it be?"
"Because I want her to focus on herself right now! If she knows that Mark and I are expecting, she's going to be thinking about that and I don't want her to get worried that we're trying to replace her." Lexie snapped. The orthopedic surgeon in front of her arched an eyebrow and held her hands up.
"Okay, okay. Jeez, I didn't realize it was that big of a deal to tell her." Lexie looked up apologetically and shook her head.
"It shouldn't be, I'm sorry. I just want her to be in the best state of mind that she can-"
"Ready to go?" Both Callie and Lexie looked up to see Mark approaching, slinging his jacket on over his broad shoulders. His girlfriend grinned and nodded immediately.
"Yep. C'mon." Lexie said, grabbing her own jacket from the nursing desk in front of her and then looping her arm through Mark's. He nodded at Callie before heading out into the parking lot.
"Have we heard from our favorite drug abusing teenager yet?" Mark winced as he felt a small fist strike him in the side. "Kidding! You know I'm kidding!"
"I know you're kidding. And yes…she says hi." Lexie mumbled. She really wasn't in the mood to have the same conversation all over again.
"And does she know about the new little Sloan about to grace the world with his or her presence-"
"No. No she doesn't. And I'm not telling her yet because I want her to not have to worry about anything except herself." The brown haired woman explained irritably. Mark shot a glance at her as they approached his car.
"Damn Lexie, sorry for asking. Is she doing alright though?" Lexie sighed, realizing that she had snapped at someone again.
"Addison says that she's being a bit hostile, but we all kind of expected that. Hopefully she'll calm down soon enough."
"She kicked the addiction once, she can do it again. Alice is a tough kid. She's going to make a great aunt or cousin or whatever our baby wants to call her." Mark smiled, climbing into the driver's seat and starting the car. The corners of Lexie's mouth twitched upwards and she nodded.
"Yeah she will."
Reviews are very welcome! I'm willing to write whatever you'd like to see!