Pre-Prologue
November 19 1995
Boston MA
Keith Strode checks his apartment, making sure it's safe for him and his newborn son to sleep in. It seems ok, but he knows it's a matter of time when he has to run. He's about to shower and go to bed when he realizes theres a message on the answering machine. He hits play and almost immediately regrets it. "Nice place you got kid, I told you I'd find you again bitch."
Keith grabs his son and runs.
Prologue
Mid 2004
Brandon Wheeler was accepted to Seattle Grace as an intern. He'd have to start over again, but this time it was on his terms. It wasn't to run from the past like the last 2 times. He was prepared to leave Charleston and Boston behind for good. All he wanted was to raise his son and someday not look over his shoulder in case the past caught up. He wanted peace.
Chapter 1
Early 2005
Part 1[Brandon's POV]
[21 year old Brandon Kent wakes up as usual before his alarm]
I take a minute to focus on the house and the sounds. After I'm sure we're alone, I get up and check on my 10 year old son, Patrick (Paco). After making sure Paco is okay and just sleeping, I get in the shower.
I'm finishing up getting Patrick ready for the day so his grandfather won't have to when the phone rings. I jump like usual when a phone rings, I answer "Yeah Str-um Kent speaking." It's my Chief Resident wanting to know why I'm late. "Um Dr. Bailey, I thought it was 7am for rounds", turns out I got the days mixed up. "Craaap! I'll be there asap!"
What a way to start your first day genius I think to myself as I run the 3 miles to the hospital. After I shower, I'm half naked with just my briefs on when someone bumps into me. "SHIT!" The guy who bumped into me just stares at me. "It's not that big of a deal man". "Sure, sorry" I retorted back. I paused and looked at the guy. He's friggin' gorgeous. Well Brandon boy, keep it in check, I say to myself. "I'm Brandon, one of the new interns" I say while holding out my hand part way. I hate touching people because most will touch back, so I usually avoid it.
"Alex, yeah me too" the other guy replies while smirking and reaches out to shake my hand. I feel a spark yet am overwhelmed. "I gotta meet Dr. Bailey, I'm already late."
"Yeah, so am I, I just haven't gotten used to the time difference from the midwest." replies Alex. "Oh, you too? I'm stuck on eastern time so you've got me beat!" I respond. "How'd you get those scars" Alex asks me. "Um nowhere just forget…" I start having a flashback to 1993. I can smell my skin on fire and feel the assault again, his touching me and inside me again. I'm hyperventilating when Alex puts his hand on my shoulder "Do you want me to get help, what do you want me to do?" He kind of has me in a half embrace with his hand on my lower back and the other one on my left shoulder. His voice is enough to grab onto while I struggle to regain my surroundings. "I'm fine, thanks". "You don't look fine".
"Yeah, but we have rounds right?" "Fuck yeah we do." Alex smirks and adds "you handled that well."
"Thanks" I respond, "After almost 2 decades, you learn." I see Alex slightly frown before recognition kicks in, then he quickly switches back. I'm sure he has a similar past, and has managed to hide it just like I have. Crap, we're beyond late. "We gotta hurry Alex".
Part 1 [Alex's POV]
I wake up with just enough time to get to work and avoid Dr. Bailey's rath. I'm in my usual funk about moving to the city while trying to leave the past behind. I bump into one of my fellow interns. Of course it has to be Brandon, the hottest person I've met. I'm bisexual and usually don't care where I get attention, just as long as it's quick and feelings don't get involved. He's got his back turned while he's trying to figure out the shower. I can see he's got a shit ton of scars on his back and he's trying to hide them, but he's preoccupied enough that about half are visible. I recognize some of those, and I feel for him.
We end up bumping into each other. The conversation tells me he'd apologise for almost anything. Damn, I picked Seattle Grace because it'd get me away from my past. I'm digging this guy already.
Part 2.
[Brandon POV]
We're doing rounds with Bailey when a phone rings. I shudder and manage most of my shock and fear, though I need to excuse myself for a minute. I hope I can manage to hear a phone ring without it setting my PTSD off, or else I may be stuck being a highly trained nurse. As I'm walking away, I see Alex look at me. He's trying to figure me out. I've wanted to be a doctor since I was a kid, I've studied and done everything ahead of time. Right now though, I'm about to just leave town and run somewhere else. Damn, his smile though….
Alex's POV
Bailey is yammering on, trying to teach us a from z, I'm watching Kent when the phone rings. He jumps like he's never heard a phone ring. Another reason to watch him. I saw the scars on his back, and I know they are a mark. He tried to hide them, but I surprised him enough that he was flustered and didn't cover them fast enough. He's got a secret, and it looks like a horrible one.
Part 3.
[Brandon]Bailey worked us hard, yet Alex had the energy to ask me out. I refused, I always do anyhow. This one made me sorry though.
[Alex] Damn, I keep thinking of Kent! I know he's been dealt a horrible hand, and I can't stop thinking about him. I asked him out and he said no. I want to ask why, I know it's more then he's busy. I was abused by my father and I know he was abused as well, but it's more shameful for him. I'm pissed that someone made this guy think that he's worthless. I can see how ashamed he is and how much bullshit he has been through. Bailey and the others may not, but I've been close to where he is. I know he's been screwed and is barely managing to hold it together.