"We like to think that we control our lives, that we're the masters of our destinies. Or that it's on the hands of someone we trust, like God or science. But was if it wasn't? What if fate was just a lie we tell ourselves to keep holding on? We walk. Every day, we walk. We eat. We laugh. We sleep. We think. But then that phone call comes out of nowhere. But then, that truck comes out of nowhere. But then, that guy at the bar comes; out of nowhere. We never know what to expect while waking up in the morning. But, what if we did? Would it change things?" Voice-over by Meredith Grey.
It was a quiet and peaceful afternoon at Lima Grace Mercy West Hospital. Given the rarity of those times, the doctors tried to enjoy every bit of it.
On the third floor Lexie was laughing in the corridor at one of those Mark's jokes which were only understood by her. Two floors below Meredith, Derek, Callie, Arizona and Bailey were watching their children play at the hospital's daycare with large smiles printed on their faces. On the floor above Cristina and Teddy were sitting on the waiting room, drinking coffee and observing the nurses' gossiping about them. Two doors to the left Alex, Izzie, George, Jackson and April were resting at the resident's lounge joking around about patients. Owen and Richard were playing golf at the hospital's roof, as usual.
In fewer words, it was a very pleasant afternoon at Lima Grace Mercy West Hospital. God knows it wouldn't last long...
-Listen! Izzie said it so suddenly that everyone else stopped laughing and paid attention.
-Hum... what are we listening to? Jackson asked giggling.
-Shh! Izzie cut him putting a finger in front of her lips.
-Izzie? George asked. Are you feeling alright?
-Listen... we can almost hear birds singing! She whispered pointing her finger at the room's window.
The five residents froze and waited for a few seconds.
-I don't mean to spoil the moment but I'm pretty sure those aren't birds... April said softly.
-PAGERS! George jumped out of the chair he was sitting on and ran towards the door.
April, Alex, Jackson and Izzie followed him on a hurry and were as panicked when they saw the five pagers buzzing on the corridor's floor, like little animals looking for food. And suddenly the pagers were buzzing everywhere, from the daycare to the roof without forgetting the waiting room, scaring the peace and quiet away.
-What do we got?
When Chief Owen Hunt entered the trauma room 1, all the doctors already had their hands above the patient.
-Uh, 17-year-old girl hit by a truck while driving her car. April answered nervously.
-We think there might be some serious internal bleedings, Dr. Bailey said.
-OK, do we know her name? Do her parents know she's here? Dr. Hunt asked as if it was a banality.
-Hum...does anyone know? Dr. Shepherd yelled while flashing a light into the girl's eyes.
Suddenly the room went quiet. April gave inquisitive looks to all the residents which answered her with desolated shrugs.
Owen's face was starting to blush dangerously when Cristina remembered something.
-Oh...wait! I think the paramedic said something about it... Mer, don't you remember? He led you the chart, didn't he?
-Yes he did... Quinn! That's her name! Quinn something... I-I don't remember. He took the chart back and we took her here... Oh, but he did say something about calling her emergency contact!
-Okay, that's good-
-Her spine's been hit, she might be paralyzed! I have to take her up to surgery, Dr. Shepherd said, cutting Owen, with a concerned expression.
-OR one is clear, someone call the nurses so that they prepare it please! Owen said loudly.
Beep-Beep-Beep-Beep-Beep-Beep-Beep
-BP's dropping, Meredith yelled.
-She's coding, get a car right now! Teddy shouted across the hall.
-Charge to two hundred! Cristina yelled while getting the pallets.
-Charged to two hundred, said the nurse.
-Clear?
-Clear!
The young girl's body jumped under the electric shock but then nothing. Her eyes stayed closed.
Beep...Beep...
-Damn it! Charge to two-fifty!
-Charged to two-fifty.
-Clear?
-Clear!
Beep... Beep... Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
-We got a heartbeat! Izzie said looking at the monitor with a hopeful smile.
The cold silence led to an agitated and messy noise as the surgeons saw she responded well to the shock.
Dr. Bailey looked at the monitor.
-Good, we need to get her into an O.R right now, people. Grey, you're scrubbing in! Robins, Shepherd, are you coming?
-Yes! Arizona looked at Izzie's and Alex's anxious faces. Uhh...uhhh...Karev, scrub in!
-Yes! Ha-ha! Alex jumped of excitement.
-Ugh! Again? Izzie mumbled.
Alex gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
-Sorry baby!
Izzie smiled at him but she was still a bit bitter.
-Stevens, don't groan! I need you to stay near the front desk and wait for her family to come. Explain what happened and tell them that she's in surgery. Owen told her harshly.
Derek hesitated for some minutes.
-Uhh... Lexie! Scrub with me!
-Really? Lexie asked with a big innocent smile.
-Yes come on, quickly, quickly! Derek was already pushing the patient's bed through the doors.
-Come on people let's go, let's go! Move! Dr. Bailey yelled down the halls pushing the bed towards the elevators.
For the first time, the doctors had a look at the teenager's face. Her skin was bruised and her left cheek was burned, but they could see her frightened blue eyes very clearly.
-It's ok. You're going to be just fine. Alex held the girl's hand while whispering those words which calmed her down.
The six surgeons were in front of the elevator when they heard desperate shouts coming from their left.
-No, no, no, but you don't understand! We just got a call! She's our friend! She's blonde, thin, 17 years old, short channel hair, she was in a car accident, and the paramedics told us she was here! Her name's Quinn Fabray!
The high-pitched and nervous voice came from a little brunette in a wedding dress. Behind her a dozen of teenagers were sobbing and biting their nails nervously. The girls were all wearing the same pink dress and the boys were in black suits.
-Rachel! Rachel, look! One of the girls pointed at the six doctors and the patient in front of the elevator.
-What? The wedding dress girl asked nervously.
-It's...it's the dress. It's our dress. That's...that's...Quinn... The young Asian girl said it sobbing so much that it was very hard to understand, but somehow they all did.
-Hey! Stop! That's our friend! That's Quinn Frabray! Where are you taking her?
The tallest guy, who also seemed to be the groom, yelled down the corridor and ran towards the doctors and the patient in front of the elevator.
-Oh, no, not now. The elevator's here! Alex, take care of this! Derek said it quickly and closed the elevator's doors before the young man could reach them.
-No! No! Stop! What's happening! The boy's hands were shaking as he tried to stop the doors desperately.
-WOW, wow dude, stop! Hey listen to me, STOP! Alex held the teenager back and slowly pushed him away from there.
All of the other teens were surrounding him now and talking at the same time.
-Please, please, quiet! Alex said softly.
-No but that was Quinn! A Mohawk boy shouted nervously.
-Are you sure? We didn't see her that well! A skinny Latino girl yelled.
-Yes! It was definitely the dress! A blond guy with an extremely large mouth answered shaking.
-Where is she? Where did they take her? A boy in a wheelchair asked.
-What happened to her? A blue-eyed boy with a very high-pitched voice holding the bouquet asked.
-How is she? Is she going to be ok? A small black girl cried.
-OK! Everybody, just SHUT UP! Alex yelled so hard the whole hospital heard him. My name is Dr. Karev. Now, if this is really your friend, you need to go talk to someone at the desk so that we can ID her. We're taking her to surgery right now. She has some internal bleedings and we think her spine might've been damaged. She got hit pretty badly but she should make it, we have the best surgeons. Now please go talk to...huh... Oh! Izzie! See that girl over there? That's Dr. Stevens. Explain to her who you are and she'll help you. I'm going to go scrub in on your friend's surgery right now but I'll update you as soon as I can, all right?
Suddenly no more noise came out of their mouths. They looked extremely worried and tense but they didn't say a thing. Some were crying, some were holding hands to keep their strength and some tried to put on a brave face.
-Ok... T-Thank you Dr. K-Karev. The groom-boy said softly.
-That's all right. Alex replied with a conforting smile.
Alex got in the elevator and went into the ORs floor. He couldn't get the image of those teenage friends holding hands to avoid a breakdown out of his mind. It touched him, somehow.