Alex's POV:
It's been a couple months and I have been able to keep Brooke a secret so far, pretty well. I am making her breakfast, when I hear her crying. I go up to her room and see her in her bed crying. (Her bed is high up so she can't get out of it by herself)
Alex- hey baby...
I pick her up, place her binki in her mouth and kiss her forehead
Alex- let's get dressed Brooke okay?
She nodded and I changed her into a flowered sundress
After she ate I took her to daycare and went to the hospital. Once I got to the hospital I got paged by Arizona cause I'm on her service for the week. At last it was lunch and I am sitting at a table with Meredith, April, and Jackson.
Meredith- so, Jackson and April are dating now?
I roll my eyes, not wanting to talk about love lives.
April- yeah... *she says awkwardly*
Jackson- listen we're happy and I already talked to Stef and she is happy, so it's fine
Alex- so have you done it yet?
Jackson almost choked
Jackson- ALEX!?
April- no no, it's fine. We did it once
Alex- I'm out
I leave the table and go to check on some of my patients
Meredith's POV:
I saw Alex leave and I felt bad he doesn't really seem to have a love life and I also knew he wasn't as much of an asshole as he came off as. Suddenly we all got paged to the pit for an emergency. We all ran down, there.
Meredith- what happened?!
I asked as we were getting gowned
Owen- fire at the daycare around the corner
April- were there a lot injured?!
Bailey- yes...a lot of little kids so please be gentle, and stay calm
I was shocked, the kids were probably terrified, I couldn't imagine if it were my kid. The ambulances pull in and we get to work. I run up to an ambulance with April and the paramedic starts talking.
Paramedic- 4 or 5 year old girl, was trapped in the room where the fire started, we found her under the bookshelf that fell. She's been in and out of consciousness the whole ride here.
I looked at the little girl and my heart just about broke, which is strange because I've never felt this way about a kid before. I see her eyes start to flutter open.
Meredith- hey sweetie your okay...can you try and tell us your name?
???- Br-broo-Brooke *she says weak and in a lot of pain*
We continue to wheel her into the hospital and Bailey tries to keep her awake by asking her questions
Bailey- okay Brooke can you tell us if you know where your parents would be?
Brooke- dad-daddy s-saves li..lives
I freeze is her dad a doctor? Bailey looks at me and April worriedly.
April- do you know where your dad works?
I can see April feels the same way as I do weirdly about this kid.
Brooke- ca-can't re-rember ex-exactly bu-but there's a grac-grace in it-it's and-name, li-like the-there is in mi-mine *she stutters out*
Bailey- is it Seattle Grace?
Brooke- yea-yeah, I h-hurt, an-and I wan- want dad-daddy! *she starts to cry in pain*
We wheel her, into a private room and they hook her up to oxygen. Almost every doctor is in her room.
Bailey- does anyone know, a doctor here that has a little girl? *she says loudly*
Jackson- wait her dad works here?!
Meredith- yeah that's what she told us
Alex's POV:
After I left the lunch table I went and check on the babies and then I got a page to the pit but I have to finish the work up I was writing. Once I'm finished I run down to the pit and see a lot of little kids , then I spot one of the daycare workers from Brookes school. I rush over.
Alex- Marie what happened? is Brooke okay?!
Marie- Alex, Brooke is badly hurt she kept asking for you
Alex- shit! Where is she?
I can't imagine Brooke hurt, and I was worried about her anxiety.
Marie- they took her into that room *she points to room 3*
Alex- thank you
I run over to the room and see almost all the doctors in there, and then I see Brooke freaking out about all the people trying to touch her.
Alex- GUYS MOVE AWAY FROM THE BED! *i shout*
I run over to her bed and gently move her face so her eyes meet mine, and I ignore the strange looks I'm getting.
Alex- clam down Brooke, your okay, I'm here
She can't speak cause it hurts and I can tell so I gently rub her forehead to show her she's safe.
Alex- Mer put the mask back on her now
She does and I nod to Bailey to continue trying to get the IVs in, and she does that too.
Almost everyone has left except the doctors I knew, personally. (Derek, Owen, Webber, Arizona, Jackson, April, Callie, and Meredith)
When I see the medicine has knocked her out I turn to all the doctors who have concerned, confused, and bewilderment looks on there faces.
Alex- *exhales* she has anxiety, and ADHD, so with everyone on top of her it freaks her out
Jackson- how did you know that?
Derek- more importantly, how did you clam her down that fast?
Meredith- no way!
Everyone turns to look at Meredith, questioning her statement.
Meredith- your...
Webber- spit it out Mer!
Meredith- your her father!?
I slightly nod and turn and look at Brooke who is knocked out on the bed. Everyone's eyes go wide.
April- wait you have a kid!?
Jackson- that's why you never come out with us to Joe's?!
Webber- that and he couldn't drink, when he was an intern
Everyone- WHAT?!?
Alex- thanks Richard... *i slightly mutter*
Webber- wait you never told them?!
Alex- no but now I have to... alright let's get this over with, I'm 22, and now can legally drink, and I have a 4 year old daughter named Brooklyn but I call her Brookie.
Everyone stands there in shock while Bailey and a couple of the nurses are checking Brooke over.
Callie- wait how are you 22 and an resident, that's like impossible!
Alex- I went to college at 16, before Brooklyn. Then I took classes in the summer too, to graduate early cause I knew I needed a good job to support Brooklyn, once she was born. So I only focused on Brooklyn, by myself, and school, then I emailed Richard and he agreed to hire me even though I was young.
Webber- he had a great resume and many recommendations, but I didn't know about the kid
Alex- cause if I told you, you might have not hired me just like the 10 other places I applied for.
April- but wait where's her mother?
I froze, and began to become angry before calming myself down.
Alex- she left Brooke, and me, so Brooke doesn't know her, and don't mention it around her.
Jackson- so you've been raising a child by yourself and working almost 12 hour shifts at the hospital?
Alex- I drop her off at daycare and then drive here and pick her up at like 8, or if I have to stay I ask Marie, her teacher to take her home and I pay her extra.
Meredith- I still can't believe you kept this a secret...
Alex- well I didn't want Brooke to meet anyone to keep her safe the less anyone knew the less harm that would come to her. Plus, I didn't need anymore judgement, then I already get by just taking her to the park or grocery store.
Everyone was still shocked.
Arizona- Alex I know this is hard but can you tell me when you noticed the anxiety?
Alex- umm...I think it was when she was about 3, she wouldn't leave my hold and then I took her to a pediatrician and they said she would grow out of it. But I don't think thats true being as though it's the same fight every morning when she goes to school
Owen- how about the ADHD?
Alex- well she doesn't ever sit still, and I noticed she hadn't really been paying attention when we read or anything. So I took her to the doctors and they diagnosed it, but it's affecting her growth, she still uses binkis and can't go on the toilet, but other than that, especially in school, she's ahead of everyone else.
Callie- wow...
No one knew what to respond to that so they didn't
Bailey- Alex, she's in pretty bad shape. There was a fire and she was trapped in the room for awhile her lungs are weak, and she has burns everywhere
Alex- ...ok-okay....um when will she be up?
My question was answered when I heard her little voice.
Brooke- da-daddy?... *her voice is raspy*
I rush over to the bed and rub her forehead
Alex- hey Brookie...your okay I'm here
Brooke- di-did th-the o-others get-get h-hurt?
I slightly smiled at how caring for others she is
Alex- some...but they are all alive, and will get better okay?
Brooke slightly nodded, but then winced and try to touch her head. I grabbed her hand and looked to Derek in concern. He came over.
Derek- hey Brooklyn...I'm Dr. Shepard, I'm a friend of your daddy's can I check your head, really quickly?
Brooke looked to me with scared eyes
Alex- he'll be quick, just relax okay?
Brooke- okay...
Derek shined a light in her eyes and did a check up of her whole head
Derek- we should probably get a CT to make sure...
Alex- okay, Brooke?
She looked at me scared and started making grabby hands for me. I sighed.
Meredith- Hey Brooke I'm Meredith, how about I come with you, since your daddy can't?
Alex- it's okay Brooke she won't hurt you, she is one of my friends okay?
Brooke- yes...
I kissed her head and watched them wheel her out.
I broke down on the floor and cried after they took her to CT.
Meredith's POV:
I was walking besides Brookes bed, and I see her silently crying.
Meredith- Derek, wait stop.
I bend down and speak to her.
Meredith- hey Brooke, how about you hold onto my hand while we walk so you can calm down okay?
Brooke- okay... *she whispered*
I held her hand and rubbed circles on the back of it.
We got to the room and me and Derek carefully lifted her and placed her on the machine and she started to freak out.
Brooke- no, no! I want daddy! *she was screaming and crying*
Derek- hey Brooklyn, look at me *he says softly*
Brooke looked at him.
Derek- you will see your daddy as soon as we're done. Now I'm going to move this back but I want you to talk to Meredith okay, she won't leave you.
Brooke- I want daddy! Please!
I soften at her crying, she was just scared. And apparently Alex was a hard person for her to be away from. I remembered Alex saying something about a binki so, I grabbed one from the back desk since this was a Peds wing, and placed it in her mouth. She started to calm down so we did the scan quickly. After we lifted her gently out and tried to place her back onto the bed but she clung to me and wouldn't let me put her down.
Meredith- come on Brooke let's go back onto the bed so we can go see your daddy?
Brooke- nwo! You hold mwe, plwease! *it sounded weird cause she was sucking her binki*
I sighed, and looked at Derek.
Derek- just hold her she likes you, and it's not that big a deal
Meredith- alright... *I said hesitatingly*
Brooke put her head in the crook of my neck as I carried her back to the room.
Arizona's POV:
When Meredith and Derek left with Brooke, Alex began to cry. I felt bad he struggled and worked so much just for her to have a good life. I think we all saw a different side of Alex today. I walked up to Alex and hugged him to calm him down.
Arizona- it's alright Alex...
Alex- I can't afford these bills, and I don't know if she's gonna be okay! I need her Arizona! *he cries*
Webber- Alex don't worry about the bills okay? We will work something out...
Bailey came over to Alex.
Bailey- Alex you need to be strong okay? If not for yourself, for Brooke, she's going to be scared just hold her hand through it. Tell her she's loved and safe.
Alex begins to calm down.
Alex- alright thanks guys...
At that moment we see Meredith and Derek walk in with Brooke in Meredith's hands and instead of a bed.
Alex's POV:
I look up to see Brooke in Meredith's arms. I go over and take her out of her arms and she puts her head in the crook of my neck.
Alex- thanks Mer
Meredith- *whispers* she had a mini freak out in the machine so we gave her a clean binki and she wouldn't leave my arms after
Alex- thanks. Brookie...
Brooke- hmm?
Alex- let's lay on the bed okay?
Brooke- no I stway here. Carry me daddy!
Alex- *sighs* alright...
I sit in the bed with her in my arms, and I turn to Derek.
Derek- *sighs* Alex...
Alex- *shakes head no* no, no. It can't be
I hug Brooke closer to me, and kiss her head.
Derek- she has a brain tumor, it seems that she has had it for a good amount of time being it's pretty big, and we just caught it now...
Tears start to fall down my cheeks. And I continue holding Brooke and shaking my head no.
Meredith's POV:
I look over to Jackson and April. And we all share the same sad look. Alex's whole life is Brooke, and we could tell that from just one day, if something happens to her I don't know what he would do. By now it's only me, Derek, Jackson, April, Webber, Bailey, and Arizona in the room with Alex and his daughter, who fell asleep in his arms.
Alex- Derek...how bad is it?
Derek- it's bad, Alex. But we can remove it, I know I can.
Alex- has it been done before?
Derek- ...no...
Alex- *cries more* Derek, she's the only kid I plan on having, she's my world, if I consent I need you to promise me you'll focus on her, and save her.
I go over and hug Alex, with Jackson, and April. I see Derek hesitate, and I look at him almost begging him to do this.
Derek- Alex I promise. I'll get my sister out here too, she'll help me and before we even put a knife near her we will do all the research and plan it out step by step.
Alex- okay...then do it, anything to save her.
Arizona- I will get her a room on the Peds floor and I'll add an extra bed for you Alex.
Alex- okay thank you.
Derek- I suggest explaining the best way you can all of this to her when she wakes up. She will be staying here, in the hospital starting now until after she recovers from surgery.
Alex- alright thank you Derek.
Derek and Arizona leave.
Owen- we will pay for all of her treatment as pro-Bono
Alex- really?!
Jackson- yeah we will have a board meeting to approve it
Alex- thanks guys it means a lot to me that you would do this for her
Bailey- you know we care about you and Brooklyn is just as important to us, now, as you are. Get some rest, I'll come back in a while.
Bailey, Owen, and Webber leave. I smack the back of Alex's head once they are gone.
Alex- ow!
Meredith- what the heck! I've known you for almost 2 years!
Alex- I couldn't tell you. I was going to so many times but I couldn't. It was all to protect her, between all the girls I had slept with and wondering if we would still be friends it wasn't worth it at the time.
April- we understand, Alex
Alex- Mer, she must really like you to want you to hold her, she usually only lets me.
Meredith- she's cute, and I knew I felt a connection with her when I saw her wheeled out of the ambulance.
I saw Brooke start to wake up and signaled Jackson, and April, to follow me out, to give them alone time.
Alex's POV:
I feel Brooke start to wake up and turn my attention to her.
Alex- hey bubba...
Brooke- hmm??
I place her binki back into her mouth and rub her forehead. As she's sucking on the binki, she just looks up at me from her head on my chest and stares into my eyes. I smile at her, and she giggles. She reaches up and starts to try and turn my frown into a smile again, and I laugh at her.
Alex- your silly
Brooke- *giggles* not uh daddy you are
Alex- Brookie we have to sleep at the hospital for awhile okay, baby?
Brooke- why daddy? Are you sick?
My heart drops, she's so innocent.
Alex- no baby, you are. But doctor Shepherd is going to help you get all better okay?
Brooke- you'll be here right daddy? !
Alex- yep baby all the time
Brookie- okay daddy...wov you!
Alex- *smiles* I love you too baby
I kiss her forehead and she puts it back into my neck.
^^how she was sleeping and laying