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Chapter Text

Aelia held Andrew baby carrier as she walked towards the hospital seeing Alex, Meredith and Cristina waiting for her when the floor gave out beneath her.   

Aelia held the baby carrier close to her chest, as she started falling. It felt like minutes before she landed safely on her feet as thumps around her filled the air. Opening her eyes, Aelia noticed her friend, and kids on the ground groaning, along with Webber, Bailey, Shepherd, a red head, and a good-looking man. 

"What the hell!" 

The Gallaghers froze, Liam, Carl and Debbie tensed, while Aelia, Ian and Lip stepped in front of them. On the other side of the room were their bio-family. 

Frank and Monica Gallagher along with Fiona Gallagher stood there. The kids could tell by the way Frank was swaying he drunk or had a hangover. 

Monica looked over at them and gasped "My babies!" She exclaimed holding out her arms like she was waiting for them to run over to her, but the kids stepped closer to Aelia, who had Andrew out of his carrier and in her arms. 

Fiona stared at the child, knowing that was her son. She took a step forward before she stopped when Aelia handed Andrew to Lip. 

The doctors finally got themselves together and looked between the family confused and worried. Alex moved to stand with Aelia, pushing Lip and Ian behind him. 

Monica frowned "Kids?" She asked taking a step forward. 

"Stay away from them" Aelia voice cut through the room like glass. Monica looked hurt but didn't try to move closer to them at all. 

In was silent in the room until Bailey spoke up "Does anyone know why we're here?" 

Everyone shook their head. Suddenly a note appeared in Debbie hand, catching everyone attention. Debbie looked at the note with wide eyes before looking at her sister, "It's okay. Go ahead." Aelia told her softly. 

"Doctors, and Gallagher's, we have sent you here to watch the future of Aelia Gallagher. You will watch to prevent heartbreak, betrayal, and death from happening. Time outside has stopped. More people will be added the further along you watch." 

 The room was silent "What the hell!" 

"How is that even possible!" 

"Is this real!" 

Aelia grabbed the note from Debbie and read it silently "It seems real." She said cutting through the shouting "And from the fact we're in a room, I say it's completely true." 

The room is silent before Webber cleared his throat "How about we introduce ourselves." He suggested looking around "Richard Webber." 

"Miranda Bailey." 

"Derek Shepeard." Aelia noticed he was glaring at the stunning red head. 

"Izzie Stevens." 

"Meredith Grey" At that the red head and good-looking man turned to Meredith, the man smiled while the red head eyed her up and down. 

"Cristina Yang." 

"George O'Malley." 

"Mark Sloan." Mark smiled at Aelia when she looked at him, making her blush a little. 

"Addison Montgomery-Shepeard." 

"SHEPEARD!" 

Everyone who knew about Meredith and Derek turned to look at Derek who was glaring at Addison "Yes Shepeard. His wife." Addison added giving Meredith a look. 

The blond glared at Derek who didn't look at her "Wow" Meredith scoffed. 

Alex cleared his throat "Let's keep this going. Alex Karev." 

"Elena Hale." 

"Aelia Gallagher." 

Aelia nudged Lip, making him sigh "Phillip Gallagher. Call me Lip." 

"Ian Gallagher." 

"Carl Gallagher." 

"Debbie Gallagher." 

"Liam Gallagher." 

"And this is Andrew Gallagher." Aelia introduced the baby in her arms. 

Fiona swallowed, staring at her baby in her sister arms. Andrew. A name she wouldn't have picked but a good name for him. 

"Fiona Gallagher." 

"F-Frank Gallagher." 

Debbie stepped closer to her sister, Aelia wrapped an arm around her, keeping her eyes on her bio family. 

"Monica Gallagher." 

Monica smiled at her kids, but none smiled back. "Okay everyone sit down." Richard stated. 

The Gallaghers sat in the front with Alex and Elena next to them. The others surrounded them, while also keeping the other three Gallagher's away. 

Chapter Text

"Come on guys please, just give this a shot" Aelia said walking into their new home. Her younger siblings Phillip who is 16, Ian who is 15, Debbie who is 13, Carl who is 12 and Liam Gallagher who is 7.  She just moved them from Southside Chicago to Washington, Seattle. It's been a big adjustment for all of them, but they needed a fresh start.

Lip, Ian, Debbie, Carl and Liam smiled at their sister. When they first moved, they thought it wouldn't be any better. Same crappy life, fearing for their lives but Aelia made them love Seattle.

It's their new home and they will never regret moving there.

Fiona finally got knocked up by one of her boy toys, Frank got arrested once again and Monica came back again trying to be their mother.

The three frowned at the way their family thought of them. Is that really all they are to them? Just screw ups.

Aelia got her acceptance letter in the mail telling her she got into the Intern program for Seattle Grace, she was so happy, but she didn't want to leave her siblings that she raised on their own.

So, she decided it will be best for everyone to move down here. Now she saved up a lot of money working three jobs, while still going to school and taking care of her siblings so she got a four-bedroom apartment close to the hospital, signed Lip, and Ian up at the high school close by, Debbie, and Carl at the middle school and Liam at the elementary school.

"I just.... Guys I know you loved Chicago and I'm not saying we'll never go back I'm just saying maybe we all need a little space from that place. These schools I got you guys in are good schools and with the right helpers' you guys can finish and make something of yourselves" The five of them are sitting in front of Aelia on the sofa.

The kids weren't so happy about the move, sure they were glad to be finally getting out of that place, but they missed their friends "Fine, we'll give it a shot. Only for you Ali" Lip said, making Aelia smile at her nickname Ali. Aelia is a Latin and Greek name meaning Sunshine or sunlight people say it fits perfectly for Aelia because of how innocent she looks but you can't let that fool you.

Meredith chuckled "No you cannot." She said looking at her best friend. Aelia smiled innocently at her making her laugh even more, though she can see why people would think so.

Aelia is the perfect image of innocent until proven guilty. Which is almost never proven guilty.

Aelia grew up on the southside, you had to be tough to make it. She also started raising her siblings when she was just 5 and taking care of her older sister who was 6. At the time it was only Lip and Ian she had to take care of but by the time she was 7 Carl and Debbie were born. Monica left when she was ten only to come back when she was around 14 with Liam who was only a couple months old. She raised her siblings with no help from Fiona and Frank who would rather drink and have sex all day then help their family.

Glares and disgusted looks were thrown at the three in the back. Fiona licked her lips, shifting in her seat. She wasn't that bad! Her parents are way worse than she'll ever be.

"That is all I'm asking. Now go get ready for bed, we leave at 7 tomorrow, Ian and Lip you guys are sharing a room, your beds are already in there. Carl and Liam you guys are sharing and Debbie your room is next to mine" The boys groan thinking the rooms are going to be small like it was at their old place "Don't worry, the rooms are big enough you have plenty of space. Now go"

They all race to find their rooms as Aelia laughs heading to her own room. This was it, the fresh start she always wanted for her family.

— —

Aelia rushes into the hospital. The morning started off more hectic than she planned. Trying to wake everyone up, get them dressed, feed and drop off at three different schools was a lot harder than she wanted it to be. Back on the south side all the schools were close by so she didn't have to rush, thankfully her and Lip are close to getting enough money to buy him a car so he can take the kids to and from school when she can't.

Lip nodded with a smile; it would take a couple more months, but he would have enough money to buy his own car. The whole reason he wants to save is to not be a burden on Aelia anymore then he already was.

As she makes her way towards the surgical room she bumps into a dirty blonde woman. They both look at each other before the door "Late too?" Aelia asked as they slipped in unnoticed "Yeah, woke up late. You?"

"Had to get my siblings to school"

The kids looked a little guilty. They didn't know Aelia was late because of them.

The woman nodded as they looked around, the room gave Aelia a soothing feeling, like she couldn't believe she was actually here.

"Each of you come here today hopeful, wanting in on the game" A strong but warm voice called out turning around she sees the chief "A month ago you were in med school being taught by doctors. Today you are the doctors" Aelia looked around seeing 6 women "The 7 years you spend here as a surgical resident will be the best and worst of your life" The girl snorts to herself

He never grew up raising 5 kids by himself if he thinks this will be the worst moment of her life

"True." Aelia muttered. The most moments of her life have always been when her siblings have been in trouble. Those were the scariest moments of her life.

"You will be pushed to your breaking point. Look around you, say hi to the competition" as she looked around some looked scared another's excited but she keeps her face void of any emotion.

If the south side taught her one thing, it's never show fear. A saying back in her hometown:

"Never bleed near a shark." All of the Gallaghers and Elena said together.

Never bleed near a shark. That's how they get you. She won't show any fear.

"What..." George whispered looking between the group from the south side. Elena shrugged "It's something you need to be taught young. Unless you don't make it out there."

"You make it sound like it's a whole nother world." Izzie scoffed. She got glares from everyone who grew up there, even Monica and Frank knew better than to think like that.

"Because it basically is." Lip rolled his eyes "I wouldn't expect you to understand. We come from different worlds."

"Hey, I lived in a trailer park" Izzie defended herself.

"And yet you still act like a spoiled princess." Aelia told her. Izzie looked offended but no one helped defend her. She did act like a spoiled princess.

"Eight of you will switch to an easier specialty, five of you will crack under the pressure, two of you will be asked to leave." Aelia knows she won't be any of those, she worked too hard to fail now "This is your starting line. This is your arena. How well you play... well that's up to you"

"That is the same damn speech from my year." Bailey realized looking at Richard, who just shrugged.

"Why change something perfect."

Aelia's determination intensified when her phone buzzed. Opening her phone, there were text from Lip, Ian and Carl wishing her good luck.

This is why she worked her butt off all those years. For her family, for her siblings. For herself.

— —

In the locker room, Aelia pulled her scrub top over her long sleeve shirt ignoring the person calling out people names. She already knows she's on the nazi service, she just doesn't know who that is.

Pulling her hair in a ponytail she looks around the room when a woman catches her attention "Only 6 women out of 20" turning around it's the woman who had been late. Another woman, an Asian one, agreed tying her shoes. "Yeah, I heard one of them was a model. Like that's going to help with the respect thing"

Izzie glared at Cristina who didn't even bother to defended herself. She said what she said, and it turned out to be true.

Aelia nodded in agreement but she also knows the doctor could have done it for the money to help with loans "You're Christina and Meredith right?" She asked closing, her locker. They both nodded but Christina looked her up and down "You're not the model are you?"

"No way" Ian shook his head "Our sister would never pose for money."

Izzie scowled, he made it sound like she was a whore or something. "I wouldn't." Aelia agreed, "I worked hard and used my smarts in a better way." She shared a smirk with Elena.

They had both gotten into investments, Aelia when she got her first job, and Elena after she met Aelia. The both of them make good money for young people.

Aelia snorted "Yeah, no way!" She nodded and turned to Meredith who started speaking "Which resident did you get assigned to?"

"Bailey" Christina and Aelia said

"The nazi?" They both nodded "Me too" a boy with brown hair walked over and started speaking but Aelia ignored him and pulled out her phone shooting a text off to the group chat with Ian, Lip and Carl letting them know she's good.

Closing the text app, she opens her reminder and adds a new one. Reminding her to buy phones for Debbie and Liam when she gets her paycheck for emergencies, putting her phone on vibrate she slips it into her coat pocket.

The Gallagher kids smiled. Aelia always looked out for them and made sure they had everything they needed. Debbie and Liam got new phones, Carl got a new Ipad and Ian got a new Laptop.

Debbie might be older than Carl, but after the scare last year, none of them wanted to stress her out anymore than needed so Carl kind of stepped up in the big sibling department. Not that he minded, he loved taking care of his sister.

She could have used that money on anything else, but she used it on them. And they will never forget anything she does for them.

"Gallagher, O'Malley, Yang, Grey, Stevens." They heard their names called. The three girls left leaving the guy behind

As Christina asked about the Nazi the man pointed to a small black woman leaning at the front desk reading something "That's the nazi?" Meredith asked

"I thought the Nazi would be... well a Nazi" George said, making Aelia side eye him "I thought the Nazi would be a man" Christina said as they all walked over "They would never call a man a Nazi" Aelia told her as she looked at her new resident. Hopefully she would be a good teacher despite the intimidating, looks.

"She is." Aelia smiled at Bailey. Bailey smiled back, Aelia and Alex are her favorite interns and she would love to watch them grow into amazing doctors.

She knows looks could be miss leading, I mean look at her. People think she's innocent and sweet and sure she's sweet to the right people but get on her bad side and you wish you never crossed her.

Everyone who knew the girl well, nodded in agreement. You do not want to cross Aelia Gallagher if you want to live.

A blond girl walks in front of them before turning around so she's walking backwards.

Looking at her she could tell this was the model Christina was speaking about sharing a look with both girls they all had the same thought 'This girl isn't going to last'

"Yes I will!" Izzie snapped.

"No you won't" Aelia, Cristina, Meredith and Alex told her making her look at them offended. She too will last! No matter what they say, she'll show them!

"Maybe it's professional jealousy. Maybe she's brilliant, and they're all jealous so they call her the Nazi" the blond said hopefully. Aelia raised an eyebrow at the girl as Christina looked her up and down.

"Let me guess. You're the model?" The girl gave her a dirty look before turning around and holding her hand out Bailey "Hi. I'm Isobel Stevens, but everyone calls me Izzie" Aelia scoffs and shakes her head, this girl just doomed herself.

Dr. Bailey looked at her with a blank look before looking over her shoulder at the rest of her new interns looking them over as if to see if they were worth her time. Aelia just kept her face void of any emotion as Meredith straighten out her top, Christina tried fixing her hair and George stood up straighter

Bailey gaze stayed on Aelia longer than the rest before looking back at her chart "I have five rules. Memorize them. Rule number one, don't bother sucking up. I already hate you, that's not gonna change" Aelia raised an eyebrow at that but didn't say anything.

"Lie" Alex coughed. Bailey reached forward to smack him upside the head making the kids, Aelia and Elena laugh.

"Trauma protocol, phone list, pagers" she pointed to each object on the desk. The brunette quickly grabbed her binder and pager following after the short doctor "Nurse will page you. You answer every page at a run. A run. That's rule number two. Your first shift starts now and lasts 48 hours. You're interns, grunts, nobodies, bottom of the surgical food chain"

Aelia doesn't do more than shrug as Christina rolls her eyes. She was always at the bottom of the food chain being a 10 year old sophomore. Then a 17 year old first year med student

"You're 21?" Mark asked amazed.

Aelia blushed a little as he looked at her "Yeah." She nodded clearing her throat. Debbie smiled at her sister, while the boys glared at Mark.

"You run labs, write orders, work every second night until you drop, and don't complain"

'So nothing changes' Aelia thinks to herself that was her life outside the hospital

"That's true." Aelia nodded. She was more tired but the work never stops. Not at work, and especially not at home.

"On call rooms" Bailey pushes open one of the doors. "Attending hog them sleep when you can, where you can" This speech is just reminding Aelia of Chicago "This brings me to rule number three. If I'm sleeping don't wake me unless your patient is actually dying. Rule number four the dying patient better not be dead when I get there. Not only would you have killed someone, you would have woken me up for no good reason. Are we clear?"

Aelia gave one nod as Meredith raised her hand slowly "You said five rules. You only named four" just then Bailey pager went off she glanced at it before running "Rule five when I move, you move" the group of five follows after her

Aelia in the front keeping up with Bailey's fast pace. You always had to be running in the south side

"Really?" Addison asked. The kids nodded.

"What would you be running from?" Izzie scoffed.

"Police." Lip told her.

"Bombs." Ian added.

"Gang members." Carl told her.

"Muggers." Debbie added tilting her head.

"Homeless people, on to much drugs." Liam said shocking some people that the 7 year old would know about that.

"Rapist." Elena shrugged holding Alex hands.

"Your own family." Aelia looked at Frank for a moment, before looking at Izzie "There's a lot more, but it would take too much time to list all of them."

The room was silent as everyone stared at them with a mixture of pity and surpise.

— —

Aelia slammed her tray on the table falling into her chair as her other interns surrounded her "Katie is officially one of the most annoying teenagers ever. I tried calming her down when she got worked up about her pageant and she suggested I should wear makeup. It would enhance my natural beauty" Aelia scoffed stabbing her fork in her salad "Reminds me of those snotty 15 year olds when I was 10"

"Hold on, you went to school with 15 year olds when you were ten?" Christina asked surprised

"Yeah. I started school one year early then skipped 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th grade. I Landed in 7th grade when I was 7. High school when I was 10 skipping freshman year" Aelia shrugged it wasn't a big thing. She earned many surprised looks from the others.

Mark, and Addison looked at the young woman surpirsed, but Aelia wasn't paying attention as she grabbed the baby bottle- thankfully the carrier and dipear bag appeared with her- to feed Andrew who was getting a little fussy.

"How old are you?"

"21"

Aelia unlocked her phone so she didn't see the looks the others were sharing. She ignored everyone as she texted her brothers making sure they were okay and telling them to take the bus home since she won't be back until early morning.

"The Ellis Grey?!" She heard Izzie ask, making her look up "What about Ellis Grey?" Izzie turned to her, her eyes shining "Meredith mother is Ellis Grey" Aelia raised an eyebrow but shrugged "Good for her" she went back on her phone before it's pulled out of her hands.

Meredith smiled a little. Aelia was the only one who didn't freak out when hearing who her mother is. She loved her mother, she really did, but... she wanted to be nothing like her mother.

"How are you not freaking out?" Christina asked, setting Aelia's phone on the table, the girl shrugged taking a bite of her chicken sandwich "When you grow up where I did, you learn not to be surprised by who people are. That's how you get killed over there" The three interns stare at her surprised when her phone goes off, looking down she sees it's Ian "Excuse me" she takes her phone and walks away.

"Ian, everything okay?" is the first thing Aelia asks answering the phone.

"Yeah just wanted to make sure you were alright. Lip and I are on our lunch break"

"I'm fine buddy, also on my lunch break. How are classes so far?"

"They're okay, not to hard"

Aelia and Ian continue talking for a few minutes before Aelia returns to her table, seeing Meredith join them "You're 21?" Is the first thing Meredith asked

Aelia looks at fellow interns but they look away "Yeah, I'm 21" Aelia told her as doctor Burke walks up behind her.

Aelia pressed her lips. Burke was a good doctor, she respected him but... He has a lot of growing to do. Aelia knows him and Cristina could be good for each other and if it doesn't work out now, maybe, hopefully, down the line it will.

He looked at Aelia in disbelief, he has never met someone who started as an intern at 21, even prodigy's don't become interns until they're at least 26 maybe 25 years old. Shaking his head he stops in front of the table.

"Good afternoon interns. It's posted but I thought I'd share the news personally. As you know, the honor of performing the first surgery is reserved for the intern that shows the most promise" Christina sat up in her seat while Meredith perked up

Aelia rolled her eyes taking a sip of water "As I am running the OR today, I get to make that choice.... Aelia Gallagher. You'll be scrubbing in on an appendectomy this afternoon. Congratulations"

"So that's why he picked you" Cristina said annoyed that Burke would underestimate her friend like that.

Aelia smiled "It's okay. I knew the moment he did it."

"And your not mad?"

"No" Aelia shook her head, laughing softly "It gave me the opportunity to show everyone that just because I'm young, doesn't mean I'm not ready."

Mark smiled, he never thought of it that way. If he had an intern as young as Aelia, he would think they paid their way through school, but seeing and hearing her talk, he's realizing she really is a hard working, young woman.

"What?" Aelia asked as Burke walked away. The whole table became silent, some looked annoyed while others looked unbothered. Aelia only stared at the table in shock before rushing off towards the library to read up on appendectomy

— —

After lunch Meredith and Aelia where in Katie's room taking in her states as a nurse lead Katie parents in

They quickly rush towards her side the mother stroking her hair muttering soothing words as the father turned to the two interns

"The nurse gave Katie a sedative for the CT scan, so she's still a little groggy" The blond said "Will she be alright?" The worried mother asked

"Our doctor at home said that she might need an operation. Is that right? What kind of operation?" The father asked sorry shunning in his eyes

Meredith looked between the two clearly uncomfortable "She's, um... you know what? I'm not sure, we're not doctors. I mean, I am a doctor, but um..." the parents looked at the blond wary, making Aelia step up.

Meredith let out a long breathe "Thanks for that, by the way," she said looking at Aelia who waved her off.

"It's all good."

"Don't worry we are doctors" she gave them a comforting smile "We're just not Katie's doctors. Doctor Grey, why don't you go get her doctor while I finish with the paperwork" Aelia suggested

Meredith pressed her lips. "Bad idea" she muttered. Aelia side eyed her for a second before looking at Shepherd who was looking at her friend. Yeah maybe that was a bad idea.

Meredith nodded, sending her a thankful smile and left the room. Aelia went back to charting down some changes as the parents kept muttering reassurance to Katie

"Alright. The doctor should be in here in a few and he will answer any questions you have" Aelia smiled at them and left the room to get ready for her surgery

— —

"Okay Gallagher, let's see what you got" Burke says as her fellow intern watching from overhead.

The kids leaned forward wanting to watch their sister perform her first surgery. Shepherd, Bailey, Richard, and Mark leaned forward wanting to watch the young intern perform her very first surgery.

Meredith, Cristina, George and Izzie sat in the front "You think she'll be okay?" Izzie asked worriedly for the young girl "She'll be fine. She made it all the way here at 21. You don't survive this long this young if you don't know your stuff" Christina waved off the blondes worry.

Aelia nodded. You do not get as far as she has, as young as she is, without a backbone.

Aelia stepped up, her eyes going from the warmth brown to almost black. This is something she learned young, how to turn off her emotions when dealing with patients. Being a doctor has no room for personal feelings when operating.

"It's something we all learn, young." Debbie said playing with Andrew who was chewing on her finger.

"4 inch Scalpel" Aelia holds out her right hand "4 inch Scalpel" the scrub nurse hands her the tool. Aelia takes a deep breath before making the cut

The interns cheer, Aelia ignores them cutting a 2 inch cut. Burke makes a motion silencing them "That Burke guy is trouble" Cristina said.

"And yet..." Aelia whispered teasingly. Cristina nudged her shoulder making Aelia laugh. Mark stared at her with a small smile, her laugh sounded like light rain on a sunny day. He wanted to hear more of it.

Aelia handed the scalpel to the nurse "Pick ups" Aelia grabbed them careful to not meet any bone "Clamp" she clamps part of the pick up "I'm there"

The interns leaned forward to look at her cut "Damn look at that! It's like she's been doing this for years" one intern said seeing the cut is clean and precise.

The doctors nodded in agreement with the intern. Aelia cut was straight, no jagged lines in sight.

"Scalpel" Aelia makes two clean cuts pulling the appendix out.

The interns cheered, making Aelia smile under her mask. Burke got up ready to step in when she makes a mistake, he thinks just because she's young she will mess this up "Now all you have to do is invert the stump-" Aelia blocks out what he's saying working quickly but precisely.

Pulling up on the purse-strings she finishes off with a twist "Done. Just need to close him up" Aelia cut off Doctor Burke. He looks down at the cut seeing it tied perfectly.

Richard chuckled "You shocked him a lot that day." He told the young intern.

Aelia smiled proudly, she's worked hard all her life for everything she has. Aelia is glad that work paid off and she shocked one of the hard ass doctors.

"Stitches" the nurse hands her the dissolvable stitches. Patching him up with a cross stitch she steps back looking at her work

The OR and gallery is silent having watched a first year intern just do her first surgery on the first day "I'll have to work on the stitching" she muttered to herself but everyone heard.

The doctors looked at her in disbelief "Those were pratically perfect stiches." Mark told the young woman "That won't even scar."

Aelia shrugged "I know, but I want them to be perfect." She didn't want to leave anyone with any scars. She knows how it feels to be left with scars, and she didn't want to leave scars on anyone.

Of course as a doctor, some scars can't be help, but she's going to do her damn best to make sure their not seen.

Burke and the scrub team looked at her in disbelief, she did an almost perfect cross stitch. Aelia smiled at her fellow interns as they look at her in awe "Oh and Doctor Burke" Burke looked at her

Aelia glared at him, even though her faces was half covered he still shivered "Next time, don't think I'll fail because of my age. If anything my age should be a reminder for you not to try that again. You don't get as far as I've have this young without a backbone"

The interns laugh as well as some of the staff. Aelia smiled at the staff before leaving to the washroom.

"You are scary." Mark laughed making Aelia smile.

— —

It was hour 19 and all of Bailey's interns laid on beds in the tunnel. George is complaining about a new nickname he got for almost killing a patient on the first day.

George blushed sinking down in his seat. Izzie grabbed his hand, smiling at him while the other interns winced. They knew George didn't like the nickname 007, but people kept calling him that.

Aelia ignored everything they're saying as she text Lip, letting him know how everything is going and that she will be taking off a hour to bring them to school before going back to work.

Richard smiled. He still remembers their meeting before she started and her worry about not being there for her kids. Letting her take time off to get them to school was the least he could do. Plus it kept her with the program. Aelia might not believe it but she had a lot of hospitals fighting for her.

Aelia turned off her phone before getting annoyed with George and his whining "Okay! George who cares what they're calling you. 007 is just a state of mind, but you can't let what they say get to you. If I did I would probably be in a ditch somewhere dead and my siblings being raised by my drunk father and druggie sister. Take what the say about you and use that to fuel you"

"Very true." Elena looked at the shaggy looking boy "If you ever want to make it somewhere, you got to learn to roll with punchs." The Gallaghers and Alex nodded in agreement, as did Meredith. 

They knew how touch it was in the world. If you couldn't handle what people said, you weren't in the right line of work. 

The girls look at the youngest in worry while George is thinking over what she said, before anyone could say anything both Aeli and Meredith pagers went off "911 Katie" Meredith said turning to Aelia but she's already down the hall and around the corner

Meredith stared after her, mouth agape "How did she move that fast?" The others shrugged. Meredith sighed but followed after her fellow intern.

"Ali, has always been fast." Liam told the blond. 

"I know that now." Meredith nodded. Out of everyone, Aelia was the fastest. If it was because she was just young, or because she's fit, Meredith doesn't know, but it didn't matter. 

Once Meredith caught up with Aelia she was already by Katie side looking annoyed "False alarm, the TV doesn't give the pageant channel apparently" Aelia said with a deadpan voice making Meredith sigh.

"911 because she didn't get to watch a pageant?" Cristina asked in disbelief.

"Yep" Meredith sighed. 

"Now I know why she didn't run." Bailey muttered. 

"This is really important!" Katie complained Aelia looked at Meredith "You can leave. I got this" Meredith nodded and left while Aelia looked at the young girl "Katie I know this is important to you. We are trying to find out what's wrong with you but if you keep calling us in here for nothing it's taking time off of us working"

Katie sighed leaning back in her bed "I'm sorry. It's just... have you ever had something that you really wanted? That you'll do anything to get it?" Aelia nodded. What the two didn't know was Doctor Shepherd leaning against the door watching the two speak.

Aelia eyes widened "You were there?" She asked looking at the man. 

Derek winced, nodding a little "Yeah, sorry." He knew he shouldn't have listened in, but he was curious about Aelia back then. 

"Yes I've had, but not in the way you're probably thinking" Katie looked at her confused as Ali sits on the edge of her bed "I've raised my siblings since I was 5. Even though both my parents were still there. My mother walked out on us when I was 10 leaving me with 5 siblings to take care of. My older sister and my four younger siblings. She came back when I was 14 with my youngest sibling and left again. I'm only 21 and everything I did, skipping grades in school, going to high school and college young. Starting med school and now here, it's all for my siblings, moving them from the south side of Chicago, getting them into good schools, using my first paycheck I will buy my brother a car, my two youngest a phone for emergency. It's all for them"

Aelia smiled at her siblings while Fiona frowned. Aelia... Aelia always tried her best and she never, ever thanked her. How much did Aelia really do for me? Fiona questioned herself. 

Katie smiled up at the young doctor as Derek was staring in shock. The whole hospital has heard the news of a 21 year old intern who showed up Burke, when he heard about her he thought she would be a stuck up kid with a hero complex but all he sees is a young girl doing everything she can to provide for her siblings

Aelia cleared her throat patting Katie leg "Everything will work out, just give it time"

— —

Aelia was at the nurses station talking with two of them when her pager went off. Seeing it was a 911 to Katie room she hurriedly said bye to her new friends and took off.

Bailey nodded, looking at Meredith with a raised brow. The blond sunk in her seat knowing what Bailey was telling her. 

Always run. 

Rushing past doctors, nurses and interns. Entering her room, she sees nurses around her as the girl seizes.

"What happened?" She asked quickly, grabbing her chart "She's having multiple grand Mal seizures. What should we do, Dr. Gallagher?" Scanning her chart she sees Katie is already maxed out on diazepam and lorazepam

"Give her 6 milligrams of phenobarbital" Aelia requested. One of the nurses quickly got to work "Pheno's in" Katie stopped seizing but her heart stopped "Code blue! I need a crash cart!" Aelia yelled. The cart was quickly pushed towards her, grabbing the paddles Aelia notices Meredith walking in "Charge to two hundred" she told the nurse ignoring Meredith for the time being.

"What took you so long?" Cristina whispered to her friend. She had never asked before but she wanted to know, knowing Meredith never waist time. 

"I thought It was another false alarm." Meredith whispered back with a sigh "It's why I run now. No matter what." It doesn't matter if it's a flase alarm, she will always run when called. 

"Charged!" Aelia shocked the girl "Still in v-fib" Informed the nurse "Charge to three hundred" she shocked the girl again but saw no change come on Katie she thinks You still have a lot to live for "Charge to three sixty!"

"At sixty seconds you're supposed to-" One of the nurses started but Aelia cut her off "Charge again!" Aelia used the voice she used a lot down in Chicago, filled with so much authority no one dared to question it.

Those who never heard Aelia use that tone before shivered. Aelia smirked seeing their reaction. "I told you all, don't mess with her." Meredith told them making Aelia smirk wider. 

The nurse quickly charged to three sixty, shocking Katie one last time her heart started again "I see sinus rhythm. Blood pressure's coming up!"

Aelia sighed, handing the paddle towards a nurse "Please page doctor Bailey and Shepherd again" Just as the brunette asked, doctor Shepherd ran in the room "What the hell happened?" he asked taking in Meredith who leaning against a wall and Aelia who was standing by the crash cart looking over Katie heart monitor.

"Took you long enough." Alex scoffed, throwing a glare at the man. He might not be close to Meredith and Cristina, but the two were his friends and Shepherd used Meredith for his own needs. 

"She had a seizure and her heart stopped" Aelia informed the doctor taking Katie chart for a nurse to write down what happened

"Seizure? You were supposed to be watching her" He harshly told the blonde still leaning against the wall, "I checked on her and she was fine" Meredith muttered looking at Aelia. Derek sighed shaking his head "I got it, just go" he dismissed the blonde who looked discourage and slightly hurt.

Meredith crossed her arms. She wouldn't let his words hurt her now. 

"What happened?" he turned to the other intern who was now checking Katie over "I got a 911 page and got here as soon as I could. The nurses informed me they paged both you and doctor Bailey" Aelia started as she put on her stethoscope listening to Katie heartbeat "She was already maxed out on Diazepam and Lorazepam so I started her on Phenobarbital. It stopped her seizure but also stopped her heat so I shocked her three time to restart her heart" she explained putting her stethoscope around her neck and grabbing the chart again

"Her heart rate is still a little fast, give her 4 grams of flecainide, it should get the heart beating regularly again. Everything else looks good. Page me when she wakes up" Aelia informed the nurses writing down the medicine she asked for and handing the chart to Derek

Derek looked shocked and impressed by her work, "Good job, Gallagher. I will make sure you're called when she wakes up" he said with a softer tone than he'd used with Meredith. Aelia gave him a small smile before leaving, looking at the time she sees it's on 3 AM, she still has time before she has to leave and pick up her siblings.

Monica smiled, happy her daughter was doing so good for herself. Frank just closed his eyes while Finoa frowned a little. Aelia had to work and take care of her siblings, and she threw her son on top of Aelia as well. 

How much did Aelia really do? Finoa asked herself, playing with her hair. Mayeb she should have kept her son. 

— —

Aelia was grabbing a snack from the vending machine when her pager went off, looking down she saw it from Doctor Shepherd calling her to Katie's room. Heading off, just as she goes to enter the room both Katie's parents storm out walking right past her "Doctor Shepherd?" Aelia asked walking in the room.

Derek looked up from Katie chart smiling at the young intern "Gallagher, she's awake" Aelia turned to look at Katie who was smiling at her "Katie, glad to see you looking better" Aelia walked over to her bed looking at the heart monitor "All thanks to you, Doctor Shepherd was telling me how you saved my life"

Aelia only smiled down at the girl before looking at the doctor "What was all that about" she motions to the door making him sigh "Katie parents, want answers to what's happening to her but I honestly have none and I no clue how to get them" Aelia and Katie frowned.

Aelia started thinking back to what she learned on the southside, if you don't ask for help, you're stuck in the same place. She learned that the hard way, not wanting to ask anyone for help when she was younger lead to Debbie being in the hospital because she didn't want people to know about their family.

Aelia wrapped an arm around Debbie, holding her tightly while her brothers surround them. It will always be one of her biggest regrets, not asking for help sooner. Debbie almost died because they wanted to keep their family bussiness a secret. 

Monica looked at her kids "What does that mean?" She asked them. 

Ian clenched his jaw "None of your bussiness." He told her. 

"Excuse me? I am your mother." 

"Leave it Monica" Aelia told her sharply, glaring at the blond. Monica wanted to argue but Fiona grabbed her arm, shaking her head silently telling her mother to leave it alone. Monica sighed, sitting back in her seat. 

"Have you asked anyone for help?" Aelia asked. Derek shook his head, a confused look on his face making Aelia sigh.

"Ego." Mark coughed. 

Derek sighed giving him a look. 

"Doctor Shepherd, something I've had to learn the hard way, is that if you don't ask for help now, it might be too late later on. You need fresh eyes on this case, ask around, have people look at Katie files, anything. But you do need help and you need it fast" Aelia smiled down at Katie one more time before leaving the room

Derek watched her go, thinking about her words wondering what she meant about having to learn the hard way.

— —

  
2 hours later, 24 hours into their shift, all the interns were paged to a conference room. Aelia was reading an article about the brain. Cristina was beside her, suturing a banana "What are you two doing?" Meredith asked the two, looking at Cristiana confused

"I'm suturing a banana, hoping it will wake my brian. Little Cato is reading an article about brains" Aelia smiled a little at the nickname. Cato means all-knowing so Cristiana has taken to calling her little Cato.

Liam giggled "Little Cato." He giggled again. 

His siblings smiled at him, finding his giggling cute. 

George giggled making Cristiana glare at him "What are you smiling at 007" she said flatly making George frown.

George frowned again, glaring at Alex. 

"Cristiana" Aelia said in a warning voice she uses on her siblings when they're starting to act up, "I'm sorry" Cristiana said looking down at her banana frowning slightly like a kid who got scolded by their parents.

"Ali is the mom of the group." Cristina realized. 

"Of course I am." Aelia told them "If I'm not who keeps you in check?" She raised a brow at them. Without her around, they do stupid stuff. 

Izzie sat down on the other side of Aelia "Does anyone know why we're here?" just as she asked that Doctor Shepherd entered the room.

"Good morning. I'm going to do something pretty rare for a surgeon, I'm gonna ask for help. I've got this kid, Katie Bryce" he glanced at Aelia, her words echoing in his mind "Right now, she's a mystery. She doesn't respond to our meds, the labs are clean, the scans are pure, but she's having grand mal seizures with no visible cause. She's a ticking clock and she is going to die if I don't make a diagnosis. Someone told me to ask for help before it's too late so I'm going to give you guys an incentive. Whoever finds the answer rides with me. Katie needs surgery, if you find what it is, you get to do what no Intern is allowed. Scrub in to assist on an advanced procedure. Two will be chosen, time is ticking if we're going to save Katie's life. We have to do it now"

Cristina and Meredith shared a smile. The sugery was amazing to witness, though Cristina felt a little bad Aelia gave up her spot, she knew it was because she had to help her siblings. 

— —

Aelia, Cristina and Meredith were sitting in the library going over papers trying to find out what is happening to Katie

"Are you really not going to tell us why you don't want to work with Shepherd?" Cristina asked as Aelia looked at the time. It's only 5:23, she has to be at home at 6 to make breakfast, check the younger kids homework, make sure they're dressed and out the door and to school by 7 and back by 7:20

It was the agreement her and chief Webber came up with when she had to work into the early morning. He is the only one in the hospital that knows she takes care of her 5 siblings.

"All of that, just on you?" Mark asked concerned. 

Aelia nodded "Well, now Elena and Alex help out, but I still do the main stuff like getting them ready and fed." Just because they were around to help doesn't mean she'll slack. The kids are her responsibility. 

Mark hummed, but he didn't look any less concerned. None of Aelia friends looked any less concern. They didn't think what it meant for Aelia to take care of her siblings, didn't think of the things she had to do every day on top of work at the hospital. 

"Just tell us!" Cristina tried again making Aelia look up from her papers, she knows what's going on between the two, they slept together. "You can't comment, make a face or react in any way" Meredith told them.

"They had sex" Aelia told Cristina. Meredith looked at the brunette in shock "I'm a very observant person" she shrugged looking back at the papers. 

Elena and Alex nodded in agreement. Aelia was a very observant, and if it wasn't for the fact she loved medicine so much, she could have been a great officer. 

She knows she read somewhere about a girl just like Katie but she can't remember exactly what was said.

As Meredith and Cristina continued to talk Aelia closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. Relaxing her body she opens her mind looking through trying to remember what she read "I got it!" Aelia exclaimed opening her eyes

The two girls jumped and looked at her confused. "I read in a paper published in 2001 about a 15 year old girl who did rhythmic gymnastics. The same thing happened to her that's happening to Katie! Come on" Aelia jumped up from her seat and took off. Meredith and Cristina shared a look but followed after their young intern.

"How do you remember that?" Izzie asked looking at the youngest intern. 

"Photography memory." Aelia shrugged. 

— —

"Doctor Shepherd!" Aelia yelled as he got on the elevator "We found out what's wrong with Katie. She doe's rhythmic gymnastics. There's no headache, no neck pains, her CTs are clean, there's no medical proof of aneurysms"

"Right," Derek said as the door started closing. Aelia stops it pushing it open again "But Katie is having aneurysms anyway. There was one case in 2001 where the same thing happened to a girl 3 girls younger than her. The girl also did rhythmic gymnastics and she twisted her ankle and she got up just like Katie did. That fall made the aneurysm burst, what if what happened to that girl happened to Katie"

Some of the doctors looked annoyed as Aelia kept the elevator from closing as others looked interested in what she was saying "That is one in a million. It's impossible for that to happen" Derek presses the button to close the door but Aelia stops it.

She glared at Derek making him and the others shiver.

The Gallaghers, Elena and Alex winced "Oh you annoyed her." Carl shook his head "Not a good thing." 

Derek nodded silently. He feared for his life that day. Aelia was scary when she was fighting for her patient. 

"Doctor Shepherd Katie could possibly be that one in a million. A single scan can confirm or deny what I'm suggesting. So respectfully, get out of this elevator, get Katie a scan and find out what is wrong with this girl!" Derek gulped and stepped out of the elevator.

Aelia smiled at the other doctors, making some of them scared at how fast she changed her emotions before letting the elevator close. Aelia gives Derek a look before turning and walking towards Katie room with the two interns and Doctor behind her.

The room was silent, "Holy shit your terrifying." Mark said. 

The others nodded, including her Bio-family. 

Aelia smiled sweetly at him, "I know." She told him, her voice and smile making her the perfect picture of sweet innocent girl. Something that only scared them more. 

Getting Katie a CT scan, it proves when she twisted her ankle it did manage to make the aneurysm burst "Good work you three" Shepherd said as the three followed him out of the room he turned to another nurse "Prep an OR we need to get her into surgery fast"

The nurse nods and walks away "Uh... Doctor Shepherd you said you would pick two people to help you" Cristina said, making him look at the three women in front of him "Yes. Doctors Grey and Gallagher you- "

"Gallagher!" A voice cut Doctor Shepherd off. The four turn around to see the Chief walking towards them "Chief" she nods in greeting "Can I help you with something?"

Webber shakes his head "No, just reminding you, you have an hour" Aelia pulls out her phone seeing it's now 5:40 AM and she has to be at home in 20 minutes. Lucky for her the hospital is only 10 minutes away when driving from the apartment. "Yes, thank you I got caught up with Katie's case."

Webber sent her a soft smile "No problem. See you at 7:20" he tells her before walking away. Aelia turned back towards the three, who all look confused on what that was but before they can question it she started talking.

"Doctor Shepherd, while I would love to be in OR with you and Doctor Grey, I unfortunately have to leave for an hour. Seeing as I already worked in the OR at the start of the shift please allow Doctor Yang to go with you"

Derek looked confused before remembering when he overheard how she has siblings to take care of and remembering when he went to school how it started at 7 meaning she would need to get them to school "It's no problem Doctor Gallagher. You can go" he sends her a smile letting her know he wasn't mad

Aelia sent the three a smile before taking off towards the locker room grabbing her bag she left rushing towards the parking lot hoping to get home quickly.

The kids shared a look. They didn't know Aelia gave up on being part of a sugery to get to them. That sugery should have been hers but because of them, she gave it up. 

Liam frowned sadly and cuddled into Carl, "Do we cost Aelia a lot?" He whispered. Carl struggled to find an answer that wouldn't upset his little brother. Liam might be 7 but he was very mature and could spot a lie. 

"I think we do," Carl said slowly, trying to find the right words "But all kids cost a lot, and if Aelia didn't want to do this, shouldn't would be." Liam nodded slowly but Carl could tell it didn't help as much as he hoped it did. 

— —

Aelia quickly opened the apartment door, it was now 5:54. Heading to the kitchen she starts making eggs, toast and sausage for her siblings. 6 minutes later she hears an alarm go off letting her know Lip and Ian are awake

Heading to the boys room she knocks before going in "Morning Lip, Ian" the boys look over at her and smile rushing to hug her "I missed you guys too. Just came in to say breakfast is ready, change and go eat. And homework" Aelia holds out her hand.

The boys give her their homework. Lip only has biology homework and Ian hands her his math, English and Spanish homework. Aelia does this with all of her siblings looking over their homework each day to make sure they understand what their learning and helping them if their stuck.

"Is that new?" Monica asked wanting to know more about her kids. 

"Nope, been doing that since I was in school." Aelia bluntly told her. 

Monica got some looks wondering how she really didn't know that if it's been happening for years. Was she really that bad of a mother, to not notice. 

Closing the door she heads to Carl and Liam's room, "Carl, Liam I'm coming in" she calls waiting 3 seconds before opening the door. Liam was sitting in bed rubbing his eyes and Carl was looking through his closet "Ali!" Liam got off of his bed and ran to his big sister "Hey Li!" (Pronounce as Lee)

"Hey sis!" Carl said smiling at his big sister "Breakfast is ready. Change and go eat. Homework" Liam hands Aelia a blue folder and Carl hands her a packet. Smiling once more she heads to Debbie room "Deb's I'm coming in"

Debbie turned and smiled at her sister spinning around to show Ali her outfit: a cute blue dress with a white jacket over it and black flats "Cute Deb's. Homework" Debbie grabbed two papers off her bed. Math and science "Breakfast is ready. Eat then brush up"

Aelia sits down at the table with a cup of coffee and starts looking over the homework. Soon her siblings trickled in and started eating.

"It looks so domestic." 

"It does." 

Fiona pressed her lips. She couldn't help but wonder where was this when she was around? Why didn't Aelia do this for her? It really could have helped her out in the long run if someone had just helped her. 

"So how was school?"

"It was nice. Debbie and I have the same lunch wave so we sit together" Carl told her and Debbie nodded while eating "Good, they have a football team and I was wondering if I could try out?" Ian asked hopefully

Aelia smiled at her little brother "Sure you can. Just let me know when and I will make sure you get there" Ian smiled brightly and started talking with Carl. "My day was fine. My Math teacher wants to move me to honors math already" Lip said

"That's amazing, Lip. How about you Liam? Anything good happen?" She asked looking at her youngest brother "I made a lot of friends! And at recess a kid asked me to join they're soccer team. Apparently because were in elementary school they don't have a school team but some play for the Wildcats"

"I think you should try out," Debbie said looking at her brother. "Yeah. You've always been great at soccer" Carl agreed making Liam smile.

"One of the best." Lip ruffled his little brother hair. 

Liam smiled, happy at the praise from his brother. Soccer has been really fun and he wants to continue it next year as well. 

Ali looks around the table watching her family laugh and talk, this. This was why she moved them out here, only a day in school and there's talk of joining soccer and football teams. Moving to honor math. Or just having fun at lunch. You couldn't do these things in the south side it made you a target for a lot of people.

The Southside group nodded. It made it easier for people to get to you. That's why there are cetern rules you gotta follow if you don't want any trouble. 

Once the kids finished eating and put away their dishes Aelia got them out the door and in the car.

— —

Aelia walked in the hospital putting her stuff back in her locker and leaving. She was right on time 7:20, walking past the Chief they nod at each other

Down the hall Bailey watched her youngest intern and the Chief. She heard from others that Webber reminded her personally something about an hour and that we would see her at 7:20.

Not only did some see her walking out around 5 something but now she just walked right back in and nodded to Chief right at 7:20. Something was going on with her new intern and she needs to find out what.

— —