Chapter 8

"Earth to Meredith!" Cristina nearly shouted, flicking a peanut towards Meredith's face, jolting her out of her deep thoughts. The small peanut landed on Meredith's nose, causing her annoyance to flash in Cristina's direction.

"You didn't have to do that," Meredith said, her voice tinged with irritation.

Cristina chuckled, unabashed. "Looks like I had to. I've been talking non-stop while you've been off in la-la land."

Meredith glanced at Cristina, a sheepish expression crossing her face. "Yeah, something's been on my mind."

As their shift came to an end, the "twisted sisters" decided to unwind with a few drinks at Joe's, saving lives can be extremely tiring after all. Having a way to de-stress was something most doctors greatly advise to do.

"You're thinking about your half-siblings," Cristina remarked, taking a sip of her beer.

Meredith shot Cristina another annoyed look before replying, "I don't have a half-brother, I don't have a half-sister. I am an only child."

"Jeez, chill. I was just having a little fun," Cristina stated, munching on her peanuts. "Why are you still dwelling on it anyway? Lucas has already been contacted by Child Protective Services. You won't see him ever again. In that case, you only have to deal with one other Grey in your life."

Meredith sighed, her thoughts drifting as she took a sip of her beer. "I know that. It's just... I can't help but feel sorry for the kid, that's all."

"Just don't think about it too much," Cristina stated, her voice carrying a touch of nonchalance as she lifted her beer in the air. With a mischievous grin, she shouted, "Drink up!"

Meredith couldn't help but let a small smile break through her concern. Cristina's carefree spirit was infectious, and she decided to follow her friend's lead. Lifting her own glass, she clinked it against Cristina's with a gentle chime.

Their laughter and camaraderie filled the air as they savored the moment, enjoying the respite from their demanding lives as doctors. But their tranquility was short-lived when Meredith's pager abruptly interrupted the atmosphere of the bar. The unexpected page caught her off guard, as she wasn't on-call that night.

Without hesitation, Meredith grabbed Cristina's arm, a sense of urgency etched on her face. "We have to go. It's Izzie," she explained quickly, her voice laced with worry. Izzie was one of the few people in Meredith's life that she deeply cared about, and the urgency of the page signaled an emergency she couldn't ignore.

Leaving their unfinished drinks behind, the two women hastily made their way out of Joe's bar. Their strides quickened as they raced towards the hospital, their footsteps echoing through the empty streets.

A FEW MINUTES EARLIER:

LUCAS POV:

"Damn it. I can't sleep," I muttered as my frustration echoed through my hospital room.

Earlier in the day, a representative from Child Protective Services visited me, going over the same procedures I am already familiar with due to the memories I have inherited.

There is something about seeing that CPS representative that stirs up a mix of emotions within me—anger, annoyance, sadness, and a sense of defeat all at once. I know it isn't logical. I didn't know the representative, and I understand that it is part of the process for a child without a legal guardian, but I couldn't fully grasp what I was feeling. I felt broken in a way and I couldn't understand why.

Throughout the afternoon, I have been trying to make sense of what is wrong with me. Dr. Stevens seemed to sense that something was off, as she visited me multiple times. For dinner, she even handed me a piece of muffin

Only as I am about to sleep did I realize that it was caused by the original Lucas' memories and lingering emotions within his body.

Seeing the CPS representative brought forth all the emotions that the previous Lucas had felt. All those traumas, endured in such a short time, have left a lasting psychological impact. Now, as the new occupant of his body, I have to deal with all his unhealed trauma. Honestly, it was not something I welcomed.

Lying here in my room, I find myself staring briefly at the ceiling. A thought slips into my mind, "I really want to smoke right now...". It was a habit I occasionally indulged in my past life. I wasn't a chronic smoker per se. It was something I occasionally did on extremely stressful days. And considering the range of emotions I am currently experiencing, my urge to smoke in my new body seems justified.

Quietly, I rose from my bed, carefully holding onto my IV bag, and gently opened the door. Peeking out, I surreptitiously observed the guard stationed near my room, originally assigned by Derek to keep a close watch on me. However, it seemed that their vigilance had waned over the past few days.

As I observed the scene, I could see the guard engaged in a lively conversation with one of the nurses stationed on the floor. A faint blush adorned the guard's face. I smiled seeing such a scene. Taking advantage of this distraction, I surveyed the surroundings and noticed that there were no other nurses present on the floor. This was my chance.

Carefully, I made my way towards the elevator. A thought crossed my mind, and I couldn't help but wonder, "How am I even supposed to find cigarettes inside a hospital?".

I let out a sigh, knowing that it would likely be a challenging task. Uncertain of where to begin, I decided to explore the building, hoping to stumble upon a solution.

As the elevator doors opened, the first person to lay eyes on me was none other than Dr. Karev. With a raised eyebrow, he fixed me with a scrutinizing gaze and asked in a serious yet slightly playful manner, "Now what are you doing out of your bed?"

"Ah... exercising?" I lied, unsure of what else to say. Admitting that I was looking for cigarettes would surely only annoy him. As a kid and a patient, the idea of searching for cigarettes would likely earn me a scolding.

Besides, both Karev and Lexie had been constant companions during my hospital stay, with Lexie more so than the others. I always attributed it to my previous status as a medical mystery in the past few days.

"You better not be thinking about running away again," Karev responded, his tone becoming more stern.

"I was just... walking," I awkwardly replied, trying to diffuse the tension.

Clearly dissatisfied with my answer, Karev was about to grab my hand and drag me back to my room when a nurse called him over. "Dr. Karev, one of your patients has a question," she called out.

Karev glanced at me briefly, then responded to the nurse, "I'll be there in a sec."

"Looks like you're busy. I'll be going now," I stated, hurriedly pressing the buttons in the elevator panel.

Before the doors could close, Karev swiftly intervened, pulling me out of the elevator with a firm grip. His expression was serious as he declared, "I'm not sure I can trust that you would return to your own room by yourself."

"I'm your patient, you know," I protested, attempting to pull away from Karev. However, our differing body sizes proved to be a deterrent. He was stronger than me, and considering my recent accident, I couldn't fully exert myself even if I tried. I found myself helpless as he guided me towards a room filled with toys and video games.

"This is the peds play lounge. Stay here for a while. I'll page Stevens to come and get you," Karev instructed, closing the door behind him.

Left alone in the play lounge, I glanced around at the colorful assortment of toys and games.

"What should I do now?" I questioned myself, feeling a bit lost. Then, my gaze fell upon a modest electric piano resting in the corner of the room—a common tool for beginners to practice on. Deciding that there was nothing better to do, I opted to give the instrument a try. With a sense of curiosity, I fetched the piano and plugged it into an available outlet.

"Only one of the speakers works", I muttered as I checked the keys of the piano.

As my fingers continued pressing the keyboard, I could feel one of my talents being activated. My S-rank gifts in music burst forth, filling the play lounge with a symphony of sounds. Various piano covers effortlessly flowed from my fingertips, each note played flawlessly, without a single mistake.

I don't know why, but I suddenly found myself engulfed in an inexplicable wave of sorrow, contrary to the joy one might expect from the present moment. It was as if the emotions that had lingered throughout the day had suddenly intensified, multiplying their strength. Memories of Lucas with his parents flooded my mind, replaying with vivid clarity. In that moment, it felt as if my body was no longer under my control, as if I could sense the ethereal presence of the old Lucas, guiding my every move as I played the piano.

[Justin Bieber -Ghost]

♫ ♩Youngblood thinks there's always tomorrow♪♫

♫ ♩I miss your touch on nights when I'm hollow♪♫

Unbeknownst to Lucas, one by one, Stevens, Meredith, Cristina, Lexie, and George quietly made their way into the room. Each of them had received the urgent 911 page from Stevens, compelling them to rush to the pediatric play lounge. Filled with concern, especially Meredith, who was visibly perspiring like Cristina, they anticipated an emergency situation. Just as Meredith was on the verge of reprimanding Izzie for causing unnecessary panic, Izzie hushed her, compelling her to remain silent and listen to Lucas's singing.

In a surreal twist, Lucas remained completely oblivious to their presence. Completely engrossed in his playing, he remained unaware of their arrival, pouring his heart into the music with unwavering focus.

♫ ♩I know you crossed a bridge that I can't follow♪♫

♫ ♩Since the love that you left is all that I get♪♫

♫ ♩I want you to know♫♪♫

♫ ♩That if I can't be close to you♪♫

♫ ♩I'll settle for the ghost of you♪♫

♫ ♩I miss you more than life ♪♫

♫ ♩And if you can't be next to me♪♫

♫ ♩Your memory is ecstasy♪♫

♫ ♩I miss you more than life♪♫

♫ ♩I miss you more than life♪♫

Lucas' playing evoked a raw sadness that struck Lexie and George deeply. Tears welled up in their eyes as memories of their recently departed loved ones flooded their minds. Lexie recalled her mother, while George reminisced about his father.

♫ ♩Youngblood thinks there's always tomorrow♪♫

♫ ♩I need more time but time can't be borrowed♪♫

♫ ♩I'd leave it all behind if I could follow♪♫

♪♫Since the love that you left is all that I get♪♫

♪♫I want you to know♪♫

As Lucas continued playing, tears streamed down his cheeks, visible to all in the room. In that poignant moment, he appeared as a vulnerable boy, yearning for the embrace of his departed parents. The depth of his longing was palpable, evoking a shared sense of empathy among the onlookers.

♪♫That if I can't be close to you♪♫

♪♫I'll settle for the ghost of you♪♫

♪♫I miss you more than life ♪♫

♪♫And if you can't be next to me♪♫

♪♫Your memory is ecstasy♪♫

♪♫I miss you more than life♪♫

♪♫I miss you more than life♪♫

Moved by the scene, Meredith felt a deep empathy for Lucas, recognizing his profound love for his parents. She glanced at Cristina and was taken aback to see tears welling in her friend's eyes as well.

Cristina's voice trembled as she wiped away the tears, saying, "I remember my father."

♪♫Your memory is ecstasy♪♫

♪♫I miss you more than life♪♫

♪♫I miss you more than life♪♫

♫♩♪{song ends}♫♩♪