Counting To Fifteen [Grey's Anatomy]

chapter fifteen - a car ride

Daisy was anxious about returning to psychiatry.

And yet as nervous as the thought of another session made her, going back to school and facing her teacher again absolutely petrified her. She was embarrassed for how she had acted.

Mark and Daisy had struck a deal that if Daisy went to psychiatry for the second day in a row, she wouldn't have to go back to school for the day.

It was Friday, which just meant that she'd have a longer weekend. But this was a one time thing, she wouldn't be skipping school regularly. She would be returning on Monday fully equipped with an apology for her teacher, Mark made that very clear.

Calypso was not having it, though. As the car pulled into the parking lot of her elementary school, she began to throw a fit.

"This isn't fair." Calypso whined loudly, pulling impatiently at her seatbelt. "I don't want to go to school. Why does Daisy get to stay home?"

"Daisy's not staying home, she's going to psychiatry." Mark tried to explain to the very upset six-year-old. "Okay? It's not a day off for her, she's putting in work."

"I'll put in work." Calypso volunteered. "I want to go to psychiatry. Can I come to psychiatry too?"

Mark laughed, thinking the kid was joking. "Goodbye, Calypso."

"No." Calypso sounded hurt, her bottom lip quivering. "I want to come too. I don't want to go to school."

Daisy turned around in her seat, giving the girl a sterner look. "Get out, Cal. Go to school."

Daisy noticed Calypso's eyes beginning to water up, and she felt like banging her head against something. They didn't have time for this. Daisy needed to get to her session, Mark needed to get to work, and Calypso needed to get herself into that school building.

The line piling up behind Mark's car was ridiculous. Daisy knew how irritated those parents probably were that they were taking so long in the drop-off zone, and she began to fidget a little at the sheer amount of vehicles lined up.

"You're making me anxious. Please."

Was trying to leverage her anxiety a little unfair to Calypso? Maybe.

But Calypso hates when Daisy's anxious. She hates making Daisy anxious, and Daisy was sure that her words would spark Calypso and get her on her merry way.

Calypso wasn't budging though. She was stuck in her seat, her eyes big and blue and upset, and Daisy thought she resembled a sad little puppy. It was clear she was seconds away from a breakdown as her lip trembled.

The car behind Mark honked loudly, clearly growing impatient at the wait.

Mark frowned as he looked in his mirror, seeming to also notice the very long line of angry parents. "Come on, kid. Get out."

Rather than getting out though, Calypso began to wail, and Daisy wanted to bang her head against something even more now.

Mark sighed, pulling out of the drop-off zone so that the rest of the line could move forward.

He did, however, pull into a parking space on the other side of the lot.

"Calypso." Daisy frowned, furrowing her eyebrows. "You're a big girl. This is not what big girls do."

"I don't want to!" Calypso sobbed, continuing her ridiculous tantrum. "I hate school! I want to go home!"

"Why do you hate school?" Mark frowned, trying to reason rationally with the kid.