Aria walked up to Alex after he paged her to the E.R. "What's up? If you're trying to sneak me into an on-call room, sorry, but I'm needed in the NICU," Aria said, giving her boyfriend a playful look. Alex gave her a serious expression and pointed towards a patient.
"Your dad's here, Aria. He's throwing up blood," Alex said, motioning towards Thatcher as he helped Bailey. Aria stood there, next to Meredith and Lexie, a mix of concern and frustration on her face.
"Is he drinking again?" Aria whispered, looking at Meredith, who gave a knowing look that suggested she believed he was.
"No, he's made amends. He's not drunk," Lexie snapped, glancing between her older sisters. Aria shrugged, then walked away, with Meredith following closely behind her.
~
Bailey looked at Thatcher with a serious expression. "You've got end-stage cirrhosis. We can treat the symptoms, but the only thing that can save your life is a transplant," she explained. Lexie turned to Bailey and Webber, her eyes filled with worry. "How did it happen this fast?" she asked.
Alex chimed in, looking at Aria, who seemed lost in thought. "He bathed it in gin," he said, catching Lexie's attention. She shot him a disapproving look before turning to Aria, hoping for some kind of response. But Aria remained silent, her mind elsewhere.
Thatcher spoke up, pulling Aria out of her trance. "Your friend's right. Except for the gin. I was a Scotch man," he admitted, causing Aria to glance around at everyone in the room. "What's the next step here? Do I get on a list?" he asked, looking at Dr. Bailey.
Bailey sighed, then delivered the news. "Um, Thatcher, the transplant board has a rule here. An alcoholic has to be sober at least a year before he qualifies for a donor liver," Richard informed him.
Thatcher's face fell as he realized he was only 90 days sober. Lexie didn't hesitate. "I'll do it. I'll do it today. I'll go get tested right now," she declared, determined to help her father. Thatcher tried to protest, but Lexie cut him off. "They just take a piece. My liver will regenerate," she reassured him, looking at him with love and determination.
Aria couldn't help but fidget, feeling a mix of emotions. She wanted to escape the room, but she stayed strong for Meredith and for Lexie.
~
"Is he dead?" Meredith asks as the twins join Lexie, Dr Bailey and Dr Webber.
"No." Lexie says looking between the twins who exchanged a Quick Look.
"Look, we rushed Dr. Grey's labs. She wasn't a match." Bailey says looking between the twins as Aria looked away not saying a word.
"Oh!OK. Um...What about Holly?" Meredith asks looking at Lexie.
"Molly? Our sister?" Lexie stammers looking at her older sister.
"Yeah." Meredith says softly nodding her head.
"She lives on an Army base with her husband in Bahrain.Plus, she has a history of DVT. So she can't be a donor." Lexie says to her as Richard looks at the twins.
"Aria,Meredith, we didn't call you here to...We thought you should know before we go in and tell him, just in case." Richard says looking at them as Aria nods her head lightly.
"Right. Right, no, thank you for keeping me in the loop. Thank you.I, um, have to go prep for my surgery now. OK." Meredith says quickly excusing herself as Lexie looked at Aria.
"I just I can't do this." Aria says quickly before walking away from the three of them.
~
Aria walked in joining the rest of the residents for lunch. "Are you gonna get tested?" Izzie asks looking at Meredith.
"No, I barely know the guy." Meredith quickly replied watching Aria.
"Might as well get tested." Cristina says to her friend.
"You could regret it if you don't." Alex says as Aria glares at him slightly.
"He's a deadbeat, but he gave you the ultimate gift." Cristina tries to reason as Aria rolls her eyes finally having enough.
"You guys are sick. You're too busy wanting a surgery that you'd what cut open your friend or your girlfriend to get one." Aria snapped looking between the four of them before shaking her head as she walked off.
~
Aria sat on the gurney as Alex came and sat beside her. She gave him a look before resting her head on his shoulder. "I brought you something." He smiled pulling out a blueberry muffin.
Aria chuckled lightly taking the muffin from him. "You know me so well thank you." She mumbled and started eating the muffin. "Sorry for snapping at you." Aria mumbled.
"I kind of deserved it I was being an ass." Alex admitted while Aria chuckles at him.
"Maybe a little bit." Aria says to him.
"You know you don't owe him anything." Alex says as Aria smiles looking up at him.
"Thanks but I just feel guilty not for him but for Lexie and Meredith. Even if I wanted to do something I can't." Aria mumbled as Alex shoots her a confused expression.
"What do you mean?" Alex asks with slight concern.
"It's nothing I checked and we don't have the same blood type. I guess it's just another gift of Ellis." Aria tried to joke as Alex chuckled slightly.
"You don't always have to protect them sometimes it's okay to put yourself first." Alex says as Aria looked down the hallway.
"No one else is going to do it." Aria mumbled finding comfort in Alex. She had always tried to protect Meredith and now she tried to protect Lexie. She was always trying to fix everything for both of them. But this time she couldn't do anything to help either of them.
~
Aria walked towards Meredith as she looked at her twin sister. "You're going to be the donor." Aria stated looking at her sister unsure of what to say.
"I offered but he turned me away." Meredith says to Aria. However Aria could read her sister better than anyone she could see the conflict in her head.
"Meredith whatever you choose has to be the right choice for you not anybody else. Whatever you decide you want to do I've got your back. If you don't feel like you can do this then you don't have to. You don't owe him anything neither of us do. But if you want to do this I'll support you." Aria says looking at her sister carefully.
"How did you decide not to get tested?" Meredith says as Aria sighed.
"I wouldn't be a match we have different blood types." Aria says looking at Meredith.
"So I'm really the only option." Meredith mumbled as Aria looked at her.
"It's your decision. Whatever you decide I'll be here." Aria said offering Meredith some reassurance before giving her some space to make her own decision.
~
Aria walked towards Meredith as she was waiting to into the O.R. "I'm proud of you." Aria smiled at her.
"Thank you Aria. And don't worry I'm going to be fine." Meredith says looking at her twin.
"Who says I'm worried." Aria smirked teasing her.
"Your my twin Aria Grey you might know me better than anyone else. But I also know you better than anyone else. I'll be fine now go do some work they need at least one Grey here or the place will collapse." Meredith joked causing Aria to chuckle.
"Okay I'm going. Look after her." Aria mumbled looking at Derek as she walked past him.
"I've got her don't worry." He smiled squeezing Aria's arm offering her some reassurance. Aria headed back to work hoping it offered some sort of distraction.
YOU ARE READING
Shooting Stars
Fanfiction"But he's Evil Spawn." "Don't you think I know that. I didn't wake up one day and suddenly decide I was going to be in love with Alex Karev." Being the daughter of a world renowned surgeon was never destined to be easy. The first born of the Grey tw...
