Charlotte "Charlie" Shepherd is Derek Shepherd's youngest and favourite sister. After deciding to join him in moving to Seattle, in order to leave her past life behind, she starts her internship at Seattle Grace Hospital, where it eventually catches...
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03x11/12
The interns trailed behind Bailey as she marched down the hallway after rounds, her pace brisk and her voice sharp as she called out assignments. Charlie walked alongside the others, her footsteps echoing in the corridor, her mind drifting to Derek. Days had passed since George's dad had undergone his heart surgery, but Derek's silence still loomed over her. She had stopped trying to approach him, knowing that, for now, giving him space was the best solution. Still, the pain of his cold shoulder lingered, a constant ache she tried to push aside.
"Grey, Yang.", Bailey barked, breaking Charlie's thoughts. "You're in the pit." Meredith and Cristina exchanged glances, both nodding. Meredith's face remained stoic, though Charlie could sense the tension behind her eyes. The hospital was not a comfortable place for her these days - not with her half-sister Molly admitted for an emergency C-section and her father Thatcher hovering around. The family dynamics were more than Meredith cared to confront.
"Karev.", Bailey continued, glancing at Alex. "You're with Sloan." Alex rolled his eyes, clearly not thrilled but accustomed to being assigned to plastics. He stuffed his hands in his pockets, ready for another day of grueling, unglamorous tasks under Mark's watchful eye.
"Stevens, you've got Heather Douglas' case.", Bailey said next.
She turned to George. Her stern expression softened, ever so slightly. "O'Malley, you're taking the rest of the day off. Be with your family." George's face tightened, emotion flickering in his eyes. He nodded, a simple, silent acknowledgment of her kindness.
"And Shepherd.", Bailey addressed Charlie, her tone returning to its usual commanding cadence. "You're sticking with Mr. O'Malley. Keep an eye on him. Make sure his post-op status is stable." Charlie nodded, feeling the weight of the responsibility and the concern she carried for George.
As the group began to disperse, Charlie exhaled a slow breath, straightening her shoulders. With her assignment clear and a sense of duty propelling her forward, she made her way toward the lab to collect George's dad's results. Each step she took was a reminder to stay focused, to push through the emotional chaos and be the doctor she needed to be, even if her own heart was far from steady.
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Labs in hand, Charlie made her way back toward Mr. O'Malley's room, weaving through the steady hum of the hospital. As she approached, she couldn't help but notice Mark standing near the nurses' station, giving Alex the usual runaround. Mark was leaning against the counter, arms crossed, and his tone carried that familiar edge of condescension. Alex's jaw was clenched tight as he walked off, muttering something under his breath.
Charlie smirked at the sight, and without skipping a beat, she approached Mark, ready to offer up a sarcastic remark. "Another day, another intern you're terrorizing, huh?", she teased, her voice light and playful. "You do know there are more productive ways to make friends, right?"
