Hero | The Empyrean Series x Grey's Anatomy Fanfic

Chapter 1 - The Interns

Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital - February 2024: Adeline POV

(Season 19, Episode 1)

The smell of antiseptic and the quiet chatter of patients, doctors, and nurses creates a familiar atmosphere. Growing up in and around hospitals may seem off-putting to some, but for me, it was one of my favourite places.

The sliding doors of the elevator opened up almost silently, and everyone around crowded into the tight space, myself included. The area inside the small cube is tightly packed, and I am grateful I decided to keep the lid on my coffee. As I lift my arm to take a sip, I elbow the person beside me, which causes a brief moment of embarrassment. I turn to the person next to me and begin to apologising profusely. The brunette dressed in a light denim jacket and a gorgeous pink and white dress turns to me with a kind smile and lightly laughs.

"It's ok. I am guessing it is the nerves. First day?" She kindly reassures, keeping a smile on her face.

I reply with a breath of relief, feel my shoulders drop and nod in agreement, "Is it that obvious?"

She lightly laughs and links her arm with mine. "Yes, but don't worry. It is my first day, too. I'm Jules, Jules Millin."

"Adeline, Adeline Grey-Shepherd." I return, linking my arm with hers.

Her smile momentarily freezes, and a shocked look passes on her face. I am used to the initial shock of doctors, nurses and anyone in the medical field recognising my last name. Being the eldest daughter of Meredith Grey and Derek Shepherd comes with its own reputation, add being the granddaughter of Ellis Grey and that's the legacies I have to live up to.

"Grey-Shepherd!? As in the daughter of Meredith Grey and Derek Shepherd? The creators of The Shepherd Method? " She exclaims. I can see in her eyes the excitement at my last name.

"The one and only, just please don't hold it against me, " I joke sadly, turning away slightly.

The link between our arms suddenly tightens, and I look at Jules. I can see the realisation in her eyes, and her eyebrows soften. She turns as much as she can in the packed elevator and faces me with an understanding look.

"I will never hold who your parents are over you. Ever." She promises, bringing her free hand up to me, her pinky at chin level. I can feel the moisture gather in my eyes and shakily hold my free hand up to hers, linking our pinkies together.

"I promise I will never hold anyone over you. Ever." I promise in response. We slightly shake our pinkies before dropping our hands. The elevator ding breaks the silence, and everyone rushes out as soon as the doors open. Jules and I are still linked at our elbows, so we get pushed and shoved out of the elevator by the mass of people.

As soon as we are free of the metal box, I start cracking up with laughter. Jules turns to me and cracks as well. We stumble to the side of the hallway and bend over laughing, our bags falling from our shoulders. We take a few seconds to compose ourselves before taking a deep breath.

"That was like the gates opened up at a concert and everyone ran to the front." I voice between giggles. Jules' smile widens, and she giggles a few more times before calming down. We gather our bags from the floor, and I am grateful that everything except my phone and coffee is in my bag. We link our arms once again and start to walk down the hallway. 

The nerves that we once subdued came back in full force, as we continue down the hallway; Jules has a nervous look on her face, and before I can assure her that I know where to go, she uses our linked arms to reach into her bag and retrieve something. We turn the corner, and Jules continues to look in her bag; I spot a flash of white, and before I can warn her, we collide with an older man in a white coat. Gasps of surprise fall from our lips as we all fall to the floor; Jules and I are separated, and the papers the man is holding fall to the floor.