A Kind Girl In A Cruel World (Grey's Anatomy AU)

Chapter One

-George-
I walked up to Lara so I could say good morning to her, and I tapped her on the shoulder.
"Good morning Lara!" I said cheerfully.
"Good morning, George!"
She sounded twice as cheerful as me.
"You sound very happy this morning. What happened?"
"Congratulations on your first surgery, Lara." Dr. Shepherd said.
"Thank you, Dr. Shepherd." she smiled at him.
"Oh, I forgot to ask about your surgery. How'd it go?"
"It was great. Everything went smoothly, I got the whole tumor out of that little girl's brain, and hopefully it won't come back."
"That is so great! I'm happy for you."
"Thank you. That means a lot, coming from you."
She touched my shoulder, and I smiled softly at her.
"I think we should-"
I was interrupted by her pager going off.
"Oh, hold that thought. Dr. Bailey is paging me."
"Lara, wait!"
"I'll be back, George. We can talk about this later."
"Okay then..." I sighed.
I went to go do my rounds, and I walked past Dr. Bailey and Lara.
"Dr. Karev, it's obvious that O'Malley likes you."
"That's what everyone keeps telling me. I like him too, but we've been friends since we started med school. What we have is great, and I don't want that to be ruined."
I decided to walk away before either of them saw me. My heart was beating so fast, I thought it was going to explode.
She likes me too? I can't believe this.
"Okay, Ms., uh... Lewis? How are you feeling today?"
I looked at the twenty-five year old woman with brain cancer.
"I'm great now that I get to see you. And you can call me Marianne."
Marianne's the type of girl who flirts with every cute doctor who comes to check on her.
"Okay, Marianne. Are you ready for your first round of chemotherapy?" I asked her.
"I'm a little nervous. Does it hurt?"
"Not too bad. We'll just be giving you an intravenous injection."
"What about radiation?"
"You'll be getting your first treatment tomorrow."
"Does that hurt?"
She looked so scared, and I can't say I blame her. Brain cancer is a very serious thing, and it's very scary.
"No, not at all."
"What about side effects?"
"Nausea, dry mouth, mouth and gum sores, difficulty swallowing, some jaw stiffness, lymphedema and tiredness."
"That doesn't sound so bad. Uh, what's lymphedema?" Marianne asked.
"Swelling in the arm or leg. It's nothing too serious."
"Okay, what about chemotherapy?"
"Here's a pamphlet you can read on it."
I handed her a folded up paper, and she looked through it.
"Okay, the side effects of chemo are a little scarier."
"Dont worry, there's things you can take for most of the symptoms." I explained to her.
"Would you mind being here with me during my first treatments?"
She grabbed me by the hand and squeezed.
"I can do that, if you think it would help."
"I'd appreciate it."
"Okay."
I smiled softly and squeezed her hand back.
"George, can I talk to you for a minute?"
It was Lara.
"Sure. I'll be right back, okay?"
I looked at Marianne.
"Okay." she nodded.
I walked out of the room so I could talk to Lara.
"That girl seems to like you." she teased.
"She's just nervous for her first round of chemo. Now, what do you want to talk to me about?"
"What'd you want to ask me earlier?"
"I think we should celebrate tonight. Why don't we go to Joe's?"
"Do you want it to just be the two of us?"
"That's what I was thinking, yeah." I nodded.
"You're asking me out, aren't you?"
"Uh, what? Uh... yeah, yes I-I am." I stuttered.
"Okay, it's a date then."
"Is Joe's a good place for a first date, though?"
"Yeah, they have great food. Plus, I could use a drink after this morning."
"Yeah, I don't blame you. Surgery can be very stressful."
My pager went off again, and it was Dr. Swender.
"Okay, I have to get back. I'll see you tonight."
"Okay, I'll see you."
I went back to Marianne, and she was sitting up in her hospital bed.
"Dr. O'Malley." she said cheerfully.
I walked over to her and held onto her hand, and I talked to her as a distraction.
"Tell you what: since I get to call you by your first name, you'll get to call me by mine. How does that sound?"
"That sounds pretty good. What's your name?"
"George."
"Ah, George... I've always liked that name. The name of an angel." she smiled at me.
"I'm not an angel, Marianne. Just a doctor."
"Yeah, but you save lives everyday. That's pretty angelic to me."
Dr. Swender put the needle in her arm, and she didn't even notice.
"But not every life can be saved."
"Do you think there's a chance that mine will be?"
Dr. Swender mouthed to me, "Don't lie to her." and shook her head.
"You're a very tough young lady. You'll make it through this." I squeezed her hand gently.
"Okay, now why don't you tell me about that girl."
"Who, Dr. Karev?"
"Yes."
"Well, we've been friends since we started med school together, and... I'm in love with her." I sighed.
"Did you tell her? Will you tell her?" Marianne asked.
"No, but if our date goes well... maybe I'll tell her later on."
"You guys are going out on a date? That's great."
"Yep, our first date. I really hope this goes well." I sighed.
"Where are you taking her?"
"To Joe's."
"That's a great place. They have good food, and their mimosas are to die for."
"Okay, Ms. Lewis. You just made it through your first treatment."
"Great. Thank you, Dr. Swender."
"Well, I guess that's my cue to leave."
"Okay, thank you for staying here with me, George."
"You're welcome."
I squeezed her hand, then I walked out of the room.