26Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Ok so, I have absolutely no business writing this story when my other stories are not finished *face palm*….I'm sorry! I can't help it! With news all over the 'net about certain characters popping up in recent Grey's episodes, this plot bunny crept into my head and wouldn't leave me alone!
So here is my little AU "snapshots" Grey's Anatomy story – Undiscovered
I like to give my stories soundtracks and the title of this story is inspired by Undiscovered by James Morrison.
I also created a Pinterest Board for Undiscovered. You can find the link in my profile. I'll be adding more relevant pins with each chapter.
I hope you all enjoy and feedback is more than welcomed.
"Thank you all for joining me for this impromptu meeting." Owen Hunt spoke to the selective collections of doctors gathered in one of the hospital's conference rooms. "I know that this is a very trying time for all of us, but we have a VIP patient on route that you all need to be aware of and may be called on to assist."
"Excuse me Chief, but unless you plan on clearing me, there's not much that I can do." Mark Sloan chimed in.
Next to Derek Shepherd, he was the only other doctor in the room that was dressed in street clothes, both being out of work on medical leave. He just wanted to go back home and wallow in his misery. He was recovering for a cardiac tamponade, he just broke up with his girlfriend and the love of his life was missing, presumed dead. Lately, most days it was a struggle just to get out of bed, but Derek insisted that he come to this meeting.
"You're not cleared, but you are very much needed here." Owen turned on the illuminator behind him to show 5 different x-rays. "Our patient is a 28-year old female who is currently in a coma after being ejected in a transportation accident."
"Transportation accident?" Alex muttered to Jackson beside him.
He passed along copies of the patient's medical file only to Dr. Sloan, Dr. Torres, Dr. Bailey, Dr. Karev. Dr. Avery and Dr. Kepner. It listed a host of traumatic injuries.
TBI with intracranial hemorrhage in the frontotemporal cortex - Decompressed to relieve cranial pressure and rupture repaired.
Broken ribs - Reset
Pneumothorax - Repaired
Ruptured spleen and removal
Compression spinal fractures of the lower lumbar - stabilized with back brace, no fusion necessary.
Right lateral compression fracture of the pelvis - stabilized; reconstruction pending
Right oblique femoral fracture - stabilized; reconstruction pending
After reading the file, Callie stood to get a closer look at the x-rays, examining the extent of the damage. "How fast was she going and far was she thrown to sustain injuries like this?"
Owen shared a look with Meredith and Derek. Clearing her voice, Meredith spoke up to address the room.
"She was thrown out of a plane. They think she hit a tree or the ground or something before falling into a nearby river." Meredith explained solemnly what the Chief of Surgery at OHSU Hospital had told her yesterday.
Never in a million years did she think that when she and Derek were called to Owen's office along with Richard Webber that they would receive such unbelievably, terrifying, sublime news.
"She drifted for over 15 miles until she washed ashore and was found by some campers." She continued.
From there she was airlifted to Wallowa Memorial Hospital where they treated her most life-threatening injuries and once stable, she was again airlifted to OHSU Hospital for more extensive treatment. While she was there, the pieces of her mysterious identity came together. The tattered blue clothing that barely covered her body was proven to be scrubs, the location she was found in, the type of injuries she sustained and the news about the missing doctor from the plane crash in the Idaho wilderness.
She looked over at Mark and speaking more to him that anyone else in the room, she announced what they had all surmised. "The patient is Lexie." She could see his body sag with overwhelming emotions. "So, I need all of you to do everything possible to make sure my sister stays alive and wakes up."
"As her sister, Meredith cannot be directly involved in this case, but as Lexie's Power of Attorney, she has asked that Dr. Webber be the lead on her care team." Owen explained.
To keep the group of doctors focused on the tough job ahead, Richard started giving marching orders. "Torres, you're on for Ortho; Bailey, I'll need your assist and Tom Koracick from Johns Hopkins will be here tomorrow to work with Shepherd as consult for Neuro."
"Needless to say, this is a case that is very personal to all of us, but remember that Lexie is our patient first, our family and friend second." Owen reminded and dismissed them all.
Now that the meeting was over, the doctors became scared, relieved, and overjoyed friends and family. April approached Meredith to give her a hug and rejoice in Lexie's survival. Both Callie and Derek went to Mark who was in tears, overcome with relief and fear. She was alive, but would she ever wake up again?
She had to wake up, he determined and he had to stay strong to help her though it.
"I'm alright." He insisted, brushing off the concerned hands of his two best friends. "When will she be here?" He asked Meredith and Owen.
"Less than an hour." Owen informed him.
"You can come with us to her room." Meredith offered.
Everyone knew that Lexie's disappearance and assumed death killed a part of Mark Sloan. The only reason he had survived his injury and was still with them was because of Sofia. There was no way she could keep him out of Lexie's return to them.
"Thank you."
3 Months Later
Two overnight nurses were chatting at the front desk when the call button went off from Room 403. They both looked at each in surprise and then jumped up simultaneously to answer the call. There was a chance that it was a fluke, but there was a chance that it wasn't, and this was the VIP patient of Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital. Everyone was on pins and needles, waiting for this moment. They were floored to see that she was in fact awake when they walked into her dimly lit room.
"I'll go call Dr. Webber and Dr. Grey." One of the nurses said and hurried back to the desk.
"Hello, Dr. Grey." The remaining nurse cautiously approached her bed as not to frighten her. "My name is Rachel. Can you hear me? Are you okay? Are you in any pain?" She asked as she looked over her monitor to see how her heart rate and blood pressure were doing.
Her eyes were still closed, but she responded. "I am." She winced and tried to shift in the bed, but was restricted by something wrapped around her back, stomach, and chest. "What happened? Where am I?"
"You're at Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital. You were in an accident, Dr. Grey."
She rubbed her eyes, trying to see the room and the woman more clearly. "Why do you keep calling me Dr. Grey? I'm not a doctor."
"Oh, um. Let me check your vitals and administer you something for your pain, and I'll go get your doctor so he can answer all your questions." Rachel explained and excused herself to swiftly leave the room. Something was not right.
She got back to the desk where her colleague was just hanging up the phone.
"The cavalry is on the way." She told her.
"Oh, good because I think she may have lost her memory."
.
"How are her vitals?...Have you called Dr. Webber?...Ok, I'll be right there." Meredith spoke into her phone, holding it between her cheek and her shoulder as she rushed to throw some clothes on.
"Who is it?" Derek rolled over, groggy with sleep.
"It's Lexie." She said and he pitched up out to the bed hurrying to get dressed along with her. "Go ask April and Jackson to watch Zola and get her to daycare today."
"Is she okay?" He asked, afraid of what she might say.
She looked up from buttoning her jeans, happiness and excitement on her face. "She's awake."
He sighed sharply with relief and cracked a small smile. "Alright." He grabbed his phone on his way to April and Jackson's room. "I'll call Mark."
.
"Torres! Robbins! Wake up." Mark banged on their front door.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Callie croaked as she opened the door, barely awake with Arizona just as tired at her back.
"Sofia's asleep and I'm headed to the hospital."
The only reason he wasn't there was because they both had declared that he needed a break from his latest five day bout of basically living in Lexie's hospital room. Using the only thing that could drag him away from her side - Sofia.
"Lexie's awake." He revealed. His whole body was practically vibrating with hopefulness.
"Oh my God. Okay, I'm coming with you." Callie said, rushing back into the apartment to get dressed.
"Keep me posted and let me know if you need anything." Arizona told Mark and headed into his apartment to get their daughter.
.
Mark and Callie arrived to find Meredith anxiously waiting outside Lexie's room while Richard and Derek examined her. When they were finished, they came out to brief them.
"How is she? Is she okay? Is she responsive?" Meredith pelted them with questions.
"Is she in any pain?" Mark asked.
"Her pain is being managed. There's a lot of tests we need to run." Derek explained. "But from my initial examination." He paused, knowing this part would be hard for them to hear. "I'm afraid the damage to her brain may have caused retrograde amnesia."
"What? Why do you think that?" Meredith bucked the diagnosis. Amnesia was so rare, maybe she was just confused.
"She doesn't know who I am or Richard. She knows who she is, general facts, her parents and Molly." He detailed and hated knowing his next words would hurt her, but she needed to understand the state of Lexie's mind. "She knows of you, but she has never met you, Meredith and she thinks that Susan is alive."
Both Meredith and Mark felt like the rug was just pulled out from under them.
"Help me! Help! Help!" Lexie screamed in terror and shot up in bed.
The next thing she knew strong arms were pulling her into a broad, warm chest, holding her in comfort.
"It's okay, you're okay." Mark held her, petting her head soothingly.
"I remember. I remember." She cried in his arms, clinging to him.
"You do? What do you remember?" He asked, hoping that Derek and Koracick and everyone else was wrong. Hoping that her memory loss wasn't permanent and that she had remembered the last seven years of her life.
"The crash. I remember the crash." She sobbed.
The hope deflated inside of him, but he stayed strong for her and held her closer as she cried, reliving the trauma that broke them both.
When her crying jag ended, she sat back to look at him. "Who are you?" He had on dark blue scrubs, so she knew he was a doctor, but he wasn't one of her doctors.
"Mark. Mark Sloan." He told her, heartbroken that she didn't know him.
"Thank you, Mark." She was getting drowsy now that the adrenaline was waning, and she laid back down.
Standing from the edge of her bed, he caressed her cheek as she fell back asleep. "Anytime."
She may not remember him, but he remembered her, and she was still the love of his life. He would be right here by her side no matter what.
"Ugh!"
Meredith heard the frustrated grunts as she reached her sister's hospital room.
"Are you okay?" She asked, walking in to see Lexie sitting up in her bed trying to comb her long hair that had grown out to the middle of her back.
"No! This hair is driving me insane." She growled and threw the comb to the end of the bed.
"Here let me help."
"No, it's useless." She lamented showing her the bad tangle at the back of her head. "Not to mention the bald spot." Thankfully, it was an undercut on the side of her, but it just added to the messy state of her hair. "We're sisters so we do sister things, right? Like shopping and getting our hair and nails done?"
"No, we don't do those things." She deadpanned.
After her diagnosis was confirmed and her prognosis that there was no telling when or if her memory would return, they had to tell Lexie the truth about her lost years. Thatcher came to the hospital while Molly was on conference call as they told her about her mother's death. She was devastated and Meredith worried that she would blame her once again. Thankfully, Thatcher and Molly had let go of their misplaced resentment years ago. Not to mention, they knew how close Meredith and Lexie had become and if she had her memory, she would need and want Meredith with her though this. They encouraged Lexie not to blame Meredith when she was introduced to her as her sister and her involvement as Susan's doctor was explained.
It was hard for Lexie to hear that her mother was gone, but she didn't blame Meredith. She did everything she could to save her and she thanked her for that. It helped to know that she and Meredith hadn't let her mother's death get in the way of building a relationship in the past, so why should it now? She wanted to get to know her sister that she always wondered about.
Reliving the past and supporting Lexie together actually brought some healing and connection to the estranged Greys. As Lexie got to know Meredith more and more, she grew to cherish and depend on their relationship.
"We're surgeons, we do surgeries together." Meredith elaborated.
"Oh. Well, we're going to start now." Lexie proclaimed. "I need you to find someone who can get rid of this." She pointed to her hair.
Meredith was in no way a beauty maven. She sat in whatever chair was open at the SuperCuts down the street from the hospital and got the same basic layered trim each time. And she only knew people who were just as uninterested in shopping or hair styling. So, she called the person that Lexie was used to doing those "sister" like things with.
Molly was happy to give Meredith the name and contact information for the stylist she used when she was still living in Seattle.
.
Like always, whenever he had downtime, Mark was sitting at the nurses' station across from Lexie's room, watching the closed door and waiting for it to open so he could "stop by".
"What are you doing?" Derek appeared at the desk, grabbing Lexie's chart to check her stats for the morning before he examined her.
Startled out of his musing about her, he sat up abruptly in his seat. "Nothing." He said guiltily and lied. "Looking for you."
Derek glanced at Lexie's door that was right in his eyeline. "Sure you were."
"You're very welcome and if you need anything else, you have my card now. Just give me a call."
They watched as a woman walked out of Lexie's room, pulling behind her a case loaded with hair care products. A peel of laughter came out of the room after her departure and the men went in to investigate.
"You two sound like you're in a good mood." Derek grinned at the sight of Meredith smiling widely as she sat in front of her sister on her bed.
"Because I feel like I can breathe." Lexie exclaimed and lowered the handheld mirror blocking her face. She shook her new beach wavy bob and asked. "What do you think?"
Along with her sister, she had been reconnecting with her brother-in-law and she was enjoying having a brother for the first time. Derek was so caring and supportive, and she could really tell how much he loved Meredith.
"You look great." He told her.
"You're beautiful." Mark blurted out, staring at her in wonder.
She beamed at him. "Thank you, Dr. Sloan."
His mood dropped slightly, but not enough to alert anyone. "Uh, I have a consult that I have to get to, so I'll catch you later."
Her bright smile was reviving to his soul, but the way she called him Dr. Sloan was heartbreaking. He was still a stranger to her, just another guy hovering around her in a pair of scrubs.
"Whoa! Look at you, speed racer." Mark grinned as he came upon Lexie doing hallway laps with her walker, Meredith chatting along beside her. He joined them for the rest of the trip and helped Lexie get situated in the recliner next to her bed.
"Thanks... Mark." She said with a knowing smile. The last time he visited her along with Derek, he told her that she could call him Mark as he wasn't one of her actual doctors.
So, what if he was a stranger to her? She could get to know him again just like she was with her sister. He was going to soak up as much of her as he could, anyway that he could.
He had a meeting to get to, otherwise he wouldn't be going anyway, so he left the sisters alone for their regular lunch date.
"He is so hot." Lexie swooned. "What?" She asked when Meredith laughed.
"Lexie, you used to date Mark. You were in a relationship with him."
"Are you serious? When?" She grinned with excitement at this juicy bit of news.
"You broke up over a year ago, but you still cared about each other."
"Well, that explains a lot." Like the way he would stare at her or why he was so attentive to her when he didn't need to be. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because you said you didn't want to know about any of your relationships outside of your family." Her sister answered as she started ordering their lunch on her phone.
"You're right, I did."
It was hard enough not remembering her past with her family and having to relive some of their painful history. She didn't want to know about all the other small, but no less meaningful relationships that she once had. It was too overwhelming, and she'd prefer to just concentrate on the people who were her family for the time being.
"But now that I know that I've had sex with that man and I can't remember it, I'm depressed." She pouted and slumped back in her seat as Meredith laughed at her.
2 Months Later
"Have you heard? I'm sure you have with the way people totally disregard patient privacy laws around here." Lexie said to her physical therapist, Chad, as they went through her aquatics program to help her strengthen her hips and her legs. "This girl is finally breaking out of this joint."
"I did hear that and congratulations." He replied. "What's next for you?"
"Who knows." She said rather excitedly. "Any suggestions for a woman who has a photogenic memory, but is now an amnesiac? Gotta love that kind of irony by the way."
"I don't know. With a clean slate like that, you can kind of do anything." He said as he spotted her while she did her forward and side lunges.
"That's what I was thinking."
She had decided to look at the positives of her amnesia. She could have brain damage that was a lot more debilitating. She could have lost way more functionality in her body and she could be all alone in her recovery. Instead, she was getting stronger every day and she was surrounded by family and growing friends who she could lean on.
"Do you know where you're going? Do you have a place to stay?"
"I'm going to stay here with my sister and her family." She divulged. "I like Meredith and Derek and Zola. I don't remember them, but they feel like family." Her sister and brother-in-law were amazing, but her niece was just the cutest thing ever and was so happy to see her when Meredith first brought her to the hospital to introduce her. It was obvious that they were close, and she looked forward to experiencing that again. "Plus, it helps to have a couple of doctors in the house if things go sideways."
"Well at least you have some stability. You can focus on rebuilding your life - what you want to do, make friends, dating." He hinted, but she was oblivious, too focused on her rehab.
"True, but the last thing I'm concerned about is dating. I need to figure myself out before I can even try to figure out a man."
This chapter is called Lexie the VIP Patient. I'll be putting these at the end of each chapter to keep the mystery alive ;)
Thanks for reading and let me know what you think! 😊