WHAT WE MEND
PROLOGUE.

THE WORDS Seattle Grace loomed overhead. The letters blaring and gaugy against the concrete scaling of the hospital it belonged too, droplets of water falling from the edges that accompanied the Seattle weather. Odette stood before the entrance, staring as the doors slid open and closed and people flocked in and out. Her nails clenched around the leather strap of her bag, gnawing on her bottom lip. There really was nothing stopping her from running back to her apartment and never coming back to this hospital-

Well, except for the bills she had to pay. Those weren't going to pay themselves. And the fact that she had rent as well, and landlord wasn't the most forgiving lady. And then there was her mother- but that was a subject within itself that Odette did not have time for. "It's now or never." She mumbled to herself, pulling back her shoulders to allow her head to stand high, before marching into the building.

Her heels clacked against the tiles of the hospital, eyes tracking over the sterile white walls that always seemed to accommodate hospitals everywhere. She walked past people who she was sure to assume were doctors based on the scrubs that they wore varying different shades of blue. If her guess was right, those in the navy blue had to be attendings. That, along with the fact that they walked with an aura of swagger and confidence as if they were aware of the power they held.

Then there were the interns who ran around the hospital in light blue scrubs, eyes wide, dreary with purple bags, and bloodshot, whether from lack of sleep or crying. Probably both. And that would probably be her soon, as that's why she was here. THE SEATTLE GRACE INTERNS ORIENTATION sign drew her attention as she walked past it, following an assembly of people who were possibly about to join the same field as she was- though, they probably didn't have to deal with the weight of their family name and those who came with it. Some looked nervous, as if regretting their decision to be here. Others wore an air of confidence, like they knew that they belonged here.

Everyone stood gathered in the auditorium, glancing around at each other and the room as if waiting.

"Each of you comes here hopeful. Wanting in on the game. A month ago you were in med school being taught by doctors. Today, you are the doctors." a voice proclaimed, glancing at everyone of them with a critical eye. Odette studied the man as he stood with broad shoulders, hands clasped behind his back. His eyes shined with an expert authority, especially as he stood before them, as if he had done this thousands of times over before. Perhaps he had. "The seven years you spend here as a surgical resident will be the best and worst years of your life. You will be pushed to the breaking point. Look around you."

Odette's rosewood colored eyes circled around the room, studying each individual who stood around her. A shinny eyed blonde with an eagerness over being here. An Asian woman with curly black hair stood proud, a smirk masking her face that just bled confidence. A doe eyed man with windswept hair fidgeted, spinning around in circles to get a few of everyone around him while simultaneously trying to not bump into anyone. Another blonde, though this time with more brown coloring her hair, who had came in late seemed to radiate a sense of understanding of the room she was in, like she had either been informed of the area before hand or was just good at faking it. Another man stood smug with his arms crossed, though a look of awe lingered under the surface. Lastly, a tanned skin man who stood beside her with bright eyes that resembled caramel glanced around the room, but said nothing. His expression remained blank, as if trying to hide and not givie anything away.

"Say hello to your competition. Eight of you will switch to an easier specialty. Five of you will crack under pressure. Two of you will be asked to leave. This is your starting line. This is your arena. How well you play? That's up to you."

Odette let out a small breath at the words, palms cupping together behind her back to invade the scrutiny of anyone who may be watching. She couldn't display any weakness here. She would not. She made it this far and she was not going back. Not back to her old life. Not back to New York. She had left that behind.

( A FEW MONTHS PRIOR,
NEW YORK CITY )

Odette ducked under umbrella, holding on to the wooden base for dear life to protect her head from the cold winds and harsh rain. Her hair was tucked under a simple beanie but it wouldn't be enough for long if she wanted to look presentable to reach her location. The sound of cars honking and people relinquishing harsh comments at one another were a common sound to her ears, and easy to ignore as she stepped under the sheltering roof of the cafe.

Standing beside the doorway, she collapsed her umbrella with a huff and fruitfully brushed her hair behind her ear as she glanced inside. The cafe wasn't necessarily like any regular place to grap a coffee and catch up, as the expensive set up and high prices weren't much for just anyone to go by. The room was dimly lit by a warm orange glow, blanketing over the soft leather cushions and chairs that were accompanied by few customers at this time in the morning. A rush drew on her when her eyes landed on the woman of the hour.

Quickly doing a double check in the mirror to make sure her appearance was presentable, Odette pushed her way into the cafe. Soft jazz played in the background as she tucked away her umbrella, sending a soft smile to the man managing the door before motioning her way towards the woman who arranged this whole meeting in the first place. "Hello, mom."

The woman turned at the voice, nude colored lips pursed that fit well with her burgundy blouse pantsuit, fit for business like fashion. The woman's chestnut brown curls splayed over her shoulder in a bob, drifting just below her chin but never straying far from her neck into her face thanks to the clips pinning the hair back. She looked as if she were ready to conduct a meeting given how her ridged her posture was and the way her hands were clasped before her on top of the table.

"You know," she began. "When I had called for us to meet, I had thought that nine o'clock would have been a decent time. I guess I should have scheduled for ten."

Odette sighed, pushing herself down into the blush chair across from her mother. "I'm sorry, I just woke up late and then the traffic was horrible-"

"That's the usual climate of New York's transport runways, and while that may be a fitting excuse for some, it doesn't work that way for many. Especially "I woke up late." Rebecca Alman was a woman of serious demeanor and not one for small talk, learning to sharpen this persona that seemed inbred in her since the day she was born over the years of her work in being one of the top medical lawyers of the northeast. Her perfection at her job and those she had assisted had granted her many public relations with top hospitals and doctors, such as the likes of the Avery family. The Alman family were well known in certain parts of New York, and it wasn't difficult to see how so with fortune their name packed with it- bounding from a long line of lawyers each talented in their specialized field of defense. With three daughters, it was easily assumed that they would be lawyers too.

Odette blanched at the thought.

A man in a waiters uniform arrived with a tray of silverware and steaming coffee, as well as freshly baked scones and bowls of fruit that the younger Alman of the duo couldn't help but stare in hunger. She hasn't eaten this morning, and hardly ate anything the night before with the way her nerves were shot. Her hands had almost reached for it, tentatively, but pulled back to grasp the white linen cloth like it was her lifeline, no matter how much her tight grip had caused the healing bruise on her wrist to sting. She needed to wait until her mother had taken the first move first.

Rebecca had reached for the creamer pouring the white liquid into her coffee as she stirred, occasionally sending her eldest glances. "So, how are things?"

Odette had regarded the question, running her tongue over lips to provide them much needed moisture. "Things...have been good. I can't complain." She reached for the sugar that sat in the middle of the table, avoiding looking her mother directly in the eye.

"How are things between you and Fred? Linda tells me you too are planning on moving to California."

Odette felt her body freeze in place, numb to the world around her all while sparking with an electric sensation at the same time. She inhaled slowly, drawing out a breath to resume the preference of appearing at ease. "Well, I think Linda may be just a bit over-exaggerating. Fred and I aren't moving anytime soon."

"I don't see why not." Rebecca said, studying her eldest daughter critically. "California is a lovely place, not really for my taste- though I wouldn't mind basking in the sun from time to time. But it'll be lovely for you and Fred, to get away, have some time to yourselves. It may be able to even heal the rough patch you're going through-"

"We are not going through a rough patch." Odette interrupted, dropping her hands on to the table, causing the silverware to clatter slightly. She fought back a wince at the sharp pain that radiated through her wrist, brushing it off to focus on more pressing moment at hand. "We just...had a little of a disagreement. That's all. I just...think things are moving to fast. California is a big move away from New York."

Rebecca gave out what could be considered a mix of a scoff and snort in disbelief. "Oh please, there's no need to lie to me dear. If you two weren't having a rough patch that every couple goes through, you wouldn't of have been sleeping in your old room back at the house-"

"How did you know-"

"But that is neither here nor there." Rebecca waved off, not taking notice of the way her daughter's lower lip was sheltering under the abuse of her teeth. "It probably will be resolved, you just have to give a little."

Odette's eyes lingered on the table. "I'm not moving to California, mom."

"Oh, don't be such a downer, what's the worse that can happen?" Rebecca placed a hand on Odette's right hand. "Just travel down there, see how you like it. What's the worst that could happen?"

"I might never come back." Odette thought, swallowing the build up in her throat. Breathing in through her nose, and letting out a stuttering breath she moved her hand from her mother's. "Mom, I'm not moving to California. It's not where I want to be."

Rebecca stared blankly for a few minutes, her lips pursed but were soon folding to mold into a frown. "You aren't still chasing after that dream, are you?"

"It's not just a dream, it's real." Odette hissed, furrowing at her mother's choice of words. "Being a doctor is what I want-"

"Odette, listen-"

"Why?" The eldest Alman daughter cut in, raising a brow with fake curiousity. "So you can tell me how I would be better off being a lawyer? Or how you don't think I have what it takes to be a doctor-"

"Now you're just putting words in my mouth!" Rebecca snapped lowly, glancing around at those around them when they received small looks their way. "It just seems like you could be doing less stressful things-"

"Like being a lawyer is any easier?"

"Certainly less time consuming, or more so my specialty is. What does Fred think of all this?"

Odette snorted, raising her coffee to her lips. "What does it matter what he thinks?"

"Maybe that's why you too hit a rough patch."

"We are not having a rough patch!" Odette hissed venomously, this time not caring about how her voice had risen a few octaves higher than before and was certainly drawing more attention their tables way. "Look, I get it. I'm not who you want me to be-"

"That is slightly correct."

"And how you go around parading Michaela, Rosalie, and I around for show to your firm and go on, and on about how we're the future of the Alman name and lawyers in the making- well guess what? That is not me. I don't want to be a lawyer, I never have-"

"You never know what you want to be." Rebecca grizzled, upper lip pulling back and eyes narrowing at the tone being directed towards her. "It's always one thing after another with you- first you wanted to be a banker, then singer, and, as much as you try to deny it, there was a time where you wanted to be a lawyer- matter of fact quite recently, if I do recall, so what's changed?"

"Maybe the fact that you push your own expectations and dreams on to me, without taking into consideration about my own feelings and wants." Odette offered sarcastically, a forced smile pulling at her lips.

Rebecca glowered. "I've had enough of this attitude, Odette. It's been going on long enough. First, never bothering to be grateful towards the life I've provided for you, a life that many don't get to have."

"You've been guilt tripping me with that since I was eight, as if I don't know how lucky I am."

"All the invasive questions-"

"Which you never answer, to which I am entitled to know." Odette grumbled, jaw clenching. Her knuckles practically glowed white with how tight her grip on the table was, face contorted into a scowl of annoyance. But did she expect when it came to her mother after all? "You know what, no."

Rebecca blinked. "No?"

"Yeah, no. I'm not moving to California. One of the three only reasons, all of which I could give two craps less about, are because it's where one of your old lawyer buddies lives and you think he'll be able to convince me." Odette continued on before the woman could cut her off. "Secondly, I am not, and will never be a lawyer. That's your dream, not mine. And what I can't get is why you seem to practically loath the idea of me being a doctor, but will gladly cheer Jean on for going to Harvard to get her medical degree."

"That's different-"

Odette scoffed, shuffling along her purse and keys. "Not really. And, furthermore, I would like to refrain from ever mentioning my relationship with Fred with you if all you are going to do is critique me without even bothering to ask about my perspective on the situation."

"Where are you going?" Rebecca asked, watching as Odette rose from her seat.

Odette placed a hand over her stomach when she felt it growl, remembering how she had not eaten throughout this whole ordeal and how appetizing the scones looked. It's not like she would be back here anytime soon, she thought as she wrapped three into a napkin and shoved them into her bag. "I'm going back to my apartment. It was lovely having this talk, mom, but if I'm going to beat traffic I have to leave now."

Without bothering to adhere to the calls beckoning her to return back to the table, Odette shrugged her bag on to her shoulder and marched for the door, nearly missing grabbing her umbrella had not been for the door man graciously handing it out to her. The rain had slowed to a small drizzle and the cold was less bitter, but that did nothing to ease the bitting feeling in Odette's chest as she scrambled into her car.

Silence. That's all that there was in the car, besides her breathing. Just silence.

Odette winced as she rotated her left wrist, lightly massaging at the slightly swollen skin. She would have to put ice on it, keep an eye on it. She needed to leave. Not just from this parking space, but from New York in general. And she was definitely not moving to California. Her dark brown eyes trailed down to the white, slightly wrinkled paper that rested in the passengers seat of her car.

SEATTLE GRACE HOSPITAL: INTERNS ORIENTEATION DATE.

Seattle wasn't much different from New York. "Same cold, rainy, bleak weather." She thought, staring at the paper. "But far enough to where...I could start over. Become someone different- become someone for myself."

Odette was never meant to be a lawyer, no matter how much her mother wanted her to be. But she was an adult, and while nowhere near fully functional she was an adult and didn't need any say on how to manage her life. She wanted to be a doctor, she wanted to save lives.

And that's what Seattle had to offer.

____________________

Hello everyone! Welcome to those coming back, and those who probably just started reading this. Too my old readers, I thank you for all the support and loves you have shown this book and apologize for not updating but I always wanted to just scrap this, shred it, gather up the left over pieces, and formulate into something new from the old. I wanted to make Odette feel more like someone that could be related too, while also feeling like a person who has flaws, struggles, and relationships. I also wanted to showcase more interaction between her and other characters to pave way for later seasons.

I hope this chapter also sheds some light on to why she wants to be a doctor, what her past life was like, and her relationship with her mother. I'm really excited for this, and will hopefully be able to update more regularly. Hope you enjoyed reading this, and remember to stay safe.

©sukibenders.