[ vxiii. eighteen]
❛𝚁𝙾𝙲𝙺𝚂𝚃𝙰𝚁❜

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐍 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐑𝐎𝐎𝐌 was bustling this morning, everyone was getting ready for their work shift, skipping into their scrubs.

Meredith and Cristina were both standing in front of their lockers, stuffing their bags inside while Brie was pulling her scrubs over her purple long sleeved shirt.

Cristina smiled slightly at Meredith, who gave her a death glare, "What?" The black haired woman immediately faced her locker, "Nothing."

Meredith's gaze fell back onto the papers she had in her hand and Brie watched how Cristina peeked past her locker door and eyed Meredith.

After a moment the blond turned to face her once more, her eyes wide while she seemed kind of aggressiv, "What?"

Cristina flinched a bit, frowning at the woman before she gave her a serious look, "Okay- crancky. Forget- forget it."

"Am I the only one that thinks that this triage thing is a water of time?", Alex questioned while he shrugged on his scrubs.

"There's a platysmaplasty on the board. I had Sloan all peppered to let me scrub in", he stated confidential while he glanced over at Brie, who let out a snort. "Yeah, sure coffee boy."

Alex gave her a sarcastic smile before he went back to face his locker, "Seriously is it too much to ask to be performing actual surgeries? I mean- we are actual surgeons."

Suddenly Meredith's voice rose once more, catching Brie's attention, "What?"
Cristina sighed deeply before she also faced her locker, "Nothing."

After that the group left the locker room behind and joined Dr. Bailey, who immediately started the triage with them.

Sidney was playing the patient, they were supposed to be diagnosing.

Izzie was the first one to go, she examined the woman's arm, "A lot of arm swelling, but good distal pulses so we can rule out compartment syndrome. I suspect a radius fracture so I'd splint and get an Ortho follow-up."

Bailey gave her a questioning look "Anything else?" Izzie narrowed her eyes for a moment, but she shook her head, "No."

Dr. Bailey gave her a blank stare, "Okay, so I guess this means-" Callie joined them, the watch in her hand while she exclaimed, "Time!"

Sidney immediately sat up and exclaimed, "And I'm dead." Izzie frowned in confusion, "Dead?"

"You sent her home. The bone punctured through her skin", Bailey immediately explained to her. Izzie seemed irritated, "Yeah but she had multiple wounds and abrasions-"

Sidney gave her a serious look, "A puncture over a break is an open fracture until proven otherwise- Yeah, I got septic and I died at home, thanks to you."

The blond intern groaned loudly, "Ugh, whatever."

"Not whatever to dead minor punctur wound that's not guy"

Bailey looked at the other Intern's, who had been watching them, "You have to be quick and thorough while using your instincts. You can't be followed by what your eyes see. If you assess wrong, your patient can die while waiting for treatment. Karev, you're next."

Izzie gave him a small smile, "Just think, I already killed her- You can't do more damage than that."

Bailey had heard that comment and sighed before she started lecturing them, "People, triage is one of the most important tools a doctor has. In a real emergency scenario, you'll have only minutes-"

"And it's something you'll be tested on in your surgicals", Torres stated before suddenly a flash went off and a photo fell out of George's camera. "Sorry."

Torres shot him a death glare, "George."
The man shrugged at her innocently, "I'm just recording the drill."

Callie still gave him a death glare before she grabbed George by his sleeve and pulled him aside from the group.

The two were arguing back and forth before Bailey interrupted them, "O'Malley, take that back to the clinic where it belongs."

Suddenly Dr. Webber, the chief of surgery entered the room, "People, look I'm sorry I have to interrupt your session for a moment."

Sidney had propped up onto her elbows while she smiled at the black haired man, "Chief! I like your new hair! Really brings out your eyes!"

Bailey seemed slightly annoyed by her colleuge, "Do you need something, Sir?"

The man had his hands placed on his hips while he gazed at them, "We just received word of a mass casualty incident nearby. All available level one Trauma centers have been asked to respond. I need to send a team into the filed immediately."

Cristina seemed curious, her eyes wide, "Is this a part of the exercise? Are we supposed to act appropriately, uh, tense?"

The man shook his head at her, "This is not a exercise or a drill, Yang. This is an emergency situation and I need all hands on deck"

Izzie jumped a little, "Seriously?" Bailey only looked at the Chief, a worried expression on her face, "What happened?"

The man gave her a serious look, "I don't have details, just orders."

"We're catching a ride with Seattle 34! Space is tight, so hold your kits on your lap", Bailey immediately instructed them while they rushed through the lobby.  "Where are we going?"

The woman continued walking straight ahead, "We'll know when we get there."

Izzie jumped up and down next to Brie, "Fire? Flood? Vulcano? I'm not really dressed for a vulcano!"

Bailey gave her a warning look, "Stevens!" The blond immediately apologized to her superior, "Sorry! Inappropriate! Sorry!"

They had nearly reached the vehicle, when the woman who was suppose to drive them, held up her hands, "Wow! Wow! Wow! I'm hauling supplies. I only have room for five!"

Bailey immediately spun around to them, sighting deeply, "Ugh! Yang!"
The dark haired woman's eyes widened, "Yes!"

"Stay with the chief and take care of the incoming wounded. The rest of you come on!"

Cristina seemed like she felt mistreated, she gave Dr. Bailey a pleading look before she exclaimed, "Stevens was inappropriate!"

Izzie shot her a dark glare, before they all climbed into the truck. The sirens immediately started howling and the silence inside the vehicle was loud.

"Oh, everybody, move your ID's to the outside of your jacket. When we get there remember, triage!", the woman reminded them after a moment. Her gaze then snapped over to Alex, "Karev?"

"Green tags, non-emergent. Yellow, delayed care. Red tags, needs immediate treatment", Alex quickly stated and Bailey nodded in confirmation. "Good. Assess carefully, tag and get all critical patients into the ambulances as fast as possible! Don't get into the way of search and rescue and stay calm."

Brie gave the attending a curious glance, "Any word yet on what happened?"

Bailey shook her head at them, "All we know is multiple traumas."

A moment later the tires were screeching and the vehicle came to a stop. The group immediately got onto their feet and when Meredith opened the doors, the chaos broke over them.

"Holy mother of-"

Brianna's eyes traveled over the injured people and heard the cries of children, searching for the parents.

The brunette immediately felt her pulse raise, but she tried to remain calm, "Dr. Bailey - Where do you need us?"

The attending seemed to be elsewhere with her mind, "I don't have time to hold your hands. You know the protocol. Go do it!"

Alex seemed confused to what he was supposed to be doing now, "Do what?"

Dr. Bailey gave them one last glance before disappearing into the crowd, "Go help people!"

Brianna and Izzie didn't make it far away from the vehicle.

The two had decided to take the left side and while the brunette was walking, she held onto her kit, like it was her live support. She felt really anxious, experiencing this whole chaos for the first time, was stressing.

That was when a bold man, maybe in his fifties approached them. Brie immediately spotted his injuries, "Hey, are you a nurse? A doctor? Or a medical something?"

Izzie was the first one to response while Brie was still feeling a little overwhelmed, "I'm a doctor, but-"

The man quickly placed a hand on Izzie arm and tried to lead her away, "Come with me-"

The blond shook her head immediatly and remained besides Brie, "Oh no, you need to get checked out. There's a treatment area right over there."

The man had a begging gaze in his eyes, "Follow me please."

Izzie's eyes scanned over the man's body while she spoke, "You've got some really bad burns. They need to be treated!"

The man suddenly lost his patience with her and grabbed her by her shoulders, "My buddy is trapped- my buddy is trapped under a car."

Brie felt her breath hitch in her throat before she stuttered, "If he's trapped under a car you need search and rescue they have- they have personal, they have medical -"

He interrupted her quickly, "I called them, they're backed up and he can't wait. He's in a real bad way— please — he's my best buddy."

The man gave her a pleading look, "Please." After a moment Izzie nodded her head and Brie remained silent before she followed after them through the chaos.

The brunette was trying to control her nerves when the man lead them inside the ship.

"He's back! He's got help", one of the men exclaimed while they approached a couple of  cars.

"You hear that, Rick? We got help. We got two doctors! You're gonna be okay now, man", the bald man, who had called them, called out to his best friend.

Brie's eyes widened when she saw that the man they were speaking to was crushed under a car. "You'll be alright."

The brunette and the blond exchanged worried glances before the man addressed them, "Right?"

The dark skinned man, who was trapped between the cars, had blood everywhere and it seemed like he had trouble breathing.

Brie didn't gave him an answer before she slowly approached the woudned man.

"He's a mechanic. We— we work together. We— we drive together to work and suddenly there's this huge jolt", the bald man explained to them while Izzie and Brie started to examine his wounds.

"It was awful— we were just trying to get out of there, but Rick went back", the brunette long haired man besides them explained before the third and older man added. "He figured we could help, we should help— He went back. There were people trapped, he was trying to help!"

"We were behind him, we were right behind him", the bald man stated before Brie interrupted them.

Her eyes darted over the wounds she was currently examining, "There's injuries to his chest and leg. It looks like his arm is broken—"

"I guess there's damage to his spine and pelvis— I can't— there's — there's not much we can do until we get him out of here", Izzie added while she looked up at the men around them.

"You got to do what you can", the man besides them pleaded. "I mean— we'll— uh— Greg, go find some more guys!"

Izzie then grapped her red tag and handed it to the older looking guy behind her, "Hey— go find search and rescue, okay? Give them this— tell them I said he can't wait— he has to go to the hospital!"

The man nodded, "All right, I'm going." Brie ws trying to take car of his wounds, but the bleeding didn't stop. "I need more gauze."

"There's no more here."

"Maybe we could find some, uh, paper towels in the head?", the bald man on her opposite suggested.

The long haired man nodded, "I'll find some." Suddenly Rick spoke up, turning his head to his friend, "Vince— man it hurts like hell."

The man immediately questioned them, "Can you do anything about that? I mean, you got anything for the pain?"

"I've given him everything I've got", the blond answered him while she tried to help Brie with the gauze. "Where's Search and Rescue?"

The wounded man whimpered while he gazed at his friend, "It hurts."

"What hurts, man?"

He gasped for air while his whole body shook, "Everything."

"Maybe if— maybe if we try to set his arm, it will help some with the pain", Brie then suddenly suggested and the bald man nodded. "What are you waiting for?"

"I—", Brie had to gather her thoughts. The man gave her a impatient look, "What?"

The brunette gave him a dark glare, "Nothing— just, uh, just stay there and hold his hand!" He frowned at her, "Hold his hand?"

"You think he's in pain now? He's not! Hold his hand!", Izzie suddenly snapped at the man, her patience running out.

Vince grabbed his friends hand while Brie continued with giving Izzie orders, "Place both hands on opposite sides of the fracture."

Izzi gave her a shocked glance, "You want me to do it?" Brie nodded her head at her, "Yes, you can do it!"

The brunette gave her a deep look while she repeated the instructions Bailey had given them, "Exert, distract, exaggerate and reverse the mechanism in one continuous motion."

Izzie had placed both hands on either side of the fracture and was now exhaling deeply.

The bald man suddenly gave Izzie a sceptical look, "You're a doctor, right?"

The blond and brunette both shot him a death glare, "Shut up!"

Izzie in and exhaled deeply, "All right— all right, Rick! You ready?"

The man was still fighting for air and groaned in pain while he nodded his head, "Yeah."

Izzie gave him a nodd before she spoke, "One— two—" And then she yanked his arm towards her, making the man scream out in pain.

The man writhed in pain while he groaned loudly, but Izzie continued to take care of his arm.

A moment later the long haired man appeared besides them, the paper towels in his hand. "He must've saved at least a dozen people who were stuck in their cars— we told them not to go back!"

"That's the kind of guy he is— he's the kind of guy that goes back— he's got kids, too. Five of them", Vince stated and Brie gave him a sharp look when she realized what they were doing.

"We don't need to hear about the kids— we're comitted to the project, okay", the brunette snapped at the man.

Suddenly Rick spoke up, "Leave the girls alone, Vince."

Vince gave them an apologetic look, "Sorry— you did a really great job, there, docs."

Suddenly the older looking man also appeared besides Izzie, "Hey, how's he doing?" Vince gave him a look, "He's doing all right."

Izzie immediately panicked and started screaming, "No, no he's not! I can't do anything more until we get him out from under this car! Can you please tell me why you've come back by yourself?"

"Search and Rescue, they're buried, they said they'd come when they can.

"Did you show them the red tag? He's a red tag!", Brie shouted at him in panic while she finally successfully patched up his arm.

The older looking man shouted back, "They said they got fifteen red tags!"

"Come on, guys— Don't worry about me. I'll be fine", Rick wanted to assure his friends. But before he could finish his sentence he suddenly lost conciseness.

"No, no, no, no, don't do this, man! Stay with me!", Vince immediately shouted at his friend.

"What happened?" Vince had a shocked expression on his face, "H— he let go of my hand! He's gone limp!"

"Rick, wake up! Rick!

Brie grabbed her flashlight and carefully opened one of his eyes, "One of his pupils is blown. We don't have a lot of time."

"What are you gonna do? You can't let him die!"

Suddenly the dark skinned man started jolting and his eyes rolled upwards, so that Brie could only see the white, which meant that he was having a seizure.

Brie quickly placed a towel under Ricks head, "Sorry! I'm doing what I can!"

"It's not enough!" Vince voice grew louder while he stared at Izzie and Brie, "Just, look, they're not going to get him out of here any time soon. So you gotta figure out a way to help him! Right here! Right now!"

Izzie had grabbed the man's head while the man around them were still panicking, "Do something!"

"He's still seizing, there's nothing more I can do!"

"You're supposed to put something into his mouth so he can't bite his tongue, aren't you?", Vince questioned her, his voice more quiet now.

"Nobody's putting anything in his mouth. We just have to let him ride it out!", Brie stated loudly while she stared at the seizing man.

"What are you gonna do? You can't just let him die!", Vince exclaimed while Rick slowly stopped seizing.

"They're gonna come soon— in a little while and they'll get him out", Izzie tried to tell them, but she didn't seem like she believed it herself.

"You say we don't have much time. What if they don't get him out from there before he—"

Izzie took a couple of steps back, panting heavily, "I don't know— I don't know, okay? I don't know."

Vince seemed helpless while he exclaimed, "Please— you can't quit on us now! You just got to try something else!"

"We just— I don't know what else to do I'm sorry— we're just Interns— we're still learning —" The brunette looked down at the dark skinned man, "I'm sorry."

Vince clearly pulled himself together, the tears forming in his eyes, "You stopped the bleeding, that was good— Come on, please. I know this guy! I believe in him— I believe he can make it! You gotta believe in it too. You gotta believe you can do this, please! Don't stop now!"

Izzie sighed deeply while she placed her hands on his hips, "Who's got a cell phone?"

All three immediately grabbed into the pockets and pulled out a cell phone for her.

Brie gave her a questioning look, "What are you up to?" Izzie sighed deeply, "I'm calling Doctor Webber."

The blond was on the phone for a couple of minutes before she spun around to the men, "I'm gonna need a drill."

Vince immediately nodded, "There's one in my trunk." One of the other men gave her a questioning look, "What do you need a drill for?"

Izzie looked over at Brie and then at the older looking man, "We gotta drill holes into your friend's head."

The three gave her a disbelieving looks and Brie sighed before she rubbed her hands over her face.

"Brie you gotta do it", Izzie stated while she held up the phone and changed it to loudspeaker.

The brunette sighed deeply while she prepared herself mentally for what she was about to do, "I know."

Izzie handed the phone to one of the men before she started assisting Brie.

"Now remember, Taylor, that drill isn't just gonna stop like a neurosurgical drill. So as soon as you feel the release in pressure, stop the drill or you'll pierce his brain", Doctor Webber explained to the brunette while Izzie started sterilizing the drill and the mand head.

"Even if I don't see blood?"

"Trust your instinct, Taylor test the feel of it", Sloan's voice suddenly spoke through the phone. Brie sighed deeply, "Okay, I'm ready."

"Okay, place three fingers above the ear and two or three fingers in front of that on the side where the first pupil blew", Doctor Webber instructed her and Brie did as he said.

"Okay, got it."

"All right, now use the scalpel to make a vertical scalp incision down to the skull", Webber continued and Brie grabbed the scalpel before she did as he said.

The blond immediately started pouring out of the wound she had caused, "I see a lot of blood. Like a lot."

"Superficial bleeders, nothing to worry about", Sloan stated calmly before Webber took over once more. "Are you at the skull?"

"Yes."

"Drill a hole in the middle of the incision." The brunette sighed deeply while she exchanged a glance with Izzie, who handed her the drill.

"Oh, God!", Vince immediately exclaimed while he watches her starting the drill.

Brie immediately snapped at him, her eyes starring into his, "Okay, that can't happen! Do you understand me? Sounds can't happen! Freaking out can't happen! Because if you freak out, I'm gonna freak out, and I'm the one holding the power drill to your friend's brain! — So if you're gonna vomit, if you're gonna make a sound, step away! If you're gonna stay here, you have to pull it together, okay?"

Vince gluped before he slowly nodded his head, "All good, doc."

Brie exhaled loudly, "Okay— I'm ready."

"The temperal bone's only gonna be a couple of millimeters thick", Marl stated and after that Brie exhaled one more time before she starts the drill, looking at it.

She then slowly placed it on the man's scalp before she started it one more time, celarefully and slowly drilling a small hole until she felt the pressure disappearing. "Okay, I'm in! But the dura looks fine!"

"You're gonna have to go in again."

"Frontal lobe, right?", Brie questioned without hesitation. Mark was now the one to speak, "That's right— just below the hairline. A few centimeters off the midline. This bone will be thicker. About five times as thick as the temperal bone."

Brie used the scalp on his frontal lobeand stuck her fingers inside, to make some space for the drill. "Got it!"

Izzie them handed her the drill and Brie carefully and slowly drilled another hole into the Rick's head until she felt the pressure disappearing. "Second hole done!"

Webber questioned her, "What do you see?"

"I think I see blood. I see some blood." Brie tried to control her breathing while she narrowed her eyes to see better.

Dr Webber spoke, "Okay, now this is important— drill around the hole to expand the opening— you have to try and relieve the pressure."

The brunette nodded to herself before she started drilling around the hole. "Okay— the hole is about two centimeters around now— I see blood!"

"Try to evacuate as much of the clot as you can—"

"With what? We don't have suction!", Izzie stated while she gave Brie a questioning look.

Marke answered her this time, "Use your finger! Gauze! Anything!"

Brie handed Izzie the drill before she started sticking her fingers into the hole, "I see clothed blood!"

"No aterial?"

"No."

"Good— now how does the dura look? Is it bluging or does it look lax?"

Brie examined the wound, "Looks like it's pulsating regularly with the heart beat. That's another good, right?"

"That's great, Taylor! If it's pulsating, that means blood and oxygen are entering the brain. — Now pack it up with gauze so you can minimize the bleeding."

Izzie immediately grabbed the gauze and Brie made space for her to pack the wound up. "Okay, now get the rescue rig in here!"

"Nicely done, Taylor", Doctor Webber congratulated her. Vince gave her a hopeful look, "Is that it? Is he going to be okay?"

Izzie gave him a serious look, "We've relieved the pressure on his brain but he's got a lot of other injuries."

Suddenly one of the men spoke up, "Hey!— his eyes are open."

They all stared laughing while they looked down at their now conscious friend, "Hey!"

After a moment Brie and Izzie joined in, laughing in relieve.

Not long after that Search and Rescue finally came and got Rick out from under the cars.

They quickly got him into an ambulance and when they reached Seattle Grace Hospital, Brie immediately jumped out of the vehicle and approached Webber.

"His right pupil's not dilated any more, he's normal tensive, but his pulse is still up in the 130's."

Webber nodded his head at her, while the man was transported out of the vehicle, "Okay, what's his neurological status?"

Izzie jumped out of the ambulance, "GCS is eight. I'm sorry— we ran out of sterile drapes, we had to use some guy's t-shirt. It wasn't sweaty or anything, he was a clean guy but—"

Doctor Webber interrupted her, "Okay, call the O.R.— tell them we're coming up!"

Brie was fumbling with her fingers while she walked besides the man, "I also dropped the scalpel in the field and by that time I had used all the alcohol swabs on the drill bits, so I think we should load him up with antibiotics, lot and lots of antibiotics."

Doctor Webber gave her a serious look, "You put a drill through a man's skull and didn't hit his brain— you saved his life!"

The two Intern's exchanged a small smile before they followed after the Chief. After a moment the man spun around to them, "Get cleaned up and get to the O.R. You got work to do!",

"Me too, in the O.R.?", Izzie immediately questioned him, disbelieving.

"Yes, Stevens you too! You're officially off probation", the man answered her before he disappeared inside the hospital.

Izzie immediately started smiling and Brie brought her into a big hug while she squealed loudly.

"I'm so proud of you!", Brie exclaimed loudly and the blond smiled at her. "I'm so proud of you! You were the one who drilled through his skull!", Izzie exclaimed with wide eyes.

But Brie just shook her head at her, "I could've never done it without you."
After a moment of silence she nodded towards the hospital, "Okay, let's go!"

The two made their way inside and as soon as they and rounded the corner Izzie spotted Cristina. "Oh, Cristina! You're not gonna believe what we just did! I'm gonna tell you, but you're not gonna believe it, you're gonna think I made the whole thing up!"

The black haired woman gave her a questioning look, "You're back? Wait, is Meredith back?"

Izzie had a large smile playing on her face, "Brie drilled a hole into this guy's skull!"

Cristina gave them a surprised look, "What?"

Izzie's eyes had that twinkle in them while she told Cristina everything, "Several holes, actually, with a drill we borrowed from a guy named Vince. Packed the hole with freaking tissue, then brought him back here, and now we both get to scrub in on his craniotomy!"

Cristina didn't seem to pay much attention to what Izzie was saying, "You haven't seen Meredith?"

Izzie just ignored what the dark haired woman had questioned her, "It was like a ride, this crazy roller coaster ride with, like, adrenaline shooting out of my ears!—"

Cristina shot her an annoyed glare, before she snapped at the blond, "Okay, Izzie! I get it— You two are heroes, I am jealous. But I need to know where the hell Meredith is!"

Izzie seemed take back by her reaction, "Okay, I don't know where the hell Meredith is."

Brie gave her a worried glance, "She should be back here— I didn't see her at the scene."

"The scene were we were rockstars', by the way!", the blond intern besides her stated walking backwards while she smiled widely. "Did I mention I'm off probation?"

She sung loudly, still smiling, "Rockstar!"

The two then scrubbed in on their surgery and Brie had never felt more alive in her whole life.

She was standing besides the surgeon when suddenly her pager went off. "Dr. Taylor — it's your pager."

Brie nodded at the nurse, "Yeah, that's okay. It can wait."

The nurse gave her an intensive gaze while she spoke, "I think you want to take this page."

Brie then left the O.R. before she gazed at her pager. As soon as the brunette realized what the page said, her heart felt like it suddenly dropped into her stomach and she immediately sprinted towards the emergency rooms.

As she arrived there she was panting heavily, her eyes darted over Alex, George, Izzie and Cristina before she questioned, "It is Meredith?"

George nodded, "Yeah."

Cristina shook her head while she tried to get through the door, "Are you sure? Did you see her? Because it could be anyone—"

Alex quickly grabbed Cristina by her arm and held her back, "It's Meredith."

The two exchanged a look before Cristina looked at the other's, "Oh."

Her gaze then fell onto Derek and Mark, who were sitting on the ground, not far away from them. "oh— oh."

Izzie gave them an optimistic nodd, "She will come through!"

"You don't know that!", George stated quietly, his head faced the ground.

The blond gave him a glare, "She will come through this!"

"People die— ", George said, still not making eye contact with anyone and Izzie gave him a look, before she started, "I know people die. People die in front of us every day! But I believe Meredith will survive this! I believe— I believe — I— I believe in the good!"

She inhaled deeply before she went on, "I believe that it's been a hell of a year and I believe that in the face of overwhelming evidence of the contrary, we will be okay! I believe a lot of things. I believe that— I believe that Denny is always with me— and I believe that of I wat a tub of butter and no one sees me the calories don't count!" She chuckled at the last part.

"— and I believe that surgeons who prefer staples over stiches are just lazy—" she then looked over at George, who still hadn't made eye contact with anyone. "And I believe that you are a man who made a terrible mistake marrying Callie—"

George finally looked up into her eyes before she continued,"— and I believe that because I'm your best friend, I can tell you this and we can be okay— I believe that even though you made this mistake, you will be okay!"

George frowned while he gazed at her and Izzie sighed deeply, "I believe we survive, George— I believe that believing we survive is what makes us survive."

She then sighed once more before she hugged Cristina, "She will be okay." And Brie joined in while the tears started streaming down her cheeks.