Hey Gladiators! Thanks for the great reviews. I am taking a short break from my other story to do this stand alone. A few times now Derek Shepherd has mentioned on Greys Anatomy that he has been working with the President. Thursday, he actually said he was meeting him. In Shondaland world , the President is named Fitzgerald Grant. I thought since I love both Patrick Dempsey and Tony Goldwyn, this just was inviting a stand alone. Both men have had women that they are desperately in love with, still married to another woman while they were in love with the one, and with their love of Scotch, it was just too good to pass up. As usual, these characters are the property of Shondaland Productions and ABC Studios….
Derek looked quite handsome. It was such a departure from the navy blue scrubs that he usually wore. He had only wore this kind of suit for a few occasions, fund raisers for the hospital, weddings of his friends, and his short tenure as Chief of Surgery. He had picked out the navy blue suit , crisp white shirt, and blue tie for the trip. It would be quite an honor for him as a representative of Grey Sloan to be meeting with the President of the United States. This would be such good press for their hospital especially after the whole Harper Avery episode with Cristina Yang.
He approached the gate after his cab left him off at the back gate of the White House. He just stood in awe of how far his career had already taken him. A young man sat with a smiling face at the gate as he walked up to the small house. He was wearing a blue shirt and nibbling on a cupcake .
"Dr Shepherd, here to meet with the President." He announced.
The young man looked down his list and nodded. "Here it is. " He then reached around and handed him a card on a lanyard with a letter A on it. "Have this with you at all times." The young man said with a smile. Derek picked up the card and stared at it. He took out his phone and sent a selfie to Meredith and the kids with his special pass. He continued to walk down the long circular driveway till he reached the large, glass doors. Pulling them, he could just feel the history unfolding all around him. Other than science, he had always loved history class and considered it as a minor for his undergrad. He just stopped and looked at the portraits on the wall. His reverie was interrupted by the voice of another man.
" Dr. Derek Shepherd? " the rather distinguished older man said as he extended his hand . Derek noticed that a simple gold band was on his hand. "President Grant is looking forward to meeting you." He said as he took off down the hall. Derek thought this was interesting if this man wasn't so stylish, didn't have the messed up hair, and wore baggy clothes, he would be a doppelganger for his own father in law, Thatcher Grey. The man seemed very focus and intent on reaching the Oval Office and Derek hoped that he hadn't been too inconvenienced for just a White House visitor. He pulled open the door and saw that the President obviously wasn't alone.
"Melly, I don't care. Do whatever you damn well please . You usually do anyway." The man behind the desk rose up and slammed down the receiver on the cradle He took his hand and massaged his temple. He then noticed that his afternoon appointment had arrived. He was rather embarrassed that someone had heard his phone conversation.
Derek had seen pictures of the President , on television and in the papers. When he stood up, Derek saw that he seemed to be rather tall, almost athletic like. It was obvious that he was dressed in only designer suits that were tailored to him. He seemed like a different kind of guy though, almost someone he could share a beer with or something like that . He also saw a few pictures on his desk. One was of course was of his family, three kids, one of them was a little baby boy. Derek could certainly indentify with that since the birth of Bailey. His other kids were older. He also noticed that the picture of his wife and himself , it just seemed like both of their smiles were fake and forced. There was one more picture on his desk of himself with a black woman who was impeccably dressed and also smiling. Derek wondered who was this woman.
"Dr Shepherd," the President said as he extended his hand. "It's so great to finally meet you. I have long been an admirer of your work and that is why I wanted you on board for this. " he had the most inviting smile and Derek returned the handshake.
"Thank you, President Grant. This is quite an honor." Derek shook the hand with a strong hand.
"Please, this is an informal meeting, just call me Fitz."Fitz said modestly. Derek grinned , it was quite an honor to get to call the President by his first name. "Let's just have a drink and talk a little. Do you like Scotch.?" The President walked toward the Baccarat decanter and poured two glasses of the brown liquid.
"200 years old. I just had a feeling that you were a man who knew how to appreciate a good Scotch. Plus I need a drink after talking with my wife." Fitz handed him the glass and Derek accepted it.
"I totally understand." Derek agreed. "To the woman in our life."
Fitz lifted his glass to that toast. He then took a sip and had a thoughtful look on his face. He did want to drink that toast except the woman he wanted was no where to be found. He had enlisted every source at his disposal, he had been at her apartment, he had even asked for the help of "her family" They had all promised to let him know when they heard something. But to no avail, nothing.
"How long have you been married?" Fitz asked with curiosity while he took another sip.
"About five or six years, this was my second marriage." Derek answered.
"I feel like mine has been an eternity , twenty years." Fitz said stoically.
"Meredith is the love of my life." Derek glowed as he said that. Fitz just seemed like his eyes were going to start watering at the mention of this man and the love of his life. He had blown it with Olivia, he had been acting like a jackass and wished he could take it all back. "I felt like it was never going to happen, so many obstacles but finally fate saw us through. We have been happily married with two beautiful children." Derek took out his phone and started to show the President pictures of Meredith, his precious little angel , Zola, and his son , Bailey.
Taking another drink, Fitz started to sniffle a little bit.
It dawned on Derek what he had done. The President had just lost his son and here he was bragging about his children. He put his hand on Fitz's shoulder.
" I am so sorry, Sir. I had forgotten about…" Derek started to talk.
"It has been hard. I miss him every day." He said as he slowly bowed his head. "I never really got a chance to know him that well. Between campaigning , running the Governorship , and then getting elected, I didn't get to spent that much time with him. " Now Fitz was being philosophical," No matter what Doctor Shepherd, get to spend some time with your son. Don't have a lifetime of regrets."
I am going to leave this up to you readers. I f you want me to continue , let me know. If not then know it is not a long term story. I will only write a few more chapters. Next chapter, Derek tells the story of his little girl, Zola and Fitz tells him about this special woman.