Holding Onto Hope
Ch.1
Cristina literally couldn't believe what had happened. Shock was apparent on her face; on the face on all of the other interns. She felt trapped in Izzy's arms. Trapped in general. She felt lost. As Cristina glanced at the tears on George's face, the worry in Alex's eyes, and felt the despair of Izzy, Cristina gave Izzy a little squeeze before releasing her.
The interns stood by the door. Minutes seemed like hours, an eternity. Addison came out of the room, and the interns gathered by her. Addison looked weary, drained, exhausted. Cristina realized with gratitude how caring Addison actually was. She spoke softly. "You guys should prepare for the worst."
George let out a sob, while Cristina shook her head. It looked like Izzy was in shock now. Alex was in a rare loss for words.
"I can't accept that," Cristina stated, slowly returning to her normal self.
"Cristina," Addison said firmly. "I know that she's your best friend, but I'm telling you. It'll be a lot easier if you prepare for what might happen."
"I want to go in." Cristina stated. She was starting to get more and more worked up. "She's said before that I'm her power of attorney. I get to decide. I want to see her. You can check with Bailey if you want."
Addison gave in. Cristina glanced at the other interns, gaining support from each one, as she followed Addison. Derek didn't look at her, he was still burying his face in his hands.
The room was full of chaos, and all Cristina heard was the flatline of the monitor. She drew in a deep breath. Bailey glanced at her. "What are you doing in here, Yang?"
"I'm her power of attorney." Cristina said weakly, willing her voice not to crack.
Bailey's voice was soft, but firm, as she kept pushing on Meredith's chest, desperately trying to revive her intern. "You decide, Cristina. What are we going to do next?"
The eyes of all the Attending were on her. The shock on Addison's face, Burke's tight face, trying to concentrate, the tears in the Chief's eyes. Miranda Bailey's persistence.
"Try again. Do anything. Just try. There will be no time of death called in this room. She can survive this. Izzy was reading a case just like this."
"Try again people," Bailey ordered. She didn't want to give up on her, either.
It took four tries, but finally the monitor started to beep again. Cristina felt dangerously close to tears, and she heard the Attendings breathe a sigh of relief, at the mere fact that she was alive.
"Her vitals are extremely low," Burke said. "It looks like she's in a coma. She's alive though; at least she's alive."
Cristina couldn't bear to look at him. She was still enraged that he didn't understand that Meredith was her "person." It was just another thing that separated them.
Addison and Burke left to tell Derek, and the Chief went to tell Ellis, in the hopes of making her lucid again to tell her the good news. Cristina lingered in the room a moment longer, with Bailey.
"How bad is it?" Cristina ventured.
"Could be days, could be weeks. I couldn't tell you, Yang. You know as much as I do, really."
Cristina nodded.
"We'll move her to the clinic now. It's quiet and not many people have come yet. Tell the other interns and you can see her in a couple of hours. All of you can take a few hours off." Bailey left the room with Cristina, and as she passed by the other interns, told them the news.
Izzy smiled so much her face seemed like it was permently stuck. George and Alex let out this huge sigh of relief, and Bailey smiled.
"Dr. Bailey?" George asked, running after her.
"What is it, O'Mally?" Bailey asked.
"I found the boy. He's in surgery right now."
"Good work, George. I'm proud of you." George smiled.
"But don't ever lie to a patient again, you got that?" Nazi Bailey suddenly came out.
"Yes, Ma'am." George said, pretending to be scared.
"Go visit with your friends, George." Bailey headed to the hall, desperate to take half an hour and curl up on a spare cot.