Losing One of Our Own

Disclaimer: I do not own Grey's Anatomy.

Characters: Doctors Meredith Grey, Derek Shepherd, George O'Malley, Cristina Yang, Isobel "Izzie" Stevens, Alex Karev, Preston Burke, Miranda Bailey, and Richard Webber

Summary: Being a doctor is hard enough on its own. Everyday, there are lives to be saved, and sadly, there are lives that are lost. However, what happens when you lose one of your own?

Note: All chapters will be named after a song, just like in the 1st season of Grey's Anatomy.

"Death is more universal than life; everyone dies but not everyone lives." –A. Sachs

Chapter 1: Wake Me Up When September Ends

"Just know, boys, all of you, be nice to girls, because you never know the consequences your actions may have. A girl is a precious, delicate thing, with a heart big enough to fill the sky. All it takes is a few small words or actions to crush it all or make it soar. There are few boys in this world who are able to make girls hearts soar, and these are the ones who are worth it. The ones we all want to end up with, but have to go through a few scumbags to get to. The one we dream about, the one we imagine ourselves marrying and growing old with. These are the boys who know how to be gentle, sweet, romantic, and perfect despite any flaws, and the ones that we search for years for because they're the only ones who are worth it."

"Meredith? Oi Meredith!" George O'Malley knocked louder, hoping that his roommate would come out of the bathroom. If she didn't come out of the bathroom soon, they'd all be late for work. And being late as an intern at Seattle Grace Hospital was never good.

"I'm almost done!" Meredith's voice called back, sounding a little annoyed. George sighed; living with two girls was not easy. But it was a hell of a lot better than living with his mom.

"George, is that you?" A quiet, drowsy voice echoed down the hall. He turned around to find his other roommate, Isobel "Izzie" Stevens, leaning against the doorframe. Her blonde hair was pulled up messily into a ponytail, but she remained in her pajamas, as per usual these days.

"Yeah, it's me," George replied quietly, walking over to greet her. For the last four months, Izzie had stayed behind at the house while George and Meredith went to work. The beautiful "Dr. Model" had quit the internship after her fiancé, Denny Duquette, an ex-patient in need of a heart transplant, died the night of prom. She admitted to Dr. Richard Webber, the chief of surgery, that she cut his LVAD wires in hopes that Denny would receive the heart, and then quit. Since that fateful night, Izzie hadn't put one foot inside the hospital.

"You okay?" George asked. He was rather worried about Izzie. She stayed at home all day, with no job and in his opinion, no life. She often reassured her roommates that she was looking in the job ads for something else to do, but George had a suspicious feeling that she wasn't. One time, when he came home from an early shift, he found Izzie sleeping in her room, tissues strewn all over the ground, an empty bottle of beer in her hand, and not a newspaper in sight.

"I'm fine," Izzie replied, waving impatiently for George to go get ready for work. Meredith had stepped outside of the bathroom, brushing back her hair.

"Okay then." George shrugged, quickly heading into the bathroom. Meredith rolled her eyes at the sight of her impulsive roommate, but turned her attention to the heartbroken roommate instead.

"Izzie, shouldn't you be dressed?" Meredith inquired.

The former intern frowned. "Why?"

"Did you forget? I told you that Bailey needs you down at the hospital today to fill out some forms, you know, for your…internship." She hesitated, hoping that Izzie wouldn't have another crying spell like she had last Monday.

Izzie stared blankly at Meredith. "Oh." Then she began to nod. "Oh, okay. I'll just…" She turned back around, hesitantly. "I'll just get dressed then."

Meredith sighed heavily. It was going to be another long day.

Author's Notes: The first chapter's title is named after the song, "Wake Me Up When September Ends" by Green Day. That quote at the beginning of the chapter is by a dear friend of mine, KT.