Summary: George leaves Seattle Grace for Mercy West at the end of Season 3. Now that the two hospitals are merging, he's back, but things have changed. He's changed and SGH has changed. Owentina/Merder/Calzone/AlexIz/MarkLex.

PROLOGUE

MAY 2007

"I don't understand this." Bailey stated stiffly as she stood in the doorway of the intern locker room and watched as one of her very own babies, George O'Malley packed up his locker. "Seattle Grace is one of the top teaching hospitals in the nation. Any aspiring surgical intern would kill for this spot and you are just throwing it away. Do you know how much effort I put into you? How much effort this hospital has put into you? You were the weakest link, O'Malley, but now, you are a surgeon. You are throwing all that away. You are throwing away everything for Mercy West?" Bailey asked in disbelief. "Mercy West can't teach you the things we can." Bailey watched as George froze in his place and let his shoulder droop.

"Right now I just need to do what is best for me, Dr. Bailey." George murmured. "I'm in the middle of a divorce, and Callie won't even look at me. I don't blame her." George sighed, "Izzie-" George broke off as he shook his head and continued throwing his stuff in his backpack, "The rest of them are ready to continue. I just need a new start. I need to get away from all of this." George replied honestly as he turned around and face Dr. Bailey, throwing his backpack over his shoulder. "Please don't tell the others. Just tell them I need space." George told her, "I am going to straight to Meredith's to pack."

"You're missing the wedding?" Bailey asked referring to Cristina and Burke's wedding.

George nodded, "I will have more time to pack since everyone will be there."

"If that's what you really want, O'Malley, I wish you the very best." Bailey nodded softly before turning and exiting the doorway. George walked over to where she once stood and looked back into the intern locker room thinking that, that was the last he would see of it.

October 2009

"Can you believe this crap?" Meredith muttered as the four friends and some of their interns sat in Meredith's hospital room after her transplant surgery.

"What are you worried about? You had a clinical trial, you are all cardio-badass, and you have somehow won Bailey's heart. I, however, haven't practiced medicine in months, and I have cancer eyes." Izzie frowned as she bit into her apple hungrily, "I will be first to go."

"Screw the Mercy West residents." Alex told them smugly, "We'll kick their asses. They're all pansies."

"They are probably just as good as us." Cristina scoffed, "I bet they have an amazing cardio attending that actually teaches them, too." Cristina mumbled as she folded her arms angrily.

"I heard they were cutting a lot more of the interns out," Steve sighed, "I can't afford to lose my job. We have a baby on the way."

"So when are they coming?" Meredith asked curiously, not really aware of the entire situation since she was bed-ridden for the next month or so.

"Tomorrow." Izzie replied quickly, "I am going to get some chart work done before my next surgery. I'll see you later," Izzie waved as she got up from her chair and kissed Alex on the cheek. As Izzie walked out the door, she passed Callie walking through the door.

"Hey Callie." Izzie smiled.

"Stevens," Callie smiled back as she continued into the room. The two of them had managed to move past their differences and mend a certain friendship between the two. Also, Izzie had taken a liking to Arizona's specialty before she was diagnosed with cancer, so Arizona took the part as a mediator for the two.

"I need a resident on my case. Any takers?" Callie asked.

"Me!" All the hands raised up, including Meredith's.

Callie rolled her eyes at Meredith, "You wish. Cristina," Callie said motioning for Cristina to follow her.

"Yes!" Cristina jumped out of the chair in excitement and followed Callie out the door.

"Hey," Callie smiled as she and Cristina passed her girlfriend in the hallway.

"Hey, how's your day going so far?" Arizona asked as she gave a small smile to Cristina.

"Alright. This whole merger is really killing some people. The residents are getting desperate." Callie joked motioning over to Cristina.

"Let me guess, she volunteered to be on your service." Arizona laughed in amusement.

"Yup." Callie nodded.

"Hey, I have to guard my place here." Cristina told them forcefully.

"You four don't have to worry. You guys are the brightest second-year residents I have seen so far. It's those Mercy West residents who need to worry." Arizona told Cristina encouragingly before smiling at Callie and walking off toward the PED wing.

"Do you think she can up that in writing and give it to the Chief?" Cristina asked Callie seriously.

"Tomorrow's the big day," Meredith whispered when Derek walked into her room later that evening. "Everyone will be fighting for the best surgeries, showing all their talent and skill. I will be stuck in bed for the next month. If anyone is going to be fired, it's me."

"The chief knows your situation, Meredith. You are not going to be fired. None of you are," Derek told her softly as he climbed into the hospital bed next to her.

"Everything is going to change now, isn't it?" Meredith asked.

"Things will change," Derek nodded, "But give it time. Things will get better. The Mercy West interns might surprise you and you may even grow to like them."

"I highly doubt it," Meredith mumbled.

TBC...