Hey guys, this is my first GA fic, and the first piece I have written in quite a few years. It is a Meredith/Mark AU story.
Summary: AU story. Meredith is appointed Chief at Seattle Grace where she reunites with her 'family' and has to face the challenges brought on by a troubled past. MerMark and Addison/Derek.
Disclaimer: Recognised characters, places, events and other things belong to their respective owners.
The entire surgical staff of Seattle Grace Mercy West gathered in the auditorium, as they anxiously waited for the announcement of their new Chief of Surgery. Richard Weber was finally retiring after the longest tenure as Chief ever at SGMW. The only thing they knew was that he was bringing in a replacement from the outside. Upon the discovery of that most of the department heads were a little resentful, that they didn't even have a chance to apply for the position. Most notably Derek Shepherd the Head of Neurosurgery and Owen Hunt, the current Head of Trauma. The others weren't really interested in the position as they preferred to cut rather than tend to paperwork.
"Do you know who they chose Shepherd?" Orthopaedic surgeon, Callie Torres asked.
"What makes you think I would know? Bailey doesn't even know." Shepherd replied.
At that remark, everyone looked over to Miranda Bailey who was a general surgeon. She had developed a reputation as the 'Nazi' as she knew everything about the hospital, as well as having the ability to get the staff above her to do what she wanted. She was also Weber's favourite student.
"I do not know anything. I only know it's an outsider like you people." Bailey said with annoyance.
"Well do you at least know who they are replacing Altman with?" Mark Sloan asked. "We have a new Chief and a new Head of Cardio coming. Hopefully one of them will be a hot chick."
"Is that all you think about Sloan?" Arizona Robbins chuckled. She was one of the best paediatric surgeons to ever pass through Seattle Grace.
"Addison you're being awfully quiet. What do you know?" Mark responded as he deflected Arizona's question. She was the wife of his best friend Derek Shepherd.
Looking up at Mark wearily, Addison knew they would get the answer out of her, especially if all of them decided to gang up on her. She hadn't even been allowed to tell Derek, under strict instructions from Richard. "All I know is that Richard managed to get Carter Worthington to replace Teddy," Addison said. She only decided to tell them part of what she knew, as she knew Richard's replacement would mean Mark's life would be changed dramatically and not necessarily for the better.
"Are you serious?" Derek asked. He looked over to his best friend to see him pale slightly. As he knew the history between Carter and Mark, he could only assume why Addison didn't tell him. She didn't want him to be caught in the middle of his two best friends. The three of them were the best of friends during college and residency before they split up for fellowships. Some would say that they were even closer than blood brothers until Mark had betrayed Carter in one of the worst ways possible.
Addison only nodded as she kept her gaze on Mark.
"Seriously? You mean Harper Avery winning Carter Worthington, the cardio god?" Callie butted in, ignoring the tension between the three surgeons from New York.
"Yeah," Derek sighed. "All of us did residency together in New York, then he went to Stanford for his fellowship. I can't believe he didn't tell me he was coming." While Carter and Mark had an enormously strained relationship, Derek was still on good terms with him and they talked frequently.
"Things are definitely about to get more interesting here." Addison stated.
"Why's that?" Owen asked. While not usually into the gossip of Seattle Grace he couldn't help but notice the tension between his friends.
"It's my fault." Mark said solemnly.
"Of course it's your fault Sloan. It's always your fault," Bailey said. "You're nasty."
"Miranda, not now," Addison harshly whispered. While she and Derek knew everything that happened before the three of them came to Seattle the other surgeons of Seattle Grace had no idea about Mark's past.
Richard Weber took his place at the podium, effectively silencing the room. "I know all of you want to know who is replacing me as Chief of Surgery, and I know some of you did not appreciate the fact that I didn't give you guys a chance." Richard began, as he looked knowingly towards Derek and Owen. "I expect you all to show them why Seattle Grace is one of the best teaching hospitals in the country, and to support them. My replacement joins us from Mayo Clinic as their former Head of Neurosurgery. She is a double board certified neurosurgeon and general surgeon. Winner of two Harper Avery awards for her clinical trials and published many times. She is also currently the number one ranked neurosurgeon in the country and third in the world."
After listening to the Chief's description of his replacement Derek only further understood why Addison hadn't told him who Richard had picked. Life was definitely going to get a lot more interesting here at Seattle Grace. "Is he talking about, who I think he is?" Derek whispered quietly to Addison.
"Yes. Now be quiet." Addison answered. As she looked over at Mark once again she noticed how he seemed to have paled even more since she first mentioned Carter Worthington.
"I can't believe someone better than Shepherd is going to work here," Callie whispered to her wife Arizona.
Arizona quietly laughed as she focussed once again on the Chief.
"I am proud to announce that my replacement is Dr Meredith Grey." Richard continued.
At his announcement, the room broke out into excited whispers about the opportunity to work with one of the best surgeons in the country. Meredith Grey was a surgical genius in both her fields, and it seemed she would also be the youngest Chief of Surgery ever in the United States at only 32. The doors suddenly opened and in walked a petite woman with honey blonde hair. Her height seemed to be elevated by her six inch heels, and the closely fitted suit she was wearing looked like it cost more than most of the surgical department's weekly salary. Walking towards the front of the auditorium, Meredith Grey captured the attention of the entire staff.
"She even dresses like you Addi," Arizona stated. At that the entire group of surgeons laughed except for Mark. His eyes were fixed on Meredith Grey.
"Is that really Meredith?" Mark asked no one in particular.
As Meredith took Richard's spot at the podium she glanced around the auditorium and locked eyes with Mark for a brief second, as she began her speech. "I'm sure many of you do not like the fact that I have come here as an outsider to be your new Chief. While I understand that and do not expect all of you to like me, I do however expect your respect and professional courtesy. I will also be observing the senior attendings to get a feel of how they work and how they teach before implementing changes to improve this hospital. Interns and residents are here to learn so I expect them to be taught. Now, I am also sure that you all want to know who the new Head of Cardiothoracic surgery will be. Dr Carter Worthington has agreed to join us from UCLA. I hope that all of you will take the opportunity to learn from him even if cardio is not your specialty. Everyone is dismissed except the senior attendings."
At that the auditorium was emptied in a hurry, and only those asked to stay had remained behind. Meredith made her way down to the front of the room as she observed the department heads in front of her. She smiled briefly at Derek and Addison, glared at Mark before noticing the three others in the room.
"Where is that fool?" Meredith asked no one in particular. She had heard the chuckles of the surgeons in front of her before she realised she had said that out loud.
Addison couldn't help but run up and hug Meredith as she hadn't seen her best friend in quite some time. "I can't believe you are here."
"How does she run in those things?" Callie asked the room, as she referred to the heels Addison was wearing.
"Apparently it's a skill. All my sisters and those two seem to be able to run everywhere in those things. How they haven't suffered from a serious injury before is amazing. I guess it's a habit they picked up in Manhattan." Derek said with a laugh.
"Are you talking about Carter?" Addison asked Meredith, asking about the fool Meredith had mentioned.
"Yes, he was supposed to be here before me." Meredith said annoyed. As she realised she was only talking to Addison she turned around and addressed the group before her. "I'm sorry about Dr Worthington, but he seems to have a habit of running late. Hopefully that will change once he realises who his boss is." Meredith said with a smirk.
Derek and Addison just laughed at Meredith's remark about Carter, having worked with her in the past. The other surgeons looked on clueless. Just as Meredith was about to begin again, they heard the doors opening and in walked a rather tall, lean but muscular blonde man, also seemingly overdressed for a hospital.
"There you are," Meredith berated him.
"Sorry Chief," Carter said sarcastically, as he took a seat with the others.
"Now that everyone is here, I will like to arrange a schedule for my observations over the next week or so. So if you could all just give the best times to my assistant I'm sure we can work something out for everyone. That is all."
With that, everyone left except for Derek, Addison, Mark and Carter. Mark had yet to say anything to anyone but he had zoned out as soon as he heard Meredith's name. Derek got up to hug Meredith as he was less resentful that he had been passed over. He knew that if anyone from the outside got the position he had strived so long for, he would prefer that it be Meredith. "I'm so glad you and Carter are here. Life at Seattle Grace just got a lot more interesting."
"Good. You know I like to keep people on edge." Meredith replied.
"You also like to torture those below you," Carter interjected.
"Just remember that you are one of those people now Carter." Meredith said with a smirk, and the group before her all shook in mock fear.
"Mer doesn't just torture people, she eats them up then spits them back out." Addison said.
"Just because I do not baby them like you and Derek, does not mean I am horrible." Meredith said. "I expect the best from everyone." At that comment both the Shepherd's pagers went off. "Go. Save lives."
They both looked up at Meredith apologetically and left, even though they knew that she would prefer them to be saving lives then in here catching up.
Meredith left the room leaving Mark and Carter alone for the first time in many years. Mark got up to go after Meredith but found Carter in his way.
"You do not get to go after her. The five of us know what you did to her and you do not get to chase her," Carter growled. "We were brothers, so I trusted you not to hurt her. You betrayed her in the worst way possible so you do not get to talk to her. You wait till she comes to you, if she comes to you at all. I trusted you with my sister and you betrayed that trust. You didn't just betray her, you betrayed me too." With that Carter left a dejected Mark alone.
Mark sighed as the truth of what Carter said hit him. He hadn't been in contact with either Meredith or Carter in many years, and he only heard about them in medical journals or a little from what Addison and Derek would tell him. He was screwed. One mistake had cost him the best thing that had ever happened to him, as well as one of his brothers.
A/N: Anything medically related in this story has only been researched online at a very basic level, if at all. I am not a medical expert or professional, so any mistakes or unrealistic occurrences should just be left under creative license.
Reviews are appreciated in any form.