Disclaimer: I don't own Grey's Anatomy or Sleepless in Seattle. If I did, I'd be a very happy woman.
This fic was based on the Nora Ephron's movie Sleepless in Seattle. The storyline is similar to the film, although I had to alter some facts. Since it's AU, it doesn't fit in any season per se, but I'd say it happens between seasons 3 and 4. Hope you guys enjoy it. :)
A/N: Merry Christmas guys! After gaining some courage I finally published one story. Sleepless in Seattle is one my favorites movies ever and it's a pity they don't make films like these anymore. I dedicate this fic to my favorite director, Norah Ephron, whose talent and wit always manage to bring a smile and laughter into my life.
A/N2: I tried to correct as many errors as possible, but since I don't have a Beta reader any grammar or spelling mistakes (except for those I took from the movie's dialogue) are entirely my fault. Sorry in advance!
A/N3: I tried to adapt the movie's dialogue to the story and characters as much as possible. Hope I did a good job. oh, and this chapter is just from Derek's POV. The words in italic represents the phone-in show dialogue.
Destiny Takes A Hand
Chapter One: Izzie's phone call
Derek Shepherd changed the radio station in his car, looking for something to distract him. Between tips for better skin and yet another Christmas carol, it looked like he'd have to settle for the silence. Giving one last shot, he changed stations and tried listening for a bit.
'Welcome to "You and Your Emotions", I'm Doctor Marcia Fieldstone broadcasting live from Chicago. Tonight we'll talk about wishes. What's your wish this Christmas?'
'My wish is to turn off the radio' said Derek humourlessly, reaching for the button but something in the nervousness of the voice made him stop.
'We have someone on the line from Seattle. Seattle, go ahead.'
'This is Izzie …' and a beep followed.
'No last names, Izzie. So what's your wish?'
'My friend needs to enter in a new relationship.'
'You don't like the one your friend has?'
'She doesn't have one. She never did the relationship thing before, but last year she met this guy, Finn, and even though I knew she wasn't head over heels with the guy, she gave it a shot and they were living together and everything. That is, until she found him in their bed with one of our roommates. It was bad, but ever since a close friend of ours passed, everything went downhill. I've been sad, but she's worse.'
'Have you talked to about it?'
'Yes. No. It's complicated. You see she's an avoider. Everything bad that happens to her she goes to Cristina, her person, and they drown themselves in tequila and never talk about it again.'
'Izzie, is your friend home? Is she busy?'
'No, she's in her room with Cristina' sighed Izzie 'They're yet again in their private world, dancing and drinking tequila.'
'Can't you ask her to talk to me?'
'Don't do it. You're in for trouble' Derek said along.
'No, she'd kill me and ask Cristina to help hide my body.'
'She won't be angry when she hears how concerned you are about him'.
'Wanna bet? If she kicks me out, I'm never going to listen to your show again'. Both Marcia Fieldstone and Shepherd laughed at her desperation. Suddenly the silence was replaced by loud indie rock music in the background.
'Mer, there's someone on the phone for you' the music was muffled with the shutting of a door.
'Her name is Meredith' added Izzie.
'If you've just tuned in, tonight's topic is wishes and dreams. We have a listener from Seattle. Meredith, this is Dr. Fieldstone on Network America.'
'What are you selling? Micro-hibachis or knives?'
'Neither. I want to help. Your friend asked me for advice. She wants to find you a new boyfriend.'
'Who is this?'
'Dr. Fieldstone of Network America. You are on the air.'
'Seriously? You called a freaking radio station? Izzie!' Derek felt sympathy to the distress in the woman's voice.
'Meredith, are you there?'
'Yes' huffed the annoyed Seattleite.
'You mourn your friend's death and the betrayal of your previous partner. You friend is worried about you.'
'Oh my God! You told her about Finn too? Get out here. I won't go through this crap alone' hissed the girl on the line.
'It's hard for her to talk to you about it.'
'Maybe it's because I don't to talk about it. Period.'
'If we talk about, maybe you will feel better.'
'Talk to her, Mer, she's a doctor.' Pleaded Izzie's voice.
'Like that would impress me whatsoever. Besides, her first name could be Doctor.'
'Please' said the friend in the smallest voice, making Derek smile.
'Meredith, it's her Christmas wish'.
A sigh was heard 'Okay'.
'Good. I know this is difficult. When did your friend die?'
'About 4 months ago'.
'And he was close to you, right?'
'I don't have any family Marcia...or Dr Fieldstone?'
'Dr Marcia'
'Dr Marcia?!' repeated Derek with disdain.
'Anyway, like I was saying, I don't have any family, you know, blood related. But I do have a family, one that I chose and even though sometimes I want to kill them, they're it for me. Alex was a part of it and he was so similar to me that I can't bear the thought of talking about him knowing he's not here anymore'.
'What do you mean, similar to you?'
'Well for once, Alex didn't do relationships, so we related in that area pretty well, sleeping with inappropriate people and all. Besides, he didn't have any family left, at least none that he would he speak with. He also knew what was like to take as much crap as life could give.'
'I see. Tell me, what do you miss most about him?'
'The way he was, mostly with me and Izzie. I mean, to anyone else he was that rude bastard that didn't give a crap about anyone, that everyone hated to work with or talk to. But when he cared, he was a completely different guy. He'd order pizza and watch a movie with you when you were feeling down or go and punch the boyfriend who cheated on you.' Said Meredith with a tearful laugh.
'I'm pleased you are opening up, Meredith, and I suggest you talk about it with Izzie. She obviously needs to have this conversation with you.'
'I`ll try'.
'Excellent. Now, about that ex-boyfriend of yours. I know this must be a touchy topic, but he was your first serious relationship, right?'
'Yeah, unfortunately.'
'And did you have any relationships since?'
'No'
'Why not?'
'Dr Marcia, I don't want to be rude…'
'I don't to pry…'
'Sure you do.' said Derek at the same time as Meredith, smiling at coincidence.
'Go on, Meredith. I'm listening.'
'I had a pretty rough time at first, but I'm dealing with it.'
'By shutting yourself from the world and drinking tequila with your best friend?'
'Look, I'm dark and twisted. Drinking and not saying anything with Cristina is my way of dealing'
'Even so, by doing it, you're excluding others that care about you and want to help you with it.'
'I know Izzie sometimes feels excluded and has the impression that I care more about Cristina than her, but that's not true. It's just that I don't like to talk things like she does and it doesn't mean I won't be there when she needs me. Izzie and will get along fine, as soon as I break her radio.'
Dr Fieldstone chuckled. 'I'm sure you're a wonderful friend. You can tell a lot from a person's voice'.
'Yes you can' the sarcasm in the blonde clear as crystal.
'But Izzie still feels that you're under a cloud. Are you sleeping at night?'
'She doesn't sleep at all' Izzie replied for her friend.
'How do you know that?' inquired Meredith.
'I live here, Mer'.
'Look, despite not being in love with him, I cared about Finn. I took our relationship serious, as serious as could get. It was the comfort and stability he could provide that draw me to him in the first place. He was like the guy I should fall in love with. I know that if I were truly, madly in love with him, I'd be way more frustrated than I`m now. But seriously, that doesn't change the fact that he cheated on me and that's something unforgivable.'
'I understand your deception, but have you tried looking for someone new?'
'To be honest, no and I don't intend to. I made a promise to myself that unless I'm crazy about someone I won't be in a relationship, ever. And by crazy I mean to love someone in a really, really big pretend to like his taste in music, let him eat the last piece of cheesecake, hold a radio over my head outside his window, unfortunate way that would make me hate him, love him.'
'Maybe you need to have that kind of love, too.'
'Yes' said Derek unconsciously.
'We'll resume after these messages. Meredith and Izzie, don't go away. I'm talking to Sleepless in Seattle and we'll be back with listener response.'
Derek pulled over an old-fashioned diner wanting to somehow break the spell of his radio reverie. He walked to the counter to order some coffee and took notice of two truck drivers at the booths, practically glued to a small radio a waitress was also listening attentively.
'I bet she's tall and leggy with a nice ass' said the younger man.
'And I bet she hasn't shaved her legs in weeks.' Added the other trucker.
'Oh, shut up, Larry! Just because a girl isn't with someone doesn't mean she doesn't take care of her appearance.' Snapped the waitress, then she turned to Derek 'What will it be?'
'Coffee, please. Black, to go'.
'Maybe I'll just go up to Seattle. Show her how it feels to be with a real man.'
'You can go there if you want to, Doug, but don't open her mirror cabinet in the bathroom. They have hundreds of facial lotions with the weirdest smells. Trust me, don't go there.' Larry smiled at Derek, as if looking for support.
Dr Marcia Fieldstone's voice came back on the radio and the banter stopped.
'We'll take a call before we talk to Sleepless. Go ahead, Tennessee.'
A deep southern voice appeared 'Yes, I would like to know where I could get this woman's address?'
'Pal, get in line' snorted Doug.
Feeling somewhat annoyed with the conversation, Derek paid for his coffee and headed to his car, turning the radio back on.
'… if I could ask you a question.'
'Go ahead.'
'People usually get to fall in love at least once in life. Do you think you could love someone as much as you described earlier?'
'Well, that's hard to imagine'
'Then what are going to do?'
'Just get out of bed every morning and breathe in and out all day, until I don't have to remind myself to do it anymore.'
'For you, what can make a relationship that special?'
'How long is your program? My mom fell in love like this and once I asked her the same question. She said it's like a million little things and when you added them up, it means these two people are meant to each other. She knew it, from the first time she touched him. It was like coming home, only to a home she'd never known. She was just shaking his hand, introducing herself and she knew it. It was like…magic'.
'Magic' said Derek at the same time.
'It's time to wrap it up. I'm Dr. Marcia Fieldstone. To all my listeners, a magical and Merry Christmas. And Sleepless in Seattle, call and tell us how it's going.'
'You can count on it' said Meredith before the line went dead.
Derek turned off the radio and reflected on what he heard. He didn't know why, but there was something in that woman's voice, the slight lisp, the way she rambled on that just made his heart skipped a little. He knew it was crazy. She could be crazy, sick or just plain ugly, but something in the back of his mind told him otherwise, that she was just as …perfect as he imagined her being. The ringing of his phone brought him out of his daydream. Seeing his wife's name on the screen, Derek pushed his thoughts of Seattle and the intriguing Meredith out of his mind before answering it.
A/N4: So, what did you guys think? Please review, I'd love to hear your thoughts.
