I am so glad you are all enjoying the story so far, I know how AU the plot is but the fact it has caught so much attention is amazing thank you all so so so much!
So I have been sitting planning where this story is going to go with my co-writer for ages and we have so many possible outcomes so right now, the story could go in any direction- I hope it keeps you all on your toes ;)
On with the chapter, don't forget to drop me a review!
3 weeks later
Bailey looked up at the empty gallery, only one person sitting on the back seats, her head buried in a notepad, a book open beside her. She looked to Richard who was working on the patient opposite her, whispering to get his attention.
"Does she know it's 2am and she is the only resident actually working right now?"
"Yes, she wanted to clock as many hours before her last surgery next week" Bailey looked up again, the woman still intrigued in the words she was jotting down.
"I thought she was going to milk this, the fact she was having surgeries handed to her on a silver platter but she is always here. I underestimated her" Richard nodded knowingly, most of the surgeons feeling the same, but all of them had changed their opinions after a week of working with her.
"She is working for it, it's what makes me believe she will be an outstanding surgeon"
"Can you please send her home. The strain on her body cannot be good" She hinted, but Richard sighed shaking his head.
"I tried before I scrubbed in. She wanted to observe before doing her solo with me in the morning"
"You're letting her do a solo, won't people think that is favouritism?"
"Dr Hahn give her a chance to do a valve repair on a heart solo a few days ago. Today the three of us watched that patient leave the hospital in the best health possible. Dr Hahn proceeded to tell as many people as possible that Meredith was more than ready for a few solo surgeries. But she also allowed the other interns their chance at a solo surgery each giving them all more preparation. Meredith is not getting favourited by anyone but that does not mean she isn't excelling more than the others" Bailey smiled under her scrub mask, looking up to see Meredith gone, though her stuff was left up there. Not 5 minutes later she appeared in the OR, a scrub mask held up to her face.
"Sorry to bother you both, I was wondering if I could come and look up close at the technique you were using Dr Webber. The screen in the gallery was hurting my eyes and the book I am reading is not fully up to date with the technique" He rose his eyebrows up at Bailey in example, turning back to Meredith who was bouncing on her toes in excitement, clearly showing no signs of tiredness.
"Go and scrub in and I will teach you it first hand" She grinned, nodding and running through to the scrub room. She finished scrubbing in, joining the two at the table. They worked in silence, Bailey admiring the passion sparkling in Meredith's eyes.
"So, I have a surgery tomorrow afternoon with Dr Shepard which could give you the chance to work on this from start to finish if you like?" Bailey offered, knowing that she hadn't really scrubbed in on many Neuro surgeries since the whole situation got underway.
"No I would really appreciate that Dr Bailey thank you. Page me when you are about to go in and I will meet you at the OR" She smiled considerately, Bailey nodding.
"Is this right Dr Webber?" She asked, Richard observing with a smirk.
"That is perfect Dr Grey!" He exclaimed, Meredith jumping slightly. She nodded her thanks, taking off her gloves and suit, leaving back to the gallery.
"I think you scared her off" Bailey said, Richard sighing. He knew how much she hated attention and that was exactly what he was giving her. A few minutes later she was back in the gallery, working on the text book and notes again. When the surgery finished, they saw her going into an on-call room, probably getting some sleep before her surgery with Richard. The day went by smoothly, Meredith getting ready to scrub in with Derek and Bailey. Alex come up to her by the OR board, tapping her shoulder making her jump.
"I heard you were scrubbing in with him? Do you need me to take it?" He offered, Meredith smiling but shook her head.
"Bailey offered it to me to work on my technique, I took it up so it's on me. But if you could scrub in and observe I would really appreciate it" She grinned, him nodding, the pair heading to the scrub room of OR2. Meredith spotted Derek through the glass preparing the patient, Bailey staring at him with cold eyes while he was looking away.
"Look at the way she is looking at him. I am waiting for his head to suddenly explode" Alex laughed, Meredith's eyes tearing away to spot Rose standing in the corner of the room. Alex frowned when she never laughed, following her eye line to the slutty nurse they all hated.
"Okay now I really wish his head would explode" She just sighed, passing him her notebook and pen.
"When I tell you to, make notes okay? I need something to work on while I am off" He nodded, putting the book in his pocket. They entered the OR, Alex standing opposite Meredith who joined Bailey. The surgery went smoothly, Bailey watching over Meredith with pride. She looked up at the gallery which was occupied by Cristina, Izzie, George and Addison who were watching intently, more for the fact it was her first surgery in a while with the man who had broke her heart. She finished her work, her and Bailey swapping places. Bailey went to offer her an out but she spoke before she could get a word out.
"Dr Shepard, I was just wondering what size tube you were using to help with your efficiency" Derek looked up in awe, everyone seeing the smile through his scrub mask, but though it was aimed at Meredith her eyes were fixated on the TV screen with the open brain on.
"10mm Dr Grey, it is wide enough to stop any leakages escaping but thin enough to stop any vessels bursting" She nodded, looking to Alex who was noting it down.
"Thank you Dr Shepard"
"Would you like to assist me on an aneurism clip next Dr Grey, I haven't assigned a resident yet"
"That would be great thank you Dr Shepard" She smiled, but her attention was purely on the TV screen on not on him, everyone masking their proudness as they watched her.
"How the hell is she doing that? I can't even look at him most days" Addison said in awe, Izzie smiling.
"It's Meredith, she is being the bigger person. I think it's good, I might join them, be the one to take her notes" She said, Cristina rolling her eyes.
"I want to stab him with a scalpel" Addison laughed, them all standing and leaving as the surgery cleared up, Meredith grabbing her notebook off Alex to run to the next OR where the patient was being prepped. Izzie met her there, offering to take notes for her.
"Are you sure you don't want to assist. I know you have an eye for Neuro" She offered, but Izzie shook her head, taking the notebook.
"No it's fine, you are flying with your solo surgeries and I think it would be good to get one in on Neuro before you leave" She nodded along, scrubbing in.
"I know, I want one before the end of the week because Chief is only letting me on 3 more next week before kicking me out to observe"
"Does he know you are leaving yet?" She shrugged, not really paying attention to the subject of him most days, shocking everyone.
"I am telling most scrub nurses I am taking a year off to work on a general surgery base in New York so he may have heard it off Rose" The fact she was calling Rose by her name still sounded weird to most people, them all calling her and Derek by different names. Derek entered the scrub room, Meredith looking up smiling.
"Stevens, I didn't know you wanted to assist"
"No I don't. I am taking notes for Meredith in the back of the room. See you both in there" She smiled, leaving them alone in the scrub room.
"I heard you are going to New York for a year- is it true?" He asked, Meredith inwardly cringing.
"Yeah, I want to broaden my horizons. I mean I only have 5 years of residency before my boards and I want to make sure I make the right decision" It wasn't a lie, Meredith was looking into taking time to do programs around the country but for now nobody needed to know that. He just nodded, opening his mouth to speak but she was already in the OR by the time the words reached his mouth.
"I wish you wouldn't leave" The words fell on empty ears, his sigh heavy as he finished his scrub, joining Meredith with the patient.