Hey guys, thanks for the reviews. Also, happy belated birthday to j0k3. Here's your birthday present hun. Hope you like it. Zoe - a million thanks for the beta.
Ok, here's chapter 4. In this one Addison and Audrey have a conversation and Audrey thinks of a brilliant plan.
Disclaimer: These characters are property of Shonda Rhimes and ABC. In no way am I affiliated with them, nor do I make profit from the use of these characters other than a little fun. No copyright infringement intended.
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"Karev, have you come up with a diagnosis for Audrey yet?" Addison asked in her usual passive-aggressive way.
"No." Karev responded simply.
"Look, if you want off the gynye squad, this is not the way of doing so. You're off the case, but for the rest of Audrey's stay in this hospital you're not setting foot in my OR. Which means, you'll be stuck in the pit." Addison said.
Alex stood there dumbfounded. That meant no surgeries for God knew how long while all the others got to scrub in on cool surgeries.
"Dr. Shepherd, if I can come up with a diagnosis by lunchtime, will you reconsider?" Alex asked. He really didn't want to be pulled from the OR.
"No. I already have a diagnosis. I took the time to read her chart and medical history and I diagnosed. So for the rest of I don't know how long, you're stuck in the pit, because I have no use for you." Addison said with a satisfied smirk.
'She really is Satan' Alex thought.
"GO!" Addison ordered.
Miranda had been standing by when she heard Addison yelling at the intern. She shook her head and walked to the tall redhead.
"What did the fool do now?" Miranda asked.
"I asked for a diagnosis two days ago and he hasn't gotten one. I sent him to the pit for the rest of Audrey's stay here. If anybody else needs him, they can have him. I have Audrey to worry about." Addison told Miranda a bit absently.
"What's going on with that girl?" Miranda asked.
"Cervical cancer. And she's pregnant. Miranda, Audrey is like my daughter. I hate the summer and Audrey's birthday is in the summer. Her birthday was the only reason why I wanted the summer to come. It's ridiculous, but she always made the tense situations between Derek and me seem so simple. Like the answer had always been there and we're just too blind to see it. I can't lose my baby Miranda." Addison sniffed.
"Why is she so special to you?" Miranda asked.
"She was my first solo surgery patient. And she had such slim chances but she pulled through. Made me believe that I was good enough." Addison said with a weak smile.
Miranda's pager went off and they both stood up.
"Go see your baby, I'll make sure Karev stays in the pit. And Addison? If there's anything you need, let me know." Miranda squeezed her arm gently.
"Thank you." Addison whispered. She took a few minutes to calm down and to compose herself before she went to see Audrey.
When Addison walked into the room, she smiled at the sight. Izzie had stayed the night with Audrey and they both were sleeping. Addison stepped further into the room and rubbed Izzie's back.
"Go home and get some sleep, I'll stay with her." Addison whispered to Izzie.
"Hmm? Oh…Dr. Shepherd…I'm sorry…I just…" Izzie babbled.
"It's fine Izzie. Thank you for staying and watching over her. It means the world to me." Addison whispered.
"No problem." Izzie said.
"Welcome to the case. And I'll tell Dr. Bailey that you're with me. Go home, shower, change, sleep a while, have breakfast and come back." Addison said.
"Oh, Dr. Shep…"
"Addison. You stayed with her all night, you get to call me Addison." Addie said with a pleased smile.
"Thank you, Addison." Izzie said. She got up and hugged her.
"She's a terrific kid. And you're a terrific person. Too bad Dr. Shepherd said no to the adoption." Izzie said softly.
"He regrets it every day of his life. But we're happy sharing her. It's better than not having her in our lives at all." Addison smiled.
"I'll be back later, and if you need anything, let me know." Izzie said and left.
Addison sat on the chair that Izzie had slept on and as soon as she closed her eyes, Audrey spoke.
"Izzie's good company. I'm glad you like her." Audrey whispered.
"I didn't know you were awake. How did you sleep?" Addison leaned forward.
"I'm a light sleeper, remember? And I would've slept better if I was home, but I guess it was an ok sleep." Audrey smiled groggily at her.
Addison smiled at her. "How do you feel?" She asked.
"I've been better. But I don't feel as bad I as I felt when I came in." Audrey lied.
"That's good." Addison accepted the lie. She knew Audrey would never complain in order to avoid worrying Derek and her.
"Have you called your mom and dad yet?" Addison asked.
"No. I don't want to worry them. They know I'm in Seattle though. They think I'm just visiting you guys." Audrey said.
"You have to call them." Addison said.
"Eventually. I promise. Change of subject, how are you?" Audrey asked. The question weighted so much.
"I've been better. But I don't feel as bad as I felt when I came in." Addison used her lie against her.
"Why do we lie to protect each other?" Audrey asked after smirking at Addison's choice of words.
"So you were lying?" Addie teased.
"No. I don't feel a hundred percent, but I'm not dying at this moment." Audrey lied yet again.
Addison smiled and gave up. "So, how are you?" She asked.
"Shouldn't I be asking you that question?" Audrey smirked.
"I'll answer if you do."
They both laughed and a silence fell between them.
"Mom, how are you doing?" Audrey asked.
She always noticed the little things, and she definitely noticed how slowly Addison's fire was burning out. It was so painful to watch the once vibrant, self-assured and full of life woman slowly turn into a mere shadow of that. She had become so unsure and always on the edge and that wasn't the mother that Audrey remembered. Let alone that she wanted to…She just wasn't the Addison that Audrey remembered.
"I'm not good. My marriage is falling apart and I can't, for the life of me, get Derek to notice me again. He's always pining over the twelve year old and he always has time for her but never for me. He loved me. Me. For thirteen years and he's known her for a few months and he's already saying that he's in love with her. What the hell does she have that I don't?" Addison was beginning to crumble.
"Nothing. She gawky and scrawny and awkward. She's twelve, mom. She'll never be the woman you are. So stop implying that she's better than you, because she's not." Audrey rested her hand on top of Addison's.
"You're biased." Addie sniffed.
"True, but he hasn't loved her for thirteen years. And there must be a reason why he hasn't signed the divorce papers." Audrey said.
"He wants to be seen as the good guy. He's taking his adulterous bitch wife back and he's seen as the noble knight. I have to be grateful because all wonderful Derek Shepherd took pity on me and took me back."
"Mom!" Audrey said. Her voice full of pain for what her mother was going through.
'If she only knew.' Audrey thought.
"I don't know what I'm going to do. I just want out. I can't stand this pain anymore. It hurts to love him this much. It hurts to wait for him and it hurts even more when he rubs her in. I can't do it anymore Audrey. I just can't." Addison said. "I think I will ask him to sign the papers and then we can all move on." Addison added and Audrey entered in panic.
'No, no, no , no. This wasn't the way it was supposed to happen. Think Audrey, think…I got it! God I'm brilliant. I just hopes this works.' Audrey thought.
"If I stay in Seattle to fight my cancer, will you fight for your marriage?" Audrey asked.
"These are two very different situations Aud. You have to have the chemo and radiation."
"No they're not and I wasn't planning on fighting this. But I have to fight to live. I have to fight so I can be happy with my baby and see her grow. I have to fight because it's not only me now. I have to fight for her. And you have to fight for your marriage. You have to fight so you can be happy with Derek again. It's not only you in this. It's him as well. Besides, I already called him an ass. So there. Mom, let's fight. Let's beat the highly impossible odds that stand between us and our happiness." Audrey said and hoped for dear life, that her little improvised speech would work.
Addison wiped away some tears and nodded her head. She grabbed both Audrey's hands and kissed them.
"I'll fight." She whispered.
"Me too." Audrey responded.
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A/N: I told you she was brilliant. Anyone has predictions?
