Hey Ya'll, sorry for the short delay in getting this part to you. Thanksgiving was hectic and I was tired, etc, etc. Now it's the start of second term, so the work is piling on, as I'm sure you're all aware of. This chapter is pretty much… Well I don't know exactly… It was hard to write. I feel like I got into too much too soon, but generally that is what Rachelle's character does. She confronts people (only when she knows them well… Otherwise she's totally shy) So expect some confronting, people.
Izzie finds me after lunch and gives me the rest of the tour. She chats with a certain amount of pep the whole time. "You and Addison are really close." She finally says.
I shrug, "Well, yeah, we're sisters."
"No, but you're really close. You're not sisterly close, you're friend close."
"Yeah, I consider Addie one of my best friends. I mean, sometimes it's like that with older sisters. Addie is always there for me."
When Izzie smiles the sides of her eyes crinkle. "It must be nice. I don't have any siblings."
"Oh." I say, "I guess that sucks."
"Yeah. Meredith and George are as close to sisters as I get. We all live together. We talk about life. Wow, I could never imagine talking about life with Addison Shepherd."
"Montgomery," I correct, almost not wanting to, almost wishing everything were still the same.
"Right." Izzie says, turning into a wide hallway.
I think about it. Addie has always been for me, during the times when dad had one of his episodes and lashed out on us, the times that mom blatantly ignored us, the times I was so self-conscious because I couldn't get one measly boyfriend. She's always been there at my side, waiting to wipe away the tears, or offer me a friendly hug. I don't think I could've lived my life without her. I don't think I could've been alone. I suddenly feel very bad for Izzie Stevens. "Addison Montgomery." She says. "I've always liked her. But she doesn't want anything to do with me; no one does, especially after… Well after, D-
I watch her pause, as if just saying the name will bring the tears out. It's so familiar to me. Addison and Derek do it all the time. I rest my hand on Izzie's shoulder. She smiles at me. I smile back at her. "Izzie,"
"I'm sorry, it's hard. God it's hard. I can't even say his name. How pathetic am I?"
"You are not pathetic. I know a certain two people that… Well they refuse to talk about something very bad that's happened about them. At least you try, and you don't pretend like he never existed. You're not a coward."
She raises her eyebrow at me. "Addison and Derek?"
"Never mind." I say, quickly. "It's natural to not want to cry. Crying's a sign of weakness. I hate crying, but sometimes, it just feels good. To cry and cry and know that there's no shame in it."
She shrugs. "Maybe another time."
I put my hand on her shoulder again and force her to look at me. "Addison likes you. She really really does. God, I mean, you'd think I'd know. She tells me everything that goes on in this hospital. I've gotten several detailed descriptions about everyone who works here."
"Seriously?" Izzie asks, and I begin to notice a trend. "What did she say about me?"
"Um, well that you're one of the best surgeons she's seen in awhile. She thinks you're a natural at obstetrics. Also she likes you as a person, and that's important to Addison. She once told me that you remind her a lot of herself when she was younger."
Izzie looks like she's about to die of shock. Good thing we're in a hospital. "Seriously!?"
I can't help but laugh. "Seriously."
Bailey summons me to the chief's office, but not before giving me a long speech about respectable surgery, and how I'd better not do anything to lessen her good name. "Unfortunately," She says in her hard voice. "I am responsible for you interns, but fortunately, I get to punish you. You do not want to be punished by me." I'm starting to get what Izzie's talking about. If you get passed the angry face, Bailey is sort of cute. "And now," She says, opening a door, "You'll talk to the chief of surgery."
In the clean respectable room, talking with the respectable chief is none other than the not so respectable Mark Sloan. This isn't exactly where I want to see him.
He turns around, looking no less steamy than he did before I left. "Kid! What are you doing here?" He gives me a huge hug.
"Hi Mark. I'm an intern here now." I wonder if I should be pleased or scared.
Mark laughs. "Seems like everyone's moving to Seattle." The chief looks on with amusement. "Kid, you lost weight!" The one thing I do love about Mark is that he's honest. "You're a real sex-kitten." He winks at me.
"It's good to see you too, Mark." I say feeling slightly embarrassed that all of this is happening in front of the chief of surgery, and of course Bailey isn't too pleased herself.
"Dr. Sloan." The chief says, his voice booming.
"Sorry," Mark says, grinning sheepishly (as if Mark could be sheepish). "Kid and I go way back."
The chief rolls his eyes, and I think he mutters something about love triangles, although I could be wrong. "I am quite aware of that." He stares at Mark again. "Dr. Sloan, I'm positive that you've got a facial reconstruction scheduled for three, so why don't you get going?"
"If you say so, chief. Do I have one of those god-damned interns 'helping' me today?"
"Not that I know of Sloan, but that reminds me… Come see me when your facial reconstruction is over, I'd like to go over a few things concerning your behavior with the interns." Chief frowns and Mark laughs.
"I can't help it if they're all fools. Good looking, but fools. If they were all like kid here, I'd probably want them assigned to every one of my cases." He taps me lightly on the back, and gives me yet another wink. He salutes the chief before leaving. "We'll talk soon," He tells me. "Tell Addie I say hi."
"Tell her yourself." I snap.
"Feisty." He purrs, and shuts the door behind him.
The chief chuckles, "If only he wasn't the best plastic surgeon around." He motions for me to sit in a chair in front of him. He looks at Bailey, who nods, and leaves. He offers his hand for me to shake. "Dr. Richard Webber." He must see the scared look on his face, so he says, "Oh, you've gotten through the worst earlier with Miranda. Great woman, isn't she?"
I nod tentatively and shake his hand. "Yes."
"So you're Addison's sister." He scrutinizes me. "I can see it." The chief smiles. "Addison is a very well respected member of our team, also one of my good friends. When she came in here to ask if you could join the program, I never hesitated."
I nod again. "Thank you, sir."
"Addison tells me you've worked in Bolivia at La Clínica de Morales." I suppress a giggle at the butchered Spanish. "That must've been quite experience. Would you like to tell me a few things about it?"
I think of all the things I could tell him. The hot days with my best friends, native Bolivians and non-natives working together. Saving lives. I think of Diego kissing me. Diego, operating ever so carefully and perfectly. I think of Camila, who we saved that day. Her mother, so grateful. The cold nights, cuddled up with my best friend Kayla, our feet like Popsicles, and the hot nights, when we slept on the sweaty cots in just our underwear. I think of speaking Spanish, slow at first, but then faster as it settled on my tongue. I think of how English was cast away, sometimes brought back to teach the children or the mothers. Esperanza, Bolivia. "It was an experience." I say. "I got the chance to see how things happen in third world countries. The medical care there was awful; there was never enough medicine and never enough supplies. People died from hunger sometimes. It was awful, but it also was amazing what some of the people there were like. You couldn't find a nicer group. I worked on a large surgery with Dr. Grisera-- pyloric stenosis in a child. I actually had the chance to perform minor surgeries too."
The chief smiles again. "That's great. I see from your credentials that you are a good surgeon, also from Addison's recommendations. Graduate of New York University School of med. I see you had a little bit of difficulty in school in the earlier years, but you seem to have made it. Congratulations, Dr. Montgomery."
I nod, thinking of the several tests I had trouble with. School was never my thing. Learning from real life… That's my thing. "Thank you." I find myself nodding more as he talks about the history of the surgical program at Seattle Grace, the things I should and should never do (I automatically think of Izzie), and the differences between the clinic and Seattle Grace. He hands me a contract, and I skim over it. He watches me with his hands folded. I sign it with quick flourish, and find myself nodding again. What is with all the nodding? He examines my signature, "I think you'll like Seattle Grace. It's a great professional environment."
"I know I'll like it."
"Yes. Well, you're dismissed. Tell Addison that I approve. Oh and just between you and I… Is Addison alright?"
I bite my lip, wondering if there's any way an answer could get Addison in trouble. Seattle Grace is a little odd. I was expecting an extremely professional work environment with no personal connections. Everyone here seems to have personal connections. Seems it's not as different from the clinic as I thought it would be. "Um, yeah, she's okay."
Chief gives a tight smile, "I'm glad. I was just a little worried. I gave her a day off for personal reasons a week ago. She spent the whole time at the bar. I just want to make sure she's okay. I know how hard divorce is."
Okay, awkward. "Yeah."
"Alright, then." He says, standing up to shake my hand again. "I will see you soon." He accompanies me to the door, and I leave, feeling a little shell-shocked.
Bailey meets me at the door. "You will spend the rest of the day shadowing me," I follow her quick footsteps. I try to distract my mind from nerves, but all I can think about is Mark. I can't get the image of Mark and Addison having sex out of my head. It's not like I want to see the image of Addison having sex in the first place (although, I have walked in on her and Derek numerous times), I really don't want to have the image of Mark and Addison. It's womanizer Mark. Sleep with a girl and never call her back Mark. No respect for the rights of drunken women Mark. "Get your head out of the clouds, Montgomery." Bailey snaps, as we stop at a hospital room.
"Sorry." I say.
"This is Alicia Howe, she's sixteen years old. She may have Encephalitis. What is Encephalitis, Dr. Montgomery?"
I sigh, feeling the nerves make their way up through my system. I rack through my head, searching the medical knowledge for the answer. I know it has to do with the brain… Okay, I've got it. "Encephalitis is the inflammation of the brain caused by viruses, ticks, or rabies."
"Yes, and what are the risks?" Alicia stares at me, worried. She looks young; the bland covers of the hospital bed up to her chin.
I feel like I can't say this in front of her. Bailey stares at me with a glare. I force myself. "Up to twenty five percent of cases develop Meningitis, Meningo-Enchephalitis, and Transmyelitits. Fatality rate of one to five percent. Paresis in acute stage usually involves shoulder or hemiparesis and may sometimes involve cranial nerve pulses."
Bailey looks at Alicia, "Alicia, have you been outside a lot recently?"
Alicia scoffs. "God no. It's freezing where I live."
"Where do you live?" Bailey asks.
"I live in Montreal. But I moved here with my dad a week ago. In that week, I haven't really been outside." She gives me a pained look, "Will I die?"
My heart starts beating again. What do I say to that? "W-we're very good at what we do."
Bailey nods, "Encephalitis rarely kills. I don't think you have anything to worry about, honey." Did she just call her honey?
"Plus," I say, feeling inspired. "We don't even know if you have it yet." This causes a semi-glare from Bailey.
"Wait, so you don't even know?" She asks, and then rolls her eyes. "Americans."
Bailey turns towards me, and hands me a file. "Ask one of the nurses to give her an EEG." She turns back to Alicia. "We're also going to give you an MRI. Have you ever had one of those before?" I've just gotten here, and already I'm assigned to a brain swelling case. This is so… scary, but also really cool. Does that make me weird?
A few hours have gone by, and Derek is looking at Alicia's MRI results. "Definite brain swelling," He says.
"Poor girl." I say.
"Have you found any strains of bacteria or viruses, since we ruled out tick bites and rabies?" Derek asks seriously, and I almost want to chuckle. Derek and I are doctors. He thinks I'm a doctor. He's treating me like a doctor. Amazing.
"I found nada."
"Okay," Derek says, "Why don't you look online or in one of your textbooks? You're bound to find something."
I sit down at one of the computers. I could never ever focus during textbook readings. I type in Encephalitis in the medical research database. I look through a bunch of long crap, before I find what may have caused it. Syphilis, anyone? O'Malley walks in the room and ask Derek a question. I study him for a while, watching him talk to Derek, and I wait until he finishes speaking. He's cute, and bumbling. I want to take him and hug him.
"Derek." I say. O'Malley smiles at me awkwardly.
"Yes, Rach?" He asks, scrutinizing one of the computer screens in front of him.
"Do you think Alicia could've had Syphilis?" All of a sudden O'Malley makes a weird choking sort of noise. I look at him, eyebrow raised. His face is beet red. Derek lets out a laugh. "Is there something I'm missing?" I ask, suddenly feeling very foolish. Stupid idea.
"Oh, there was once a large epidemic of Syphilis in this hospital." He looks at O'Malley. "O'Malley, what did they call it?"
"T-the S-syph, sir." He sputters. Boy is he spazzy.
"Ah yes," Derek is chuckling again. "The Syph. I have heard that some cases of Encephalitis come from Syphilis… But there are no records of Alicia ever having had it."
I shrug, and watch as Derek does more research. "You'll talk to Alicia tomorrow though, won't you? Just to make sure she hasn't had any secret procedures done or anything."
"Of course," I say.
We leave the room. "I always knew our Rach would make the perfect doctor." Derek says, scruffing my hair.
O'Malley stares at me in awe. I roll my eyes. "Derek, please. Not in front of O'Malley. I'm trying to impress my colleagues."
"N-no." O'Malley says, big blue eyes wide. "I'm impressed." He manages to control his voice so he doesn't sound like a teenage boy. He's cute.
It's already nine PM, and I am tired. Really really tired. We pass by a spot where almost all of the interns are sitting. Izzie told me this was the intern hangout spot. Grey is there. I watch Derek look at her. He looks at her like he did when he first fell in love with Addie. He hasn't looked at Addie like that since she got pregnant. It makes me sick. I already can't stand Grey, even though I know she's a nice girl. What right does she have? She doesn't even know about anything. She doesn't really know Derek. I really know Derek. "Derek?" I ask. "Can I talk about something with you?"
I pull him out of the room. "You are despicable. You are gross. You are very very much in love."
"Rach-
I notice the look of great distress on his face. I want to hurt him. "You haven't looked at Addison like that since Brandon!" I say, the name burning at Derek.
"Rachelle." There's fire in his eyes now. "We do not talk about Brandon. You know that. You have no right." He turns to the door. "They can hear."
"So what if they find out about Brandon?" I hear myself blurting out. I don't know what's gotten into me. "I'm tired of you and Addison acting like he never existed!" My voice lowers. "You never visit his grave. You don't. I went to New York before I came and I visited him. And you know what Derek? He wasn't even my son!"
"Rachelle." He says, his voice at a menacing whisper. "I am your boss. You are not going to talk to me the way you did in New York."
I am intensely hurt. "So now that I'm here, you don't even want to be friends anymore? You want to pretend like our friendship never existed, your son and your marriage to my sister never existed either?"
Derek looks like he's going to slap me, but I know he's too heroic for that. "We are still friends." He says, vein bulging from his left temple. "But you do not speak to me like that. Especially not in this hospital. I haven't seen you in two years, Rachelle. I knew that the second you got here Brandon would come up." His voice falters.
I put my hand on his shoulder as I can see the tears welling in his eyes. God. Too much too soon. My ultimate flaw. "I'm just sick of the denial. Your marriage was over the second he died. You know that, Derek."
"Please." He says. "Can we please stop talking about it?"
"Only if you promise me that you me and Addie will talk about it later."
"I can't."
"You have to."
His shoulders droop. "Later." He says, nodding.
"I'm sorry." I say, sighing. "It's just you two. You've been so in denial… So dishonest with eachother since I left. I just miss the way it used to be."
"The way it used to be." He says in agreement.
"Well," I say, trying to strike up a smile. "I think I'm going to get totally unbelievably drunk tonight."
Derek looks surprised. "You?" He asks, and he gives me the sort of half smile I've been hoping for, although it's clear he hasn't recovered. "The only time I've seen you drunk… Was the time at that bar in Soho. Do you remember that? Addison made me carry you for fifteen blocks. Besides that you were always such a little goody-two-shoes."
"I learned to hold my liquor in Bolivia. It's less expensive there."
He pats me on the shoulder. "Looks like I'm not the only one who's changed." He smiles at me, still not fully. "I'll be at Joe's to carry you home."
"Will Meredith Grey be at Joe's tonight too?" I ask.
He gives me a look. "You've already gone too far today." He says, and turns away.
Hope you enjoyed it. Thank you so much for all the reviews. I don't like to be the kind of writer that works only by reviews, and asks people to review, but I gotta admit, they motivate me. So, thanks guys!
Also one other thing. Right now I have some idea what I want to do with this story, but I also kind of need a little more action (but I don't want it to be unrealistically dramatic… Although Grey's kind of is so maybe…) I need your help. I'd like to know what you think about these things. (You can tell me whether you'd want it to happen, or if you wouldn't want it to happen, or if it's too dramatic/takes away from the story) I'd like to know what you think.
A character (probably Addison) getting pregnant.
Addison & Mark sex/ Addison & Derek sex
Meredith & Rachelle friendship
That's all I really want your opinion on right now, because I have a few things up my sleeve concerning these three things…
Muchas gracias, as always!
