Sleepless in Seattle, that's what Meredith is slowly becoming as it dawns on her that she missed the signs that Derek had been in touch with Izzie over the years. "Why wouldn't you have told me?" she wonders aloud as she looks at the photo of her, Izzie, Alex, George, and Christina. 'I tried' she hears his voice in her head. "You did," she acknowledges, her green eyes sad, "but you kept saying she wasn't sick again, so why would you have been in touch with her?" She waits, but doesn't hear a response this time. Sighing heavily, she slams the picture down on her nightstand.
"Maybe it has to do with the Center," Alex offers, as they sit in an office waiting. "I still can't believe he was an investor. I mean, how did we not know that?"
"He didn't want us to know." She looks over at him now, wincing at his rundown appearance. Ever since she found him hiding out at Joe's the other day, he's been uncharacteristically quiet. He begrudgingly let her drag him out of there and back to her house to sleep it off. "So what was it like ... to see her again?"
Alex grunts a little in reply. Eyes bloodshot and face haggard from being hung-over, he sinks further into the chair. So far he has avoided any kind of real conversation about Izzie. After all, it's not like Owen or Nathan talked to him on the plane ride home and since he's been home he's been licking his wounds at the bottom of a bottle.
"What I wouldn't give to see Derek again," she says softly.
Alex looks over at her with a hard expression on his face. "It's not the same," he says when she gives him a 'what?' look, "Derek died ... Izzie left."
"Because you told her to," she reminds him, to which he only shrugs. "If she really wanted to, she would have stayed, but she didn't want to," he insists, surprised when, after seeming to mull that over, Mer replies, "I'm not so sure about that."
The office door opens. "So sorry to have kept you waiting," a gentleman says as he enters. "I am Mr. Freeman, the branch manager. How can I help you today?"
"Good morning. My name is Dr. Meredith Grey and this is my good friend Dr. Alex Karev. My husband was the late Dr. Derek Shepherd," Mer begins.
"Yes, I was so sorry to hear of his death," Mr. Freeman replies. "Derek had been a client of mine since he first relocated here to Seattle. It's been about two years, right?"
"It has," she winces a little, "and I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I forgot about until just recently the personal account he had here. I have a copy of his death certificate and our marriage license. I was wondering if I could just have my name added to the account or transfer the funds or ... " She pauses, seeing the confusion that has come over his face. "Is there a problem?"
"No. I'm sorry, it's just ... have you been receiving statements about this account?"
Meredith shakes her head. "Derek did everything online."
"Right, of course," he replies absently as he logs onto his computer.
"I realize it's been two years," she begins to say.
"That's not the problem," he reassures her. "It would only be a problem if the account is still active and even then only if it's been a full two years, which it has not been."
She nods slightly. "What do you mean if the account is still active?" Her fingers are drumming the armrest anxiously. Alex places his hand over hers and gives her a reassuring smile. She takes a breath, feeling herself calm down.
"That's what I'm looking up," he says, as he asks for Derek's date of birth and Social Security number, which Mer supplies. "Oh yes, here it is. Dr. Shepherd closed that account."
"Oh," she stammers. Her tone is a mixture of surprise that she didn't know that and embarrassment to have wasted the bank manager's time. "You know I just found out about an investment he made in an occupational and physical rehabilitation center, The Shep Mobility Network Center, in Atlanta, Georgia. I mean, it couldn't have been that long before he died."
"You're correct, Dr. Grey," he acknowledges. "It was actually the last check he wrote from that account in January 2015."
"When did he close the account?" she asks now.
"April 9, 2015."
"Two weeks before he died," Alex muses.
"I don't understand," she shakes her head. "There had to be money still in the account, so did he open another account?"
"No, he established several trust funds," Mr. Freeman explains, reading from the computer. "Seven in total, plus two charitable funds." He looks at Meredith now. "You are the mother of Zola Shepherd and Bailey Shepherd, correct?"
"Yes."
"Two of those trust funds are for them."
"Derek never told you he was setting up trust funds for the kids," Alex asks, seeing her surprise.
Meredith shakes her head. A thought suddenly occurs to her. "We had another child. I found out I was pregnant after he died."
"He set up a fund specifically for future children, so I can add that child's information very easily," Mr. Freeman smiles. "The fund will be the same amount as the other two. Any surplus will be distributed evenly among this child and your other two."
"I don't understand," Alex speaks up now. "Wouldn't Meredith have been contacted about these funds? I mean at the very least, wouldn't she be getting quarterly statements or something?"
"Only if she was the administrator of the trust funds?"
"You mean she's not?" Alex continues. "Usually the person who sets up the fund designates a different person to be the administrator."
"That's correct, and Dr. Shepherd did do that," Mr. Freeman replies, addressing Meredith now. "I can tell you since you are the mother of said children that a Dr. Miranda Bailey is the administrator."
Meredith looks over to Alex completely shocked. "She never mentioned them."
She shakes her head, dumbfounded by this information. Looking back to the man sitting across from her, she asks, "You said he set up seven Trusts. Who are the others for?"
"I'm sorry," Mr. Freeman smiles apologetically, "I cannot give you that information since you are not related to them."
"How do you know I'm not related to them?"
"Well, because you're husband said they were the children of family friends."
"What are the parents names?"
"I really am sorry, Dr. Grey, but I cannot tell you anything about those funds since you are not related to them and you're not the administrator."
"Can you tell me who the administrator for those funds is?"
"Sorry, no," and, after Meredith has supplied him with Ellie's information, he asks, "Is there anything else?"
She shakes her head, frustrated. Alex takes her hand into his as he now speaks up. "What about the charitable funds he set up?"
"What about them?"
"Well, can you tell us who he made them out to?"
"No, I'm sorry. Dr. Shepherd was very specific that those funds were to be anonymous. He did not want any details released about them, including that he is the one who set them up. The beneficiaries of those funds don't even know where the money is coming from."
"We're not going to run out and tell them," Alex raises his voice now, "but Meredith has a right to know where the money went!"
"Actually, she doesn't," Mr. Freeman replies calmly. "The account was only in Dr. Shepherd's name. It was, as Dr. Grey herself acknowledged, his personal account. If her name had been on the account, then I would say that's another story, but still legally my hands would be tied to divulge any real information. The funds are a matter of public record, per banking regulations, but the details are still protected. She is the mother of three of the minor children the funds were set up for, so I could give her those details."
"Why would Derek have set up trusts for the kids and not tell me?" She sighs heavily.
"Maybe Bailey will be able to provide more information," Alex says, squeezing her hand sympathetically. She only nods in response.
xxxxx
"Just my luck Bailey would be in surgery," she gripes as they enter the Attending's Lounge.
"Christina, do NOT keep ignoring my calls!" Owen is yelling into his phone. "I am going to keep calling until you either pick up or call me back and I don't care what time of day or night it is there!"
Meredith and Alex look at each other shocked as Owen disconnects. "You look as tired as I feel," she says, as she grabs a mug of coffee. "Why are you trying to get a hold of Christina?"
A still red-faced Owen looks between them as he takes a seat at the table. He shrugs slightly and sighs, which, for him, is usually a sign he doesn't want to talk about it. Meredith and Alex exchange glances as they also sit.
"Alex shouldn't be here," he says to Meredith now.
"Owen!" she chastises him.
"It's okay, Mer. He's right," Alex says, getting up. "I've caused enough problems lately. If you see Jo, tell her to page me." He pauses as he heads out the door. "Oh, and let me know what happens with Bailey."
He winks at her and she reciprocates with an empathetic smile as he departs. "Was that really necessary?" she glares over to Owen once the door has closed behind Alex.
"Like he said, he's caused enough problems lately," Owen huffs, running a hand over his exhausted face.
"I'm not condoning his behavior, but clearly he was shocked. I mean, weren't you?"
"I was," Owen nods his agreement, "but I still managed to be professional. And Izzie was just as shocked as we were and she still managed to be professional."
Meredith just nods, falling silent. "So did you get to talk to her?" she asks suddenly. When he looks over at her, seemingly confused by her question, she clarifies. "I mean about other than the patient you were there for, did you get to talk to her? How did she end up in Atlanta?"
Owen shrugs. "We had a cup of coffee together. I tried asking her about her life now, but she was firm about keeping things professional. I just basically caught her up on the comings and goings here." He takes a sip of his coffee. "She asked about you. She wanted to know how you and the kids were doing."
Meredith's eyes widen a little. "She knows I have kids?"
"Well, Zola and Bailey she knew about. Not Ellie, and I hope you don't mind but I ended up telling her."
"That's fine," she smiles tightly, and then after a few moments, "Did she ask about them by name?"
Owen thinks a moment. "Yeah, I ... believe she did." Seeing her surprise, he offers, "She knew about Derek's death, so maybe she read their names in his obituary."
"Maybe," she allows, though her tone indicates that she doesn't believe that. Her pager goes off. Bailey is done surgery. "Well, I have to go. Good luck getting a hold of Christina."
"Thanks," he murmurs, looking down at his phone frustrated.
xxxxx
"You wanted to see me," says Bailey as Meredith enters her office.
Bailey motions for her to have a seat, but Mer remains standing. She stares long and hard at her Chief of Staff, who, long before becoming the chief, was her scary resident who evolved into a nurturing teacher and mentor. Her small stature is made up by her forceful nature and larger than life personality. She has only had to look at a person once - usually stone-faced and steely-eyed, often nicknamed evil-eyeing - to get them to do what she wants. And it never mattered whether the person was above her in rank or not.
"Grey?" Bailey calls out, concerned. "Is there a problem?"
Meredith takes a deep breath as she walks right up to the edge of the desk and stares her straight in the eye. "I need you to be completely straight-forward and honest with me," she says intensely.
Bailey eyes her confused. "When haven't I been?"
"Well, until the other day, I would have said never."
Bailey nods slightly, leaning back in her chair. "Is this about Izzie and the Center?"
Meredith's gaze hardens. "You knew about Derek being an investor in the Center!" she accuses.
Bailey sighs now. "I did," she admits, adding after allowing Meredith time to digest that information, "I'm an investor myself, just not to the tune of $1 million dollars."
"Why didn't you or Derek tell us?" Mer demands.
"As I explained at the staff meeting, Izzie has preferred to remain behind the scenes. We were simply respecting her wishes."
"And you didn't think I had a right to know about Derek's investment?" she continues.
Bailey shrugs. "The way I understood it was that the investment was from his own personal money." When Meredith rolls her eyes, Bailey concedes, "Maybe you did have a right to know, but it wasn't up to me to tell you. It wasn't my investment, Grey. It was his, so it was up to him to tell you."
Meredith nods slightly, running a hand through her dirty blonde hair. "I'll give you that one," she allows, blowing out a frustrated sigh. "I just feel like you knew more about what might have been going on with my husband in those final weeks before he died than I did."
Bailey looks at her inquisitively now. "We're not talking about the Center anymore, are we?" she asks.
"No, we're not," Mer says tightly, crossing her arms. "I just came from the bank and apparently my husband set up trust funds for our kids, trust funds he NEVER mentioned."
"Okay," Bailey says simply.
"You NEVER mentioned these trust funds either, Bailey!" Mer fumes.
"Why would I mention them?"
"Because you're the administrator of said funds!"
Bailey's face softens in understanding. "That's right ... I am," she nods in agreement.
Meredith's face becomes even harder. "You sound like you are just remembering that!" she screams.
"Grey, calm down!"
"Don't tell me ... "
"Grey! Take a breath, calm down, and SIT down!" Bailey orders, giving her the look.
Begrudgingly, Meredith does as she's told. "But you better have a good explanation for this!"
"For what?"
"What do you think? For not telling me! But obviously you didn't tell me because you forgot!"
"I did not forget, Grey," Bailey assures her. "It's just not at the forefront of my mind. I get quarterly statements that get filed a way in a drawer. I mean I don't have to do anything until they are eighteen."
Meredith's breathing slowly evens out, though she's still staring at her boss cross-eyed. "I just don't understand why Derek never told me he was setting up trusts for the kids and why you have never mentioned them in these past two years."
"Grey, I'm not sure what you are thinking exactly, but it's not like there was a conspiracy between us to keep this from you. My understanding is that he planned on telling you after he got back from that last trip to D.C., but ... "
"He died," she finishes for her, turning her head away to blink away the tears that spring to her eyes.
"Yes," Bailey says softly.
Meredith looks back at her. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Grey, what happened after Derek died or, more to the point, what did you do after he died?"
Meredith's eyes cloud over, confused by the question. Bailey sits, patiently, watching as Meredith's mind clearly drifts back to that time. Meredith nods now in seeming understanding. "I went away," she realizes.
"That's right. For months none of us knew where you were. And, honestly, when you got back ... I'm sorry I just didn't think about it. At that point, I was getting the statements regularly that it was just automatic: file it away and don't worry about it. To be perfectly honest, I forgot that he never got the chance to tell you."
"He never even mentioned that he was thinking of doing that. I mean what did he tell you about this?"
"He just wanted to make sure the kids would always be provided for in case anything happened?"
"Like what?"
"Oh, I don't know, Grey." she says exasperated now. "Maybe a father leaves the house for an overnight business trip and gets run over by a semi? Or a doctor goes to work and gets shot by the disgruntled husband of a dead patient? Really, you of all people need to ask that! And this was, Derek," she adds softly, after a slight pause, "whose own father went into work one day and never came home because he was shot and killed during a robbery. He was always very cognizant of the fact that parents don't always make it home, Grey, and he simply wanted to safeguard his children's future."
Tension begins to fill the office now as Meredith wipes away tears. "He never shared those concerns with me, but he obviously did with you."
Bailey rolls her eyes. "Grey, it's not like he and I sat down and had long, philosophical discussions about this. It came up a couple times in conversation, that is all," she assures her.
Meredith nods seemingly accepting this. She takes a few moments to fully settle down before proceeding.
"What about the other funds he set up? Are you the administrator for them too?"
Bailey, who had turned away from Meredith to file some paperwork, pales slightly. She spends a few extra moments pretending to put something away before turning back to Meredith. "I am," she says simply.
"So you know who these kids are? The banker stated that Derek said they were the children of family friends?"
"I know the family. One of the kids he set up a fund for is a former patient of mine. You remember, I'm sure, when Derek had gone to D.C. for a preliminary meeting regarding the brain mapping and I asked him to consult on a case involving a former patient of mine while he was there?" When Mer nods, she continues, "It's that family."
"You asked me to be honest and straight-forward with you, so I will be," she continues after a few moments have passed, "I didn't think it was a good idea, but it wasn't my money and I get that he felt very protective of the family and he wanted to make sure the kids were provided for in case anything should ever happen to their parents."
"I see," Meredith says. She is looking anxiously at Bailey now. "Do I know them? The patient and/or her parents?"
"You ... never met the patient," Bailey says carefully. "Only Dr. O'Malley and I worked on the case when she was here."
"Well, I would like to meet them."
"Who?"
"The family, who else."
"I'm sorry, Grey, but that's not going to be possible."
"Why?"
Bailey sighs heavily. "The parents don't know that Derek set up these funds. They're very private people and very proud people, the father especially, and that's why I didn't think it was a good idea ... " her voice trails off momentarily as she tries to think the best way to explain. "Don't you think they would find it odd you suddenly wanting to meet them years after Derek's death?"
"I guess I can see your point," Mer demurs reluctantly. She starts to get up when she suddenly asks, "Are you the administrator of the charitable funds he set up?"
"No! And thank god!" Bailey exclaims emphatically. Seeing her surprised reaction, Bailey points out, "Grey, you know that I really don't like being involved in the personal business of the people I work with. I didn't even want to be the administrator of the trust funds, but he set that up before he even asked me. Probably because he knew I'd say no. And before you ask, no I don't know who the administrator is. I believe he went through some attorney friend of his from his New York days."
"Oh, okay." Meredith stands now. "Thank you for being straight-forward and honest with me about this."
"Of course," Bailey smiles, "and I am sorry that it never crossed my mind to tell you about the Trusts for your kids. It really, truly never did."
"I get it, I do," Meredith assures her.
When she pauses, remaining standing in front of her desk, Bailey looks at her curiously. "Is there something else, Grey?"
Meredith nods hesitantly, sitting back down. "You obviously know how to get in touch with Izzie? Well, I would like to talk to her, maybe even see her. Can you give me her phone number?"
Bailey looks at Meredith squarely now. "No, not without her permission."
"Bailey, Izzie and I have been friends for years," Mer points out, surprised by her stance.
Bailey leans back in her chair again, grimacing. She really hates getting in the middle of other people's business and relationships, but with everything Izzie has been through over the years she's become very protective of her.
"Not in the last five years you haven't been," she notes, "and, given that Dr. Karev is your self-described 'Person' and what just transpired between them, forgive me for being a little wary of your reasons for wanting to talk to her."
"This isn't about Alex," Meredith insists. She pauses, trying to sort out her own jumbled feelings for her once good friend. "She's actually been on my mind even before I found out about what happened in Atlanta. Her name came up in a conversation between Amelia and I and ever since I've been thinking about her. And I remembered that Derek had wanted to talk to me about her a couple times over the years and now I know he was an investor in a Rehab Center she founded." She looks pleadingly at her COS now. "Really, I just want to talk to her."
Bailey purses her lips, thinking. "Not without her permission," she reiterates finally. "Let me call her and I'll get back to you. Give me a half an hour. I'll page you."
"Thank you," Meredith says, as she gets up and leaves the office.
Bailey sighs, running her hand across her forehead, as she picks up her phone.
xxxxx
Izzie is in her office doing paperwork. A shadow of a person can be seen sitting in the chair in front of her desk, but she is purposely ignoring them as she keeps her eyes squarely glued on the work in front of her.
"Ignoring me is not going to make me go away or make me any less real."
She bites down on her lip to keep from responding. "Oh, thank god!" she says when her cell phone rings. Though she rolls her eyes a bit when she sees who's calling, she still welcomes the distraction. "Hey there, Bailey!"
"Stevens, I hope I am not calling at a bad time."
"No, just doing some paperwork." She gets up and walks over to her office window that looks over the children's play area. "What's going on?"
"I know we talked briefly the other day, but that was a conference call. I did want to reach out to you personally and see how you are doing. I am truly sorry about what transpired. I had no idea Karev was going."
"I know that, Bailey. I know you would have warned me that he was if you had known."
A slight pause lapses as Bailey considers how to address the things she wants to with her former intern. Even across the long-distance line, she can sense her emotional distance. "Michael called me a few days ago," she says finally.
"He did?" Izzie's brow arches in surprise. "Why?"
"He wanted to know if I had heard from you."
Izzie's eyes cloud over with confusion. "I don't understand. He just wanted to know if you had heard from me? That doesn't make any sense."
"Well, maybe he thought I would have heard from you while you were here in Seattle," she says pointedly. Izzie's face pales. "That was you I saw standing on the outskirts of the Bay outside the hospital earlier this week, wasn't it?"
"Bailey, really, I don't know ... I mean, seriously, why would I be in Seattle?"
"Why indeed?"
Izzie frowns, realizing she's been caught. She plops down on her office sofa and sags back against the cushion, shaking her head. She realizes there's no point in lying.
"I was there for a conference," she says finally. "And I initially didn't think I would have any free time, but I did so on my way to the airport I thought I would come by the hospital and see the new Chief of Staff in action. But when I got there, you were a little busy. I mean there were like two or three ambulances pulling into the Bay, right? So I left. I didn't realize you had seen me considering how chaotic it seemed to be."
"Why would you even come to the hospital and risk being seen by any number of the doctors who still work here that know you?" Bailey questions. "The fact that you would do that leads me to believe that maybe you were here to see someone else."
"Like who?"
Sighing, Bailey decides to try another approach. "You know, right before I saw you, Amelia Shepherd thought she saw Derek standing in that very spot and Amelia is trying to find out about Derek's Patient C."
"I already know that Bailey," she sighs. "Well, I didn't know that first part, but the second part I already knew." Her eyes focusing on the person still sitting in the chair, she remarks off-handedly, "Maybe Amelia has a tumor that makes her see dead people too."
Bailey's eyes widen. She senses that Izzie doesn't even realize what she's just said and knows she needs to tread carefully. She realizes Izzie is in denial about her condition.
So is that it?" she asks softly. "Were you here to see Amelia about the dead person you're seeing?"
"Bailey, if this is the only reason you called, I have paperwork to get back to."
"You didn't answer my question."
Izzie sighs. "I have to go."
"There is another reason I called," Bailey relents, realizing she needs to let the issue of Izzie's health slide for now. "Meredith has asked me for your phone number. She would like to talk to you, maybe even see you."
Izzie droops back into the couch, running her hand through her hair. She was both expecting this and not expecting this at the same time.
"What does she know?"
"That you are the founder of The Shep Mobility Network Center and ... "
"And?" Izzie's eyes narrow impatiently.
"And that Derek was an investor in the Center."
"How did she find that out?"
"Dr. Thomas apparently mentioned it to Dr. Hunt and Dr. Hunt blurted it out during a staff meeting. I think she has questions."
Izzie lets out small moan of displeasure. She's been dreading this moment for as long as she can remember. "I don't want her having my phone number, but I know I can't put this off or it will just get worse, so ... " She pauses, thinking. "Let her come with Drs. Robbins and Riggs on Friday. Maybe with them there, I can have more control over any conversation we have."
"Stevens, you do realize tomorrow is Friday."
"It is?" Izzie asks perplexed. She sits up, leaning over to grab her desk calendar. "So it is. So?"
"Soooo ... " Bailey sighs heavily now. She really hates being in the middle of other people's relationships. "She has kids and a job. Seriously, don't you think that's awfully short notice for her to go to Atlanta?"
"Did you just say 'seriously'?" Izzie can't help smirking.
"Stevens!" Bailey snaps impatiently.
"Bailey, you are the chief of staff, so I am sure you can arrange to have Mer's schedule cleared for this. As for her kids, they're only going to be here for a couple days, three at the most. I am sure she can find someone to look after them, like Alex for instance. It's not like he's working right now. And if she says she can't do it, then oh well. I don't want her to have my phone number and after what happened with Alex I really need to be able to exert some control over our meeting, so Friday it is. I will add her name to the chart in case she comes."
"Okay, I will let her know," Bailey grudgingly agrees. She pauses slightly before adding more meaningfully, "I hope you know what you are doing, Stevens."
Izzie flinches, realizing Bailey isn't talking about just this Meredith situation. "I do," she smiles, trying to project more confidence than she actually feels. "I'll talk to you soon, Bailey."
xxxxx
Daylight has long since faded, but still Izzie looks down onto the playground. She sometimes wishes she could be a kid again. The cool air emanating from outside feels good as she props her throbbing head against the window pane. Her phone vibrates on her desk, but she ignores it as she reaches into her desk drawer for her pill bottle.
"You know you are beginning to pop them like they're candy."
Izzie pops two in her mouth and swallows them dry, taking a deep breath. She looks over to the picture frames on her desk, gingerly fingering them. Tears spring to her eyes, but she blinks them away. She winces, as the pain intensifies. She makes her way back to the sofa. Sitting, she clutches her head and rocks back and forth, willing the pain to go away.
"Ignoring it and ignoring me is not going to make this go away and is not going to make this any less real."
"You have NEVER been real!" she finally screams. "And you're NOT real now!"
"Then do something about it, Dr. Stevens!"
Her phone vibrates again. She grabs it off her desk, but the number appearing on her screen is fuzzy. She closes her eyes tightly, counting to ten. She opens her eyes and looks at her hand, but doesn't see anything now. Everything is pitch black.
"My head hurts," she whimpers, as she leans down sideways onto the couch, the phone dropping to the floor as her eyes slowly close.