First Day, Second Year: Izzie and Bailey
Disclaimer: I don't own Grey's Anatomy.
I Know How You Feel
Chapter 3
Scene 4
"Isobel Stevens! Come into my office, now!"
Izzie cringed at the stentorian tones from Dr. Bailey. She meekly entered the small crowded space.
"Yes, Dr. Bailey?"
Play it safe, Izzie, act like you don't know why she's called you in here.
"Dr. Stevens, I won't have it. Whatever imbecilic plot you've cooked up this time, forget it. Your actions four months ago nearly destroyed your career and harmed at least eight others," Bailey sat behind her desk like a queen about to order an execution.
"Dr. Bailey, I..."
"Oh no, I don't want to hear it. You have no right, Stevens, to arrange people's lives to suit yourself! Haven't you learned anything?! How selfish are you?! Oh yes! I know! I heard you tell your boss you've slept with her husband! Are you drunk or just plain stupid?!" Bailey had steam coming out her ears.
"Dr. Bailey, I love..." Izzie had tears in her big brown eyes when she tried to explain herself.
"NO! Absolutely not! We all had to hear this before, when you made the disastrous decision to criminally cut Denny Duquette's LVAD wire. Your personal feelings of love do not excuse your behavior. You are a physician, Stevens! You have to take responsibility for your own emotional health. You must learn to consider your words and actions wisely and well, before you open your mouth or take one step!" Bailey leaned forward and glared.
"George O'Malley is a newlywed – a married man! He's also an intern who failed his intern exam, in large part due to all the terrible personal trauma he's had to endure over the last year, not the least of which was your unbelievable scandal, and the grief afterwards! Why are you sabotaging him? He has told me that he wants nothing to do with you and that you are, in effect, stalking him. You're the reason he was trying to transfer to Mercy West. He wants his wife, Stevens, and he wants to pass his intern year. Leave him alone! Think of someone besides yourself for once!"
"Dr. Bailey, I... I am thinking of George. He loves me, not her. I know he does," Izzie tried to convince herself as much as Bailey.
"Izzie Stevens! Open your ears! George told me he wants his wife! What twisted part of you chooses to 'love' impossible, unavailable men, like a heart transplant patient on the verge of death, or a newly wed intern, your best friend, whose dad just died? Any emotion that causes you to behave as selfishly as you have in both cases isn't love, Stevens! It is some kind of sickness – self absorbed obsession, if you ask me."
Bailey sat back in her chair, suddenly exhausted from the tongue lashing she'd just administered. She studied Izzie, but couldn't tell if she'd made an impact. All right then!
"Izzie Stevens, I have one more thing to say to you. If you pursue this, if you disrupt George's second try, if you stalk him, if you continue to exhibit this continuing sickness, I will take whatever action I can against you. I will withdraw all my support for your continued residency in this program. I will do everything I can to assist Dr. Torres-O'Malley in getting rid of you. I already have a call in to your psychiatrist and your peer review council. I feel your actions demonstrate clearly that you are in fact not well yet. Now, go. And try not to cut any LVAD wires today."
Izzie stood for a moment trying to think of what to say. There was nothing. She turned, still unable to meet Bailey's eyes, and left.