Chapter 11
Disclaimer: I do not own anything. Everything belongs to their rightful owners and I am not making any profit from this.
AN1: Thank you so much for the support. I decided to update twice in two days because I could.
Three days have past since Addison turned down the job of Chief of Surgery at Seattle Grace Mercy West, and for Addison it is a very important day as after work, which she plans to leave early, she is having the procedure to determine whether her fertility treatment have created any eggs that can be retrieved.
It is a Monday morning and Addison, Amelia, Callie, Arizona, Derek, Mark, Bailey, Teddy, and the other attending, are waiting in the main meeting room as Richard has called them all for a meeting.
"Any idea what this is about?" Teddy asks curious and as she does Derek and Addison exchange the quickest of glances, both of being pretty sure they can guess the reason, and before anyone can answer the door opens and Richard, with Owen, who is actually wearing a tie, walks in.
"Welcome, we've got two announcements today." Richard reveals, "The first is that starting today fifth-year residents will be rotating in as lead surgeons." He explains.
"We've alerted the morgue." Callie jokes, causing the others to look amused.
"Attendings, you will observe and stay silence." Richard reveals, "Offer to help only when you absolutely have to." He instructs.
"Yeah, before you help them swim, let 'em sink a little." Bailey explains, and the other attendings nod, all understanding that that is how residents learn.
"Now, the second announcement is that I have resigned as Chief of Surgery of Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital, effective immediately, I will stay on the surgical staff as a general surgery attending." Richard says, and as he does Derek, Addison, Amelia, and Bailey aren't surprised, though they are far from happy, but everyone else is, "I will now turn this meeting over to the new Chief of Surgery." Richard says, and as he does Addison thinks, just for a second that Derek glances over to her, but she isn't completely sure, "Doctor Owen Hunt." He says, and once he speaks, Owen steps forward, and everyone looks shocked.
"Thanks Doctor Webber, I know this comes as a surprise to all of you." Owen says, even though he knows most or even some is probably the more accurate description, "And I appreciate, over the next couple of days your help and your patient." Owen requests, as he knows he is going to need as much help as possible.
"Wait, what happened?" Arizona asks shocked, but no one answers, in fact Owen just continues to finish the meeting, like he wasn't interrupted at all, making it clear that he isn't going to answer.
For about ten minutes the meeting take place, Owen gives his instructions, and as he does those who don't know what happed, or who have only heard the rumours, are wondering what could possibly make Richard Webber resign as chief of surgery.
"And that's it for today." Owen says, ending the meeting, and once he ends it most of the attendings just leave though Teddy walks over to him.
"Congratulations Chief Hunt." Teddy says, smiling at her friend.
"Thank you, Teddy." Owen says, and once he does Addison walks over to Owen as well.
"Congratulations Owen." Addison says, with a smile, shaking his hand, trying to be supportive as possible.
"Thank you, Doctor Montgomery." Owen says, returning the handshake, and from the look on his face Addison knows that he knows she turned down Chief, but she is also pretty sure that he doesn't know the reason why she turned it down.
"You'll do great." Addison says, with a smile, before leaving the room, telling the truth as she decided that she would be completely supportive to the person who became chief, and with his experience she suspects that Owen will be pretty good at the job.
As Addison leaves the room, Derek, who was across the room, sees her leave and so he goes hurrying after her, as he needs to talk to her,
"Addison." Derek calls, seeing her a little way down the corridor and as Addison, having heard him, pauses and turns around Derek hurries over to her, "So, Owen as the new Chief, that's unexpected." He admits.
"Maybe not that much." Addison says, as she knows there weren't many options after she turned it down, as they walk down the corridor.
"You know, I thought Richard would pick you." Derek reveals, "I even thought that was why he wanted to talk to you alone Friday, to offer it to you." Derek comments, telling the truth.
"He did." Addison reveals, figuring that no one would mind if she told Derek, and considering everything else she is keeping from him she wants to tell him this.
"What?" Derek asks, looking at Addison in shock, as they both stop walking.
"I turned it down." Addison reveals, looking at Derek too.
"You turned down Chief." Derek says, looking at Addison in shock, as he knows how important Addison's career is to her.
"Yeah." Addison says, and as she does her pager goes off, "911, I've got to go." Addison reveals, once she checks it, before running away, and as she does Derek just watches Addison go in shock, as he knows that for Addison to turn down Chief of Surgery than whatever is going on with Addison must be even more serious than he thought.
A little while later, Amelia is in one of the viewing rooms, looking at the scans belonging to her patient, trying to figure out the best strategy to do what she has to do, when Meredith walks in,
"Doctor Shepherd." Meredith says, as she walks in.
"What do you want, Doctor Grey?" Amelia asks, not looking away from the scans, honestly not wanting to deal with her brother's wife more than she has to.
"I was wondering if I could scrub in on your surgeries with you." Meredith requests, as she has been thinking about it and if she can she would like to still work in Neurosurgery.
"Don't you scrub in with my brother, and only my brother." Amelia asks, "And don't you start solo surgeries today too?"
"I do." Meredith confirms, "And didn't Derek talk to you?"
"About what?" Amelia asks curious, and as she does Meredith realises that Derek hasn't told his sister anything, and so she unfortunately has to.
"Derek kicked me off his service, I'm not going to work with him anymore." Meredith explains, deciding not to mention about their marriage as that's Derek thing to tell his sister, "And I'm interested in Neurosurgery, so I was hoping that I could work with you."
"I'll let you know." Amelia says, before grabbing the scans and walking out of the room, knowing that she has to talk to her brother before deciding on anything, as she wants to know exactly what Meredith did to get kicked off his surgery, so she can decide whether she would even consider allowing Meredith to work with her.
While Meredith is talking to Amelia, Derek is looking for Mark, as he really needs to talk to him, and after a little bit of searching Derek finds his best friend in one of the conference rooms, and so he walks in.
"Addie turned down Chief." Derek says, as he walks into the room, without even saying hello.
"What?" Mark asks, looking up from what he is doing.
"Addison, she turned down Chief of Surgery." Derek explains, as he sits down near Mark.
"Addison Forbes Montgomery turned down Chief of Surgery?" Mark asks, sounding shocked, sounding like he can't believe the words that he is saying.
"Yeah." Derek confirms, with a nod, "She told me herself that Richard asked, and she turned him down." He explains.
"Okay, you're right." Mark realises, "Something's going on with her, something serious."
"That's what I've been saying." Derek says, leaning back in his chair, "I just wish I knew what." He admits, and as he does the two of them drift into silence, both trying to think of what is going on with Addison.
For a few minutes Derek and Mark sit in silence until the door opens and Amelia walks in the room, having been looking for her brother, and truthfully, she isn't surprised that he is with Mark, and knows that she can have this conversation with Mark present.
"Why'd you kick your wife off your service?" Amelia asks her brother curious.
"Hello to you too, Amy." Derek says, "And she's not my wife anymore." He reveals.
"She's not?" Amelia asks, sounding shocked, "Since when?" she asks.
"We ended things on Friday, officially." Derek explains, looking at his sister, "But it's been coming for a little while ago." He admits.
"Oh, is I'm sorry the right thing to say?" Amelia asks curious.
"No." Mark says, causing Derek to give him a look.
"Okay, you guys are done is that why you kicked her off your service?" Amelia asks curious.
"No, I kicked her off my service because I can't trust her with my patients." Derek explains.
"So, I have to deal with her?" Amelia asks, with a frown, "You can't trust her, and I'm supposed to?" she asks, wondering if she can find a reason not to allow Meredith to work with her.
"No, not if you don't want to." Derek tells his sister, "She tamped with a clinical trial, and the chief took the blame for her." He explains, "So if you don't want her to work on your surgeries either just say so."
"I'll think about it." Amelia responds, before heading to the door, and going to the door.
"Amy." Derek says, before she can leave, and Amelia turns back around, "Why did Addison turn down Chief of Surgery?" he asks curious.
"You'll have to ask her that." Amelia responds, knowing it is not her place to tell him that.
"Amelia…" Derek starts to say, in a warning tone of voice.
"Talk to Addie, Derek." Amelia says, stressing each of the words, before walking out of the room.
"She definitely knows something." Derek realises.
"Definitely." Mark confirms.
For the rest of the day Derek has been wanting to get another chance to talk to Addison, but she has had back to back Surgeries and left early he didn't get the chance.
It is mid-afternoon, and Addison is sitting on a treatment table, with Amelia sitting by her side, wanting to do what she can to help, and be there for, Addison,
"You know, if this hasn't worked, you do have other options." Amelia tells her, it being the first thing she can think to say.
"I know, I know all the options I have." Addison informs her, "Distract me." Addison requests.
"What?" Amelia asks, looking amused.
"I'm worrying, worrying a lot, I need to stop thinking about what is going on, I need to stop worrying, tell me something, anything, that will distract me from that." Addison requests, as medically she knows how much worse worrying can make things.
"Um…." Amelia says, searching her mind, "Derek and Meredith are officially over." She reveals, it being the first thing she can think to say.
"What?" Addison asks, looking at Amelia in surprise, "How do you know?"
"Derek told me." Amelia explains, "And they're over, over, like Derek said their marriage is over and he kicked her off his service."
"Really?" Addison asks, feeling surprised by that.
"Really, apparently after what she did he doesn't trust her with his patients, which is why she's off his service, I'm guessing he ended their marriage for a similar reason." Amelia explains.
"Huh." Addison says, not really sure what to say, as she isn't completely sure how she feels about it, but before she has to figure out what to say, or how she feels, the door opens and Doctor Hugh walks in.
"Afternoon Addison." Doctor Hugh says, as he walks over, "Now I know you know the procedure, but I'm still going to ask, would you like me to talk it through?" he asks curious.
"No, it's okay." Addison says, as Doctor Hugh sits down at the foot of the bed, and as he does Amelia takes Addison's hand, and holds it, knowing that it's time for her job as supportive sister to begin.
For the next few minutes Doctor Hugh works, checking to see how the treatments went,
"Okay, whatever you're seeing just tell me." Addison requests as the waiting is driving her crazy.
"Four." Doctor Hugh answers, "We got four eggs." He reveals, and as he does Addison looks at Amelia in amazement.
"I'm not the eggless wonder?" Addison asks shocked, as she moves the screen to have a look.
"You're not the eggless wonder." Amelia says with a smile, knowing how great that is, how much that would mean to Addison.
"Addison, I'm going to sedate you now, and we're going to retrieve the eggs." Doctor Hugh reveals.
"Okay." Addison says, with a nod.
"Lean back, Addie, it's the start." Amelia says, with a supportive smile, and Addison leans back and focuses on what she knows is going to happen next as Doctor Hugh sedates her.
Two hours later Addison has had her eggs retrieved, and spent a little while resting at the clinic, before Amelia drove her home, and is helping her into their house.
"You feel okay?" Amelia asks Addison concerned, as Addison refused to take pain medication home, and as she knows exactly why that was she feels really bad about that, and concerned about Addison.
"Just a little tired, but that's normal." Addison says, knowing that.
"Do you think you can walk upstairs, or do you want some help?" Amelia asks curious.
"I need some help." Addison admits as she probably could, but it would be better to have Amelia's help.
"Okay." Amelia says, and she and Addison head towards the stairs, and once they get to the stairs Amelia helps Addison up the stairs and to her bedroom, and over to her bed, "I'll be right downstairs, then upstairs, if you need anything." She says, once Addison is sitting on the bed, already wearing something she can sleep in as those were the clothes she brought to the clinic.
"Thank you, Amelia, really." Addison says, "I couldn't do this without you." She admits.
"Yeah, you could have." Amelia tells her, knowing that, "Get some rest, Addie." She says, giving Addison a supportive smile, before heading downstairs.
Just as Amelia walks down the last of the stairs, and is about to head into the kitchen, when she hears the doorbell, and so she turns and sees Derek standing at the door, and so she walks over to answer.
"Hey Derek." Amelia says, opening the door and letting him in.
"Amy." Derek greats, "Is Addie home?" he asks curious, as Amelia lets him into the house.
"Yeah, but she's in bed, asleep." Amelia explains.
"It's early." Derek notes, feeling his worry once more increase, as he knows it's extremely odd for Addison to go to bed early.
"Yeah, she was tired." Amelia explains, trying to stick as close to the truth as possible.
"Okay, I guess I'll talk to her tomorrow." Derek says, trying to hide as concerned he is about Addison.
"Yeah, night Derek." Amelia says to her brother, and once she speaks Derek hugs his little sister and leaves.
After she watches her brother walk down the front steps Amelia heads to the kitchen so that she can make herself some dinner as due to the fact that she didn't want Addison to wake up alone she hasn't eaten yet.
The following morning Amelia is in the kitchen making breakfast, something which she has gotten into the habit of doing as Addison doesn't really cook, when Addison walks in,
"Hey, how you feeling?" Amelia asks curious.
"A little sore, and tired, but okay." Addison admits, as she goes to the fridge to get some of her green juice.
"That's normal, right?" Amelia asks, as she thinks so, but she wants to be sure.
"Yes, completely." Addison answers.
"Good, that's good." Amelia admits, "When's your first surgery today?" she asks curious.
"Not for a few hours. I pushed one back so that I could have a chance to rest." Addison explains, as she sits down at the small kitchen table.
"That was probably a good choice." Amelia admits.
"I thought so." Addison admits.
"You missed Derek last night, he came by just after you went to bed." Amelia reveals, as she continues to make breakfast.
"Oh?" Addison asks, "Why was that?" she asks curious.
"He wanted to talk to you." Amelia explains, "I said you were asleep, I think he found that suspicious." She admits.
"I'm not surprised." Addison admits, knowing Derek better than anyone knows how strange it is for her to go to bed early, "I told him that I turned down Chief of Surgery." She reveals.
"I know, he asked me why." Amelia explains.
"What did you say?" Addison asks curious.
"That he had to talk to you." Amelia admits, "Addie, I think he's really worried about you." Amelia admits.
"I know." Addison says, as she didn't think Derek would ever be concerned about her anymore, but the last few weeks have told her differently, "I'll talk to him, once I figure out what I'm going to say."
"I'd say you're going to have to figure it out today." Amelia comments.
"I don't know if I'll have a chance, I have back to back Surgeries." Addison explains.
"Is that smart considering everything?" Amelia asks curious, as she is pretty sure that that would mean Addison is pushing herself too far.
"I've pushed things back, I should be fine." Addison admits.
"Okay, that's good." Amelia says, looking relieved, and as she does her pager goes off, "I've got to get to the hospital, I'll see you later."
"See you later." Addison says.
"Enjoy breakfast." Amelia says, before leaving, and as she leaves Addison gets up and walks over to the stove to get breakfast planning on spending the next couple of hours resting before she spends a long day at the hospital.
At the hospital Derek is walking up to near the OR board where Owen, Teddy, Callie, and Bailey are, having been looking around the hospital for a little while.
"Anyone know where Addison is?" Derek asks curious, desperately needing to talk to her, especially after what happened the night before.
"She's not here." Owen reveals, "She's pushed back her surgeries, her first one is at eleven." Owen explains, before walking away.
"I've got surgery." Teddy says, before walking in the opposite direction as Owen.
"Okay, why are you looking for Addison with that look on your face?" Callie asks curious.
"Because something is seriously wrong." Derek explains, "She turned down Chief of Surgery, and I…." Derek starts to explain.
"Addison turned down Chief of Surgery?" Bailey asks, sounding shocked.
"Yes." Derek confirms, "And I went by hers and Amy's last night, early, and Amy said she was asleep." Derek explains, "Do either of you know anything?" she asks curious.
"No more than you." Callie says, clearly looking concerned, "What about you, Miranda?" she asks, looking at her friend.
"I asked her how much longer she's going to pretend to be okay when she's not and she said just a few more days." Bailey explains.
"When was that?" Derek asks.
"Friday." Bailey answers.
"Which means it's been a few days." Derek admits, "I've got to get to surgery, if either of you get a chance try and find out what's going on." Derek requests, before walking away.
"Think he's going to realise what is obvious?" Callie asks curious,
"Not a chance." Bailey confirms, before walking away.
"That's what I was thinking." Callie admits, as she continues to do her work.
After spending a couple of hours at home Addison went to work and spent the rest of the day in surgery, because of that Derek, nor anyone else, got a chance to talk to Addison.
Having spent the entire day before in surgery Addison wouldn't be surprised to be feeling a little weak, but as she walks towards the hospital with Amelia Addison realises that not only is she feeling weak, but pretty horrible, though she is doing her best not to let that show.
"So, you going to spend the day in the OR to avoid talking to Derek again?" Amelia asks curious.
"I wasn't avoiding Derek yesterday." Addison reveals, "I just had a lot of surgeries to catch up on." Addison admits.
"Right." Amelia comments, sounding disbelieving.
"I wasn't!" Addison exclaims, "And I have one surgery this morning, and after that I'll find Derek and talk to him." Addison admits, telling the truth.
"Good, if the rumours are true he's spent the last couple of days trying to get a chance to talk to you." Amelia admits.
"Sure, he has." Addison says, not completely sure if she can believe that, and the two of them continue to walk into the hospital together.
A few hours later, Derek, who has decided he will find Addison and get her to talk to him, is once more walking up to the surgical board where Mark, Callie, Arizona, and Bailey are,
"Has Addison left OR two yet?" Derek asks, as he walks up to the others.
"Not yet." Callie answers, "if you're waiting for her, according to the board, she should be done any minute." She reveals.
"Good." Derek says, looking relieved.
"You're really determined to talk to her." Mark says, honestly feeling rather amused.
"I really am." Derek admits.
"Well, you're going to get a chance." Arizona says, seeing Addison and Derek turns to see Addison, walking up to where he, Mark, Callie, Arizona, and Bailey are, and as she walks up to them it is clear that Addison isn't looking too good.
"Addison, you okay?" Callie asks curious, once Addison gets close to the others.
"Fine." Addison says, it being such a habit that she doesn't even think about the fact that she is completely lying.
"You really don't look it." Bailey reveals, "Just for the record." She says, saying what they are all thinking, but Bailey is probably the only one who can get away with talking like that.
"I skipped breakfast, that's probably it." Addison reveals, telling the truth, because she did skip breakfast, but she is also pretty sure that skipping breakfast shouldn't make her feel this horrible.
"Then you need to eat lunch." Derek comments, once again being sure that there is something that Addison isn't saying, as he has seen what Addison is like after skipping breakfast, countless times, and Addison doesn't look like how she is currently looking after skipping breakfast.
"Yeah, I know." Addison admits, "I think I'm going to head down to the cafeteria and have something to eat before my next surgery." Addison reveals.
"You know, I was going to get something to eat, I'll join you." Derek says, knowing that this is his chance to get Addison to talk to him, and as he does Addison nods, and takes a step, but once she takes the step Addison pauses and gets an odd look on her face,
"Addison?" Mark asks, looking concerned.
"I'm…" Addison starts to say, but before she can finish what she is going to say, her eyes roll back, and she collapses.
"ADDISON!" Derek yells, trying to get to her before she hits the ground, feeling completely terrified as he watches her fall, almost like the world is moving in slow motion.