Title: Tangled Web
Author: Farrah
Disclaimer: If I owned Grey's then I would not be slaving in college classes and pulling all nighters drinking more coffee than the cast of Grey's seems to :-(
Summary: Meredith didn't deserve the cards she was being dealt, so she took matters into her own hands. She left, but the death of a loved one brought her back. But when she returns, she's not alone. Post Into You Like a Train episode. Set six years in the future.
Please Review. It keeps me going!
Chapter 13:
- Seattle Grace Hospital -
Mark met the group in the cafeteria just as they were about to leave, "Where's Meredith" he asked George who was in the front of the group.
"She left about 5 minutes ago to see a patient"
"Oh okay, Alex I need to talk to you. Meet me in my office okay." He said as he turned around walking to the elevators.
He saw nurses whispering as he passed, hoping the news of he and Addison leaving the on-call room wasn't the rumor on their lips at the time.
He couldn't think about that right now, if he let it control his thoughts he would lose him mind. He needed to see Jeremy, it was just after 12 and he wanted to see his son, so he headed to the daycare.
"Dr. Grey!" Addison shouted as she saw Meredith down the hall.
"Yes, Dr. Shepherd?" Meredith turned to bring her full attention to the older woman
"A word?" Addison said visibly upset leading Mer away from the nurse's desk.
"Why have you scheduled a surgery without consulting me first? I just got out of Theresa's room and she says you told her that you're not inducing labor." Addison puffed
"Because I'm not. Look I could go into detail on why I'm doing this surgery and we could have a back and forth of ideas but it's not necessary because I'm still going to do the surgery anyway. That baby needs a fighting chance at a normal life and that's what I'm giving it." Meredith stood strong on her feet.
"At the expense of both of their lives!" Addison could not believe how stubborn Meredith was being about the issue.
"Look you asked me to consult and that's what I'm doing. You could have had you're husband do it but you asked me. You wanted to see me in action? You wanted to see what I got, exactly how I operate? Well now you've got it."
"You are completely disregarding protocol not to mention attempting to perform off the wall surgeries with patients that aren't yours. I don't know what they let you get away with wherever you transferred from but that's not how we do things here."
By this time a pretty decent sized crowd had formed, of course pretending to do work, but obviously just eavesdropping, including Christina.
"Listen I'm not here to cause friction nor am I here step on anyone's toes. I'm confident in my abilities and I know you've never watched me and probably haven't followed my career any but I have a proven track record behind me. Still, I have the surgery scheduled, so if you want it off the board I suggest you go speak with the chief and have him do it because I won't. I'll be in my office until time for surgery." Meredith calmly spoke, walking off toward her office.
She knew she could do this and she wasn't about to let anyone deter her just because they have never seen it done before.
'Way to go Mer' was all Christina could think to say about her friend in that moment. Sure when it came to her personal life Mer could never manage to pull that off but for a patient and her skills in the OR, Mer was able to defend herself against anyone.
"You are out of your mind!" Alex told Mark shaking his head.
"C'mon Alex, I thought you had more balls than this." Mark laughs as his friend paces
"My balls are plenty big thank you very much. But what I am not going to do is steal a case from neuro, from Derek Shepherd. It's suicide. Do you know what he can do to my career?" Alex quipped
"Nothing! You're an attending now, all he can do is complain to the chief. Besides I'm the head of this Dept, it'll come down on me, but trust me when I say, the chief will go for this."
Mark could see Alex straighten after remembering he was an attending, there really wasn't anything Derek could do.
"Let me see the file" Alex didn't know how he let Mark goad him into this. But this case was amazing. They didn't come around often. They could make history in this hospital with a case like this.
"15 years old and his CDD is this far along?" Alex asked looking at the photos in front of him and the details of Jake Burton.
"Yeah. We could help this kid have a normal face again." He normally would have seen it as a way to be published but now that he had Jeremy he couldn't help but think that this could have easily been his son. He genuinely wanted to help. If he got published in the meantime it would just be icing on the cake.
"I'm in. Let's go talk to the chief" Alex said full steam ahead.
"Hold on there speed racer, not so fast. First we have to figure out if their willing to do it. Which is where you come in. Were both going to have to put on the charm if this is going to work." Mark smiled
"This is going to bite me in the ass, I can tell already. Crazy. The two of you are just plain crazy!" he shook his head, happy though, if it weren't for Mark he would never have known about this case. He'll probably never see another one in his lifetime. So screw whatever may come he was doing this.
"What do you mean the two of us?"
"Meredith. She's working with Derek Shepherd's wife on a case. I'm sure you'll meet her at some point. But anyway, it's a spina bifida case and the nut job you call your girlfriend is going in laparo."
"When?" Mark asked excited for Meredith but worried with her being around Addison.
"Surgery is in like an hour and a half. Were all headed to the theatre in like an hour to get a first row seat."
"Okay, well how about we go talk with this kids parents and go there after."
"Yeah … Let's go!"
Derek Shepherd just got out of his emergency craniotomy. It went wonderfully. Today had been a good day for him. Meredith Grey had returned, she didn't hate him, her friends still despised him but she didn't care, she spoke with him, walked with him, and even laughed at his jokes. Not to mention she got along with his wife, something even he was having a problem with lately. Today was a good day.
His Craniodiaphyseal Dysplasia (CDD) case came in today and he needed to remove the tumors growing inward toward his patient's brain, it would be tough but today, he felt like he could do anything.
He went over to the OR board, he knew he had no more scheduled surgeries but it was his routine, but when he got there he never expected to see what he saw.
Surgery: Open Utero Surgery Dept. Neuro/Pre-Natal
Surgeon: M. Grey/ A. Shepherd Time: 3:00 pm
OR: 3 SB Addt'l: Spina Bifida/Laparoscopic/Da Vinci
"Umm I think you have this one wrong" Derek said speaking to the nurse pointing to Meredith and Addison's surgery.
"I thought so too Dr. Shepherd but I had it confirmed with both doctors. They say it's right!"
Derek didn't say another word. He went to find Meredith to see what the hell she was thinking. He liked having her back but he couldn't stand by while she killed a patient, two for that matter. He assumed she would wait until birth or have emergency c-section but not this. What the hell was she thinking? Laparo, on a pregnant woman? His couldn't let this happen.
Addison barged into the chief's office not thinking that he could be in a meeting, she was furious. She was furious about Mark, about Meredith taking liberties with her patient, furious that Meredith Grey didn't take the advice of a senior attending and cancel the surgery. But she was right, there was protocol and once a surgery is scheduled only the doctor themselves or the chief could change it.
"Mark!" Addison said as Mark turned around in his chair.
"Can I help you Addison" The chief admonished, obviously upset about the intrusion
"I need to speak with you about a patient sir" Addison said looking down, knowing that she was wrong to barge into his office like that.
"Can't it wait?"
"No sir, it can't. The surgery is just under an hour and I need you to cancel it."
"Is the patient yours?"
"Yes Chief"
"Im confused Addison… Why would I need to cancel you're surgery? Why can't you do it?"
"I can leave Chief for you to handle-" Mark started to say but was cut off by the chief
"Nonsense!" he replied to Mark and looked back at Addison "I'm still looking for an answer"
"It's Dr. Grey Chief" Addison pursed her lips, receiving full attention from Mark and the Chief
"I asked her for a consult on a patient who's 8 ½ months along, recently admitted. The child has spina bifida and Dr. Grey plans to do the surgery laparoscopically sir. She's going to kill them both."
The chief sat with a pensive look on his face. "What did Dr. Grey say about this? I trust you've raised your issues with her?"
"She seems to think that there are no issues with her approach"
"Well if she doesn't think her approach poses any threat to the patient then we should trust she knows what she's doing. I doubt any surgeon here would take unnecessary risks at the expense of their patient's lives." Mark interjected visibly pissing Addison off.
"Dr. Sloan is right; I think we need to trust that Dr. Grey knows what she's doing"
"But sir" Addison could believe her ears,
"No buts Addison, I suggest you prepare for surgery" The chief told her focusing back in Mark so she left.
If Grey got the okay for the surgery then she would make sure she would be there to save her patients. She owed that to them
Derek was pissed! He stopped into Jake Burton's room to check on him before looking for Meredith and was informed by his parents that two men from plastics said there was a chance for their son's face to be fixed. They told Jake and his parents that it could be completed while he was under for Derek's procedure. They would get a two for one. Who says that? A two for one? What is this a shoe sale? This is brain surgery, very serious brain surgery.
Of course he felt for the kid. Of course it would be good for him to have a normal face, one with bone structure and definition, but he had neurosurgery to worry about as well, and that took precedent.
His good day was becoming less good.
What pissed Derek off even more was the fact that he didn't know who the plastics guy was. He knew from Olivia that Alex went into the room but he didn't know who the 'new head of plastics' doctor was. Alex knew better than to go to a patient behind his back but this guy obviously needed a lesson in proper hospital protocol and hierarchal functioning.
He needed to speak with the chief to lodge a formal complaint. If this guy didn't know how to speak and work with others in a sensible manner then he wouldn't do it either, he was going straight to the chief.
"What are you doing here?" Addison asked as she walked out of the Chief's office
"I need to see the chief" he said as he made a move to go around her
"What for?" she asked as she blocked his attempt.
"What is with you?" he asked her not really in a playful mood
"I need your help" she quickly retorted getting a negative look from him but before he could say no she said "with Meredith Grey" which obviously piqued his interest
"What's this I hear about you two doing open utero through laparo? Whose idea was that anyway?" Derek wondered
"Hers" Addison retorted with contempt "And for some reason the chief is letting her go through with it." Addison continued still shocked by it all
"What? There's no way! Let me speak to him" he tried for the door again and this time she reached for his hand. There was no way she could let Derek go into the chief's office not with Mark still in there.
"Derek he's not listening to reason. That's why I need your help. I need you to come with me to the OR. I need you in there for when this goes horribly wrong, to step in and help that child."
Derek looked apprehensive. He didn't want to be in the middle of it, but Addison was right, he couldn't let a mistake by the Chief and Meredith kill someone.
Derek's day just officially turned bad.
"Please tell me she's done this before" only receiving a stare from Mark. He knew that Meredith was innovative in her approaches and was extremely good at what she did but he didn't know why he gave her the okay just now. Was it because he trusted her skills or because of their relationship? He just had to trust his instincts and her abilities.
"So do I have a yes Richard? I would really like to start making preparations if I do."
"You have my blessing; I'll speak with Shepherd about it." Richard said rising from his chair.
"The publicity would be really good for the hospital" Mark smiled as he shook Richard's hand
"It's your first day here and already you two are making enemies…you're going to drive me into early retirement if you keep this up." The chief mused as they walked out of his office together.
Alex joined the two men "Been waiting outside this whole time Karev?" The Chief asked knowing full well the answer
"Yes Chief" he replied sheepishly "So?" he asked Mark
"We got it!" Mark smiled giving Alex a high five
"Well let's go watch Mer make history" Alex said grinning happily over the bridge. He got his case!
"Which operating room is it in?" The chief asked
"OR 3. Smart Building" the chief acknowledged him with a nod and the trio made their way over to watch their girl in action.
The trio met up with Christina, Burke, George, Izzie and Bailey outside the theater. They took up the entire front row. Burke and Bailey had got wind of the gossip and there was no way they weren't about to see Grey in action. For everyone except Mark it would be the first time they got to witness a solo surgery by Meredith, but also the first time they had witnessed the method. It was a full house. There was barely standing room left and the show was about to begin.
Nurses were milling about getting everything prepped for Dr. Grey to begin the procedure. Theresa had just been rolled in and the nurses were tending to her, making sure she was as comfortable as could be.
Meredith watched them all through the glass in the prep room where she lathered her hands with soap all the way up her elbow. She turned as the door opened; it was Addison, followed by Derek, both in fresh scrubs.
"You have got to be kidding me" Meredith grumbled under her breath whilst washing the soap off her hands.
"Dr. Grey" Addison steely said as she began washing her hands
"Dr. Shepherd" Meredith replied matching her tone to that of Addison's "Have you come to talk me out of it?" Meredith asked looking Derek deep in the eye, visibly perturbed
"No. Simply here for assistance is all." He replied gently
"Assistance, funny, don't you mean as a precaution?" she asked still sour about the situation
"Meredith" he started to say as he walked closer
"No. Stop. I'm done talking. Obviously the only way to get you two off my back is for me to show you!" She said as she breezed between them putting her back to the door and disappearing into the OR.
"It's like she thinks she has something to prove" Addison shook her head walking toward the door herself
"Well doesn't she?" Derek asked but she didn't hear him she was already in the OR.
He watched as Meredith walked over to Theresa and whispered something in her ear then signal the anesthesiologist to put her under. This was about to get interesting.
"What is Derek Shepherd doing in there?" the Chief asked, everyone could see he was upset
"Maybe Meredith wanted some assistance" Izzie said softly sitting on the far end, causing the entire row to turn and look at her as if she was just a dumb blonde.
"What! It's possible!" she defended herself
"I bet Satan brought him in for backup" Christina said disgustedly "She tried to tear into Mer this morning about the surgery"
"She did what?" Mark hissed staring a hole in the back of Addison's head from above
"Don't worry your girl held her own, put the smackdown on Satan"
"Christina!" Burke and Izzie admonished, she was really becoming too liberal with the name calling.
"Atta girl Mer" Alex hooted alerting everyone in the OR just how large the crowd had built
Meanwhile behind the gang Bainbridge's interns sat listening to every word, trying to get more scoop on the new attending.
Meredith looked up after hearing her name and saw all her friends in the front row along with Mark smiling down at her. She couldn't focus on them though, nor on team Shepherd that was in the corner in deep conversation. It was all about Theresa and baby Kevin from this point, but being a new hospital she needed to make some things clear.
"Alright, I want to thank all of you for being here today, for being on my service, and apart of this team today." She stopped to look around the room at everyone "And for all of you up there watching that know you should be doing something else than looking in on my surgery" she received a collective chuckle from everyone.
"All jokes aside" Her voice became more authoritative and even her posture, she was in the zone and everyone could see it.
"This is my OR, and in my OR there a couple of ground rules, things I have come to expect from my team. I run a tight ship, I expect a well oiled machine in here. That means that I want perfection. Mistakes don't happen in my OR, they might happen out there (she points toward the door) but not in here. If for any reason you do not feel you can meet that standard, leave, and don't ever step foot in my OR until you can." She paused to see if anyone left and no one did.
"Good. If at any time you feel that you are at risk of falling below that standard I understand, simply inform me, recues yourself and find me a replacement. This surgery in particular will be quite long; if anything from sleep deprivation to lack of interest begins to take hold, you will fit into this category, and will be expected to act accordingly. Gossiping is not allowed in my OR, I don't give a rat's ass as to who's sleeping with who or whose on the outs with someone this week or any week for that matter."
By this time Meredith was met with a sea of fearful and apprehensive faces.
The Chief her friends, Bailey, Burke, and everyone else in the theater were beyond shocked.
"Don't be too alarmed, I'm not a complete tyrant. My goal when I step into an OR is to save a life. Not to win an award, receive praise or notoriety, but to save a life. I need for each member of my team to comprehend and accept the brevity of the situation in which we embark upon. I want you all to be comfortable yet calculated. Precision and efficiency is expected of me and therefore expected of you. I have no problems answering questions, as this is a teaching hospital after all, it's why I'm here, that goes for everyone (looking pointedly at the nurses and interns). These are the rules and guidelines of my OR and I intend to keep it that way, so speak now or forever hold your peace."
Meredith received laughs from everyone but no issues arose.
"In that case, it's a beautiful day to make a difference, so let's get down and dirty!"
"Ten Blade" Meredith asked and received it promptly. Once making the incision she maneuvered the four arms of the Da Vinci and placed them into Theresa's abdomen.
"give me 10 psi inflation please."
"Ummm Dr. Grey?" the nurse spoke timidly
"Yes?" Meredith asked looking up from the four tentacles before her, each acting as a hand.
"It's normally 22 psi" he informed, hoping he didn't over step his bounds.
"It is normally 22, but, because she is pregnant and so far along 10 psi should suffice. Also, it wouldn't snap her ribs like twigs."
"Yes doctor." About 30 seconds later he said "inflated to 10 psi."
"Thank you." Meredith said as she took control of the levers in front of her slowly making her incisions into the uterus. Once in she inserted the laparascope which allowed them to get a full view of the baby via the lens attached to it. There was a large sigh of relief from Addison heard which prompted Meredith to involve her in the surgery.
"How are Kevin's vital's doing?"
"He's fine! No change so far." Addison informed, extremely relieved
"Dr. Evans, you still with me?" Meredith grinned as she looked at the intern who seemed transfixed by what he saw on the screen.
"Yes, Dr. Grey"
"So can you tell me why you think I decided on this approach?" She wondered if anyone figured it out, because certainly Derek and Addison hadn't, even her friends wondered.
"Well usually the method would be to have a c-section and remove the baby in order to repair the damage but this way usually ends with paralyses or worse for the newborn."
"Go on" Meredith coaxed, liking his thought process
"If I were to guess, since the opening is so large, stemming from C3 to L6, to remove the child from the safety of the amniotic fluid encasing him now would cause certain paralyses, possible hydrocephaly and most likely neurological defects. Going in this way to repair the damage, albeit quite unorthodox, would provide for a higher percentage of closing the opening correctly without the risk of all the things I just mentioned. I believe."
"Well your belief didn't steer you wrong because that is absolutely correct" Meredith said as she continued to work
About three hours had passed and everything was going smoothly and Meredith was about halfway through. Derek stayed in the OR not for precautionary measures but simply to get a firsthand look at it. He had never seen this performed but here she was his junior performing a surgery that even he had found difficult. Everything had to be so much more precise. Meredith was limited to four tiny incisions which provided a small amount of depth and range, it did indeed make the surgery longer, but it was worth it to allow the child the chance at a normal life.
Conversation had flowed in the OR moving from sports to vacation destinations to music. No one would've guessed that Mer would have been that laid back in the OR after the speech she gave.
"Evans come here, I want you to watch these, keep an eye on the monitor and let me know if that baby moves" Lucas came over and did just as he was told. Meredith stepped back removing her gloves.
"Is there a problem?" Derek asked stepping forward
"No, just need to stretch!" She said as she moved to the corner of the room and twisted and pulled every one of her limbs to loosen herself up.
"Coffee, Dr. Grey?" a nurse asked walking over to Meredith
"No, I'm fine, thank you." she said walking back over to the operating table taking her spot back.
"Would you look at that!" Meredith smiled and stared at the screen.
"Is he?" Addison stood mesmerized
"Yeah, he's holding onto the rod." Meredith giggled amazed as she wondered if the baby somehow knew it was helping to fix him, but maybe it was just wishful thinking.
"Won't that cause a problem? If he holds onto it, you can't finish" The nurse that informed Meredith of the 22 psi asked
"Oh he'll let go soon enough, the rod is way colder than what he's use to having in there." As soon as the words left Meredith's mouth baby Kevin let go and allowed Meredith to continue.
"How did you know that? Where did you come up with this method" Derek asked wondering where this wealth of knowledge came from
"I didn't come up with it. I call it the Xaney method but I've been instructed not to by Xane."
"Who's Xane?" Derek asked not recalling any neurosurgeon by the name
"About 3 years ago I was given the opportunity to go to Zurich and do an intensive two month fellowship in laparoscopy and cryosurgery. That's where I first saw this performed, among other groundbreaking surgeries, none of which have been introduced to the practicing public as yet."
"So you've done this before then?" Derek asked amazingly intrigued as to the possible techniques he was yet to learn.
"This particular surgery, no, I've only observed."
"Why didn't you just say so?"
"Because no one asked" she said looking at him for a quick moment "Everyone assumed I was being reckless, and had no clue what I was talking about."
"How are you going to close the uteral incisions?" Addison asked, feeling horrible about making assumptions
"You're about to see for yourself" Meredith smiled. She began cauterizing the incision until it formed a hardened layer. She repeated the process twice more and for the fourth incision, she stitched it back together since it was impossible to cauterize from within.
Mer removed the last arm of the Da Vinci from Theresa's abdomen and proceeded to suture the stomach incisions, her sutures were a work of art, taught to her by none other than Mark Sloan.
"Alright people let's get cleaned up!" she said as she put the last of her tools down.
Meredith was met with a large round of applause, smiles and many pats on the back. She hadn't realized that the theater had filled with people again and was overwhelmed by the support given by everyone. Even Addison gave her a nod of thanks or congratulations, she wasn't quite sure which it was, as she wheeled Theresa's bed out of the OR.
"That was… it was…"
Meredith stopped in her tracks as she realized Derek had been waiting for her in the scrub room.
"It was?" Meredith asked as she scrubbed her hands waiting for Derek to finish his sentence.
"Amazing, just amazing, like, I don't know" he mused as he passed her paper towel.
She couldn't help but laugh as she dried her hands.
"You haven't had a surgery high in a long time have you?" She asked loving the fact that he was confused.
"That's what this is? That's what you think?" He asked giving her the look that they use to share and for a little while, she was lost in it almost immediately.
"Yeah I do" She said to him needing to make a quick exit.
"Meredith is a surgery god" George nearly shouted
"That girl has talent" Bailey quipped still awe struck by Meredith's precision,
"Forget talent did you hear her before she started? Meredith is the new Nazi! She is scary." Izzie said doing a fake shiver for effect.
Miranda smiled as she walked behind the group, Izz was right, Meredith made her proud.
"She's her mother's child. Come on, we've all heard the stories of Ellis Grey" Burk spoke for the first time in hours. He couldn't believe Meredith's precision. She would have been great in Cardio.
"She's already surpassed her mother. Ellis didn't have that kind of skill for another 2 or 3 years, Meredith is powering through her mother's timeline" Richard spoke with pride in his voice
Alex and Mark ran to meet the group "Did we miss it? Is it over? Mark asked half winded
"Yeah she finished without a hitch, showed the she-devil. You should have seen her face when Mer closed up!" Christina said knowing she would be chastised again but not caring
"Dammit!" Alex cursed under his breath but spotted Meredith down the hall "Meredith!" he ran up to her and gave her a huge hug "You were amazing! Where the hell did you learn that?" He asked not really expecting an answer.
"You were great babe" Mark said as he kissed her and put his arm around her. The group chatted for a few minutes and dispersed after once again congratulating Mer on her surgery. Christina was slightly envious, Mer knew, but not in a bad way, Mer knew if Christina thought her skills good enough to envy then it was a compliment.
It was a quarter to ten and Meredith was exhausted. The surgery took a lot out of her but she stayed around till Theresa awoke so she could tell her the good news in person. Mark retrieved Jeremy and said goodnight to Preston, Dani and Christina as they were headed home as well.
Meredith waited downstairs for her two boys to meet her in the lobby.
"You were a rockstar today." Alex whispered in her ear from behind startling her a little
"Thanks, Alex. I feel like I came in with something to prove and now that's out of the way things will be a lot easier from now on.
"You had nothing to prove Mer. Not to us anyway. But I will say you made us want to step up our game though."
Meredith laughed as she saw the elevator open with Mark and Jeremy. "My rides here, time to go home." she said as she kissed Alex's cheek
"Where is home? With everything going on today I never asked where you guys were staying… you usually come to the house"
"Mark and I got a new place in a subdivision called Coral Heights" she said but never saw the color drain from Alex's face. This was the second time today Mer did that to him.
"Ready to go babe?" Mark asked as he reached her
"Yeah. I'll see you tomorrow Alex!" She spoke to Mark then Alex
"Later man" Mark said as well as they made their way to the exit
"Tomorrow" Alex whispered, just loud enough for them to hear
"What's your deal?" Christina asked Alex walking up to him a short while after Mer left, Dani asleep in her arms, Burke on her side
"Meredith lives in Coral Heights" he stared knowingly back at Christina
"No way!"
"Yes way!"
"I swear that girl has no luck at all" Christina mused as she walked away shaking her head, but she was tired, they would just have to deal with it tomorrow.
Alex couldn't believe. Christina was right, Meredith didn't have any luck whatsoever. What were the chances she would move into the same neighborhood that Derek and Addison lived in? If it wasn't luck then some higher power really disliked Meredith Grey and Alex for one was really tired of it. She deserved a break. Everyone deserves one every now and then but Meredith was supremely overdue.
Derek walked into his bedroom after a quick clean up of the kitchen and met Addison awake and sitting on the edge of the bed.
"I figured you would have been asleep by now." Derek said as he changed for bed.
"I think we need to talk." Addison started not really sure where she would go after that
"If it's about today how about we just forget it? We both jumped to conclusions and doubted Meredith and maybe we should both just be happy that it all turned out well." Derek smiled hoping that would be the end of the conversation
"I agree Derek, I misjudged Meredith and didn't give her a chance to explain but I wasn't talking about that"
"Well what is it?"
"I don't even know how to tell you this, but if you don't hear this from me I fear that it's going to be much worse.
"What are you talking about Addison?" he asked really just wanting her to get to the point. Lately she would draw things out and make them out to be bigger than they actually were.
"Mark's here"
Derek stared at her for a solid minute. He didn't hear her correctly. He couldn't have.
"What did you say?" he asked running his hand through his hair
"Mark Sloan is here… in Seattle... working at Seattle Grace… as the head of the Plastics Department." She spoke slowly stopping every couple of words so they could really sink in
Derek muttered 'two for one' under his breath. Now it all made sense. Only Mark Sloan would come up with something that stupid, making light of neurosurgery.
"When?" was all he could get past his throat…
"This morning, it was announced when Richard introduced Meredith Grey. It's why I told you we had to come up with a plan, but you didn't understand my meaning." Addison said hoping that Derek would open up to her
"Why?"
"I don't know why Derek, believe me I don't. I asked him today…" Derek's head shot up at this point wondering why she spoke to him, "and he swears it has nothing to do with me" she moved toward him and placed her palms on his chest beginning to cry as he flinched at her touch and retreated from the room.
He couldn't deal. He couldn't take this right now. His day started off good then got worse after the whole Meredith thing but now, this was just flat out horrible. The man he trusted, the man who had slept with his wife, the man he hadn't seen in six years or spoke of was now in his city, in his hospital and Derek just couldn't take it. He couldn't console Addison, not when it was he that wanted to be consoled. Not when the memories of the betrayal of his wife and friend that he had buried deep inside just surfaced and he felt pain. Not when those memories dredged up memories of Meredith and the bliss they shared, without any of the hurt that his past and still current relationship had given him. Not when it dredged up the memories of his decision to choose his wife and leave the woman he cared for and loved out in the cold. So he couldn't be there for Addison, not now. He hopped in his car and went to his trailer, and his land, he went to his release.
"Jeremy's asleep" Mark said as he got into bed snuggling up to Meredith's tiny frame.
"How was your day?" Mer asked the sleep dripping off her tongue
"Well not as exciting as yours but I found me a case that's going to get plastics noticed in that hospital"
"Oh really? What kind of case? 3 boobies?" Meredith chuckled not allowing herself to pass up the opportunity to take a jab at Mark
"Et tu Meredith?" Mark asked poking her in the stomach playfully "Actually it's a CDD case"
Meredith whipped around to look at him "Are you serious! That's super rare Mark, congratulations baby" Meredith said kissing him on the lips and resting on his chest
"Babe I have to tell you something…" Mark started not wanting to broach the subject but knowing that he had no choice
"Can we talk about it tomorrow? I'm really tired." She said lowering her voice with each word
"Sure babe, tomorrow" he conceded, slightly glad that he didn't have to have the conversation that night, so he didn't have to explain his relationship to Addison. He really didn't want her to think any less of him.
What do you think? Please let me know! How about the Mark/Addison/Derek triangle? Loving it yet?