Chapter 14: The New Intern
While everyone was doing their jobs Cristina Yang sneaked away with a restroom excuse. Only she didn't go to the restroom but she went to see Sally. It had been bugging her that Meredith's file had been missing and no one seemed to be able to explain its disappearance and sudden reappearance. She quickly walked towards the nice and by all respected lady that had been working in Seattle Grace for longer than Cristina had been living. Should you need to know anything about the rumours and relationships and tragedies that were going on, she was your woman. This Cristina knew.
"Hey Sally," she greeted her with an exaggerated bright smile.
"Hello Cristina, what is it you want?" Sally answered, telling from Cristina's smile that she needed something from her.
"Well, you remember Meredith Grey's file was missing a couple days ago?"
"Yes honey, I do."
"I was wondering if you recalled seeing anyone but me entering the office that day. Doctor Shepherd said you saw another intern going inside."
Sally folded her hands and rested her chin on them while looking at Cristina as if trying to read her mind.
"Derek's right, I did see another person entering the office that day, before you. Now you must be wondering who that was, aren't you?"
"Yes. Yes, I am," Cristina responded with relief.
"I can tell you it was a young man, about your age, wearing a white coat and telling me he was a new intern. Now of course that seemed unlikely to me because I've seen interns drop out but never drop in, so to speak. I had never seen him before, you know. When I asked him about it he said he was busy and hurried inside, then came back out. If he took your friend's file he must have hid it under his coat or something because I didn't see him holding it."
"All right... Do you remember what he looked like?"
Sally unfolded her hands and sat back in her office chair.
"Blond. He was blond, blue eyes, I think. Light at any rate. He looked quite ordinary to me. A bit tall maybe. That's all the information I can give you."
Cristina planted her elbows on the desk and slightly leaned forward.
"And did you see anyone bring in a file?"
Sally thought about this for a moment.
"No, not recently. Not since that day except for doctor Shepherd and doctor Burke. I imagine they'd have told you if they'd taken Meredith's file. How's she doing by the way? I head what happened to that poor girl," Sally shook her head, "I can't believe the stories I hear about what happened in that room. You were there, too, weren't you Cristina?"
"Yes I was there. All the stories are true. It was unpleasant. Especially for Meredith. She's doing better now. But Sally I have to go. Izzie thinks I'm in the restroom right now and she'll come looking for me if I stay away too long. Thank you for everything. Have a nice day."
"You too honey!" Sally called after Cristina who started out the room.
That afternoon Cristina finally got Derek alone and went up to him to ask him about the new blond intern.
"You still playing detective Cristina?" he said smirking.
Cristina ignored this. "I just want to know who took my best friend's file and why. And I could figure it out much quicker if you'd just answer my question. If it's too hard for you I'll be happy to do some brain surgery on you to see if you actually have one."
Derek was shocked. Did she just say he was stupid? Cristina noticed the look on his face and rolled her eyes.
"A joke. That was a joke. Why don't people get my jokes? I'm a funny person," she said offended.
"All right all right. Forget it. I'll answer your question: unless nobody -like the Chief- has told me and he's been able to hide himself from my view for weeks there's no new intern. Let alone someone with that description. Okay?"
"Okay," Cristina replied. This was getting complicated. Why would anyone pretend to be an intern and steal Meredith's file only to bring it back a few hours later? What was in her file anyway that could be of whatever value to anyone?
"There weren't any weird things in Mer's file, right? Like... I don't know. Weak points? Allergies? No, no allergies you told me that."
"No I don't think so," Derek replied and frowned. "It is strange. I agree with you on that. But there's no information in it with which you could kill her or anything. Why, look what you make me do. Thinking the most crazy stuff. You do know that Raiswick," Derek spat out his name, "is in another hospital now with an army of guards keeping an eye on him, don't you?"
"Yeah I know. Just that missing file thing. It frustrates me. It's very annoying. I'm frustrated enough about other things. Anyway thanks for your help although it didn't actually help. I guess I'll see you today."
"Yeah you probably will. Bye then."
"Bye," Cristina said and left Derek alone.
By the end of that day Meredith was walking towards the locker room when she suddenly jumped at the sudden weight of a hand on her shoulder. She gasped and sharply turned.
"You're very jumpy," a familiar face said. Meredith felt a ball of anger forming in her stomach.
"Close your mouth your teeth are blinding me," she said through gritted teeth.
"I happen to like my teeth," Isaac answered.
"Why can't you stop scaring me?" Meredith said annoyed.
"Am I scaring you? Or are you just very jumpy?"
"I am NOT jumpy! How many times do I have to tell you that before you get it? I'm just tensed because I worked all day. Being an intern is hard work."
"Oh so cleaning isn't? You already have that God-complex Meredith?"
Meredith was taken aback by this accusation.
"No. Of course not," she answered in a softer voice. "I've just... Something happened recently and it made me jumpy. And rude. Sorry."
"That's okay. I'm sorry," Isaac said sincerely. "Listen if you ever need to talk to someone you can come to me, okay? I know we haven't known each other for a long time but if there's anything wrong I want to help you."
Meredith looked from the hand Isaac had reassuringly placed on her arm to his face.
All right... Maybe he is a bit weird. But he seems like a nice enough guy. Right? Oh Meredith stop being paranoid. The guy's nice.
"That's very sweet of you. Thanks. I have to go," she said and gave him a sincere smile.
"Bye. Meredith."
The interns and Derek assembled at Joe's that evening to have a drink and a chat. Soon the conversation was about Isaac, or as Izzie suggested after Meredith told about his unnaturally white teeth, McShiny. Derek exaggeratedly laughed at this. Mockingly, even. Izzie winked at Meredith.
Jealous. Wonderful.
The dim lightning combined with the scent of alcohol, a comfortable temperature and a day of hard work made Meredith sleepy.
"You guys, I either need a tequila or a bed," she said jokingly. But she wasn't joking.
"You must not drink alcohol Meredith. Didn't you read the prescription? That's dangerous," Cristina said sharply.
"Tell me what the effects will be. I'd like to compare the pain to the pleasure and make my choice."
"Well for starters there's the dosage you take in of both substances," Cristina started.
"No. Never mind. Make sure you get drunk and let me have some fun at any rate," Meredith interrupted.
"You're stoned already," Cristina murmered.
"What? I'm just sleepy."
"Meredith if you're tired I can take you home," Derek offered.
"No thanks. At least I won't have to take a pill to make me sleep tonight. Haha, he wants to take me to bed," Meredith somehow felt this was very funny. The others only raised an eyebrow at the comment.
"I think you shouldn't stop taking those pills yet, Mer," Izzie said. "It's only been just over two weeks and you can't use a sleepless night right now, can you? Those pills take time to go into effect. I wouldn't take the gamble yet."
Meredith sighed dramatically. "Why are you all so wise and concerned? Derek can I come sit with you?"
Derek stretched out his arms at her and Meredith flopped down next to him and flung her arms around his neck. He softly kissed her hair and folded her in an embrace.
Cristina leaned her arms on the counter and fixed a stare on the wall with bottles. She seemed still but inside her head was a lot going on. Somehow this all was very 'coincidental'. That Isaac, McShiny, a father who digs Physics, being too nice to Meredith. She would find out if Raiswick had any sons and if so, had one of them been seeing the dentist a little too often?
I do realize this update took way too long and I apologise! I will try to update quicker next time. I'm still curious as to what you think is going to happen! Please R&R. But most importantly: enjoy!