Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday season and hope your year is off to a good start. Thank you so much for your feedback and support both on this story and my Thanksgiving/Christmas one as well. I really appreciate it!
Here's the next chapter. I hope you like it. And as always, thanks so much for reading and reviewing!
It's a fairly common occurrence with terminally ill patients. They make it to a monumental event, like a birthday or a loved one's wedding, and shortly thereafter, they take a sharp turn for the worst.
Addison and Derek have witnessed this time after time. Still, when it happened to Vivian, it felt like the first time.
It happened shortly after her birthday. She started slurring her words more, forgetting things more. Sure, there were still some good days, but those days were starting to become fewer and farther between.
And it's during an increasingly rare stretch of good days that Addison finds herself in Richard's office asking for what she knows is a long shot.
"Absolutely not." Richard shakes his head for emphasis. "Not under my watch."
"Please, Richard." Addison begs. "He's a talented surgeon."
"Be that as it may, he's an intern, Addison. He's not ready."
"I was an intern when I performed my first solo surgery," Addison points out, folding her arms across her chest.
"You were different. You were laser focused from the second you started the program. Karev isn't ready."
"You don't know that," Addison disagrees.
"I'm Chief of Surgery. It's my job to know that."
"No, it's my job to know that." Addison jams a hand on her hip. "No disrespect, Richard, but I'm his teacher. It's my job to know if he's ready or not. And I'm telling you Karev is ready. He can handle it."
"Addison."
"I'm telling you, Richard, performing a solo surgery as an intern did so much for my confidence going forward, and I think Karev could benefit from that as well."
Richard looks at Addison uncertainly. "And you're sure he's ready?"
"I wouldn't have come to you if I didn't think he was."
"Because if I say yes, it's the hospital's reputation on the line here."
"I know that," Addison insists. "It's your reputation, it's my reputation, it's the hospital's reputation. It's Karev's reputation too." She looks at Richard squarely. "I hope by now, you know me well enough to know that I wouldn't needlessly put all our reputations at risk."
Richard nods in concession. "And you'd be in there with him the whole time? To step in if something goes wrong?"
"Where else would I be?"
Richard shakes his head disapprovingly.
"Of course I'll be there," Addison reassures. She looks at Richard pleadingly. "Chief, I hate to beg ... but I will. I'm not above it. I—"
"That won't be necessary," Richard cuts in.
"You mean ...?" Addison trails off, eyeing Richard uncertainly.
"Yes, Karev can perform a solo surgery. Just ... don't make me regret this, okay."
Addison smiles at her boss widely. "You won't. I promise."
Richard shakes his head, half in amusement, half in admiration. "I know people tell you all the time that you're a remarkable surgeon. And they're not wrong. But sometimes I think people overlook what a good teacher you are."
"Yeah, well ..." Addison shrugs, giving Richard a warm smile, "I learned from the best."
xxxxx
It no longer surprises her to find Alex in Vivian's room, running through surgeries, playing cards, or just talking. And it's the sound of Alex and Vivian's voices she hears as she makes her way back to Vivian's room.
"Here are the scans," she hears Alex say. "Preemie with a bowel obstruction. It definitely doesn't look as tough as the last bowel obstruction surgery Dr. Montgomery-Shepherd performed."
Addison hears Vivian respond. Her words are slower, more disoriented than usual, but still brilliant.
"Every surgery presents its own unique challenges. The important thing is not to underestimate them."
"She's right," Addison agrees as she walks into Vivian's room. "But you're right too, Karev. This surgery is more straightforward than the last bowel obstruction surgery you assisted on. The baby is stronger and the obstruction is less severe." She gives him a small smile. "That's why I want you to be the one to operate."
Alex blinks in disbelief. "What?"
"I'm offering you your first solo surgery," Addison explains.
"Wait … Really? This isn't some kind of joke or something?"
Addison winks at Vivian before focusing her attention on Alex. "Don't sound so surprised, Karev. You're a talented surgeon and you've assisted on several bowel obstruction surgeries. Having you fly solo is the logical next step. And you're ready."
Alex swallows thickly. "Yeah?"
"Yeah," Addison smiles before growing serious. "Unless you don't feel ready or you don't want in on this, then—"
"No, no, I want in," Alex interrupts. "And I feel ready. I just ... I always figured Yang would be the first to perform a solo surgery."
Addison shakes her head. "Trust me, Karev, if there's one thing I can tell you about this profession with any certainty, it's that it's full of surprises."
"True," Vivian agrees. "That's what keeps it interesting."
xxxxx
The rest of the day comes and goes. Addison spends most of it helping Karev prepare for his first solo surgery and chatting with Vivian in between her naps (which Addison can't help notice are becoming more and more frequent).
And suddenly the day is drawing to a close and she's on her way to meet Derek so they can go home. Well, to his trailer.
She's walking toward the lobby when she hears unmistakable voices—gossiping voices.
"I can't believe Karev is going to be the first one of us to perform a solo surgery," Cristina grumbles. "I always thought it would be me."
"Technically, I was the first," George reminds her.
"Your appendectomy?" Cristina raises an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Yeah, I wouldn't brag about that, Bambi. And I'd hardly call that a solo surgery."
"Cristina," Izzie chastises. "You should be happy for Alex. Alex is our friend, and we should want good things for him."
Cristina looks at Izzie pointedly. "Are you happy for him?"
"Well, I ... at least I'm trying."
Cristina smirks at Izzie triumphantly, but quickly grows serious. "I'm telling you, Mer, you chose the wrong Shepherd to get involved with. He may be McDreamy, but she teaches ... and apparently gives out solo surgeries to interns. Good solo surgeries too."
Addison is so caught up in the interns' gossip, she gasps in surprise when she feels her husband's arms wrap around her waist.
"They're ridiculous," Derek mutters, cocking his head in the interns' direction.
Addison nods in agreement and Derek studies his wife closely. Had Karev pissed off anyone else besides her, there would have been a completely different outcome. Because where he and Burke and pretty much everyone else in the hospital saw arrogance and disobedience, Addison saw potential. She saw an underdog. And she gave him the chance that no one else in the hospital had—the chance he deserved just as much as Meredith and Cristina, but hadn't gotten until she came along.
He'd told his wife that taking Karev on was a gamble. But to her it was a gamble worth taking. And to her credit, it paid off. Things like that are one of the million reasons he respects her ... one of the million reasons he loves her.
"You ready to get out of here?"
Derek blinks at the sound of his wife's voice ripping him from his thoughts.
"Yeah," he smiles, wrapping his arm around her waist more securely, as they walk out of the hospital. "Let's get out of here."
xxxxx
Most surgeons are superstitious. Derek knows he is. And he knows Addison is. He doesn't know about Karev yet. It's still too soon to tell. But Derek knows firsthand the even the smallest things have the ability to throw a surgeon off.
That's why he and Addison aren't telling Karev about Vivian. She's okay. She's just not having one of her better days.
She's having a downright bad day.
She's tired and slurring her words and having trouble focusing. And Karev doesn't need to see her that way right before his big surgery.
The surgery is about to start, and Derek is prepared to watch it, but something doesn't feel right to him. And after a brief moment in thought, he knows what's bothering him.
He walks into Vivian's hospital room and smiles when he sees she's awake.
"I didn't get you a birthday present," he tells her, a grin still on his face.
She looks at him curiously, a mixture of exhaustion and confusion lacing her features.
"I ... Der ... uh ..." Vivian stammers incomprehensively, the fear in her eyes impossible to miss. She may be a doctor and she may understand what's happening to her, but it doesn't make it any less frightening.
"It's okay," Derek reassures her, patting her arm gently. "You're okay. You don't have to say anything."
Vivian gives Derek an appreciative look. She tries again to speak, but words are a struggle for her today.
"I want to take you somewhere," he continues, helping her into the wheelchair at the side of her bed.
She looks at him uncertainly, still struggling to get words out and sputtering incoherently.
"It'll be good to get you out of this room too," he reassures, pushing Vivian's wheelchair into the hall.
They arrive at their destination a few minutes later and a broad smile spreads across Vivian's face as she takes everything in.
They're in the observation gallery for Alex's first solo surgery.
Vivian turns to look at Derek, her eyes watery, her smile appreciative.
There's no need for words. He knows there's no place Vivian would rather be. And truth be told, there's no place he'd rather be either.
He pushes her wheelchair closer to the window so she can see better, and he stands beside her, peering through the glass at the scene unfolding in the OR.
They're watching in content silence until an accusing voice interrupts their tranquility.
"What are you doing up here?"
Derek turns in surprise and sees Richard looking at him questioningly.
"We're watching the surgery," Derek explains as innocently as he can.
Technically, there's nothing wrong with him being up in the gallery. But him bringing his very sick, terminally ill patient up there—that's likely a gray area.
But Richard's not going to make Vivian leave the gallery. Derek's certain of it.
"What are you doing up here, Chief?" Derek asks Richard, though he technically doesn't need to.
"I also came to watch the surgery," Richard says matter-of-factly. "Addison seems to think Karev is ready, but ..."
"You have your doubts," Derek fills in.
"Yeah."
"He's ready," Derek reassures his boss, and Vivian bobs her head in collaboration. "So are you going to watch, Chief?"
"I was planning to."
Derek smiles. "There's plenty of room up here," he says, motioning next to him.
"I think I'll hang back," Richard says, taking a seat behind Derek and Vivian.
"Suit yourself," Derek shrugs, turning his attention back to the OR and watching closely.
And as he does, he can't help remembering.
~ Watching through windows ~
"What are you doing up here?"
Derek turns to see Richard standing there, looking at him in confusion.
"It's Addison's first solo surgery," Derek explains. He gestures to the OR below, where Addison and Vivian are preparing. "Preemie with a bowel obstruction."
Richard nods in approval. "Not an easy first surgery."
"No," Derek agrees.
"Vivian did that by design."
"What."
"Something like a standard C-section would be easier. And it would be a more expected first solo surgery. But a bowel obstruction surgery shows that Vivian has faith in Addison. And it will be a huge boost of confidence for Addison moving forward. It's an unconventional move on Vivian's part," Richard continues. "But I like it."
Derek nods in agreement and watches Addison start working.
"How'd you sneak up here anyway?" Richard asks. "I thought you had patients."
"I do," Derek says, not taking his eyes off the OR. "Wright took them for me. I told her I'd work her night shift."
A wide smile spreads across Richard's face. "Wow. That's commitment."
"She'd do it for me," Derek shrugs. "Besides, you only perform your first solo surgery once. I couldn't miss this."
Richard nods in agreement and the two men watch the surgery in silence.
It's a textbook perfect surgery. Addison is beaming with accomplishment as she sews the final stitch. And Vivian is beaming with pride.
"She's good," Richard compliments. And Derek, who's also beaming, nods his head.
Addison is good. And even though he's a little jealous that she's already performing solo surgeries, he's proud of her. And seeing her down there, as confident and composed as ever, has only made him love her more.
And seeing her success—and sharing in it—only makes him more excited about the things ahead of them.
~ You're wondering if I'm okay ~
"She was right," Richard mumbles. "Karev was ready."
Derek nods in agreement as he watches Karev sew the final stitch.
He's beaming with accomplishment. Addison is beaming with pride—the same way Vivian had beamed with pride all those years ago. He glances down at Vivian, and her expression matches Addison's. As sick as she is, she's also glowing with pride.
Karev pulled it off. He'll bask in the glory and receive the credit that he very much deserves. But what will be lost on everyone except the three people in the gallery is Addison's role. No one else will know—or think to consider—the way Karev looked at her the entire surgery ... asking her for silent reassurance, which she unobtrusively gave.
"She's a spectacular teacher," Richard murmurs, as if reading Derek's mind. And he looks over to see Vivian nodding her head in agreement.
She hasn't spoken a word the entire surgery, but she doesn't need to say a word. Derek gets it.
"Let's go see them," he suggests,
Addison and Alex are exiting the scrub room, when Derek, Vivian, and Richard catch up with them.
"Excellent work in there today, Karev," Richard says, shaking the intern's hand firmly. He turns to Addison. "You were right."
Addison shrugs modestly and Derek can't help smiling.
"Really nice job, Karev," he compliments. "Not an easy first surgery and you handled it like a professional." He gives Addison a loving smile. He'll have time to compliment her later.
Karev is smiling wider than Derek has ever seen him smile before. But his smile fades when he sees Vivian. He may not be a world-class surgeon yet, but he's perceptive enough to recognize that she's not doing well.
Vivian swallows roughly and Derek can see she's fighting with every ounce of her body to make clear, composed words come out of her mouth.
"Bruh—brilliant ... surgery," she chokes, giving Alex a proud smile. "And ..." her voice cracks as she turns to Addison and offers her a watery smile, "brilliant ... tuh ... tee … teacher."
Addison's eyes are brimming with tears as she looks at her mentor adoringly. "I'd much prefer coffee to compliments right now," she chokes out, her voice raw and thick with emotion.
And without thinking, Derek wraps an arm around her. And without thinking, she leans into his embrace. And for a moment, he gently sways with her in his arms, the two of them shutting out the rest of the world.
It doesn't matter that they're at work and flirting with unprofessionalism. What matters is that they're there for each other. It's what they do when one or both of them is upset.
She looks up at Derek lovingly. He took a risk bringing Vivian—as sick as she is—into the gallery. But she's glad he did.
Vivian got to see Karev's first surgery. And Vivian got to see her as a teacher.
But Addison knows, in the end, she's the one who truly benefited. She'll remember this moment for the rest of her life. She's pretty sure Karev will too.
And by the way her husband is looking at her—proudly, adoringly ... the way he used to look at her during the big moments—she knows that as time passes and years go by, it won't be her memory alone. It'll be theirs.