Chapter 25
"Meredith, what the hell have you done?" My mother burst through the doors of the scrub room.
I was going to remain calm. "Well, I can't answer your question until you tell me the exact action to which you are referring, Mother…"
"Oh don't mother me. You….you quit! There's a damn letter of resignation on my desk!" She
was shouting now, and apparently wasn't affected by the multiple pairs of eyes watching our every move.
"Well typically a letter of resignation means I don't want to work here any more, mom." She was silent "There's a two week notice…"
"A two week notice!? To replace a surgeon that I've spent years preparing, teaching,
guiding...you want me to replace in fourteen days?!" Her scrub cap was balled up in her fist, and her face was getting redder by the second.
"And that same surgeon is choosing to learn in another environment." I countered. "That doesn't mean I won't fly down here for some of our long term patients, or that I won't be learning in Seattle. It just means I won't be learning here."
"I won't sign. I will not accept this, Meredith! I have put up with you for far too long to make you who you are today, to just let you leave! I've given up everything for you! I...I gave up Richard for you!"
"You've given up nothing for me, you...you lost Richard. Everything you have lost is because of you." I snapped. "You have to sign. And you can't have expected for me to be okay having my mother for a boss for my entire life! I need to have my own life, my own career. I can't be Ellis Grey's daughter forever. I don't want to be eclipsed by you anymore. I want to build my own reputation."
"You're being ridiculous." She was no longer infuriated, but worse. Indifferent; not caring. Her face displayed no emotion at all. Blank. "Meredith, you can't run from my legacy. You will always be Ellis Grey's daughter. My shadow will always be there. You need to wake up! Stop half-assing everything you do, Meredith. If you go to Seattle, you'll get off track, marry some weak ass man, and have a couple of ugly kids. You won't be a surgeon anymore. It's what I did, and I hate myself for it every day."
If I could see my own face, I'm sure I would see absolute horror. Anger. Definitely anger.
But...mostly horror.
"How could you say that?!" I shouted, feeling my throat tighten to the point that I was almost unable to speak. "How could you!" She left the room without a word, pulling the door shut with an earth-shattering bang.
I shifted my weight to balance against the scrub sink, and began to scrape at my skin with a fresh scrub pad, not yet ready to leave the room. I felt my eyes sting with moisture, but blinked it away. Weak was the last thing that I could be right now.
Damnit. How could she say that? How does she still feel like she's in control of my fucking life?!
I dried my hands and shoved open the door, turning the corner to my office. When I opened the door, I saw the lights were still off, but a single sheet of paper sat ominously on my desk.
I walked forward cautiously, the paper's ink scribbles slowly coming into view.
Dr. Meredith Grey.
Termination.
I blinked. Once. Twice, and read it again.
As of today, June 23, 2004, Mt. Sinai General Hospital is hereby terminating the employment of Doctor Meredith Grey, effective immediately. Your final check will be issued in by Friday and mailed to 613 Harper lane in 3-5 business days.
613 Harper lane. That was my mother's house in Seattle. I guess that would be where I'm going to live. Again, still controlling my fucking life.
But...Termination? She fired me. And it was effective immediately. That means...I can leave.
Like, now.
I smiled. I can leave now.
My eyes rested on the empty box at the door, which had just delivered some paper and pens to my office. Without hesitation, I emptied the small amount of personal belongings from my office into the box, and shut the door behind me on my way out.
I expected to feel some sense of hesitation, not sadness, but I expected to felt , I felt free.
—
-2 days later-
The last two days had been a tornado. I had moved out of my apartment in New York, flown across the country to Seattle, and had finally finished unpacking 10 boxes of my belongings into my mother's house. And this was the last place I want to live, but this is my only option now.
Richard had been ecstatic when I called to let him know that I would accept the position he offered. I couldn't believe that I would start as Chief of Surgery at Seattle Grace hospital tomorrow. I was expecting to wait a good two weeks, one at least, but he was prepared to retire as early as tomorrow.
And throughout all of the insanity, not one word from my mother. But I wasn't shocked. It would be just like her to wait a good 6 months, maybe a year before I would hear from her.
I pulled out the last stack of clothes from the box on the bed. My mother's bed. It was all I had until my own bed arrived tomorrow night from the moving company.
I reached into the pile and pulled out my favorite black dress to drape it over a hanger, but I stopped. I will go out tonight. That will be the perfect way to get used to my new town. And, I will wear my favorite black dress. Work will start tomorrow morning, but not before I have some fun tonight.
-1 hour, 2 shots of tequila later-
"So you're new in town, right? And let me guess, you need a night of "fun" after a messy breakup with your boyfriend. Am I right?" The flannel clad bartender asked while pouring my 3rd shot of tequila.
"No, I need a night of fun after a messy breakup with my mother." I replied bluntly.
A confused look spread across his face, but he shook his head. "You're gonna be sorry in the morning."
"I'm always sorry in the morning." I smirked. "But, tomorrow's my first day of work. So keep 'em coming."
"Hey, How you doing, Joe?" I heard a voice behind me ask. I turned slightly to notice a tall, very handsome stranger take the seat next to me.
"Double scotch, single malt please." He peered over at me curiously, a smirk appearing on his face.
"This place is pretty great right?" He asked, taking a small sip of his drink.
"Yeah, so far." I replied. "But I wouldn't know. First time here…"
"Oh. Well Seattle's pretty great. I've lived here for about 6 months, but from what I've seen, it's been good so far." He paused, but I didn't look over. "You're ignoring me.." he stated, smirking again. God...that smile.
"Uh...trying to…" I replied, caught off guard by his bluntness.
"Oh...you shouldn't ignore me. He replied, feigning a hurt expression.
"Oh, and why not?" I asked, my eyebrows raising slightly.
"Because...I'm someone you need to get to know to love." His answer was plain and simple. I smiled.
"So, if I know you, I'll love you?"
"Oh yes." He smiled again, and I couldn't help but take a minute to study his expression.
"You really like yourself, huh?"
"Oh, just hiding my pain." This time I laughed, listening as the sounds mesh together.
"So, what's your story?" He asked after a few seconds.
"What? I don't have a story. I'm just...a girl in a bar."
"Well I'm just a guy in a bar." He replied smugly. We both took a sip of our drinks and sat in a comfortable silence for another minute or so. I chastised myself for being so caught up in the way his eyes would sparkle when he smiled.
"Yes." I replied. "We're just a couple of people in a bar."
"So, does this girl in a bar have perhaps, a name?" He inquires jokingly, studying my own expression.
"I'm Meredith."
"Derek."
"Derek. That sounds like the name of a guy who has a story…" I joked.
"I asked you first…" he smiled again.
"Well, I broke up with my mom yesterday." I finished another shot. "And now I'm here."
"Well that sounds like a story to me. I moved down here six months ago, and Joe here was the first person I met." He motioned to the bartender a few feet away. "And now, I'm here." He finished, his sentence mirroring my own. "So, How does one go about breaking up with their mom?" He asked curiously. "I'm on the edge of my seat."
"Well it's pretty easy to do when your mother's the spawn of satan...and your boss. Ex-boss I guess."
"Your mother, and your boss. That's pretty rough."
"Oh, you think so? I agree."
"Well, I'm starting work in the morning too, so you aren't the only one drowning your stress in alcohol tonight."
I smiled and finished off my glass of tequila. "So...your girlfriend?" I asked curiously.
"Nope. Don't have one."
"You?! The guy with that hair and...the god-complex? How are you still single?"
He shook his head, the dreamy smile making its appearance once again. "What about you? Someone that effortlessly sexy has to have be taken…"
"Ha.. Flattery. But no. Me neither. I'm too...dark and twisty."
"I don't know about dark, but I am willing to bet you're pretty twisty." He joked, a flirty glint floating in the pure pools of his eyes.
"Well, Excuse me...would you happen to be insinuating something...sexual, Derek?"
"What? Me? Why would you assume something like that?" He feigned shock.
"Just...a feeling." I replied smugly. "So, are you?
"That definitely depends. Let's just say I am. How would you feel?"
"Hmm…" I hesitated. "Very warm. No...hot." I giggled, feeling the effects of the tequila. "In very dark and twisty places…" I noticed for the first time how close the two of our bodies were to touching. Succumbing to each other. Succumbing to ourselves.
"Oh...really?" His smile showed interest. "Well I think we should act on that if you agree."
"Joe! Hey Joe! Over here. Can you call us an uuuuuber? Uber. What a funny word."
"That is a funny word…." Derek laughed drunkenly and leaned in closer. Our lips collided. It was
a sweet taste then sour. Scotch meets tequila. His tongue traced my lower lip and I smiled into the kiss.
"Wow." Derek pulled away for a few seconds, and I was a victim of his perfect smile. For a few short seconds, I couldn't move. I was caught, trapped in the look. His look. One eyebrow raised, a subtle smirk, and eyes glowing. That look.
"Wooowww." I replied, leaning in again, and swallowing a giggle when a felt a masculine hand rest against the small of my back.
"Ahem." Another masculine voice cleared their throat beside us.
"Jooooe? Why are you watching me make out?"
"Uhh, because the Uber is here." He shook his head, eyebrows sky- high.
I entwined my fingers with his and we shared a look again. That look. It was different than other guys. It didn't feel forced, rushed, uncomfortable. It felt uniquely...us.
"M'lady…" He replied once the car stopped in front of...my...house.
"So, you're the guy in the cab...and now…" I pulled him through the doorway. "And now, you're the guy in the house. I walked backwards when he smiled again, and leaned back when my legs hit the couch. "And guess who you are now?" I giggled.
"Well, I'd have to go with...the guy on the couch." His lips were on mine, intoxicating again. "And now the guy on top of you...on your lips…"
"I want you to be the guy in my pants." My voice was low and raspy. I felt his pants rise against my stomach and smiled. "And I think you are going to be that guy very soon. But who am I to say anything? I'm just the girl in the bar…"
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