"Hey," Amelia said. There was a level of awkwardness in her voice as she spoke to her brother for the first time since their little brawl in the OR. It was, technically, the first time she had spoken to him in three weeks.
"Hi." Derek's voice broke through Amelia's speaker. Amelia had put the phone on speakerphone. "I was surprised to see you called. Look, Amy, I...I'm sorry about earlier. I shouldn't have barged into your OR so abruptly. It was uncalled for."
"That's very big of you, Derek," Amelia said with a smirk on her face. "Apologizing for your arrogance. It's not something you do every day."
"Your voice sounds distant, Amy. Am I on speakerphone?" Derek questioned.
"That, you would be, yes," Amelia responded. "Mer's here with me."
"Hi, Derek," Meredith said, smiling weakly.
"Hey, Meredith. Are you two at home? Are the kids with you? What time is it there? I don't even know what time it is here; I'm so jet-lagged."
"It's 9:45," Amelia said.
"So the kids are in bed, right?" Derek asked.
"Uh…" Amelia stumbled, looking at Meredith. "Actually, we're both still at the hospital, and it sounds like we both might end up being here late, so actually, they're with Alex and Blake right now and Owen's going to pick them up in a little bit. I actually just got a text message from Owen. He's running late."
"They're still in Blake's room?" Meredith gasped; she had assumed that Owen had picked the kids up already. "It's so late!"
"And, as you can tell, this is the first your wife is hearing this because Owen literally just texted me. It's been a long day, Derek, let me tell you," Amelia breathed a sigh into the phone.
"Right," Derek said, his yawn could be heard through the phone. "About that. I'm also sorry for the horrible words that came out of my mouth earlier when I barged into your OR. They were uncalled for. I'm truly sorry, Amy."
"Don't sweat it," Amelia said. "You were just doing what you thought was best for the patient. Actually, I would have been concerned if you didn't barge into my OR and say everything that you did. That would have been very un-Derek like."
Derek's laugh sounded through the speakerphone. "Well, I'm glad you acknowledge that, so we're good now?"
"Never been better, Derek," Amelia insisted.
"So...you and Owen sound like you're hitting it off," Derek said. Amelia widened her eyes at Meredith. "You know what, it's none of my business. I'm just glad you've made a friend in Seattle aside from Meredith and me, and Owen's a good guy. A good friend to have, that is."
Amelia smiled; Meredith could tell she was holding back laughter. "He is a good friend," Amelia agreed.
"Well...my meeting starts at seven tomorrow, so I need to catch some sleep. It's...well, really early in the morning here. So goodnight. I love you both."
"We love you too, Derek," Meredith said, and the line went dead. She and Amelia locked eyes, and Meredith shrugged. "Well, we didn't lie to him."
"No, but we didn't tell the full truth, either," Amelia said, shaking her head. "Do you really think he's going to be okay when he finds out Owen and I are more than just friends?"
Meredith laughed. "Do you really think he's going to be okay when he finds out I didn't tell him I had an anxiety attack and had to spend the night at the hospital as a patient under observation?"
"Not a chance," Amelia said; her eyes widened. "Damn, we're toast."
"We are," Meredith agreed, shrugging her shoulders.
Amelia's phone buzzed again. This time, Amelia's eyes enlarged widely when she looked at the phone screen. She mouthed the word, "Crap."
"What?" Meredith asked.
Amelia shook her head. "It's nothing," she insisted and looked at Jo. "I have to go, so you're in charge of Meredith. If she tries to talk you into letting her roam around the hospital and check on patients, don't let her. Make sure she actually rests." Amelia widened her eyes at Meredith.
"I know, I know." Meredith exhaled. "I am a doctor, you know? I know what's best for me."
"Knowing and doing are two very, very different things," Amelia noted. "Well, I'm out." She left Meredith and Jo in radiology alone.
"All right, so let's get you back to your room," Jo suggested. She rolled the wheelchair that Amelia had forced her to ride in out of the room.
"You know, I think I can walk," Meredith insisted. "I mean, there's no physical reason I can't walk."
"Dr. Grey, you're well aware that it's hospital protocol," Jo said adamantly.
"To hell with hospital protocol. I'm more than capable of walking, so I'm walking. Honestly? If we run into anyone, I don't want them to see me in a wheelchair. It's bad enough that this is going to get around the hospital sooner or later, because gossip spreads like HIV in this hospital. It's a forsaken miracle that Amelia got me down here without running into anyone, so I'm walking, or you just won't scrub in my surgeries once I'm back."
Jo laughed. "You're hilarious, Dr. Grey - or can I still call you Meredith? But seriously, do you think you can bargain surgeries like you bargain your kids to do their chores? If you don't clean up your room, no dessert. It's not gonna work, I'm sorry. You're staying in the wheelchair."
"Damnit," Meredith sighed. "I was really hoping that would work."
"You make a terrible patient, no offense," Jo pointed out.
"I guess I do," Meredith acknowledged. "I think we all do. I'm not used to being ordered around. Usually I'm the one doing the ordering. I feel like...I feel helpless."
"All doctors are patients at some point, though," Jo said. "We have to take care of our own health, too, otherwise we won't be around to save lives."
"Very true," Meredith agreed while Jo pushed her back to her room. "And I sure as hell hope you don't tell all your patients that they're terrible patients. That's bad bedside manner."
"You're the first patient I've said it to," Jo assured her.
They passed a few nurses, so Meredith was most certain that nurses would start to talk. The nurses' station was the center of gossip at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.
Once she was back in her bed, Meredith let out a sigh. Jo insisted on hooking her back up to a heart monitor, just so they could monitor her heart rate overnight. She also connected her to an IV, so she would stay hydrated.
"Are you comfortable?" Jo asked.
"The cushion's too firm, my back's arched too high, and the IV makes it difficult for me to move my arm around freely. I'm just peachy," Meredith responded tartly. "Oh, and I'm starving, but the cafeteria is closed now anyway. The vending machines are open, though. I guess one of those cruddy vending machine sandwiches will suffice."
"I'll send a nurse-"
There was a tap on the door. Cristina held a big bag with the McDonald's M on the cover. "You are my hero," Meredith announced. "That's for me, right?"
"Who else would it be for?" Cristina laughed, entering the room. She was dressed in street clothes; she wore dark blue jeans and a brown leather jacket. "I passed your wacky sister-in-law in the hall, and she told me your diagnosis and that you might be hungry. Now, we can celebrate that you don't have cancer."
"Actually, not officially," Jo said, looking at her iPad. "It looks like the official lab results just came in…"
Meredith and Cristina's eyes both widened. "And?" Meredith's stomach turned. Amelia had convinced her that it wasn't anything critical. That she'd been worried for nothing. Meredith had completely spaced out the labs they'd sent in. There was still a chance it could be cancer. She cringed. If she had cancer, she was going to kill Amelia Shepherd.
"You don't have cancer," Jo said, "but you're being classified as anemic right now, that can be brought on by—"
"—already being borderline anemic and being on my period," Meredith interrupted.
"You should've let her finish, Mer. She's your resident. She's just learning," Cristina said, teasingly.
"I'm sorry, Dr. Wilson," Meredith apologized sincerely. "I'm just a little frazzled right now and not used to being bossed around by my residents. I should be using this as a teaching and learning experience for you. It's not very often you have a patient that can confirm your diagnosis is correct."
"It's okay. You said exactly what I was going to say anyway," Jo said.
"Well, Mer, you have low iron. Good thing I brought you a double cheeseburger," Cristina handed the bag over to Meredith.
"Have I ever told you that I love you, Cristina Yang?" Meredith grinned ear to ear, digging into the bag. She pulled the wrapped cheeseburger and carton of fries out. Quickly, she began unwrapping the burger.
"Uh, I'll be back, okay?" Jo said. She looked at Cristina. "Don't let her convince you to do anything stupid. She's already proven to be difficult."
Cristina laughed. "Mer, difficult? Nah. Maybe you're just a crappy doctor?"
"Excuse me?" Jo's eyes widened.
"She didn't mean that," Meredith insisted. "And, yeah, I have been a little difficult. I'll be good now, okay? Hey, Wilson, can you do me a favor?"
"Hm?"
"Check on Izzie. I'm pretty sure that's why Amelia got paged earlier. The look on Amelia's face didn't look promising, either. So, uh, can you check on her? Please?" Meredith asked.
"I will see what I can do," Jo said, and she left the room.
Meredith looked back at Cristina and sighed, "Residents." She let her teeth dive into into the cheeseburger. The greasy goodness filled her mouth, and she indulged in the flavor while swallowing her first bite. "Mmmm, you are a life saver."
"Yeah, I know," Cristina laughed. "So…"
She was cut off when, out of the blue, Owen entered the room with a sleeping Bailey in his arms. A tired looking Zola held onto his hand until she saw her mother. "Momma!" Zola cried; her eyes instantly perked up as she ran over to her mother's bedside and crawled on top of the bed. She leaned into Meredith's chest. "Momma, are you sick? Why you a 'ospital bed?" Worry filled the three-year-old's face.
"Momma wasn't feeling well, so she has to stay here tonight," Meredith explained.
"Like Blake?" Zola asked.
Meredith nodded. "Exactly like Blake, actually."
"You're not gonna die or anything?" Zola stuck out her lip.
"No, sweetie, I'm not gonna die. I promise," Meredith assured her daughter, gently stroking her curly hair.
"Good, 'cause I would be sad if you died," Zola said.
Meredith looked up at Owen. "What are you doing here?" she mouthed. "It's so late. They should be in bed." She peered at her sleeping son. His head still lay on Owen's shoulder; he looked so peaceful.
"I, uh, don't have the keys to your house, and the trailer isn't exactly the ideal place for kids to sleep, so I thought I could at least put them to bed in their own beds," Owen said.
"The keys are in my purse in the attendings' lounge," Meredith said, and she noticed Cristina and Owen lock eyes. Oh shit, Meredith thought, wondering if Cristina knew about Amelia and Owen. Meredith could hence the guilt in Owen's eyes. To Meredith, that indicated that Cristina didn't know.
"Hey, do you need help with the kids?" Cristina asked, smiling sincerely.
"Uh, actually, I think I'm good," Owen said. He motioned for Zola to come over. "Come on, Zo."
"I wanna stay with Momma," Zola pouted, grabbing onto her mother's shoulder.
"Well, you can't," Cristina said a little harshly. Her voice softened, "Your momma needs to rest, Zola, and you need to take care of your baby brother. He's going to need his big sister." She gently pulled Zola off Meredith and carried her over to Owen. "I can help."
"Cristina, uh…"
"Just because I don't want kids doesn't mean I'm not good with them. Besides, these are Mer's kids...they love me. Right, Zo? You love your Aunt Cristina. She's taught you all about cardiomyopathy and aneurysms and all sorts of fun stuff, right?"
"Aunt Cwistina says stwange wowds," Zola yawned, "but I wove her."
"Cristina, it's not...it's not that I don't think you're great with Zola and Bailey," Owen said. "It's...I'm…" He guiltily exchanged a look with Meredith. "I'm seeing someone, there. I said it."
An awkward silence beckoned the room as Cristina set Zola down. Zola took Owen's hand. "Oh," Cristina whispered. "Do I know her?" Owen looked at Meredith again. Cristina noticed the look, and she turned toward Meredith. "It's Amelia, isn't it? That's who you're seeing, Owen, isn't it? And Meredith knows and she didn't even tell me. Wow."
"I didn't think it was a big deal," Meredith protested.
"You know what? Whatever," Cristina rolled her eyes and stormed out of the room.
Owen shook his head. "Well, that could have gone better."
"She'll get over it, Owen," Meredith insisted. "Don't worry about it."
"Yeah, sure," Owen sighed.
Bailey stirred. He rubbed his eyes with his little fists. Blinking, he whimpered, "Momma?" Tears started to form in his eyes.
Zola reached her arm up to her brother. "It's okay, Bailey, Momma's just gonna spend the night in the 'ospital. She not dying."
"MOMMA!" Bailey bellowed, reaching for Meredith. He struggled in Owen's arms, wanting down.
"Damnit," groaned Owen.
"Give him here," Meredith insisted. She extended her right arm, the one without the IV, and took her son in her arms. "Hey, Bailey-bop." Bailey instantly smiled. The little boy snuggled closer to his mother. In just a few moments, he was asleep again.
"That was fast," Owen mouthed. "You're a pro."
"It's not always this easy," Meredith insisted in a soft voice. "Shhh, take him carefully." She tilted his head up with her left arm as Owen carefully took her from again. Just as Owen was about to leave, Meredith looked up and was surprised when she saw Amelia standing in the doorway.
"Hey, how's it going?" Amelia asked. "Where's Wilson?"
"I thought she was looking for you," Meredith shrugged. "How's Izzie? That's who you got paged about, isn't it?"
"How'd you know that?" Amelia inquired.
"Just a hunch," Meredith winked.
"Oh, well, she's doing really good. Vitals are strong. I'm thinking I'll be able to remove the tumor tomorrow morning. Edwards will monitor her tonight. Now, I think I'm going to go home and catch some beauty rest. I can also help Owen out with the kids," Amelia said, a wide smile on her face.
"That's great!" Meredith grinned, though somehow, she couldn't shake the feeling that Amelia was leaving something out.
Amelia formed a smile at Owen, who didn't look as enthused. "Are you okay, Owen?" She suddenly frowned and touched his shoulder.
"Yeah...fine," he mumbled, shooting a glance at Meredith.
"Cristina just found out about you two," Meredith volunteered the information.
"Your ex-wife," Amelia said grimly. "Let me guess, she didn't react so well." Owen shook his head. "I guess I don't blame her. I'd be upset too, I guess. Plus, isn't she like your best friend, Mer?"
"She is," Meredith said, "and she'll get over it, if I know Cristina. Owen's just keeping it in the family. Jumping from my twisted sister to my sister-in-law."
"You make our relationship sound incestuous." Amelia's eyebrows rose.
"I didn't mean it like that," Meredith widened her eyes. That did sound slightly disturbing, now that she thought about it.
"Right...let's go, Amelia," Owen said, grabbing her hand with his free hand. "Come on, Zo." That's when they realized Zola had lain down on the floor and fallen asleep. The three adults shared a laugh. Amelia leaned over and gently picked her up.
After Amelia, Owen, and the kids left, Jo returned.
"Where have you been?" Meredith demanded. "I thought you'd gone to check on Izzie!"
"I did," Jo insisted.
"Amelia was just here," Meredith said. "She says Izzie's vitals are strong. Is that true?"
Jo hesitated. "Her vitals are great, yeah, that's true. She's doing well."
"So, she's awake and conscious?" Meredith asked. Jo nodded. "Great, so take me to go see her."
"I'm on strict orders not to let you go check on patients," Jo insisted, "so I don't think that's a good idea."
"You won't be breaking orders if I visit her as a friend, not a doctor, which is what I fully intended to do," Meredith insisted.
"I still don't think it's a good idea. You're supposed to be resting. Plus, since you'd be visiting as a friend, not a doctor, you'd be past visiting hours. I can't allow it," Jo said.
Meredith gave Jo a stink eye, because she knew Jo was technically correct. She didn't like it, either. "You know, you're making this difficult."
"I'm just doing my job," Jo insisted.
Meredith exhaled, crossing her arms. She shook her head. "How are you doing, Dr. Wilson?" Meredith asked.
Jo burst into laughter. "Are you serious? I thought that was my job to ask you."
"I was just trying to strike up a conversation," Meredith shrugged. "I'm not gonna lie in this bed all night and not talk to anyone."
"Well, you could, I don't know, sleep," Jo insisted. "That's what most patients do at night. It's dark outside."
"I'm not tired," Meredith said. "I'm in the mood to chat, so let's chat. How are you, Dr. Wilson?"
"I guess talking patients make for more interesting nights than sleeping ones," Jo sighed, "but I honestly don't think you want to know how I am."
"That bad?" Meredith lifted an eyebrow.
"Not that it matters. Anyway, I'm pretty sure you're more interested in how Alex is doing, and you're just using me to get info on Alex," Jo sighed.
"I wasn't," Meredith said. "Actually, I was more concerned about how you're coping with all this. I mean, it's a lot to take in and all. Alex told me that he thinks you'd make a good mother for Blake."
Jo laughed sarcastically. She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, so I've heard," Jo said. "Honestly? Do you want to know the honest truth?"
"I'm all ears," Meredith insisted.
"I'm in no condition to be a mother! I can't be! I have three years left of residency. I can't be anyone's mother. I mean, Blake's a great kid, don't get me wrong. I adore him. But I don't want to be his mother. I'll be his cool...whatever...but I don't want to be his mother. And Izzie, gosh, all Alex does is talk about her! Of course he's always talking trash about her, but it's the kind of trash you talk about someone when YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH THEM. And it's infuriating! I mean, I get she hurt him, and she lied to him, but it's all he ever talks about and I'm not sure I can take it anymore. Oh, my God. This is terrible, but it was actually a relief for me when Izzie took Blake and they couldn't be found. I had never been so relieved! Alex had finally stopped talking about them, and then...this. This accident. And now the chance that Izzie could die or never be the same…"
"Hold up," Meredith raised an eyebrow. "I thought you said her vitals were strong."
"She still has a massive tumor, doesn't she? People die in brain surgery all the time. Or she could sustain massive brain injuries," Jo insisted. "Alex doesn't even know about the tumor yet. I haven't talked to him since I found out. He doesn't even know her current condition. He's just worried about Blake. He adores that kid, and he has every right to. I mean, the kid is a splitting image of Alex - it's scary. But damn-it, once Alex finds out about the tumor, he's gonna realize it's not Izzie's fault that this happened, and he'll forgive her. And then...what if he chooses to go back to her? What if he comes to the realization that he's loved her all along? I know I'm sounding selfish right now, but I honestly don't know what to do. I love him so much, and I don't want to lose him. But I'm not ready to be a mother, and it's clear he still loves Izzie." Jo's breathing shook. "Wow, God, that felt good to get out. But now you probably think I'm nuts or selfish or both."
"You're not nuts or selfish, Jo," Meredith smiled. "You're in a tough situation. And you're right, I'm not gonna lie to you, Izzie will always hold a special place in Alex's heart."
"Does that mean he doesn't love me?" Jo asked.
"He loves you, Jo," Meredith assured her. "He just loves you in a different way. You've never hurt him. Well, not like Izzie has."
"So, basically, I need to hurt him for him to love me? I don't get what you're saying."
"Don't hurt him, Jo," Meredith said. "The last thing Alex needs is to be hurt. He needs all the support he can get right now."
"I just don't know what to do," Jo whispered. Tears were now streaming down her face. "I can't be a mother. I'm barely a surgeon."
"I didn't think I could be a mother first, either," Meredith said. "Actually, Alex was one of the first people to tell me I'd be a good mom. Hearing it from him actually is what gave me a lot of courage, because Alex doesn't say that kind of stuff often, as I'm sure you know."
"He's a great guy," Jo said softly. "In fact, he's the best guy I've ever dated. I can't imagine my life without him. I thought he was the guy I was gonna spend the rest of my life with."
Meredith smiled. "That's exactly how I felt about Derek, until his wife showed up." She chuckled.
"But as the story goes, Dr. Shepherd's wife didn't bring her child in tow too," Jo pointed out. "Things would have been different if she had."
Meredith nodded; it was true. She didn't know how things would have played out if Addison had showed up with Derek's child.
"I just don't know what I'm gonna do," Jo sighed, "and I shouldn't be dumping this all on you. You have enough stress on your plate; that's why you're here in the first place."
"Jo, don't worry about it," Meredith said. "Actually, hearing your woes makes me feel better about my life. I mean, as twisted as it is. If that's not selfish, then I don't know what is."
Jo laughed, and they both looked up to see Alex standing in the doorway. Jo's smile instantly drowned. "Hey," she said quietly.
"Hey," he said, heading toward Jo. He placed his hand on her shoulder. "What're you two talking about?" Jo and Meredith locked eyes.
"Oh, nothing," Meredith said, trying to sound innocent given the conversation she and Jo had actually been having.
"So, I hear I was right," Alex said. "I passed Amelia on her way out."
"Did you?" Meredith raised her eyebrows. "Did she say anything else?"
"Just that I was right about you. She and Owen had your kids. Blake really enjoyed playing with Zola earlier, by the way. He's asleep now, so that's why I'm here."
"Have you told him yet?" Meredith asked. "That you're his dad?"
Alex shook his head. "No, but I'm going to file for custody first thing tomorrow morning. I was hoping to tell him tomorrow morning. I'm actually kind of hoping he'll figure it out on his own. He's a smart kid…" Jo and Meredith both looked at each other, silent. "What's going on with you two? You're acting weird."
"Alex," Jo said quietly. "Uh, Izzie's awake."
He froze. His face showed no emotion. "And?"
"Alex," Meredith said softly. "She has a massive frontal lobe tumor. Amelia told me earlier that she thinks it's been there a while, so it easily could have been affecting her judgment for some time now. Amelia wants to operate first thing tomorrow morning."
Alex's jaw dropped.
A/N: I hope this chapter and next will clear up some of the controversy over Alex's characterization and reaction in regards to Izzie's accident. This chapter and next will both focus on that more. I'm trying so hard not to make this a story that favors either Izzex or Jolex, which makes it quite the challenge to write! I see both perspectives.