Owen Hunt didn't know exactly how long he had been standing outside after his call to Callie had ended, it wasn't important…he merely needed to stand here a while and calm himself down. The last few hours had been a whirlwind of emotion…the relief the plane had been found, the terror of waiting for news….the adrenalin as he, Webber and Bailey had raced to the airport to get to Boise…the panic as bits of news filtered through….and finally the joy of knowing Cristina was alive and safe, followed by the guilt that the others were still going through the nightmare of waiting for news. And now, now they had all the news they could handle…everyone was accounted for, not everyone was safe, not everyone was coming home. But finally, everyone knew, the wait was over, and another nightmare seemed to be just beginning.
He had seen Merediths face, recognised the haunted look in her eyes, saw the horror of what she had gone through reflected in their emptiness…recognised the loss she felt. He had heard Derek was in surgery, knew his hand was damaged; he was a surgeon…that was his life…he may be alive, but his life could be over. And Mark, everyone knew he loved Lexis…if he survived, how would he find the strength to go on without her…? How could Callie go on without Arizona? He closed his eyes and tilted his head back to the dark sky…how would any of them get through this? Somehow, Owen sensed that life for all of them had ben forever altered. Yes, one nightmare over, another he sensed just beginning .
"Hunt?"
Owen turned as he heard Webber come out to stand behind him. "How's Meredith doing?" he asked softly
Webber sighed and rubbed at his chin. "Her concussion isn't as bad as they'd thought, the disorientation seems to be mainly due to dehydration and mild hypothermia. They have her on fluids and antibiotics, and have her in an electric blanket. Couple of stitches to her head and thigh and physically she is fine. Bailey is sitting with her for a little while, she hasn't let go of Zola once….hasn't stopped crying for Lexie either"
"Damn shame, really liked that kid" Owen muttered as he looked down to the ground and shook his head sadly.
"Me to" Webber whispered, "me to." He cleared his throat slightly. "Uh, I came to tell you that they've finished assessing Yang, and have said it would be okay if you wanted to see her, though they don't recommend you stay too long"
"Why?"
"Not sure, but I came to get you…figured you've waited long enough" Richard smiled gently as he rested his hand on his shoulder before patting his back and guiding him back inside the hospital where they were met by Dr Sheehan
"Dr Hunt, pleasure to finally meet you" she smiled as she extended her hand, "and I assure you we are doing ALL we can for your people, such a miracle they survived, we are all so happy for you"
"Thank you" Owen said politely before adding, "though Dr Grey lost her sister, not all of our people survived… and from all I've heard we still have concerns over Sloan and Robbins."
Dr Sheehan nodded and pursed her lips. "Of course, I'm sorry for your loss. And not to add to your worries but you're right, we have heard from the chopper en-route…seems they have had some scares up there, Sloan in particular…we already have ORs prepped for both of them as soon as the chopper lands…"
"Problems?" Webber asked, his brow creased with a frown
"Dr Robbins went into V-fib seems she threw another clot…but they managed to get her back, they've given her some Heparin and a blood transfusion, her vital signs are stabilising. Sloan however is not responding as well…he has also been in V-fib, but his heart rate is erratic, and his vital signs are weak …they are struggling to stabilise him." She sighed and shook her head sadly. "I'm afraid that maybe the miracle came…just a little too late….but as I said before….we will do ALL we can. You have my word"
This time it was Richard who muttered "Thank you" before Dr Sheehan turned back to Owen and said. "Now, I believe you would like to see Dr Yang. This way"
The three of them walked down a corridor to the side of the ER, and entered a small private room. Before Owen walked in Sheehan gently put her hand on his arm. "It's best if you don't get too close to her"
Owen just looked at her before rushing to Cristinas side. "Cristina" he whispered gently before sitting on the edge of her bed and reaching out to her.
"Oh…I REALLY wouldn't do that" Sheehan called from the doorway, "she isn't aware that she is doing it but she…lashes out" she automatically brought her hand to touch the red welt on the side of her face
"He knows what he is doing" Webber said confidently, though his eyebrows shot up as suddenly Cristina started to wave her good arm around, thrashing out blindly, her body jerking with the effort.
Owen didn't hesitate, he reached over and pulled her into a tight hug. "I'm here, I got you….Crisitina, I'm here…it's me…I got you…I got you…I got you"
Both Sheehan and Webber breathed a sigh of relief as Yangs erratic movements eased, her body relaxed, her head dropped to Owens shoulder…but her eyes remained fixed and vacant, she made no move to respond or even acknowledge that he was there, she didn't need to…her body had responded, Owen had broken one barrier…no one knew how many more there were to breach before Yang came back to them, or if!
[xx]
Miranda Bailey was still cradling Meredith Grey, even though by now the young woman had drifted off to sleep, with Zola sleeping safely tucked against her. Callie had been right, it was good that she had brought the child with her, the way Meredith had hugged her daughter, seemed to calm her in a way no amount of medicine could. Every now and then she felt Meredith grow restless, the start of a bad dream, so Miranda did what she did for Tuck when he had nightmares. She sang. Leaning forward Bailey softly sang to Meredith
Oh, why you look so sad?
Tears are in your eyes
Come on and come to me now
Don't be ashamed to cry
Let me see you through
'cause I've seen the dark side too
When the night falls on you
You don't know what to do
Nothing you confess
Could make me love you less
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
So if you're mad, get mad
Don't hold it all inside
Come on and talk to me now
Hey, what you got to hide?
I get angry too
Well I'm a lot like you
When you're standing at the crossroads
Don't know which path to choose
Let me come along
'cause even if you're wrong
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Take me in into your darkest hour
And I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you
And when...
When the night falls on you, baby
You're feeling all alone
You won't be on your own
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Take me in, into your darkest hour
And I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
and I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
"Do you hear me honey" she whispered as she reached to stroke the hair away from Merediths bandage. "I'm here, and I'll stand by you. We all will. But you rest now my little one…just rest"
She looked up and smiled as the young nurse she had been speaking to earlier politely knocked on the door and walked in. "Sorry to disturb you" she said shyly, "but Dr Sheehan wanted me to tell you, the second chopper has landed
"Oh" Miranda gasped as she slowly rose to her feet, her hand still clasped in Merediths as she stood. She looked at Meredith sleeping and felt torn. She wanted to stay and comfort her, care for her…but Mark, and Arizona, she needed to see them, she had promised Callie…had promised herself.
As if reading her mind the nurse stepped forward. "It's ok, we gave her a mild sedative, she'll sleep for a few hours, and I will stay right here with her…and her adorable little girl"
Again Miranda looked down, but Meredith was safe…she was safe. And with that thought Bailey asked for directions, and headed back to the Resus area, walking in just as the gurneys carrying both Arizona and Mark burst through the double doors. "Oh my God!" she gasped as she saw them, she barely recognised them. Both so pale, so fragile. They had oxygen masks obscuring their dirt and blood streaked faces, wires and IVs connected all over them, machines at the side of their beds once they had been transferred over. Drs and nurses started rushing around the room, Bailey tried to focus in on what was being said, try to catch their vitals, catch up with what was happening…be a doctor….but she couldn't. All she could hear was the loud thump of her heart as her shock at seeing her friends condition rocked her to her core.
For a few moments Baileys mind flashed back to the last time she had felt so lost…so helpless in an ER…the day Callie had been rushed in after her car accident…so close to death, so helpless…so…broken, That day, Arizona and Mark had been to hell and back as they stood and watched their friends and colleagues fight for Callies life….Miranda had been in the middle of the battle….but as a barely conscious Calllie had reached her hand out blindly….seeking help….Miranda had grabbed it and clung to her friend….clung on to her so hard…and lost all professional perspective for a few moments….only jolting back as she heard Avery call out "She's crashing"
"She's crashing!"
Miranda shook her head and let her mouth drop open a fraction as she realised it was the lead doctor with Arizona that had called out. Frantically Bailey looked at the monitors, squinting as she tried to read them. "No" she muttered. "Oh no, no, no…come on Robbins…don't do this….don't do this….come on!"
"Push one of epi and one of atropine" the doctor intones as he worked furiously to find the cause of Arizona condition
She heard the familiar whine of the de-fib charging….heard a voice call clear….heard the thud of electricity, but shook her head when she realised that Robbins doctor hadn't been the one to apply the charge. Frantically she spun round, only to be confronted with the sight of a nurse desperately pushing at Marks chest as the Attending looked at the monitors before intoning. "Charge to 350….and….clear" Marks body lifted from the bed and Bailey let out a soft yelp.
"She's back!" came a cry from behind her, again Miranda spun back, watching as the doctor caring for Robbins used an ultra sound and called out "Way to go doc…Let's get to the OR, the bleeding is here, just in the right chest cavity…looks like….yeah…broken rib has punctured the lung….miracle she didn't bleed out….let's move it people. Call Ortho to…we need a temporary fix on that leg before we do the full scan, losing blood there to….we need more O neg…come on people …move….MOVE!"
Again Bailey spun round as she heard the Attending behind her yell. "MOVE…move….replace that…come on, we need a proper drain in now….God!" he yelled as s large spurt of blood jetted out of the clear tube he had just pushed into Mark. "That's a lot of blood…a lot….no wonder we keep losing him….push those fluids, where is the rapid infuser….get me an epi, he's still tachcycardic…sinus rhythm is poor…. Ok, good, coming back a bit….come on people….we have to get him to OR.
Miranda stepped back a fraction, calling out "WAIT!" as she suddenly spotted Arizonas eyes flickering open as they went to push passed her.
"Ma'am I'm sorry you can't be in here…." One of the young interns started to say as he went to push her back against the wall, stopping as Dr Sheehan stepped into Resus and instructed "Let her be….give her a minute"
"But Sheehan" Robbins doctor called only to have his senior glare at him before he muttered, "a minute"
Bailey stepped forward and reached for the hand that Arizona was weakly stretching out to her. As she wrapped her own hand around her friends Miranda felt warm tears streaking down her face. "It's okay Arizona…you're going to be fine….I'll be right her waiting for you, we'll have you back on your feet in no time and you…Callie….and that precious little girl are going to live, a long and happy life….so just hand on honey…cos Callie is waiting for you. Ok? Callie is waiting"
She wasn't sure if Arizona had heard her, until she saw the slight nod of her head and felt the way her grip tightened on her hand. Before Miranda could say anything else, Robbins doctor whispered "Sorry, we have to take her through now." Numbly Miranda nodded, then watched as the doors swung closed behind the team as they raced away from her. She gasped as the team caring for Mark started to race passed her, managing to call out "Mark…stay strong!" before the doors closed again. Miranda stared at them for several seconds before she slowly turned and surveyed the room behind her, her eyes resting on two distinct jackets bearing the Seattle Hospital Logo, and the discarded, shredded navy scrubs and track shoes. "Oh God she whispered again, jumping slightly as she felt her mobile ring, sighing deeply as she saw the caller ID. With a deep breath she forced herself to swallow deeply and breathe before saying brightly. "Callie…I…I was just going to ring you!"