Disclaimer: I don't own Grey's Anatomy, et al.
Author's Note: So … three comments on the last part posted! That's a record low, even for me, which is so hard to believe considering the number of people reading. It's disappointing to me, because I for one loved how this story came together in the end. But if we keep this up, I'll never know how you feel, which is just as important to me.
Thank you to MerDerSoInLove , caliginous and Grey'sAnatomyfanatic for taking the time to communicate with me … and I truly hope you enjoy this next part!
Chapter 19 – Love Will Keep Us Alive – Part 3 of 4
Meredith glanced at the clock, Cristina hadn't said a word – not a single word, not a single tear slipped from her eyes … nothing – since she hung up in the middle of screaming at her mother almost two hours ago.
Which left them where they were – laying on her old bed together – Meredith's hands draped across her abdomen … her miracle baby still safe and warm and protected from life's cruelties. She turned her attention to the window and the familiar splatter of the rain as it fell against the glass and she sighed. She watched Cristina – her eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling, her friend was a shell – cracked wide open for all to see. And for someone like Cristina, that vulnerability of a crack was like a tinted window, one where the shutters had remained closed tight for a long time – nothing more than a shelter from the storm of life – until now … until she was exposed … rendering her catatonic ... swept away, float, float, float.
"He wasn't just my lover," Cristina confessed.
The linens rustled like leaves as she rolled away from Meredith and kept her eyes trained on the rain drops rolling down the window in front of her … if all had gone according to plan … she'd almost be married – right at this very moment – she'd be in that wedding dress, with that sparkling choker-noose around her neck … right now … except she wasn't, she heaved a sigh of relief. She had the sense not to surrender … and as forlorn as she was, she was full of relief too, she had become her own paradox.
"I know," Meredith acknowledged; her voice soft, understanding.
"Just because I couldn't marry him – and surrender everything, my whole fucking self – doesn't mean … I didn't love him," she whispered; a hint of sarcasm there too … her hiss hung in the air.
"I know that too," Meredith encouraged.
"My mother was finally right," she snorted with a laugh. "She's so … she said this whole – what was the word she used … ah … 'charade' – she said it was all a waste of time and effort … she said Burke's a good man who would take care of me," she scoffed. "Clearly … she's delusional … on so many levels," she said sardonically.
Meredith smiled; for it seemed her friend wasn't totally lost, not yet anyway.
"Well … you have a couple of weeks off ...," Meredith said aloud, her mind working, connecting the dots, thinking about Derek's advice to Owen and how it worked for him … to breakaway, clear his head. "You could … get away, hell … you could go on that honeymoon of yours," she suggested matter-of-factly.
Cristina rolled over and stared at her friend. "You really think I'm about to do that?" she snorted, sitting up. "If I do that – all I'll do is think and I'd rather cut, except – I can't be do that either!" she heaved, straightening up now, her dark hair in the same messy ponytail since last night. "Burke will be there – he's the lock and the key to my … existence – I can't get away … how is it that I have no place to go … again? See, I should have kept my fucking apartment!" she retorted, craning her neck up, damning her tears to recede.
She set her eyes on those damp shadows again … billowing, swaying, lulling her to that quiet place of a darkened dream … rain, rain, rain.
"You could live here … stay as long as you want," Meredith sighed.
"Thanks … as crappy as that sounds, it actually seems like a good idea … I can't go … home," she breathed, cringing slightly inside before making brief eye contact with her friend – noticing now the silhouette of her small baby bump – she smiled weakly and shook her head, without thinking … she reached over and pressed her hand against Meredith's stretched flesh.
So there they sat … still – friends since day one, their paths diverging with each passing minute – each thinking now about survival and what it meant and how this was all going to play out … within the walls of the OR and out. And unfortunately with this one – this one case, this particular relationship – there was no easy way out.
No … there may not be a way to stop these bleeding hearts, the carnage left behind the wreckage of them – Cristina Yang and Preston Burke – were no more … even after all the shared secrets and misery and unrequited collaboration … the cover-up … 'Tremorgate' …would forever be the legacy they left behind.
Cristina shook her head – how was she meant to survive that – how could she persevere … come out on top? Would her career survive without Burke – would her reputation be as tarnished as Izzie's – had she survived the inquisition surrounding the LVAD debacle only to be the one who would always have something to prove … that she was more than just the woman who almost left the great Preston Burke at the altar? Shit, for someone so smart, how could she be so fucking stupid! How could she let herself … fall … in … love … in the first place?
So, she couldn't surrender! So what!
Except for now, she had to ask herself: how would she survive and be able to look beyond this mess and actually 'see' the future – a future that didn't involve Burke – one that might be less blank … less devoid of substance … less empty? And more fulfilled? How?
"I feel empty," Cristina confessed into thin air, she hung her head for a beat. "I feel like cowering and that's not who I am – my head's spinning and I can't see a way out – this might too big for me," she rambled, her heart shook … twist, turn, twist.
"No … no, Cristina … it's not … you're stronger than this," Meredith countered, trying to see beyond the insecurity in her dear friend's eyes.
"What would your mother have done?" Cristina asked suddenly; turning her full attention to Meredith, desperate for answers, insight.
Meredith smiled weakly. "I'll tell you what she did … when things fell apart … she split, left town," she sighed, her heart aching … just enough, just a bit. "She was strong … threw herself into work and never looked back," she elaborated softly.
"I just … I get it now … why you left, or needed to leave and why she did too – I just don't know if I'll make it on my own though – again, clearly not thinking like myself … but I get it, the need to …go," Cristina sighed.
"You finally get me," Meredith smiled.
"I … I do," Cristina muttered. "And I just … want to survive – like you did, like your mother did – I just need time …," Cristina proposed, her mind working to piece the puzzle together. "And I want to be able to do it alone," she sighed.
Cristina looked to find her friend gawking at her. She watched Meredith get out of bed and pace – back and forth – her arms crossed over her chest, she reached for her hoodie and slipped it over her head before she turned to face her friend.
"What exactly do you want to survive? Being alone? Being without Burke? Working with him … seeing him and not being with him?" Meredith asked pointedly.
The questions were numerous and only led to further unanswered questions. In truth, the situation between the former lovers would be tense at work … but not likely to be more of a pressure cooker they had already survived … hiding Burke's tremor until he came clean must have been hell – except at least with that, they were in it together – as disjointed as their relationship seemed to be … they were together. They survived; each in their own way of course, but they did … survive. Meredith sighed … and then she had a glimmer of an idea.
"I don't know… there's this void … this gaping hole, what the hell is going to happen? Will I ever get into the OR again?" Cristina started to ramble, her mind moving faster – hypothesizing was a bitch, she was so screwed – she sighed.
"Who said you have to be alone?" Meredith wondered before her mind stopped short at a single moment of clarity … she smiled. "This isn't about running … you can't just run … Burke will still be here …," Meredith thought aloud.
"I know and I know it's over, there's no going back … at least you had a feeling, you had hope for you and Derek, but for me … there's just this hole – and I need something to fill it up – and I don't have anyone … I mean I do … I have you – but to cut … to work … there's no one – no one who will let me do what he let me do in an OR … and I need more! I need … something bigger than this," she admitted.
"I know you do … and I get it, remember … I really do … and that's why I just want you to hear me out," Meredith stated with a wide smile as she sat on the edge of the bed again.
###
Derek smiled tightly as he turned out of his patient's room, so far the day had gone pretty well and had passed pretty quickly, he was busy, in and out of the OR and that helped a great deal. He had about an hour left of his shift – then he would head back to the trailer, grab some clothing and other items on Meredith's short list – and return to her mother's house where they would set up camp for a couple of days while Cristina got settled. With Burke gone with his parents, things for the moment anyway, were in limbo … God only knows how it would be once they both returned to work. His PDA buzzed at his hip, he snapped the device from the waistband of his scrub pants and smiled when he saw Meredith's name.
"Hey," he greeted; a smile crossing over his face as he stopped at the Nurses' Station to replace his chart. Mark walked up; he held his finger up as he listened intently to Meredith.
Mark looked at his friend, watching his retreating form as he paced into the small waiting area there, knowing that Meredith was held up at her old house with Cristina – having heard an earful about the whole sordid affair from Callie over pillow talk this morning – also well aware now that the cancelling of this union seemed to be the right thing and in the end it sounded like both Burke and Yang dodged a bullet. Derek paced, a smile playing across his face now, saying something about Meredith being a genius.
"So … she's – on board with this, if I can get this done – she's … good to go?" Derek asked with a small smile, shaking his head again at the way life changed sometimes and at the blink of an eye too. "Well … let me make the calls, talk to Webber, but I agree … she needs to figure out how to live beyond the fallout …," he added thoughtfully. "Hmm … just like you did…," he murmured softly with a knowing smile, God he loved her. "Hmm, just like I did too, you're right," he chuckled, listening now for a beat. "Yeah, she could use that book … I'll grab it … and yes – I'll take our letter out – and bring some mangos too," he chuckled at his woman's antics. "See you in a few hours then ...," he smiled. "I love you too," he replied, his smile even wider as he snapped the PDA shut and met Mark's curious gaze.
"Looks like I'm gonna need to call in another favor into Peter … get some time with the Chief to iron this whole thing out," he muttered conspiratorially.
"So, Yang's gonna split?" Mark presumed, as the duo started walking toward the Chief's office.
"Nah … she's going to survive – in Yemen – and hopefully under the expert tutelage of Owen Hunt," Derek countered with a smile – for if there was one person on earth (besides Meredith Grey) he could trust with Cristina Yang's survival – it was Owen Hunt.
###
Hours later Derek walked up the front porch steps, beleaguered from his wares, he was bogged down – a small travel bag of clothing for them, plus a shopping bag with the survival book Meredith asked for and a handful of ripe mangos, plus his briefcase and lastly … Meredith's box of Balinese treasures – which arrived (thankfully) in one piece.
He chuckled, rushing the last few steps to the door in order to pin Meredith's box between him and the side of the house to turn the handle and push on the door with his free hand, stepping inside – the first thing he noticed was the quiet … and peace, there was peace here too – he smiled and set the heavy box and the shopping bag down on the small entry way table and sighed.
He let his bag slip from his shoulder and set his briefcase down before he removed his coat, the wool still damp and cold from his moments of clarity spent at the helm of the ferryboat – amazed that in less than twenty-four hours everything had changed and for the better in his humble opinion and if anyone asked him – he wouldn't hesitate to just chalk it up to fate or destiny or simply that everything happens for a reason.
He slipped his shoes off …
The house was quiet …
The day was almost over …
And then his angel sang …
"Hey," came the soft timbre of Meredith's voice, he turned around to find his lover standing in the entryway to the living room – her hair up in a messy ponytail, her belly well-protected via her oversized hoodie, her cheeks pink, her eyes dancing and happy – happy to see him.
"Hey," he whispered into the quiet where the met somewhere in the middle of the old foyer.
Her hands found his chest, his arms found the small of her back, her belly brushed against his abdomen … each move instinctual – the stuff of survival – he missed her … he needed her … needed to taste her sweet flesh … he kissed her.
"I missed you," he confessed against her lips. "All day," he muttered, pulling her closer, breathing her in … the cold that chased him all day, finally evaporated, one touch was all he needed.
"Me too," she breathed; relief consumed her … filling her up.
Pulling back now, she surveyed his clear blue eyes, tired from the day, yet dancing nonetheless, she lay her head down, resting it for a beat over his heart muscle where he reflexively began to rock her … swaying, cradling and now connecting, his hand found her belly. She closed her eyes for a beat, stopping to breathe him in, stopping to feel thankful … just stopping. She opened her eyes, seeing now the collection of things Derek brought with him, her box of treasures included. Perfect timing, she thought with a wry grin.
"Bigger," Derek whispered into Meredith's ear, he smiled; snaking his hand under the loose hem of her hoodie, she giggled. "I need to see you," he breathed, his voice low … intimate – his chest tightened with unforeseen emotion – he pressed his nose under her ear, her sweet elixir calmed his energy from the day.
"Cristina's napping in the other room, no one else is here," Meredith whispered, peeking up. Derek smiled. "Grab our bag, I have an idea …," she said pulling on his hand.
Derek did as he was told and the couple crept by the entryway, spying Cristina curled up on the sofa, wrapped in a cashmere throw.
"George went home, Alex and Izzie are out," Meredith reported when they got to the top of the stairs. "I feel like we're the adults, sneaking in alone time or something," she giggled, crossing over the threshold to her old bedroom.
Derek followed her inside, making no attempt to linger; Meredith headed straight for the bathroom, promptly locking the door behind her. Derek turned the shower on and turned to find Meredith, pulling her hoodie over her head. Derek smiled and sat down on the lid of the toilet, she stepped in between his legs, looking down she caught his eyes as he peeked up.
"See … bigger," he chuckled, dancing his fingertips along her stretched flesh, caressing her belly button, dipping his fingers below the waistband of her pants.
"Bigger," she giggled, finding his shining eyes where they stayed connected for a moment in time. "I love you," she declared suddenly, her eyes wet – wanting always to remember the way he looked at her right there … inside this one moment – like she was his everything.
"Love you too," his whispered, his voice lost within sound of the rushing water.
Unable to stop his hands as they moved along her taut flesh, his eyes fixated on hers as she became blurred through his collection of tears and the swirling steam all around them… she was a vision, more perfect than a dream.
And on that thought, Derek slipped his hands onto her bare tush underneath the thin fabric of her yoga pants while she pulled her Henley off, the flesh of belly and fuller breasts suddenly all he could see – her nipples taut, perfectly ripe and rosy … darker – he drank her in, swallowing her sex appeal, while his dream became his reality once again. He pressed his lips to her belly, tasting her flesh, silently connecting with their miracle … safe and warm and protected.
He stood, pulling his blue pinstripe button down over his head before he unzipped his jeans and kicked them and his boxers from his feet. Meredith shimmied out of her yoga pants and the couple stepped into the enclave of the steamy hot shower together.
Wordlessly, they stood under the spray of water for a long minute, connecting, caressing, kissing, cherishing and loving one another – their flesh warmed and suddenly flushed, their hearts beating to the same ensemble, the essence of them mingling with the hot tufts of steam, encapsulating them – raining down on them as they stayed inside the treasured moment and basked in the survival and tenacity of the 'them' they had become.
"You're beautiful," Derek husked into their wet heat. He cupped her face, nudging his nose against hers. "You always have been … but this way," he sighed, his chest tightened, hot spits of water danced between them. "You steal my breath … you're full of life," he whispered, his love burgeoning all over again, his heart aching … stretching now just like her skin.
"I'm … full of us," Meredith sighed. "You and me," she said softly, kissing his cheek, she moved his hands down to her belly, where her protruding flesh rubbed against his – she drew him closer and kissed his sweet, wet lips, lapping at his nerves over and over and over again – holding his skull in her hands, her fingers nestled in his plentiful wet locks. "I'll never grow tired of us," she choked out.
"Hmm, nor will I," Derek replied in earnest.
Moving his lips down along the perfect line of Meredith's neck now, he reached back to release her hair from her ponytail before moving his hand through her wild tresses as she tipped her head back and let the warm water soothe her weary mind, lathering his hands Derek massaged her skull, watching the soapy residue cascade down his lover's new curves – twirl, swirl, slip and slide – down, down, down, passing through her perfectly painted toes, spiraling into the drain, another day survived … another day together.
Switching places, Derek craned his neck back and let the shampoo wash from his hair – he felt Meredith's gentle, soothing touch as she washed his body, massaging his muscles – healing him, taking care of him – like no woman before her. Her hands moved with precision, pummeling him where necessary, taking no prisoners as she massaged his cock, her strokes gentle, purposeful, she washed him … he opened his eyes to find her loving gaze.
Stepping forward, she captured his lips with hers, palming his sack as she did, stealthily massing his nerves … mine, mine, mine, she chanted. Her core ignited, her sex filled the air. She playfully raised her brow, her giggle filling the air now too, for she knew sex in the shower was out of the question – Derek had long since been afraid of slipping or falling – but she smiled devilishly all the same and they laughed, no words were necessary.
Playing along now, Derek ducked down and gently tugged on Meredith's nipples with his lips – suckling, lapping, nipping, feasting on her supple skin, except his feral need only awoke … he couldn't get enough, he had to have more.
Maintaining his oral hold on her pleasure points now, he swept his hand down, beyond her belly, nestling his fingers deep into the vee of her sex, just above her warm hooded clit. He swirled his thumb across her divine nub, coaxing and teasing her arousal – rub, flick, rub, brush – the water fell and fell, the vacuum of time was created and he became lost for a beat until he heard Meredith cry out into the air.
Her body trembled, she bucked her hips; her sex arrested him. She held on tight.
Deciding he needed to taste her sweet juice, he knelt down, moving his lips along her full breasts, stopping to flick her nipples again – engorged, tasty, swollen and tender – moving lower, he knees found the warm porcelain of the tub while Meredith's hand found the soap ledge and her opposite foot found the tub edge. Derek peeked up and smiled, finding his lover's eyes just above her belly.
"Derek … I'm hot," she husked, moving his fingers down a fraction of an inch to her smoldering clit again.
"You are," he replied thickly, breaching her folds, he slipped his thumb into her warm, slick depths. Her hips bucked, he added his other and pumped her muscles, feeling her flesh and nerves swallow him whole.
Already lost within his lover, he promptly spread her folds back with his thumbs – her wet, swollen and fragrant flesh stared back at him – he nudged her clit with his nose, breathing her in for a beat before he began to flick the pink juicy flesh of her fruit with his tongue, intermittently closing his whole mouth over her opening to siphon her precious sap – her womanhood, her essence – his elixir.
"Derek, Derek," he heard her breathless calls of encouragement, he felt her hands on his skull – pushing him down, down, down … she wanted more – and there was nothing he wouldn't do for her … nothing.
Bending down for better access, he craned his neck back and slipped his fingers into her hot depths one last time before he ducked down and seized her perfect pink nub with his lips, sucking her flesh, his teeth grazing her nerves there – tasting her on his tongue, drinking her down, he was lost, completely lost – his survival instincts kicked into high gear now … and the feeding frenzy began.
"Oh … my," she heaved, grounding herself, grasping onto his shoulders, all she could smell was her sex.
All she could hear was her desperate pleas as they filled the steamy air and on those pleas she let her whole body go – gladly surrendering to her own survival instincts – this innate need she had for Derek's mouth on her pussy.
Spreading her folds back once again, Derek peeled her ripe fruit … gently … tenderly … lovingly – just like the ripe mango she loved so much – skillfully bringing her to a heated climax as he tugged on her pussy and drank the sweet fruits of his labors over and over and over again.
He was indulgent.
She was insatiable.
Her stomach muscles contracted, her vaginal walls went nuts as she fucked his tongue and mouth and fingers until she was wasted, riding out orgasm after orgasm while he held and cradled her – back and forth she swayed – lost and found on a cloud of euphoric survival … just as she was meant to.
And so as she came to her senses, Meredith found her lover on that same cloud – aligned, together in mind, body and spirit – yes … there he was, her lover, the man who awoke from the hammock under the Balinese sun. And there inside that moment, she found his deep, soulful eyes and kissed him senseless as he stood – rocking her and their miracle baby – all the while preaching his undying love to her as she did in turn … and it was a beautiful and cathartic thing.
###
Meredith peeked into the living room to find Alex engrossed in conversation with Cristina – their tone muted, soft – an anomaly considering the longstanding mountain of aggression they had so tenaciously built their relationship upon. She smiled; her survival book in her hands, Derek at her heels – her box of treasures in his arms – his heat from their shower still radiating from him. The pair looked up; Derek set the box down on the coffee table and smiled.
"Seriously, were you just having sex?" Cristina gawked, taking in the sight of the couple. "In my bed?" she teased, her eyes moving back and forth between the pair … they looked like they had sex.
"No … well, nothing happened in your bed," Meredith dished; she felt Derek's hand on her lower back. Alex snickered.
"I'll get some scissors for that box," Derek announced, seizing the opportunity to make a quick exit.
Meredith sat down with her friends. She smiled and handed the book to Alex. "I thought you might want to give this to Cristina since it worked so well for me," she said softly, meeting Alex's serious eyes.
"Good idea," he smiled.
The door leading to the kitchen swung open, Derek held it back and Izzie passed through carrying a large tray topped with a teapot, stacks of cups, muffins, fruit, cheese and crackers. She smiled and set the tray down on the table.
"Hey Meredith," she greeted, smiling widely at her friend, happy to see everyone – well everyone minus George – under better circumstances than the prior evening.
"Hey Izz," Meredith replied as Derek handed the scissors to her and sat down beside her.
"What's in the box?" Cristina asked.
"Meredith's Balinese treasures," Derek mused, watching the island warmth seep back into his lover's eyes with each passing clip of the scissors.
Opening the top of the box – a whiff of the island hit Meredith, the island spices, fractional keepsakes, images, Wayan, Ketut, Owen, the open-air market in Ubud, mud, earth, soil, mango, vanilla – it all came back to her as she rooted through with her hand to find her gifts for her friends. She smiled widely when she felt the brown paper bag she was searching for – the Buddha carvings – she set it down on the table and peeked inside in search of one last thing she had collected for Izzie, spying the small velvet bag, she pulled it out and set it on her lap.
"The timing's perfect," Meredith mused happily, switching gears, she was already imagining Cristina amongst the carnage of the Somali Refugee Camp. Opening the bag, she handed one of individually wrapped packages to her friends. She held onto George's.
Alex looked at the small bundle of paper in his hands – it wasn't everyday he received a true gift – something like this from far away, something that meant something to Meredith Grey. He smiled widely as he unraveled the paper and was left with the carved Buddha. His eyes met Meredith's as he looked over the intricately carved statue – his round belly, happy eyes and wide smile – he set the replica on his palm and looked up, spotting Izzie, watching her enamored face – pink cheeks, happy eyes –as she inspected her statue, she looked up and caught Alex watching her. He winked. She blushed.
"He's small enough, I'll take him with me," Cristina sighed, realizing now that the timing really was perfect, just like Meredith said.
"Thanks Meredith," Alex murmured, pushing his knee against hers.
"You're welcome," Meredith smiled, peeking at Derek. "There's one for George too," she added wistfully.
"Let's put George's on the mantle for now," Izzie suggested. Derek handed the package to her; she stood and made her way, placing the Balinese treasure – George's Buddha – on the center of the mantle above the fireplace. "Perfect," she said with a satisfied smile and rejoined the group.
"So, what's with the book?" Cristina asked. Alex smiled and handed it to her. She read the title, 'The Official U. S. Army Survival Handbook'. "Just what every girl needs," she added with a wry grin.
"That's what I said," Meredith giggled.
"She really did," Alex chuckled, turning to Cristina. "Look … I'll just tell you what I told Meredith … you don't know what you're getting yourself into," he cautioned, pressing his lips together. "And I know you'll have this Owen guy there … now we know he's one of us," he said, knowing how important the man had been to Meredith. "But you …,"
"I like to take care of myself," offered Cristina with a smile.
"Yeah and you'll survive this and then you'll come back … and you … you'll be better for it Yang, you will," he said with resolve, again his newfound hopeful optimism making yet another appearance.
"Um … well, thanks … for saying that," Cristina sighed, she turned and looked him square in the eye. "So, this is odd – us getting along – I guess when I come back, we'll be roommates," she shrugged, secretly cringing on the inside again. "Meredith, I think I should move my things out of Burke's while he's gone –"
"We can help you too, we're off for two weeks … Meredith's got to work," Izzie offered. She noticed Alex raise an eye at the suggestion, but she admonished him without words.
"Yeah, we can help," Alex mumbled in response. Derek chuckled.
"Oh, no you won't!" Cristina said with an air of her acclaimed sarcasm, everyone's heads snapped to her, eyes wide open.
"We won't?" Alex retorted, why did she have to be like this, he wondered (although he was secretly happy things were quickly returning to 'normal', for them anyway).
"No, because you won't be here," she declared, shaking her head. Reaching behind her, she swiped a fat envelope from the table there and handed it to Izzie.
"We won't?" asked Izzie, her brow knitted, she looked down at the envelope.
"Well why would you be if you could go on my honeymoon?" she asked, her brow arched.
"Cristina? Seriously?" Izzie exclaimed, looking up. "What about Meredith?" she asked, logically thinking it would only make sense for her to offer this trip to her 'person'.
"What about her – she just got back from paradise, one that I'm afraid this one can't compete with anyway – so it's your turn, kid," she joked, thinking now about her own plans for departure and how different they were from the plans she made with Burke.
"Wow …," Alex replied. "And no strings attached – you're not gonna hold this over our heads – there's nothing in it for you … you know this is selfless, right?" he quipped, but his dancing eyes deceived him.
"You leave tomorrow morning," Cristina stated evenly with a smile.
"And you leave the day after tomorrow," Derek interjected, thinking now that things were really starting to come together and in such a different way than he would have expected.
"I know," she replied with a tight smile. "And everything's coming tomorrow and you talked to the Chief?" she asked, her heart on fire with worry and trepidation now … she hated being in the dark. Period.
"I even got it in writing, you can pick up where you left off – no strings attached – go and do and get experience … take the sabbatical," he replied, feeling satisfied that his clout finally paid off for something worth it.
"I have a shift tomorrow, so you'll stop in and we can do your physical and get you immunized," Meredith planned.
"And then we can hustle and start moving your things tomorrow night," Derek said, also making plans now. "Even tonight, if Karev's willing to help," he chuckled, looking at the younger surgeon now.
And just like that – they had all moved on – quite literally and figuratively … some spiritually and some even physically … but the point was, that they were moving and living and breathing and … surrendering to life.
Yes, finally each player was living on their own terms – with the help of one another – in the name of love and friendship and survival.
In the end, they were inspired … and it too, was a beautiful and cathartic thing.
Chapter 19 – Love Will Keep Us Alive – Part 4 of 4 to follow.
