Author Note - To confused Guest, each chapter title is the same as an episode title. If you're lost as to what is going on in canon, I suggest going to the Grey's Anatomy Wiki and looking up the correct episode. Thank you for all the follows/faves and reviews.
The secret of change is to focus, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.
Grace had three hot drinks and three muffins balanced on her knee as she wheeled across the walkway that overlooked main entrance.
'I wondered if you'd be here.' Richard said as she stopped beside him.
'Well, they aren't made by me, but it's still tradition.' Grace handed a coffee and muffin over to him.
The Chief chuckled. 'That it is. I remember the first day you were here, I was over in my office and saw you stood here. I knew you were an intern, but I wouldn't have guessed it from your face, you looked perfectly calm, excited, but calm. None of the nerves interns usually have.'
Grace smiled and nodded. 'I just wanted to get to work, to start learning, I was confident about what I could do but eager to know more.'
'I think she'll be elsewhere today,' Richard said, gesturing to the last coffee and muffin. 'She's been avoiding me.'
'I know.' Grace ate the last bit of her muffin and put her hot chocolate back on the drink holder. 'I'm going to go find her. I'll see you later.'
Mark dropped a subway packet on her table before sitting in the chair at her bedside. 'Got an amputee in an hour. Grey's just tidying up the arm. She's really pregnant as well.'
Grace nodded as she unwrapped the sandwich. 'Make sure you have a cot ready, just in case. The stress will have upped the chance of delivery by a whack.'
'Yeah, will do.' Mark took a big bite before speaking again. 'O'Malley decided to come back.'
'I saw him earlier, but I didn't get the chance to talk.' Grace waited, she knew there was something else he really wanted to talk about. He was quiet for a while, both of them just eating.
Mark cleared his throat. 'I tried to make nice with Derek. You know, saying it was Grey's loss, he was better off without her, that kind of thing. He jumped down my throat, said I didn't know her and I didn't get to talk about her.'
Grace gave him a sympathetic smile. 'I'm sorry, Markie. But he is getting better with you. We all had a fun dinner the day off the wedding, despite the messed up history between the four of us.'
'Yeah, I suppose.' Mark was shredding part of his sub. 'You heard from Addie?'
'She's getting settled in LA quite well.' Grace said with a smile, happy for her other friend. 'I think she'll probably text you occasionally once she's settled properly.'
Mark nodded. 'Good, I'm glad she's happy then.' He smiled slightly. 'I think we would have ended badly, if we had made a go of it.'
Grace looked at him in surprise. 'Really?'
'Don't act like you didn't think that already.'
'Okay. You're right, I always thought you and Addie were better off as friends.' Grace smiled at him. 'Maybe you'll be able to do it now that there's some distance between you.'
'Maybe.' Mark agreed easily, before they both went back to quietly eating.
'You…are kind of awesome.' Grace heard George say up ahead.
'I know.'
Grace went round the corner and saw George stood beside one of the new interns, both watching the babies. 'Hey George, heard you delivered one of these little miracles.
The two of them startled but then George smiled at her.
'Doctor Mason, hi. And yes, I did.' George smiled slightly.
'Doctor?' The unknown intern said with confusion.
'Oh, yeah. Lexi this is Doctor Grace Mason, she's the usual head of neo-natal and all that stuff.' George waved a hand between them. 'Doctor Mason, this is Lexi Grey.'
Grace managed to keep from going wide eyed. 'Ohh, yeah. I heard you had to help stabilise the internal de-cap guy.'
Lexi seemed surprised. 'Oh, yeah. Er…how did you know?'
'Doctor Mason knows everything in this hospital.' George said, sounding very much like he was bragging. 'Despite the fact she's been a patient for months, rather than a doctor. Plus, all the nurses and orderlies, and lab guys, and technicians and…well everyone loves her. Her information network would make the FBI weep with envy.'
'George, stop, I'm blushing.' Grace said pretending to be embarrassed and hide her face.
George just laughed. 'I'm just telling the truth. How you doing today Doctor Mason?'
'I can hold a glass of water without spilling it on myself, so it's a good day today.'
'I'm glad.' George said with a happy smile. 'No more migraines?'
Grace shrugged. 'I had one while you were on holiday, but aside from that, no.'
'What's wrong with you?' Lexi asked before looking uncomfortable. 'If you don't mind me asking?'
'I'll let George fill you in.' Grace said as she began to wheel past them. 'I'm on a Bailey hunt.'
George offered help with that. 'I saw her near x-ray. So she'll be there or in the pit.'
'Thanks, George.' Grace said, waving a hand over her shoulder.
Later Grace had been wheeling around, unable to sleep, and saw Grey walking off with Derek, rejecting Lexi's attempt to talk.
When little Grey turned to walk away, she saw Grace and came to a stop.
'Doctor Mason.'
'Meredith doesn't have much experience with family.' Grace said after a moment. 'She'll need to adjust to you being here.'
Lexi glanced in the direction her sister had disappeared. 'I suppose.'
Grace nodded. 'Right, now, take me back to my room. My hands seem to be done for the night.'
'Oh, right.' Lexi all but jumped to attention and took up position behind Grace's wheelchair. 'You'll have to tell me where to go, I already got lost twice today. It was so embarrassing.'
'I got lost three times my first day here,' Grace said with a chuckle. 'Give it two weeks and you'll mostly know your way around.'
Lexi chuckled. 'Okay. Thanks.'
Grace could feel Lexi shifting as they moved forward, she knew she wanted to ask something. 'Just spit it out Grey. Despite what you've likely heard, I don't literally bite people.'
'Oh, um…did you really refuse to have life-saving surgery until your two friends make up?'
'Yep. Doctor Shepherd is the only one I'd trust to do it. But he and Doctor Sloan aren't on the best of terms at the moment so I gave them an ultimatum.'
Lexi looked down at her. 'You're not worried they'll pretend to make up.'
'They wouldn't dare,' Grace said with a smirk. 'I'd be able to tell and they know I'd chew them out for it. Plus, I can make the work day hell for them.'
'How?' Lexi asked as they got in the lift.
'Word of advice. Don't piss of the nurses, be nice to them.' Grace gave Lexi a hard look. 'And always remember, they love me.'
Lexi nodded rapidly. 'Will do Doctor Mason.'
'Good, you might survive then.'
