Dreams of Love
Chapter 55: She's Back
"Meredith! It's a boy!"
"Meredith! Webber reinstated me!"
"Meredith! Burke's driving me crazy!"
"Meredith! Sloan says 'now'!"
Meredith heard the chaotic, demanding jumble of her friends' voices coming at her from three directions and the phone all at once.
Okay, now I know I'm back at Seattle Grace, Meredith thought on her first day back, shuffling films, test results and surgical notes into order in a chart.
"Grey! Do you have my post op notes done?" Bailey demanded, preempting everyone, thank heavens.
"Yes, Dr. Bailey. They're here," Meredith said and handed her the stacks of finalized charts.
Bailey gave her a sharp evaluating look, nodded without speaking again, and obviously satisfied, with both Meredith's health and work, left without another word. One down.
"Cristina, yes, I heard you, I do want to talk," she said to the demanding, irascible voice in her ear, "but there's a ton of stuff going on here all at once. Let's get together when I get off shift to talk about it, okay? Joe's? Yeah, see you then."
Meredith looked up at the three interns champing at the bit in front of her computer station and grinned.
"George! Congratulations! A boy! That's great. Boys really run in your family, huh?" Meredith started with George, and then stopped Alex with a Diana Ross hand, before turning to Izzie, "Izzie, you made it! I knew you would! Derek's been bragging about you. You know he's trying to woo you away from general surgery to neuro now, right? I'm so happy for you," Meredith finally turned to Alex, "Sloan knows that Dr. Bailey gives me my assignments, not him. And Bailey didn't release me from her service to be Sloan's slave today. She doesn't trust me out from under her own eye, she said, I might get drowned in the bay next. Ha ha. Yeah. That's Bailey's idea of funny. I already told Sloan that. He can take it up with her."
"Meredith ...!" All three voices broke out again while Mer bemusedly looked from one to the other, actually able to hear and comprehend all three excited conversations at once. She'd obviously learned an unexpected skill set from all the time she'd spent in a crowd lately, she thought, her head swimming. She occasionally inserted a 'yes' or a 'no' or a 'good for you' but that was it. When had she become everyone's news bulletin board? Izzie and George were both babbling rapidly to her when they should have been babbling to each other like they used to. Their friendship needed to be repaired just so Meredith could have some peace, she thought, darkly amused. Meanwhile, Alex was insisting she come deal with Sloan herself, since he was being Satan's son that morning.
"George, tell Izzie all the details about the sonogram and what your mom said and how Callie is, okay? Then I'll catch up from her tonight after work. Great news, both of you. Come on, Alex. Really, what is Sloan's problem?! He's worse than usual today," Meredith deflected George and Izzie back to each other and walked away with Alex, who was insistently urging her to move faster.
She glanced over her shoulder, grateful that her eye had healed completely, and smirked at the sight of the two erstwhile friends semi trapped with each other. Maybe they could create a new friendship between them that was a little healthier than what they used to have. They stood a good chance, Meredith thought. Both of them had been doing a lot of growing up lately. And it had jerked George out of some of his self-absorption when he realized that the killer could easily have murdered Izzie. He'd tried to talk to her several times after that, but Izzie was gun shy of him now, after he'd shut her out so many times, and had refused to allow him closer than an acquaintance. Maybe Callie's baby would change things, Meredith thought as Alex swept her into an elevator and up to Sloan's office.
"I don't know, but he's been even more of an ass than usual," Alex said, exasperated, "Maybe you'll be okay with him, Grey, since you still have some patient cachet. It's your only hope."
Meredith knew it had to be bad if Alex was this frustrated and gloomy. He usually dealt with Sloan's irritating quirks with a detached equanimity, but not today. He knocked on Sloan's door, shoved her inside at Sloan's grunt, and was gone as if he had evaporated rather than walked. Okay, that indicated it was worse than she'd thought.
"Dr. Sloan, you know that I'm working under Dr. Bailey today. We had this discussion already," Meredith reminded him in exasperation, as she carefully looked him over.
He looked for all the world like the beast in 'Beauty and the Beast' before he was tamed. The scowl was the same.
Sloan glared at her, "Sit down."
Meredith reluctantly sat and waited ... and waited. Finally she cleared her throat. Attendings were the end. Really, Sloan was being very odd, and she didn't have time for this. Bailey had set out a full day's work for her. Sloan stood, tried to pace, couldn't in the tiny space, and in frustration, sat again.
"What is it?" she asked.
After a few more minutes, "What?!"
"Meredith ...," Sloan finally started speaking hesitantly.
She nodded, trying to keep him talking.
"Siobhan said you heard us in the bar."
She nodded again, uneasily.
"Siobhan and her family are moving to Seattle," his lake blue eyes flashed.
"Yes, I know," she admitted noncommittally, wondering where this was going. For some reason, ever since she'd been terribly, publicly hurt and then held captive in a hospital room recovering for forever, everyone had decided she was the perfect person to confide in. What was up with that?
"Sio and I ...," Mark's thoughts stalled, "Sio and I ... well ... what do you think?" he finally got out uncomfortably.
"Mark? I've never seen you like this. Are you actually worried? You really care about this, don't you?" Meredith was really surprised. She'd supposed that Mark would take a relationship with Siobhan very lightly and offhandedly as he had every other relationship he'd had with a woman. The one woman Mark had put more effort into, that she knew about, was the Adder. Meredith frowned slightly. Ew. She'd never understand Derek or Mark's attraction to that awful woman.
"Siobhan is perfect for me, Meredith. She doesn't expect me to be somebody I can't be – like a husband or father. She says Keith is that for her and she doesn't need or want anyone else in that position. Do you think she means it?" he asked anxiously.
Meredith slowly, uncomfortably, nodded. She didn't want to discuss this with Mark, but she'd actually already had several conversations about this with Siobhan, Derek and Claire, the youngest Shepherd sister. Siobhan was set on this course of action. She'd been unhappy for years, trying to achieve her career goals while longing for children and Mark. She'd had more success as a medical researcher than she'd ever dreamed, but had grown more and more cynical and bitter, without a love or family of her own.
In typical Siobhan take charge manner, she'd finally decided to get where she wanted to be, by an alternative route, if the main road was blocked. Now Siobhan had her career status and financial independence, a husband who dearly loved her and was her best friend, identical twin girls, and a chance at a relationship with the man she'd loved for over twenty years. Siobhan was going for it, risking her whole heart.
Meredith thought it was all very strange and very unlikely to succeed, but she also knew that she was hardly a relationship expert, and it wasn't her place to object. Siobhan was a smart, hardworking person who deserved to pursue happiness. She'd been miserable most of her adult life. Mark was someone who'd pursued married women for years so that they didn't ask more commitment of him than a brief affair. Now he had a chance to try something that was similar enough to his previous pursuits to be non-threatening and different enough to perhaps really fill the empty place inside of him. Besides, Mark genuinely loved Derek and Derek's family. Who knew? It all might work out for the best. Meredith really liked Mark Sloan and had finally decided to like Siobhan, so she wished them well.
Meredith had spent a lot of time lying in her hospital bed, observing Sio and Mark, and everyone else, for that matter. Mark had definitely become more and more intrigued with Sio as the days went by. It was as if a whole new door had opened for him and he was suddenly very interested. She tuned back in to what Mark was saying.
"I've known her since I was five years old, and we both know each other's family and history. Siobhan has never let me get away with anything," he smiled reminiscently, as if that pleased him. It probably did. He didn't suffer fools gladly.
"Meredith, is Derek okay with this?" Mark finally ground out his real question.
Oh, Meredith thought, if he makes a mess with Siobhan, he's afraid he'll lose Derek again. Mark really cares about this.
"Mark, why don't you talk to Derek directly about this? I really can't speak for him. You're good enough friends now that it would be okay. That way you'll be on the same page from the start," Meredith brushed her hair out of her face, "Besides, do you really see Siobhan asking her little brother for a vote about this? I don't think so. That lady has a mind and will of her own and Derek is smart enough to respect that. I think you should be too."
Then Meredith stood and stepped up in front of Mark's desk.
"But Mark, speaking as someone who's not your intern right now, but instead as someone who absolutely can't tolerate one more round of 'who hurts worse' with my people, it's not Derek you'll have to worry about if you screw over Siobhan," Meredith said very softly and very purposefully, her thin face set, "And make no mistake, Sio is now one of my people. Be up front with her and keep your agreements, whatever they are – no cheating or lying or sneaking. I mean it. If it doesn't work out, tell her to her face. Don't let her find out by catching you with another woman. This is your chance."
Mark raised his eyebrows and sat back in his chair in surprise, understanding that Derek's Meredith – tiny little Meredith Grey – first year intern! – Meredith Grey – was actually threatening him. He went from surprised incredulity to complete amusement. Siobhan would be as astounded as he was at the thought of Meredith as protection. Then he thought about Meredith charging a large criminal with a can of mace and a tiny knife after she'd already been badly stabbed three times. Well, okay then, respect crept in. Maybe he'd remember that the next time he razzed her.
Meredith heard herself and was surprised too. She never would have said such a thing or felt like this before. But she was with Derek and Derek's family now. Maeve had told her to call her 'mom' and had steadily mothered her for weeks. Maeve had even been there as a buffer between Meredith and Ellis. That was something Meredith appreciated more than she could say. Siobhan had sat with her through the pain filled nights more than once, giving Derek a sleep break, for no other reason than that Meredith was her new 'sister'. Meredith was starting to feel that they were family because they acted like family – they treated her like family, Meredith thought. Hm. She narrowed her eyes at Sloan and then turned and left, closing the door very deliberately behind her. She was surprised he hadn't laughed in her face, but maybe he knew she really meant it. She was also surprised to realize that she did.
"Meredith!" Derek's voice was happy to see her with none of the worry or hovering bossiness that they'd both struggled with for so long after the attack. They'd both recovered considerably; body, mind and spirit.
"Hi, I thought you'd still be in surgery. What happened?"
"We've been bumped to tomorrow," he said and shrugged even though it had annoyed him very much at the time.
Derek cast a professional, assessing eye over his girl and smiled. She was fine. Maybe a little tired, and impatient with all the first day back stuff, but she was okay. Ignoring the nursing staff who were watching them and whispering, Derek gathered her in a hug and kissed Meredith firmly on her soft lips.
"I'm glad you're doing so well today," he murmured against her lips, "no panic attacks?"
"No," she leaned away against his arms and shook her head, "just a ton of paperwork from Bailey. It's her way of welcoming me back and punishing me at the same time for taking all that time off."
"Meredith," Derek smiled into her eyes, "Bailey's just following protocol."
"Hey! No defending my boss when I grouse. You're supposed to do the boyfriend thing and tell me she's Satan's rat," she paused a moment at his arched eyebrow and patient look, "okay, his mouse."
"Better watch it, Derek," drawled a sardonic voice, "Tiny tot will kick your ass."
Derek looked up at Mark's interruption, "What?"
"Yeah," Mark completely ignored Meredith's narrowed eyes and frown while he tattled, "Meredith just threatened to kick my ass if I messed up with Siobhan. Totally threw me. I thought that threat would be coming from you."
Derek looked between them as Meredith scowled guiltily at Mark and then at him.
"Mer? Did you just put my sister ahead of your specialty?" Derek slowly asked, his dad's lovely smile (the one he and Sio had inherited) spreading across his face, "Did you really threaten to go all Xena on Mark if he hurt her?"
"No," Meredith stated emphatically, glaring at the big tattletale and then at her mate, who were chuckling, "I put our sister ahead of my specialty ... and I only made Mark a promise, that's all, not a threat."
Derek and Mark exchanged glances, thoroughly amused. Mark liked her chops and Derek liked Meredith's obvious growth. She wasn't running and hiding from family any more. She was embracing it. She was part of it and she was protecting it. Derek felt his chest swell with pride and love.
"Well ... ," Derek said to Mark, "Now that Meredith has taken care of it, I won't have to, right? Because after that last week in the hospital everyone knows she's a lot meaner than I am."
"Derek!"
"Believe me, I thought of that!"
"Mark!"
They were both grinning at her like baboons. On the one hand she loved it that they were actually playing and teasing together again. She knew it was a sign of how much their friendship had rebounded. But, on the other, it seemed that they liked to band together and target her. Not good.
"If you will excuse me gentlemen, I have work to do," Meredith said haughtily and started away, neatly turning the tables on Derek with her next words, "Derek, don't wait for me after work. I have a date at Joe's. I'll find my own way home."
Mark guffawed at Derek's surprised, worried, bossy, confused look, "Yep, she does like to get her own back. She's just turned you on your ear. At least you know she's really over the attack, right?"
"Mark, wanna get a drink after work?"
Mark laughed louder.
