Meredith, Lexie, George, Christina, Alex, Bailey, and Izzie we're hanging out in Izzies room, as she stuffed food down their throats. Izzie and Alex's wedding was coming up quickly but Izzie could not be eating food at the moment, so she was having everyone taste test it to decide what to serve at the wedding.
" what does chicken taste like?", Izzie says
"Chicken," Meredith replies.
"Good Chicken," Alex says, both of them receiving a glare from Izzie.
"Seriously, how about the pork!" Izzie asks looking at Christian, George, and Lexie, with Dr. Bailey secretly smirks at them all.
" Pork," they say at the same time before the five of their pagers go off saying goodbye to Izzie and whisking herself out of the room.
Adam is walking down to the vending machine to go get a snack before his cardio aneurysm repair. As he is walking he accidentally bumps into an older guy, who's in his mid-50s. Adam apologizes and continues walking. As he walks he gets a flashback from when he was a kid.
Flashback
Adam was 10 years old, playing with his younger sister Meredith on the living room floor.
"Adam! Adam! Let's play surgery on my dolls! Meredith screams happily."
"Ugh, we always play that game kiddo, can we play something else?", Adam says, hoping not to upset his kid sister.
"Okay… I guess...We could play Hide and Seek!" Meredith says.
Adam recipes, "Okay but I…"
" You count!" Meredith says, running to find a hiding spot before he can finish his sentence.
" You rascal." Adam chuckles, sitting on the couch to go count.
That is when he hears his adoptive father, Thatcher walking down the stairs carrying multiple suitcases, that seemed to be pretty heavy.
"Dad? Where are you going, are you donating that stuff or something?" Adam questions.
" Umm… I am just going to go on a small trip… I will be back soon. It's for work." Thatcher lies.
" Wait are you leaving right now?" Adam questions.
" Yeah," Thatcher says, opening the door.
"Wait, let me find Meredith so she can say bye to you.", Adma says standing up.
" no, it is okay, umm the babysitter is on her way over. I got to go, bye Adam.", Thatcher says closing the door behind him.
" Ready or Not, here I come!" Adma shouts going to look for Meredith.
End of flashback
At that moment Adam realized that the man he just ran into was his ex-father. He had not parental right over him, Ellis had taken them away. Meredith still was connected to him by blood though. Adam is not sure if he would refer to him as his father because he had left. But he was his dad for eight years. The only father influence he had ever had was him. His feeling was hard to comprehend. He felt angry for the fact that Thatcher left them, and even more upset for him leaving his biological daughter without saying goodbye. Meredith does not remember whether she said bye or not because she was too young, but Adam remembers it all. Dam storms off towards the chief's office.
Meredith and Lexie were called into the chief's office to listen to Thatchers' apologies.
" I am so deeply sorry for, for every time that I ever hurt you, or disappointed you...or let you down. I don't deserve your forgiveness. But I hope- - I - I so hope - - That you will give me the opportunity to earn it." Thatcher says to the two of them.
They all sit there in awkward silence for a few seconds till Meredith goes to stand up, before being interrupted by someone knocking and bursting through the doors.
"Chief! I need to ask you a question…" Adam says before realizing the people occupying the room he burst into.
" Oh um, sorry I thought the chief was gonna be in here", Adam stutters making eye contact with Meredith and noticing her discomfort.
" Umm, is that...are you?" Thatcher stuttered.
"That's Adam," Lexie says.
" I was told you died," Thatcher says, feeling like he is having hallucinations.
"I was presumed dead, and they found me. Now if you will excuse me I have surgery." Adam says fleeing from the room.
"Why did you not tell me he was alive," thatcher says looking towards Meredith.
" Because it was not the news I need to tell you," Meredith says standing up.
"I am proud that you are doing well, good luck,'' Meredith says calmly walking out of the room. As she walks, she turns her head back to see her sister hugging her father. She is glad that Lexie is happy, but Meredith has too much pain from the past to be healed in one day. She thinks those wounds will never heal, too much time has passed for her.
Meredith walked into Izzies' room, hoping to escape from her father. When she enters Izzies' room she sees someone with cheap makeup and vibrant clothing with heals talking on the phone.
"Umm, hi!" Meredith says wondering who the person in the room si.
" Hey Meredith, meet my mom," Izzie says.
" what is with parents popping up today," Meredith says.
"What are you talking about… what mom could you go get me some water from the cafeteria," Izzie asks her mom.
Izzies' mom smiles and walks out of the room.
" Okay, now tell me what happened," Izzie says to Meredith.
" my father came today to apologize for everything, " Meredith says.
" What did you do, : Izzie asks.
" I said I hope he does well, how about you and your mom?" Meredith asks.
" She is a good mom, but it can be so difficult t be around her. I can not tell her the truth about my sickness she will never leave, or she will pay hundreds of dollars on fake therapists. " Izzie says.
" I understand," Meredith says.
They both then sit there resting and focusing on the tv.
Adam was walking chilling at the nurses' station, he was unsure of how he should feel about his ex-father being here, well he left now. Meredith said he was going to dinner with Lexie. When he looked up he saw a redhead, who reminded him of an old friend's family member. As he got a closer look he was positive that it was Addison Montgomery.
" Addison!", Adam says.
She turns around with a sad panicked look upon her face.
" Um yes, oh wait… Adam is that you?!" she says forming a slight smile.
"Yeah how have you been, I have not seen you in like… 11 years."
Adam was Archers' best friend even if they had very different personalities. Through high school, Adam was always two years younger than Archer but they did not care. SO when they graduated high school they both went to Yale College and were roommates. Addison sometimes visited and hung out with them when they were younger as well. Addison was 8 years older than them, so when she visited hse was in college or doing her residency though. He saw her for the last time 11 years ago, because Adam had already finished college at the age of 19, and was starting medical school a year before Archer. So they went there separate ways but slightly kept in touch. That was until he went and joined the military as a surgeon.
: you were always way too smart for the rest of us." Addison says chuckling.
" yeah, so what brings you here." He asks.
"Adam, Archer is here for Derek to operate on him. He has neurocysticercosis, parasites in his brain." Addison says.
" you got to be kidding me, can I go with you, I have really missed talking to him. You know he was my best friend.", Adam says.
"Yeah, follow me," Addison says.
as they walk down the hall towards Archers' room Adam realized something.
"oh wait, or Derek Shepherd's ex-wife. your Derek is this places, Derek." Adam questions.
" yep", Addison says.
"no offense but I hate that guy", Adam says.
"what did he do to you", Addison asks.
"He keeps pursuing my sister, but he cheated on her and she does not love him anymore. you should just mind his own business and stay out of her way." Adam says.
" wait Meredith is your sister, that is strange. she never mentioned her self having a brother." Addison says, still recovering from the new ways of information she just was informed.
"yeah, Meri Did not really talk about me much. about 5 years ago I was presumed dead. I had joined the military to be a surgeon and I join their program. but when Meredith was 20 she got a call saying that I was missing and they had a funeral. and I was just found recovered and I'm good now about 5ish months now has passed." Adam says receiving a mind blown stare from Addison.
That is when they reach Archer's room, he walks in and sees Archer talking to someone named Nami. Addison's and Archer's friend.
" Hey, missed me?" Adam says.
Archer looks up and smirks.
" Hey man, you work here now.", Archer says as they give each other a bro type of hug.
"Yup sure does," Adam says smiling.
" What happened to you man we always talked and one year you just disappeared.", Archer asks.
"I um may have been taken hostage in the middle east, and ended up presumed dead for five years. But I am back now.", Adam says.
"Everyone in the room looks at him stunned.
" Well… I am glad you are an okay man." Archer says.
Next thing Meredith walks into the room because she is on Neuro this week.
She then realizes not only is Adam in there but so was Addison.
" Little Meredith, of course, your working with your big bro," Archer says smirking. Meredith looks over and realizes that that was Archer in bed.
" Oh god, your Addison brother! Wow, my life is one freaking mess," Meredith says. Archer chuckles and says, " I have some embarrassing stories about that little kid over there."
" first off, you will not be telling those stories, and second I am very not little."
" I would beg to differ, you are still seven years younger than I am if I recall when I was in high school, you were still in elementary/middle school. Plus I babysat you a couple of times with Adam because you were not old enough. "
Archer says.
" You guys only babysat me when I was 7-9 years old. So whatever because from then on I was a middle schooler." Meredith retorts.
" you may have been smart, but you were still quite annoying. You always asked us to play surgery on your doll." Archer says smirking.
"Oh god," Meredith says getting embarrassed.
" Or I remember when your mom was mad at you when you were 14, a sophomore in high school. You came to our dorm room with pink hair. It was quite the sight.", Archer says laughing.
" hey, I looked pretty hot when I fixed it up. It was washable so, I took out the pink die, and instead, I just got pink highlights. It still pissed off my mom but it looked hot." Meredith says smiling.
" can not argue with that," Archer says smirking.
"Okay, glad you guys have caught up but I think it should end now. Meredith can you go let the chief know I am taking the day off." Adam says stopping their conversion before they continue the flirting.
" Okay bye, everyone," Meredith says exiting the room.
"Seriously!" Addison says.
" Hey no flirting with my sister, or anything other than talking," says Adam.
" I am doing anyway, so why not flirt a little. Plus dude the little kid is a lot hotter now than how she was 15.", Archer says receiving a glare from everyone in the room.
" Oh god, please shut up," Adam says.
" fine, but seriously your sister is hot. She is a lot different than when I knew her before." Archer says as Derek walks into the room.
" Surgery is not an option. Surgery is not an option according to the scans of the single cyst that you had in the last CT * 8 clogging the third ventricle there's no way I could search it without rupturing one." Derek says.
" so what does that mean," Addison asks.
They all just sit there in silence knowing exactly what that means.
Hours after Archer's successful surgery.
" Hey, how are you doing?" Mark asks.
"Good, Ia doing very well, how about you Dr.Sloan." lexie says leaning in towards mark.
MArk replies by saying," You know me…"
" Hey, Addison Montgomery," Addison says, holding her hand out towards Lexie.
" Hi, Lexie Grey", Lexie responds taking her hand.
Derek walks up to the group at that moment accompanied by Meredith to give Addison the final all-clear after the surgery.
" can you believe that Mark is actually in a relationship with someone?" Addison asks.
Lexie's cheeks blush and Marks looks dumbfounded, not knowing that Meredith already knew.
" Wait? What, when did this happen" Derek asks, Jealous about Marks's happiness.
"Why is Meredith not look surprised, and actually she is giving me an evil eye," MArks says warily.
" I already knew, I am Lexie's sister I know everything. The fact that you suspected I had no clue has me worried. I just want to let you know you hurt her and I will come after you.." Meredith says giving Lexie a goofy smile sticking out her tongue, and Lexie returns by playfully rolling her eyes. Meredith gives one the last look to MArk before turning around and briskly walking away from the group.
" do you know what, I am going to head up to Izzies' room, I bet she would appreciate f you stopped by Dr. Montgomery, she always through you were a wonderful teacher." lexie says saying goodbye to the group and catching up to her sister.
" Why do you look so depressed," Addison asks Derek.
" He is upset that he is not with Meredith" Marks cut in.
" From what I heard you cheated on her Addison says as Adam turns the corner and stops when he hears them talking about Meredith.
" she died okay, she did not fight. I did not want to breathe for her. She literally gave up on life, and I was upset. So yeah I made a mistake." Derek says.
Adam comes up to the group and says, " Excuse me! She died and did not fight?!?! What the hell does that mean!"
" You don't know? She never told you?" mark asks surprised.
"Told me what", Adam asks.
" Meredith drowned about 11 months ago at Elliot bay. It was a triage site from a ferry boat crash. She was pulled out of the water and took hours to get her heart starting again. She even was warm with no heartbeat for a few minutes. It was a literal medical miracle." Addison says putting a hand on Adam's shoulder.
" What… Oh god um… I don't know if this makes me hate you more or less." Adam was looking at Derek.
" excuse me?" Derek asks offended.
"Well see 11 months ago I was told that my mother died, and now I'm learning to my sister also almost died or she was dead whatever. So Not only was she going through that but she was also feeling from the loss of her brother who she thought was dead. now I hear that she drowned and you accused her of suicide. Did she tell you that she literally tried to kill herself or did you make that assumption?" Adam asks feeling the blood boil within him.
" well a patient I guess pushed her in but she did not even try to swim.", Derek says.
" you idiot, Meredith is not a good swimmer. pretty sure you know that she skipped like to grade the school. plus her father left her, oh, and she had a workaholic mother. I also skipped two grades of school and then I was starting my residency program in the military when I turned 21. I left home to go to college when I was 16 Meredith was only 11. no one taught her to swim, probably be okay. Don't throw in the deep end. but Seattle is in the warmest place ever so I'm also guessing the water was cold so if you're not a good swimmer in the first place and you going deep water chances of being a good swimmer for the first time is very low." Adam rattles of leaving them all stunned.
"I had no idea" Derek stutters.
" of course you didn't, you weren't together long enough for her to tell you that. graphite she's the love of your life, but you don't even know her. You don't know what she's gone through or anything. One thing I know about my sister is that matter how messed up her life was, she would never try to kill herself. you have no idea who she is oh, you don't love her you love this idea of her. oh yeah, I hate you, and now I hate you even more because I learned that your Addison's ex-husband. so not only did you treat Meredith horribly but you ignored your wife for two years and I don't like that type of person. that's just my opinion, cuz when I knew Addison she was extremely happy always talking about her amazing marriage, and I don't believe she started the fall of it. now if you excuse me I going to go talk to my sister." Adam says turning and walking away. Leaving an awkward and silenced group behind.
" wait how does he know about our marriage, and a happy Addison," Derek ask still blown from what Adam had all said.
" He was Archer's best friend for line nine years until he joined the military surgical program.", Addison says, " I guess Archer knows Meredith pretty well too."
" Huh," MArks says smirking.
" Everything he said there was true Derek, You really don't know who she is. so why keep chasing her. although I can't believe you just assumed she tried to kill herself without talking to her. not everyone has happy childhoods, don't think yourself in a deeper hole in your already end with your colleagues." Addison says walking away taking Lexies' advice to visit Izzie.
Mark walks away as well to go get something to eat from the cafeteria, leaving Derek stupidly standing there