Chapter 7: Why Me?

The Emerald City Bar would be a good place to hang out if it wasn't packed with people from the hospital, thought distractedly Meredith. She was sitting at a secluded table waiting impatiently for her guest. When she called Webber this afternoon, she was surprised he agreed immediately; he was retired, after all.

Maybe he was bored? Meredith couldn't imagine herself ever going on retirement. Surgery was her life.

Maybe he couldn't say no to the daughter of his old friend? Meredith wondered why her mother had never mentioned she knew Richard Webber; he was one of the finest doctors in America.

Meredith finally saw him entering the bar and coming over.

She stood up to shake his outstretched hand and said," Dr. Webber, thank you for agreeing to meet me at such short notice."

"You're welcome," he answered. "And it's Richard. I must admit I was a little surprised. I would think you prefer old cowboys like me stay away from your hospital.

A corpulent man came up to table to take their orders, "Chief, good to see you. The same as usual I suspect, and for…" he looked at Meredith.

"For the Chief," said Richard proudly.

"Oh, you're the kick-ass new Chief," the stout guy said with curiosity. "I'm Joe, the owner."

"Meredith, the kick-ass new Chief," she smiled at him.

"I've heard a lot about you."

"Nothing good, I presume, if I appear in drunken stories?"

The two men chuckled.

"What can I get you, Chief? The first drink for the new Chief's on the house."

"Tequila, please."

"Tequila? You live up to the stories."

Once the drinks were served and they remained alone, Meredith became serious and decided to lay the cards on the table.

"Dr. Webber, why did you choose me for the job? Was it because you were colleagues with my mother? I learned that you did your residency together."

Richard simply looked at her and sighed. It clearly wasn't the question he'd expected.

"You hadn't known about that? Your mother hadn't told you?"

"No," Meredith shook her head and added bitterly, "Do you think that I would have agreed if I had known? In what light is that putting me?"

"All the best," answered Richard firmly. "My choosing you doesn't have anything to do with the fact that Ellis and I… knew each other."

Meredith continued to survey him disbelievingly and added silently, "I am sure you wanted the best for your hospital but… my surname might have clouded your judgment."

"Meredith, you hadn't known me until two days ago, but I had-"

"Of course, you had," said Meredith heatedly. "I was born here when my mother was a resident!"

"I didn't mean that," Richard was losing his patience. Like mother like daughter, he thought. Meredith was as obstinate as Ellis. "Almost two years ago, I went for a conference in Los Angeles."

It stirred something in Meredith's memory. "International conference? St. John's Research Centre?"

"The very same," confirmed the older man. "We didn't meet personally, but I attended your presentation; I heard about your research. You achieved so much at such a young age. You had talent, energy, character… in short, incredible potential," Richard's voice was enthusiastic. "You have no idea how I wanted to have you on my team," he sighed. "But I knew I had nothing to offer you. You were already the Chief of Neurosurgery at Mount Sinai, at the age of 26! I knew I wouldn't tempt you to Seattle Grace with money. And then, I was retiring… and you sent your application. I didn't hesitate."

It was like a huge burden was lifted from Meredith's shoulders. "I didn't know the hospital," she said silently.

"Which meant you wouldn't have scruples managing your new staff," pointed Richard and chuckled. "Although, I heard you're not biased with personal relationships."

Meredith frowned. He was clearly alluding to her round on her staff, including Addison. "How do you know about that?" she narrowed her eyes at him.

"Meredith, I spent years at Grace. You think I would leave and let it be?"

"Fine," acquiesced Meredith. "I can turn a blind eye at your spying, but don't try to interfere!"

Richard laughed heartily, "You're just like me when I took the job."

"Richard," asked delicately Meredith. "Can I ask you a question? A personal one?"

"It depends on the question," he replied sincerely.

"Why did you retire? You're not old," said Meredith, wondering. "How could you put down the scalpel?"

"It seems unimaginable for you, doesn't it?" observed Richard. "Your life is centered on the OR. Mine was too… or I thought it was. I retired not to start to hate what I was doing all my life and what I loved."

It looked like there was more to be said, but Webber decided against it. Meredith didn't know the rest of the story behind his relationship with Ellis and it should stay that way.

"Meredith, would you mind… if I called from time to time? To hear some news? What's going on at Grace?"

Meredith could recognize loneliness in his eyes; she smiled reassuringly, "Of course, I wouldn't mind."

"So, tell me, how the first days in office go?"

Meredith grinned, "With the force and speed of a tempest."

"It's hectic at the beginning," Richard nodded in understanding. "Have you appointed your Deputy yet?"

"No," replied Meredith innocently. "I've been too selfish to share my power."

Webber laughed but shook his head, "You should delegate some of your work. Don't make me blame myself for killing your personal life.

"You and Derek Shepherd would make a good team," he suggested. "You have much in common."

Apart from the specialty? I doubt it…"I'll appoint the deputy until the end of the week," she promised and asked casually, "Dr. Web- Richard, what can you tell me about George O'Malley?"

"George? Has he got himself in trouble again?" chuckled Richard.

"He might have," answered Meredith, an impish smile forming on her face. Indeed, he might become the public enemy number two if she acted on her instincts.

"I hope it's nothing serious," Richard stated with mild concern. "He's a great doctor. Not particularly outstanding in the OR, but good and solid. He's amazing with patients. He might not look like it but he's very competent, also in administrative work."

Meredith smiled contentedly; that was the recommendation she was hoping to receive.

Sometime later, Richard went home and Meredith decided to call it a night as well. She searched for Joe with her eyes and found him wiping glasses behind the counter. She walked up and stood behind the backs of two men groaning as she recognized Derek Shepherd and Mark Sloan as the occupants of the barstools. Of all people on the planet, whom did she have to meet? The pretty and the prettier…

"Thanks for the drink, Joe."

"You're welcome, Chief."

The two surgeons turned at the sound of her voice.

"Dr. Grey," smiled Mark. "We seem to keep bumping at each other all the time."

"Yes, and you're always inseparable," Meredith looked between them smirking wickedly. "Are you a couple?" The song on the radio had just ended and her voice carried through the bar. She watched with satisfaction as Derek choked on his drink while Mark paled considerably.

"NO!" they exclaimed in protest.

Derek was seething with indignation. She stole my job, threw me out of my OR and now she's questioning my manhood…

"I was just wondering," she said, hearing giggles all around them. "Because, you know, I don't discriminate against people with different sexual orientation."

"Derek and I are friends, just friends. More like brothers," Mark hurried with explanations, desperate to nip the rumors in the bud.

"U-huh," Meredith nodded quickly. "See you at the hospital gentlemen. Have fun tonight."

Oh, how she adored the look on Shepherd's face… like he wanted to strangle her with bare hands or… prove to her how manly he was…

She marched out of the bar with the feeling that she had the world at her feet.