Chapter 48
AN: I hope you like this chapter, please let me know what you think. I'm sad that Addison is gone so quickly, I really hope she comes back again soon, but I did love the Addie/Amelia we got.
Five days have passed since Addison was admitted to hospital and ever since then she has been resting and closely monitoring herself for more symptoms of preeclampsia. After spending all the last five days at home, and spending most of that time resting, Addison is finally going back to work, albeit on a lightened schedule.
It's early morning and Addison, Derek, Zola, Amelia, and Teddy are all in the kitchen of their new lake house getting ready for the day.
"How many surgeries are you doing today?" Amelia asks concerned.
"Just one," Addison answers.
"And a complicated one at that," Derek says, sounding less than happy about that, and his tone of voice cause Amelia and Teddy to exchange looks.
"I'll be fine," Addison assures Derek, and because she knows Addison so well Amelia isn't sure if she is trying to convince her brother or herself more.
"If we don't leave soon, we're all going to be late," Teddy says, wanting to defuse a fight between Addison and Derek before it can happen.
"We really are, we've got to go," Addison says and the four adults move in perfect unison to pack up everything that needs packing up, get Zola, and head out of the house. Within a few minutes they are all in the car together, with Derek driving.
Not long after The Shepherd's Addison and Teddy left their lake house Derek has to suddenly slam on the breaks.
"Derek? What's going on?" Addison asks, turning back around, as she was looking backwards and checking on Zola.
"Holy crap," Amelia says shocked as standing in the middle of the road is a Lion.
"That's a lion," Teddy says shocked. "Why is there a Lion in Seattle?" Teddy asks, looking between the others.
"I have no idea," Derek admits, and then to everyone's relief the Lion just walks past them and runs away. "Did you see that on your drives to work in LA?" Derek asks Addison.
"Thankfully not," Addison says, as Derek continues to drive.
A little while after Addison, Derek, Amelia and Teddy were shocked by the lion the four of them, and Zola have arrived at the hospital where they find Mark, Callie, Arizona and Sofia waiting for them.
"Welcome back!" Callie says, sounding excited.
"Thank you," Addison says, feeling touched.
"How are you feeling?" Arizona asks curious.
"Better," Addison admits. "I know I will take things easy for the rest of my pregnancy, but at the moment I feel better," Addison explains.
"That's good," Arizona says encouragingly.
"So, you guys are never going to guess what we saw on our way in today," Amelia comments, sounding excited, and like it has been a struggled for her not to say it sooner.
"What?" Mark asks, as he helps Derek with getting the stroller out of the car.
"A lion," Amelia says, sounding amazed.
"A lion as in….?" Callie asks, expecting some kind of joke.
"As in a lion," Amelia finishes, causing Callie, Arizona, and Mark to look between Addison, Amelia, Derek and Teddy, clearly looking for the truth.
"She's telling the truth, it was a real lion, standing in the middle of the road," Teddy explains, as Derek places Zola into the stroller.
"Why is there a lion rooming around Seattle?" Arizona asks, feeling shocked.
"That, is a very good question," Addison admits, and the very confused group head into the hospital, debating reasons why their could be a lion roaming the city as they go.
A while after they arrived at the hospital Addison and Teddy are in the scrub room with Alex and Cristina, all four of them are getting ready for surgery.
"Are you sure this is the surgery you as your first surgery back?" Teddy asks Addison in a quiet voice, trying to make it so Cristina and Alex don't hear, but as it is such a small room they both hear. As it is such a complicated surgery that requires truly intrinsic work, she is concerned about Addison having it be her first surgery back.
"Maddison has been preparing for this surgery for weeks, we've done everything to make sure that both her and the baby are in the best shape," Addison explains. "This is the perfect window, and we lose that in a matter of days," Addison says. "I have to do this," Addison says as she will not let her own condition get in the way of helping her patients.
"Okay," Teddy says, recognizing Addison's stubbornness and knowing that she will not be talked about of this, as she stops scrubbing and starts to walk towards the door.
"Teddy," Addison says as she finishes scrubbing and walks over to her. "Thank you, I do appreciate the concern, but I can do this," Addison explains.
"Addie, I don't doubt that you can, I doubt that you should," Teddy tells her friend. "I know you're one of the only people in the world who can do this surgery, but I also know what you're going through, and I wouldn't be your friend if I didn't make sure you're okay," Teddy admits.
"They really are close," Alex whispers to Cristina, as both of them do their best to make it seem like they aren't listening in.
"I'm okay," Addison tells Teddy. "I can't say for sure that I will stay okay, but right now I am; and we've got work to do," Addison tells her friend, feeling very appreciative.
"That we do," Teddy says and the two of them head into the OR, with Cristina and Alex not far behind them, and from the second the walk in the OR Addison and Teddy are a team, there is no signs that Teddy questioned if Addison should do the surgery.
A little while after Addison and Teddy begun their surgery Derek, who made sure he was free, is sitting in the gallery watching when Amelia walks in and after looking around walks over and sits down next to him.
"How's it going?" Amelia asks, stealing the chips her brother is eating so that she can eat them.
"Good, they've still got a lot to do, but from what I can tell everything's been going exactly like it should," Derek explains. "Addie seems to be okay,"
"Teddy will be watching out for her, she'll notice if Addie doesn't seem okay," Amelia says, knowing that.
"I know," Derek says, and the two siblings drift into silence.
"Why am I not surprised to see either of you here," Mark says, walking into the gallery a few moments later, and he walks straight over to the two Shepherd's and sits down on Derek's other side. "How are they going?" Mark asks curious.
"Good," Derek and Amelia both say, as Mark steals the chips that were Derek's from Amelia, and the three of them drift into silence as they continue to watch the surgery, stealing the chips from one another as they do.
Hours later Addison and Teddy have finished surgery and are in the scrub room, and after Alex and Cristina leave it is just Addison and Teddy in the room.
"Nice work," Teddy tells her friend.
"You too," Addison says. "Thank you, Teddy, I don't think I could have done that with anyone else today," Addison explains.
"I was glad to be apart of it," Teddy admits, and as she does the door opens and Derek walks in. "I'll see you both later," Teddy says, as she sees Amelia in the hall, and she heads out of the scrub room leaving Addison and Derek alone.
"How are you feeling?" Derek asks, as he hands Addison a bottle of water and a sandwich as she has finished scrubbing.
"Okay," Addison admits. "Derek, I was terrified," Addison admits. "I was so afraid that I wouldn't be able to help Maddison, or that the surgery was going to be too much," Addison reveals.
"I could tell," Derek says. "It's why you kept looking up at the gallery," Derek says, knowing that.
"It was, and it meant a lot that I always saw you," Addison admits, as the fact that Derek sat in the gallery for the entire surgery, offering his silent support, meant everything to Addison as not just in Seattle last time, but their last few years in New York, he wouldn't have been.
"I wouldn't be anywhere else," Derek assures Addison and in response Addison just hugs him. "What have you got on for the rest of the day?" Derek asks, after kissing Addison's head.
"Reviewing charts in the Attending's lounge," Addison says as she continues to hug Derek. "No more surgery," Addison explains and even though he won't admit that Derek is very glad to hear it.
For the five days that follow Addison performing her first surgery back at work she continues to limit her time in the OR, mainly performing surgeries that are more complex which she is the only one who can complete.
Since Addison's return to work Mark has spent some time as interim chief while Owen was away, and the final year residences have been spending time applying for fellowships at other hospitals. It is early afternoon and Addison is sitting in the attendings lounge, where she spends most her time, with her feet up going though files.
"Good, there you are," Arizona says, hurrying into the lounge.
"Did I miss a page?" Addison asks, checking her pager.
"No, nothing like that," Arizona says, taking notice of the way Addison is sitting and the look on her face that is almost one of pain, but she has spent enough time with Addison to know not to mention it unless Addison does. "I want to talk about Alex," Arizona explains.
"What about him?" Addison asks curiously, as she puts down what she is reading.
"He's interviewing for other fellowships," Arizona points out.
"I know," Addison says, knowing that because she has put in recommendations for him. "I think it's a really good thing, but I get a feeling that you don't agree,"
"I don't!" Arizona exclaims. "Addison I've put so much, we've both, put so much into his training. Do you really want someone else to get the benefits of that?" Arizona asks.
"I think I am so incredibly proud of how far he has come, and I think he deserves what that success will bring," Addison explains. "I won't stand in the way of that," Addison says, leaning back as she is starting to get a headache again.
"You are a much bigger person than I am," Arizona says, and Addison can't help but laugh, but then quickly regrets that, which Arizona notices. "Are you okay?" Arizona asks concerned.
"I've had a bad headache most of the day," Addison admits. "And my blood pressure is higher than I would like," Addison explains as she checked that as soon as she felt her headache starting.
"What can I do? What do you need?" Arizona asks curious.
"There's nothing you can do right now," Addison tells her. "I just need to rest," Addison explains, and just as she does her pager goes off. "Consult, in the pit," Addison reads.
"I've got it, if I can't handle, I'll page you," Arizona tells Addison, wanting to do what she can to help.
"Thank you," Addison says gratefully.
"What are friends for," Arizona says, before getting up and leaving.
For the next four days Addison continues to experience the symptoms of Preeclampsia which she does her best to manage, but which causes all those who care about her to be extremely worried.
It's early morning and Addison, Derek, Amelia, Teddy and Zola are all getting out of the car at the hospital.
"How are you feeling?" Derek asks concerned, as he has noticed that Addison hasn't seen very good all morning.
"I'm okay, I think," Addison says, sounding uncertain.
"How big of a case load do you have today?" Derek asks concerned.
"Just a couple of consults, no surgery at this stage," Addison explains.
"Good," Derek says relieved.
"Tonight, is the night!" Arizona says excitedly as she, Callie, Mark and Sofia walk up to the group who are unloading the car.
"What's tonight?" Mark and Derek ask together.
"Girls night," Addison, Amelia, Teddy, Arizona and Callie answer, in tones of voice like it should be obvious.
"At our place, the five of us and Bailey," Addison explains.
"Did I know about this?" Derek asks, as he doesn't think he does.
"We told you a week ago," Amelia informs her brother. "I think," She adds uncertainly.
"Good to know," Derek says, with a laugh.
"We'll if they are having girls' night we should have a guys night, we can invite Warren, it'll be great," Mark suggests.
"You should invite Hunt too," Teddy suggests, as while things between her and Owen aren't great, she does know him well enough to know that he is struggling and could use friends.
"Yes! Great idea!" Mark says eagerly. "You in or not?" Mark asks Derek, who looks right at Addison who gives him a look which only he knows means, 'I'll be okay,'
"Yeah, I guess I am," Derek answers, and Mark grins from ear to ear.
"Looks like we're all going to have a good night," Amelia says, sounding excited, as the group, in what has become very common for them, head into the hospital together.
Hours later, after a day where Addison did her best to limit how much work she did. Addison, Amelia, Teddy, Callie, Arizona, and Bailey are sitting in the outside living area of the lake house while Sofia and Zola are asleep up in Zola's room.
While Addison and Amelia aren't drinking Callie brought wine for her, Arizona, Teddy and Bailey, but is under strict instructions from Addison to take home whatever they don't drink.
"I've got to give it to you, this is an pretty incredible view," Bailey says as this is her first time actually getting to truly experiencing the view the Lake House has.
"I know," Addison says, resting her hands on her stomach. "I've got to give it to Derek, he's always been good at finding an incredible view," Addison admits.
"Which you love about him," Amelia says, knowing that.
"Yeah, and one of the things I had to try hardest to forget after I moved away," Addison admits.
"How are you feeling about everything?" Callie asks curious. "I remember all the conversations we had," Callie says as more than anyone other than Bailey she understands how much Derek hurt Addison last time she was in Seattle because she saw the aftermath.
"I do too," Addison admits. "And it's hard for me to trust him, to trust us, but I'm choosing too because this feels different; I love him and I love our family, and I believe this can be better," Addison says, not saying that she needs it to be better.
"Good," Callie says.
"And you?" Arizona asks Teddy. "How are you doing?" she asks her friend concerned, as Amelia takes the blanket that is currently only covering Teddy and uses it to cover them both.
"I'm okay," Teddy admits, knowing a huge part of that is because of the person she is currently sharing a blanket with. "It still hurts, and it's hard, but I'm taking it one day at a time," Teddy reveals.
"That's my motto," Amelia says.
"Philosophy, not motto," Bailey corrects, causing everyone to laugh, and the group continue to talk, and have a good time together.
While Addison, Amelia, Teddy, Bailey, Callie and Arizona are having an enjoyable time at the Lake House together Derek, Mark, Owen and Ben are together at Joe's. While Mark and Ben are playing darts Derek is sitting at the table with Owen.
"I want to thank you Shepherd, for looking out for Teddy, for helping her," Owen says as Addison, Amelia and Derek taking care of Teddy has meant a lot to him.
"I'm happy to do whatever I can," Derek admits. "She's concerned about you," Derek admits, thinking that it is a good segway.
"She told you that?" Owen asks.
"Not in so many words, but she said enough," Derek admits. "Teddy might be furious with you, but that doesn't mean you're not still her best friend… trust me, I have a lot of experience with that," Derek reveals.
"You talking about Mark or Addison?" Owen asks curious.
"Both, I guess," Derek admits, though from conversations he's overheard between Amelia and Teddy he knows that Teddy and Owen's relationship is more like his and Marks than his and Addison's. "Mark's my best friend, but so's Addie," Derek admits. "I denied that for so long, and after she went to LA It felt like something was missing, but I couldn't admit that what was missing is her; I know that now," Derek admits, knowing that he never wants to be without Addison, without his best friend.
"Teddy needs someone to hate right now, and that needs to be me, it hurts, and it sucks, but it's what she needs, so I'll let her be," Owen admits, knowing that he misses his friend, but that right now what she needs is her anger, but from what he has seen she is getting over that, which makes him glad.
"What do you need?" Derek asks curious.
"To understand my wife… but I don't know if that's ever going to happen," Owen admits, and as he has no advice Derek and Owen just drift into silence.
A couple of hours after his conversation with Owen Derek has arrived home, after checking on Zola Derek heads straight to his and Addison's room and climbs into bed with her.
"Hey," Adison greats.
"Hey," Derek says. "How you all doing?" Derek asks, placing his hand on Addison's stomach which seems to be getting bigger with every day that passes.
"We're okay," Addison admits.
"How was girls night?" Derek asks.
"Good," Addison admits. "It was nice," Addison says and for a moment she looks like she wants to say something but then she hesitates and doesn't say it.
"Addie, what is it?" Derek asks curious.
"Back in LA everyone at the practice would spend at least one evening a night at my place, we would bond and spend time together… I miss that," Addison admits. "Tonight, felt like that," Addison admits.
"Well, I guess that means we'll be using our entertaining areas a lot more," Derek admits.
"You'd do that?" Addison asks, a little surprised.
"It matters to you, and I enjoyed myself tonight, so if we can spend more time outside of work with our friends I'm all for it," Derek admits.
"Good," Addison says relieved as she moves and lays on Derek's chest.
As Derek feels Addison's familiar weight on him he moves and puts his arm around Addison, and kisses her head, feeling perfectly happy as he lays in bed with the love of his life.