Chapter 51
AN: Things are going to be painful for a little while, but I hope you like it despite the pain.
Also, sorry about the delay in this chapter. Hopefully I can get the next one out sooner.
Completely unaware of what Addison is going through, but knowing he needs to get back to her, Derek has managed to get himself free, at the cost of his hand, potentially his future, and is heading towards the voice he heard.
"DEREK!" Derek hears, being called by Mark.
"OVER HERE!" Derek yells back and seconds later Mark comes into his line of sight. The second they see each other the two brothers walk towards each other and embrace. "Our plane crashed," Derek says, once the two of them finally break apart.
"Your hand," Mark says, noticing it, and realizing how bad it is.
"Are you okay?" Derek asks, looking him up and down taking note of the seatbelt around Mark's leg, but noticing that he doesn't seem to have any other injuries.
"For the most part," Mark responds.
"What about the others?" Derek asks.
"Cristina's got a dislocated shoulder, Lexie's got some deep cuts, including one on her back, and a lot of bruises, Arizona got a pretty bad leg injury, it's an open fracture, and Meredith… it's bad Derek," Mark admits, trying to do so as gently as possible, not sure how his friend is going to react to that.
Even if Derek hadn't known Mark for most of his life he would know exactly what Mark is implying with his tone, and so he knows how bad it is. As he thinks about Meredith dying it hurts, but what hurts more is the possibility of never seeing Addison again.
A little way away from where Derek and Mark are both Lexie and Cristina have crawled under the plane to where Meredith are.
"Mark and Derek will be back soon and when they get back we'll get you out," Lexie tells her sister, needing to believe that Meredith will be okay.
"I'm not getting out of here," Meredith says as she has realized exactly what is happening to her.
"Are you really going to let this be what beats you?" Cristina asks Meredith, even though she knows that Meredith is likely right, as she wants Meredith to keep fighting.
"I'm so glad I met you," Meredith tells Cristina. "And I'm sorry I wasn't a better sister," Meredith says to Lexie.
"You're an incredible sister," Lexie tells Meredith. "I love you so much," Lexie tells Meredith, her voice breaking, as she knows what's going to happen next, but she is desperate for her fears to be wrong.
"I love you too, both of you," Meredith says, feeling herself becoming weaker.
"LEXIE? MEREDITH? CRISTINA?" Mark's voice yells.
"That's Sloane and Derek, we'll get you out," Cristina tells Meredith.
"I want Derek to be happy, and he's happy with Addison…. Tell him for me," Meredith requests.
"You'll tell him yourself," Lexie says and both she and Cristina crawl out so that they can talk to Derek and Mark.
Over the next half an hour Lexie, Cristina, Mark, and even Derek with his injured hand, do what they can to try and get Meredith free, while they cannot get her complete free, they are able to move enough of the debris to see her, but by the time they do Meredith is gone.
As soon as they see Meredith and realize what has happened Lexie breaks down, and Mark holds her. Cristina almost collapses next to Meredith's body and Derek just stares in disbelief, as while he knows Meredith isn't the love of his life she does mean something to him, and he always though she was invincible.
At the hospital having no idea about the hell going on in the woods Addison and Bailey are in the scrub room of OR three about to go into surgery, something which Bailey is sure is a bad idea.
"Are you sure about this?" Bailey asks concerned as she doesn't know if Addison operating right, now is the best idea.
"Having a scalpel in my hand makes me feel centered, I need that right now; I need to feel centered," Addison reveals. "This procedure won't take long, and she needs me to do it…. I need to do it," Addison admits, as while she knows that considering everything there is a risk for her to do this surgery, but she also knows that it's what she needs to do.
"Okay," Bailey says, understanding what Addison is saying, and the two of them head into the OR it being more than clear that Bailey is going to be with Addison for the entire surgery.
A little while after the surgery begun Amelia, who realized what Addison is doing, has walked into the Gallery. As she sees that what she realized is right Amelia sits down and watches. For a few minutes Amelia is sitting alone, but then Callie walks in and sits down next to her.
"Is she seriously performing surgery right now?" Callie asks surprised, as when she saw Addison's name on the OR board she thought she was seeing things.
"Yep," Amelia confirms. "I think it's what she needs, everything's so uncertain that she needs the one thing that is certain, and for Addie that's surgery," Amelia reveals.
"You really know her," Callie says, as she's realized that since Addison and Amelia came back to Seattle, but seeing the way Amelia has been able to explain what Addison is thinking and feeling cements just how well Amelia knows her.
"She's my sister," Amelia reveals. "I have three sisters… but they've never really understood me," Amelia admits. "Addie does," Amelia says. "From the day Derek brought her home she's understood me, been there for me. She's hiding it, but she is in so much pain right now, she's soo afraid, and I just need to help her," Amelia admits.
"You will, you have," Callie says, knowing that, and the two of them drift into silence as they continue to watch the surgery.
In the woods Mark, Derek, Lexie, and Cristina have moved to where Arizona are. As he is the most put together Mark has done what he could for both Derek's hand and Arizona's leg, has used a sowing kit to stich the gash on Lexie's back, and checked Jerry and Cristina for Injuries; realizing that Jerry is paralyzed, and that Cristina sees physically but not mentally okay.
"She's gone? Are you sure?" Arizona asks, even though she knows it's a stupid question, as she is feeling complete and utter disbelief.
"I'm sure," Mark says, looking between Lexie and Cristina, both of whom seem to be in states of disbelief. "Here, drink slowly," Mark says, handing Lexie one of the bottles of water they have, not overly sure what he can do to help Cristina who seems to have silent tears running down her face.
Once he gives Lexie water he walks over to where Derek is sitting, slightly away from others.
"How's the hand?" Mark asks as he sits down next to his brother.
"A little numb… we both know what that means," Derek admits. "Mark, we need to get out of here," Derek says.
"I know," Mark admits. "Derek, you can mourn, it's okay to be sad. You may not be in love with Meredith anymore, but you loved her once," Mark reminds him.
"She deserved so much more than this," Derek admits. "She was just beginning her career, once she learnt to stop her mother's shadow eclipsing her, she would have been incredible," Derek admits. "I loved her, and I will miss her, but right now all I can think about is getting back to Addison, Zola, and the Sheplets," Derek admits as even though Meredith's death hurts, his hand hurts, and he's scared, none of those things rivals how desperate he is to see Addison and Zola.
"You'll get back to them," Mark says, even though he knows it is a promise he cannot keep.
At Seattle Grace Mercy West Owen and Teddy have finished surgery, a very successful one, and are in the scrub room together. Even though she hasn't said a single word Owen can feel the look Teddy is giving him, and knows exactly what it means.
"I don't know what to do," Owen admits, finally giving into the look Teddy is giving her. "I love her, and I hurt her, and I want to make things right, but she could go anywhere," Owen reveals. "I don't know what to do," Owen admits.
"You tell her that, everything you just said to me," Teddy explains. "Owen you're a good guy, you've shown me kindness and offered me support when I did the opposite for you, but you're also broken, and that's okay," Teddy explains. "If you want thing with Cristina to work you need to be honest, but you also need help," Teddy tells him. "You are my family, and I'm here for you, just like you've tried to be here for me, but I'm not who you need. I can't help you, you can help you, and she can help you, you've just got to be open to it," Teddy tells Owen before leaving the scrub room, giving Owen a lot to think about it.
In the woods, after realizing just how long has passed without being rescued, Mark, Lexie, and Cristina are doing what they can to keep Derek, Arizona and Jerry alright. While Lexie and Cristina are doing their best to hold it together, but are mostly losing the battle, Derek who is feeling a lot of pain walks over to where Mark is collecting some wood as he is afraid that if they are going to be stuck in the woods overnight.
"Mark you've had no one check you for injuries," Derek, who is trying to focus on things other than how desperately he wants to see his family and how much his hand hurts.
"I'm okay," Mark says, not wanting Derek to worry about him because he is so worried about his brother. "But Derek, we're not going to be if we don't get out of here soon," Mark says, particularly worried about Arizona and how she is.
"I know," Derek responds. "I don't know why we haven't been found," Derek admits.
"MARK! DEREK!" Lexie yells, and they both hurry run as fast as they can back over to where the others are.
"What?" Mark asks worried.
"Did you hear that?" Cristina asks.
"Here what?" Derek asks, and just as he speaks the group hear the sound of a helicopter.
"Where's the flare gun?" Arizona asks, and Lexie picks it up and attempts to fire it, but it doesn't work.
"It's not working!" Lexie says worried as she knows that this might be their only shot and they cannot lose it.
"Let me try," Mark says, taking the flare gun and like Lexie he attempts to fire it, but the gun doesn't work.
"It's flying away!" Derek says, and he takes the flare gun from Mark and tries to fire it, but as he tries he just screams in pain and drops it, as the helicopter flies away, and they feel their hope slipping away.
Back at the hospital Addison is in the attendings lounge when Amelia, Teddy, and Callie walk in, as they walk in the first thing Amelia notices is the look on Addison's face.
"Addie what's wrong?" Amelia asks.
"The surgery should have finished hours ago, and Derek hasn't retuned my calls, and he's not answering," Addison says, not being able to explain it but having a sinking suspicion that something else is wrong.
"Arizona hasn't called today either," Callie realizes, frowning, realizing that she didn't realize until Addison brough it up. "And Mark hasn't called to ask about Sofia," Callie says, realizing that, which is very odd, as Mark loves his daughter and when he's not with her often calls or texts to see how she is doing.
"Cristina hasn't called to see what surgeries she missed out on," Teddy says, realizing that that is extremely out of character for her protégé.
"Lexie hasn't called to check on our recent patient either," Amelia realizes, and almost in perfect unison Callie calls Arizona, Amelia calls Mark, Teddy calls Cristina and Addison calls Derek.
"No answer from Derek," Addison says.
"Same with Arizona," Callie says, as Amelia hangs up her phone and makes another call, calling Lexie.
"Cristina either," Teddy says, as Callie ties to call Meredith.
"Mark and Lexie aren't answering either," Amelia reveals, "Even with complications they shouldn't still be in surgery," Amelia says, running her head through what is going on.
"Owen might have heard something," Teddy suggests, as that's the only possibility she can think of to get an answer she wants.
"I really hope he has," Addison says and the four of them get up and head out of the attendings lounge in search of Owen.
After a little bit of searching Addison, Amelia, Teddy and Callie find Owen sitting in the conference room working on paperwork.
"Owen, have you heard from Derek? Or anyone else who went to Boise?" Addison asks, her voice a little hurried as she is desperate for answers.
"I've had my calls held all day," Owen reveals. "What's going on?" Owen asks confused.
"No one who went to Boise are answering their phones," Teddy explains. "Something doesn't feel right," Teddy admits.
"I'll check my messages," Owen says, pulling his phone and as he sees the worried looks on the four women's faces he puts his phone on speaker so everyone can hear in case there are relevant messages.
"Good morning, Doctor Hunt. This is Dr Sheehan over at Boise memorial. I just wanted to double check what time your surgeons were set to arrive today," The first message plays and the five people in the conference room just exchange looks as that does not sound good. "Dr Hunt, Dr Sheehan again. Still no word from your surgeons. I'm gonna check with the airport to see if the weather held 'em up." The message says and everyone dreads what they are going to hear yet. "This is Dr Sheehan again. We're starting to get a bit concerned here…." The message says.
Hearing the messages Addison feels dread, she feels panic rise and she feels like she cannot breathe.
"Addie?" Amelia asks, noticing the look on Addison's face and feeling extremely concerned.
While she hears Amelia's voice for Addison it seems far away even though Amelia is standing right next to her. As she feels her panic rise Addison's vision fade in and out, but all she can think about, all she can feel is, panic, fear about what could have happened to Derek. As her thoughts spiral and her panic rises Addison think she can hear the others speaking, but she cannot make out what they are saying, slowly Addison's vison gets darker until it's completely black and Addison collapses.
"ADDIE!" Amelia yells terrified as she hurries over to where Addison has collapsed.
"I don't see any blood," Callie says, like Amelia she squats down next to her.
"GET ME A GURNEY!" Teddy yells to the outside nurses.
"How's her pulse?" Owen asks, as he moves over to see what he can do to help.
"Slow, weak," Amelia says as some nurses bring in the gurney.
"We've got to move her as carefully as possible," Teddy says, and with some difficulty, while trying to be as careful as possible as they don't want to risk hurting Addison or the Sheplets. Eventually they get Addison onto the gurney and as they do Amelia takes slow steps back with a look of horror on her face. "Melia?" Teddy, the first one who notices the look on her face.
"No," Amelia says, shaking her head. "I can't do this," Amelia says, her voice sounding haunted, and before anyone can stop her Amelia runs out of the conference room.
"Get Addie to OB," Teddy says, and she goes running after Amelia as Own and Callie both know that Amelia and Teddy have become close they trust that Teddy will be able to help Amelia.
While Amelia is a fast runner Teddy, due to how fit she is and her years in army, runs faster and she manages to catch up with her.
"Melia, stop!" Teddy says, trying to get Amelia to stop but Amelia runs into one of the storage rooms and it takes her a second to realize that she has cornered herself. "Amelia," Teddy says, closing the door behind them so that they have privacy but also feeling worried about making Amelia feel like she is caged. "I'm here, I'm not going anywhere, and I'm not going to let you push me away, so talk," Teddy tells her friend, as while she may not be able to do anything for everyone lost in the woods, or for Addison, she can help Amelia, she has to. "I know you, and I know you need to, that you can't keep everything in, so I'm here, lay it on me," Teddy says, expecting Amelia to fight back, but what she doesn't expect is for Amelia to walk the few steps that separate them and kiss her.