Help is Around the Corner
Addison and Derek's trailer catches fire, and Meredith offers them a place to stay for a while.
Addison naps for a little while, even though she can't sleep very well. She's woken up by a page from Meredith, probably wondering where she is, and she ignores it.
It kills her to be ignoring it, but if Bailey thinks that she's hurting her, she'll do it. She'll do anything not to hurt Meredith.
The next page she answers is Richard's, because he needs her to scrub in on a case.
"Are you going to be awake for this?" says Richard.
"Yes," says Addison. "I just had a nap, I'll be alright," Addison smiles stiffly.
"Alright then," says Richard. "Scalpel."
The case takes several hours, during which Addison concentrates. She's an excellent surgeon, and she won't let a little tiredness get in the way of her work.
She doesn't see Meredith again until the end of the day, and when she does, Meredith is glaring at her.
It causes some pangs in Addison's chest.
"You didn't answer my page!" Meredith says flatly.
"Sorry, I-" Addison sighs. "I fell asleep, and then I got called into a case…" says Addison.
Technically true, but she still feels like she's lying to Meredith.
"And you didn't page me when you were getting ready for a nap!? We had plans!" said Meredith.
"I'm sorry, Grey, I really am, I-" Addison huffs. She's not doing a good job of explaining herself.
"Grey!? What, I'm just an intern to you now? I thought we were friends, Addison," Meredith says, only now she's more upset than angry, and Addison really wants to take her into her arms, and make her feel better.
"Meredith, I'm sorry…" says Addison, looking into Meredith's tear-filled eyes.
She gulps.
"I went for a nap without you, but I missed you. I-" Meredith pauses. "I sleep better with you there, okay?" says Meredith quietly.
Meredith has no idea why she just admitted that part to Addison, but she desperately wants to make Addison understand how hurt she is.
"I should have paged you…" Addison says softly.
"Yeah, you said we'd have a nap together. You didn't even tell anyone to tell me you'd canceled," Meredith sniffles.
"I'm sorry-" says Addison.
"Look, I have abandonment issues. I always feel like people are gonna leave me, and we were getting so close. If you don't wanna hang out with me you can just say it now, because it's only gonna hurt more if it's later," says Addison.
"No that's not it, it's not it at all," says Addison. "I ah, I missed you too," Addison says, looking up into Meredith's eyes.
"I just ah… Look, Bailey roughed me up, and it spoked me that's all, and I- I don't want to hurt you, Meredith," says Addison.
"Well if you don't wanna hurt me, then talk to me. And keep your plans with me. I get it though, Bailey can be scary," says Meredith.
"Do you want to go home and we can have a nap together?" says Addison.
"I can't, I'm working the night shift tonight," says Meredith.
"Oh-" says Addison, and she's disappointed again.
"You can give me a hug though?" Meredith asks her.
"I can do that," says Addison. "C'mere," she says, as she welcomes Meredith into her arms.
Meredith sighs into them, and Addison holds her tight, ignoring the threatening gesture that Bailey is giving her from around the corner.
"I'll see you later, says Meredith.
"Okay," says Addison.
Addison heads home with a heavy heart. So she talked to Meredith, that seems like a good step.
It's weird for Addison to go to Meredith's house without her, but everyone else is there, and they're all occupied as usual.
"Rr!" says Doc, as Addison opens the door.
"Hi Doc," says Addison.
"Rr!" says Doc.
"Meredith's working the night shift," says Addison.
"RRRR!" says Doc.
"I know, but we're surgeons, we have to work," says Addison.
"RR!" says Doc.
"What?" says Addison. "Are you upset with me?"
"RRR!" says Doc.
"Yeah, I know. I did a mean thing today, I deserve to be barked at," Addison sighs.
"Rr." says Doc.
"Yeah, now you're making me feel guilty all over again about it," says addison.
"Rr." says Doc.
"Yeah, I deserve that, too," says Addison.
"Rr?" says Doc.
"Okay, you can come up for a little bit. But I'll be doing yoga," says Addison, as she carries Doc up the stairs.
"What, youre not carrying your girlfriend up there?" says Alex.
"Meredith's working," says Addison.
"So you'll admit that she's your girlfriend?" says Alex.
"No," Addison sighs.
"Dude, if this is because of Derek, then you really got to end it with this guy. Because this whole leading him on thing is sucky. It probably really sucks to be that guy right now," says Alex.
"I'm not- Karev, he's my husband!" says Addison.
"Yeah, and what, you hardly ever talk to the guy, except to pass him his cereal in the morning. You haven't noticed if he's here or not, but when Mer's gone for four hours you're moping about it," says Alex.
"I'm not moping," says Addison.
"You're talking to the dog. You're moping," says Alex.
"Meredith does that too sometimes," says Addison.
"See, you're already talking about her again. You talk about her, you think about her. You've got a massive crush on her, whatever. All I'm saying is you gotta get off your heels and do something for her," says Alex.
"And what prompts this sage relationship advice, Alex?" says Addison.
"I'm going on a date with Izzie, and she likes me. And I like her. Isn't that enough?" says Alex.
Addison nods curtly, she can't argue with that one.
She's still conflicted though. Firstly because this is all a bit confusing. She doesn't know what she feels for Meredith yet, and it's hard to leave Derek. They've spent over a decade of their lives together. She likes his family, even if they all don't like her.
And divorce is a really big deal.
Addison decides she'll do yoga, and then cook a little bit to cope with it.
She'll make Meredith something nice to eat when she gets home. Even a friend would do that, wouldn't they? They totally would.
"Rr…" says Doc.
"Okay fine, you can have a little bit too," says Addison.
"Rr," says Doc.
"You're welcome," says Addison.
"Rr." says Doc.
"Yes, when Meredith comes home, I will apologize again. Profusely. You happy?" says Addison.
"Rr…" says Doc.
"That's gonna have to be good enough for now, because that's all I got for ya. Now eat your steak, it's getting cold," says Addison.
"Rr!" says Doc.
"I hope you like that, because it's tenderloin!"
***** END OF CHAPTER 16
Author's note:
Okay, so a little less angst than was maybe possible. It's a fluffy piece.
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