Help is Around the Corner
Addison and Derek's trailer catches fire, and Meredith offers them a place to stay for a while.
"Do you want to talk about it?" says Meredith.
"Rr!" says Doc, encouragingly.
"I umm-" says Addison, before she starts crying again.
"Rr!" says Doc, pawing at Addison's hairline.
"I umm-" Addison repeats again. "I-" Addison starts to continue, but in the absolute worst possible timing ever, Meredith's pager goes off.
"Shoot, 9-1-1" says Meredith.
"Oh-" says Addison.
"Do you want to tell me before I go?" says Meredith.
"No, it can wait," says Addison, as she shakes her head at Meredith.
"Oh, okay…" says Meredith, as she reaches for her coat. "Damn, I forgot my coat," says Meredith, as she tries to find another one.
"Take mine, Addison mumbles.
"Thanks-" says Meredith, as she puts on Addison's coat and heads out the door.
"Goodnight-" Addison calls out as Meredith leaves.
"Rr!?" says Doc.
"Shh, Doc," says Addison, petting him on the head.
"Rr?" says Doc.
"So I didn't tell her, she was on her way out, I'll tell her tomorrow-" says Addison.
"RRRRRR!?" says Doc.
"Hey, I just had a breakup, don't give me a hard time," says Addison.
"Rr….." says Doc, as he crawls onto Addison's stomach.
"Thanks for being supportive," says Addison, as she lies on her back, astoundingly similar to the way Meredith does with Doc.
"Rr," Doc sighs, and puts his chin on Addison's stomach.
"You know, I thought it would be different. I thought I'd spend the rest of my life with Derek. And then I thought I'd give things a shot with Mark. But even after all of that, I never felt the same way as when I met Meredith. And now she probably hates me, because she probably thinks that I slept with Derek again, and of course, I didn't," says Addison.
"Rr," says Doc empathetically.
"And I know she's technically single, but she's got this thing going on with Mark, and I would never tell her what to do or anything, but I know from experience that Mark's not very loyal, and I don't want her to get caught up in that… Oh who am I kidding Doc? I want her, and that's why I don't want her to want Mark. I'm a married woman in love with her husband's ex-mistress, this is why people still call me 'Satan,' I really gotta get my life together," says Addison.
"Rr," says Doc.
"Okay, Ruler of All that is Evil, but still," says Addison.
"Rr," says Doc.
"I'll be single soonish," says Addison.
"Rr." says Doc.
"You're just taking my side 'cause I feed you," says Addison.
"Rr-" says Doc.
"Okay, and because you like me," says Addison.
"Rr-" says Doc.
"Don't tell me it's because you pity me-" says Addison.
"Rr-" says Doc.
"Fine, we're friends," says Addison.
"Rr." says Doc.
"Yes, best friends forever," says Addison.
"Rr." says Doc.
"Even when I'm being dumb," says Addison.
"Rr…" says Doc.
"Yeah, like right now, I know Doc," says Addison.
"Rr…..." says Doc.
"So Meredith's working, so we might as well get cozy," says Addison, as she tucks Doc under the blankets.
As she's about to go to sleep outrageously early, her phone rings.
"Hey-" says Addison.
"Hey-" says Callie.
"What's up-" says Addison.
"George got called into work, wondered if you wanted company," says Callie.
"Company would be great," says Addison.
"Great, you can come over here if you want. We have a fancy hotel room," says Callie.
"Actually… Could you come over here? I don't want Meredith to think I've abandoned her if she gets off work early," says Addison.
"Alright then," says Callie. "I'll see you in a few."
"Thanks, Callie," says Addison, hanging up.
A little while later, Callie walks by Derek and Mark in the hammock as she walks into the house to visit Addison.
"Watch out you don't do anything too athletic in that thing, you'd be surprised at how many hammock-related-injuries we see," says Callie.
"What would we be doing that's athletic in here?" says Derek.
"Just… Be careful," says Callie, as she brushes past them.
Mark smirks his signature smirk at her, while Derek just gives her a perplexed look.
Callie walks towards Meredith's room, and knocks before she pushes the door open.
"Hey-" says Callie. "I brought cookies."
"Thanks," says Addison, letting Calie sit on the bed next to her.
"Rr-" says Doc.
"Hi Doc," says Callie.
"Rr-" says Doc, pawing at Callie.
"Yes, I'm Addison's friend," says Callie.
"Rr-" says Doc. "Rrrrrrrr…." says Doc sleepily.
"Yes, you go to sleep. I'll keep her company," says Callie, as she lets Doc crawl under the blankets, and curl up on top of a pillow.
"So what's new?" says Addison.
"Okay, you're clearly not okay, why don't we get to that," says Callie.
"I just broke up with Derek," says Addison.
"What!?" says Callie.
"Yeah…" says Addison.
"Like, divorce broke up?" says Callie.
"Well, we haven't signed any papers because it's a weeknight and it happened like, forty minutes ago, but yeah…" says Addison.
"Is this because of you and Meredith?" says Callie.
"Wha- what do you know about me and Meredith!?" says Addison.
"Everyone knows about you and Meredith," says Callie.
"What do you mean?" says Addison.
"The epic stares, the intense need to be around each other all the time. You feed her," says Callie.
"I cook for everyone," says Addison.
"You pack her lunch. Every day. Sometimes you actually hold food on a fork, and put it in her mouth," says Callie.
"She'd starve," says Addison.
"You always look at her, whenever she's in the room, you stare," says Callie.
"She's pretty," says Addison. "And she's smart, and funny-" says Addison.
"You're only proving your point even more," says Callie.
"She's different, I can't put a finger on it. She makes me feel safe, and warm, and happy," says Addison.
"So you're in L-O-V-'' Callie begins, but Addison cuts her off.
"Stop it!" says Addison. "I'm not even divorced yet, we can't be talking about that, it's too soon!"
"But you're not denying it!" says Callie.
"Ugh!" says Addison.
"I'm happy for you, you and Mer would make a cute couple, with your little dog you walk… It's sweet," says Callie.
"Thanks," says Addison, picturing it.
"You were totally daydreaming about her just now," says Callie.
"Okay, a little bit…" says Addison.
"Of course you were!" says Callie.
"I'm just so scared because I don't know what I'll do if it doesn't work out. I feel so strongly about her that I feel like I'll lose myself if I lose her. What if I hurt her? What if I mess it all up?" says Addison.
"Hey, nobody's perfect, but would you want her to never get to try with you because you were scared? Life's short, give it a chance," says Callie.
"When did you get all optimistic?" says Addison.
"Since I've been around all of this drama and nonsense and just want some peace and quiet," says Callie.
"Right, I should ask you about your life, how about you?" says Addison.
"Pretty good," says Callie.
Addison listens while Callie talks for a while.
"Well, I'll go back to my hotel room then, no use letting it go to waste," says Callie.
"See ya," says Addison, giving Callie a hug.
"Go get 'em, tiger," says Callie.
"Tiger?" says Addison.
"You have red hair," she giggles.
Callie heads out past Mark and Derek, who are still squished up in Derek's hammock.
"Have a good night boys," Callie smiles at them before she leaves.
"Night-" Mark and Derek mumble.
Upstairs in Meredith's room, Addison gets ready for bed, and burrows under the covers with Doc, who is snoring softly, as she imagines how her life is going to change now that she's going to be free, and she thinks it'll change for the better.
***** END OF CHAPTER 24