Chapter 29: First Day Back

As Meredith entered Seattle Grace, she assumed what was now her daily routine. Handing over her bag to the security officer, she flashed her ID as she walked through the metal detector. The officer on the other end handed her the bag back satisfied, after looking through its contents. Meredith continued towards the elevators, not the least bit phased by the heavy security measurements the hospital adopted.

Everywhere Meredith went, she overheard people whine and complain about the exaggerated security precautions of the hospital. That's what happened when the Chief of Surgery happened to be your fiancé and the new Head of the Board of Directors was the closest thing you ever had to a father.

Chris O'Dandridge was yet to be caught and his whereabouts were still unknown. For the last three weeks, Meredith was constantly being watched over, babysat. For the first time in her life, she didn't mind. It was comforting to have people care about her and want to protect her. She didn't fight it. She welcomed it.

Later that day, Meredith was leaning lazily on the tall counter of the nurse's station, chewing on a stale granola bar as Cristina looked over a patient's chart with her.

"Hmm… we're going to need a neuro consult before we send him home."

Meredith nodded and answered with her mouth full. "Yep, but Derek's still in surgery and Dr. Hemming isn't on call today… looks like it'll have to wait."

She formed an over exaggerated cheesy grin causing Cristina's eyes to roll.

"You know they're right… interns are useless their last week before becoming a resident." A slow smile stole across her serious face. "You know… I should enjoy the authority I have over you while I still can. How does enema duty sound?"

Meredith's eyes widened. "You wouldn't."

Cristina gave her best evil stare before backing down and leaning tiredly back in her chair. "I totally would… if I hadn't just given it to that Barbie Jr. ditz."

Meredith laughed and shook her head. "You really are a bitch, aren't you?"

Cristina grinned and nodded, taking it as a complete compliment. "Any ways, Dr. Zeta's back, so page her for the consult."

"Back? She was gone?"

Cristina looked up at Meredith like she was crazy. "Uh… what rock have you been under? She's been gone for like the last month… some personal matter back on Venus… or wherever the hell she came from."

Meredith couldn't stop her giggle but sobered immediately. "No way. I'm not paging her. She's... she's… whatever.. I'm just not paging her."

Cristina shook her head not looking up from the chart. "What are you so worried about? I thought McDreamy already set her straight."

"He did… it's just… she rubs me the wrong way."

"Do you need me to take care of that wanker? Cause I will… I know people."

"I don't doubt that." Meredith sighed. "Forget it…I'll be professional.. or whatever… I'll suck it up. Because that's what professionals do right?"

Cristina shrugged and rolled her eyes. "Whatever Mer."

Meredith grabbed the chart back from Cristina forcibly and gave her a dirty look, eliciting a chuckle from her resident.

She hurried away down the hall, leaving Cristina quietly laughing watching her depart. Meredith lifted up her arm and scratched the back of her head with her middle finger, initiating another round of hooting from her friend.

Cristina smiled and felt genuinely happy. Her person was back. Finally, after so many years, Meredith was really back.

Derek rinsed the final suds off his arms with the warm water and reached up to take a generous amount of paper towels to dry off. His surgery was successful, and he was still coming down from his high. Now, being Chief and having other duties to tend to besides surgeries, he savored each opportunity he had to cut open a brain and save a life.

When the rough paper towels had finished their job, he compacted the damp material in his large hands and skillfully shot them across the room, hearing the wad land in the open trash can with a satisfactory thud. He crossed his arms and stood in front of the window to the OR, lost in thought as he watched the scrub nurses suture his patient shut. His pager's incessant bleeping echoed through the small scrub room as he reached down to silence it.

His eyes grew large at the small screen when he read the 911 message sent from his fiancée. Without another second hesitation, Derek turned and was sprinting down the halls of Seattle Grace, his heart beating in his chest, hollering for everyone to get out of his way.