Recovery
Part X
Addison walked down Fourth Avenue, it was a gorgeous summer day the sun was shining and light breeze skimmed across her face, it was a comfortable seventy eight degrees. When the sun shone the cities gray hues were replaced with the glittering green hues of vegetation that was in abundance in the city, it was one of those days where she understood why it was nicknamed the Emerald City. She had a doctor's appointment later that day so she had taken the day off and was doing a little shopping that morning so she could put the finishing touches on her new home before her niece arrived. The house was almost put together to her liking; she had asked Savy to make arrangements for her furniture in her New York Brownstone to be shipped across country. She used the majority of the furniture from her home in New York, but she had asked Savy to donate the Master Bedroom furniture to charity, it held too many memories that she just didn't want to deal with. She had also asked Savy to arrange to have the Brownstone put up for sale. Being in her new home had finally made her realize that Seattle now was her home not New York. For the first time since arriving in Seattle she no longer considered New York her home.
Her mother, Madeline had stayed for two weeks, but since everything was going so smoothly she had decided it was time for her to get back to Addie's father, he was starting to grumble about her absence.
She couldn't believe five weeks had passed since discovering she was pregnant. She had an appointment scheduled for later that afternoon, they were going to perform an ultrasound, which was routine for women over the age of thirty five. She was a little anxious about the appointment, the ultrasound will make everything that much more real. It was really too early in the pregnancy to really feel any movement yet and it had been too early last month to hear the heartbeat. This was the checkup that would make it a reality, make it truly hit home that she was indeed going to be a mother. She gently rested her hand on her lower abdomen, she wasn't showing yet but she smiled to herself it wouldn't be long now.
She stopped walking as a bakery sign caught her eye. She stood in front of the bakery eyeing the pastries in the window it had been over two hours since she last ate and her stomach started to growl. Now that her morning sickness had all but passed; she was finding herself hungry more often. She was pretty lucky her morning sickness wasn't very bad, all she needed to do was avoid a few trigger foods and smells and she was fine. She entered the bakery looking down at the case asking for a chocolate with cream cheese muffin, a glass of milk and a glass of ice.
The woman behind the counter was startled to see someone she knew enter the bakery. She looked at her questioningly, "A glass of ice?"
Addison's head snapped up when she recognized the voice. "Izzie?" she tried getting over the shock of seeing Isobel Stevens working in a bakery, but just couldn't manage it. "What on earth are you doing working in a bakery?"
Izzie pulled a muffin from the tray and put in on a plate, then poured a glass of milk. She shrugged as she filled another glass with ice, "Well, I have to work somewhere and I've always loved baking." She smiled at Addie and said, "That will be $3.26."
"Izzie you do realize that Dr. Webber was not going to fire you." She looked at her with sympathy, "Of course there would have been repercussions." She handed Izzie a five dollar bill as she continued, "But there was no reason to throw away your entire career."
Izzie made change and handed it back to her and pursed her lips. "At the time it was the only thing I could do. I didn't feel I had the right to be a surgeon anymore after . . ." she hesitated, "After what happened with Denny."
"And now?" she questioned her with concern.
"God I miss it. I never would have imagined I would miss it so much." She sighed, "Dr. Webber will never allow me back in the program now though." Izzie smiled at Addie and said brightly, "Why don't you have a seat, I'll bring your order to your table," she gestured to the tables. "I'm actually due for a break and I'd like to hear what's been happening since I've been gone."
Addie gathered her bags and headed for a table in the corner, "Haven't George and Meredith been keeping you posted?"
Izzie set the tray down on the table; she had added a muffin and a cup of coffee for herself. "In the beginning I refused to allow them to mention the hospital, so . . ." She watched opened mouthed as Addie poured her milk into the glass of ice.
Addie noticed her abrupt halt of conversation. "What?" she looked up to Izzie staring at her opened mouthed. She blushed and shyly said with a shrug, "I can't help it I've been craving ice cold milk and it never seems to be cold enough."
Izzie's eyes narrowed, "Craving?" Addison nodded and Izzie's jaw dropped again, "Are you?"
Addison nodded again and with a smile said, "Twelve weeks."
"Twelve weeks, I . . . I thought you and Dr. Shepherd were divorced," she asked exasperated.
"We are." She gave her a weak smile, "That's really not one of my favorite topics of conversation."
"So a baby," she looked at her with amazement, "Are you excited?"
"Very," she grinned back at Izzie her eyes lighting up. "Now let's get back to you."
Izzie collapsed back into her chair and frowned, "I don't know what to do. I want my life as a doctor back."
"So we need to fix this." The wheels started to turn in her head, she didn't know if Richard would agree, but it was worth a shot. "What would you say if I extended the offer to be your mentor again, and have you put on my service?" She reached out and patted her hand, "Of course I can't make any promises yet, I need to speak with Richard first."
Izzie's eyes lit up, this was the first time since Denny that she was actually excited about something. "Seriously? You would really talk to Dr. Webber about allowing me back in the program, about allowing me to work with you?"
Addison smiled at the excited girl before her, "Well I have to convince Dr. Webber first, but if he agrees I am absolutely serious."
Izzie shot up from the chair and quickly moved to Addison's side and hugged her. "Thank you, thank you I . . . I," she paused and excitedly said, "Thank you, you don't have any idea how much this means to me."
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Addison sat on the exam table, her doctor Dr. Sara Williams talked to her as she looked over the nurse's notes, "Excellent, your blood pressure is one twenty over eighty. So how is the morning sickness?" Sara continued with her physical exam.
"Getting better, I haven't gotten sick for three days."
"That's great, ok lets see if we can find the heartbeat," she smiled down at Addison and pulled out the stethoscope with a speaker on it. She move it around her tummy listening as she went until the distinct sounds of a heartbeat could be heard. The doctor was quiet a moment while she counted. "One hundred fifty four that's a nice strong heartbeat," she smiled down at Addie.
She couldn't believe how emotional she was getting. She had heard hundreds of thousands fetal heartbeats before, but this one was different. There it was it was a reality, now she could feel the tears starting to slide down her cheeks.
Sara looked down on her smiling and holding out a tissue, "Pretty overwhelming when it's your own, huh?" Addie nodded at her drying her eyes. "Okay I'm going to send Michelle in for the ultrasound now. You lay back and relax for a little bit," she patted Addie on the arm then exited the room.
Michelle entered the room shortly after Dr. Williams; she was wheeling in the ultrasound machine. "Good afternoon Dr. Montgomery, are you ready for your ultrasound?" Addie nodded. "Okay just lay back," she pulled up her shirt to expose her tummy then moved her pants exposing her stomach completely. "Okay I'm sure you know this already but the gel is going to be cold," she squirted gel on her stomach. It gave Addie a little shiver as she started to move the wand across her stomach almost, immediately the baby's heart beat could be heard over the speaker and a picture appeared on the screen, you could see two tiny feet pushing against the screen. Addie swallowed then smiled. Michelle continued the move the wand around getting different angles, Addie continued to watch in awe, one moment you could see the baby's heart beating, its spine. Then back to its head, she was mesmerized. Finally Michelle put the wand down and started wiping her stomach with a tissue. She smiled down at her and asked, "Do you want me to make a copy on a dvd for you?"
Addie nodded her head and said, "Please."
"Great I'll send it up to your office. Dr. Williams should be back in shortly," Michelle left the room wheeling the ultrasound machine out with her. Addie lay there waiting for Sara to return, her mind was racing. Even though she had seen millions of ultrasounds they never had affected her so much. Oh my god thought it is real, she gently rested her hand on her stomach.
Dr. Williams reentered the exam room and held out her hand to help her into a sitting potion. "I looked over the ultrasound everything looks wonderful. I do not foresee any complications at this point. Of course in the fifth month we are going to want to do an amnio just as a precaution. That's it for this week; make an appointment with Barb on your way out for next month. Before you leave do you have any other questions?"
Addie smiled at Sara. "No questions I'm pretty sure I know what to be expecting at this point. Thank you Sara," she grinned at her doctor.
Sara grinned back, "Yeah I figured as much, I'll see back here in a month then." They shook hands and Sara exited the room.
Addison exited shortly after and made an appointment for next month.
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Derek knew Addison was going for a check up today; he waited until she was gone before finding the ultrasound tech. "Michelle," he smiled at her.
"Oh hi Dr. Shepherd is there something I can do for you?" she asked with a smile.
"Yeah Addison told me she was getting her ultrasound done today. I had a surgery schedule so I wasn't able to make the appointment, did she remember to ask you to make a copy for me?" Of course she had not told him about the appointment; he figured it out on his own.
"Oh she must have forgotten I did make her a copy just give me a minute and I'll make one for you too, if you like."
He smiled and nodded, "Thank you Michelle I'd really appreciate it."
He waited by the nurse's station trying to look busy, five minutes later Michelle returned with his copy. "Here you go Dr. Shepherd, you and Dr. Montgomery must be really excited. It's too bad you had surgery, I know Dr. Montgomery was pretty thrilled at seeing the ultrasound."
"Thank you Michelle I have to go check on a patient now. I'll see you around." DVD in hand Derek made a hasty retreat to his office.
In less then five minute he was seated behind his desk at his computer he opened the tray and dropped the disk in the tray and closed it. He clicked on play and sat mesmerized by the display. He reached out and touched the screen he had never seen anything so amazing in his life. It was finally starting to sink in; he was going to be a father.
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"Absolutely not!" Richard shouted he could not believe she was asking him to allow Isobel Stevens back in the program. "Why on earth would you want to have Isobel Stevens on your service?" he was fuming.
"Please Richard I know what she did was wrong and I fully understand where you are coming from but," she gnawed on her lower lip, "but I feel somewhat responsible for what happened."
Richard's mouth dropped open he wasn't expecting that, "Why on earth would you feel responsible?"
"Because I failed her," she said sincerely. "I tried to teach her the lesson, you and I both knew she got too close to her patients and I failed." She continued, "I feel like this whole mess is partly my responsibility. If I had done a better job this entire mess with Denny Duquette might never have happened."
Richard sat back in his chair steepled his fingers in front of him and studied the woman before him. If she thought she had failed Stevens then in some respect he must have failed her too. He had always had so much respect for Addison; she was probably his most favorite student he ever had, she was one person he always had a soft spot for. It was true that at times Isobel Stevens had in passing reminded him of Addison, but she had blown any chance for a real medical career. Hadn't she? He continued studying Addie; he knew how strongly she felt about Isobel, that she had wanted her on her service from the beginning. He had a number of questions though, had Stevens learned a lesson? Would she be at risk to do anything so phenomenally stupid again? Was she worth the risk? Obviously Addison thought she was worth that risk. His eyes narrow as he looked at Addison she looked up at him expectantly. "Okay," he said grumpily.
"Okay?" she said in amazed shock.
"Put her on your service," he said sternly. "BUT," he pointed his finger at her. "She is your responsibility; it is your ass on the line if she screws up again. Do you understand?"
"Yes, yes," she jumped from her seat hurried around the desk and hugged him. "Thank you, thank you Richard you are not going to regret this. I promise you."
"Have her call Patricia and set up an appointment with me tomorrow. I will discuss the terms of her internship and see if she is agreeable." He furrowed his brow, "Now get out of here before I change my mind."
She quickly stood up and headed for the door she paused before exiting. "Thank you Richard," she smiled and quickly left his office.
Richard put his elbows on his desk and put his head into his hands and shook his head. I sure hope she knows what she is doing he thought.
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"Are you serious?" Miranda stood in stunned shock before Addie. "You actually talked the chief into allowing Stevens on your service?" She shook her head, "I can not believe what I am hearing."
"Indeed I did," she nodded back at Miranda. "And I'm going to need your help. She is going to need you to be at your full fledge nazi best." She grinned at her, "Think you can manage that?"
"Oh you better believe I can manage that," she nodded at Addie a smile starting to form on her face. "It will be my pleasure to show that girl what the wrath of the nazi is truly like," she gave Addie a wicked grin.
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Addison sat in her office hand on the phone ready to call Izzie with the news. She picked up the phone and dialed leaning back in her chair waiting for Izzie to pick up.
"Hello," Izzie answered her phone.
"Izzie its Dr. Montgomery"
"Hi Dr. Montgomery," she said tentatively.
"Well it's done, I talked to the chief," she said with no emotion, wanting to hang on to the news for just a little longer.
"And?" Addie could hear the nervousness in her voice.
"From now on you are at my beckon call," she grinned into the phone.
"Seriously?" she couldn't contain her excitement.
"Seriously," she said with a nod. "Dr. Webber wants you to call his office and set up a meeting for tomorrow morning to go over the ground rules for your reinstatement."
"Oh my god Addison," she said excitedly. "I don't know how I am ever going to thank you," she squealed.
"You can thank me by becoming one of the best god damn neonatal doctors in the country, and by never pulling anything remotely like you did with Denny," she said firmly. "Because Izzie I'm laying my ass on the line for you, don't make me regret it."
"I promise I will not let you down." And she added, "Addison thank you for believing in me."
"You're welcome Izzie. I have to go now, but I'll see you tomorrow." She said with a more relaxed tone, "Now go celebrate, but not too much."
Izzie hung up the phone; she couldn't believe this was happening. She was going to get a second chance. She picked the receiver back up and quickly dialed the number to the hospital and asked to be connected with Dr. Webber's assistant. It only took a moment to schedule her appointment for nine a.m. the next morning. Now that her future seemed to be on the right track, there was only one thing to do; a smile appeared on her face as she thought.
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Addison walked up to the nurse's station and asked, "Is Dr. Sloan in with a patient?"
Mary nodded. "Yes he should be finishing up shortly." She tilted her head and asked, "I thought you had the day off?"
"I did," she smiled back, "But I had an afternoon appointment and then I had some urgent business to discuss with the chief."
"Oh?" Mary said with a raised brow.
"Yes," she said smiling back, "and it's a secret for now." She raised her finger to her lips and said, "Shhh everyone will find out soon enough."
Just then Mark exited his office following a young dark haired boy and a woman with dark curly hair who must have been his mother, his eyes lit up when he saw Addison standing by the desk. He turned to the woman shook her hand and said, "We will get started on Michael's treatment immediately. I've set up the first treatment for Friday at nine a.m.," he said as he handed her an appointment card.
"Thank you Dr. Sloan," she said taking the appointment card.
He nodded and said, "You're welcome." Then bend down to high five the young boy who appeared to be about six, he had a large red birthmark on the side of his face, "See you on Friday Mike."
The boy grinned up at him and said, "Yep see you on Friday Dr. Mark."
Mark turned and saw Addison leaning against the nurse's station desk and smiled, "Hey how did your appointment go, you had an ultrasound right?" he leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Everything is wonderful. I'm still a bit overwhelmed about the ultrasound; Michelle gave me a copy I'll show you later tonight. But right now I thought I'd try to interest you in some dinner. I have this uncontrollable craving for Mexican tonight. I really, really want some chicken enchiladas," she grinned at him.
He leaned back and looked her up and down narrowing his eyes and asked, "Are you sure your stomach is up for Mexican? Don't get me wrong I'm always happy to hold your hair back while you get sick, but you know I'd rather not tempt the fates," he grinned at her.
She lightly smacked his shoulder. "Oh stop it, I haven't been sick for three days and besides I really don't care I have to have chicken enchiladas."
"Ok Mexican it is," he grinned back at her. "Do you want to eat out or get delivery?"
"Delivery, your place or mine?"
"How about your place, since I really don't feel like cleaning up if you get sick," he smirked at her.
"Oh my god," her eyes widened she slugged him kind of hard on the shoulder. "Stop it," she feigned offence.
They both laughed as he wrapped his arm around her and said, "Come on lets get out of here."
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Meredith, Cristina, Alex, George and Callie entered the house they were on a mission to get Izzie to go out with them tonight. As they entered their senses were assaulted by the aromas of baked goods. They looked at each other and thought oh no; they had thought she was getting better.
"Uh oh," Alex said.
Callie looked confused, "What's with your house smelling like Betty Crocker exploded here?"
"Oh man, not again," said Cristina.
"Izzie," George called he entered the kitchen followed by the rest of the group; they all stopped at the door. The counters were piled high with an assortment of bake goods cookies, cakes, brownies, muffins. The blonde Betty Crocker had struck again.
"Are you okay? Did something happen?" Meredith asked worriedly.
"Every thing is fantastic!" Izzie squealed clutching her hands to her chest. "You will never guess what happened today!"
"Umm," the said in unison.
"I start back at the hospital tomorrow!" she exclaimed excitedly as she started to bounce up and down.
All their mouths hung open; they stared at Izzie looking stunned.
"Seriously?" Cristina managed to get out.
"Seriously," Izzie smiled back.
"How . . . how did that happen?" George asked.
"Addison," she smiled at them.
"Addison?" Meredith said puzzled.
"Yep, Addison Montgomery talked to Dr. Webber about getting me on her service," she said with a nod.
"Oh my god, when did that happen?" Cristina said still looking shocked.
"Why would Addison talk the Chief into letting you on her service?" Alex asked.
"She came into the bakery this morning," she smiled. "We got to talking about what's going on," she changed her train of thought, "Oh my god I can't believe she is pregnant with McDreamy's kid and they are divorced."
"Montgomery is pregnant?" Alex asked shocked, all the rest were in shock as well, but for Meredith who already knew.
Izzie nodded, "Yeah 12 weeks."
"Wow I didn't know that," George shook his head in surprise.
Meredith wanted to get Izzie to focus on the facts again so they could find out how Izzie managed to get accepted back into the program, "So why did Addison get you on her service?"
"Because I told her how much I missed being a doctor. So she told me she would talk to Dr. Webber and she did!" She beamed at them all, "Isn't that great?"
"Oh my god that is great," they all huddled around fighting for hugs.
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