Other Side of the World:.
Disclaimer:. Shonda Rhimes is my God.
Summary:. Even when you feel like the world around you is being turned upside down, you wait for something to get better. You pray that you'll be granted a second chance, or the ability to turn back time. And when the worst happens, you deal with it. Because no matter what, life goes on.
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The midnight sky unleashed its wrath on Seattle, letting the wind roar as it struck the sides of towering buildings. Destructive downpours materialized out of practically nowhere, coming at random intervals. The atmosphere howled as it crashed against the frames of cars that seemed to be racing against time. One of these cars happened to contain a hysterical girl, disoriented man, and a reckless driver. What an outstanding combination...
While the streets of Seattle were overflowing due to the mass amount of traffic, also combined with the drenching rain, a cellular phone began frantically ringing inside of Cristina and Burke's apartment. It continued to sound for the next thirty seconds or so, and then a recording came on, with a woman's voice stating some information.
Then there was a 'beep'.
Someone on the other line was breathing heavily, their throat croaking with every hushed tone.
"Cristina," a voice recited. "It's me... George. I-I need you to call me as soon as you get this. As- as soon as possible."
There were muffled sounds of crying in the background, and the awful vibration from an evidently bumpy car ride rattled into the speaker as well.
"Cristina, please call. I-I'm not sure what's really going on. Something's wrong wi-with Meredith," he announced, then spoke in a hushed whisper to someone else. "Maybe you know... because I don't. And things, they aren't right.
"Which airport!" someone shrieked from far away.
"I need to go," George finished.
There, in the desolate bedroom, the phone beeped again, and the screen read in small, digital letters:
ONE NEW MESS.
George
9:57 p.m.
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Surrounded by hundreds of other bustling people, Derek and Addison shoved their way through Seattle Tacoma International Airport, attempting to find their flight. Once they finally approached their boarding area, both of their weighted bodies collapsed onto a bench, suitcases plummeting to the ground.
"How much time do we have?" Addison asked, turning to Derek's hunched physique.
"I don't know."
"Check your watch," she ordered, agitated.
"Check the clock."
She groaned, "God, Derek! What is with you tonight? I know you're probably tired from work, and maybe a little stressed about the move, but let's try and act civil here."
"Stop complaining, at least I'm coming," he sulked.
"Fine. I'm going to go to the restroom, and then I'm grabbing a latte. Be back soon, honey," she reported, stressing the last word.
"Go ahead. I'll just wait... here."
"Where else would you go?" she smiled, before dipping over his head and whispering, "Just try to make the best of this. For me."
"Sure," he replied, with as much enthusiasm as he could muster.
It's always for her, he thought, watching her overly dramatic hips sway towards the restroom.
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Callie's mouth hung open as she sat across from Izzie.
"Crazy... that's just so, unreal," she managed to choke out.
Izzie sighed, "Yea. Life's a bitch, huh?"
They sat there, glancing at their nails, twirling their hair, until Izzie spoke,
"But, I mean... the vet's a nice guy, right? Has Meredith told you about him? I think his name's, ummm... Finn or something."
Callie looked bewildered, "Yea, but I guess you won't be seeing any more of him. Poor guy."
"I doubt it, he seems pretty considerate to me..."
"But, what about Derek?"
"What about Derek?"
They examined each other for a few seconds, eyes piercing, until they both declared,
"What are you talking about?"
Callie answered first, "Derek and Meredith's little shenanigan in the exam room... don't you remember? It was only two or three weeks ago. At prom..."
"Uhh, what?"
"Are you kidding? You mean, she didn't tell you about it?" Callie said, mostly to herself.
"You mean, she told you?"
Callie paused, "I don't think she told anyone..."
"Then how did you..."
"Long story short, I walked in on them. They were kind of finishing up."
"Ohh..." Izzie breathed.
"Yea, you were busy with Denny and everyth.." she suddenly caught herself. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have..."
"No, really. It's fine," Izzie reassured her. "So, you're saying that..."
"Derek," Callie divulged.
"Oh my god, now I understand..."
"Why she was freaking out," Callie finished. "Yea, it makes sense. But, didn't she know that he was leaving for a while now. How come she just..."
"Snapped?" Izzie answered. "Something tells me that Meredith hadn't really come to terms with the fact that he was moving. She tends to do that sometimes... put her problems aside and try to forget about them."
"I noticed, after all of this."
"Yea."
There was an awkward silence, "So, I guess we get along better than I thought we did."
"Yea, strange, huh?" Izzie remarked.
"Not so much," Callie responded. "I'm still trying to get a grip on this whole situation."
Izzie gazed at the window, "Yea, me too."
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The joyous couple paraded into the bedroom, Cristina carrying her shoes in hand, and Burke with his suit jacket. After depositing her Jimmy Choos into the open closet, Cristina continued towards the dresser, where she quickly began removing her makeup. It wasn't until she had finished that she noticed the blinking, red light on her cell phone.
"Hey, George called," she announced.
Burke looked up from the chair where he was untying his shoes, "Great. Haven't heard from him in a while."
She gave a small smile as she began to listen to his message. After a few seconds had passed, though, an anxious look dawned on her previously glowing face, and her eyebrows crunched into pure shock.
Without hearing the rest of George's ramblings, Cristina clicked the phone shut and stared directly across the room at Burke. He immediately sensed that something was astray.
Standing up, he pursued, "What's going on? That look says a thousand words..."
"We're leaving, now," she stammered, quickly turning away and stepping into a pair of slides.
"Okay, but where are we going? What did George say?"
"He didn't say much, but his tone clearly meant that his panic level was on 'high'. We need to get to Meredith's, because as of now, I have no idea where they are," she explained quickly, grabbing a jacket and guiding him out the door.
"They?"
"Meredith is most definitely freaking out, and George was acting like... I don't know, George. He was completely clueless."
"What's going on with Meredith; has she mentioned anything to you? You must know, you're her closest friend," Burke questioned.
Cristina paused, "In fact, I know nothing at all."
After they hopped into the car, and began the drive to Meredith's house, Cristina listened to the message once again. Closely, she let the cluttered background noises fill her ears.
"Damn," she spoke.
"What?" Burke asked peering away from the road.
"Why in hell would they be going to an airport?"
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The reckless trio scrambled through the crowded airport, Alex and George leading with Meredith struggling in their grasp. They looked like the Three Musketeers. Except anxious, disarranged, and without the cheesy, eighteenth century attire.
"Coming through, coming through!" George commanded, hoping to part the mass of people. "We are losing precious time!"
Alex grumbled, "Yea, what time is it again?"
George halted in the middle of the airport, "Hang on, lemme check..."
"Forget I asked," Alex said, grabbing Meredith's arm once again and pulling her forward.
They continued like this for the next few minutes. Bystanders were watching with looks of complete awe on their faces, others were diving out of their way to avoid being trampled.
"Meredith, start looking for the New York flight," Alex ordered, as they bustled past dozens of boarding areas.
"What time is their flight again?" George asked.
Meredith remained silent.
"She's awfully quiet," George spoke softly, directing his comment towards Alex.
"She's paranoid," Alex stated.
"You're pathetic; let's just find Derek."
"Meredith, why are you being so mute?" Alex asked.
"Leave her alone!" George shouted.
"Okay, don't go all defensive on me..."
Meredith's labored breaths broke the newfound silence, "I don't think I can walk any longer..."
"You've got to be kidding me," Alex muttered. "We came all this way for you, and now you can't even walk? What are we going to do...?"
George stopped, thinking, "Let's carry her."
Alex laughed, "Great, cause more of a scene... sounds good to me!"
"I thought you liked attention?"
"Of course, just not... god, never mind," Alex finished, scooping a drowsy Meredith into his arms.
They set out again, George advancing to the front, while Alex carried Meredith behind him.
George glanced back, "You okay, Meredith?"
"She's fine, George. Just find the flight before he leaves!" Alex yelled, hoisting Meredith higher.
George pointed frantically, "There! New York, 10:30! Hurry, I don't think we have much time..."
"Really," Alex sarcastically replied.
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Derek stifled a yawn as he watched Addison briskly showing their boarding passes to the attendant. His mind was being swarmed with images of Meredith, memories of Meredith... Meredith. He could picture her porcelain face right after waking up from an eventful night, his arms wrapped around her waist as if claiming that she was his. How was he ever going to let those feelings go? How was he going to recover after experiencing the painful process of leaving his soul mate? How was he going to live again?
"Derek," Addison sang, beckoning him to follow her into the passage.
He turned around one last time, surveying the Seattle airport. Sure, it wasn't as if he was looking at a place that held very many memories, but for some reason, he felt like he was taking one last glance at everything and everyone that had been part of his life. His new life. The life that he wished he could hold onto forever, and now had to make disappear, like a classic magic trick.
Except there was no magic. Because if there was, then he would have vanished from that very spot and reappeared next to Meredith, wherever she was.
"You coming or not? The plane isn't going to wait, you know," Addison shouted as she continued to walk faster, her high heels making a deadened clank against the carpeted hallway.
Derek trailed behind, like a reluctant dog. Out of nowhere, he heard a quiet shout,
"Derek!"
Instantaneously, his head dislocated from his neck, trying endlessly to turn back towards the entrance.
"Derek, wait!" the voice cried again, desperation peaking.
It almost sounded like... no, that couldn't be. His mind was playing games with him again.
"I'm done waiting," Derek whispered to himself, and his footsteps echoed throughout the passage, steadily becoming softer as he walked farther away from the one person he was trying to find.
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"No. He can't leave," she uttered. "He can't."
"Uhh, I think he just did," Alex commented.
"Shut up! God, would it kill you to keep your damn mouth shut for more than a minute?" George retaliated.
"Ohhh, George finally becomes a man! What's next, gonna take a punch at me?" Alex snickered.
"I'm thinking about it."
Alex smiled, "Well, you keep on thinking about it. Meanwhile, I'm going to go help Meredith, which is what a good friend would do."
George hesitated as he watched Alex turn and accompany Meredith who was huddling alone on a bench.
"God, I hate him," George muttered, then went to join them.
As he journeyed over, his eyes continued to burn like a pair of pistols, and it looked like any second, the triggers were about to release.
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Hinges groaned against metal framework as Izzie gradually opened the front door. Cristina stood, waiting impatiently, with Burke still as a statue beside her.
"Cristina, thank god you're here," Izzie gasped.
The pair made their way inside the house, dropping their coats onto the rack.
"We came as soon as possible," Cristina explained. "Would've been here sooner, but listening to George's message delayed us a little. Trying to understand it took even longer…"
Burke spoke up, "Yea, where is O' Malley anyway?"
"Car, airport… who knows by now," Callie answered, walking into the entryway.
"Oh, Callie. Nice to see you," Cristina forced a smile.
"Cristina, Doctor Burke," Callie nodded.
Stillness ensued, while the apprehension grew steadily by the second. It seemed as if everyone knew something, but was too afraid to open their mouth, incase the secrets began spill. They all had something to hide.
When the clock struck 10:30, and the bell began to ding, Izzie lost her edge,
"Derek's leaving for New York tonight!"
"Are you kidding? We have to do something!" Cristina yelled.
Burke sighed, "Always finds a way to ruin my plans. Sheppard always comes first..."
"Well, I'm terribly sorry that we don't have time for your plans right now, Burke," Cristina quarreled.
"Then I guess you wouldn't care to know that I was planning on giving you a proposal tonight, would you?" Burke shouted, instantly regretting what he had let slip.
"Oh my god," both Cristina and Izzie breathed.
"Burke, how did you… when did you…?" Cristina began.
"Damnit, I was going to surprise you," he cursed, raking his good hand through his hair.
"Okay, now is not the time. You guys can talk about this later," Izzie ordered. "We have more important things to deal with, like Meredith."
"What about Meredith? Maybe you wouldn't mind telling us what's going on here?" Cristina barked.
"She's pregnant, for starters," Callie said off-hand.
Cristina's nostrils flared with anger, "What did you say?"
"Callie!" Izzie roared, her face dangerously close to the other woman's. "This was supposed to stay a secret…"
Callie shrugged, "Everyone else was letting things slip. Besides, it was bound to come out sooner or later…"
"So, Grey's pregnant. That complicates things a bit," Burke said.
"A bit?" Cristina replied, "A bit? Ughh, I swear to God when I get my hands on that man, he is going to be hanging from the roof of Seattle Grace!"
"Isn't he leaving for New York right about now?" Callie stated.
"Fine. He'll be hanging off of the Empire State Building, happy?"
"Okay, I think that we should all sit down and think about this situation calmly and rationally," Burke suggested, emphasizing this to Cristina.
"Sit down, Burke? There is no time for sitting, there is barely enough time for standing around and arguing! I am sick of listening to you all with your 'let's have a chat about the many problems we are currently experiencing in life' crap! We need to do something, now!" Cristina demanded.
"Hey, is she okay? Her eye is kinda twitching…" Callie whispered to Izzie.
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George held a sobbing Meredith in his arms, while Alex cradled her head. Passerbies were watching intently, but the three honestly didn't care. They had come all this way for nothing.
"I c-can't believe he act-tualy left," Meredith managed between broken cries.
"Bastard!" Alex yelled in frustration.
A man stopped and looked him square in the eye.
"Sorry, not you, sir," Alex mumbled.
For a split second, Meredith almost suppressed a laugh, but before long her face returned to its solemn, forlorn expression.
"Hey, you still haven't explained why you were so upset earlier," George said.
"I think it was pretty obvious, George," Alex stated. "She's upset because McDreamy is going to New York to reassess his life with the 'She-Sheppard'. He's finally out of her life."
"Umm hmm," Meredith mumbled incoherently. "He's gone."
"Well, Mere, you know that we'll all be here to help you through this. It's gonna be tough for a while, but… we're your family," George reassured her.
"No one c-can help me now," she sobbed, tears leaking onto the plastic bench.
"Don't say that, Meredith," Alex tried to console, "You're a strong person, and I know that you can handle this."
"Wow, Alex. Nice words," George smiled.
"Shut it, Bambi. Don't make me sound like a poet or anything."
With a team effort, they struggled to pull Meredith off of the bench which she was hopelessly clinging onto, and finally managed to escort her out of the airport.
Alex cast a glance down into her blue-green eyes, which were still swimming with unshed tears. The Meredith that he saw was unlike any other he had seen. She was broken. Demolished. Her heart was shattered, her fragile mind had convulsed, and her body trembled uncontrollably. And he was sure that no surgery, or comforting words could fix or repair her. She had obviously gone beyond the point of no return, but Alex couldn't figure out why…
And Alex didn't like the feeling of not knowing something.
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sorry for taking such a long time to update... it takes a while to write each chapter, considering i only have about 15-20 minutes a day to contribute. plus, i like to have each chapter equal an estimated 2,000 words, so that slows me down a lot. anyway, please do me a HUGE favor and click that purple button... you know you want to wink wink