my plan is to update once a week, much like the show. I will more than likely end up drawing this out until the actual season three.
I want to thank all of you for reading and reviewing. Please continue to do so.
Also, thanks to the fetching Kendel, for channeling her inner Callie. (heart you)
.3.
Collide
Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
I somehow find, you and I collide
-Howie Day
"Was that necessary?" Meredith asked. Izzie had lost it. It wasn't until she had cried herself numb that Addison, Chief and Bailey were able to control her. Chief had admitted Izzie with orders to sedate her. Izzie was now sleeping "peacefully."
"Yes, it was. When she is stable I will talk to her. I believe that it will be best if one of you takes a couple of days to stay with her," the Chief answered.
" I will," Meredith volunteered. The last place Meredith wanted to be was the hospital, especially with Derek and Derek's wife around. Meredith could feel Addison's eyes on her. She felt ill.
"We'll arrange everything. Karev, O'Malley, you may have to pick up an extra shift. I'll get another intern on board. Ackles has an intern I like. I'll steal Nessen from him," Bailey said. Alex and George nodded. "I need you all to start rounds. Dr. Shepherd, you are taking Izzie as your patient?"
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Grey, You'll be with me today. Karev, you're with Shepherd. O'Malley, I want you to do rounds on Burke's patients before I hand you over to Montgomery- Shepherd. Where's Yang?" Bailey inquired after handing out assignments. "O'Malley, tell her to see me after you are done with Burke."
The interns dispersed. George stopped by Callie's before his rounds.
"Hey, I wanted to thank you for this morning," he said.
"She's your family. It's the least I could do," Callie replied.
George pecked Callie on the cheek and smiled.
"Have lunch with me today?"
"Sure.
"O'Malley!" Burke grinned. "Finally, someone I wouldn't mind talking to. Have you seen Cristina?"
George shook his head. "I thought she was with you."
Burke's grin wavered. "Perhaps she went home to shower and change," George suggested. Burke nodded before engaging George in a discussion of their patients.
Cristina sat on the floor of the shower. She knew she was late. She really didn't care. She was a wreck. She closed her eyes and let the sobs take over. If she was going to break down she would break down in quiet. She needed to be strong for Burke and for herself. Like all great surgeons, she would cry on her time.
Meredith was proud of herself. She had successfully avoided Derek. Derek. It hurt to think about him. In fact, everything hurt her, but she did not regret walking away from Derek. Okay, so maybe she did it a little a bit, not enough though. Meredith had seen the look in Addison's eyes. It was similar to that of her own.
Finn was better though. Finn did not have a wife. Finn had plans. Finn had saved the last slice of cheesecake for her. Finn had offered to come over to cook for Meredith and her friends. Finn was an amazing guy. She could love Finn. Finn had plans.
Meredith sighed and laid her head against the wall. She was so damaged. She opened her eyes when the elevator opened.
Damn it. Derek Shepherd stepped into the elevator. Meredith closed her eyes again. She was going to ignore him and the reminiscence of his cologne. Finn smelled better, she told herself.
Derek stood straight. He kept his eyes on the door. Too bad their images were reflected back.
Both looked up when the door opened.
Dr. Callie Torres stepped on to the elevator between the two former lovers. She could not mask her disgust of the two. Derek bailed out before the doors closed. Callie and Meredith exchanged glances. Callie reached over and stopped the elevator.
Meredith looked at her oddly. "Callie-"
"Shut up, Meredith. And for the record, I'm not going to sugarcoat this just so you can feel like the wronged party here. I don't like you, Meredith. I get that you've had one crappy year, but I really don't care. I don't like you. What you did, it disgusts me. And not just what you've done with Mc Dreamy, but what you did to George. But it's not my place to judge you. I love George, and for some misguided reason that I can't even begin to understand, George loves you. You are his family. And because I love George, I'll keep my mouth shut. For George. And for Montgomery-Shepherd. But not for Mc Dreamy, and definitely not for you." Callie slammed her fist against the lever, restarting the elevator, "But unless you want this entire thing to explode in your face, I would tell your lover that he needs to come clean with his wife. And then you need to tell George, 'cause I'm not going to let you break him again. He all ready has enough to deal with. Izzie is in pieces and his best friend was shot. He doesn't need your pathetic drama added to it." With that said, Callie got off the elevator, leaving Meredith to herself.
"We have honey teriyaki chicken with ripe pineapple spears and black and white rice balls," George announced placing a plate in front of Burke.
"George, have I told you lately that I love you?" Burke replied.
"No, sir, but I don't think Cristina or Callie would take that well."
Burke chuckled. "Thank you, George. I needed that. And this." Burke savored his chicken.
"So, you and Dr. Torres…" Burke inquired. George smiled at his friend.
"Me and Dr. Torres…"
"Dr. Torres!" Burke greeted loudly. Callie smiled and entered the room.
"Dr. Burke, you are looking well."
"Thank you, Dr. Torres. Please call me, Preston. After all, you are dating my best friend."
"Preston," Callie repeated. She turned to look at George. "Lunch?"
"We are having lunch in. Lunch with Preston," George said, he stepped aside to revel a set up at the couch across from the bed.
The meal in front of her looked delicious.
"It's a favorite of mine and Burke's."
"It looks delicious."
"Sit! Sit!" Burke instructed. " So Callie, tell me about yourself…."
Cristina was relieved that her lunch break had finally arrived. She returned to the locker room to pick up the bag of stuff she had brought for Burke. From outside his door, she could hear the laughter of George, Burke, and Callie. She found herself slightly put off by it. She chose to shrug it off and pushed open the door.
"Cristina."
Cristina suddenly felt very awkward, a trait not normal in woman.
"Come, join us. George brought take out from Morimoto's," Preston encouraged. He scooted over so she could sit in the bed with him.
"IT smells great. I brought you some stuff from home," Cristina replied. She sat the bag down and unloaded the contents. She piled a few cds, two picture frames, a bible, an I pod, and an I pod doc on his bed side table. " I also called your mother. She and your brother will be flying out Thursday. Your Aunt Sicily will be watching the restaurant."
"You called my mother?" Burke repeated.
"Well, she called and I talked to her. She was concerned that you didn't call her on Sunday."
Burke smiled. "Perfect. You will finally meet my mother."
Cristina managed a pathetic excuse of a smile. Lunch was not going to be finished fast enough.
"His mother is coming," Cristina said to Meredith as they walked down the hall to check on Izzie.
"I did a terrible thing."
"I've been avoiding Burke."
"I slept with Derek."
"You win this time."
"I wish I didn't"
Cristina sighed. She grabbed Meredith by the arm and pulled her into the nearest stairwell.
"I am only going to say this once. GET OVER IT. Mere, you were into the vet before mc dreamy started with the eyes again. There are bigger things than you and Shepherd. Burke may never operate again. Izzie may never be Izzie again. Your problems are nothing compared to others. You're 30 years old. Get over it." Cristina pushed past Meredith and stomped out the door. Cristina was right. Her problems were minuscule compared to the ocean those around her were drowning in.
