Chapter 11: 'And I Swore I Was Listening'
Meredith had been at work since six and had been in OR 3 for a while because she was allowing one of this years interns' to do the appendectomy. His body was nervous, but his hands were steady and whenever Meredith saw an intern master something basic, she remembered when she mastered the basics in her first year.
"Just invert the caecum and be sure not to break the stitch…" the intern, Damien Taylor did as Meredith instructed, and looked at Meredith with triumph.
"Good. Well done. Would you like to close her up?" Damien Taylor nodded, and Meredith relaxed, allowing Damien Taylor full space to complete the routine procedure, which would become a milestone to him from now on.
"Thankyou Dr. Taylor," said Meredith, in the scrub room. "You did very well."
"Thankyou Dr Grey. That was amazing. Really. Let me take you for a drink tonight, hey? At the place across the road. Go on." Meredith raised her eyebrows sceptically.
"Seriously? Dr. Taylor I'm your boss. And I'm much older than you. And I'm engaged." Damien Taylor grabbed her left hand and examined her fingers.
"You have nice fingers though, Dr. Grey. And no ring." She pulled her hand back.
"Seriously Damien, take it from someone who knows. Don't even try to start anything with anyone from work. Just go and find yourself a nice…teacher, or something, okay?" Damien looked quizzically at Meredith, as there was a knock on the scrub door. The door opened.
"Hello, Dr. Taylor. Dr. Grey." It was Derek. Meredith's eyes lit up and she turned off the tap and walked over to Derek. He kissed her on the cheek. Damien Taylor looked at the two of them and Meredith winked at him.
"Ohhh," said Damien. "I understand you now, Dr. Grey." Meredith nodded.
"I'm glad, Dr. Taylor. Be sure you follow it up now." Dr. Taylor laughed, and went to leave the scrub room.
"Wait…Dr. Shepherd?"
"Yes?"
"You better put on a ring on her freaking finger." Meredith laughed.
- - -
Meredith was sitting in the tearoom browsing catalogues, and googling stuff on her laptop. She was on-call, and was planning to arrange a trip to Derek's family. She sent his sister's an email, though she felt apprehensive about it. Of course she'd spoken to them on the phone before, but meeting them, Derek's family, was a scary prospect for her. All she wanted was to impress them. Derek meant the world to her. It was quiet, but the tapping of her tiny fingers over the keyboard, and the occasional sip from her drinking her coffee, when the tea room door clicked open. Meredith looked up.
"Is Dr. Shepherd in here?" enquired a voice.
"No," said Meredith, surveying the woman who stood in the doorway. She had two little girls standing on either side of her. "Oh. You must be Lucy! His sister. Meredith Grey." Meredith got up and offered her hand to Derek's sister. Although Lucy's hair was a strawberry blonde colour, she had very similar features to Derek. They were definitely brother and sister.
"Oh my, you're Meredith! Derek's Meredith! I've been waiting to meet you!" Lucy looked happy, and Meredith's nerves settled slightly. Derek's Meredith.
"And these are Lila and Rachel, I suppose?" Lucy nodded. The girls nodded too.
"So where is Derek?" asked Lucy. "The girls are having their liver biopsy. I just can't believe Addison has a daughter. Derek has a daughter!" Lucy was evidently nervous.
"Tell you what," said Meredith. "I think Derek is in a surgery." He was, an emergency craniotomy. "I'll do the biopsy if you'd like. I'll page Derek anyway."
"Oh thankyou," said Lucy. "I'm a little nervous." Meredith nodded understandingly. "It's a very simple procedure," she explained to Lucy, Lila and Rachel. They all nodded and Meredith smiled slightly. She could do something for Derek's sister. She didn't feel completely helpless.
- - -
Derek entered the tearoom a few hours later.
"Hey, everyone!" he came in and kissed Lucy's cheek, and then kissed Meredith's cheek.
"Uncle Derek!" Lila and Rachel ran forward and threw their arms around Derek's waist. He hugged them back.
"Der, you're quite the man with kids now. What happened? You used to be so…not cold, what's the word? Nonchalant."
"Well," said Derek. "You know how Seattle brings with it lots of surprises?" Lucy crossed her arms. Derek was her little brother and despite his uncanny knack for saving lives and operating on brains and the like, she knew he was not the best when it came to personal issues. She looked at him mock condescendingly, and waited.
"After Addison and I left for New York eight years ago, I didn't realise and no one told me," he looked at Meredith beseechingly, but she was laughing slightly, enjoying the show. "Umm Meredith was pregnant…" Lucy's stare was unfaltering. "With my child."
Lucy laughed. "I should be surprised, right? That should be surprising hey?" She looked at Meredith for confirmation. Lucy slapped Derek lightly on the shoulder. "You gotta take some responsibility." Derek nodded, and Meredith raised her eyebrows.
"Yes," said Lucy, "Something he's always preaching. Derek, Lila and Rachel got tested okay? But don't you dare think they're undergoing transplant surgery because you were stupid enough to impregnate two women at the same time, okay?" she took Lila and Rachel's hands, and led them out the room. She stuck her head back in. "No offence, Meredith, by the way. I can't wait to meet Cassy."
A/N: Ok guys. It's been a while since I've updated but I think Best Imitation of Myself is drawing to a close. It hasn't decided yet but it's winding down after a few chapters. So please read and review anyway and forgive my slackness! Xox Mystical Faeries