Chapter 13: Dude is Toast

Meredith's Point-of-View

"You're looking tired this morning." My mother greeted me right after rounds, "Up late with an oncology patient?"

I rolled my eyes and sighed, "I was monitoring his urine output."

"Oh, right and let me guess it's just fine."

"Actually, I'm concerned." I sighed, "He isn't putting out as much as he is taking in. He puts it off until he is in pain. I know that, not just because I am one of his doctors, but because I have spent more than a minute in his room noticing his facial expressions. That, mother, is called being a human. Much the opposite of your robotic method."

She pursed her lips and inhaled sharply; I knew that meant she was pissed but cared too much about her dignity to verbally ream me in the middle of the hallway.

"I care about my patients."

"Well, I think he needs a CT."

"Then get him a CT." she breathed.

"I apologize for being late Dr. Grey." Alex breezed up behind me, "What did I miss?"

"You missed possible OR time Dr. Karev." She barked, "You'll be lucky if that changes any time soon. Surgeons who are tardy for their work lose patients, and losing patients looks bad on the hospital, if you want to work in a place that is alright with lots of dead people, go work in a morgue."

"I apologize," Alex stuttered, "Please, give me a way to make it up."

She pinched her brow in thought and let out a sigh through her flared nostrils, "Help Meredith with her oncology patient. Do a good job and you might be allowed in the gallery."

"What?!" I gasped "No I..no Alex can't help me, I mean he, I don't need his help. It's just a little CT. He's my patient, and he's used to me."

"Well, your patient is at one of the top three hospitals in the country and he is fighting a disease that will put him in the hands of many doctors. So, use Dr. Karev to teach him that you won't be the only face he'll see before he leaves here."

Before I could say more, she turned and stormed off. I let out a groaning sigh as I flashed Alex a glare. God, could the guy be on time for once in his career? Did he not realize that he was a surgeon.

"So, what's your deal with this secret patient guy?" He asked, following me along like a lost puppy dog, "Are you trying to hide some history making surgery inside him?"

"No." I muttered, "he's just a patient that I've taken special interest in, and I don't want anyone screwing anything up."

"Is that girl code for you have a huge crush on this guy and you don't want anyone finding out about it."

"Alex." I hissed as I stopped outside Derek's room, "This guy has been through hell. He's been crawling through it on his hands and knees for the last 10 years and is begging for death. He's not the guy that deserves to die. He's an asset to society, a huge freaking asset to society, so we cannot let him die. At this point, the only thing that will save him is his will to live. If you do anything that will in any way inhibit his desire to live, I will seriously go scalpel happy all over your ass."

I straightened up and sucked in a deep breath as I left him to ponder my threat.

"Wow, Izzie wasn't kidding. You really have a thing for this guy."

"Just shut up and stand back." I muttered, "You get to hug the wall today."

I rolled my eyes and turned around and put on a smile as I opened the door. Derek looked up at me and his face lit up, I can't say mine didn't do the same I just turned to make sure Alex couldn't see it.

"Mr. Shepherd." I smiled, "How are we this morning?"

"Much better now that my favorite intern is here."

"I know I'm not your type, but I'm just as good as her." Alex mumbled.

"Alex." I hissed, "Wall."

"Alex?" Derek asked, "As in Karev?"

"You've heard of me?" Alex stated pompously, "He's heard of me."

"Yeah, I've heard." Derek snickered "I've heard that you've spent more time in on-call rooms screwing nurses than you have sleeping. I've heard that you misdiagnosed patients and almost killed a few because of it."

"Double-O-Seven here almost killed a guy." He defended.

"At least her guy almost went in an OR, already fast asleep." Derek scoffed, "As opposed to writhing in pain for hours with no progress because their doctor is too busy to check up on them."

Ouch. I heard Alex cower back and shut up behind me. I mouthed the words 'thank you' to Derek and got a subtle wink back.

"So, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company this morning?"

"I." I said, Alex cleared his throat, I rolled my eyes "We are here to take you for a CT."

"But I'm fine."

"I beg to differ." I argued. "There was blood in your urine this morning, and your urine output has decreased, you're also asking for more morphine by the hour. So, I'd say you're not fine."

"I have a painful disease Meredith, it puts me in pain from time to time. I'm telling you, I'm fine."

"Then, your CT results will come out perfectly." I smiled, he scowled, "So, your showboat awaits."

I pushed forward a wheelchair and he gave me a sigh of defeat before the sparkle returned to his eyes.

"Don't get me all excited." He said while climbing into the chair "Unless the show involves you in a sequin bikini dancing on the CT table, I don't see how it'll amuse me."

My cheeks burned and my eyes widened as I bit my lip to keep from hissing profanities at him. He chuckled as if he knew that.

"You are so going to pay for that." I whispered as I unlocked the wheels.

"I expect a big punishment." He mumbled back.

I turned around, pushing Derek and glanced at Alex, hoping he hadn't heard that remark…the rise of his eyebrow told me he did. Shit! I pushed him out the door, avoiding eye contact with Alex, which probably made matters worse. I didn't have it in me to defend my position in front of Derek.

"I can stand on my own." He said as I stopped in the CT room and offered him my hand.

"Dude it's for liability." Alex snarked, "Besides you look like you're about to kill over."

"Alex!" I hissed, seriously what was his fucking issue?

"How many times did it take you to pass your board exams, Dr. Karev?" Derek asked as he pushed himself up out of the chair. I couldn't look past the pain in his face, "I'm guessing more than once, especially with that bedside manner."

Alex gave me a 'what the hell' expression, I shrugged and turned to Derek.

"I'm sorry about that." I sighed, "Do you want me to hold onto your hat for you?"

"No, I'm keeping it on." He smiled.

"Seriously?" I giggled, "Your head is going to rot off if you don't take that thing off. It's not that special."

"It is to me." He mumbled, "Besides, I'm keeping it on until my hair grows back. So, it'll be a big reveal."

I giggled and rolled my eyes, "Whatever you say." I sighed as I reached for the button that would push him into the machine, "You know the drill."

"Try not to make any sudden movements."

"Exactly."

I turned and went back to the viewing room where Alex was standing there looking pensive and pissed off.

"I don't like that guy." He growled.

"Yeah well he doesn't seem to like you much either." I sighed as I jotted a few things down on his chart.

"He seems to like you a lot, or you like him a lot." He noted, I clenched my jaw "Is what Izzie teases you about true? Because if you think the way I treat patients is wrong…"

"I think that the way I treat my patients is none of your damn business, Alex." I hissed, "I haven't broken any rules, or gone against any ethics. For the record, I did pass my exams the first time."

"So, I screwed up on one part of the exam!" he defended, "Big fucking deal."

"It is a big deal." I sighed "It's a big deal when you've got your pompous ass hands all over my patient, I've worked my ass off on this case, and I'm not about to let you ruin it."

"I can't get my pompous ass hands all over him Meredith, you're too busy with your hands all over him for any of us to get near him!"

"Doctors!" the x-ray tech shouted to get our attention. Good thing too, I was about to take a swing at his ass.

I took a breath as the image came up on the screen and I instantly felt sick.

"Oh god." I whispered.

Alex snickered once.

"Dude is toast."