Obligatory disclaimer: sadly, Grey's Anatomy is property of Shonda Rhimes and ABC, not me.
A/N: So, so sorry for the wait! I know it's been a month but I plead the fifth (sweet sixteen + ISUs + cpu/internet issues) so please don't kill me. Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to anyone who's amazing enough to stick around! I got a new laptop though so my technical difficulties should be over. I present to you... my 2000 word apology gift.
The last week and a half could only be described as a whirlwind for anyone visiting or living at the Grey house. There had been contractors and energy auditors in and out as Meredith made further plans for the changes she was making to her mother's house. Addison, Molly, Callie and occasionally Lexie had been helping Meredith deal with the people and appointments while she had to be at work. As annoying as it was to have to deal with people on her days off, Addison was excited for the end result. Meredith had decided to have the entire basement redone and the main floor was going to be ripped out as well, among other things, since it was less modern than the upstairs and leaked valuable heat. Addison had offered to help pay for the renovations but Meredith had put her foot down straight away.
"Meredith, let me help pay for some of this," Addison asked for what she was sure was the millionth time. "I'm living here too, it's the least I can do. Besides, I'm an attending and I come from money, I just... don't want you to find yourself lacking."
Meredith ignored her petition as usual. "Look Addie I do appreciate it, but I can afford this. When my mother died she left me millions of dollars, not to mention my own trust fund that has been in a high-interest savings account since I was 7 and she decided I could handle them. I went to private schools in Boston and a boarding school in Europe before I went to Dartmouth for undergrad and med school. I was taught how to 'be a lady' and handle my finances, just as you were. I don't have debt; I make thousands of dollars a week from tenants on various properties my mother owned and rented out around the world." She stood and walked over to the window, arms crossed around her chest with her back to Addison. "I can take care of myself; I don't need your money. I'm not a regular intern."
Addison had to smile wryly at that- there was nothing ordinary about Meredith Grey. Putting her coffee mug down she moved to stand next to Meredith. "I'm sorry Mer, I don't mean to insult you. I just want to help."
Meredith had whispered, "I know. I'm sorry for being so vocal."
Addison squeezed her shoulder. "Don't apologize for saying what's on your mind Mer, I want to know what you're thinking."
The teasing smile that Addison loved came back at that. "Really? Even if I'm thinking porny thoughts about our mutual ex?"
Addison scrunched her nose in disgust and whacked her on the arm. "Well maybe not that... ugh, Mer! Unnecessary images... you need to get him out of your head."
"I know, I'm trying."
There was a pause where the two just stood looking out the window, Addison's hand on Meredith's shoulder, before Mer broke the silence.
"Can you come look at paint samples with me? I can't decide for the living room."
Laughing, the two had left and spent the rest of their rare joint afternoon off looking at renovation supplies.
There had been a lot of bonding time and Addison felt as if she was becoming part of a family for the first time since she came out to Seattle. Before it felt like she was being tolerated but now it felt like home. Granted, it was dysfunctional. There was Molly and baby Laura, Lexie, Callie, George and surprisingly Mark and Alex. No one was sure when the last two had wormed their way in but they had and were growing on everyone. She couldn't help but feel guilty that Meredith's distance from Izzie and Cristina was caused mostly by her appearance. Meredith had taken a new kick ass stance on the treatment of her friends and unless the ribbing was playful you got into shit for it, regardless of who it was aimed at. While it was a little bit scary, it was also very, very hot.
At the hospital there was a lot of gossip about Meredith and Derek's breakup, his return and her current rotation schedule. Meredith was no longer exclusively Addison, Mark, Miranda's and Burke's- Dr. Nelson, another neuro attending, had agreed to take Meredith under his wing. This allowed her to get the neuro experience she needed in an environment she could work in. She had become fast friends with Amber, Stephanie and their friend Jasmin, three interns who she had never really spoken to before but now worked with because of the mixed rotation. Interns usually formed friendships by resident and Amber and Stephanie were under Dr. Weller, a man who treated his interns and only his with respect. Thankfully for Meredith, he was nice to her largely for her name but also for the talent she displayed as a surgeon. Needless to say her relationship with Cristina and Izzie had regressed even further when she started eating with the other interns a few times a week.
Meredith was at a loss for what to do. She missed Cristina but at the same time she loved her new friends and family. Sometimes when she needed someone to go get drunk with after she wished it was Cristina instead of Addison, Callie or the Terror Twins (Amber and Stephanie) who were all great company but lacked the same understanding that Cristina had of her dark and twisty side. She was too proud to apologize for branching out when she had only done things to improve her quality of happiness and decided to wait for them to come to her. Izzie had cracked first, about 4 days after hearing Alex's opinion. She had knocked on the door with a basket full of muffins and two full of other various goodies, including a chocolate cake. Meredith had laughed, shaken her head and allowed Izzie into the house where Izzie had hugged her and apologized. Now Meredith was just waiting to see about Cristina.
She could feel her relationship with Addison changing too. They were becoming closer and Meredith loved the time they were spending together. She didn't care that they were Satan and the dirty mistress in the eyes of the gossiping nurses; they were just Meredith and Addison when they were together. Addison provided a security that she had never felt before, especially not with Derek. One of the perks about being the daughter of a world-class surgeon and living with another was that she had her mother's exam study notes and Addison's brain. Originally she hadn't wanted to ask Addison help in studying for her exam but Addison had made it clear that she was going to help her study whether she liked it or not. Lately Mer had come to cherish times like this, where the two were curled up on the couch in the living room while Addison quizzed Meredith in preparation for the exam in a week.
If she didn't lie to herself, she was seriously freaking out over the exam. It was one of the biggest in her career and even though Addie assured her that she would pass with flying colours she couldn't help but feel chronically unprepared. When she spoke to the other interns in her circle of friends she found they all felt the same, whether they wanted to admit it or not. On top of that, Cristina and Burke's wedding was the day after the exam and she was still expected to be the maid of honour- the dresses had been done weeks ago and there wasn't anyone else to take her place. Burke had been telling her anything she needed to know. Then there was Susan, who was a lovely woman but had been convinced by Molly and Lexie to go to the clinic at Seattle Grace for her hiccups. Dr. Bailey had scheduled an out-patient treatment for them today and as far as she had heard from Lexie, Susan was resting at home.
The last thing she had been expecting during her shift in the pit the next day was a 911 trauma page that ended up being about Susan. She had been outside waiting for the ambulance and her insides froze when she heard the EMT's voice saying, "Susan Grey, 56 year old female who is experiencing extreme discomfort, high fever, decreased mental awareness and problems breathing."
Meredith looked at Dr. Bailey, nodded to show that she was fine and turned to the paramedic, grabbing the gurney. "Thanks Sam, we've got it from here."
Lexie climbed out after Susan. "Mer! I've just called Molly, she's on her way here. What's wrong? Is it sepsis? I remember reading about it last semester but it's my mom Mer, she can't have that because it would be advanced with all these advanced symptoms, right? And her abdomen is really tender, she was telling me that this morning."
She looked back and forth between Meredith and Dr. Bailey, terrified. Dr. Bailey spoke up. "Miss-"
"Grey, Lexie Grey. I'm starting my internship here in 3 weeks."
"Alright then, Doctor Grey. Your mother does seem to have sepsis and I'm sure you remember that it is a common risk after any surgery and that's why your mother was due back here today for a check up. She will need immediate surgery so if you could sign the consent forms... do you hold her medical power of attorney?"
Lexie shook her head. "No, Molly does. She changed it last week in case something happened to my dad. She's on her way right now."
Meredith interrupted. "Actually Lex, she didn't get a chance to change it. She told me yesterday when I asked while filling out her chart that Thatcher still held it. He needs to be called."
Dr. Bailey nodded. "Right then people, let's move. Meredith, call the one with MPoA and get him here right away. After that, we need to talk."
Meredith murmured "Yes, Dr. Bailey" and ran towards the phone, leaving Lexie next to Susan.
While waiting for Thatcher to pick up, Meredith noticed Dr. Bailey waiting to listen to her side of the conversation while filling out a chart. She hoped fervently that Thatcher was in a good mood. "Hi, is this Mr. Thatcher Grey?"
"Speaking."
"This is Dr. Grey from Seattle Grace Hospital. As you are no doubt aware, your wife had a procedure performed here yesterday for a case of chronic hiccoughs. She was just transported from your home with your oldest daughter by ambulance after suffering from a post-op complication. She is unable to make her own decisions and as you are hold medical power of attorney you need to get her immediately to sign for emergency surgery. She needs this surgery now sir, time is of the essence."
"What? Okay... I'm on my way. I'll be 10 minutes."
Hanging up the phone, Meredith let out a breath that she hadn't known she'd been holding. She'd been fine and Thatcher hadn't even recognized her name in his panic about Susan. Turning around, she walked to stand in front of her resident.
"You wanted to speak to me?"
"Yes, I did." Miranda looked at her shrewdly. "You two are related. Don't give me that look, you have the same last name and I know that Thatcher is the name of your father, it was on your chart when I cut you open and took out your appendix. You're clearly related to the distressed girl, you two sound the same and you know each other. You can't be on this case, not as a surgeon."
"I only just found out about her and we aren't close at all. Lexie and Molly I know really well but not Susan, which should exempt me from that rule... please Dr. Bailey? Can I at least just stand there and observe?"
"Fine. The Chief wants in on this one, so be on your best behaviour Grey, understand?"
"Yes Dr. Bailey. Thanks so much!"
Miranda rolled her eyes as she went to wait for Mr. Grey. "Suck ups."
A/N: Let me know what you think! I'm hoping for an update soon but next week will be just as hectic as the previous few so I'll update when I can. As always, thanks to everyone who reads and/or reviews, I love to hear what you think!
Posted December 26th, 2009