Her meeting with Andrew DeLuca was tough. Just being in close quarters with him triggered her anxiety. Meredith arrives in the conference room and notices that Andrew is already seated, and says, "Dr DeLuca, glad you are back at work."
"Thanks, Mer," he replies, trying to switch the conversation to personal, casual and informal.
"Dr DeLuca, we are starting with your return to work plan. It's Dr Grey," she says.
"But…," he tries.
"No. We are professionals and at work. So you will be working with Dr Webber as you are both at different phases of return to surgery. I have read through your research proposal and you will need to find a surgeon to sponsor your research area, or find an attending that will add you to their research team and project."
"But why with Dr Webber?" he says.
"Dr Webber has years experience and both Dr Bailey and myself have full loads at the moment," she replies.
"Why do I have to be supervised?" he whines.
"Look, it's in our procedures. Dr Webber is finishing his return to work supervision and he's had many more years experience that you have. He is finishing his required supervision without complaints. You have a choice. Drop out of the program, or follow our procedures," she says.
"OK," he reluctantly agrees.
"Your hours will be maximum 50 hours, no more than a 12 hour shift, for your first month back. It will be reviewed by your medical team at the end of the month. You will continue your counselling and have a monthly checkup with your psychiatrist," she says.
"Why a limit of 50 hours?" he says.
"Your psychiatrist put that in your limits. I'm following doctor's advice. And if you break these rules, then you are on SCUT. Any other questions?" she says. She notices him take a deep breath and sink into his chair in resignation. She isn't going to let up on the rules.
"Why won't you supervise my research?" he asks.
"As I said, I have too many other commitments right now, and I think it would be best if we didn't work on the same project. Andrew, I want you to succeed. In order for you to do that, I think you should work with someone other than me," she says.
"Can I still scrub in with you on advanced procedures?" he asks.
"Yes, once you have completed your skills exam by Dr Webber," she agrees.
"Thank you. Now what about a date?" he asks brazenly.
"No Andrew, I don't think it's in either of our best interests for us to date. For many reasons. First, you broke up with me, more than once. And second, I've been seeing someone else. Now I think you have pre-op for Dr Webber's Laparoscopic Cholecystectomies," she says, getting up to leave the conference room.
She heads to her office to get changed and texts Cormac, "Glad that's done. So far so good."
・。・:*:・ ・:*:・。・
After supervising a couple of smaller procedures with the 4th year residents, then it was time to meet with Dr García, Amelia and Owen. The fellow admitted they had very little trauma experience and was interested in working with Owen on improving their skills. Dr García explained the hospital they'd completed their residency at had only had neuro residents do a 6 month rotation in the ER and that they weren't used to working in a Level 1 trauma centre. Meredith adjusts the schedule to ensure the fellow isn't on without Amelia or another senior neuro attending, and schedules them for additional Friday and Saturday evening shifts working general coverage in the pit. Owen also adds that he would like all new staff to complete their trauma certification program, and Meredith tells him to take that up with the Chief.
Meredith walks to the lobby to meet up with the Med School students and spies Liam hanging out Joey, Miranda's foster son. She walks up to them and greets them, saying "Welcome, Liam, Joey. Let's go meet the group of med students."
"Good afternoon everyone, I'm Dr Grey and today we will be going on a hospital tour and then to the teaching lab," Meredith starts. They spend the next 3 hours together before she dismisses the class. Joey and Liam hang around after she dismisses the older kids and she suggests they head to the cafeteria for a snack, handing Liam her payment card. She says "I'll let your parents know where you are."
"I didn't think Miranda had surgery this afternoon," Joey says.
"An emergency came up, and I was teaching, she got to play surgeon. She was happy," Meredith replies.
"Yes she would be. She's so much happier on days where she's been in the OR," Joey replies.
"Do you know where Dad is?" Liam asks.
"Sorry. Haven't seen him since this morning. He was in surgery with Link at lunchtime, so hopefully he's done. I'll send him down to the cafeteria when I find him," she says.
"Thanks, Mer." "Thanks, Dr Grey."
・。・:*:・ ・:*:・。・
Meredith messaged Cormac at the end of the day. "Kids in bed, Headed to the bathtub, then hopefully a good night sleep."
Cormac was out for a late meal with his boys and the senior football team when he felt his phone buzz. Ignoring his rule of not checking his phone at the table, he quickly picked up his phone and checked messages. He quickly types a reply, "Out for burgers with L&A. Enjoy the bubbles."
"Dad! No texting at the table," Austin says.
"Sorry, work," he replies.
"Doubt it," Liam snarkily replies having seen the look on his dad's face when he read the text. Liam was sure it was Meredith.
"Sorry?" Cormac replies.
"That wasn't a message from work. I think it was a message from Meredith," Liam replies.
"Ok. You caught me," Cormac admits.
"Just don't lie to us. And if you want us to follow the no texting at dinner, then you need to follow the rules too!"
After dinner, they headed home and Cormac made himself a pot of tea and sat texting Meredith while listening to music. He'd always enjoyed bubble baths with Abby, it was one of their special times together. After a long night at work, a long day with the kids, a chilly winter night, he would pour a hot bath with bubbles and they could relax and chat or just relax and cuddle. In the last few years of her illness they'd spent many hours in the tub soaking away her aches.
Cormac: Got caught texting at the dinner table.
Meredith: Oops
Cormac: Did you enjoy your bath?
Meredith: Yes, relaxing
Cormac: Wish I could join you...
Meredith: Really?
Cormac: I miss bubble baths with a pretty lady
Meredith: I miss sharing my bubbles
Cormac: One day, maybe?
Meredith: Maybe. What scent bubbles?
Cormac: I like citrus or vanilla. You?
Meredith: Lavender
Cormac: You always smell like lavender
Meredith: I might have an obsession with it
Cormac: Really?
Meredith: yup
Cormac: Do you have a nice large bathtub?
Meredith: Yes and it's even better now there are no rubber duckies in it
Cormac: There must be a story there
Meredith: That's a story that goes in the later pile
Cormac: Maybe you can tell me once we finally share a bath together
Meredith: What makes you think we'll be sharing a bath?
Cormac: Oh we will
Meredith: You are sure of yourself
Cormac: Aye
Meredith: Think it's sleepy time
Cormac: I need to send my kids to bed. Coffee tomorrow?
Meredith: 8am at the cart?
Cormac: See you then
Meredith: Dormi bene, tesoro
Cormac: Codladh sámh, a stór
・。・:*:・ ・:*:・。・
Later in the week Meredith receives a message from Dr Bailey to call Dr Megan Hunt-Riggs. So she wanders to her office to make the call.
Megan: "Hunt-Riggs"
Meredith: "Hey, Megan. You got married?"
Megan: "Yes, finally."
Meredith: "Congrats!"
Megan: "Up for another abdominal transplant?"
Meredith: "Another soldier?"
Megan: "Yes. An IED explosion, and it's not healing."
Meredith: "This week?"
Megan: "I'll have him transferred directly to you from Germany."
Meredith: "Have them send the medical info so we can look for a donor."
Megan: "MedCom will update UNOS and send you the file. I'll fly up when he's on his way."
Meredith: "Sounds good. How are you?"
Megan: "Doing well. Working hard."
Meredith: "That's good. And Farouk? Nathan?"
Megan: "Good, they'll come up with me. Farouk wants to see nanna. Nathan's at UCLA."
Meredith: "Remember, we are always looking for surgeons here."
Megan: "Recruiting?"
Meredith: "Always. I own the hospital!"
Megan: "It's always a possibility. But I'm not sure I want to work with Owen."
Meredith: "That's valid. But since April left, we are low on quality trauma surgeons. Let Nathan know I did an actual emergency craniotomy the other day."
Megan: "Aren't you a General Surgeon?"
Meredith: "Yes, but did part of my residency as neuro. The neuro fellow freaked out, so I took over. Haven't done that in years. My last neuro procedure was the flight with Nathan."
Megan: "You are hardcore. You would have been great in the field."
Meredith: "No thanks. Had enough traumas here in Seattle. See you later this week. I've been paged to the pit."
Megan: "OK."
Meredith hung up from Megan and raced down to the pit and met Owen in the trauma room for her consult. This patient was quickly heading to the OR with Owen, Meredith and Link to fix the internal injuries and broken pelvis. As they were scrubbing in, Meredith let Owen know that Megan was coming to town.
"Oh no!" he says, dreading the visit with his sister.
"You didn't tell me she got married," Meredith scolds.
"Oh, sorry," he says thinking of how angry Megan was with him.
"Megan's still mad at you?"
"Kinda, the last conversation ended with her calling me a dum-dum," Owen replies thinking of the few conversations they'd recently had about him and Teddy. He and Teddy were working on their relationship. Things weren't perfect, but they were both attending individual and couples counseling.
"She plans to bring Farouk and Nathan," Meredith says, trying to stop laughing. She loved the sibling relationship between the two of them. Megan's return had really shaken Owen, and she keeps him on his toes.
"Mom will like that," he replies.
After the surgery Meredith checked her text messages and had one from Nathan, so she texts him back while finishing her post-op notes.
Mer: Yes I did a craniotomy.
Nathan: Hardcore.
Mer: Thankfully it was in an OR this time.
Nathan: No syringe, straw and plastic cup?
Mer: And it was sterile, and not turbulent.
Nathan: Plush!
Mer: lol
Nathan: How's it going?
Mer: Not bad. Think I found a new guy.
Nathan: oh?
Mer: Irish widow with teen boys
Nathan: What does he do?
Mer: Peds surgeon
Nathan: Congrats. You deserve it.
Mer: Thanks. And you and Meg?
Nathan: Married. Going great. And the kids?
Mer: You won't believe how much the kids have grown.
Nathan: Remember I have a teen boy!
Mer: Ellie just started Kindergarten.
Nathan: Oh my, your sweet little cuddler is in Kindergarten? Hard to believe See you by soon.
Mer: Yes.
Meredith leaves her office heading to the peds floor, thinking about how much had changed in the last three years. Little did she know that Megan and Nathan had a surprise they were hiding until they arrived in Seattle.
・。・:*:・ ・:*:・。・
Meredith woke after an amazing dream. She felt loved, supported, surrounded by her family. The dream started on the beach, near sunset, on a warm breezy evening.
I am sitting on the warm beach enjoying the sunshine. My kids are playing and splashing in the waves, together with Scout and Link. Amelia sits watching the kids too, her eyes shaded by her large straw hat, a smile on her face. Amelia looks so relaxed and happy. Motherhood suits Amelia.
Nathan and Megan were walking arm in arm, smiling, relaxed and connected, walking after Farouk who was racing down the beach. They both looked golden, nicely tanned from years of living on the beach. Megan wore a bikini, ever the show off of her amazing abs and reconstruction surgery. Up close the scar was slightly visible, but if you didn't look close you would never know.
Cormac is playing frisbee with his teenage boys. The three of them are running in and out of the waves, then inviting Zola, Bailey and Ellis to join them, including the younger kids, ensuring they each have a turn.
I turn and see Derek leaning on the railing of the dock, overlooking the beach, his kids, his sister, her family. He looks hot, sexy, relaxed and hasn't aged a bit. He notices me looking at him, and I hear him whisper, "Move on my love, you deserve to love again. You deserve to be loved."
Then I see Cormac run over, bending down, wrapping his arms around me, and leaning in for a kiss.
・。・:*:・ ・:*:・。・
Meredith isn't sure what she was going to wear for her date tonight she thinks as she turns on the shower. She grabs a new razor before stepping into the warm water, lathering her legs with shave cream, smoothly running the razor up her legs. Taking the time she shampoos and conditions her hair, with her favourite lavender conditioner. After towelling her hair dry, she blows it dry and gently styles it. She then reaches for her body cream and gently rubs the cream over her skin.
She wishes she'd taken the time to get a manicure and pedicure, but as a single mom of three and a surgeon, she didn't usually get time for pampering herself. Maybe Mother's day or her birthday or before the gala's or other fancy nights out. Those were few and far between. Thinking of her schedule today, she thinks she has time to head to the spa across the street from the hospital. Natalia, the Spa owner, had a soft spot for the department heads at Grey-Sloan and would ensure she had space for them when they called up, so Meredith quickly messages Natalia asking for a late afternoon appointment.
After slipping on a pair of herringbone leggings and a long black cashmere sweater, she looks in her closet for something to wear for the evening. She notices her favourite dress hanging in the closet, she hadn't worn it in ages. Pulling out the silky emerald green wrap dress, she heads to check out her lingerie drawer quickly locating her an emerald green lace bra and matching lace boyshort underwear. She found her grandmother's pearl necklace and earrings. They were found in one of the boxes of her mom's stuff when she'd finally finished emptying all of Ellis' stored boxes. She leaves everything out and ready for her to change before her date this evening.
・。・:*:・ ・:*:・。・
Meredith has been busy since she arrived home from work, ensuring the kids have been fed, homework completed, and read their books, and Link was going to finish the bedtime routine after she left. He was wonderful with her three kids. But sometimes Meredith wishes her house was a little quieter. If things were to continue with her new relationship, something would need to change with her living conditions, maybe it was time to grow up and not live in a frat-house. Her house is crowded. Four adults, four kids, she loves having Maggie, Link, Amelia and Scout living with her, but especially now she would love a space with some privacy, although the help of the other adults is amazing. Maybe a house nearby will go up for sale soon.
She notices the time and races upstairs to freshen up and change. Cormac arrives at her place at 7:30 and is let in by Zola. He chats with everyone for a few minutes and has Ellis in his arms while waiting for Meredith to come downstairs. His breath is taken away as he notices her coming down the stairs in her emerald green sundress. Reaching his hand for hers he pulls her into a quick hug and whispers, "Looking hot Dr Grey."
"Are you ready?" she asks, blushing from his comment. She grabs Ellis from his arms and gives her a big hug.
"Yes, let's go," he says and they head out to the car. He walks her to her side of the car and pulls her into a hug now that they are away from curious eyes.
"I want to spend more time with you, and to hold you again. I want to kiss you...," he whispers, capturing her lips.
"You can definitely kiss me," she replies leaning into him.
After dinner they walk the seawall, stopping a few times to chat, or kiss, or just hold one another. His phone buzzes with the alarm he's set, ensuring he won't be late picking up Austin and Liam from the school. "Guess we need to head home," he says, shutting off the alarm.
"Don't want to be late to pickup," Meredith teases.
"Liam already gives me enough trouble, can you imagine what he'd say if I was late picking him up?"
"You'd never hear the end of it," she confirms.
When they arrive at Meredith's, he walks her to the door and gives her a quick kiss, seeing Amelia looking out the front window. He lifts his head, noticing the movement in the front window and asks, "You know you have a spy in the front window?"
"Amy? She's as bad as Liam," Meredith says laughing.
"How about one more quick kiss before I go. Codladh sámh, a stór," he replies as he captures her lips one last time before reluctantly letting her go.
"Buona notte, cuore mio," she says leaning against the door watching him walk towards his car and she hesitantly enters the house. She knows that Amelia will be questioning her.
"That was a hot good night kiss," Amelia says.
"Amy, please," Meredith replies trying to end the conversation before it begins.
"But I want details," she continues.
"I think you saw all the details you need. Goodnight," Meredith says ending the conversation and heading up to her room.
・。・:*:・ ・:*:・。・
A/N:
I don't speak Italian or Irish, so using Google translate, and help of various other Google search results for some phrases between Cormac and Meredith.
Dormi bene, tesoro (Italian) ~ Sleep well, my treasure
Buona notte, cuore mio (Italian) ~ Good Night, my love
Codladh sámh, a stór (Irish) ~ Sweet dreams, my treasure
A/N: Sorry for the delay in an update, but I was struggling with the first part of this. Thanks everyone for your comments and likes.
