And we're back! Thanks to Lissa having nothing else to do in quarantine except write, we're coming off of hiatus! To recap: Cristina came from Switzerland to bail our favorite doctors out of jail and as weird and uncertain as everything is, they've been having a pretty good time so far. Everything that happened through the season 15 finale happened. Season 16 never did.
"Jackson, I know you're out in the woods right now, but I really need you to call me back. Cristina's in town for an unexpected visit and looking for a place to stay for a while. We're going to go out and grab dinner, but I need an answer by the end of the night because the frat house is full. Call me."
Meredith hung up her phone and went outside to find Andrew and Shane chatting away like old friends. She stood in the doorway and smiled. If she'd told her resident self that this is what life would be like for her and Cristina as attending surgeons she would have died of laughter.
"Are you guys hungry?" Meredith asked as she approached them.
"Starved!" Shane exclaimed, heading inside to join up with the rest of the group.
Meredith took advantage of the free moment of quiet to bury her head into Andrew's chest and take a few deep breaths. The last few days had been such a rush of emotions that she hadn't been able to fully process most of them. The only thing she did know out of all of this is that she did love Andrew DeLuca, at least just as much as she loved Alex and Cristina, maybe more. This man had taken care of her kids when Alex had dumped them on him and brought her best friend across the world to bail her out of jail. She knew there would be a trial and that she could likely end up right back where she started, but for now she was happy being wrapped up safely in the arms of the man she was falling in love with.
"I love you." she stated as she pulled herself away. Meredith felt the need to reinforce that she did love him without him having to say it first. "And I appreciate you so much."
Andrew smiled and gave Meredith a brief kiss. "I love you too, Mer. As much as this is going to suck, I'm here for you through whatever happens."
Meredith smiled and grabbed Andrew's hand, sharing a few more moments of eye contact and another brief kiss before heading inside.
"Okay, everyone who wants food, get in the car, because I definitely don't have any."
Alex and Cristina laughed as they led the group back out to Meredith's car.
"Bar." Cristina stated after they'd ordered their food, staring pointedly at Meredith.
Meredith rose and followed Cristina towards the bar. Before they took their seats, the two women exchanged one more tight hug.
"I still can't believe you're here!" Meredith exclaimed. "How did you even…"
"Your intern called me." Cristina stated. "And as much as I like him, I do want some one-on-one time with you. I did not fly here from Switzerland so you two could hook up in between prison visits."
Meredith laughed, told the bartender that they would like two tequilas, and turned back to Cristina. "He's a senior resident, not an intern." she explained. "And I'm glad you like him because he's probably going to be sticking around for a while."
"That's what I heard." Cristina smiled. She looked over to their table and saw that Shane and Andrew were deep in conversation, as if they had known each other for years. "I'm glad he makes you happy, Mer."
"You look happy too, Cristina." Meredith pried. "How're things with your resident?"
"He's my fellow now; and if I'm not careful he'll take my hospital right out from under me." Cristina laughed as she grabbed the glass the bartender had put in front of her and took a long sip.
"Is he still doing other things under you?" Meredith asked, picking up her own glass and glancing over at Shane.
Cristina smirked at the best friend she'd missed so much. "Maybe."
The two women laughed and hugged again, which to the onlookers from their table must have seemed incredibly strange. Neither Meredith nor Cristina were big on hugs, giggles, or squeals, but there was such a positive energy between them as if they were picking up right where they had left off.
They weren't, though. They could try all they wanted to get lost in old times, but the reality would still be there. Derek had died, Meredith had birthed a secret child, Owen had married and then divorced and now had two children, Meredith had won the Harper Avery award and was continuing on as a leader in surgical innovation, and Cristina was busy running one of the world's leading cardiac research centers. They'd had their highs and lows while they were apart, and these past few days didn't fit easily onto the spectrum. As Meredith would always say, any day where nobody dies is a good day, and this week, nobody had died. Except possibly her career.
"Have you heard from Avery?" Cristina asked as they left the restaurant.
"No." Meredith answered, pulling her phone out to check it again. Just as she was stowing the device back in her pocket, it began to ring.
"Hello?" Meredith answered.
It was Amelia on the other line and she sounded stressed.
"Mer, the kids are fine. But you need to come to the hospital now. It's Maggie and Jackson."
Meredith left her car parked outside the ER and jogged in. She hadn't listened to much else that Amelia had said other than that she needed to get herself to the hospital ASAP because Maggie and Jackson had been brought in, both injured.
When she entered the busy room, she scanned quickly until she saw Maggie, sitting and crying at the intake desk. Her leg was scraped up pretty badly and her arm was in a sling, but otherwise she seemed to be okay. Meredith slowed to a walk and approached Maggie with a sad smile on her face.
"Maggie?" she asked softly, resting a hand on her sister's shoulder.
Meredith had never asked for a sister - not even one. Now she'd had three, or four if she counted Molly, who was probably still alive and living a happy healthy sunshiney life somewhere, seven if she counted Derek's older sisters that she never spoke to. But she'd never asked for any of them, not a single one. Still, Maggie Pierce had crept into her life and for some reason she'd let her stay and become far more protective than she'd ever thought she could be over another adult.
"Maggie, what's wrong? Where's Jackson." Meredith asked again when she didn't receive a response.
Maggie looked up at Meredith. Her eyes were red from crying and she looked tired. "Trauma 2." was all the younger woman could manage as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Stay with her." Meredith told Andrew, who had followed her in.
She took a sharp breath as she walked to Trauma 2 and opened the door to see Bailey, Owen, Amelia, Link, and Parker all surrounding the body of a sedated Jackson Avery. The room was chaotic and tense as Owen prepared him for a CT.
"Grey, you're not supposed to be here. Get out." Bailey snapped as soon as she noticed her standing in the doorway.
"Bailey." Meredith pleaded. "My sister is in your ER in tears, I get to know why."
"Meredith." Amelia spoke quietly but firmly, stepping away from the crowd of doctors and guiding Meredith back into the ER.
"He has a broken leg and most likely some internal bleeding. We don't know if it's surgical yet but unless there's major neuro trauma I personally will keep you updated." Amelia explained to Meredith. "They just came in, we're taking him up to CT as soon as it's free."
"What happened?" Meredith asked.
"I'm not sure, Maggie's pretty shaken. What I do know is she's never going camping again."
Meredith smiled at Amelia before returning to Maggie. She sat down next to her sister and took her hand. "Maggie, the best doctors in this hospital are in there taking care of him. We're going to go up to the lounge and wait there for Amelia to update us. Okay?"
Maggie stayed silent but nodded at Meredith and followed her and Andrew upstairs to the attendings' lounge. Meredith watched as her sister sat down on the couch and sighed. It had been a hell of a day. Or had it been two or three days? Meredith genuinely had no idea what day of the week it was or even what time it was for that matter. Everything since she'd left her children at home with Alex had been a blur and she was exhausted.
"Mer?" Andrew's voice broke her thoughts. "Come sit down."
Meredith turned to see Andrew on the couch on the other side of the room and walked over to join him. She had almost drifted to sleep in his arms when the door to the lounge opened.
"Mer." Andrew spoke softly in her ear. "Meredith, Parker's here."
Meredith looked up at Dr. Parker who was gesturing for her to join him in the hallway.
"How bad is it?" Meredith asked, shutting the door behind her. "Amelia said she'd update me herself unless there was neuro trauma. How bad is it?"
Dr. Parker handed Meredith his tablet and allowed her to review the scans. She somewhat regretted her time in neuro, because now she knew exactly how bad the hematoma she was looking at was.
"Dr. Shepherd is operating in OR 3. She says you're allowed in the gallery if you'd like, but not Pierce." Dr. Parker told her.
"I have to stay with Maggie." Meredith said softly, looking back towards the door. "Keep me updated?"
Dr. Parker nodded, took his tablet back from Meredith, and headed towards the elevator. Meredith returned to the lounge and made herself comfortable on the couch with Andrew, preparing herself for a long night.
Thanks to everyone who kept reviewing/following this story while it's been on hiatus. You all dragged my Merluca muse out from the back shelf and it is now back full force. I've also got a steamy future-Merluca conference story in the works that I'm thinking this fic's audience will love! Updates may be somewhat slower as I'm now balancing Unconditional with my Merlex & MerDer stories, but I'll try to update at least once every week or two. (Anyone else just ship Meredith with literally anybody that makes her happy?)
xx Lissa