Author's Note: I'm posting early and leaving a dreaded Author's Note. I have mid-terms over the next two weeks and projects to be completed so this story will be on hiatus until the end of March.

Title: Stranger In My Own Life
Author: Adian

Genre: Meredith Centric - A/U – It's canon except for a few minor differences until Epi 325 Didn't We Almost Have It All. From there the story is A/U.
Rating: T (Mainly for language)
Summary: What happens when you realize you don't know who you are anymore?

Notes:

I have done research on the medical issues that are in this story. I think I understand it but I'm sure there will be mistakes. I've never written a GA story and the medical aspect of it has been challenging.

This is not a Derek friendly story. Read at your own peril.

Disclaimer: Grey's Anatomy is a creation of Shonda Rhimes and an ABC Studios Production. This story is meant strictly for entertainment purposes and no money is being made off of the forthcoming drivel.

Chapter 10

Weeks have passed since the trial new Interns have arrived but Bailey's former Interns have yet to begin healing. Mark has been observing them Yang in particular. He follows Yang to the courtyard and asks, "Cristina how are you?"

Cristina sighs, "Lost. My person is in a coma. I have no purpose now. I don't know how to watch her slowly die day by day."

Tentative Mark says, "Here," handing her a card.

Cristina looks at it and exclaims, "A shrink?"

Mark explains, "I didn't know what else to do. The person I usually talked to can't. So much has happened I feel like I could literally implode. I'm confused, angry, sad, depressed you have to be feeling the same and more. I have to figure out a way to survive in this new world."

Cristina threatens, "If you tell anyone about this…"

"Yang, I don't want it broadcast either. I have one other thing I needed to talk to you about. I've been doing some research and I have an idea about Meredith."

Despairing Cristina says, "Don't do this. She's never risen above a three on the Glasgow scale. There is no new brain activity. All that is left is a body. She's gone Mark."

"Yang, I read about work they are doing in Sydney with coma patients." He hands her a folder saying, "Just read this."

Cristina stares at the closed folder for what seems like an eternity afraid to hope.

Entry 21

Christmas threw up in my house. I'm being supportive of Izzie so I haven't said anything. I don't do holidays and Izzie made up for it all at once. People spout all this crap that I just don't get and then when it's time to really show what you're made of they don't act upon their purported beliefs.

I helped Alex study for his test and you'd think I committed a crime. By the end, everyone was helping him study. I don't have a family but my fellow interns are the closest thing to it I have. I don't want to lose anyone. The feeling surprises me.

His blue eyes follow wherever I go. I can't escape him. When will these feelings go away? A part of me admires him for doing the right thing by his marriage the other part of me hates him. Seeing them together more than hurts my heart it hurts my soul. I see them and it feels wrong. Maybe I should be the one to leave.

A few days later Cristina stares at Meredith contemplating the struggle ahead. In the OR she feels like a goddess she's read, studied, practiced for every eventuality but this is something beyond her ken. This will take months if not years of dedication of work of trying to keep the rest towing the line for a result that has little chance of happening. Optimistic she is not but this is her person and for her she will try.

Cristina hands folders to Alex, Izzie, and George as they walk into Meredith's room. Alex opens his and begins reading the information. Incredulous he says, "Yang, what have you been smoking?"

Excited Izzie says, "Shut up Alex. We could get Mere back! I'm in Cristina whatever you need. When do we start?"

George yells, "Stop it! Just stop it! She's gone! Gone! Gone! Gone!" He stands up throwing the folder back at Cristina. He storms out only to run into another body.

"Is the meeting over?" asks Mark.

George steps back looking at Cristina. "Sloan! Seriously? McBastard's best friend! What are you thinking?"

Cristina replies, "I'm thinking of Meredith."

Izzie orders "Sit down George and read."

George sighs and sits back down. Cristina gives him back the folder. Izzie, Alex, and George read while Cristina and Mark stare at them in silence.

Entry 22

At first, I was really excited about our workweek being cut down to 80 hours. Now I'm bored out of my mind. I've actually done housework!

Dr. Sheppard was visiting my mom. What the hell? The looks and sniffing aren't enough now he's trying through my mother.

I found out Chief had Sheppard out evaluating mom to see if she'd be a candidate for a clinical trial. Medicine was always the most important thing to her you'd think it would be an easy answer.

Alex asks, "What do you want from us?"

"Help. I'm taking Mere to the Pacifica Institute to have her evaluated. Once they have her baseline established and a treatment program created, I'll bring her back. Some of their nurses will come back with her and train us and the other support staff in what to do. As you read, it will take all of us to accomplish this. We can create a schedule so that each of us plays a part in her therapy that is if you are willing."

Immediately Izzie says, "I'm in."

George asks, "Why is Sloan here?"

Cristina says, "Mere has other friends here besides us interns. When the time comes, I'll be tapping into them also. Sloan is the one who approached me with this idea. He has a friend at Pacifica who got Meredith in. Everything that happens now is about Meredith and what we can do to get her back. We have to work together we have to be positive from now on in this room. If you don't think you can do it then leave now."

No one moves from the room. Cristina continues, "I have millions at my disposal and I want every idea on Coma Arousal Therapy you can find. We will try them all."