Isn't It Ironic

Part 31

Richard stood quietly at the door to Sully and Richie's room breathing a sigh of relief. He and Adele considered the Sanders family. Sully had been moved to Richie's room after a couple of hours of observation in the ICU. Richie was now sound asleep with A.J sprawled next to him sleeping just as soundly. Addison had tried talking A.J. into going home with his grandparents but he insisted he wanted to stay, that if she was going to stay at the hospital with his dad and Richie then he was going to stay too. So the entire family was camped out in the hospital for the night. Madeline was sleeping snuggly on Sully's chest now that she was fed.

"You realize you should be sleeping," Addie whispered in Sully's ear. "Derek will kick me out if you don't get your rest."

"Derek wouldn't dare, you know I have an in with the chief." Sully tightened his arms around Addie's waist pulling her closer.

Richard smiled chuckling to himself then cleared his throat as he entered the room, "You know its past visiting hours." He stood next to the bed with his arms crossed over his chest trying to look stern.

Sullivan and Addison started to protest, but Richard interrupted with a sly grin. "Of course I am much more lenient about the visitations rules when my staff is concerned."

Addison and Sullivan exchanged looks and laugh. "I do believe that is blackmail," Addison exclaimed.

Richard continued to give them his stern look, "Well?"

Addison's pager beeping pierced the air, she quickly turned it off, but not before it woke up Maddie. She reached out gently rubbing Maddie's back and took only a moment to calm her.

Addison frowned at her pager, "Preston is paging me. What on earth does he want?" She looked up at Richard with sharp nod, "I do believe seeing as you have been using our services since we arrived in Seattle we should be considered part of the staff," then she added quickly with a smirk, "for now."

Richard's eyebrows shot up in amusement. "Fine," he sighed with mock disappointment. "I won't kick you out."

Addie gave Sully a kiss, "Hopefully I won't be long." She then picked up a wide awake Maddie and deposited her in Richard's arms. "You get the honor of amusing Maddie while I'm gone," she said to a bewildered Richard.

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Addison found Preston at the ICU nurse's station along with George and a woman she did not recognize.

"Preston you paged me?"

Preston and George exchanged a slightly uncomfortable look; they weren't quite sure how to broach the subject. George cleared his throat then tentatively began. "I'm not sure if you are aware of this, but Jack Morgan was driving the other car." George looked at Addison expectantly, waiting for the name to register.

Addison raised her eyebrows in surprise that was one name she never thought she would hear again. "Is he okay?"

"Well, that's the thing," Preston began. "He made it through his surgery just fine, but he isn't waking up. I had them run a CT scan and even had Derek look at the scans."

"Addison this is Samantha Morgan, Jack's wife," George interrupted directing Addison's attention to the woman standing next to him.

Addison reached out to shake the woman's hand. Samantha shook Addison's hand, "My husband has spoken very highly of you. Dr. O'Malley said its Sanders now?"

Addison smiled and nodded at the woman, "I hope Jack will be okay." Addison turned to Preston and George then asked, "I don't really understand why you paged me, I don't see how I can help you since Jack's problem has nothing to do with my specialty."

"Medically there is no reason for him not to wake up, but . . ." George hesitated again.

Addison furrowed her brow, puzzled by what George was trying to get at, "But what George?"

"He was in the ER when Dr. Tucker started to tell you that he thought . . ."

"That he thought Sullivan was dead," Addison interrupted him with a grimace.

"Right," George said with a nod. "He saw you and was under the impression that he killed your husband. He was so upset that he had to be sedated."

"And you think I can help him how?"

Samantha Morgan then answered her, "Well I thought maybe if you talked to him, let him know your husband and son were okay . . ."

Addison blew out a slow breath. She had already known the driver of the other car had not been at fault. The accident had been cause by a motorcyclist who had cut the other driver off. He had tried in vain to avoid the motorcyclist only to have lost control. "What room is he in?"

Samantha smiled for the first time, "Follow me Dr. Sanders."

Addison nodded and fell in step with the other woman, "Please call me Addison."

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Addison and Samantha stood at the door for a moment looking in on Jack before they crossed the room. Each woman sitting on either side of the bed next to Jack and Addison took his hand in hers, "I know you can hear me Jack. Dr. Burke tells me there is no reason for you not to wake up and Samantha told me you blame yourself." She squeezed his hand, "First off you need to know I don't blame you for this, it was an accident Jack. You didn't do this on purpose so stop blaming yourself." She glanced over at Samantha then back at Jack, there was still no change. "Come on Jack you need to wake up your wife and kids need you, don't give up." At her words Jack slowly opened his eyes. He smiled up at his wife then turned and was taken by surprise when he saw Addison looking down on him. She said smiling at him, "Welcome back Jack."

Jack's eyes widened as he realized who he was looking at. "I'm sorry," he said barely above a whisper.

Addison hushed him. "There is nothing for you to be sorry about. Sullivan and Richie are both going to be fine."

Relief flooded over Jack's face. "Thank god," he whispered. Jack swallowed hard still looking up at Addison, "I'm sorry about before, when I . . ." he trailed off.

"That is one apology I am happy to accept."

"I don't understand how you can forgive me so easily."

"Jack, I forgave you that day." She continued gently holding his hand in hers, "There is something I always wanted to tell you. I need to thank you." She smiled at Samantha and Jack's surprised expressions. Addison grinned down at Jack, "You allowed me to let go and move on. I never would have allowed myself to fall in love with Sullivan if I was still hanging on to my lost marriage." She squeezed Jack's hand tightly, "And I never would have had the nerve to accept Sullivan's marriage proposal either if you didn't make me realize how short life was." She could feel the tears stinging the back of her eyes, "So thank you Jack. Thank you."

Jack smiled back at her with tears in his eyes, "I had always hoped I would see you again." He bent his head sheepishly, "I just wish it had been under different circumstances."

"Hey," she gave his hand another squeeze. "Stop beating yourself up Jack, it was an accident."

"I have always wanted to thank you for saving me." He looked at his wife and smiled then took a deep breath and let it out slowly, "Everything I have now, I owe to you giving me a second chance."

Addison smiled at him, "I knew you didn't really mean to hurt me Jack. I knew it was the act of a distraught man whose grief was devastating him. I glad you were able to move on with your life and find happiness again."

Jack squeezed Addison's hand, "I'm glad I'm not the only one to find happiness." All three heads turned toward the door when they heard a sharp knock.

Preston and Molly stood at the door; Molly had a fussy Maddie in her arms. Addison's eyes lit up as she saw her daughter and smiled motioning them to enter.

She grinned at her daughter whose cries became squeals when she saw her mother. Maddie anxiously reached out to Addie and bounced excitedly in the intern's arms. "I thought Grandpa Richard was supposed to be watching you," she said as she reclaimed her daughter from Molly.

Preston and Molly exchanged sheepish grins then Molly said, "Dr. Webber looked a little desperate when she started crying, so I volunteered to bring her to you."

"I'm sure Dr. Burke would like to give you a quick exam Jack so he can make sure everything is okay, and its time to get this little one to bed." Addison said her goodbyes and quietly headed out of the room.

Preston stood beside Jack's bed and nodded, "Mr. Morgan it's good to have you back."

Jack beamed at his wife, "It's good to be back."

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Riley entered Ellie's room and she noticed Dr. Grey-Shepherd sleeping in the chair next to her daughter's bed. Ellie was also sleeping peacefully. Luckily in ICU rooms they kept the lights on so she could get to work without disturbing anyone, she tried to set up the IV as quietly as possible. Ellie already had a line established so it was just a matter up setting the bag up. She looked down and smiled at the sleeping girl reaching out gently touching the girl's cheek, she was wearing a pink knit cap with butterflies embroidered on it, since she had lost her hair from the chemo.

Riley spoke quietly, "Here you go sweetie this is going to make you all better."

Meredith's eyes slowly opened as it registered to her that someone had entered the room.

Riley looked up from what she was doing and smiled at the older woman, "I'm sorry to disturb you Dr. Grey-Shepherd, I was just setting up Ellie's IV."

Meredith sat up straight in her chair looking at the bag Dr. Stiles was hooking up to her daughter's IV. Riley nodded at her questioning look, "Yes, it's her bone marrow treatment."

"Addison . . . Dr. Sanders allowed them to harvest Richie's bone marrow?" Meredith said in surprise.

Riley nodded still smiling, "Of course, she made sure Dr. Bailey assisted Dr. Torres so Richie wouldn't have to endure another procedure. Surgery on his leg didn't interfere with collecting the bone marrow."

Meredith couldn't believe what she was seeing; her daughter was finally getting the bone marrow transplant she so desperately needed. She had thought after hearing about the accident it would never happen.

Derek leaned on the door jam smiling as he watched Meredith talking with Dr. Stiles. He pushed off the door jam and entered the room, when Meredith saw him and threw her arms around him excitedly. Derek wrapped his arms around her tightly then whispered, "See I told you there was nothing to worry about." Meredith buried her face into his shoulder she nodded. The rush of relief was overwhelming; their worst nightmare was finally coming to an end.

Riley smiled at the doctors as she quietly slipped out of the room. It was good to finally see the Shepherds happy.

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I hope you enjoyed the update, please review and let me know if you like it.