Objects in the Rearview Mirror

Chapter 3: What's the Story Morning Glory?

Woke up and wished that I was dead
With an aching in my head
I lay motionless in bed
I thought of you and where you'd gone
and let the world spin madly on

"You slept with dad?" Caitlin Taylor asked her mother incredulously.

"Caitie, please let me explain," Addison said, trying to defuse the situation before it blew up.

"Does Derek know you slept with daddy?" Caitie asked, completely oblivious of her mother's plea.

"Caitie!"

"What?"

"Please let me explain."

"Fine."

"Yes, Derek knows I slept with your father."

"When was this?" Caitie asked softly.

"A year and a half ago."

"Eighteen months ago? You slept with Mark eighteen months ago and you didn't tell me?"

"That's dad to you, young lady. Just because you two have issues doesn't change the fact that he is your father."

"He's a sperm donor," Caitie snapped coldly.

"Caitlin Anastasia Forbes Montgomery take that back!"

"Sorry," Caitie muttered.

"You better be sorry," Addison said and took a deep breath. "Yes Derek knows. That's why he came to Seattle."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I wanted to protect you."

"From what? The fact that my so called "perfect parents" made a mistake?"

"I don't appreciate your tone young lady," Addison replied sternly.

"You lied to me!" Caitie exclaimed.

"I didn't want to distract you."

"Distract me from what? School?"

"Yes."

"I had to find out from other interns."

"What?" Addison asked, confused.

"I had to find out that my mother cheated on her husband with my own father from a group of people I barely know. And why is that? Because my mother didn't want to distract me from my education!"

Addison sighed," Caitie, I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you."

"Are you getting a divorce?" Caitie asked quietly.

"Yes. But it's not just because of that. Derek and I-we haven't been happy for a long time."

"So the divorce is mutual then?"

"Yes."

Caitie studied her mother closely for a moment, "I don't believe you."

"Derek wants out and I'm letting him because he's too good a man to say it."

"I see."

"Caitie…" Addison said, softening. She moved to take Caitie in her arms, but she pulled away.

"I deserved to know that truth. I deserved not to be lied to!"

"I know that Caitie and I'm truly sorry. I don't know what else I can do to make this better."

"There is nothing you can do," Caitie said softly, her voice cracking ever so slightly. She was trying to keep from crying and Addison knew it. Her heart broke seeing her daughter in so much pain.

Caitie turned to leave and Addison grabbed her arm, "Caitie please let me explain," She practically begged.

But Caitie shook her hand off, "I can't-I can't be around you right now."

Without another word, Caitlin left the room and even though she had resisted the urge to cry, what had just transpired was written all over her face as she walked down the hall. When she was gone, Miranda went into the on-call room where Addison was sitting on the bed.

"Addison…."

"I'm a horrible mother, Miranda," She whispered, tears streaming down her face.

"You're not Addison. Just give her time."

"I helped tear apart the only family she's ever really known. Caitie will never forgive me."

"She will," Miranda said confidently. "I promise. Just you wait and see."

Everything that I said I'd do
Like make the world brand new
And take the time for you
I just got lost and slept right through the dawn
And the world spins madly on

August 1992

"Ok, hold on to the handlebars tightly little one," 24 year-old Addison Montgomery said to a 6 year-old Caitlin as she balanced on her new two wheeler. "You can do this I promise."

"Ok mommy," Caitie said, her expression turning to one of determination. She had fallen off her bike twice so far and she wasn't about to let it happen a third time.

"Ready?"

"Yes."

"Ok, go," Addison said and Caitie began to pedal. She ran alongside the bike for a few seconds and then let go, watching the little girl ride along steadily. She smiled.

On the bike, Caitie beamed and then a few seconds later the bike began to falter before it went over a small raise in the concrete and the bike pitched sideways. Caitie tried to steady herself, but couldn't. Closing her eyes tight, she prepared for impact with the unforgiving sidewalk and the inevitable pain. But then she felt herself stop falling.

Caitie opened her eyes. "Derek," She said as he righted her and Caitie put her legs on the ground.

"Hey ladybug, learning to ride your new bike I see."

"Yeah," Caitie said and then sighed. "But I can't get it."

"You will eventually. It just takes practice."

"I know, but I'm afraid I'll fall again."

He smiled, "There's no need to be afraid, ladybug."

"There's not?" Caitie asked curiously.

"No, there's not. I'm here now and when you fall I'll always be there to catch you."

I let the day go by
I always say goodbye
I watch the stars from my window sill
The whole world is moving and I'm standing still

Caitie fled down the hallway until she reached the stairwell and then she pushed the door open, running down until she reached the ground floor leading to the ER. There, she huddled underneath the staircase and allowed the tears that were threatening to spill, fall.

The world that Caitlin Montgomery once enjoyed was now gone. It had all been ripped away from her in the blink of an eye. She leaned back against the wall and took a deep breath. Family was everything to Caitie. Being who she was didn't exactly Ms. Popular in school. In fact, more often than not, Caitie's gift of knowledge got her punished in the social arena. She had several really good friends from her childhood and from school who accepted who she was. But it was her family who understood her best. Addison and Caitie had always been close. And Caitie enjoyed a nice relationship with her maternal grandparents, Richard and Emily Montgomery. However, when it came to fathers things became a little more complicated.

Mark Sloan and Addison Forbes Montgomery had known each other since infancy. Their mothers had been friends all though school. So therefore it was only natural that their children be friends as well. While they attended separate schools all the way through college, the two maintained a good friendship. However, one night after their respective high school graduations, things changed. They met after the celebrations in their honors to commiserate and reminisce, with champagne of course. 9 months later, the product of that rooftop meeting was born. Addison's parents, instead of taking a more stereotypical approach to the situation, insisted that Addison continue moving forward with her plans to attend NYU. Mark's parents however, insisted that the two childhood friends marry. But Emily Montgomery knew Mark Sloan all too well to allow something like that to occur. He was a smart young man, of that there was no doubt. But he had a reputation when it came to women. He had trouble staying in a relationship and the last thing that that the Montgomerys wanted was for their daughter and future grandchild to get hurt.

Emily Montgomery's assessment of Mark Sloan turned out to be correct. For several years following Caitlin's birth, his contact with his only child was sporadic. It wasn't until Derek came into the picture that things changed. He felt an immediate ease with Caitie that could not be found anywhere else. And for her part, Caitie fell in love with him almost immediately. As the years passed, Derek tried again and again to put his "brother" in a good relationship with Caitlin. But between his immaturity and fear and her extreme intelligence nothing ever lasted long. And now, 20 years later the pair suffered from an estranged relationship that could never seem to right itself.

Caitie sat up straight and wiped the tears from her eyes. Everything was just one big mess and she had no idea what was going to happen now.

"Are you alright?" A voice asked Caitie.

Caitie looked up to find none other than the Ellis Grey looking down at her and she rose, "I'm fine, Dr. Grey. But thank you for asking. I think I'm just a little tired."

Ellis laughed, "Aren't we all?" She studied Caitie a little closer. "You must be Caitie Taylor. I heard through the hospital grapevine you were coming."

"But I've only been here for a few hours," Caitie replied, confused.

"My dear, the only thing that travels faster than disease around here is gossip, especially if it's true," Ellis said and then paused. "Are you sure you're alright? How long have you been up for? "

"Since the day before yesterday at 6pm."

Ellis cocked an eyebrow, "And Richard is making you work today? No wonder you're tired. Why don't you go home and get some sleep?"

"But the chief said—"

"Never mind him. I know how to handle Richard Webber, thank you. Now go home and rest, you deserve it."

"Thank you Dr. Grey."

"You're welcome Dr. Taylor," Ellis said turning to go up the stairs and then she turned back. "Oh and Dr. Taylor, please tell Dr. Bailey that you'll be reporting to me in the morning. I want to see for myself what the great Cobra can do." At Caitie's shocked look, Ellis smiled. "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me," She said before disappearing up the stairs, leaving Caitie alone and wondering exactly what lay in store for her.

Woke up and wished that I was dead
With an aching in my head
I lay motionless in bed
The night is here and the day is gone
And the world spins madly on

I thought of you and where you'd gone
And the world spins madly on.

Lyrics- "The World Spins Madly On"- The Weepies

I love fan fiction, I really do. Yes that's right I put Ellis Grey in my story and pretended that she was never sick. I dared to rewrite Grey's history and while I do know that it is risky and doesn't really fit with Meredith's story, this isn't about her.

Anyway I hope you enjoyed this installment. Coming up, look for Ellis to become a mentor of sorts for Caitie.