AFTERMATH

AN: This includes George's flashback, the writing in italics. This chapter is focussed on what happens when they find out McDreamy's back. Oh, and I realise you may have read the beginning, but the end is new.

CHAPTER TWO

- Seattle Grace Hospital Attendings Locker Room, 2016 -

A very pregnant Christina Burke, slightly pregnant Izzie Stevens and plastic surgeon Alex Karev were huddled in a circle around a crying figure as Addison and Mark Sloan walked into their locker room.

"What is going on here?" Addie asked, letting go of Mark's arm to push into the middle of the huddle. Ever since Derek's departure ten years ago, she had grown attached to the then-interns, now residents, and had helped them discover their specialty fields, watch their friendships strengthen, and their love lives grow.

After moving the three residents out of the way, Addison saw they were huddled around George O'Malley, who was crying his eyes out.

"O'Malley," she said quietly. "What's wrong?"

George looked up into the eyes of the neonatal surgeon, tears still pouring down his cheeks. "I just had a call from Melissa, Carol's sister. She said Carol had been in a car accident in San Francisco while visiting yesterday, and she died, but they saved the baby."

Addison knew just how much Carol meant to George, after his heartbreak of losing Callie after prom, and knew that Carol was barely 25 weeks gone when she left two days ago, which meant that the baby was premature, and possibly in serious danger.

"That's it George," Addison said, with a kindness in her voice unknown to all of them. "I'll take you to San Francisco, to get Carol's body, and to bring your baby back here for neonatal care."

George looked into Addie's eyes, grateful for the friend she had become. "Thank you," he whispered, embracing the older woman.

George walked into the maternity wing, and straight into the 'storage room' that had become so famous lately with the girl's secret pregnancy scans.

"What was so urgent that I had to be pulled from a… oh…" George saw that Addison was standing next to Callie, who had her legs propped up in stirrups, and there were a few assorted medical instruments scattered around the foot of the bed.

"Hi George," Callie said softly, trying to avoid eye contact with her boyfriend.

"What are you doing, Callie?" The intern asked suspiciously, wondering what his slightly pregnant girlfriend and the neonatal specialist were doing.

Her eyes completely devoid of emotion, Calliope Torres stared George O'Malley straight in the eyes. "I'm having an abortion, George. My career is too important to me at the moment, and I don't have any time to raise a child."

George stared open-mouthed at his girlfriend for three months. "I can't believe you'd do that to me, Callie, I thought you cared about me." He started to cry. "I'm sorry, Cal, but this is something I can't handle. This relationship is over, and I hope you leave within the next two weeks, or I will!"

And with that, George turned and walked out of the storage room, leaving Addison Montgomery and Calliope Torres staring open mouthed at him. And he did not care one bit.

George woke up in Addison's arms, thankful that she was his friend, and his wife's obstetrician. Because of her, his premature baby would survive, even if Carol did not.

- Seattle Grace Hospital, On Call Room, 2016 -

George lay crying on the bed, his head on Izzie's lap, when Alex walked in. He was not jealousy, but used to seeing them together in that way. Not long after Iz had miscarried Elizabeth Rose Karev, Alex moved in to the house she shared with Meredith and George, and set up her memorial in their back yard.

"You ok, O'Malley?" he asked, bringing gifts of tequila and shot glasses, courtesy of Joe. Placing them on the bed, he unscrewed the top and poured a shot for the crying man.

"What about your house?" Izzie asked, stroking his brown hair in a caring way. "Weren't you and Carol in the middle of decorating the nursery for the baby?"

George started sobbing again. "What about the baby? Will I have to raise it on my own?"

"Oh George…" Alex and Izzie comforted him, knowing some of what he was going through. George was there for them after Lizzie died, and now they were there for him after Carol's death.

All they could do was hug him and hold him while he cried. It was the least he could do.

"George," came the sweet voice of Mrs Carol O'Malley from down the hall. As a general surgeon, George was standing in front of the surgical board when his wife approached that afternoon.

"Hey, Carol," he greeted, turning from the board to kiss her. "How was work today?"

Carol worked in the paediatrics ward as a nurse, an occupation both entertaining and stressful. "You know, the usual."

George leant in to kiss her, but then realised something was wrong. "Wait a minute," he said, breaking off the kiss. "Aren't you still supposed to be working?"

Carol smiled sweetly, and grabbed her husband's hand, placing it tenderly on her abdomen. "I have some good news for you," she whispered in his ear.

"Oh," he said, playing along with her game.

"I'm having a baby."

The look on Carol's face was so happy when he told her.

George was so happy, he couldn't say anything, but jumped up and down with her.

"Finally!" he managed to scream. "Today is the best day of my life!"

George was so glad Izzie and Alex were his friends, and so glad they were finally blessed with a child; after Lizzie's death, it was something these two seriously deserved.

As you can see, George was happy when he found out Carol was pregnant.

Please R & R, I hope you like the new format.

I promise I'll update soon,

Emma aka tayababy