The first chapter was kind of slow, so I decided to give you guys another one. This chapter is really setting up the story and going around the hospital. Trust me, I get more into the plot line after this. Just so you know, I'm dropping hints everywhere as to what's going on, so if you pick them out, you might just figure out the plot line or at least part of it before I completely reveal it. I hope you enjoy it!
Chapter 2: Come On
I want to get myself back high
I want to get myself back tonight, tonight, tonight
all of the things that you promised us that you'd be
Her eyes slowly opened, adjusting to the light coming in from the broad windows. She sat up, confused at first as if she was living out a dream. Remembering the past few days, everything connected and made sense.
She pulled the blanket off her body and tossed it to the other end of the couch. She lazily walked towards the kitchen, disgusted by the continuous dust. She left the kitchen untouched, vowing to scrub the entire thing before letting anything in there touch her food.
She quickly got dressed and threw her hair up before heading out to the garage. She grabbed another key out of her purse and stared at the old car. Slightly pissed off that she had to drive in Seattle instead of riding the subway like she was used to, she pulled the door open and got in. She headed to Starbucks, almost hitting about four people in the process. When she finally got there in one piece, she got some coffee and a scone for breakfast. As she paid, she noticed her cell phone flashing inside of her purse. As she headed outside, she pulled it out and called her voicemail.
"Hey Mer! I just wanted to make sure that you made it to Seattle safely and that you're, well, that you're doing all right. I know a lot has been happening, but I'm still here. Call me if you need to talk or you get lonely out there. It's going to kill me having you so far away. I hate not having my sis down the street. Just make sure that you do talk to me about everything or find someone out there to talk to, okay? Rodger just got home, so I'll talk to you later. Make sure you call me! Oh, wait, Rodger said to say hi. We both miss you and love you! Bye!" Meredith smiled as she hung up the phone, glad that she actually listened to that. Her sister's perky voice was exactly what she needed right now.
Meredith got back in her car and sat there for a moment in the chilly weather, mentally preparing herself for this. She'd been a doctor for years, why in the world was she so nervous about it now?
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Meredith walked into the hospital, surprised at how much she liked the hustle and bustle that she had missed while in private practice. She headed over to the front desk, meeting a smiling face.
"Could you please direct me to Dr. Webber's office?" Meredith asked, trying her best to smile as well.
The woman looked up at Meredith, her smile almost becoming annoyingly big, "Do you have an appointment?"
"No, but he told me to come and see him as soon as I arrived," Meredith explained.
"Dr. Grey!"
Meredith turned around, seeing Dr. Webber heading towards her. She walked over to him and he greeted her with a warm hug, in which she felt slightly uncomfortable in. "I'm so glad you've arrived. How was your flight?"
"Fine," Meredith answered simply, adjusting her purse strap on her arm.
"I've already briefed you on your case. I'll have to introduce you to the other surgeons on it as soon as possible. Why don't we head up to the surgical floor?" he suggested. Meredith nodded as he led her over to the elevator and inside. "Have you found a place to stay yet?" he inquired.
"I'm staying at my mother's old place for the time being," she answered, hoping that he wouldn't question anything else. Her past and present situations were things she did not enjoy discussing: especially with an old college professor and possible new boss.
"I hope you take a liking to Seattle," he said as the doors opened again, "Then maybe you'll agree to sign a contract to keep you here."
She smiled slightly at him, "I'll just wait and see. It all depends on how things go."
"Ah, Dr. Yang!" Dr. Webber bellowed at the sight of an Asian woman. She stopped and looked over at him with respect, her eyes turning to Meredith with doubt.
"You must be the new surgeon here for the consult?" she asked.
"Yes, actually. Dr. Grey," Meredith said, offering her hand.
The woman looked at her strangely before lightly shaking her hand, "Dr. Yang, cardio."
"Dr. Yang will be part of the operation as well," Dr. Webber explained, "Dr. Yang, would you mind showing Dr. Grey around and introducing her to the other surgeons on the case?"
"Sure, but I have to get back to my other patients soon," she said, obviously not happy about her new chore.
"Well, Dr. Grey, once you're done with Dr. Yang, she can show you to my office and we'll take it from there."
"Okay," Meredith answered before heading over to Dr. Yang.
"Oh, and Meredith?"
Meredith turned around, surprised that he had chosen to use her first name. "Yes, Dr. Webber?" She'd prefer if they kept things as professional as possible.
His face softened into a small frown and his voice fell a few decibels, "I'm very sorry for your loss."
Meredith's composure fell for a moment, revealing her vulnerability. She quickly put her mask back on, "Thank you," she said softly before turning back to Dr. Yang, hoping there would be a no questions asked policy between them.
Dr. Yang led Meredith down the hall, not a single word passing between them. Meredith may have wanted a no questions asked policy, but she hadn't asked for total silence. "So, how long have you been working at Seattle Grace?" she asked, hoping to start up some friendly, professional conversation.
"Since the first day of my internship," she answered, "Where are you from?" she asked, her voice revealing her true lack of interest.
"New York. Private practice," Meredith said, not wanting to go into much detail either.
Dr. Yang stopped in front of cafeteria, surprising Meredith a little. "I don't want interns on this case. It's too risky and the interns nowadays are complete morons, so to replace them, along with the attendings already on the case, we're having a few residents." Meredith just nodded and followed as Dr. Yang walked into the cafeteria. She stopped at a table occupied by two people, "This is Dr. Stevens and Dr. O'Malley. They'll be assisting. This is Dr. Grey, the new neuro attending."
The woman at the table jumped up, her blond hair bouncing, "Izzie Stevens," she said offering her hand to a hesitate Meredith, "I'm honored to be able to assist you both on a case like this."
"Oh shut it, Barbie," Dr. Yang snapped, surprising Meredith. She noticed, however, that Dr. Stevens did not seem fazed by the nickname or the snapping at all.
The man stood up as well. He did not seem as confident in himself or his surgical skills as the other resident had been. "George O'Malley," he said, introducing himself.
"It's nice to meet both of you," Meredith said as she shook Dr. O'Malley's outstretched hand, "I'm sure it'll be a pleasure to work with both of you."
"Barbie and Bambi? Not really," Dr. Yang said, "They're just not as bad as the interns."
"Cristina," Dr. Stevens hissed, apparently not very comfortable with being put down in front of a coworker.
"Are you all friends or something?" Meredith asked, hoping that this was not the way all the Doctors treated each other here.
"Or something," Dr. Yang said as she rolled her eyes, "We have two other surgeons to meet before I can get back to my patients." She started walking away and Meredith quickly caught up with her, "Tell spawn to stay away from the new surgeon!" she called back to the residents.
"Spawn?" Meredith asked, completely lost.
"Evil spawn," she answered, "Dr Karev, he's a manwhore. I suggest you stay away."
"Okay…" Meredith responded, completely surprised by the lack of professionalism between these people. Apparently Seattle Grace was going to be nothing like her practice in New York.
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"Surgical floor is the fifth floor," Dr. Yang explained as they stepped off the elevator, "Dr. Webber's office is in the west wing, with the cardio. Neuro is mainly in the north. Get a map or something for the rest," she said, continuing to show her annoyance with her responsibility of showing Meredith around. "This is a nurse's station," she said as she stopped, "I assume you know what that is?"
Meredith's eyes narrowed a little, "Of course."
"Good," Dr. Yang said as she began heading down the hall again. "Dr. Bailey," she said at the sight of another Doctor.
"Yes?" she asked, sounding just as annoyed as Dr. Yang.
"This is Dr. Grey. The Chief asked that I'd introduce her to the surgical team," Dr. Yang explained, her demeanor straightening out and trading in its sarcasm for respect.
"Welcome to Seattle Grace, Dr. Grey. I'm Dr. Bailey," she said, a warm smile on her lips.
"Thank you," Meredith said, "I'm glad to be here."
Dr. Bailey glanced up at the clock before brining her attention back to the surgeons, "I'll see you two at the briefing before the surgery later on. Right now, you'll have to excuse me; I have another surgery to attend to. It was nice to meet you, Dr. Grey."
"You too, Dr. Bailey," Meredith said as she walked away.
"Dr. Bailey, don't cross her," Dr. Yang said, "She may not be the Chief officially, but she rules this hospital. It's her way or the highway. She was my resident back when I was an intern. She'll make anyone's life a living hell if she feels that they deserve it. Like I said, don't cross her."
"Okay," Meredith said, originally having a completely different impression of Dr. Bailey.
"We have one more surgeon to meet. Other than spawn that is, but you don't need to meet him until we scrub in. He's just going to be retracting for me anyways. He won't step close to the brain," she said, "And trust me, that is a good thing."
"Hello Dr. Yang," a doctor Meredith had yet to meet said as he walked over to them. "You must be Dr. Grey," he added noticing Meredith.
"Yes, actually," she said, shaking his hand.
"Dr. Shepherd," he offered, "Head of Neurosurgery. Although, I hear I'll have some competition if you transfer here," he added with a small smirk.
"Don't worry," she answered, "I don't plan on this move being permanent."
He continued to smile, and his smile became something she couldn't miss, "We could always use another talented surgeon around here, even if she could take my job."
Meredith laughed uncomfortably and Cristina looked between the two, taking note of his smile. "Have we met before? I swear you look familiar. Maybe a conference or something?" he asked.
Meredith shook her head lightly, "No, not unless you've been in New York lately."
"Used to live there actually," he said, "Move to Seattle about a year ago. Maybe I just saw you around or something."
"Maybe," Meredith added, still feeling a little uncomfortable.
"All right, let's get going," Cristina said after feeling like Meredith had had enough, "Nice seeing you, Dr. Shepherd."
"Yeah, nice meeting you," Meredith added as she headed off into the direction Cristina had went.
"Nice to meet you too," Derek called out as he watched her catch up with Cristina, until she had disappeared down another hall. He just couldn't shake the feeling that he knew this Dr. Grey from somewhere.
