Hey guys! Thanks again for the reviews. Got to warn you though, since I've seen Addison/Pete, I think they're my new canon OTP. But Addek still remains my fic OTP coz we all know that ficDerek is way better than canon Derek. Agree?
Anyway, as usual thanks to Suz for the beta.
Disclaimer: Grey's Anatomy still not mine. If it were, Addison will have more screentime and Addek will get back together.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Days had passed uneventfully for Addison as she waited to be discharged. Richard had been stricter in keeping her inside the room ever since he discovered Addison stalking the halls of the surgical floor looking for something to do. She was really glad when, by Friday, Savvy returned to Seattle Grace with various magazines and catalogues to browse through.
"Just sign over here and it's all yours. I'll take care of everything" Savvy said as she pointed to the space on the papers she handed to Addison. "And I've ordered most of the items we've gone over online and they'll be ready on time."
"Thanks for doing this, Sav." Addison gratefully said to her friend.
"Anytime, babe"
Derek found the two still pouring over the catalogues when he entered Addison's room. He didn't know Savvy would be back and felt nervous at her presence. He still feared the fact that Savvy could convince Addison to return to New York.
"Hi" he nervously greeted the two women.
Savvy gave him a strained smile while Addison just nodded at him.
Derek came closer and planted a quick kiss on his wife's head. "Hello, Savvy. I didn't know you'd be back. When did you get in?" He didn't know if it was okay to approach Savvy and give her a kiss hello like he used to so Derek made his way to the unoccupied chair – the one farthest from Addison.
"I came in yesterday but I had to take care of some things" replied Savvy.
"I see." Derek said. He didn't know what else to say. Things between the two had also become uneasy.
"Derek," Addison called out. It was one of the rarest times that his wife had made an attempt address him. "Could you lend Savvy your keys to the trailer? I don't know what have become of mine and Savvy really needed something I have from there."
"Oh… I could get it for you. I don't mind." Derek said.
"No, no. It's all right. I'll get it." Savvy interjected.
"Are you sure? My next surgery isn't until 3pm. I can go home and get it. Besides, do you even know how to get there?"
"It's alright, Derek. You're at work. And Addie gave me directions earlier." Savvy pointed out.
Derek complied and handed over his keys. He didn't want to argue with the two, especially since things between them were precarious.
"Thanks," Savvy said as she accepted the keys. "I think I better go now. I have some other errands to do but I'll be back later." She left the room quickly after squeezing Addison's hand.
Silence fell over the couple in the room, a regular occurrence lately between the two.
"Do you think we need to see another marriage counselor when you get out of the hospital?" Derek asked quietly, hoping to start a conversation on the state of their marriage. Addison just looked at him for a moment with question in her eyes.
"It didn't work before so I guess, no." Addison replied.
"It's just that, you barely talk to me and… I really don't know what to do. I'm trying here, Addison."
"Can you really blame me for not wanting to talk to you?" she snapped back.
"It's just that… you're distant, I don't know what you're thinking… what you want."
"Just give it time. Wait for it to pass."
"Wait for it to pass." Derek repeated, his own words of a long time ago coming back to haunt him. He shook the memory away and continued, "It… it would be helpful if you would just tell me what you want me to do."
Addison was miffed that Derek felt he needed for her to tell him what to do. "Fine, I want you to stop looking like a wounded puppy. I want you to stop smiling this 'McDreamy' smile. That's not you and frankly it just makes you look smarmy." She said spitefully.
Derek would have laughed if he hadn't caught the irritation in her voice. It was a typical Addison tirade and usually they both just laugh at it. But there was no mistaking the seriousness and the contempt on her tone when she said it.
He just swallowed his protest and nodded silently.
x x x
Derek was excited when Monday arrived. It was the day Addison would be released from the hospital. He had taken the day off to spend the whole time with his wife and to ensure that everything was in order for her home coming. Derek had spent the whole Sunday preparing the trailer, making sure that everything was to Addison's liking. He had realized that the trailer wasn't actually fit for someone with crutches but it was too late to make other arrangements. They would just have to make do but he'd do almost anything to guarantee that Addison was comfortable.
Derek arrived at Addison's room and found his wife surrounded by Richard, Bailey and Callie Torres. Savvy was also there, packing the last of Addison's items.
"Wow. Somebody's popular." He remarked but nobody reacted to him.
"Come on now, Addison" Richard began. "Hop on the wheelchair. And I don't want to hear a protest from you. It's hospital policy." He said pushing the wheelchair he had asked an orderly to leave at the room near Addison's side.
"Alright" Addison mumbled. "This is embarrassing." She said under her breath then obediently hopped on.
The group left the room and made their way out of the hospital. Richard was pushing Addison in the wheelchair while Derek carried their bags and Callie handled the crutches. Savvy and Bailey filled their arms with flowers, balloons and other items well wishers sent during Addison's confinement.
When they reached the hospital's main entrance, Derek excused himself to get the car. The three doctors took the opportunity to say their goodbyes to Addison.
"We'll see you soon, okay girl? Take care of yourself." Bailey said.
"Thank you, Miranda. I'll see you soon."
"Take care, Addison. Don't overexert yourself, okay? See you soon." Callie said when it was her turn.
Addison smiled at the young doctor. "Yes, ma'am. I'll see you guys soon."
"But not for another 2 weeks. I don't want to see you on hospital grounds before then." Richard interjected.
"Richard." Addison said warningly. "I'll be here before your 2 week sanction is up. I'll have my cast and stitches removed. Speaking of which, I know it was you who closed me up so there better be no visible scars when it's all healed."
"What do you think I am? An intern? For your information, Addie, that is probably the best suture I have ever done in my career. Even the plastic guys would agree with me."
"Yeah, yeah, I'll believe it when I see or actually, don't see it." Addison said with a smile. Derek's Range Rover pulled up. "So, I guess, I'll see you all soon, huh?" she said looking at each doctor who she owed her life to. "Thank you. Thank you so much for putting me back together."
Derek's SUV was quickly loaded up and the three passengers settled themselves then waved goodbye to the three doctors.
"Ready to go home?" Derek asked, looking at Addison through the rear view mirror where she sat at the backseat.
"Actually, Derek, there's something I'd like to show Addison, if you don't mind."
Savvy answered instead. "I'll give directions."
When they arrived at their unexpected destination, Derek couldn't help but wonder what they were doing at the posh, high rise apartment building. Savvy led the way to the elevators and pushed for the 24th floor. Derek assisted his wife all throughout the way. When the elevator reached the floor, Savvy got out and made her way confidently to door number 2405. She inserted the key and opened the door.
"Welcome home, Addie." She said.
Derek's eyes widened in shock. The apartment was fully furnished and ready to be lived in.
"Oh, Savvy, it looks great!" Addison remarked as she hobbled her way inside.
Derek just stood by the door and took everything in. Addison never meant to go home with him to the trailer. It was a punch in the gut.
Savvy noticed Derek by the door and guessed what he was thinking. She muttered to him quietly, "Remember Derek, on her terms. On her terms."
Derek just stared at her and said nothing. When his initial shock wore off, he perused the apartment. He noticed that the design and furnishing was so Addison – modern but warm, elegant but seemingly simple enough. Actually, the whole apartment reminded him of the SoHo unit Addison and Savvy used to share years ago. There were also items very familiar to him. Items that used to be in their brownstone in Manhattan – the Paris snow globe Addison's father gave her when she was 12; the first item, a lava lamp, Addison bought with her first earned money in high school; the picture of Addison at 7 years old dancing with her dad; and the delicately framed black and white photo of Mrs. Montgomery, pregnant with her daughter.
Derek followed the two women down the hallway and as he passed by the guest room, he noticed that Savvy had already claimed the room. When he reached the master bedroom, he was utterly shocked at what he saw – everything was to Addison's liking. Her books and CDs all neatly stacked and every closet was already filled with her clothes and shoes.
The message was very clear to Derek: this was Addison's sanctuary, hers alone. And her husband had no place in it.
Sorry if I'm so cruel to Derek. And if you're looking for instant reunion between these two, sorry this fic is not it. :)