Title: Breathe

Authors: Sara And Lizzie

Rating: T for language, mild sex

Disclaimer: It would be nice to own grey's anatomy, sadly all we own are a lot of high priced shoes and handbags, and both seasons on dvd.

Summary: A month or so after Meredith's near death experience, tragedy strikes Seattle Grace again in the form of a robbery gone wrong. A hostage situation takes place in the OR. Nine lives hang in the balance as they wait to live, die, or just get blown up.

Author's Note: Okay. So now we start to get into two things: 1) how this happened and 2) thats its not just a mission impossible three type action story, there is some serious character development going on here. This is going to change them all, put everyone at peace with who they are.

Are email alerts down? Cause we havent gotten any emails, and the reviews have been waaaaay down. So uhh...

REVIEW.

If you've ever heard that silence, it's a god awful sound.

The team of scientists still left in Seattle were gathered in a conference room at Seattle Grace. The rest of the space was filled police officers. The National Guard was on their way, and the Chief and Bailey stood at the front of the room. As Bailey shot sidelong glances at Richard, she was reminded why he was the chief of surgery.

He stood at the helm, commanding attention, exuding power. It was a welcome change. He had seemed different lately; tentative and unsure. But now, in the face of this crisis, staring down the barrel of a gun that could bring tragic ends, she saw the side of Richard Webber that made him chief. He looked at the researchers. "By now the police have briefed you on the situation." He said seriously, in a tone that allowed no one to question his authority. "The report on specimen 435 is extremely vague." Several of the researchers shifted uncomfortably.

"Nine members of my surgical team, many of which are near and dear to my heart, are in that room. You will give me answers. You will tell me and the police everything we need to know. There are no options. There is no room for secrecy. Start talking." Richard stood back, for the first time in a long time, feeling like the Chief Of Surgery. He eyed them all, compelling them to speak.

Silence, all consuming, crushing silence took over the OR. The nine of them sat against a wall, in silence. "We should call Richard." Burke finally said. "Have him turn off the oxygen." Addison pulled her knees to her chest and dropped her head into her hands.

"What's the point? It's not going to help us if that thing blows up!" Mark leaned down closer to her and enclosed one of her hands with his.

"Hey." He whispered into her ear. "You can get through this. We can get through this." Addison didn't move, or give any indication she had heard him at all, but she let him hold her hand, and his reassurance madder her feel just a little bit better.

Burke shook his head and pulled his phone away from his ear. "He's not answering. I'm sure there's a lot going on." Cristina let her head fall back against the wall, and Burke took her hand in an understated, but caring gesture. She didn't look anywhere but up, masking her fear with indifference. Down the row of surgeons, George shrugged.

"We could look on the bright side…" he suggested trailing off.

Addison lifted her head off of her legs. "Shut up, O' Malley." She snapped meanly.

"Don't talk to him like that." Izzie shot back.

"Both of you." Alex said, "Should shut up." They lapsed back into silence. Meredith thought she was going to go crazy. Of course she wasn't wearing a watch, and her phone was in her locker, so naturally, she didn't know what time it was. She didn't know how long they sat there, in excruciating silence.

Her only comfort was that she knew Derek could hear every breath she was taking, and she knew that would make him less afraid. He was never afraid for himself. He was always afraid for her. Sometimes Meredith couldn't believe that he had jumped in that water for her. She shifted so she was a little closer to him and let her head drop on his shoulder. He kissed her hair, and brought a hand up to stroke it quietly. In the silence, Meredith heard Addison suck in a breath. She pulled away from Derek entirely, feeling cold the second his arm was no longer wrapped around her.

Derek shook his head. "No." he said softly. He turned to Addison. "You don't get to do that. You don't get to act all hurt and pained. I know this is hard for you, Addison, but she's scared too. She's not going to sit five feet away from me and shiver because you can't handle it." Meredith closed her eyes. Was it really just this morning it seemed like she and Addison were making progress? Now she felt constantly caught between wanting to be a normal couple, and not wanting to hurt her.

"Derek, it's okay." She said. "I'm fine. We don't need to…" She trailed off hesitantly.

"Rub it in my face?" Addison suggested. Meredith's cheeks flushed.

"I'm sorry." She whispered, feeling like she had run around this circle before. Addison sighed. She didn't want to have this fight. She wanted to be able to watch them and feel nothing but happy that her ex husband was so happy, but she couldn't. She still got distinct pains every time. And every time Meredith apologized to her, or looked guilty, Addison felt immature and meaningless in their lives. She had nothing to say, so she just turned her back and waved her hand at Derek.

He frowned, but reached for Meredith anyway. Gratefully, she scooted back towards him, and positioned herself between his legs, settling back into his chest and locking both of her hands with his.

"Well that was awkward." Cristina said.

"Too soon for jokes, Yang." Mark said quietly. Meredith knew what was coming next. Silence.

Meredith's body had become heavier against his, and her breathing had deepened. She had fallen into a gentle sleep, and Derek was glad for that. He didn't want her to be afraid. He checked his watch. Nine hours left. He bit his lip and looked down at Meredith, cradling her body a little closer. He would die before her let her blow up in here.

He was trying desperately not to show it, but he was terrified. There was a reason they wanted that specimen, and the reason was unclear to him, but he knew it was serious. He also knew that they did need to get out of there. And the thing that killed him was that he couldn't do a thing to get them out of here. He felt the same helplessness wash over him that he had felt when the chief kicked him out of Meredith's trauma room. He knew then that he couldn't save her, and he was starting to feel like he wouldn't be able to save her now.

He felt her stir in his lap. She twisted and smiled up at him. "Hi." She whispered. "Was I sleeping?" He smiled in spite of himself.

"You were sleeping." She snuggled back into his chest and shrugged. "I am so glad I peed right before I answered that page." She said, louder than she intended. Everyone's heads turned toward her. It was silent for another minute, and then the four attendings and five interns all burst out laughing. Izzie's laughter subsided as she realized something.

"I had four cups of coffee today." She commented. "And I haven't peed since…" she frowned. "Since a while ago." Alex snorted into his arm.

"You're lucky there are cup like object on that operating table, Tinkerbell." Cristina quipped. Maybe it was to escape from the reality of the situation. Maybe it was because deep down, they all genuinely liked each other. But they all started laughing again.

One of the scientists, a woman with ash blonde hair had locked eyes with the chief minutes ago. They were still holding one another's gaze. Finally she cleared her throat and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Everyone who didn't work on the specimen should leave." She said. "I believe that everyone who worked on it is here." She looked around and nodded. Richard eyed her suspiciously. "I'm serious, Dr. Webber, this is a private matter."

Richard exchanged a glance with the Seattle police captain who nodded. "Everyone not involved with the development should go to the cafeteria and have a cup of coffee, but under no circumstances should any of you leave this hospital." Captain Shank said. They filed out of the room, until there were eight people still sitting around the mahogany table.

"That's a start." Bailey murmured to the chief.

The woman, whose visitor badge would identify her Dr. Sharon Hunter, spoke again. "Really, Dr. Webber, you don't want any more people to hear this information than is absolutely necessary." She said, shooting a meaningful look at Bailey. The chief's eyes flashed.

"Dr. Hunter, please. Don't think because you were the first one to realize you didn't want these people blood on your hands you can have the audacity to try and kick my Chief Resident out of this room." Bailey blinked twice at the words chief resident. She hadn't known that decision was anywhere close to being made, but hearing the title bestowed on her, even so informally filled her with pride.

Sharon looked down and then back up at them. "I'm sorry. I don't meant to be disrespectful, but really, this is very sensitive." Bailey stared at her.

"I assure you, Dr. Hunter, that I can handle anything, no matter how sensitive it may be. Perhaps you can tell the chief what is so damn sensitive. I'd appreciate it if you fools would stop beating around the bush, because every single one of my surgery hungry suck up interns are in that room, and if I don't see them all alive come morning, I'll be coming after you."

Sharon took a deep breath, preparing to divulge the secret she had sworn to take to her grave. It shouldn't be such a big deal. Someone else had already given away the secret, and she had to follow in their footsteps to right the wrong they had created, but still, it wasn't easy. "Sharon, don't!" Dr. Owen Barbon snapped at her. "We can't. You know this."

Sharon looked around at them. Of the eight people that had been involved in the creation of 435, she was the only woman. They all thought she was weak, not as strong as they were, but really, she was the only one strong enough to tell the truth. "We have to tell them." She stressed, looking at her colleagues. "Those people are going to die. Nine people. Derek Shepherd is in that room. Preston Burke is in that room. Addison Montgomery and Mark Sloan. Ellis Grey's daughter is in that room. You know how many people would suffer without their talents. We created a monster. I won't let that monster destroy lives." She said.

"We made a pact!" one of them hissed. "We swore on our lives."

"Someone violated the pact!" Sharon burst out. "Like it or not, one of us told whoever has taken over the surgical floor that the specimen was there. Someone has already done the damage. This isn't violating an agreement. This is saving nine lives. Maybe millions more."

Around the table, faces twisted into shock, as though it hadn't occurred to anyone that someone they had trusted with their secret had sold it to any enemy. Sharon shook her head. She wasn't going to waste anymore time. She looked up. "Dr. Webber, before we say anything, someone should call the Department Of Homeland Security. Counter terrorism units. I have a feeling we're going to need them."

Fireworks. Keeping The Faith. Loud And Clear. It Takes A Village. Four McWeddings And A Funeral. Check them out.

Review.