Hey guys, here's an update for you, hope you all had a great Valentine's Day :)
Chapter 21 – How Much I Care
Meredith was sitting in Joe's bar concentrating on the knitting needles in her hands. Arizona and herself had become friends, and Meredith had decided to go with out sex, Arizona wasn't so keen on this idea, and let Meredith know when evr they were together by outrageously flirting with her.
"Dude, is she knitting?" Joe asked Derek who was watching form the next table. Derek walked over and placed his drink on Mere's table.
"You know, as a friend, I got to tell you." Derek said, "You look a little weird."
"I am making a sweater." Meredith told them, not looking up,
"You're knitting. In a bar." Joe said, "You can't knit in a bar. You're scaring the customers."
"Come on, have a drink."
"I can't have a drink. I'm celibate." Mere said,
"You mean sober? She means sober." Joe clarified,
"No. Celibate." Meredith said, "I'm practicing celibacy, and drinking does not go well with celibacy, because it makes everything and everyone seem kind of porny." Derek raised his eyebrows but Mere didn't pause, "And then my head gets all cloudy and then the next thing you know, I'm naked. And my point is, I'm celibate, and knitting is good for surgical dexterity, so I'm making a sweater."
"You, celibate?" Derek said with a smirk, "I just don't buy it."
"No more men." Mere told him firmly,
Addison walked over with a grin, "No more men? Really? You?" She smirked,
Mere gave her a look then returned to her knitting, "Every guy I meet turns out to be married."
"Ooh. Ouch." Derek winced,
"Sorry." Mere said, "Or Mark."
"Ok, I'm gonna go over there now." Nodded Addie,
"Sorry." Addie walked away and Mere turned to Derek, "Or remember the horrible thing I did? Remember Addie?"
"You're making a sweater." Derek realised,
"I am making a sweater." Agreed Mere,
The door opened and Meredith glanced up at the ring of the bell. Arizona walked in with a smile.
"Hey!" she grinned more when she saw Mere,
"Arizona." Mere couldn't help a smile,
Arizona walked forward and hugged Mere, "How are you?"
Addison watched from the next table, "Well she's not breaking the rule." Derek said, "No more men."
Addie said nothing, just watched with a pang as this blonde woman flirted with Mere and how Mere smiled and flirted back.
* * *
The next morning Addison was walking through the hospital, passing Derek.
"Good morning." Derek said, walking with her as Addie put on her coat,
"Hey." greeted Addie, "You going into surgery or coming out?"
Derek didn't get a chance to answer because right then a figure ran to them yelling.
"Aunty Addison!"
Mindy jumped onto Addie who quickly wrapped her arms around the girl, grinning.
"Hey gorgeous." She kissed Mindy's cheek and balanced her on her hip,
Derek stopped and looked at the two.
"Hey there." He grinned, "Who's this?" He asked Addie,
"I'm Mindy." Grinned the girl,
"Meredith's daughter." Addie clarified,
Derek's eyes widened, "Oh!" He smiled, "Well it's very nice to meet you Mindy; I'm Derek."
"Oh thank God." Said a voice, Chris was running over, "Addie, could you take her? Nate's mum is in hospital we have to rush over but-"
"It's fine." Addison assured him, "I'll take her, and page Mere."
Chris sighed in relief, "Thanks Add." He kissed her cheek, "Ok Mindy, we'll call you when we get there baby. Be good for Mummy and Aunty Addison." Mindy nodded and Chris kissed her forehead, "I love you."
"Love you too." Grinned Mindy,
Chris nodded, "Ok, well I have to go. Bye Addison, see you soon Minds."
Addie grinned and looked at Mindy, "Come on then Miss Mindy. Let's find Mummy."
Mindy pouted, "Can I stay with you Aunty Addison?"
Addie chuckled and stepped onto an elevator with Derek, "Only for a little while."
* * *
Addison walked into her patient's room holding a chart and Mindy's hand.
"Molly Thompson. 22 years old, 32 weeks pregnant." George presented, "Transferred here from Mercy West when an ultrasound diagnosed the baby with congenital diaphragmatic hernia."
"Hello, Molly. I'm Dr. Addison Montgomery." Addie introduced herself, "I hope you don't mind but I've been put on baby sitting duty.
Mindy giggled, and gave a half wave, hiding behind Addie's legs.
"It's fine." Molly told her, "You're supposed to be the best."
"And not to put any pressure on you, or anything, but this is my baby carrying my grandchild so I really hope that you are." Molly's mother said, "The best, I mean."
"Mum, you're kind of threatening the doctor. Don't threaten the doctor. It doesn't help." Molly said quietly,
"Sorry. My husband tells me I have to try not to be such a mother lion because Molly's a grown woman and has her own life and everything, but... Roar."
Addison smiled and Mindy giggled again, "It's ok. I can take it. I am the best." Addie told them,
"You can fix this, though? Right?"
Addison walked closer to the bed, "We'll insert a scope into your uterus and then inflate a little balloon in the baby's airway, which should help stimulate the lungs to grow. It's not going to be easy on either of you. But I do have a strong record with this surgery."
Mindy came forward slightly shy,
"What's your name?" She asked,
"Molly. What's your name?"
"Mindy."
Addie ran her hand through Mindy's dirty blonde hair, "Mindy honey, we have to go now, say bye to Molly."
Mindy waved and skipped off with George, once they left the room Addie turned to George, "Make sure you get her to the MRI and get me the results as soon as you can."
"I will."
Addison smiled and took Mindy's hand, "Let's go find Mummy." Mindy nodded and they walked through the hospital,
George stood at a station writing in a chart, he noticed a man standing in the corridor, looking around.
"Sir? Can I help you find something?"
"Uh... is there a Dr. Meredith Grey working today?"
"Yes."
"She's here in the hospital, right now?" He asked,
"I can have someone page her for you if you want me to."
"No. No. Thanks." He went to leave,
"Wait!" George called, walking to him, "Excuse me, sir. Are you... What's your name?"
"Thatcher."
"You're..."
"Grey. Yeah."
"You're Meredith's father." George said, more of a statement then question,
"Yeah."
"Are you sure you don't want me to page her for you?" George asked, not quiet sure what to do,
"No. I'm sorry. It's complicated." Thatcher said,
Molly's mother popped her head out of the door leading to her room, "Thatcher, honey? We're right here."
"Oh. Oh. There you are, Susan."
"Did you tell him?" Susan asked George, "I roared a little. Couldn't help it."
"Oh. Oh, well, I knew you would."
Susan laughed,
"Uhh. I'm sorry, I'm Dr. O'Malley. I'm, uh..." He indicated the door to Molly's room,
"Uh, well, excuse us. Uh... check on our daughter." Thatcher walked into Molly's room with Susan, leaving George staring.
* * *
"Mummy, Mummy!" Mindy ran to her mother and hugged her, Izzie grinned,
Meredith bent down and hugged her, "Hey Mindy." She stood, "This is Izzie."
"Hi Izzie!" grinned Mindy, "Are you a doctor like my Mummies?"
Izzie didn't notice the slip but Addison and Meredith did, "Yes I am." smiled Izzie,
"When I grow up I wanna be a doctor." Mindy said proudly, "Or a teacher." She added as an after thought,
Izzie smiled, "Wow."
Meredith was paged, "Ortho?" She sighed, "I have to go Mindy. You can stay with Aunty Addie or Dr Izzie." She looked up, "You wouldn't mind?"
Izzie beamed, "I'd love to!"
"Thanks." Mere kissed Mindy's head, "Bye."
Addison kissed Mindy too, "You're going to be good for Izzie aren't you?" Mindy gave her an innocent smile
"Yes."
"Good. Bye Mindy."
"Bye Aunty Addison."
Izzie smiled and bent down to Mindy's height. "What do you want to do Mindy?"
"Uhh…" Mindy thought, "Can we play hide and seek?" Izzie looked at her innocent, begging eyes, "Please."
"Oh… Ok. But no going where you're not allowed." Izzie told her, "This floor only, and no patient's rooms."
Mindy nodded,
"Ok."
They stood there until Mindy giggled, "You have to count."
Izzie smiled and covered her eyes, "One. Two. Three."
Mindy ran off giggling.
Twenty minutes later Izzie was starting to freak out. She had looked everywhere. All the closets, on call rooms and nurses stations. Under gurneys and behind chairs in stair welds. She couldn't find Mindy anywhere.
"Damn it." She exclaimed and she took off,
She passed George on that stairs, "George!" she grinned, "Thank God. Have you seen a little girl, eight. Her name's Mindy, she's Mere's daughter. They look exactly alike."
George frowned, "Yea she was with Addison this morning."
Izzie cursed, "I was supposed to look after her but she ran off. Well we're playing hide and seek."
"You lost Meredith's daughter?" Whispered George, "Do you know what could happen?"
"I know, Mere will kill me."
"No." said George, "She could run into my patient, who just so happens to be Meredith's sister."
Another ten minutes later Addison was walking along the cat walk she passed George and paused, "Do you have Molly's MRI results?"
"No, I haven't. Not yet."
"What the hell have you been doing then?" Asked Addie,
"I was just going-" George was cut off,
"When I assign you to a case of mine I expect you to give it your full and undivided attention. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't take you off this case."
"Molly Thompson's maiden name is Grey." George told her, "Her father is Thatcher Grey. Thatcher Grey is also Meredith's father; which means that Molly and Meredith are sisters, but I don't think Meredith even knows Molly exists. And apparently God hates me because Izzie lost Mindy."
"Stevens lost my- Stevens lost Mindy?"
George nodded, "Playing hide and seek."
"Ok." Addison sighed,
"Ok, thanks." He walked off,
* * *
Meredith walked through the cafeteria carrying a tray; she sat at the table where Cristina was.
"Have you seen Mindy?" She asked,
"Mindy?"
"My daughter."
Cristina raised her eyebrows, "She's here? The Mini-Mere?"
"Yea, she's here." Meredith said, "She was with Izzie."
"Can't help ya."
Meredith nodded and sighed, "I'll page her later."
"You do that."
"You know what's weird." Meredith said after a small silence, "I thought I just saw my father."
"Daughter, father, why don't we have a family reunion?" Cristina said sarcastically, taking a bite of her food.
Izzie and George walked from opposite ends of the cafeteria, "Did you find her?" Asked George,
"Find who?" Mere said,
Izzie swallowed and walked forward,
"Where's Mindy?"
"Ahh, Mere…" Izzie said hesitantly,
"Izzie."
"So Mindy and I were playing hide and seek…"
"…Yes." Meredith said suspiciously,
"And… She's a really good hider, Mere."
"You lost my daughter!" Exclaimed Meredith,
"No! Not lost just… I can't find her."
"Izzie I will kill you." Meredith took off leaving Izzie and George looking after her,
Cristina smirked, "Barbie's playing with the kid. Nice."
Izzie took off, George followed.
* * *
Mindy was crying.
She had broken Izzie's rules and moved to a different floor but now she didn't know where she was.
She looked around the hallway and tried to focus through her blurred vision, sniffing.
"Mindy?" She heard a distant voice,
She looked up and wiped her eyes, seeing the women she met earlier looking at her from the bed.
Mindy ran forward into Molly's room.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm lost." Whimpered Mindy,
"Where's Dr- Where's Addison?"
"I don't know." Mindy cried, "I was with Izzie and we were playing, and then I went in the elevator but when I tried to go back I didn't know what way. And I can't find my Mummy. And my Daddies are with Grandma. And-" Her voice broke off as she sobbed,
Molly felt for the little girl and forced her self to move over on the bed, not easy for a 32 week pregnant woman. She patted the space next to her and Mindy climbed up, Molly hugged her.
"It's ok, you stay here and Aunty Addison will find you. It'll be ok."
Thatcher walked into the room holding two paper cups of coffee, "Your mother's just gone to the bathroom." he said, then frowned, "Who's this?"
Molly looked at him, "This is Doctor Montgomery's niece. She's lost."
"Oh dear." Thatcher put the coffee down on the wheelie table, "Should I have her paged?"
"Yea." Molly looked at Mindy, "Mindy? This is my Daddy, Thatch." She said, Mindy looked up and wiped her eyes, "He's gonna help you find Aunty Addison."
Mindy nodded and jumped down, she walked around to Thatcher and took his hand,
"It's ok Mindy." He said gently, "We'll find your Aunty."
He led her to a nurse's station, "Excuse me, could you please page Doctor Montgomery?" A nurse smiled and nodded politely,
* * *
Addison walked into Molly's room.
"Dr Montgomery!" said Molly, "Mindy was just in here. She's lost."
Addison put the chart she was holding down, "Where'd she go?"
"My dad took her to a nurse to page you." Just as she said it Addison heard her pager go off.
"Your father?" Addison said suddenly,
"Yes."
"I'll be right back." Addison left and hurried through the hallway, she saw the back of Mindy's head, and she was holding a man's hand. Addie cursed.
On the other side of Mindy, Meredith came around the corner; her eyes immediately saw Mindy and nothing else.
"Mindy!"
"Mummy!" Mindy let go of Thatcher and ran to her mother, Meredith picked her up and held her, walking over to the man, "Thank you so-"
She broke off,
"Meredith." Addison rushed forward,
Thatcher looked at her, then at the girl in her arms.
"Meredith?"
"Thatcher."
Addie placed her hand on Meredith's back, "Meredith."
Thatcher looked at Mindy, "She's…"
"Yes."
Thatcher swallowed, he'd so hoped that it wasn't her, the one that… "The paper…"
"Yes." Meredith said again,
"Mere there's something you need to know." Addison told her quietly, "I want you to hear it from me."
She led Meredith to Molly's room, Thatcher followed.
They stood a little away from the door; far enough that Molly didn't notice, but close enough that they could see her. Addie got Mere to put Mindy down, then hand still on her back she spoke.
"Mere, that's your sister."
Meredith swallowed and turned to Thatcher, he nodded.
"Molly." He said.
Meredith swallowed again, picked up her daughter and walked away.
She passed a blonde woman who stopped at looked after Meredith, "I saw a picture once from a long time ago, you look just like her." Meredith turned; Mindy wasn't paying any attention to anything, her arms wrapped tight around Meredith's neck, her face buried in her shoulder.
"Your mother. You look a lot like my girls. Especially Molly."
Meredith nodded awkwardly and shifted Mindy's weight.
"She knows about you. Or she knows that her father was married before and had another daughter. Has another daughter."
"No, had is right."
"Your father thinks about you. He thinks about you a lot. He just...Your mother...Your mother...She broke him."
"Excuse me. I..."
"Mummy?" Mindy whispered, "I need the toilet."
"Okay sweetie." Meredith looked at Susan, "I have to go."
Susan nodded.
While Meredith was gone Thatcher spoke to Addison quietly.
"You work closely with her?" He asked,
"Sometimes… She's my closest friend. We've been through a lot."
"And Mindy?"
Addison paused but decided he had a small right, "She's amazing. Meredith put her up for open adoption. A gay couple. They're great fathers to her, and Meredith sees her as much as she can. I do too."
Thatcher nodded. "How old is she?"
"Mindy's eight." She said, "I've known Meredith since she first got pregnant."
"I don't know what to say to her. She looks so much...so much like her mother. Ellis was cold. I mean, I was a coward. I was...I...I left. But her mother would never let me know her and... Now I don't know how to know her."
Addison smiled, "Ellis always loved me. I don't know why. But she came through. Those months she supported Mere and her choices. Held her hand in the delivery room. I was there, I actually delivered her." Addie smiled softy, "It's why I chose this specialty."
Thatcher nodded and Susan walked over, "Thatch?"
"Meredith will come back." Addison smiled, "She will. For Mindy's sake."
Addison walked into Molly's room with Thatcher and Susan; she gave a smile and started to go over the surgery.
"So I'm gonna do the surgery with a small scope. It will be minimally invasive. And then you should be able to do the rest of your recovery from home."
"Thank you. Yeah, Ok."
There was a small knock and they all looked up to see Meredith, Mindy beside her.
She walked over to the bed and Molly smiled, "Are you on my case too?"
Meredith shook her head, "No I- No." she paused and looked at Addie who gave a small encouraging smile. "No, I'm Dr. Grey. I'm Doctor Meredith Grey, and this is my daughter, Mindy."
"Grey?" Asked Molly, "As in…?" She looked at her father, who nodded, small tears in his eyes,
"Yea." Meredith said and Addison smiled.
Addison, Thatch and Susan left the room and Addie turned to Thatcher.
"She won't forgive you." She told him, "She won't. But if you give her time, and don't push, she'll accept Molly, and the baby. And she'll become family."
He nodded, "Thank you."
Addison smiled and walked away. Susan took Thatcher's hand.
"Mindy sweetie," Mere said in Molly's room, "This is your Aunty Molly, my sister."
Molly smiled, "We kinda met this morning when she was with Dr. Montgomery."
"Oh."
"Yeah, she came in here just before."
"I was lost." Mindy told her quietly,
"That explains why she was with Tha- Dad." Meredith forced herself to say, "Why she was with Dad."
"Yea."
"Aunty Molly?"
"Yes Mindy?"
"Are you having a baby?"
Molly smiled, "Yea I am."
* * *
Molly was in surgery and Meredith sat in the gallery, Mindy asleep in her lap. Meredith looked up from her knitting to see Derek standing in the corner.
"Hey."
"Hey, still knitting?"
"Oh, yeah. I'm getting so good at it." Meredith told him sarcastically,
"Hmm. I did a craniotomy on a kid today while he was awake."
"I met a sister I never knew I had." Meredith said, "And I saw my father which was, uh... I don't know what it was."
"Hmm. You ok?"
"I have my Mindy. And my knitting." She smiled,
Derek walked over and sat next to her, "She looks a lot like you." He said, "Very cute."
Meredith laughed, "Are you calling me cute?"
"Yea."
Meredith stopped her knitting and lent on his shoulder, "You're a good friend Derek."
* * *
Addison had finished surgery, she was about to go to the vets, Doc was sick and she wanted to see him. She needed to get Mere off her mind.
She sat in the waiting room and spoke to the receptionist, "I don't actually need to see the vet. I really just wanted to sit with Doc. I just want to spend some time with my dog."
The woman smiled kindly as an attractive man walked in and over to Addie, "Hi. I'm Finn Dandridge. I'm Doc's vet. And you are Dr. Montgomery, or Dr. Grey. One of Doc's other owners."
"Dr. Montgomery- Addison."
"We finally meet." Finn smiled, "Hello."
Hehe, Finn is totally my fav reoccuring charrie. except Nurse Tyler :P