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Lexie slowly opened her eyes and was greeted by bright lights and numerous indistiguishable voices. She couldn't make out where she was, but she guessed she was in a hospital. Her eyes darted back and forth, searching for a face or voice she might recognize.
"She needs surgery now." She heard a voice say. "There's too much internal bleeding."
"Let's get her to an OR now." She heard someone reply. She swore she thought it was Dr. Hunt.
Meanwhile, Mark was waiting quietly in the waiting room. He had gotten a few gashes sutured and was hoping and praying that everything else would work itself out.
"How are you holding up?" Meredith asked, taking the empty seat next to him.
"I should have told her sooner." He stared at the floor. "That I loved her. I should've made sure she knew."
"She knew." She took his hand in hers. "She knew, Mark."
"No, she didn't." He never moved his gaze. "What if I lose her?"
"You didn't lose her." Meredith stated, squeezing his hand. "Not yet. So don't think like that."
"Family for Alexandra Grey."
"That's me." Meredith stood, anxious in anticipation.
"I'm Dr. Miller, the lead surgeon on your sister's case." He began. "We have the bleeding under control and right now she seems perfectly stable."
"Seems?" Mark asked.
"We are trying to repair the breaks to her legs and pelvis. Right now, it's critical, but I think we are in better shape than it seems." He concluded.
"If she is stable, I want her transferred to Seattle Grace Mercy West hospital." Mark protested.
"Mark." Meredith tried.
"No." He continued. "I want her transferred to Dr. Callie Torres. She is the best orthopedic surgeon there is and if anybody has a shot at saving her legs, it's her."
"I assure you, we are doing everything in our power-" Dr. Miller attempted.
"I want Callie Torres to treat her."
"Dr. Grey, you have power of attorney. If you want your sister transferred to Seattle, you'll have to sign a release."
Meredith hesitated. She didn't want to risk anything by having her moved, but she also knew that Callie was her best shot.
"Where do I sign?"
Hours later...
"Alright, people." Owen Hunt addressed his team waiting on the helipad. "When Dr. Grey arrives, I want to be clear on two things. One, you will treat the patient first, and have your emotions and feelings later. Two, I will only allow those who are needed on this case. No extra bodies for learning purposes."
"She's here." Bailey stated, pointing at the helicopter slowly landing.
The team worked as fast as possible, pushing the gurney inside. Dr. Hunt, Dr. Bailey, and Dr. Torres were the only doctors allowed on the case at this point. Once inside the exam room, Lexie spoke, barely above a whisper.
"Dr. Bailey?"
"Yes, sweetie?"
"I'm gonna be okay, right?" She asked, obviously scared. "I mean, I'm not gonna...die, right?"
"Not if I have anything to say about it." Bailey smiled. "Just try to relax and let us do what we do best."
Lexie just nodded and looked at the ceiling.
"I need new X-rays." Callie stated. "These tell me nothing. I need to know the extent of these breaks."
"Alright." Owen responded. "Kepner!"
April rushed through the door. "Yes, Chief?"
"I need you to make sure Radiology is cleared, we're going to be on our way in two minutes."
"Yes, sir." She chirped as she scurried away.
About half an hour later, Callie Torres was sitting in the Radiology booth with Miranda Bailey at her side.
"What are you thinking?" Miranda asked.
"I think...I can fix most of the breaks. I don't think they are as bad as they look here." Callie squinted, staring at the films. "I think if I put in a rod here and here, she can regain full use of both legs."
"That's great."
"The breaks in her pelvis are pretty minor, too." Callie said with a small smile. "I mean, it's going to be a rough road, but she'll get there."
"Should we tell Meredith, before we head to the OR?" Bailey asked.
"Yeah." She took the films down, placing them in the envelope. "I'll go update her."
Meredith found herself pacing in the hallway, terrified of what she might hear, but hopeful for hearing good news at the same time. She wondered to herself if maybe she shouldn't have had Lexie moved. She was still in such a fragile condition, what if this just made things worse?
"Grey." Callie greeted jogging over to her.
"How bad is it?" She simply asked as Mark immediately walked over to join her.
"Not as bad as we want to think." Callie explained. "I am going to implant a couple of rods, nothing extreme. Most of the breaks in her legs and pelvis can be fixed pretty simply with surgery."
"Thank you." Mark sighed in relief.
"She's not out of the woods yet, though." She clarified. "She's going to need a lot of physical therapy and she will be on crutches for a long time. It is going to be extremely rough on her and she is going to need support now, more than ever."
"Thank you, Callie." Meredith said, hugging her.
"You're welcome." She whispered. "I'll have Bailey let you know when she is in recovery."
Dr. Bailey was having her gown tied in the OR, when she headed to where Lexie laid, prepped for her operation. She noticed her eyes, darting back and forth and knew that she had to be terrified.
"What are thinking, Lexie?" She spoke through her mask.
"I'm trying to think of everything I forgot to say or do." She lightly chuckled. "I never got to go to Vegas. I always wanted to do that."
"Vegas is overrated." Bailey scrunched her nose.
"I never got to go to a wax museum. I know that sounds stupid." She closed her eyes and sighed. "I just...I can think of a million things that I never got to do."
"Look at me." Bailey stated, earning her gaze in response. "You will do them. You will see a wax museum, you will go to Vegas, you can see a wax museum in Vegas, okay?"
Lexie just smiled and nodded the best she could.
"Dr. Bailey?" She asked, lightly.
"Yeah?"
"Don't let me go without a fight." She asked.
"Not a chance." Bailey nodded, acknowledging the anesthesiologist to administer the drugs.
"Alright, everybody." Callie greeted. "Let's do this right."
She took a few minutes, standing next to the girl that everybody was counting on her to save, she sighed and closed her eyes.
"Are you okay?" Bailey asked, concerned.
"Yeah." Callie replied. "Never better. Ten blade."
6 Hours Later...
Callie walked into the waiting room, pulling her scrub cap off. Meredith slept on Derek's shoulder, Mark passed out in the chair next to them.
"Meredith?" She woke her lightly, Derek and Mark both came to as well.
"Well?" Meredith asked, regretting asking anything at all.
Callie just nodded with a small grin. "She is a trooper. She is going to be in quite a lot of pain. Bone breaks are bad, especially in her case, where there are so many. We have her in recovery, she is heavily sedated, but, you can see her, if you like."
Both Mark and Meredith took a step forward.
"One...at a time." Callie said, looking at Mark apologetically.
"Tell her I love her?" Mark asked.
"Done." Meredith answered, following Callie.
"So, she's going to need physical therapy?" Meredith inquired as they walked to the ICU.
"Yeah." She replied. "A lot. But give her a few months and I think you won't even notice a difference."
"Good." Meredith smiled to herself.
The pair arrived outside a sliding glass door. Meredith looked at her sister, sleeping peacefully on the other side.
"Thanks, again." She said, pulling the door open.
She slowly sat in the open chair next to the bed, placing her coat in her lap. She couldn't help but feel a little awkward. She didn't do family and feelings and being there for somebody. It just wasn't in her nature. But Lexie was different. No matter how hard Meredith pushed her away, her little sister never left her side. She figured the least she could do for Lexie was stay by hers right now.
"Hey." She started talking softly, taking her sister's hand into her own. "You gave us quite a scare there."
She looked around, nervously. This...talking to someone, not sure if they could hear her, was new.
"Derek is okay, which is good...um. I think that if you can hear me, you need to know, that Mark hasn't left my side, since the crash. He has been attached to me, waiting for updates and information on you. He even badgered the original doctor to get you sent to Callie."
The machines just continued to beep in response.
"I think Derek and I are going to stay in Seattle...I can't leave you, especially now." She fidgeted with her other hand as she continued, beginning to tear up. "I need you. So, if you could just do me a favor, and just...get better. For me, for Mark, whatever incentive you need, just get better."
Meredith laid her head next to her sister, much as she remembered Lexie doing for her when she had given Thatcher a piece of her liver. Slowly, she drifted to sleep, with the beeping and buzzing of machines as the only noise in the room.
I really wanted to emphasize the seriousness and the pain Meredith would feel losing a sister that she didn't realize she cared for this much. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed and remember that I love reviews and helpful tips. LOVE! XOXO