A/N: I am so happy to see you guys are still there. Welcome to those who just started reading. Most of you are loving the Addie-Mer friendship, and are happy that Mer is doing well in L.A. Plant haters will have their day soon, I think Derek should realize that he was an ass first and fix himself just like Mer is fixing herself up to be a good mother. Thanks again for all the love! NOTE: 5.06 storyline spoilers for this chapter
Chapter 8
Mark was already nursing his first glass of scotch when Derek went through Joe's door. He was side tracked by Rose as he was leaving the hospital. She was trying to convince him a little too loudly for the benefit of the nurses at the station to ditch Mark at Joe's, and bring her with him back to the his trailer.
But Derek values Mark as his best friend to just stand him up. Much to Rose's consternation and to the delight of the nurse's at the station, he had basically told her off. He did not know when he developed his irritation to the whiny and the tinge of clingy in Rose, but that day was not a good day for Derek.
So when he sat beside Mark all gloomy and distracted, Mark proceeded to signal Joe for another Double Scotch for his best friend.
"What's with the long face? I thought tonight was going to be a man's night, you know, chugging a few drinks, chase up a few skirts? By the look you have, no sensible woman would sleep with you." Mark told Derek.
Derek, downed the scotch that Joe put in front of him, in two gulps, then he proceeded to slam the glass on the bar. "Another one Joe"
"Bad day, Dr. Shepherd?" Joe asked as he poured him another double.
"More like a bad month and a half," Mark answered for him.
Derek shot him a look, and then took another sip of his drink, "It's not a month and a half, I just had a bad day."
Mark smirked, "You were on your way then Derek. Ever since Grey left, it was like you were a walking zombie or a robot. It was like you were following the plant wherever she was leading you to."
All Derek did to answer, was drink the last of his scotch and signalled to Joe for another one. Lost in his thoughts, he was afraid to admit out loud that he made a mistake, and that Mark was 101% right.
Because, he was not ready to face what he had lost.
"Addison Montgomery." Addison answered her mobile phone without looking at the screen.
"Addie, Richard Webber here."
Addison smiled, it was always nice to talk to her mentor, "Richard, How are things?"
Richard moved to the point, "Well, it had been a rough month here at the hospital, going down to 12th."
"Yes, I heard about that. But I know you are pushing past that and improving things in SGH."
"Things are doing better; we have recently gotten back our Level 1 Trauma Unit classification."
Addison had an idea of where the conversation was going, "That is great Richard."
"The reason I am calling you, is that I want you back Addison. Seattle Grace need you back." Richard was sounding desperate to Addison.
But she can't give in; she can't give up her life in L.A.
Addison sighed, trying the making the let down gentle to her mentor, she owe him too much, "We have talked about this Richard, I love my life here in L.A. I made new friends, I know all my patients; I even see the babies that I have saved on a regular basis when they see the paediatrician."
Richard sighed to the phone too, "I know you have made friends there Addison, and I know Meredith is there. And I am happy that you two have become friends even despite you past. But as your mentor, I cannot lament too much on the fact that a world-class double degree neonatal surgeon is not cutting and saving lives every day."
He was playing the guilt card. She had that feeling too, sometimes. She knew she was not doing her full potential in the Clinic, she was doing studies and clinical trials, instead she was the basic OB-GYN; sometimes.
"Richard, I cannot leave now, I have patients the clinic needs me." Addison knew that the Richard had always had soft spot for Meredith Grey, "Meredith is enjoying her life here, and I am her doctor; I can't leave her, when so near her due date."
"Alright, I will not force you to leave L.A. permanently at this moment. But I need you here temporarily. We have a case that was sent over by Mercy West, the couple insisted to be sent here, because they thought you were still with SGH. They insisted that you be the one to treat them."
"Who are they?"
"Remember the couple with two uteri? Well they got pregnant again."
Addison sighed, she had to give in, "Okay I will be there. Expect me to be there the day after. Please email me a copy of her charts, so I can review on the flight."
Happiness was evident on Richard's voice, "I will see you then Addie."
Addison sighed as she hang up, she had to tell Naomi and Meredith that she was going back to Seattle Grace.
"So how are you?" Christina asked through the mobile phone as she talked to her person.
Meredith was taken aback, Christina never ask her on how she was, it was their thing. Something is definitely up, "I'm fine, the baby's fine. You?"
"I kissed the new trauma attending."
Meredith couldn't help but smile, Christina had a story to tell, "Okay. Is he hot?"
"No, you do not get it. I kissed him a couple of weeks ago! When he pulled out the shard of icicle from my stomach. Now today, he didn't know my name. And I have to save 5 pigs that he stabbed only to put them out after. Pathetic! I did not want to put them out!"
Meredith just listened to Christina ramble on how the trauma attending was butting heads with the other attendings, namely Mark and Derek, and how he was changing the way the ER was run. It was pretty obvious her friend was impressed with the new guy.
It was at time like this when talking to her friends, that she missed Seattle, even Derek, sometimes. She was still silently letting Christina vent through the phone, lost in her thoughts of Seattle while rubbing her almost 7 months old pregnant belly.
Seattle was still home.
A/N: I think Mer is almost ready. Now, I need to make Derek see the light, with Addie going back to SGH, she will surely help him there right?