With Amelia's help, Addison finished suturing Owen's superficial gunshot wounds in a matter of minutes. Once she made sure he was completely stable, she hurried out of operating room 3.
She felt strong cramps in her uterus, and a small thread of blood slid down her legs, constantly reminding her of what was happening. She was scared and in pain, but she couldn't deal with that at the moment. Not when her husband was still in the operating room and she had no idea if he would survive or not. All she needed to do was stop the bleeding in an improvised way so she could enter operating room 4.
"Addie, come here," Amelia said, calling her from the laundry room door.
Addison didn't hear her. She walked out and continued toward one of the medical supply cabinets in a cleaning room between operating rooms 3 and 4.
Amelia followed her.
"I need to go with him," Addison said, determinedly searching through the shelves.
"I know, but... you're..."
Addison turned and looked Amelia in the eyes. They were glassy, red from crying. She seemed weak and tired like Amelia had never seen her in her life, yet she persisted.
For some people, like Amelia, shock left them paralyzed. Unable to react or move normally. In contrast, for others like Addison, adrenaline kept them moving, making them keep going until they could finally rest.
"What do you need?" Amelia asked in a small voice.
"Feminine pads. There should be some around here..."
"Addison, you have to go to a doctor. You... you're bleeding too much."
"With what doctor am I going to go? We're in lockdown, in case you don't remember," she finally found a transparent box containing what she was looking for.
She quickly pulled down her stained pants and put a pad on her underwear. Perhaps in a normal situation, she would have sanitized the area and not placed the pad over the blood-stained panties. But it was a moment of urgency and desperation where she had to act fast. She couldn't stop to think if it was hygienic or not.
After that, she took a clean uniform from the closet and put it on.
Amelia watched from the door, feeling helpless in her sister's situation. She knew she should have said something to Addison about her reckless behavior, risking her own life. However, in that moment of chaos and tension, the words couldn't come out of her mouth.
She remained silent. She had never been the one to give orders. She had never been in charge of controlling other people. And certainly not Addison, who was practically her older sister.
Addison was always responsible for both of them. Addison was the one making decisions, not her.
"Okay, I'll go into the OR."
"Will that stop the bleeding?" Amelia asked in a small voice.
"I hope so."
"You hope?"
"Are you coming with me or not?" she asked impatiently as she walked towards OR 4.
"I can't go back in there... I... okay. I'll keep you informed then."
Amelia nodded as she watched Addison quickly scrub her hands and arms with water and soap, put on a mask, and enter the operating room where her brother was.
~•~
When Addison entered the OR, Derek still lay with his heart open, on the table, while Cristina and Jackson worked tirelessly on him. It was a complex surgery that required time and meticulous attention.
Barely able to breathe, Addison sat next to him on a nearby bench and silently watched, gently stroking his tousled hair. A mixture of anguish and love reflected on her face. It was the only thing she could do at that moment. It was the only thing she wanted to do, to be by his side, even though Derek couldn't even perceive her presence.
After what seemed like an eternity, Cristina finally broke the distressing silence.
"Alright, I'm almost done with the circuncardial repair," she said firmly.
Jackson handed her a clamp with trembling hands. The surgical team prepared to close Derek's heart incision.
However, suddenly, his heart started beating irregularly. The pulse rate accelerated rapidly until unexpectedly, it stopped completely. The electronic monitors began emitting a loud sound, and the red alarm lights turned on.
"Ventricular fibrillation!" exclaimed Jackson loudly, his face reflecting a mix of concern and desperation.
"Oh, no..." Cristina turned quickly. "Give me internal paddles now!" she demanded, reaching her hand towards Jackson with the firmness that only stress and urgency can provide.
"One of epi," Jackson quickly asked a nurse.
"Jackson, do you have it?"
"I have it."
"Charge to 50!"
The surgical team moved quickly, with no time to lose. Cristina's skilled hands touched the paddles, ready to apply an electric shock to Derek's lifeless heart in a desperate attempt to revive it.
"Derek... you have to fight... you have to come back to me and the girls. You have a family here waiting for you, it's not time for you to go... you... Derek, you promised me. You said you weren't going to die..." sobbed Addison.
"Clear!" exclaimed Cristina.
The operating room fell into an overwhelming silence, only broken by the sound of Cristina's trembling hands holding the life-support paddles. Every second seemed like an eternity, and the weight of uncertainty loomed over everyone.
"Epi in," said Jackson, removing the syringe from Derek's heart once Cristina finished the electric shock.
"You're so close," said Addison, taking his hand again. "It's just one more effort, Derek. I need it to be a last effort. Please, stay with me... Der..."
"Charge again to 50! Clear!" exclaimed Cristina before applying a new electric shock.
Derek's body convulsed violently on the table as if electricity ran through every part of his being. The tension in the room was palpable, all eyes were fixed on the monitor showing his heart activity. Time seemed to stand still as they waited for the result. It was an overwhelming eternity.
And then, finally, Derek's heart began beating again, weakly at first and then with increasing strength. The electronic monitors showed signs of stability, and the shrill tones of the alarm gradually faded.
"We got it," affirmed Jackson, looking at the screen.
Cristina's face lit up with a mixture of relief and triumph. It had been a desperate battle, but they had managed to save Derek once again. She and Jackson breathed a sigh of relief, letting the accumulated tension dissipate in the air of the operating room.
Addison smiled with tears in her eyes and kissed Derek's forehead with emotion. She had no words at that moment.
Cristina closed Derek's chest in a matter of minutes and declared the surgery finished.
The operation had ended.
Derek was okay.
Derek was alive.
~•~
Gary Clark, believing that Derek was finally dead, went to the room of his deceased wife. After a chat with Richard, in which they shared a flask of alcohol, knowing that he had one last bullet in his gun, he decided to shoot himself, ending his life. He had to decide whether to go with his beloved to the afterlife or stay in this realm to serve a life sentence in prison for multiple murders.
Once he was found by the SWAT team, the lockdown in the hospital was lifted. However, activities did not return to normal.
The scene was chaotic and heartbreaking in the hospital. Waiting rooms were filled with injured and shocked people, waiting to be transferred to Seattle Pres Hospital or receive news about their loved ones. In that crowd, Mark quickly entered looking for Amelia or Addison, desperate to find someone who could give him news about Derek.
His eyes scanned the hallways, looking for a familiar face. He saw Amelia coming out of a nearby hallway from OR 4 and his heart was relieved to find her safe. However, the distressed look on her face made him fear the worst.
"Amelia!" Mark shouted, approaching her quickly.
She turned to him, with tears in her eyes and a mix of relief and despair in her voice.
"Oh, Mark... I need to get out of here. I can't bear all of this."
Concern took over Mark. He was not only distressed about Derek, but also about Amelia's mental state.
"Calm down, Amelia. Breathe. How are they all doing? How is Derek?"
"Derek is okay. His surgery just finished... he made it..."
A sigh of relief escaped Mark's lips. Knowing that Derek had survived the surgery was a momentary balm for his broken heart.
"How is he? How is he doing?" he asked anxiously.
Amelia struggled to contain the tears and respond.
"He's stable. I just saw them transferring him to the intensive care unit."
A feeling of gratitude flooded Mark's heart. Despite the gravity of the situation, knowing that Derek was being cared for and watched over was the only thing that really mattered at that moment.
"Where's Addison?" he asked immediately.
Amelia shook her head, uncertain.
"I don't know, I guess she's with Derek. Mark, I need to get out of here. I've been holding it all in for so long, but... I feel like I'm going to explode. I need to get out and get some fresh air."
Amelia's desperation was palpable. Mark knew she needed to vent and understood her need to calm her tormented mind.
"You know the police will want to talk to you, they need your testimony and..."
"I don't care. I can't think about it right now."
With that said, she began to walk away, leaving Mark concerned and unsure how to act. He held onto the hope that finding fresh air would give Amelia the mental clarity she so desperately needed.
She walked among the crowd of police and forensic experts working at the crime scene. She felt overwhelmed by the sight of blood everywhere, staining the hospital floor and walls. The footprints of doctors and nurses were hidden behind the intensity of the tragedy that had occurred. With each step she took, an echo of lamentations filled her mind and her distress intensified.
Unaware, Amelia collided with Addison, who was also worried and lost in her thoughts.
"Oh, Amelia!" she said startled to see her sister-in-law suddenly in front of her. The scare made her nerves even more on edge.
"Addie. How is Derek?" Amelia asked with a voice full of anguish, aware of the seriousness of the situation.
"He's fine. He hasn't woken up from the surgery yet, but he's stable. Teddy checked on him a few minutes ago and everything was fine. I need to see my daughters and..." Addison abruptly interrupted as she felt intense cramps in her uterus. The pain was so intense that it prevented her from continuing her sentence.
Amelia immediately noticed the change in her sister-in-law's expression. Her eyes fixed on Addison's face, seeking answers and becoming even more worried at seeing her stagger.
"Addie...?" she inquired with a trembling voice, seeing her growing paler and her legs starting to shake.
Addison felt dizziness taking over her body, her vision darkened, and a sense of extreme weakness invaded her. Staying on her feet was becoming an almost impossible task, and she knew that if she didn't do something quickly, she would end up collapsing to the ground.
"I-I can't..." she whispered with a broken voice, desperately gasping for air. Tears began to run down her cheeks, mixing with the fear and worry overwhelming her.
"Calm down, Addie. Let's take you to a place where you can rest and be safe. Don't worry about anything else now, just focus on getting better," Amelia whispered gently, trying to convey strength and calm to her sister.
"I...," The world seemed to wobble around Addison, the pain twisted her face, and weakness threatened to overcome her completely. She could barely articulate words as she struggled to regain composure.
Amelia acted quickly and lunged toward Addison, reaching out to catch her before she fell to the ground. Adrenaline coursed through her body as she held her firmly, preventing a potentially dangerous fall.
~•~
"Can I see my dad now?" asked Olive, her voice weary as she struggled against sleep. She didn't want to fall asleep without seeing her two parents safe and sound.
It was nine o'clock at night and they were both in Mark's car, where they had been all day because the girl refused to go anywhere else. She hadn't wanted to eat or drink anything either. She had been crying there all afternoon.
"Not yet, Ols," he said.
"Why not? You told me he was okay... Or was that a lie?" Her voice began to break again.
"No, it's not a lie. Your father is okay, Amelia told me that. But he's in intensive care... only doctors and nurses can go in there."
"But you're a doctor, you can go in!"
"Yes, but I'm not his doctor... I can't go in."
"That's a lie!"
"Why would I lie to you, Ols? I also want to see your father, he's my best friend."
"Where's my mom?"
"I don't know. I couldn't find her."
"Did my mom die?"
"Olive, stop saying that. Of course, she didn't die. She's with your father."
"Aunt Amy said you'd take care of me if Mom and Dad die, and you're taking care of me!" she cried.
Mark sighed impatiently, missing Callie in those moments, as she had known how to calm Olive better during the afternoon.
He knew the little girl was scared and tired, but he couldn't handle her right now. He had heard her cry all day, even more than the baby.
"Listen, we'll call her and talk to her. Will that reassure you?"
"Okay..."
Mark took his phone and dialed Addison's number several times, trying to locate her without success. He knew it was unlikely that she would answer at that moment, probably having left her phone forgotten in the middle of all the stress, so he didn't worry about it. But Olive, on the other hand, began to cry more and more. And there was nothing that could console her.
~•~
Amelia held her sister's hand firmly as she lay with her legs in stirrups.
Addison was silent, unable to say anything at that moment. Images of their recent experiences were still playing in her head.
"The heartbeat is gone," the obstetrician said, her voice barely audible.
Addison nodded, holding back tears. She already knew it. She knew that the pain and the amount of blood meant a miscarriage. Her rational side knew. Yet she still had a glimmer of hope that the baby had survived, and had requested an ultrasound just to confirm it.
"I'm so sorry," the doctor continued, "these things often happen in the first trimester. It could've been due to a genetic abnormality of the embryo, a hormonal imbalance, an injury or blow to the uterus, a moment of stress... you've been under a great deal of stress and..."
"It's okay. Can you start the dilation and curettage, please? I didn't ask for the causes of the miscarriage," Addison said impatiently.
She didn't want to be in that vulnerable position any longer. She wanted to leave, to run to her husband, hug him, and make sure he was still there. She didn't want to spend a single second more of her life away from him.
The doctor nodded with seriousness and determination as she prepared to begin the surgical procedure. She took the necessary instruments and organized them meticulously on a nearby table.
"When you're ready, I'll apply local anesthesia to your cervix to minimize the pain during the procedure. Are you ready?" she asked.
"I'm ready," Addison whispered, trying to hide any trace of fear in her voice.
The OB smiled slightly, recognizing the bravery she was showing at that moment. She extended her hand and began to slowly administer the local anesthesia to Addison's cervix. A shiver ran through her body as the cold liquid infiltrated, numbing the area.
With gentleness, the doctor inserted a speculum into her vagina, to visualize the cervix and begin the necessary dilation for the procedure. Addison closed her eyes tightly, trying to focus on her breathing and control the inevitable pain.
The doctor took a curette-shaped cannula and began to gently scrape the uterine walls, extracting the remains of the pregnancy she had lost. Each scraping was followed by a painful twinge in Addison's abdomen, as she gritted her teeth to avoid making a sound of pain.
Amelia grasped her hand firmly, offering silent support at that moment. She watched Addison with concern, noticing the suffering and discomfort she was experiencing.
Without saying a word, she squeezed her hand more tightly, somehow conveying that she was there to accompany her on that painful journey.
Time seemed to stand still as the procedure continued. Addison felt that every second was endless, prolonging her emotional and physical agony.
Once it was over, the doctor withdrew from between Addison's legs and removed her latex gloves. She looked at Addison with compassion, acknowledging her bravery and suffering in equal measure. She made sure she was okay and left the room to let her rest.
"I don't want Derek to find out about this," Addison said with a trembling voice once they were alone.
Amelia looked at her with understanding, feeling the weight of the decision she had to make. She knew that ignoring this traumatic event could be devastating for Addison, but she also understood the desire to protect Derek from unnecessary pain.
"Addie, are you really not going to tell him anything?" she asked, concerned.
"No. If there was never a pregnancy, there was never a loss. You can't lose something you never had, do you understand, Amelia?" Addison whispered, tears beginning to well up in her eyes.
"I... yes, I understand."
"I need you to keep this secret, please," Addison pleaded, clinging even more to her hand.
"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me," Amelia whispered, feeling her heartache for the pain her sister was experiencing.
"Thank you," murmured Addison gratefully.
"I'm so sorry, Addie."
Addison simply nodded, letting the tears flow freely down her cheeks.