I woke up to the blaring sound of my alarm, groaning as I rolled over to shut it off. My last year as a resident had been a grueling marathon, but the finish line was finally in sight. Next year, I would be an attending. The thought filled me with both excitement and dread—one step closer to the dream, yet the pressure loomed larger than ever.
After a quick shower, I threw on some comfortable clothes and stepped out of my room, nearly bumping into Izzie, who was pacing outside the bathroom door.
"What's going on?" I asked, noting her frustrated expression.
"George is hogging the bathroom, and I really need a shower," she complained.
I rolled my eyes, already running on thin patience. "O'MALLEY! GET OUT RIGHT NOW, OR I SWEAR I'LL BREAK THE DOOR DOWN!" I yelled, pounding on the door for good measure.
As I waited for George to vacate, I knocked on Meredith's door. She opened it, her phone in hand, looking unusually tense.
"Who's that?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"It's about our mother," she said, her tone neutral but her eyes giving away the storm beneath.
Meredith had always been distant from our mother, while I... I idolized her. Despite everything, she was my compass, my rock.
"What's going on?" I asked carefully.
"She's asking about us," Meredith said, her voice clipped.
"I can visit her today," I offered without hesitation.
Meredith looked surprised. "Really?"
I nodded. "Yeah. Now, let's get a move on before we're late." I turned toward the hallway, shouting, "Everyone, let's go! We don't have all day!"
The car ride to the hospital was quieter than usual. Meredith sat in the front seat with me, while George and Izzie bickered in the back. I could sense Meredith was lost in thought, so I didn't push her.
Once at the hospital, we scattered to start our rounds. The chaos of the day swallowed me whole, but I managed to finish early and head to visit Mom. Seeing her always grounded me, even when it hurt. Afterward, I returned to the hospital to pick up the others, but something unexpected caught my eye.
Meredith stood near Derek and a striking red-haired woman. Their tense body language made my stomach churn.
Curious, I walked over. "Hey, guys. Who's this?" I asked, keeping my tone light.
The woman extended her hand. "I'm Addison Shepherd."
The name hit me like a brick. Addison. Shepherd. My heart dropped.
"I'm Mia Grey," I said, shaking her hand, though my mind was racing. My eyes flicked to Meredith, who looked like she might break, and Derek, who had the decency to avoid my gaze.
"What's going on?" I asked, my voice quieter now.
Meredith leaned closer, whispering, "This is Derek's wife."
Time froze. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Derek had a wife?
Before I could process it, Meredith turned and walked away. Fury bubbled up inside me. I slapped Derek across the face, the sharp sound echoing in the hallway.
"I trusted you," I hissed before following Meredith.
Back at the house, I poured Meredith and myself drinks, settling us into the living room. She sat on the couch, looking utterly defeated, while I perched beside her, drink in hand.
"How do you feel?" I asked, breaking the silence.
"Empty," she admitted, staring at her glass.
I placed my hand over hers. "It's going to be okay. He's not the whole world, Meredith. You deserve so much better than him."
She looked at me, her eyes full of doubt. "Really?"
"Yes, Mer. I know what I'm talking about. I'm older, after all," I teased, hoping to lighten the mood.
"By ten seconds," she shot back, a ghost of a smile tugging at her lips.
We both laughed, the sound a balm to the tension. The rest of the evening passed in a haze of laughter, shared memories, and the quiet comfort of knowing we had each other.
The Next Morning
The sharp nausea hit me before my alarm even went off. Stumbling to the bathroom, I barely made it to the toilet before I threw up.
After a quick shower, I downed some painkillers, grabbed another dose for Meredith, and headed out the door. At the hospital, Dr. Webber greeted me with unexpected news.
"You're on Dr. Addison Shepherd's service today," he said.
I blinked. "Addison?"
"Yes," he replied with a tone that brooked no argument. "Don't question it."
I didn't know what to expect as I approached her. Addison stood with Dr. Burke and Derek, discussing a case. She spotted me and smiled—a genuine, warm smile.
"Dr. Grey," she said, addressing me as I joined them. "Define TTTS."
"Twin-twin transfusion syndrome," I replied. "Conjoined fetal twins."
"Connected by?"
"Blood vessels in the placenta."
"Meaning?"
"One twin gets too much blood, and the other too little, endangering both."
"Good," she said, clearly pleased. "Dr. Grey, you might actually live up to your reputation."
She smiled again, and for a moment, I forgot how intimidating she was. I even found myself smiling back.
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The rest of the day on Addison's service was surprisingly enjoyable. She was sharp, funny, and unexpectedly kind. By the time we scrubbed in for surgery, I realized I didn't just admire her—I was drawn to her.
I hadn't felt this way in years, and the butterflies in my stomach caught me off guard.
As we finished rounds, Addison gave me a nod of approval. "Good work today, Dr. Grey."
"Thank you, Dr. Shepherd," I replied, unable to suppress a grin.
For the first time in a long time, something felt... right. And I wasn't sure what to do with that.
