Runaway-Grey's Anatomy AU Book 6

Chapter Fourteen

"The surgical scalpel is made of sterilized, carbonized stainless steel. This is a vast improvement over the first scalpel, which was pretty much a sharp stick. Medicine is constantly reinventing itself, that means surgeons have to keep reinventing themselves too. There's constant pressure to adapt to changes. It can be a painful process. But without it, you'll find yourself moving backwards instead of forwards. We have to keep reinventing ourselves almost every minute because the world can change in an instant, and there's no time for looking back. Sometimes the changes are forced on us, sometimes they happen by accident, and we make the most of them. We have to constantly come up with new ways to fix ourselves. So we change, we adapt, we create new versions of ourselves. We just need to be sure that this one is an improvement over the last" 

"those blues won't go away"

Lucy and Callie were wiping the OR board when Bailey approached them. "What's going on?" she asked. "Grandinetti's roof collapsed", Lucy explained. "We'll be getting more than a dozen. All scheduled procedures are pushed", Callie added. "On Valentine's Day? Grandinetti's must have been packed", Bailey said. "Well, tonight's out I'm sure", Lucy remarked. "I knew this would happen", Callie commented. "That's why Arizona and I went to dinner at four, and exchanged gifts". She showed them her necklace. Lucy picked it up, admiring it. "Just special. Original. Magical. Squeals of joys", Bailey stated sarcastically. "Geez, shouldn't I be the grumpy one on Valentine's day since my husband doesn't talk to me?" Lucy asked. Ben approached Bailey, trying to ask her to dinner but was rejected and the three women made it into the elevator. Lucy and Callie were chuckling. "Oh, my god. She likes him", Callie sang. "You like him?" Lucy questioned.

"You should totally go out with him. You have to say yes!"

"You have to!"

"Ok, see? That, this, right here, what's happening, with the giggling, the girl talk, the OMGs...", Bailey said. "Ok, it has to stop. I am busy". They nodded, holding in their laughter for a few moments before Callie giggled once again.

Alex and Lucy were taking care of one of the waiters from the restaurant. "Looks like a pretty bad break. We're gonna have to have it reset", Lucy explained. "I wonder if there's any chance you could put me in a bed next to that lady", he said, pointing at an unconscious woman on a gurney dressed in fancy clothes. "Yeah, sorry, it doesn't work like that", Alex stated.

"Of course. Forgive me. I've been a head waiter for 25 years. I know how it works"

He held out a stack of cash. "I'll see what I can do", Alex said, taking the money.

Meredith, Alex and Lucy were talking outside the room their patients were now sharing. "Our patient's stalking your patient", Lucy remarked. "He's being a good waiter. And apparently, we're his busboys", Meredith replied. "Dude gave me 50 bucks to put him next to her. He's got the hots for her", Alex stated.

"Her husband is in surgery. She's married"

"You're just saying that 'cause you think you're married. His 50 bucks says he makes a move. You in or out?"

"Out. And I am married"

"I'm in", Lucy said, causing Alex to look at her. "Deal", he said, shaking her hand. They held on for a little too long until he let go first.

Meredith took care of Mrs Banks, who was asleep and left the room. Alex and Lucy were left in the room with Emile. "Do you think she needs an extra blanket?" Emile asked. "She gets chilled easily". "She must be one hell of a tipper", Lucy said.

"Sorry?"

"I see why she comes in every week. I bet you take better care of her than her own husband"

"When she first started coming in before they met, we had a little game. She would try anything we served. She was adventurous. Fearless. When she'd gone through the menu, I would challenge the chefs to come up with something new. It became, she became, my favourite part of the week. (Alex stared at Lucy who had tear-filled eyes as Emile continued talking). Then one night, she came in with him. She felt like this was a safe place for a first date. That ring on her finger... The night he proposed to her, I placed it in the creme brulee for her to find. I watched her say yes from the kitchen window. And they never stopped coming in. But now he orders for her, same thing every time. For 15 years, I've watched their conversations grow shorter and shorter. Until now, all they do is eat. She has no children. If he dies, she'll be... She'll be all alone. She's so afraid, I can see. And all I want to do is take her hand in mine and tell her she'll be all right. She'll never have to be alone, if she doesn't want to be. You'll let me know when you have good news about Mr Banks, yes?"

Lucy sniffled, wiping her tears. "Yeah, right. Of course"

Alex and Lucy were at the nurses station. "You win. He's been staring at her from his kitchen for 15 years", Alex stated. "He's not gonna tell her now".

"I think he might, and if she's smart, she'll go with him. I know I wasn't smart"

Alex looked down. Lucy put her head in her hands, as tears slipped down her face. "Lucy", he whispered gently, rubbing her head. "Lucy". He took her hands away from her face. She wiped her tears with the sides of her hands. "I'm so embarrassed", she sighed.

"Don't be embarrassed. It's fine. It's fine"

"It's not. You know it's not"

"I know"

She sighed and took his hand. He looked at her and they stayed like that for a long time.

Meredith and Lucy were watching Mrs Banks and Emile from the nurses station when Alex came over with a box of chocolates. "Thank God. Where'd you get those?" Meredith said, taking one and handing Lucy one. "Patient room", Alex replied. "Guy's in a coma, he's not gonna miss them. Anything happen?" "He's still asleep. She wants to say something", Lucy informed him. Cristina came over to them. "Oh, my God, I'm starving!" she exclaimed, looking into the box. "These are all half-eaten". "So you can see what they are", Alex stated. She shrugged and took a chocolate, looking into the patient room. "What are we doing?" she asked. "Her boring husband's in surgery", Lucy explained. "And that guy has been in love with her for 15 years". "And she just found out. We're waiting to see if she says something", Meredith added. "Or if her husband croaks", Alex commented.

"It's ok if he does because they're miserable. I mean, is this what marriage turns into? Running out things to say and changing who you are?"

"Yeah", Cristina said, while Alex and Lucy were silent.

Mrs Banks started to lean over the side of her bed. "She's gonna say something. She's gonna wake him up", Lucy said. "What's she saying?" Cristina asked. Meredith walked over to see. The monitor suddenly started beeping. "She can't breathe! Get a crash cart!" Meredith exclaimed, rushing in. Alex and Lucy rushed in after her.

Lucy walked down the hall to find Alex sitting on a gurney after Emile's surgery. She sat down next to him. "Mr Banks is gonna be ok", he said.

"That's good, I think. And Emile?"

"Shepherd said there was no way to know it was detectable until it was too late. Here"

He held out the cash. "I think this means you win", she said.

"I know. I don't want it"

"I don't want it either. You should win. I did leave you"

"Are we at the awkward joking stage now?"

"Looks that way"

"Great"

They laughed. 

hope you enjoyed! comment your opinions! song is valentine's day massacre by rustic overtones