Driving Sideways

14.

Meredith lifted her son from the counter as she kissed his cheek. She held him close to her as she sighed. "You look sad, Mama..." Greyson whispered.

"Mama... has to go to work... there's nothing fun about work without daddy..." She said as she glanced to Marion. "Thank you for staying..." She said as she tilted her head. "I really don't want you to feel that you need to... I mean..."

"Sweetheart... that's nonsense..." Marion said as she walked towards Meredith. "Richard would spend a week or two away... conferences and such... and it was hard... I understand... now be glad you're not stuck with five of them to chase after, and you only have the one..." She said with a grin.

"You know..." Meredith said with a smirk. "Maybe that's what I needed..." She said, shaking her head. "A little perspective..."

"Exactly." Marion said as she gave Meredith a quick hug. "Now you go to work... and you... young man..." She said as she gave her grandson a little poke on the nose. "You be a good boy in daycare... and granny will be here when you get home..."

"Love you, granny..." Greyson whispered as he leaned forward and kissed his grandmother's cheek as she touched his cheek.

"I love you too, my littlest one." She said as she watched his eyes sparkle as he leaned back in Meredith's arms.

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They arrived at the hospital promptly at six-thirty and there were no issues with dropping Greyson off at daycare. Meredith rushed to the surgical floor and half jogged down the hallway.

"Psst! Mer!" She heard a voice coming from a door as she passed it. She would recognize that 'psst' anywhere. She stopped and turned, only to be wrenched into an exam room.

"Ow... Jesus, what is..."

"Hush..." Cristina said as she shook her head.

"I haven't heard from you since Saturday..."

"That's because of the new sheriff in town..."

"What?"

"The interim chief... he's... not...he..."

"Cristina... what the hell are you..."

"I didn't think it was possible... but your mother found someone worse than her..."

"What?"

"The interim chief! He's like... the devil incarnate's incarnate..."

"My mother being the devil incarnate in this scenario, I'm assuming..."

"Just be happy that you've been gone for three days... but I get the feeling this guy has been looking for you..."

"Who is it?"

"Some guy from Boston Presbyterian... Doctor... Hanna..."

"Doctor Hanna? Seriously?"

"You know him?"

"I've met him... He's a real hard ass..."

"No kidding... He put me on scut yesterday because he said he didn't like the look on my face." Cristina growled.

"That's the same look you always have on your face..."

"I know!" Cristina exclaimed.

"This is going to be a long day, isn't it?" Meredith whispered as she looked down at her beeping pager.

"Let the games begin..." Cristina exclaimed as her pager sounded as well.

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