Breathe - At a supply closet
The surgery had been a success, which had her over the moon. The baby would be alright, they would grow up and actually enjoy life. After many hugs and smiles she left Arizona and Alex, who had been the one to call for her, back on the peds floor. She was proud of him. She knew he had been doing great thanks to Callie and Arizona, but she hadn't had the opportunity to see him in action since she lived so far away now.
Deciding to go for a walk since her flight wouldn't be for another few days and being alone at the hotel wasn't quite as enticing she made her way through the bridge. She was lost in her phone when she noticed a few nurses and doctors rushing towards the pit. Frowning she started heading the same way, listening as they talked about a plane crash.
As she made her way to the pit she noticed the frantic looking Meredith checking rooms and looking around as if trying to find someone. It had been quite some time since she had seen the blonde this scared. Eyes wide, panting, and pale, Meredith slipped into a supply room .
Addison wanted to follow her in but she hesitated. She scanned her surroundings and found no one she could ask to go check on Meredith so she opted to go herself. They were friends, right? Well, they were connected whether they wanted to or not. Besides she didn't hate her so why not check on her?
After another glance around she made her way into the supply closet. The dim lights barely illuminated the cramped space but it didn't matter. What mattered was that Meredith was on the ground with her knees pulled to her chest breathing erratically and with tears in her seemingly unseeing eyes.
"Grey?" She called as she approached but got no response. Meredith's eyes were trained in some invisible spot. "Meredith?" She called again, kneeling in front of the blonde.
Meredith didn't move an inch as if lost in a trance. Her breathing got worse by the minute and Addison was starting to get scared she might pass out for lack of oxygen. She needed to stop this. She had to make her breathe. Had to snap her away from whatever memory she was reliving.
"Meredith, please. Breathe, Mer. Breathe." She tried and still nothing. "Meredith." She called again and gently took the blonde's shaking hands on her own.
The general surgeon seemed to snap a bit at the contact and her eyes finally met her own. Blinking a few times the blonde stared at her and her grasp began to tighten.
"A-addi—" Meredith rasped and closed her eyes, beginning to shake more violently.
"No. No. Eyes on me, Meredith." Addison said quickly. "Open your eyes and look at me." She commanded and again baby blue eyes were on her. "There you go. Stay with me, ok? Breathe. In. Out. In. Out."
"C-can't." Meredith managed to get out.
"Yes you can. Focus on me. Follow me. Breathe in. Breathe out." Addison coached her. "Come on, Mer. Breathe with me."
"P-pla-plane." Meredith stammered.
"I know but it's not you. You're here. You're ok. I'm with you. Please... please Meredith. Breathe with me." Addison insisted.
She should have known the reason. Should have remembered that tragedy six years ago. The time when she lost her best friend. The time when Meredith had lost her sister. Tears began to pool in her eyes and she blinked them away because right now Meredith needed her.
"Look at me, Meredith." She said again when the blonde started to close her eyes. "Ok. Good." She said as she got the blonde to open her eyes.
After racking her brain for what to do to help with the panic attack she pulled Meredith's hand to her chest. Placing the blonde's palm on her skin right above her chest she moved closer.
"Feel that. Focus on that." Addison said, holding the blonde's hand under her own. "Breathe. In. Out. Feel the warmth. Breathe in and out. It's soft. In. Out. Can you feel my heartbeat?" At the blonde's nod she continued. "Focus on that rhythm. Breathe. It's there. It won't go away. Feel that beat and breathe, Meredith. Breathe."
Gradually the blonde's breathing began to slow down. One hand still on Addison's chest as she coached her through her breathing while the other held on tightly to her own. Addison could see the shadow in baby blue eyes beginning to disappear slowly.
"I'm sorry." Meredith whispered, clinging to her hand.
"No need to apologize." Addison smiled and moved to sit next to her, letting go of the hand on her chest but still holding onto the other one.
"There... there was a plane crash. I couldn't... Arizona. I was trying to find her." Meredith explained as best she could.
"She's up at peds."
"Is she... ok?"
"I don't know. But Alex is with her. I'm sure he's helping her. If not he'll get Callie."
"Ok." Meredith muttered before leaning against her and laying her head on her shoulder.
They both sat quietly on the floor and at some point Addison had put her head on top of the blonde's. Meredith still held her hand tightly on her own and though she shuddered at times, her breathing was still normal.
"Thank you." Meredith said softly but more clearly.
"It's no problem at all. Just glad I was here and could help."
"I'm glad you were here too." Meredith muttered. "This is nice." She said after a while.
"Sitting on the floor of some stuffy supply closet? Definitely nice." Addison smirked.
"No, smartass. The company." Meredith chuckled.
"I guess the company's ok." Addison shrugged.
"Addie." Meredith whined and then gasped, lifting her head. "Sorry, Addison." She corrected.
"You felt my heart. I sat with you and sorta cuddled. You can call me Addie. Besides, I called you Mer." Addison winked.
"W-when?"
"Just then. And a little while ago too."
"Ok, Ad—"
"Go ahead."
"Addie."
"There. Not too bad." Addison smiled. "You know we can't hide out here forever, right?"
"Right." Meredith smiled sadly.
"But... we can sit here a little while longer and breathe. What do you think?"
"I think I'd very much like that. To sit and breathe. Breathe with you."
"Then breathe with me, Mer."
Well that's that. Not really together Meddison but kinda sorta close to the beginning of Meddison hehe. Hope you enjoyed. Bye bye. See ya tomorrow! ツ
