Stitches of Survival

Perfect Storm

Chapter Thirty-Five: Perfect Storm

*~*~*~*

"This storm will bring in a lot of causalities. We're gonna need to make room for them, so let's discharge all patients that can be." Owen stood on the stairs as he spoke to everyone, having gathered most of the doctors and nurses to brief us about the protocols for the upcoming storm. "Post-op and long-term patients are gonna be transferred to Seattle Pres further inland. We're gonna bring in supplementals-- water, food, meds, lighting. Uh, we're gonna be checking and refueling the backup generators. As for you surgeons, push, postpone, or cancel all elective procedures until after this storm."

"So we're canceling surgeries now?" Meredith whispered, her and Derek standing next to Mark and I. 

"Well, you can afford to slow down a little bit." Derek told her. 

"I'm pregnant. I'm not sick." She shook her head.

"You're very pregnant." Derek pointed out. "Beth slowed down when she was further along, too. You're three weeks away from your due date."

"In Mer's defense, I wouldn't have slowed down if I wasn't mentally a wreck." I chimed in. Derek shot me a look, clearly not happy that I wasn't helping him. 

"Shepherd." Alex hurried up behind us. "I need your help. Come with me."

"Most importantly, we're gonna need to print hard copies of all computerized patient charts in case of a power loss." Owen continued as I watched Alex lead Derek away. 

"All of them?" Jackson questioned. "Do we have time to--"

"I'll do that." Bailey volunteered, making everyone look back at where she was standing in the back of the crowd.

"Bailey, it's good to have you back." Owen nodded at her. "I'll put you on the OR rotation."

"Uh, I mean I'll do the charts." Bailey corrected him. 

"Folks, they're saying that this is going to be a bad one, but we have three days to prepare." Owen reminded all of us. "So let's do it and be ready when the storm hits. Thank you."

"So, what're we going to do about Joel and Mellie?" I asked Mark as everyone started to go their own way. "I love Ashely, but I don't want her alone with them at the apartment during this storm. There's too much that could happen, even if it's just across the street."

"Why don't we just keep them up in daycare?" He suggested. "That's what Derek's doing with Zola. That way if anything does happen they're just upstairs."

"Speaking of Derek..." I looked down at my pager as it started to go off. "He needs me upstairs now."

"See you later." He nodded as I hurried towards the stairs. 

*~*~*~*

"Hey, I just got your page." I greeted Derek, finding him leaving his OR, nurses wheeling his patient out behind him. "What's going on?"

"I needed you to help with this guy, but I was just kicked out of my OR." He shook his head.

"You do remember I'm in peds now, right?" I glanced back at the patient being rolled away. "That guy's clearly not a kid."

"I know, but he's got a bad brain bleed and I needed someone in there with me." He said. "If I remember correctly, neuro was what you were supposed to be specializing in."