This love it is a distant star, guiding us home, wherever we are.
"Are you ready?" Patrick held Ellen's hand as he parked in front of Jackie's apartment. Stella's nanny was waiting for them to come pick her up, and Ellen was gonna take her daughter to an ice cream shop, and tell her that the man she called dad for over eight years was never gonna see her again.
Ellen was scared. Because as much as she tried to convince herself that it wasn't her fault, the guilt is pressing down on her neck, keeping her on the ground. But wasn't it also Christopher's fault? Didn't Ellen give him a chance to still be Stella's dad?
"I'm ready." Ellen sighed. "Let's go get your daughter, then." Patrick noticed Ellen's hands rubbing against each other. "Hey, hey." He outlined her cheekbone with his thumb. "I'm here with you now. We're a team." Ellen looked up at him and smiled. "A team." He nodded. "And unbreakable one, too." Ellen couldn't help but laugh. "It's true. We've survived an unusual amount of tragedies."
"See? What are you scared of, then? A nine year old?" Ellen tightened her grip around his hands. "You're right. I can do this."
"I didn't doubt it for a second." Patrick leaned in and kissed her gently. Their kiss lasted longer than they intended, savoring each other. They were free to be together now. They could kiss each other in public, go on dates, spend the day on the beach, the possibilities were kind of endless in Ellen's head.
They have been sharing this prison with each other for the past ten years and now they're free.
December 17th, 2014
"Good morning everyone!" Ellen walked inside the table read room. "Ellen! I missed you!" Sarah stood up, hugging Ellen tightly. "I missed you too, Sarah!"
"You're glowing!" Ellen smiled. It was working. She's acting like everything's fine and it's working. She hasn't spoken to Patrick since they went on their winter break. She texted him, he never texted back. She called him, it went to voicemail every time.
She gave up the second week and decided to let him be. She had no idea what she had done, which broke her heart completely. She has never treated him with anything but love, and he hands her this.
Fortunately, her seat was right next to his. Now, she could sit there, in awkwardness, while they read Meredith and Derek scenes.
It wasn't fortunate.
She finally looked at their seats, but he wasn't there. "Isn't Patrick here yet?" Sarah looked at Patrick's empty seat and back at Ellen. "No, Shonda just went outside to look for him." Ellen nodded, and went to sit down where she is supposed to.
Not a long time after that, Shonda walked in, a tissue in her hand. "Good morning everyone, I'm so glad we're all back here." Ellen noticed that something was off with her, and she made a mental note to ask her what's wrong after the table read.
Patrick walked in, wearing grey sweatpants and a black shirt. He was wearing his converse and his overly long hair, messy. He looked sad, broken, even, as he sat down next to her. He didn't even say hello. Every fiber in Ellen's body wanted to say something, but nothing came out of her mouth. She just looked back at Shonda, focusing on what she was saying.
"We're officially on season 11B, and," She sighed. "I was busy outside with Patrick and he told me some news, that's why we're gonna have to edit the script." Ellen frowned. "What news?" She asked and looked at Patrick.
"I think we can keep this conversation for another time." Shonda answered. "No, what news?" Ellen pushed. "Ell,"
"No. What news?" Ellen repeated, and stood up. Something inside of her knew exactly what he was about to say. Patrick looked up at her with his ocean blue eyes. "I'm leaving the show at the end of the season." Gasps filled the room, but Patrick didn't even blink.
YOU ARE READING
No Other Pain
Fanfiction"Without any additional word, Ellen walked out of the room, her heart cracking in her chest. His sent was all over her. His image the first thing on her mind. "Ellen!" His voice. She walked away faster, but his voice was still as close as it was sec...
