Everything Changes (A Grey's Anatomy Fanfic)

Run

Meredith stopped, watching as her sister-in-law sat in her car, unable to move. She approached carefully, slowly opening the door. "Lydia, honey are you okay?"

Lydia shook her, head, rushing out of the car and pushing past Meredith as she vomited into the empty parking space. Meredith sighed, sympathetic as she held the brunette's hair back. "It's okay," Meredith whispered. "Let it all out."

Finally, the younger Shepherd recovered, standing back up to her full height. "I'm sorry, Mer. I know your busy and I know that none of this is your problem, but I'm just-"

"No! No! Look, I know that I'm not great with sisters, but I know this kind of thing, okay?"

The younger woman smiled weakly. "Well, clearly I am not like my sisters so maybe you're better with me." She took a deep breath. "It's getting close to time, so maybe we should..." For a moment, she paused, looking like she was about to hurl again.

"Are you sure you're ready?"

At that Lydia gave a short sharp laugh, completely devoid of humor. "I don't think I'll ever be ready for this."

***

Lydia stepped out of the elevator onto the floor, only to be greeted by a crowd of nurses and doctors swarming a nearby room. "Meredith?" She grabbed onto her sister-in-law's arm.

"Alex!" The young doctor flagged down her friend. "What's going on?"

Alex stared at the younger girl. "Who's this?"

"Derek's sister. Now what's happening?"

Karev continued as if she hadn't spoken. "No kidding. Another Shepherdess? Huh. What's your specialty?"

"Alex!" Meredith snapped, losing her patience quickly.

"Geez, Mer. I don't know. I just got here. Someone said something's up with Sloan so I high-tailed it over here."

Before Meredith could react, Lydia jumped into action, pushing her way through the crowd. She shoved her way through the surrounding doctors. "Let me through!" she shouted with authority, effectively clearing a path. Finally, she burst through the doorway, only to see Mark, sitting up in bed, watching her with wide eyes. "Oh my..." she gasped, trailing off as she stared, tears streaming down her cheeks. "You're awake."

"You're here." Mark shot back, disbelief evident on his face.

Derek's eyes flew back and forth between the pair as he moved towards his sister. "Hey Jellybelly. Look, Mark just woke up so maybe-"

"Well, if he's awake, I'm just gonna... I'm just gonna go now." Before either of the men could say a word, she rushed out of the room, headed back through the crowd of people outside. 

***

"Why is she here?" Mark whispered, still dazed.

Derek sighed defeatedly, smiling before he turned to his newly resurrected best friend. "Well, what do you think? She came to say goodbye."

He chuckled. "Hate to disappoint."

The older Shepherd sighed, "She's happy, Mark. She's so happy that you're alive, she just... I mean you know how you left things."

Mark stared off, focusing on the doorway full of people. "Is she still using?"

Derek hesitated. "Honestly, I don't know. I haven't had time to check in since the crash."

Mark nodded, thinking back. He shook his head "Yeah... Well... Someone tell Torres and Robbins I'm alive, okay?"

"Already paged them," Derek smiled, trying not to worry about his sister. Meredith could handle her. 

***

"Lydia!" Meredith called after her sister in law as she stepped out of the hospital doors, rushing towards her car. "Lydia, if he's awake, we should go see him."

"No, Meredith, you don't understand!" At last he younger sister spun around. "He's awake. He doesn't want to see me. He made that perfectly clear the last time he saw me and I'm not going to push it while he's still fragile."

"So you're just going to leave."

She looked around, scrambling. "I... I'm going to go to my hotel until you or Derek can come home. I still want to spend time with you all, Mer. I just... I can't push Mark right now. I need to get out of here."

Meredith sighed, then nodded. "Okay. If you need anything, just page me. I'm gonna get the kids from daycare after my shift and I'll bring them straight to the house."

The younger sister nodded, turning to leave. Before she made it to her car, she turned. "Meredith?" She hesitated. "I know you say you're not good with sisters, but... For what it's worth, I think you're pretty good at it."

Meredith stared, stunned. She smiled softly as Lydia pulled out of her parking space, headed for the exit. As she began walking back inside the building, she suddenly heard a ear-splitting bang. Instantly, she dove for the ground, covering her ears. She turned slowly, to see a car pinned partially underneath a semi. "Oh my God... Lydia!"