Before We Turn to Stone

Season 16, Episode 18: Stay with Me

"Why am I so emotional?

No, it's not a good look, gain some self-control.

Deep down I know this never works,

But you could lay with me

So it doesn't hurt?"

* * *

Izzie erases her last surgery of the day from the Shawnee County OR board, the familiar ache of exhaustion radiating throughout her limbs. This is only the fourth extrapleural pneumonectomy she's ever performed, and it was arguably the most complex. She's been in the OR for most of the afternoon and well into the evening.

"Dr. Stevens, are you sure you don't want me to monitor the patient overnight?"

Izzie smiles at Rose Allen, who has been her best resident since day one. "No. I need to be here, at least for the first twenty-four hours."

Rose nods. She knows the data. This is not a statistically-friendly surgery: six percent of patients who undergo the procedure die during or immediately afterward. They've been lucky so far with their patient, Harold, but he's a sixty-eight-year-old man with mesothelioma; things are going to be touch and go for a while.

"You should go get some sleep," Izzie continues. "You did fantastic work today." She rolls her shoulders. "But Dr. Allen? If you wanted to run through the Culver's drive-through and bring me back the largest possible order of fried cheese curds before you head home, I wouldn't say no."

"On it," Rose says with a grin.

"Great. Thank you. Good night."

Izzie checks in with the nursing staff before she goes down to update Harold's family. He's a widower, but his daughter, Maeve, is as fierce and protective as any spouse Izzie's ever seen. She has been to every appointment, often taking time off from her teaching job and driving four hours round-trip to be with her dad.

Maeve's freckled face is wrecked with worry when Izzie enters the waiting room, but when Izzie smiles at her, relief washes every line away. Her big brown eyes brim up with tears.

"He is so strong," Izzie says as Maeve grips both of her hands. "He was a rock star through the whole procedure."

"When can I see him?" his daughter begs. "Can I stay with him in his room?"

Izzie shakes her head. "We have to keep him in recovery for at least the first forty-eight hours, but I can let you see him through the glass."

Maeve starts to protest, but Izzie holds up a hand. "I know." She smiles again. "He's your dad. You want to be with him. But we have to keep him safe, right?"

The other woman deflates slightly. "Right."

"I'll be here all night," Izzie assures her. "I'm not going anywhere. You can stay in the waiting room if you want, but you'll almost certainly be more comfortable at your hotel."

Maeve nods and the tears in her eyes finally spill onto her cheeks. She crushes Izzie against her in a hug. "I can't thank you enough, Dr. Stevens."

Izzie hugs her back. "There's really no need." She pulls back and squeezes Maeve's shoulders. "Let's go see your dad."

She walks Maeve up to recovery, where Harold has been stationed in the bed closest to the door. They chat for a few minutes before Izzie can convince Maeve to go back to her hotel; she walks her to the parking lot, where Rose shows up a few minutes later, a bag of fried cheese nuggets clutched in her first. Izzie accepts them gratefully then walks up to her office. Her steps are getting slower and heavier every minute.