Chapter Twenty-Two


"It's a common belief that positive thinking leads to a happier healthier life. As children we are told to smile, be cheerful, and put on a happy face. As adults we are told to look on the bright side, to make lemonade, and see glasses as half full. Sometimes reality can get in the way of our ability to act the happy part though. Your health can fail, boyfriends can cheat, friends can disappoint. It's in these moments, when you just want to get real, to drop the act, and be your true scared unhappy self. Ask most people what they want out of life and the answer is simple - to be happy. Maybe it's this expectation though of wanting to be happy that just keeps us from ever getting there. Maybe the more we try to will ourselves to states of bliss, the more confused we get - to the point where we don't recognize ourselves. Instead we just keep smiling - trying like hell to be the happy people we wish we were. Until eventually it hits us, it's been there all along. Not in our dreams or our hopes but in the known, the comfortable, the familiar" 

"if it's all in my head, tell me now. tell me i've got it wrong somehow"

Derek was hosting a party at Meredith's house. Beck and Kelly were in the kitchen. "You know when Meredith said, we're having a party. I imagined less fancy dress and champagne and more dancing on tables and jello shots", Beck said.

"I know but we have to support Derek"

"This party blows"

Callie was drinking while watching Arizona. Mark and Lucy came over to her. "You're staring again", Lucy said. "I am not", Callie said. "Wanna go back to my place and do it in the showe? Teddy's in surgery", Mark said.

"I'm not in the mood for your jokes right now, ok?"

She walked out. Lucy stared at Mark. "What?" he asked.

"You're disgusting"

Beck, Kelly and Aurora were sitting in the kitchen. The waitress came over with a tray of food. Beck stopped her and they took some food. Owen came over. Beck and Kelly glared at him. "We're getting first dibs on the finger food before it gets sucked down by the masses", Aurora explained. "Let's move in together", Owen said, causing to choke on her food so Kelly patted her back. "Good. You can't answer right now. It's good. I don't want you to. I ran it past my shrink. She thinks it's a good idea. So think about it. Me, you in our own place".

"Yes"

"What...? Yes"

"Yes. Yes"

He smiled and kissed her. Kelly and Beck exchanged looks.

Jackson, Kate, April and Reed were standing watching Mark. "I'm going in", Reed said. "No, you can't", April said. "It's inappropriate! This is the chief's house, right, Jackson?" "No. Go ahead, girl. Get yours", Jackson said and Kate chuckled.

"Kate?"

Kate shrugged. Reed smirked and went over to Mark. April smacked Jackson's arm and he laughed.

Kelly, Beck and Aurora were walking down the halls of the hospital the next morning. "So, you and Owen are thinking of moving in together?" Kelly asked Aurora. "Not thinking. Doing", Aurora replied, smiling. Kelly and Beck shared a look. "What was that look?" Aurora asked. "Ok. We think there might be something going on between Owen and Teddy", Beck said.

"Wow. Ok. There's nothing's going on between Owen and Teddy"

"We're saying we're pretty sure"

"Ok, how? How are you sure?

"We're just saying think before you do", Kelly said. "That's all".

Aurora came over to the nurses station where Teddy, Arizona and Owen were talking. "I walked in on Mark and Reed Adamson last night", Teddy said. Kelly, who was standing nearby, came over and joined the conversation. "So he cheated on you", Owen said. "No, he didn't cheat on me", Teddy replied. "We were dating non-exclusively. He's not my boyfriend". Arizona's pager beeped and she left. "Listen, if you want me to say something to him, I can say something", Owen said to Teddy. "Owen, I do not need you to defend my honor. You can stand down now", Teddy said before walking off. Kelly gave Aurora a look but she just walked off. Reed walked by and Kelly glared at her.

Teddy, Owen and Aurora were with a patient when Richard came over. "What do we have?" he asked. "Henry Stamm, 75, fell down a flight of stairs on a cruise ship before it left the dock", Owen explained. "He has a couple of broken ribs and we're waiting for the abdominal CT results".

"Where were you headed, Mr Stamm?"

"Alaska", Henry replied. "It...was a present from my kids. Maybe I'll meet a nice lady, my daughter said. Now, look at me"

"I don't think he fell as much as passed out", Aurora said.

"That bad, doc?"

"You have what's called sick sinus syndrome. It's an irregular heart rhythm that causes blackouts. We're gonna have to do an ablation..."

"Doctor... I think you might have to check my head, too"

"Does it still hurt?"

"No, but...I think I'm seeing a ghost"

They looked over to see Callie and Lucy wheeling their patient. "Betty?" Henry asked. "Yes", she replied.

"It's Henry"

"Oh my God, that's Henry Stamm"

"Betty Flynn!"

"But my last name is Donahue now"

"You married Mike Donahure?"

"May he rest in peace. And you? How... How is Irene?"

"She died ten years ago this August"

"I'm so sorry. Are you ok?"

"Just a little fall. You?"

"Fender bender"

"You look good, Betty"

"I'm an old lady, Henry"

"You look pretty damn good for an old lady to me"

"She'll be in 3128", Lucy smiled.

Bailey, Kelly, Mark and Jackson entered their patient's room. "Morning, Amber and Trish", Bailey greeted. "Trish and Amber met in the burn unit". "Best friends ever since", Amber added. "Dr Ripa?" Mark said. "Amber Collier, 28, presents status post MVC. Amber was in a car when it flipped and she was pinned under it while it burned". "Driving while texting. We strongly recommend it", Trish said. "Dr Avery, will you please explain how we're gonna use a tissue expander", Mark said. "We stretch healthy tissue by injecting saline into a balloon placed under the skull", Jackson explained. "Today we'll remove that burned area and cover it with new tissue". "You promise that afterwards it won't look like a comb-over, right?" Amber asked. "I will do my best", Mark said. Kelly unwrapped the bandage on Amber's hand, revealing her bruised-looking fingers. "Dr Sloan, Dr Bailey", she said, alerting them to the fingers. Mark and Bailey examined them. "Amber, how long have your fingers looked like this?" Mark asked. "I don't know, they always look pretty bad", Amber replied. "You can still do my surgery, right?" "We'll know more after we get some films on the fingers", Bailey said. Amber looked at Trish. "You're bummed out about getting a couple of x-rays?" Trish asked. "You got a twin sister growing out of your head. That's what you should be bummed out".

Richard, Aurora, Teddy and Owen watched Henry and Betty talking through the window. "Nearly 50 years later, and still all those feelings", Richard commented. "It's saying something, isn't it?" "We have to get him to the OR soon", Owen said, looking at his scans.

"He can wait an hour. Let's let them catch up"

Richard walked off. "I'm with Webber", Teddy said. "I can't help it. I'm a romantic". She walked off and Owen smiled, watching her walk away. Aurora stared at him.

Lucy was walking through the hall when she bumped into Alex. "Sorry", she said, attempting to move past him.

"When are we gonna talk about the divorce papers, Lucy?"

"Not now, Alex. I'm busy"

"Lucy..."

"Later, I promise"

Owen, Teddy, Aurora, and Richard were operating on Henry. "I'm gonna do the mesh repair of the diaphragm by sewing it up with a continuous suture", Teddy explained. "If you do stay sutures on either side of the laceration, it can be tented down to aid closure", Owen said.

"I know..."

Aurora looked at them. "Quite a shorthand you two have", Richard commented. "We worked together for a long time", Owen said. "I get it. I had that once. Ellis Grey, and I, from the first day we worked together", Richard said. "I miss it". Aurora took in a shaky breath.

Alex, Meredith, Lucy, Beck and Kelly were sitting at the lunch table when they saw Aurora approaching. Beck started making room for her but she sat at another table. "Aurora, seriously?" Kelly asked. "What's up with that?" Alex asked.

"She's mad at us because we planted seeds of doubt about her moving in with Owen"

"Don't talk to him about me", Aurora said. "Why don't you come over here so we can talk to you about you", Beck said.

"I'll talk to you when you give me a valid reason for your "concerns". Are you ready to do that?"

Beck turned away from her. Lexie sat down. "I need the Lexipedia to diagnose my patient", Alex said to her. Lucy shifted uncomfortably in her seat and Meredith passed her her pudding cup. Lucy smiled at her. "June 2004 cover with a mint green cover. God, I can't see it", Lexie said. "This is so cool, it's like the computer froze", Lucy chuckled.

"June '04. Mint green cover. It's in the research library"

"Got it. Thanks", Alex said, getting up and walking off. "So, you two still sleeping together? Not that I care. Just wondering", Lucy said to Lexie. "No, he ended it last night", Lexie replied.

"Oh, how unfortunate"

"Anyway, did you hear Mark slept with Reed. Gross, right?" Kelly said. "But you don't care, right?" Beck teased.

"Of course, not. I hate him. He's slutty"

"Right"

Mark, Bailey, Kelly and Jackson were amputating Amber's infected fingers. "Looks like that's just about it", Bailey said. "You want to have the anesthesiologist start lightening her up?" "You could ask me directly", Ben said.

"Dr Sloan?"

"You want to start lightening her up?" Mark asked him. "No, wait. I want to do the hair restoration". "What about the chance of infection?" Kelly asked. "The infection looked pretty isolated", Jackson said. "You think we can do it?" Bailey asked. "It seems to me that we are all in need of a little magic today", Mark said. He looked at Kelly and she smiled.

Aurora approached Kelly and Beck. "What were you trying to tell me this morning?" she asked. "About Teddy and Owen. Is there something I'm not seeing? Please, just tell me. I'm dying, here". "We can't tell you. It's confidential", Kelly replied.

"Confidential? What, are you working for the CIA now?"

"It's complicated, Aurora"

"Not to me! You're my best friends. We're supposed to tell each other everything. Confide in each other. Look, if you don't get that..."

"No, we do, Aurora. We get that. It's just... You're gonna have to trust us on this one", Beck said.

"You don't understand. I need there to be me and Owen. You need to tell me, please!"

Beck and Kelly looked at the floor. Aurora sighed and stormed off.

Beck and Kelly approached Owen at the nurses station. "Aurora loves you. And we want to, but we can't", Beck said. "Because I wanna punch you in the face right now". "We know you tried to have Teddy fired and we believe it's because you love her", Kelly added. "And if you care about Aurora at all, you will tell her".

"If you're actually the good guy she thinks you are, you will tell her. And if you don't, then we both know and you'll know that you are not that guy"

Teddy left the lounge as Callie and Lucy came in. "Talk to her", Callie said. "I just did, she doesn't wanna", Mark replied.

"I'm not talking about Teddy, I'm talking about Kelly. You still love Kelly"

"And sleeping around isn't gonna fix that", Lucy added.

"And the reasons you broke up, little Sloan, the baby, they're not reasons anymore"

"She hates me", Mark said. "She most definitely doesn't", Lucy said. "She cares, trust me". "Look, you don't want fifty years to go by and you realise you let the love of your life get away", Callie said. "So go, try". "You gonna try again with Robbins?" Mark asked, making Callie sigh. "Why not?"

"Because my reasons are still reasons"

Mark and Lucy hugged her.

Owen and Aurora were in the staircase. "I don't understand. You told Shepherd to hire Dr Evans over Teddy. I thought you were batting for her", Aurora said. "Owen, what's going on between you and Teddy?"

"Nothing. Nothing is, god! You want me to get better, I want me to get better, and I have been working. I have been working with Dr Wyatt to eliminate my triggers"

"Ok, so Teddy's a trigger?"

"Teddy... I don't know what Teddy is. Teddy, she triggers me. She confuses me. I don't know!"

"You know, "I don't know", is not working for me right now"

"I don't know" is all I've got! I shouldn't have to explain myself"

"Oh, really?"

"Aurora... I don't know what I feel for Teddy. I don't know, because she's all wrapped up with everything else, with men being blown apart in front of me, with Beth. So it's complicated and it is screwing with my head. That's the truth! I don't know what I feel for her. But I do know what I feel for you. So, yes, I told Shepherd to hire the other guy. I shouldn't have to explain myself so I can get myself better. I shouldn't have to explain myself to you. And I damn well do not have to explain myself to Kelly Ripa or Beck Jacobs!"

"Fine, you know what, you're right. You don't have to explain yourself to me because this...is over. We're done"

"Aurora..."

A pager sounded from below them. They looked down to see Teddy on the stairwell. "It's... It's Henry Stamm", she said in a quiet voice.

They ran into his room to hear the monitor beeping. "He was talking to me, and then he couldn't breathe", Betty explained. "Atrial flutter again. Get her out of here", Owen said. Aurora approached Betty. "M'am, I need to move you", she said softly. "I'm not leaving him!" Betty exclaimed. "Systolic's 80. We're gonna need to cardiovert. Charge paddles to 100", Richard said. "M'am, let go of his hand", Aurora said, moving his hand. They shocked him.

Henry slowly started to wake up. "Hello", Richard greeted. "Your heart rhythm was irregular again. We were able to control it for now, but we're gonna need to insert a pacemaker before you go home. You're gonna be ok". "I've called a colleague at your hospital at home", Teddy said. "And he'll see you once we clear you to travel". "Thank you", Henry said. He looked at Betty. "You stayed", he smiled. "You can't do that again", she said. "If I'm going to move halfway across the country and shack up with you, you can't do that again"

"Really?"

"You make me feel like the prettiest girl at the party. When you look at me, I become a young girl again. And I never stopped missing you. And I never stopped wondering. I did the right thing once. Now, I'd like to do the wrong thing and see how that goes"

"How long do you need me to wait before I propose?"

She kissed him and a teary-eyed Aurora started to walk away. Owen followed her out the door. "Aurora", he called.

"Don't"

Kelly was finishing up some charts at the nurses station when Mark came up behind her. "Kelly", he said, causing her to turn around.

"Yeah?"

"I'm still in love with you. I tried not to be, but it didn't work. And Sloan's gone. There's no baby. And I don't want to sleep around. I want another chance. I'm in love with you"

"I..."

"I'm in love with you"

Tears filled her eyes. She grabbed his face and kissed him.

Beck knocked on the door of Aurora and Kelly's apartment. Aurora answered the door, her eyes rimmed-red. "Hi", Beck greeted softly. "Where's Kelly?"

"She's not home yet. Owen and I aren't moving in together. We broke up"

"Aurora, I'm so sorry"

They hugged tightly as Aurora sobbed. 

hope you enjoyed! comment your opinions! song is tolerate it by taylor swift

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