xxxvi. flowers
3.12

Derek thrust a bundle of flowers into Atlas's arms. Atlas was standing — leaning — against the cardio ward nurses station.

"Good morning to you too?" Atlas asked with a furrowed brow. He had gotten up and left Derek alone in bed after the man had complained about not getting a good night sleep — so, Atlas being the better person got up early and went in for an early surgery since he was now cleared.

"They're flowers." Derek pointed to the bouquet of flowers.

"I see that... why flowers?" Atlas was beyond confused, he really wasn't sure why a bouquet of flowers had been thrust into his hands.

"Isn't that what people do when they like each other?" Atlas would have cried right then and there, Derek looked like a little new born puppy with his wide loving eyes.

Atlas wanted to know, he did, oh how much he wanted to know if he ever gave Addison flowers in the beginning of their relationship. Atlas shushed his mind, he was just over thinking the situation and he did not want to be.

Atlas opened his mouth to ask, he was ready to ask if Addison ever got this kind of treatment. But his mouth snapped shut when the thought of sounding offensive and rude popped up.

"Thank you." Atlas looked to Derek kindly.

"Your welcome." Derek gave a nod before walking off.

Atlas was very confused about the interaction that just happened.

╚═ ☆ ═╝

Bailey is sitting at a table with George's family, Atlas standing in the doorway.

Bailey took a deep breath and looked at the O'Malley family. "Ok I called the family in because I need to do a procedure on your father to help him breathe."

Ronny one of the brothers looked towards the resident, "So you're saying he can't breathe?"

"With the extensive surgery, your father is not breathing on his own. Which is why we still have him intubated." Bailey answered calmly.

Jerry, another one of George's brothers looked at the resident, "Intubated?"

"The tube in dad's mouth it's breathing for him." George spoke.

"And right now that tube has a kink in it, which is straining his breathing." Bailey explained to the family.

"How did it get a kink in it?" Louise, George's mother asked confused.

George sighed, "It just happens, we don't always know why."

"But he's doing good today. I mean, he made plenty of pee so..." Ronny trailed off.

"Still, we need to replace the tube." Bailey insisted.

"So, why don't you just do it? I mean what are we waiting for?" Ronny looked between George and Bailey, confusion lacing his words.

Bailey exhaled, "Ok, with the damage to your father's esophagus and the swelling in his throat from being intubated all this time..."

"You might not be able to get it in, the new tube?"

Bailey paused at George's question, "Under these circumstances it can be a complicated procedure. If I'm not successful...I'm saying you need to prepare yourselves."

╚═ ☆ ═╝

George sat with Atlas in one of the OR gallery's. "As we know, Bailey re-intubated him but... he was without oxygen for I don't know... few minutes?"

"George. There's no blame here. Your father's body is diseased and has undergone so much trauma. Now his organs are shutting down." Atlas sadly looked to the intern, "There's no blame here."

George rubbed his eyes and sniffled, "Do people come back from this? His BUN and creatine are high. I get that. I was just wondering, in your experience, can people come back from this?"

"My medical or personal opinion?" The attending asked.

"Personal please."

"The rest is about faith. There's no more medicine that be given — only something to help the pain your father might be in." Atlas honestly told the intern.

"We're men of science." George muttered.

"Science isn't always enough. But if you want me to hope with you. If you'd like me to send up a prayer. I will, I'm happy to do that." The attending placed his hand on George's shoulder.

╚═ ☆ ═╝

George walks to the nurse's station where Bailey, Richard and Atlas are all standing. The intern just having found out that his father had requested for them to do the surgery no matter what.

"Why did you do it?" George asked angrily once he was close enough.

"Dr. O'Malley." Richard calmly said, not wanting for the intern to cause a scene and wanting to talk about the situation in private.

George looked between his fathers doctors, "Why did you do it once you saw the cancer had spread?"

"George..." Atlas trailed off as he took a step towards the intern who only took one back.

"He asked you right? He asked you to do it no matter what?" George's eyes landed on Atlas, the attending only stood there quietly not having known that the interns father had requested the surgery.

"We have to honor our patient's wishes." Richard told George.

"You said you would be straight with me. He could have lived for weeks or months. We could have had months with him. My mom... she could have had months with him." George glared at Bailey, the resident having told him that she would be straight with him in regards to his fathers case.

"He wanted a chance to fight the cancer George. It was his choice."

"He didn't know any better! You knew better! You shouldn't have done it. You shouldn't have done it!" George yelled.

Atlas took a step away from everyone, the attending blinking away tears, the situation making him miss his own father even more than he though he could.

╚═ ☆ ═╝

Atlas walks up to a nurse's station where Mark is, the cardio surgeon having heard some juicy drama.

"You know." Mark stated.

Atlas nodded, "I do."

"You think I'd be a terrible father?" Mark asked getting straight to the point.

"Do you like kids?" Atlas handed Mark a coffee — nope, a bone dry cappuccino.

"I don't know. Depends on how loud they are." Mark took a sip of his drink, signing in relief at the taste.

Atlas chuckled, "They get quieter as the grow up."

Mark smiled, "yeah?"

"Oh yeah." Atlas smiled back. "And the joy when they take their first steps or speak their first words."

"You want kids don't you?"

"Lots." Mark nodded and turned to walk away but not before Atlas called out to him, "I think you would make a great father Mark. Anyone would be lucky to have you."

╚═ ☆ ═╝

Oliver and George are sitting on a bench outside the hospital when Christina comes waking up to them. "There's a club — the dead dad's club. And you can't be in it until you're in it. You can try and understand. You can sympathize. But until you feel that loss. My dad died when I was 9. George... I'm really sorry you had to join the club. You too Olly."

"I...I don't know how to exist in a world where my dad doesn't." George looked up tearfully.

Christina sighed sadly, "Yeah, that never really changes."

═══════════ ☆

hello! this book will be put on 'slow updates' so i can finish my twilight fic and edit/ add things i need. just a heads up! but! is there anything specific that you guys would like too see/read in the fairy boat accident episode?!

ps — | self promo | any greys fans should take a look at my new greys fic! 
~ awakened hearts!

psss — | another self promo | any marvel fans, you guys should check out my Peter Parker fic!
~ all I know about girls!