Meredith's voice over...

"As doctors we tend to be selfish...it is something that we learn about in med school and it is something that we must adapt to quickly. We are taught throughout our internship, not to become too attached to our patients. Instead of being caring; we are taught to be sympathetic...instead of becoming attached; we are taught to be disconnected...A good surgeon knows how to differentiate between saying too much and saying too little. Most of the time, our job requires us to cut off our emotions...to become distant and aloof; even though it may not be in our nature to be like that normally. For most determined surgeons, this is easy... because being aloof and disconnected, makes breaking the news to a dying patient -or to their family- less painful.

As doctors, people expect us to be immune to death; but the truth is...we are not. Seeing a patient die; seeing the impact their death has on their family- is something that is not easily forgotten. Memories of pain, suffering and loss are not easily erased from the mind. That is why surgeons are taught to guide their hearts; to not form attachments...to not care. So over time, we tend to build up an invisible solid brick wall...a wall that no matter how sad the case we are working on is; the wall cannot be penetrated or broken. We are constantly on top of our game and we never drop our guard for even a spilt second.

A hospital is surrounded by death and unless we learn to disconnect ourselves from the hurt we feel when loosing a patient...or the ache in our heart we feel when breaking the news that they is nothing further we can do...we over time, we will become raw and empty. That is why the best surgeons do not let themselves become affected by a patients' pain or suffering; or from a family's loss of a loved one. In essence, these disconnected surgeons are the smart ones...as nothing affects them at all- not the pain; not the suffering; not the deaths.. instead all those things, form the basis of their mundane life as if part of their daily routine... Some patients live and other die...it is the only two real outcomes at the end of the day. So being selfish sometimes works out to be an advantage...because without it...most surgeons would become emotional wrecks...because it is always the surgeon that drops their guard- even for a spilt second- that is left to feel helpless and raw at the end of the day..."

"Has anyone seen George?" Izzie Stevens asked as she paced around the locker room nervously. "I haven't seen him today..."

"Nope, haven't seen him." Meredith Grey, said opening up her locker. "I'm sure he's around here somewhere."

"Where the hell is he?" Izzie muttered under her breath as she continued to pace.

"What's with the pacing, Iz?" Alex Karev said walking into the locker room and starting to pull off his jacket.

"Have you seen George?"

"O'Mailey? No, why?"

"I just- I just haven't seen him yet and he should be here by now..."

"Maybe he is running late?" he said shrugging his shoulders.

"No..he's never late. He's avoiding me." Izzie muttered quickly.

"Why would he be avoiding you?" Meredith said pulling out her white coat from her locker and quickly throwing it on. "He's your bestfriend-"

"-He hasn't returned any of my calls..." Izzie said cutting Meredith off quickly. "...he hasn't spoken a word to me since Christina's wedding- "

Izzie, Meredith and Alex all quickly shot a quick look over towards Christina; who was lying down on the small sofa in the locker room.

"Oh I'm sorry, Christina...I'm sorry." Izzie said pulling at her face with her hands.

"What?" she said snapping quickly. "It's all good..I'm over it. Burke called the wedding off- not me. So it's not my problem...it's his." she said shrugging her shoulders.

"Christina..." Meredith started slowly.

"What?" she said rolling her eyes. "I'm fine... I'm great... I'm happy and content. I wish everyone would stop asking me how I am ...or how I'm doing... because I'm tired...tired and over it all.." she said standing up quickly. "Come on...we better get going we don't want to be late on our first day as residents." she said forcing a small smile and walking out of the locker room.

Alex slammed shut his locker quickly and grabbed Meredith's arm as she passed him.

"How is she doing?" he asked nodding towards where Christina had been.

"She says she's fine..but I don't believe her." Meredith said sighing heavily. "It will be interesting to see how she and Burke get along now."

Alex let out a low whistle and nodded his head in agreement.

"We better go." Meredith said heading towards the door with Alex. "Iz, are you coming?"

"Huh?" Izzie asked quickly, trembling lightly as if she had just been scared out of her wits.

"We have to go now."

"No...I can't. Go without me. I have to try George again."

"Izzie, you can't be late on your first day as a resident." Meredith said sternly.

"O'Mailey is fine Iz..." Alex said laughing, "why are you so worried?"

"Because, I think he transferred to Mercy West.."

"What?" Alex and Meredith said at the same time.

"He applied before our intern exams...and he got accepted.." she said as tears started to fill her eyes. "...and I haven't seen or heard from him...I didn't want him to go...and he has been avoiding me...I think he's gone.. oh God!" Izzie said as tears started to stream down her eyes.

"Oh Iz," Meredith said wrapping her arms around her in a hug, "Maybe you should speak to the Chief-"

"-The Chief!" Izzie said pulling away quickly. "Why didn't I think of that?" she said rushing out of the locker room without another word.

"What the hell has O'Mailey done to that girl?" Alex asked Meredith as they walked out of the locker room.

"Beats me." Meredith said shrugging her shoulders.

x

"Ouch!" Addison said bumping into something hard. "I'm sorry."

"Addie?" Derek asked, looking behind his clipboard.

"Oh it's only you," she said playfully hitting him with the chart she was holding.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were in LA? " He asked planting a kiss on her cheek.

"Always so surprised to see me, huh? I bet you still call me 'Satan', right?" she said laughing nervously.

"Did I really call you that?" he said laughing nervously. "Wow...that was mean."

"Yeah you did..but my favourite was 'adulterous bitch' -"

"Oh Addie..." he said rolling his eyes. "I've missed you."

"I've missed you too." she said smiling. I always miss you, Derek! She thought, sighing heavily.

"So...what are you doing back here? Couldn't stay away from me,huh?" he said nudging her lightly.

"You wish...I have a surgery to perform...Richard asked me to come back."

"Does that mean...are you staying for good?" Derek asked, unable to hide his excitement.

"No...I'm only here for today. I fly back to LA tomorrow."

Derek's heart sank instantly. One day only? She was leaving tomorrow? He thought, as his heart continued to ache.

"You're only here for one day? Why?"

"Because..." she said laughing nervously, "...I have to get back to the Practice."

"Well in that case...let's have a drink tonight...after work...what do you say?"

"Derek...I can't." she said avoiding his eyes.

"Why? Have you got plans already?" He asked quickly; jealous thick in his voice.

"No..I just..." she said struggling to find the right words. I can't go through this again...its too hard.

"You don't want to hang out with me...okay, fine. I understand."

"No, Derek! Its not that...its just...Meredith...What would see think?"

"Who cares?" Derek said shrugging his shoulders quickly. "We broke up."

"You broke up with Meredith Grey?" Addison spoke out quickly and louder than usual, causing a few nurses to turn around. "Oh get back to your work." she snapped at one speechless nurse. Addison waited for the nurse to turn the corner before speaking again. "You broke up with Meredith Grey? Why Derek?"

"It's a long story..and I plan on telling you over a couple of drinks...say, tonight? At Joe's? We could even get something to eat afterwards?" Derek said smiling cheekily.

"You can't do that!" Addison said shaking her head from side to side quickly.

"What?" Derek asked innocently.

"Bribe me into drinks tonight, just so you can tell me what happened."

"Well if you rather not know.." he said as lips curved into a small smile.

Addison shrugged her shoulders slightly. "I could always go and ask Grey myself."

"HA! Since when did you two become so tight?" Derek said laughing loudly.

"Yeah, you're right...I still..." hate her! She thought finishing the sentence in her head."It's still awkward."

Beep beep beep. Beep beep beep.

"That's for me. I got to go." Addison said pulling out her pager. "It was nice to see you." she said giving Derek a quick kiss on the cheek, before turning on her heel to walk away.

"Please come to Joe's tonight?" Derek said pulling at her arm, as she walked past him. "Please."

"Derek...I can't...I'm sorry. But I promise, that I will say bye before I head back to LA this time." she said laughing nervously.

"I'll be at Joe's ...in case you change your mind." he said and with that, he released her hand.

Derek had no idea how long he stood there, staring after Addison as she walked away, down the hall and out of sight. Seeing her again today, had been the highlight of his day. He couldn't believe how much he missed her!

"Dr. Shepherd?" Christina Yang said, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Yeah."

"The Chef needs you for the attending's meeting."

"I'll be there in a minute." he said still looking down the corridor where Addison had disappeared, secretly praying that he could catch another glimpse at her.

"Okay, we are in conference room two, on the third floor." she said before starting to walk off.

"Christina..." Derek said quickly. "We need to have a talk at some point today." he said when she turned around.

"Okay..." she said frowning a little. "Should I be worried?"

"Its not going to be the easiest thing to talk about but...I have to talk to you today, okay?"

"Fine." she said nodding nervously and walking off.

The last place Derek wanted to be right now, was heading to this attending meeting. He ideally wanted to swing past the midwife section and get another glimpse at a certain gorgeous red head that had taken over his thoughts. But knowing that the Chief was waiting for him, he hurried off towards the third floor without pushing Addie out of his mind in the process.

x

"Dr. Yang, did you find him?" Dr. Richard Webber asked when Christina walked back into the room, minus Derek.

"Yes, I did." she said nodding. "He will be along any minute."

"Chief..." Izzie said walking up to him quickly. "I was wondering if I could quickly talk to you, while we wait for Dr. Shepherd. It won't take long, I promise."

"What is it, Dr. Stevens?" Richard asked sighing heavily.

"It's about George O'Mailey...I haven't seen him today and I was wondering if-"

"Oh..." Richard said a little taken back, "...so you haven't heard then?"

Before Izzie could answer; before she could ask if he had transfer to Mercy West; Derek Shepherd came into the room.

"Sorry that I'm late." he said walking in to get a seat.

"Chief?" Izzie asked through foggy eyes.

"Ah Stevens, I'll speak to you after this meeting...everyone else, quieten down please; so we can get started..." Richard said.

x

"Okay, well...I think we have about covered everything." Richard said addressing everyone in the attending meeting, "Yang, Stevens, Grey & Karev...if you come with me now, I'll take you to your new interns."

"Finally!" Alex said under his breath as they walked out of the conference room. "I've been looking forward to this all day!"

"Interns suck!" Christina snapped quickly. "I just want to get right into a cardio surgery."

"I think the interns will be fine." Meredith said, before Christina gave her a dirty look. "I mean...we were in their shoes, not too long ago.. so they are fine...they will be fine...right?"

"I don't give a shit about the interns..." Izzie said mumbling. "...I just want to find out what's going on with George!"

"I knew he was your bestfriend and all...but seriously Iz...when did you care so much for O'Mailey?" Alex said laughing a little.

"I always care about him!" Izzie snapped defensively.

"Well..today you sound like an oppressive girlfriend!"

"Look Alex, I don't have time to deal with this now...okay? So keep your smart comments to yourself; otherwise I will start asking you about Ava and see how you like it!"

Alex nodded quietly and didn't speak another word.

"Someone touched a nerve." Meredith whispered to Christina.

"Okay, Intern batch number one, please step forward. This is Dr. Christina Yang..." the Chief said addressing a shaking batch of young interns. "She is your attending and you will be under her care for the next four years, so listen to everything she says." Richard said, turning his attention back to Christina "This is your group...all their names are on this list. You can go and introduce yourself to them."

"Okay..Michael Jones, Natasha Williams, Kate Brewer, Lexie Grey?-" Christina read off the list stopping dead in her tracks. "Grey? Meredith..." Christina said tapping her shoulder. "Lexie Grey...is that your-"

"-sister.." Lexie Grey said cutting Christina off and holding out her hand to Meredith. "Nice to finally meet you...I've heard so much about you!"

"You're an intern here?" Meredith said slowly, ignore her sister's outstretched hand.

"Yes." she smiled nervously, pulling back her hand.

"Keep away from me." Meredith snapped quickly and walked over towards the Cheif, leaving a shocked looking Lexie and Christina alone.

"Grey, Karev...this is your list and your interns are here and here." he said pointing to another nervous looking batch of interns. "Go and get to know them better."

"Stevens, this is your batch...and as you can see-"

"George O'Mailey? Chief, I think there has been some mistake..?" Izzie said pulling her eyes away from the piece of paper. But just then Izzie saw him. George was standing at the back of the third batch, looking completely out of place and embarrassed

"George is an intern?" she said loudly.

"Yes," Richard whispered softly. "I put him in your group...cus I know you are close and you will take good care of him."

No...this was not right...

George was not an intern...

There had to be some kind of mistake...

Izzie thought, not taking her eyes off George's face.

"Batch number three, please step forward. This is Dr. Izzie Stevens...She will be your resident for the next four years." Richard said.

But Izzie did not hear a word that he said. Her eyes were fixed directly on George, who was also looking straight at her.

This had to be a joke right? A joke that Callie was playing on her or something? There was no way that George was an intern? She thought as he keep her eyes glued to his face. What the hell was going on?