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GROWING UP WITH A BROTHER FOR A PARENT, DOROTHEA LEARNED LOVE DIFFRENTLY THAN THE OTHER KIDS. SHE RELIED MOST ON PHYSICAL AFFECTION AND SMILES, AND LESS ON SOCIAL CUES OR CHILDHOOD NOSTALGIA.

"Our surgery was cancelled," Derek frowned, standing next to her at the board. "Burke cancelled it. Need you to get in there...all...smiley and cute. Get it back."

Dorothy shook her head, smiling up at him. "My charm isn't free, Derek."

"It should be." He sighed, crossing his arms. "Costs too much."

Dorothea leaned her head on his shoulder. "I want cookies."

"Deal."

—

Dorothea grabbed her food, plopping down at a table next to Bailey's interns, looking over scans Conrad sent over from his latest mystery case.

"Look, it's the new kid," Christina's voice got her attention.

"I heard she's trying to rail Shepherd," Izzie observed.

"Good luck with that," Meredith rolled her eyes. "All hers. The Shepherds are a packaged deal, or so I've learned."

"Maybe she's not bad," George pointed out. "She's like us."

"She's on course to be a double-board certified internal medicine and neurosurgeon," Christina scoffed. "She's nothing like us."

"She said she'd give you rectal exams if you keep calling her, she," Dorothea called softly, biting a carrot. Looking up from her scans, she shrugged. "You guys can just talk to me. I'm open to questions." She looked to Meredith. "And I'm not trying to sleep with Derek. He's not my type."

"What is your type?" Karev asked, leaning forward a bit.

Dorothea raised her eyebrows, snickering, before taking a sip of her juice. "You're a baby, Karev," she told him. "I don't date babies."

"You're our age," Izzie stated. "I mean, Mer's a few years older, but you're, what, twenty-eight?"

"Twenty-nine in May," Dorothea nodded. "Any other questions?"

"Why internal medicine?" Christina asked. "It's baby stuff. Neuro, I get. But not diagnostics. Pass."

Dorothea shrugged. "I like the challenge. Neuro keeps my hands busy, takes all my focus, but on days where I'm short cases or it gets repetitive, I get to see all new things."

Christina scoffed. "Lame."

"No, really, here," she waved the interns over. They hesitated and she rolled her eyes, grabbing her tray and the folder, taking a seat between Izzie and George. "Look, my best friend works in IM, he's incredible. He's stuck on a patient right now, tell me what you see."

The interns gave her a look, Alex coming over and leaning over Izzie — who gave him side-eye —to see better.

"Uh, adult mid-thirties, female, shortness of breath and chest pain," Meredith read. "But she was in a car accident. Seizure, had a subdermal hematoma."

"Correct. What does she have?"

"CT scans show brain bleed," Christina answered. "What caused the seizures?"

"Izzie? Alex?" Dorothea encouraged. "Any ideas?"

"Well, it couldn't be the hematoma," Izzie's frowned. "That was after the accident."

"Past history?" Alex asked, moving to look over the previous scans. "Whaaat?" He laughed in disbelief. "Who doesn't come in for ten years? How did they know anything?"

"He didn't," Dorothea answered. "That's the fun in IM, you diagnose from what you have. Now, she couldn't answer any questions because she was in surgery, but Conrad had to figure out why the accident happened in the first place. What started the seizures? What if they happened again?"

"You said shortness of breath?" Meredith asked curiously. "How did you know if she came in from the accident?"

"Her friend in the car," Dorothea smiled at Meredith. "Nice catch, Grey. So, they know she's got shortness of breath and chest pain. First instinct?"

"Heart attack," Christina answered immediately. "Or angina, or pneumonia."

"Eh," Dorothea made a beeping sound. "Try again."

"Myocarditis?" Meredith asked. "Pericarditis?"

"Eh," Dorothea shook her head. "Try again."

"Okay, wait, wait," Izzie bit her lip, thoughtful. "Adult female, mid-thirties complains of chest pains and shortness of breath while driving. Has a seizure which causes an accident and a subdermal hematoma," Izzie recounted. "Any symptoms of a cough? Or fluid build-up?"

"Good job, Izzie," Dorothea smiled at the blonde. "Yes, she's been coughing for months. Thought it was a pestering cold."

"What about fluid?" Alex asked.

"Clear."

"Okay, okay," Christina looked over the scans again. "But she's fine, physically. How could chest pains be related to a seizure?"

"She has Lymphangioleiomyomatosis," Dorothea responded with a smile. The interns all groaned in realization. "It's rare, and usually comes with pleural effusion or pneumothorax," she explained. "Conrad sent this to me just after he figured it out. Patient thought she had asthma her whole life, used an inhaler to stop the wheezing. The seizure is what ticked him off."

"Damn," Christina nodded. "Not bad."

"Fun," Dorothea grinned. "I like it. You see stuff you don't in the OR, and with the really fun cases, I can follow patients from diagnosis to post-op with rarities others can't see." She looked to Izzie. "You'd be good, Izzie," she complimented. "Maybe think about it. Give me a shout if you're interested."

Standing, Dorothea took the final bite of her snack. "Hopefully, you guys don't think I'm the lame new girl now." She took the folders. "Nice seeing you, interns."

"Damn, I hate that she's cool," Dorothea heard Christina comment as she walked away.

—

Dorothea leaned against the wall outside the Resident's Lounge, phone to her ear. "How's work, Den?"

"It's good," Denny surmised. "I'm working late tonight though, think you can get a ride home?"

"Sure," Dorothea nodded. "There anything else?"

Denny was quiet. "No, no," he cleared his throat. "How's your day?"

"It's good, Derek's letting me operate on a tumor on a brain stem by myself, he's gonna observe it."

"Sick," Denny congratulated. "Nice going, kid."

"Do we have pie at home?"

"I can pick some up."

"Yes, please," Dorothea smiled. "The ones they serve here are all...dry and hospital-y."

"Gross," Denny laughed. "I'll pick some up. Ice cream too?"

"Aaaand caramel sauce?" Dorothea pleaded with a smile.

"Yes ma'am," he laughed. "See you at home, Dottie."

"Thanks, Den."

—

"There you are!"

Dorothea looked up, exiting the OR, feeling on top of the world. "Callie Torres," she grinned at the resident. "Hey, pretty lady."

"Hey," Callie beamed, waving to Derek. "Dr. Shepherd."

"Torres." He nodded, back, fist-bumping Dorothea in congratulations on a good surgery, before walking in another direction.

"You were looking for me?" Dorothea asked.

"I was hoping you'd be into drinks tonight," Callie shrugged. "Rumor has it you haven't gone to Joe's yet."

"Baby girl," Dorothea hooked her arm through Callie's. "I think that sounds like the best end to my night."

"I'll buy the first round," Callie leaned her head on Dorothea's shoulder. "Bailey!" She called out, waving to the older resident. "Drinks with me and Thea?"

Bailey raised an eyebrow, debating, and then nodded. "What the hell?" She shrugged. "Meet you there in fifteen."

"Woo, Bailey!" Dorothea exclaimed, grinning. "Let's get our drink on!"

"Don't you ever let me hear you say that again," Bailey shook her head as she passed the pair. "Imbeciles."

"You love us!" Callie grinned after her.

"Love is not the word I'd choose."

"She loves us," Dorothea grinned to Callie.

"Absolutely."

—

"Nice hat, Chief," Dorothea smiled up at him as Webber entered, leaning her head on Derek's shoulder. "I like it."

"What are you doin' here?" Derek questioned Webber.

"I'm going back to work," Webber answered simply.

Dorothea snorted, which prompted a look from Webber. "I'm sorry, sir, I simply do not recall Derek clearing you."

"She's right," Derek nodded. "You're not cleared for surgery."

"Leave me alone," Webber scowled. "I've been sitting at home for a week. Watching Oprah give away things on TV. Oprah, Derek."

"Oh, I didn't take you as a talk show fan," Dorothea commented. "I thought you'd enjoy rom-coms."

"Had him nailed on action films," Derek countered.

"Nah, he's a softie at heart," Dorothea moved her head from Derek's shoulder. "Ain't that right, Chief?"

"You, watch it," he looked at her, eyes narrowing. "I can fire you."

"I had drinks with Bailey three times since you left," Dorothea shook her head. "We're soul sisters. I've got Miranda Bailey's protection and you know there's nothing you can do about it."

"Damn it," Webber sighed. "I need back into my hospital." He looked to Derek. "You clear me now, or I'll hurt you."

"Let me just call HR and inform them of a terrible threat against my superior," Dorothea grinned.

Derek chuckled at her joke and Webber looked between the two. "I don't like this," he shook his head. "You're poisoning her against me."

"I'm doing no such thing," Derek defended. "She's a hot mess, she just happens to smile about it all so much we forget it."

"That's both insulting and mildly comforting," Dorothea frowned. "Not sure how to feel about it."

"It's both," Derek nodded to her. "Richard, if you want me to clear you so soon, maybe you should have thought of that before you gave Chief to Burke and invited Satan to Seattle."

"Satan?" Webber frowned.

"Good morning," Addison's voice chirped. "Richard, like the hat," she tapped the back of it. "Thea, brought you coffee."

"My favorite Shepherd," Dorothea grinned, laughing at the betrayed look on Derek's face. "You start bringing me coffee, you'll be my favorite, too."

"Satan speaks," Derek nodded to Richard. "And you," he glared at Dorothea. "You can't be making deals with the devil."

"Actually," Addison clarified. "I prefer to be called Ruler of All That is Evil, but I will answer to Satan."

"Could you be more attractive?" Dorothea asked her. "I don't think it's possible."

"Terrible friend," Derek shook his head. "You're fired. Getting a replacement asap."

"Please," Dorothea rolled her eyes. "You'll go through withdrawals," she took a sip of her coffee. "I'm adorable."

"Annoying," Derek corrected.

"Cute," Addison corrected him.

"What is she still doing here?" Derek asked.

"I asked her to stay," Webber said through his chuckles. "We have a pediatric surgery attending on maternity leave."

"Actually," Addison looked to Derek. "I could use you on a consult," she said, patting his arm. "Will you, uh, meet me up there, Derek?"

Derek looked down at her hand, then to her. "Yeah, fine."

Addison smiled, booping Dorthea's nose as she walked past, exiting the elevator. Webber took off his hat to nod to her departure.

"I'm not clearing you for surgery," Derek said to the Chief.

"Fine," Webber frowned. "I can catch up on my paperwork." He said, placing his hat back on.

Dorothea and Derek exchanged a laugh.

"You can't be friends with her," Derek declared as the elevator doors shut. "I don't like it."

"You're my friend, Derek," Dorothea looked up at him seriously. "I'm on your side with this. Whatever you do or choose. But she's really hot and kind of scares me."

Derek smiled at her words. "Ah, Thea, this is why I keep you around."

"Because I'm adorable?"

"Annoying."

—

"Hey, Meredith," Dorothea stopped by the intern, smiling gently at her. "Brought you some cookies."

"My mother is here for Alzheimer's and you come to me with cookies?" She laughed softly. "You're too...cute to hang out with Derek."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

Meredith sighed, looking up at her. "I'm not very hungry."

"For later then," Dorothea smiled softly. "And I don't...have anyone in my family with Alzheimer's, but my brother has viral cardiomyopathy, so not the same thing, at all, but...I get the whole...caring for a family member thing."

"You're right," Meredith nodded. "It's not the same thing."

Dorothea offered another smile, moving to the door.

"Thank you," Meredith called after her. "For the cookies."

Dorothea smiled, walking out of the room entirely.

—

"I need your help," Webber approached Dorothea as she exited a patient's room.

"Sure thing," Dorothea nodded. "What do you need, Chief?"

"Ellis Grey," he crossed his arms. "Burke won't take it, he's distracted with an intern passing out, Derek won't clear me for surgery, I—I need someone competent."

"I'm flattered," Dorothea blinked. "Yeah, of course." She nodded. "Let me know when it's booked. I'll take Stevens as my intern."

"She's busy with Yang," Webber shook his head. "O'Malley's on the case."

Dorothea hesitated, then nodded. "Okay, I guess George will do." She placed a hand on Webber's arm. She didn't quite understand the depths of Webber's concern for Meredith's mother, other than the fact that she was a renowned surgeon, but she'd do it anyway. Of course, she would.

"I'll take care of her, Chief."

"Thank you, Thea."

Dorothea smiled kindly up at him, walking past him to prep Ellis with details of the surgery.

—

"Meredith," Dorothea approached Meredith, Izzie, and George at the nurse's station. "Your mom's results," she handed over the scans.

"Thank you," Meredith smiled, hesitating. "And...thank you for doing the biopsy."

"Of course," Dorothea nodded. "Let me know if there's anything else I can do."

"I will," Meredith sighed, looking down at the results. She shook her head, grabbing the results and handing them to George. "Tell her the news," she told him.

"You okay?" George asked.

"No," Meredith waved her hand. "I'm not. I'm not okay."

—

"You kissed Meredith?" Dorothea remarked, walking outside, seeing the intern walk off. "And Addison kissed you today."

"Yes."

"Need a drink?"

Derek sighed, nodding. "You're buying."

"As many as you need, Der-bear."

"Der-bear?"

"You're my bear," she smiled up at him, slipping her arm through his. "But you're crashing at mine tonight because I need a ride home."

"I'm going to drink."

"And I'll drive us."

"Small mercies," he chuckled, pressing a kiss to her head. "What'd I ever do without you?"

"I don't know," Dorothea remarked. "But I've got a list of reasons why your life is better with me in it."

"Me too."

—

no because i literally love derek and thea SO MUCH sjfhjkhadsfkjhjsdfh they make me so soft they are friends forever ugh i feel like derek always needed someone to joke with who took his side and that will always be baby thea<3 thanks sm for readinnnggg