7. Sticking Together

Dear Sister Mine,

Guess what, girl. I'm BACK. THAT'S RIGHT. Your favourite, ultra-great, big brother is back in Boston with his fantastic family including your nephews and my beautiful wife. New York was fun but I love Boston more than I can say.

Little Oliver's starting to babble. His older brother loved him for a bit, but now he's asking if he's actually staying and I'm like yep, he's here to stay. Will isn't happy about it at all. He's alright like right now, and he plays with Ollie, but internally, I think he plans to murder me when he grows up. For now, I think he's accepted that we can't just sell his baby brother. But onto the more important news: II figured I'd need to head back out soon. Duty does call. Regularly. On my personal cell.

But it's Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving is for family. While Ollie and Will and Theresa are my family, you're my sister. I figure I'd fly to Seattle from Boston and stay there for a day or two then head out. Theresa says it's fine and I don't really care what you say 'cause I'm your big bro' and since when have I ever cared what you said regarding these things.

Let's face it, you miss me. I'm not telling you when I get to Seattle because that'll ruin the surprise but make sure you're at the hospital near Thanksgiving otherwise I have no idea where you are.

Talk to you soon,

Noah

.

:ill be at Meredith's place for thanksgiving because i have friends woo:

Emily sent the text quickly as she pulled on a cashmere sweater. She threw her phone onto her bed, grabbing a set of jeggings. Once she buttoned it securely around her waist, she grabbed her device again, texting the address before running to the door. It was already 8:50 and it took at least twenty minutes to get to her friend's house - as long as there was no traffic. And because it was Thanksgiving, there was totally gonna be traffic.

"Crap," she cursed, slipping her feet unsecurely into her boots and managing an awkward run to the elevators, jabbing the button repeatedly as she struggled with her bag and jacket while she tried to zip up her boots. The elevator arrived as she scrabbled in, half-limping as she managed to zip up one of her shoes. One of her neighbors she didn't really talk to her greeted her with a strained smile as the brunette straightened up. "Hello,"

It was awkward the whole way down, and she darted out of the elevator and into the parkade as soon as the doors opened again.

.

She knocked on the door hesitantly, turning around when there was no answer. When she heard the door click, she slowly rotated until she was faced with a smiling blonde who pulled her into the house. "Emily! You came! Meredith went to the hospital and George had to go out with his family, but they'll be back at six."

"You're perky."

"It's Thanksgiving," The brunette followed the cheerful woman into the kitchen, sitting down at the counter. "Are you going to help me?" She asked, inspecting the turkey.

"Uh, I can cook, but I can't cook that," Emily pointed at the giant pink bird. Walking to the fridge, she pulled it open and took out a can of pop. "Turkey really isn't my thing, you know?"

"At least try, come on, try? I bake, I don't cook."

"Then let's make the mashed potatoes first or something. Wait 'til the others arrive. Besides, I know how to mash potatoes." Draining the last of the sugary drink, she stood and stood beside the blonde as she grabbed potatoes from the fridge. "Like, my mom used to make mashed potatoes every week 'cause I loved them so much. You ever make them before?" She shook her head no. "Great, let's get started. Uh, we'll need a pot, salt, butter, milk, and potatoes."

"Alright," Izzie took out the necessary ingredients, lining them up. "I'll cut the potatoes,"

"Okay, then I'll start bringing the water to a boil."

"This is a start." Izzie let out a breath as she took out a potato peeler from the drawer. Emily nodded, taking the pot and filling it with water. Placing it on the stove, she turned the dial.

"It's a start."

.

"Do you know there's absolutely no liquor in this house?" Joe asked, twirling a wine glass.

"Cristina went to get some," Emily replied, tapping her fingers against the wooden table. "Like over an hour ago. Where is she?" She asked, eyeing Burke and Izzie at the stove. Walter rolled the die, moving his spaces up four.

"Your turn, Emily," He told her as he bought a house for Pennsylvania Avenue. Putting the cash back onto the stacks, he handed her the die.

"Great, another person ditching Thanksgiving," Izzie muttered, upset.

"My brother is coming," Emily told her, finally giving the blonde the news. "He wanted to come, but I don't know when," She added with a glance at her phone. Rolling the die, she frowned, moving her car piece two spaces. Izzie stopped stirring, gaping at her.

"Your brother is coming and you didn't tell me?" She asked, vexed. The doorbell rang, "Your brother is here and you didn't tell me?" She reiterated, making her way to the door. Emily stopped her.

"I thought I'd be a nice surprise?" She offered as an excuse, standing and walking her way to the door. A man with lighter brown hair than hers but the same hazel eyes was at the door with a brilliant smile. He wore plaid flannel and jeans. "Noah, why are you looking so Canadian?" she asked suspiciously, opening the door. The emotion welled up in her throat at the sight of him. His hair, it was shorter from its wolfish length that he'd had to run his hands through to tame it - she had no idea how she never noticed it before - and he was bulkier, more muscled. But his eyes, those eyes Derek had once said were a lot like hers, they were smiling up at her as he opened his arms for a hug. She flew into his arms, nearly knocking him off balance.

"Someone's missed me," He murmured teasingly, pressing a kiss at her forehead.

"Shut up," she muttered, dragging him inside, "Years, and that's the first thing you say?" They entered the kitchen as he let out a laugh. Movement stopped as Burke didn't look up from his position in front of the oven and Izzie's mouth opening to say something.

"Em, could you pass-"

"Noah Moore," He offered a hand to Joe who shook it amicably. Walter stood from the table and they shook hands. Izzie gaped again, stopping mid-stir of the onions.

"Preston Burke," The cardiothoracic surgeon pulled off an oven mitt and shook his hand quickly before resuming his check on the turkey.

"Izzie," Emily reminded with a glance at the pan of onions. The blonde quickly resumed her task, "Noah, this is Izzie, an intern in my group. And the others should be back soon,"

"It's nice to meet you." An awkward tension, broken by the sizzling of the oil was broken when Noah gestured to the piled plates and utensils. "Should we start setting up the table?"

"Yeah, yeah," Izzie muttered distractedly. "Make sure to leave the big decorated plate for the turkey. It's in the dusty cabinet near the dining table."

"Alright," Emily grabbed a stack of plates, Noah following suit as Walter and Joe grabbed a few utensils and napkins.

"Follow me!" Noah cheered, marching extravagantly into the dining room. They pulled a round table and a rectangular one together, covering it haphazardly with a blue tablecloth. Small talk and many long stories later, the table was set and they had found some candelabras to light. Izzie came to check up on them an hour later as they searched for a lighter.

"Found it!" Joe called, bringing it over to her brother. Walter started pulling chairs into place as Emily scrambled to help him. "Okay, this looks pretty good," He wrapped an arm around his boyfriend's shoulders.

"It does, doesn't it?" Noah agreed, kissing his sister on her cheek. "Where are you friends?" He added, checking his watch, "It's nearly three,"

"Izzie just said dinner at six. I'm really hoping they'll be back by then." Emily muttered, wondering where the heck her friends were.

.

"Safe to say, that was the best Thanksgiving ever,"

"Agreed,"

.

"I'm sad to see your brother go. He's really nice," Izzie muttered as she sipped her coffee. George nodded, the apple crunching as he bit into it. "He said he was going where again?"

"Went to see some old friends or something. Then he's off to the airport, again," Emily told her again.

"How do you live like that?" Izzie asked, almost in awe.

"Like what?"

"You aren't seeing your brother for years and you act like it's nothing," George said as they reached the locker room. "He can die over there,"

"It's just something you get used to," she replied shortly, "It's more dangerous than his last tour but there are children who need him. Children, George. And, hey, I've had practice dealing with people leaving me."

The brunette never understood why her dad had left her mom. And she never understood a few years later why her mom just disappeared one day without a note. By then, Noah was at MSF and Emily was left alone in New York. It made her university years such a terrible time. A lot of drowning herself in homework and studying. Not a lot of social interaction.

And she'd never tell her brother, because surely he'd tease her, but if he died, she felt like a part of her would die with him; that's why she hated his job. No matter how many times he promised he'd always come back, Emily never really believed him until she saw him. The selfish part of her wanted him to never leave, to maybe work here, in Seattle and another part reasoned that people needed her brother more than her. And that part was happy that she thought her brother was happy.

And it was completely horrible that Emily was known to be too selfless for her own good. She was too selfless to tell her brother that she wanted him to stay. She couldn't hold him back from his dream.

But even the most selfless people had dark sides. A part of her hated Noah, for leaving her time and time again. Hated him for smiling and saying 'bye Em,' and disappearing for years at a time, past the gate in the airport. But that hate, that hate was never compared to the pain. The pain that - yeah - she was left alone again. That - yeah - on her first year of med school, no one was there to drive her or say good luck or tell her that they were proud.

The pain slowly faded into the back of her mind except on those days. Any pain faded except when those days came by. Like when the rain makes your joints ache, or when you tax your knee even though it was never strong. For her, it was the days that were important to them. Her birthday, his birthday, even Christmas. He was never here to celebrate them with her. Those were the days that hurt the most, when a pang of loneliness would hit her and she would never know how to cure it. It echoed in her chest and thrummed in every beat of her heart until she waited, slowly, for it to stop.

But she had doubts that it ever would.

Warm arms enveloped her, and she started to find George hugging her. "George?" Izzie beamed, adjusting the strap of her bag as she nearly sighed at the gushy friendship-ness.

"This is totally uncalled for but I think you need it." The corners of her lips quirked up. She spotted Derek who offered a tired grin. Nodding slightly, she embraced her friend back. The loneliness receded, afraid of the bond her friends had shown her, and she found a subtle warmth spreading through her limbs. When Derek turned away, she knew that these were the people she needed, not him. And she needed to keep these people on her side, just as they needed her to be on theirs.

"Maybe I do,"

.

The line clicked. "Derek?"

"Emily? What's up?"

"It's Dr. Moore," she muttered, a hand to her forehead, "Derek, we can't do this… half-in half-out thing anymore," she said, louder.

"You aren't mad?" he asked, a light touch of hope and surprise in his voice.

"No, I am. That's why I'm saying we aren't doing this anymore. I'm saying that this friendship needs to be on a hiatus for a while," the brunette said bluntly. Better to rip off the band-aid. Beating around the bush was never her style.

"What? Who put you up to this?" He asked, tone slightly teasing and disbelieving. Placing a hand over the microphone, she sighed, took a deep breath, and then continued.

"It isn't a joke, Derek. Us interns? They're the people I need. We need to stick together because we understand each other. And when you hurt Meredith, I think that just made it more clear."

"Emily." The neurosurgeon seemed to think better than to reason, letting out a heavy sigh that crackled over their line, "If that's what you want,"

"That's what I want," She nodded firmly as if to enforce the statement in her mind.

"Bye,"

"Bye,"

A/N: Edited - June 25, 2018