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out her shoulders. Eleanora entered the elevator with Meredith and Cristina, listening to the latter talk about the merger.

"I talked to Callie last night about the residents at Mercy West, she said they don't ." She motioned towards Meredith, "You're safe because of Derek," she motioned to Eleanora, "You're safe because of Mark because you're Derek's little prodigy. Izzie's safe because of cancer, Alex is Bailey's new favorite. You know, even George would've been spared, cause he's Owens guy."

"He was also the Chiefs guy." Eleanora added, leaning on Meredith with her eyes closed. She had just finished a long and intense surgery with Derek, she was working a double. She wanted to cry a bit, to be honest. Cristina glared at her slightly, Meredith keeping a snort down.

"Cardio has been a revolving door around here, and no ones got my back."

"So Arizona is your cover?" Meredith asked with a smirk, Eleanora opening one eye to look at Cristina.

"She's Merger-Proof! She keeps little kids alive, no one likes a dead kid. Plus they're under anesthesia half the time. How bad can it be?" Cristina walks off the elevator, Eleanora and Meredith slowly following behind her.

"You're probably going to Hell for using sick and dying little kids as a way to keep your job." Eleanora teased, Cristina snorted.

"I'd make Hell my bitch."

Meredith laughed then, shrugging. "She's right. She'd overthrow the Devil in one clean swoop."

_____

know, we should really get some sleep before rounds." Meredith told her two friends, the three of them shuffling to the ER Nurses Station.

"Sleep is for wimps. Sleep is for Mercy West Residents." Cristina stated, Eleanora letting out a small whine.

"But I'm tired, Cristina."

"Stop it!" Cristina snapped, putting her hands on her smaller friends shoulders. "Snap out of it, Sunshine. I will not be a known friend of a wimp, you hear me?"

Eleanora nodded slowly, Cristina then turning to look over some chart. "Let's fit in another trauma before rounds."

Looking up when she heard someone round around the corner, Eleanora tilted her head in confusion as Alex rushed to them, his face a little panicked. He leans over the desk to speak lowly to the three friends, his eyes warning.

"Don't say anything about the wig."

Eleanora tilts her head, looking at him with confusion. "You aren't wearing a wi- ."

Her words are cut off by Izzie turning the corner, a bright look on her face. Instead of her normal blonde hair, which should be short due to the chemo, there was a long, red wig perched on her head. Eleanora's eyes widen and she shuts her mouth, Cristina and Meredith just staring with wide eyes themselves.

"I'm back! Yes, I am early. But whatever, I'm back. And because I've been gone so long, the first trauma that comes through those doors, it's mine. Got it?"

Everyone slowly nods, Alex giving her a tight smile. Eleanora struggles to say anything, Meredith and Cristina still staring at her head with wide eyes. Izzie grins, twirling a strand of the hair.

"It's amazing, right?"

"What?"

"What's amazing?"

"What are you talking about?"

The three friends spoke in unison, trying to cover up their shock and slight fear at the sight. Izzie scoffs, bumping a bit of the hair. "The wig!"

"Yes, mhm!" Meredith answered, Cristina making a 'pssh' sound and waving her off.

"Oh, it looks so real, I couldn't even tell."

"It's so pretty! Red really suits you, Iz!" Eleanora told her, giving her a grin. She glanced at her watch, letting out a sigh before leaning over to squeeze Izzie's hand. "I have rounds, but I'm happy you're back, Iz! Make sure to take it easy today."

______

" Max asked, his voice confused as he ran into his girlfriend. She was searching the hall, looking under abandoned gurneys and behind trash cans. Lexie glanced up, letting out a groan.

"I look crazy, I know! B-but this is partly your fault!" She snapped, stopping in front of him. Her face was flushed and there was a panicked look in her eye. Max's eyes widened, a small gasp escaping him.

"My fault? I don't even know what's going on, but I assure you I-"

"No, you didn't actually do anything, Max! But you...you caused it! You're the one who told me to go act like I deserve to be here, to keep my job. And I did! And now I have lost a schizophrenic!"

Lexie moved to look in a room, Max's brows raising as he follows behind her. "You lost a Schizophrenic? Lex, tesoro (darling), thats-"

"Not good!" Lexie squeaked, groaning when she didn't find her patient. She pulled at her hair a bit, her voice wobbly. "I am gonna be fired unless I find the Schizophrenic!"

She lets out another noise as she checks behind a medicine cart. Max can't help but grin, crossing his arms over his chest. "I highly doubt that your patient is behind there."

Lexie turned on her heels, glaring at him as she poked her boyfriend in the chest. "You do get to be charmed by this, because is not charming! This is me getting cut from the program." Lexie turns to walk out of the hallway, pushing into the lobby. "I am just starting out, Max! I have never stapled a bowel, and I have never resected an esophagus!"