25

Bailey threw open the doors of the new Free Clinic, named after Denny, with a proud smile. She turned to the four interns behind her, nodding.

"Welcome to the Denny Duquette Memorial Clinic. Barring any surgical emergencies, you will be working here today."

Eleanora smiled, looking around. Her smile faded slightly when she noticed it was empty, Cristina apparently noticing, too.

"Working on what?" Cristina bluntly asked, causing Eleanora to hit her in the side with her elbow. Cristina let out a small, pained noise, glaring at the smaller woman.

Eleanora kept her smile on her face, acting as though she didn't do anything. Alex snorted, pressing a kiss to her head before he wandered off towards the storage area.

Eleanora let her eyes travel with him, her eyes moving to Izzie right after. It had been about a few weeks since George's dad passed, and since then Alex has been perfectly normal. He was loving and attentive to her, but Eleanora could still feel the worry eat at her stomach whenever Izzie looked at him.

"Right now," Bailey looked at Cristina with a slight glare before motioning to Olivia, who was preparing a cart of equipment, "Olivia will be familiarizing you with the protocol of the flu vaccine."

Cristina let out a small groan but Eleanora squealed, skipping over to Olivia. "Cool! I haven't helped with vaccines since med school! It was so fun."

Cristina shared a look between Eleanora and Alex, her voice pained. "Oh, my God. I have to get out of here. Burke has a bloodless pulmonary valve transplant patient flying in from Denver tomorrow. I should be preparing."

Eleanora scrunched her nose up and Alex chuckled, looking at Cristina like she was crazy. "You don't get to scrub in on that valve translocation."

"And why not?" Cristina sassed, Eleanora answering for her boyfriend.

"Alex is. Burke picked him yesterday."

Cristina looked like someone had just told her she had three hours to live, her voice shaky and shocked. "He picked ?"

Eleanora gave her a sad smile, patting her on the shoulder soothingly. "It'll be okay, Cristina."

Olivia starts instructing them on the vaccine, the three's attention only being pulled away when the doors open. Mark and the Chief walk in, Izzie visibly deflating.

"Dr. Bailey!" Mark greeted, giving her a charming smile. "Congratulations on the opening of the clinic." His eyes searched the room, falling on Nora. "Nora, good morning!"

Alex grunted, but Eleanora didn't know why. She gave Mark a bright smile and a small wave. "Morning!"

Eleanora focused back to Olivia, but her attention was soon drawn back when Izzie let out a loud "Dammit!".

George and Callie entered the clinic, Eleanora letting out a squeal. She pushed past the few doctors in the clinic and engulfed the two into a tight hug.

"You guys are back!" She pulled away, practically vibrating from excitement.

"O'Malley, welcome back. You're late." Bailey deadpanned. Eleanora took a small step back when she noticed the nervousness radiating off of the couple, her head tilting.

"Is O'Malley alright?" The Chief questioned, his voice a small whisper.

George gripped Callie's hand tightly and raised it up to his chest. His voice and entire being was proud, chest puffed out and grin on his lips. "We got married in Vegas!"

The entire room freezes, heads turning to face the two. At the silence, George repeats his words, slightly quieter.

"We're married!"

Eleanora looked at the two with a slightly shocked expression, her jaw slightly open. Eleanora finally took a small breath and then launched forward, lifting Callie's hand up to view her ring. The married couple looked at her in anxious anticipation, both of them knowing that Eleanora's opinion was the most important for this to work (even if neither of them voiced it).

A large, proud smile of her own graced Eleanora's lips and she looked up, her eyes burning with happiness. "Congratulations, guys. You two are really, really great together."

Callie gave a sigh of relief, hugging the smaller woman. "Thank you, Ella. It means a lot."

George looked at the two with a smile on his face, happy that the two women he cared about most liked each other.

While the three were in their own little world, everyone else stared on in silent shock at the news.

"Dude," Alex finally laughed out, "shes Callie O'Malley."

______

!" Eleanora called, finally seeing her friend for the first time that day. She had heard around the rumor mill that her mom was in the hospital and lucid, but she hadn't been able to get away from the clinic until now to check on her friend.

Meredith turned, her eyes red from crying. Eleanora's face fell, stopping in front of her. "Mer?" Her voice was worried, and she let one hand squeeze at her friends arm.

"My mom..." Meredith started, clearing her throat, "Shes lucid."

"Yeah, I heard. But why do you seem...sad?"

"Because my moms a cold hearted surgeon." Meredith spat out, shaking her head. "She thinks because I have a boyfriend and friends that I love that I failed as her child."

Eleanora felt her heart break for her friend, the idea that a mother could think their child failed them seemed horrible to her.

"I'm going to hug you now." Eleanora announced, quickly wrapping her arms around her friends waist. Meredith normally wasn't one for hugs, her and Cristina sharing that sentiment, but in that moment she couldn't wish for anything more.

Meredith wrapped her arms around her smaller friend, holding onto her tightly. A few silent tears rolled down her cheeks and into Eleanora's shirt, but Eleanora said nothing about them.

"You aren't a failure, Mer." Eleanora whispered. "You are an woman, one of the greatest friends anyone could ask for, and a hell of a good doctor."