Callie really did quit in a huff and is now an Attending at Mercy West. It's quite a surprise when her first patient is the Chief, who runs a red light when he's distracted about the meeting he's about to have with the board. There's a whole lot of meetings and whispering through the entire episode, but we'll wait to get to that. Interestingly, Richard has the gall to snap at Derek, who rightfully points out that he has had the Chief's back, but things are definitely tense between the two. He relieves himself of any possible tension, however, by having sex with Meredith anywhere and everywhere. It's her way of dealing with George's death since she hasn't cried -- it takes a janitor finally cleaning out his locker for her to break down in tears.
Alex and Izzie are having the opposite problem in that Alex won't touch his wife. They meet with a new doctor, because Izzie's cancer has subsided enough for her to no longer be interesting to Swender, which everyone assures her is a good thing. She'll continue treatment, but there is no real timeline -- they just wait and hope the cancer doesn't start to grow again. It doesn't do much to fix things between the two of them, so at the trailer Izzie finally demands Alex take off his pants and be her husband. He blows up about the matter of her DNR and her dying in his arms, and how he's angry and terrified of that ever happening again, but of course this means they can then make up.
Arizona sends her pain patient from the last episode to Mercy West with a message to get Callie to run the expensive test that Richard forbade. It still doesn't really help, so she goes to Derek; wonder surgeon that he is, he figures out what's wrong and they're able to help free the kid from a life of chronic pain. Between these scenes and the one with Richard at Mercy West earlier, we also pick up that they are having as much budget trouble there as they are at Seattle Grace. What on earth could that mean down the line, do we think?
Lexie is trying to help out her amputation patient, Clara, but Clara is refusing physical therapy and sinking further and further into depression. Hunt finally tells Lexie that she'll have to have Clara committed, which freaks Lexie out enough to yell at her patient that the doctors are referring to her as "ceviche" -- chopped fish. Clara finds this so funny that she bursts out laughing and winds up both doing physical therapy and letting Lexie call her mom in England and tell her about the accident. Lexie is then so moved that she stops balking at the idea of living with Mark and shows up with a toothbrush and a gigantic suitcase in tow, much to his delight. It's just like Friends now, with Mark and Lexie across the hall from Cristina and Callie!
Speaking of Cristina, she goes to a therapy session with Hunt in an effort to show how close they are and therefore, why they should be having sex. It's all stilted and weird and Dr. Amy points out that they don't talk at all about the war or Owen's choking her and until then, they won't be able to actually help fix the problem. Some joking at a later session finally turns into a conversation about the Incident, and afterward it seems they've decided that they have been honest enough that they can have sex again. I imagine she's still going to keep from ever putting a ceiling fan up again, though.
Last but not least, after seeing her storming around for weeks on end like an angry robot, Derek forces Bailey to talk about what's going on. She admits that she's too attached and emotional about her group of former interns and that she needs to stop giving away her feelings and keep them for her son. It's horrible and depressing, but Derek accepts her will and then lets them continue on in the elevator.
So with everyone finally coming to terms with things nearly 40 days after George's death, the Chief gathers the staff together for an announcement: Seattle Grace and Mercy West are going to be merging, and there are definitely going to be staff cuts. It's time to let the real fun begin!
We've now reached Day 20 Post-George. Mere tells us, "The dictionary defines grief as 'keen mental suffering or distress over affliction or loss.'" Mere walks into the hospital, wearing what I think might be the shirt Derek used to preserve his modesty back on Day 13. As she texts she notices Amanda sitting on a bench outside, and gives her a bit of a condescending look as she texts and walks by. "Sharp sorrow. Painful regret.
"As surgeons, as scientists, we're taught to learn from and rely on books. On definitions. On definitives." Lexie is reading in Clara's room while the girl sleeps, now in big black arm braces as opposed to the shoulder-to-wrist bandages of the episode.
"But in life, strict definitions rarely apply. In life, grief can look like a lot of things that bear little resemblance to sharp sorrow." Hunt and Cristina are lying on a bed in the on-call room, fully clothed, just staring into each others faces.
Day 21. Lexie reads to Clara from an "I [Heart] NY" postcard that she's not missing much. "New York smells like pee." Maybe try a different neighborhood, ladies? Clara replies again that she hates them, and grimaces as she talks. Lexie tells her that some test results (presumably about her pain) will be back soon but Clara insists she's fine and also that Lexie can go home and take a break from her round-the-clock suicide watch as Clara is better now. She then points out that she thinks Lexie is just hanging there to avoid moving in with Mark, and says that if Lex moves in with him, she'll let Lexie call her mom. Lexie can't reply to the offer, though, as Bailey comes in to let Clara know that she has an infection in her small bowel and an inflamed colon, and that an abscess has formed and she needs surgery right away. Clara's good mood evaporates and she absolutely refuses to have any more surgery. Bailey stalls for time and says she'll be back in a little while to discuss, but quietly tells Cristina to start her on antibiotics and book an OR.
Once Bailey is gone, Clara asks Lexie and Cristina about her options. As Cristina sees it, it's simple -- she needs surgery to fix this, and as long as everything goes as planned it's simple. Clara pulls out one of the most effective comebacks we've seen in a while, reminding Cristina that her boat ride didn't go as planned, and she wants the worst case. Honestly, I think if she'd asked for a worst-case scenario before she went boating they could give her death, but I don't know that they'd even think to warn her that the propeller might chop off her arms. That's just freakishly rotten luck. Cristina gives her the worst case of this surgery: they would take out part of her colon and give her a colostomy bag. Clara flips out on account of her grandpa having a "poo bag" and yells that she won't have the same. Lexie points out that the infection will kill her but it's not enough to dissuade the girl and she again refuses the surgery.
Alex and Arizona are with Richard going over all of the tests they have done on Andy, and Richard absolutely freaks out over the costs, especially as they have found nothing. She wants the 3D MRI and even normally-brooding Alex pipes up to add that this kid has been to the ER four times in three weeks with the meds not working. But the Chief is way too concerned about numbers and not about those pesky things called patients, whose satisfaction might lead to things like better rankings. He tells the doctors that one of them would have to put up the $5,000 for the test, or they can go to his Board meeting that afternoon, "And explain why you're running this hospital like it's a charity!" Or running it like, well, a hospital. Potato-Po-tah-to. Alex sneers as the Chief flounces out, and can't believe it when Arizona starts to cry. She mumbles that she has authority issues and tells Alex to walk away.
The mood isn't any better elsewhere when Bailey storms up to Cristina to demand where she gets off killing a patient. She thinks Cristina talked her out of the surgery, and Cristina tries to defend herself that she was answering a patient's questions and Bailey had left the room. As we all know Cristina is not a snuggly teddy bear, especially when confronted in this manner, she maybe doesn't take the best approach to the situation by yelling back. Bailey informs her that she left to give their "fragile" patient time to accept what was going on and that then she would have come back and discussed the surgery, "With I'm certain more tact and sensitivity than you've ever displayed in all the time that I've known you." Well... yes. Bailey is wound up and kind of out of her mind, but that's a pretty fair statement, actually. Cristina, however, is pissed and starts to argue in defense of herself. Bailey isn't having any of it, and tells Cristina that in the future she's to answer no questions and to get Bailey to do it.
Day 22. Cristina's mood can now best be described as "maniacally perky" as she sucks on a popsicle with Izzie and Mere while Izzie gets another IL2 treatment. These are special "cancer pops" that aren't sold in the cafeteria, and Cristina wonders why the cancer patients get all the fun. Mere and Izzie just glare at her but seriously, how is this worse than any number of things Cristina has said in the past? Izzie, I'm sure, is just mad about it now because it actually pertains to her. They choose to ignore Cristina and Mere asks Izzie how she's feeling -- not looking forward to the impending vomit, but otherwise okay. In the same perky voice, Cristina jumps in like they didn't just say something and announces that Bailey is on a rampage and laughs, "I think it's Post O'Malley Stress Disorder." Mere tells Izzie that she's not dealing with her grief, but I am not quite sure if she's talking about Cristina or Bailey, as both are having that problem. Cristina comes back that she sounds like Hunt's shrink, and Mere explains to Izzie that Dr. Amy is keeping them from having sex so she's grumpy and inappropriate. Izzie grasps onto that like a drowning girl to a rope and asks if Derek is also withholding sex. When Mere asks why, Izzie explains that Alex is withholding everything. "It's like he's afraid but I don't know what he's afraid of." Here, let's shorten this storyline by 20 minutes with the really obvious answer: he's afraid of breaking you because you nearly died right after he married you. See? That was easy. But, this is supposed to fill an hour so Cristina flippantly says he's afraid of the cancer cells, which is just such a dumb statement for a doctor I can't swallow it. Mere exclaims and Izzie tells her to shut up and that she's not contagious; Cristina tells her she knows and she would totally have sex with Izzie.
It looks like that place across from Callie and Cristina was available and that Mark bought or rented it and is already moving in. He's asking Lexie if she's sure she doesn't want a drawer, or even a toothbrush or a change of undies there, and she giggles but she's sure. She reminds him that she has to focus as she's becoming a resident today. Wow, there was no indication of that especially given what a big deal the exam was for our regular gang a couple of seasons ago. Callie runs out from across the hall wearing a dress and holding two others. She is nervous and excited as it's her first day at Mercy West and she wants to look nice but also hardcore and awesome. He tells her to wear one of the ones she is holding, so she hands the dresses over to Lexie and proceeds to skip down to her skivvies as Lexie's jaw hits the floor. Mark watches casually and then declares the new dress to be better, and Lexie tries her hardest to smile and be casual. Mark tells Callie she's an attending and to go kick ass, and she happily swans back into her apartment. Lexie finally finds her voice and asks Mark if he forgot to mention that his, "hot, hardcore, ex-sex-friend lives right across the hall." He seems genuinely casual about it and asks if he did, but Lexie is still completely shocked.
The Chief is driving in his car, practicing his speech in which he defends the job and tries to convince the Board not to fire him. Of course he then runs a red light because he is too deep in thought and gets hit.
He's taken, protesting, into Mercy West where Callie is confused to see him but he is relieved to see a face he knows. She is clearly savoring the exam as well as recommending that he get stitches. The intern is surprised that they know each other and Callie pointedly asks him if they worked together for five or six years. She then reminds Richard that this is a teaching hospital and because of that, her first-day intern gets to take care of him. When she leaves the intern assures Richard that it's actually his eighth day. Richard then asks him what kind of sutures he'll be using and doesn't like the answer -- he wants the ones that will help him heal faster. The intern knows that but points out that they've had budget cuts, and Richard grits his teeth at having to take a spoonful of his own medicine. He asks the kid if he likes it there and of course he does -- he's getting to do an unsupervised procedure on his eighth day! Richard considers this as he gets to work.
Day 23. Amanda is still sitting outside on the bench, looking morose and lost. Mere looks at her and gives a half-smile but Amanda doesn't smile back.
Cristina, for all of her tough attitude, is clearly serious about Hunt getting better because she's in Dr. Amy's office with him having an appointment. She runs down facts about his life but it's all very clinical, and Hunt tells her this isn't a book report. She is just trying to show that she knows things about him, and when Dr. Amy speaks up, Cristina cuts her off (clearly nervous) to say that he knows things about her too, because they talk all the time. She then goes completely off her rocker and asks, "Honey?" which just makes Hunt laugh, it's so out of character. Dr. Amy, though, wants to make sure that Hunt is comfortable with her. Cristina immediately says he is but the look on Owen's face says differently, and he gives Dr. Amy permission to talk to Cristina, who seems confused and even a little worried. Dr. Amy asks if they ever talk about the war or the choking incident. Cristina is quiet as she goes on to say that his PTSD is fed by his not talking about these things, and if they have sex they'll get so wrapped up in that he'll feel like he never has to talk about it. "He'll feel he has everything he needs, until he doesn't." That is why she wants them to wait. Cristina seems to be absorbing just how serious this whole thing is.
Lexie is writing another email for Clara as Clara writhes in pain on the bed. When she asks Lexie to read it back to her, however, Lexie very seriously reads an email she wrote about being in an accident, having 17 (!) surgeries so far, and having an infection she's refusing to treat. The email says that she's going to die and asks her mom to come quickly, and that if she's too late she loves her and thanks her for "making me from scratch." Clara's incensed but her anger is tempered by the fact that she can barely get words out for all the pain. Lexie tells her she either hits the button that calls the nurses who will take Clara into surgery or she'll hit send. When Clara counters that she'll sue the hospital, Lexie points out that she'll be dead. Finally, Clara whimpers, "Please," which Lexie interprets to mean she's calling the nurses.
Back at Mercy West, Callie goes to see her patient who turns out to be Andy, having been referred there by Arizona. Callie's confused but Pam hands over copies of all of his paperwork and tells her that they don't sleep anymore because of his pain and she feels like a terrible mom because she can't do anything. Andy tries to stop her tirade but she is desperate and continues, telling Callie that Arizona said they need a 3D MRI, and that she won't want to do it because there appears to be no reason to run it, but that's what he needs. Callie is about to protest but Pam cuts her off to say that she can't be useless and neither can Callie. Callie clearly didn't expect to have her old job cross paths with her new job so many times already.
Bailey is doing Clara's surgery and is still mighty pissed at Cristina. She says that the surgery is more complicated than it would have been the day before but she will still be fine. She again knocks Cristina for threatening a colostomy bag, especially when this didn't involve the girl's colon. I feel like, if that's true that she said the wrong thing, that might have come up before now? Cristina swallows a retort and instead asks evenly how she can help, but Bailey only spits, "Oh, you've done enough."
After the surgery, Bailey stomps down the hall and Cristina runs after her, yelling that she answered a patient's questions which was in fact her job required by law and the oath she took. Bailey just gapes at her and Cristina says, "If you know a way to sugarcoat a colostomy bag, I would like to hear it." So... I guess the colostomy bag part was a possible outcome after all? I'm very confused. But not confusing is Bailey's fury, and she retorts, "If you know a more respectful way to speak to an attending surgeon, I'd like to hear that. Until you do, you don't talk to me." She informs Cristina that she's off her service and as Cristina asks in a yell what her problem is, she just storms out.
Mark and Derek are watching as Richard has a meeting with the board in an all-glass conference room. Mark explains for all of us that everyone is freaking out, wondering the meanings of all of these meetings. I guess if there have been multiple meetings so far then Richard might have talked his way into saving his job after all? Mark knows Richard and Derek are close so asks if he has any inside info, and Derek tells him that Richard is retiring and making him Chief. Mark is stunned but is able to offer congratulations, and once he shakes Derek's hand, Derek can't keep a straight face any longer. But Mark then seriously wants to know what is going on, and Derek says that he has no idea. I'm not sure if I totally believe it, but okay.
Arizona is sitting in Callie's apartment fiddling with a cigarette and a lighter. Callie comes in and Arizona jumps up and offers both red and white wine and babbles about how she only smokes occasionally when she knows she'll be in trouble, "Like now." Callie calls her on her totally inappropriate behavior but then is taken back by the smoking, and Arizona uses the pause to defend that she had run out of options. Callie yells at her a bit about how it's an expensive procedure and the Chief had every reason to turn her down. But of course she did actually run it though it turned out negative. Callie pours some wine as Arizona looks at the films (and we see a donut box on the counter) and they start to talk out options.
Lexie gets home and as she walks into the kitchen we hear the telltale giggles of Derek and Meredith's patented grief-avoiding sex. Lexie walks in and then right out of the kitchen, disgusted, as apologies are stammered from everyone. Derek peeks out the door and promises they'll wash the counter (ew) and Lexie says that this never used to happen, but now it's happening all the time. Derek claims it is because they are married, so Lexie asks if that means the post-it marriage really was real. After confirming yes, Derek goes back in and there's more giggling and pots clanging as Lexie shudders.
Day 30. Or night 30, really. Izzie comes out of the trailer to Alex, who is working at a table outside, trying to figure out what could possibly be going on with Andy. Izzie tells him to take a break and adds, "I miss you." He tells her testily that he's right there, obviously trying to avoid any actual conversation. She gripes that he's totally not there and she misses him, and then uses shock to get his attention: she tells him she's been praying for a brain tumor just so she could speak to George again. Alex finally looks up and she starts to cry as she talks about how much she misses George and how she wants to feel better even for a minute and wants to not be wishing for a tumor. She's got nothing to do with herself these days other than dwell on it, so she begs Alex, "Come inside and help me feel better." He smiles at her for a second before it becomes a sneer and she berates him for trying to use "I miss George" as a seductive move. She can't believe it and goes back inside while Alex goes back to work.
Day 36. Callie walks into Mark's apartment, which apparently has no locks on the doors. She asks if he is there and when Lexie says he's in the shower, Callie goes right in to talk to him about the rumor that Richard might be coming to Mercy West. He hasn't heard, and asks her for the shampoo, which is on a stand outside. Why does this always happen on television, that someone asks for the shampoo when it's elsewhere? Does no one in TV Land look to see that it's in the shower before they get in? Do they not just keep it there regularly?
As Callie walks out Lexie stops her and asks her if she's really gay. "Like, how gay are you? On a scale of 1 to... gay." Callie seems offended at first but thaws as Lexie explains that it was her hot, naked boyfriend in the shower and she apologizes and says she'll try not to do it again. Lexie asks if she can also avoid being half-naked in the hallway because even if she is gay, Mark isn't, and Callie is hot. Callie responds by telling Lexie that Mark doesn't look at her boobs anymore. She clarifies to a confused Lexie that they used to be the first thing he looked at, but since he met Lexie he doesn't do it anymore. She's clearly still a mite exasperated but it's still a cute exchange and Lexie is obviously relieved.
Derek is waiting in Richard's office and when Richard arrives, he tries to push him off and says he's busy. Derek says he's busy scoping Mercy West and pointedly tells him that he assumes Richard would tell him if there's anything he needs to know, and is he leaving? Richard chalks all that up to rumors but Derek points out there's tons of rumors and Jennings will no longer return his calls. Richard asks why he's calling at all and gets quite angry as he says he'll tell when there is something to tell, and then has the gall to accuse Derek of going behind his back. Richard has been a mess before, but this is the most single-minded and self-centered I think we've ever seen him. Derek rightfully won't let him finish and tells Richard not to forget that Derek is the one who actually has his back.
Arizona catches him storming out and runs after him to have him look at the film from the 3D MRI, even though he won't see anything. She thinks that Andy has a tethered spinal cord, and she needs one more test to be sure. Derek tells her to run it but she then explains that if she does she'll be fired. Realizing that this is something that came from Richard, Derek is then all over it and tells her to follow him.
Clara is standing on her prosthetic leg while Lexie and a therapist help her up. She's stony-faced and demands to stop, which her helpers don't really listen to until she loses her balance and sits down. The therapist tells her that this is where the hard part begins, not realizing that while that works for some people, this is the very wrong patient to tell that to. Lexie looks like she just had that very thought, in fact, and Clara looks defeated.
As Andy goes into some machine for this test, Derek smiles at Arizona and she finally gets the McDreaminess of it all. I love that Alex sneers at this. She asks if Derek knows they call him that, and then realizes that she's gotten all gooey and assures him she's in a relationship in case he thought this was a come-on. Have she and Callie gone public with their relationship? I thought so but maybe not if she needs to point it out. She then congratulates him on getting married but Alex can't handle that and says until he's, "sweating it out in a morning coat with a ball of white taffeta coming at you, you're not really married." Everyone laughs, but there's really a nasty tone I can't stomach in what he says. Derek then confidently says he's consummated his marriage, how about Alex? "Girls talk. You might want to consider that the time you judge my post-it." Rowr, that's the most McDreamy I've seen him in a good long time.
George's stuff is still in his locker, and Cristina and Mere are hanging out. Meredith says that she still hasn't cried and nonchalantly admits that she's using work and sex as a distraction, which seems to be working for her. She then asks Cristina if she's seen Amanda outside all day every day, but Cristina got stuck on the s-word and moans that she misses sex. Meredith just shakes her head and leaves; Cristina is surprised but before she can ask Mere again Lexie comes in to talk about how she's worried about Clara's depression. Cristina doesn't even know who she's talking about for a moment and then asks if she means ceviche, complete with awesome chopping motions. Lexie is aghast at her rudeness and storms out, so Cristina asks the room if there's anyone else she can offend. Oh, I'm sure there are plenty of people.
Because she is quickly becoming the most awesome employee of this circus they call a hospital, Arizona was right and she and Derek explain to Pam and Andy that a tethered spinal cord is where a thread from the cord is attached to the tailbone. They tell them that a microsurgery to clip the thread will fix it right up and Andy will be free of pain. Pam starts bawling and hugging them and Andy is embarrassed as he explains that before this, she was a normal mom. Derek points out that this is in fact a normal mom. All that sex must have mellowed Derek -- he's more likable so far than he was for much of last season. When he tones down the smug, there is still a hint of McDreamy there.
Izzie and Alex are sitting in a meeting with Bailey and a new doctor, who is there in place of Swender as she handed off Izzie's case. Alex is condescending as he guesses that this guy is second year, and he corrects that he's third. It takes some convincing for Alex and Izzie to believe this is a good thing, that she still has cancer, "but not enough to interest Dr. Swender anymore." I always knew that Swender's people skills were bad, but this is exceptional. Alex takes Izzie's hand as they explain that her mets have shrunk and no new ones have appeared, so the protocol is working. Bailey is clearly put out that Izzie isn't happier at this news, which is about as good as they could have hoped for. But Izzie clearly has other things on her mind, or below the belt, as it were. They are going to continue the IL2 and will have scans to monitor her every 3-6 months. Alex asks if there is a timeline -- the closest he's going to get to asking what he really wants to about relations with his wife. But there isn't a timeline, they just wait and watch and hope it doesn't grow again. Neither husband nor wife look as happy as they should at this news.
Day 37. The shots they are using of Seattle during these graphics are absolutely stunning. Derek, Arizona and Alex are in surgery and Derek offers Arizona the chance to snip the thread. She declines, but he sincerely tells her that she saved Andy from chronic pain and a likely pain pill addiction, and that he owes his future to her. It's very sweet, and she's moved. She takes the tool and makes the snip, and even Alex smiles for her as she does.
Clara appears to be catatonic in her bed, and Hunt is trying to get through to her about physical therapy. Apparently she is refusing it and he tries to tell her that she needs to work the muscles so they won't atrophy and heal incorrectly. She has to do the work now. He then leans in and tells her quietly that he knows what it's like to want to die and to not want to call one's mom, but he made it back and she can if she does the work. She makes no indication that she's even heard him and Hunt comes over and quietly tells Lexie that she needs to have Clara committed. Lexie is appalled and as Hunt walks away, she tries her own brand of motivation and yells that people are calling her ceviche and she can't go out like that. Hunt tries to stop her but Clara repeats the word and Lexie explains that it's a meal and it's chopped up fish. She loses some of her stern tone as she tries to explain and Clara starts to smile and chuckles, "That's really horrible, isn't it?" Lexie laughs too and Hunt looks relieved, I imagine one reason being that they won't actually have a lawsuit on their hands because of sheer inappropriate name-calling and also that his patient might get the help she needs.
Day 39. Izzie and Mere are talking outside and Izzie is musing about how she didn't expect to live but now she might be able to hope. Meredith calls her a miracle but Izzie reminds her she's living with cancer. Izzie then notices Amanda, and Mere explains that she sits there all day every day. Izzie can't believe it, and stomps over and orders her to get up. "Now go get a life." Amanda mews that she can't, but Izzie won't accept that and says that George was a surgeon whose life had a purpose but now he doesn't have a chance to do anything but Amanda does. Izzie doesn't care what she does, but orders her to just go do something because she lived and George didn't. To temper things just a tad she says she knows it feels horrible and terrifying, but she lived, "So go live your freaking life." Amanda cries again that she doesn't know how. Do you think when they cast this part they made sure they got someone who was awesome at crying on command? Izzie tells her no one knows how, "But God, have enough respect for George to figure it out." She then threatens that if she ever sees Amanda again, she'll kick her ass. Amanda glares at her but finally leaves, and Mere smiles. It's not the approach I would have taken, and I hate to admit this, but it was kind of awesome.
Cristina and Owen are in therapy again, and are talking to each other like Dr. Amy isn't even there -- Cristina is complaining about not being able to get back on Bailey's service and how the other doc won't even look at her. Hunt defends that she was close with George, but Cristina thinks this isn't about him. First, I think it's totally about him, duh. Second, this rings a bit false because I just can't imagine Cristina having this type of open conversation in front of someone else. But Cristina thinks Bailey is just mad about ceviche. Dr. Amy, who has been listening the whole time, asks for clarification and they explain. Hunt asks if it's okay to call someone a seafood dish, and Dr. Amy says that it's pretty dark. Cristina protests, "I'm dark? I'm not the one going around choking people in their sleep!" They both laugh but at Dr. Amy's stone face and the depth of what she really just said, they both get serious quickly. Cristina can't help herself completely and quips, "Too soon?" but then Owen desperately tells her that he's not the guy choking people in their sleep either. She says she knows, but he goes on that it was just a dream and while he doesn't remember what it was about, he was trying to save his own life and not trying to hurt her. He's trying desperately to keep his emotions under control as he pleads and she finally tells him, "Okay." Dr. Amy tells them that they just made a start.
Clara is back on her feet, but for the first time her face is determined, and she manages a tiny step. She and Lexie whoop with disbelief and happiness, and Clara then asks Lexie to call her mom. Lexie of course agrees, and she takes another step. Lexie's voice begins the exit voiceover: "Grief may be a thing we all have in common, but it looks different on everyone."
Lexie either reached a new level in her relationship with Mark or she really did make that deal with Clara and has to keep up her end of the bargain. She knocks on Mark's door and when he answers, she shows him first a toothbrush, then a pair of panties. She then turns and wheels in a giant suitcase. You know, this is another TV thing I've never understood -- the idea that someone can make a move with all of their belongings in a single suitcase. No one I know in the whole world can actually stuff everything they are living with into a single suitcase, no matter how large. Especially if they've been living somewhere for a while, like Lexie has! Oh well, I'm missing the point, which is yay! They are living together now. Mark's voice tells us: "It isn't just death we have to grieve. It's life. It's loss. It's change."
Then it's Alex's turn for VO: "And when we wonder why it has to suck so much sometimes, has to hurt so bad, the thing we have to try and remember is that it can turn on a dime." He gets out of his car and goes in to the trailer to see lit candles all over, and Izzie sitting on the bed. He asks what's up and she orders him to take off his pants. Did you ever think you'd see Alex Karev disobey that order? Me neither, but he does and she then orders him to be her husband. "Get undressed, get into bed, and hold me!" She tells him she doesn't know what he's mad about or scared of since he won't talk to her, but she's scared too and if they are going to have a chance, she needs him. He grabs her hand when she tries to embrace him and yells that she died in his arms and left instructions that he couldn't save her life. He's scared of everything now, and he can't lose her. "I won't survive. And that's your fault." Well, this is a shocking surprise that I never in a million years saw coming. Sheesh. She takes his face, and kisses and hugs him as her voice says, "That's how you stay alive. When it hurts so much you can't breathe, that's how you survive."
Bailey gets into the elevator to go home and just before the doors close, Derek sticks his hand in and jumps in with her. She ignores him and keeps the same look on her face that she's had since George's death. Derek VO's: "But remembering that one day, somehow, impossibly, you won't feel this way. It won't hurt so much." But Bailey clearly can't believe that now. Derek pulls the emergency stop on the elevator and faces her. She numbly responds to his unasked question and says that she's at a loss, she's an Attending and a single mother, and she can't care anymore. Izzie and George are not her children. She stops and starts, trying to keep from crying as she proclaims that she has to stop caring so much. Derek looks terribly sad for her as she breaks down and continues that she can't feel this way at work anymore. "I have to save the feeling for my son who needs it. I just can't keep giving it away here." She pulls herself together and stonily resolves, "I won't." Derek is clearly hurting for her but without a word he lets the elevator start up again. Bailey's voice adds: "Grief comes in its own time for everyone. In its own way."
Owen's turn: "So the best we can do, the best anyone can do, is try for honesty," which he does with Cristina as they make out in her bed. He pulls back and tells her he doesn't want to hurt her again, clearly nervous. "My problems, they're real. And this, this makes us real. Makes my problems your problems. I'm afraid." She thinks about it, and I do think she knows how serious his problems are, but she's clearly also sex-starved and after a moment, tells him that he can then sleep in the bathtub. With that, they go for it.
Mere is still at the hospital, and as she gets ready to go a man comes in and starts cleaning out George's locker. VO: "the really crappy thing, the very worst part of grief, is that you can't control it." Mere asks what he's doing and he says they need the space, and she just watches as he puts all of George's things in a box.
Arizona chips in her VO: "The best we can do is try to let ourselves feel it when it comes." She's at Joe's and Callie walks in to find her waiting with two glasses of wine. She complains about her intern taking four tries to put in a central line, but then fondly says that he reminded her a little bit of George. It's interesting that the one who had the biggest breakdown at the time seems to be now dealing with it the best. The ladies smile, and Arizona's VO finishes, "And let it go when we can."
Meredith stares at George's empty locker and starts to cry; when Derek walks in he immediately goes to hold her as she sobs. "The very worst part is that the minute you think you're past it, it starts all over again."
Cristina and Owen are in bed and she's blissed out having finally gotten the action she's been craving. Her VO says: "And always, every time..." Her blissed expression falters and she questions out loud, "George O'Malley died?" as if it's the first time she's let that sink in. VO: "It takes your breath away."
Day 40. VO: "There are five stages of grief. They look different on all of us, but there are always five." The Seattle Grace staff has gathered at the foot of the stairs and Richard gets up to address them, apologizing for the rumors that have been swirling. Alex VO: "Denial." Richard says what he's about to say will be hard and he's sorry for that too. Derek VO: Anger. Derek looks skeptical as the Chief goes on and drops the bomb: Seattle Grace is going to merge with Mercy West. Bailey VO: "Bargaining." He admits that while he'd like to keep everyone, there aren't enough jobs to go around and that he and the Board will be making tough decisions. Lexie looks stricken as her VO announces, "Depression." He tells them that he's on their side and rooting for everyone, and begs them to be at the top of their games. He then walks down and out of the lobby through everyone, with Derek glaring daggers at him as the Chief's VO wraps up: "Acceptance." With that, we segue nicely from George's exit to the real story of season six yet to come.