CODING ━ grey's anatomy

chapter seventeen

"Wait. So you're telling me that I can't even wiggle my fingers because we'll all blow up, but we have to roll the whole gurney out with my hand inside? Really?"

"Well, that's our safest option."

Cassie rested a gentle hand on Meredith's shoulder. "Breathe. You're okay."

"You handling this, Grey?"

Meredith hesitated, glancing at Cassie out of the corner of her eye. "Yeah. I'm handling this."

☆

"You're doing great," Dylan said quietly to Meredith as they wheeled the patient through the hallway, accompanied by another bomb squad member and Cassie, who was keeping the patient alive by giving him air.

"Let's go over it again?"

Dylan nodded. "The device is shaped like a rocket. About 8 inches long. We're going to have everything ready. Dr. Burke's team is going to be in place. My team is going to be in place. And I'm going to ask you to take the hand that you have in Mr. Carlson, wrap it around the device—"

"—and pull it out," Meredith finished.

"Level. Pull it out while keeping it level."

"You know, I don't like you very much," Meredith told him bluntly.

"I don't like you either."

"Really? Because I like you both," Cassie input, trying to find some humor in the very serious situation.

"Not the time, Cass."

Cristina suddenly popped out of nowhere, startling Meredith and making Dylan glare at her. "What are you doing?"

"Stop," Dylan ordered. "Stop right where you are."

"What are you doing?" she repeated. "Cass, what the hell are you doing here?"

"I thought Dr. Burke told you to leave."

"We're moving to an OR further away from the oxygen line. You know, in case we blow up," Meredith said.

Cassie shrugged. "We have a mutual death wish, I guess."

"I distinctly remember him telling you to leave!" Dylan raised his voice. Cassie rolled her eyes.

"No offense, but please stop talking."

"Where is he?" Cristina asked urgently.

"He's prepping the OR."

"Then he'll never know, will he."

Dylan sighed at her insistence. "You, stay over there." Dylan turned to Meredith. "You ready?"

"Tell me something," Meredith said to Cristina.

"What?"

"Cristina," Cassie sighed, "Meredith has her hand on a bomb. We're freaking out, and most importantly, I really have to pee. Distract her. Tell her something."

"He told me he loved me," she blurted. "Last night. He thought I was sleeping, but I heard him say it."

"Burke loves you," Cassie stated, surprised.

"Yeah." Dylan looked at Cristina, which she quickly noticed. "Mind your own business."

"Burke loves you," Meredith repeated.

"Okay, everybody has problems."

"Well are you going to say it back, or—"

"Of course not. He didn't say it to me. He said to the sleeping me. Reciprocity is not required. Besides, he might blow up."