This Vicious Cycle Chapter 18
As I've said over at ff.net, I have some news... considered bad news. But let's set that aside for the next update which will be early next week, depending on how much I write this weekend.
You know this cute, "happy" Addek I've been writing? It's Suz's fault. She asked for it... and being a good friend that I am and seeing how wonderful a beta she is, I complied. So this chapter is dedicated to her. Cheers! :)
Back to the program....
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: Still not mine.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
When Richard Webber arrived at the hospital, it seemed to be just a typical day at Seattle Grace. Over the years, Richard had maintained a low profile during this particular day and only a handful of people knew of his birthday. Those who were familiar with the date were given strict orders not to make a huge fuss about it. Richard had always been sensitive about turning a year older especially now that his hair had turned all white. It was his 53rd birthday and damn anyone who will make a big deal out of it.
As he made his way to his office, making sure his hat was securely on his head, Richard did not notice the black and white blown up picture of a baby with untamed curly hair with the phrase ‘It’s my birthday today. Do you know who I am?’ underneath posted in one of the bulletin boards. He also failed to notice, in his elevator ride, another blown up picture. This one of a scrawny young man with a big Afro in a tight shirt and bell bottom jeans, striking a dancing pose with the phrase ‘It’s my birthday and I want to jiggy with you!’. Richard was oblivious to the pictures posted everywhere of him at various stages in his life.
The Chief of Surgery was walking along the bridge way towards his office when he finally noticed that every nurse and doctor he passed by was throwing him smiles and then laughing quietly when they thought he was out of earshot. He dismissed their behavior since Richard knew things at Seattle Grace had always been a tad peculiar. He was almost at his office when he saw a group of laughing nurses gathered around the bulletin board. When he came over to investigate, Richard almost had a heart attack. For posted on the board was a picture of him in his residency years wearing a toga at some costume party. The Chief quickly rushed inside his office and immediately called his secretary.
“Happy Birthday, Chief!” Patricia greeted when she entered his office.
Richard threw a distracted ‘thank you’ and motioned for her to come closer. “Get Dr. Shepherd in here. Right now.”
“Which one?”
“Both of them!” A livid Richard nearly shouted.
“Actually, Chief, they’re waiting for you on the surgical floor.” She said sweetly. Addison had warned her that Richard would be in a foul mood.
When Richard reached the surgical floor, he saw most of his staff gathered around but no sign of the Shepherds. The group saw the Chief and they broke into an off beat ‘Happy Birthday’ with nurse Debbie coming out from a supply closet carrying a cake with a lighted ‘53’ candle on top. The song ended and Richard was urged to blow out the candle. When he finally did so, everyone clapped and shouted their birthday greetings. Richard motioned for them to quiet down and as he was about to speak, a large tarpaulin of him dressed as ‘Shaft’ rolled down from its position at the ledge above the nurses’ station.
Catcalls were heard throughout the floor and a couple of loud snickers from Burke and Karev made it to the Chief’s ears. Richard was ready to kill the Shepherds. These prank had ‘Derek and Addison’ stamped all over it.
He finally saw the culprits make their way towards him after most of the staff went back to what they’ve been doing earlier. Burke, Callie, Bailey and her interns stayed around the vicinity, as they knew that Richard was about to blow his top evidenced by the flush on his face and everyone knew that it was the Shepherds, who were grinning from ear to ear, that would be receiving the verbal smackdown.
“Happy birthday, Richard.” Addison said and quickly kissed him on the cheek. Derek said the same with a hearty clasp on the older man’s shoulder.
“You two… in my office. Now.” Richard said with a sour look on his face.
“Oh, come on, Richard. It’s your birthday. Lighten up.” Derek said.
“Lighten up? You’ve posted these ridiculous pictures of me all over the hospital and you tell me to lighten up? Really?” Richard said and took off his hat to wipe his forehead. “8 years. 8 years of quietly letting this day pass by in Seattle. I bring the two of you here and this is what I get. I thought you two have outgrown this…being world renowned surgeons and all. But I guess some things never change… still up to your usual tricks.” He waited for any word from his two attending but Richard found them staring at his hair. Everyone seemed to be looking at his head.
“What happened to your hair?” asked Derek when he finally found his voice. Addison was still staring at the Chief’s head.
“He dyed it!” exclaimed George a few feet away. His outburst earned him an elbow to the gut from Callie.
“What for?” Burke asked incredulously. Richard shot him a look and then quickly put his hat back on.
“It…it looks good, Richard. I…I like it.” Addison said, fighting the urge to laugh.
“Shut up.” Richard said, rolling his eyes at the ridiculous behavior his esteemed surgical team was displaying. He shot them another warning look and then took off for his office.
With Richard gone, Derek and Addison burst out laughing, leaning towards one another for support.
“They look happy” said Izzie, observing the Shepherds.
Even Cristina had to agree and turned to a pale looking Meredith who was also watching the two. “You okay, Mer? You don’t look so good.” Cristina remarked.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” Meredith said and walked away from the laughing married couple.
________________________________________________________________
See? Happy Addek. I can do Happy Addek. :)
You know this cute, "happy" Addek I've been writing? It's Suz's fault. She asked for it... and being a good friend that I am and seeing how wonderful a beta she is, I complied. So this chapter is dedicated to her. Cheers! :)
Back to the program....
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: Still not mine.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
When Richard Webber arrived at the hospital, it seemed to be just a typical day at Seattle Grace. Over the years, Richard had maintained a low profile during this particular day and only a handful of people knew of his birthday. Those who were familiar with the date were given strict orders not to make a huge fuss about it. Richard had always been sensitive about turning a year older especially now that his hair had turned all white. It was his 53rd birthday and damn anyone who will make a big deal out of it.
As he made his way to his office, making sure his hat was securely on his head, Richard did not notice the black and white blown up picture of a baby with untamed curly hair with the phrase ‘It’s my birthday today. Do you know who I am?’ underneath posted in one of the bulletin boards. He also failed to notice, in his elevator ride, another blown up picture. This one of a scrawny young man with a big Afro in a tight shirt and bell bottom jeans, striking a dancing pose with the phrase ‘It’s my birthday and I want to jiggy with you!’. Richard was oblivious to the pictures posted everywhere of him at various stages in his life.
The Chief of Surgery was walking along the bridge way towards his office when he finally noticed that every nurse and doctor he passed by was throwing him smiles and then laughing quietly when they thought he was out of earshot. He dismissed their behavior since Richard knew things at Seattle Grace had always been a tad peculiar. He was almost at his office when he saw a group of laughing nurses gathered around the bulletin board. When he came over to investigate, Richard almost had a heart attack. For posted on the board was a picture of him in his residency years wearing a toga at some costume party. The Chief quickly rushed inside his office and immediately called his secretary.
“Happy Birthday, Chief!” Patricia greeted when she entered his office.
Richard threw a distracted ‘thank you’ and motioned for her to come closer. “Get Dr. Shepherd in here. Right now.”
“Which one?”
“Both of them!” A livid Richard nearly shouted.
“Actually, Chief, they’re waiting for you on the surgical floor.” She said sweetly. Addison had warned her that Richard would be in a foul mood.
When Richard reached the surgical floor, he saw most of his staff gathered around but no sign of the Shepherds. The group saw the Chief and they broke into an off beat ‘Happy Birthday’ with nurse Debbie coming out from a supply closet carrying a cake with a lighted ‘53’ candle on top. The song ended and Richard was urged to blow out the candle. When he finally did so, everyone clapped and shouted their birthday greetings. Richard motioned for them to quiet down and as he was about to speak, a large tarpaulin of him dressed as ‘Shaft’ rolled down from its position at the ledge above the nurses’ station.
Catcalls were heard throughout the floor and a couple of loud snickers from Burke and Karev made it to the Chief’s ears. Richard was ready to kill the Shepherds. These prank had ‘Derek and Addison’ stamped all over it.
He finally saw the culprits make their way towards him after most of the staff went back to what they’ve been doing earlier. Burke, Callie, Bailey and her interns stayed around the vicinity, as they knew that Richard was about to blow his top evidenced by the flush on his face and everyone knew that it was the Shepherds, who were grinning from ear to ear, that would be receiving the verbal smackdown.
“Happy birthday, Richard.” Addison said and quickly kissed him on the cheek. Derek said the same with a hearty clasp on the older man’s shoulder.
“You two… in my office. Now.” Richard said with a sour look on his face.
“Oh, come on, Richard. It’s your birthday. Lighten up.” Derek said.
“Lighten up? You’ve posted these ridiculous pictures of me all over the hospital and you tell me to lighten up? Really?” Richard said and took off his hat to wipe his forehead. “8 years. 8 years of quietly letting this day pass by in Seattle. I bring the two of you here and this is what I get. I thought you two have outgrown this…being world renowned surgeons and all. But I guess some things never change… still up to your usual tricks.” He waited for any word from his two attending but Richard found them staring at his hair. Everyone seemed to be looking at his head.
“What happened to your hair?” asked Derek when he finally found his voice. Addison was still staring at the Chief’s head.
“He dyed it!” exclaimed George a few feet away. His outburst earned him an elbow to the gut from Callie.
“What for?” Burke asked incredulously. Richard shot him a look and then quickly put his hat back on.
“It…it looks good, Richard. I…I like it.” Addison said, fighting the urge to laugh.
“Shut up.” Richard said, rolling his eyes at the ridiculous behavior his esteemed surgical team was displaying. He shot them another warning look and then took off for his office.
With Richard gone, Derek and Addison burst out laughing, leaning towards one another for support.
“They look happy” said Izzie, observing the Shepherds.
Even Cristina had to agree and turned to a pale looking Meredith who was also watching the two. “You okay, Mer? You don’t look so good.” Cristina remarked.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” Meredith said and walked away from the laughing married couple.
________________________________________________________________
See? Happy Addek. I can do Happy Addek. :)