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“Grey’s Anatomy” recap (11.17): It’s Been a Long May/December

The last time we were in Seattle, Derek had rushed back home to explain why a woman was answering his phone. Yet even after his explanation (she’s just his research fellow WHATEVER!) Meredith remains unconvinced that this isn’t the beginning of the end for them. She heads out the door for work, even as he asks her to stay, and tells him to maybe spend some time with his children. Watching Derek’s sad, mopey face, is almost as painful as a leech swimming around in your sinus cavity. But I’m getting ahead of myself. We get a flashback to nine weeks prior, where Derek meets this fellow Renee, who is doing some research he’s interested in. This is Renee.

Yup. At the hospital, Meredith arrives to consult with Alex on a teen patient of his who is fading fast while waiting for a liver transplant. When she tells Alex that Derek is home, he tries to get some info out of her about the mystery women but Meredith is all business, which Alex knows isn’t a good sign.

In the scrub room, Owen finds Amelia and they goober it up for each other. “Ha, remember yesterday when we were about to bang but got interrupted again? Ha, stupid pagers, stupid patients and their brains and traumas. Let’s reschedule that bang, shall we?” And they do. Well, I’m paraphrasing.

Steph, after spending so much time working with neuro, is super far behind in her hours with other specialties, which she complains about to Jo. Yet, when April offers them both some time in the pit, Jo snags it. Way to be a friend, Jo.

Owen gets a page for a personal matter and, much to his surprise, his mother Evelyn (played by the great character actress Debra Mooney) has been brought in to the hospital after a bad fall in the shower. And she’s not alone. She has her much MUCH younger boyfriend John with her, who Owen knew nothing about. Owen assumed he was a first responder since he was in his firefighter’s uniform. Amelia tries to diffuse the situation as Owen blows his top. He thinks that John must be some grifter trying to take advantage of his mother, and threatens to change all the locks and passwords in his mother’s home. Richard pulls his ass out of there before the fists go flying.

Meredith and Alex visit their young patient Danny, who is suffering so bad from liver failure that his skin is yellow and jaundice. He’s got a hell of a spirit though, even as he’s in tremendous pain. Alex has been treating his issues with antibiotics, but Meredith suggests a more aggressive and riskier surgical treatment, that Alex doesn’t agree with. Danny’s older sister, and medical proxy, doesn’t want to do anything that could jeopardize his health even further, but Danny is interested in the surgery.

Jo has a patient who has had a headache since she returned from a trip to China. The patient is panicking that it’s SARS or Bird Flu, because she’s also been getting nosebleeds that mysteriously disappear when she goes to wipe her nose. Jo sees what she’s talking about, but this is no nosebleed. Nosebleeds don’t slither.

Ben and Jackson are working on a patient who has been growing a new ear on his arm. Ain’t science grand? When Steph spies the patient, she approaches Ben a bit too friendly-like. He reminds her that he’s married to Bailey, who is amazing and also scary. Steph immediately backtracks. She was just trying to snag the surgery, and offers him 50 bucks. No deal.

Alex confronts Meredith about suggesting the risky surgery to Danny without talking it over with him first. He thinks something is up, and asks if it’s because of the streak or maybe, I don’t know, DEREK?

Flashback to seven weeks prior in DC, where Derek is admiring Renee’s work. She looks back at him with awe and the crushy heart eyes of a student. A brilliant adult student, but a student nonetheless. She was inspired by her sister who has autism, to work on this type of research and Derek is impressed. While she’s sneaking peeks at him, it doesn’t go unnoticed that he sneaks one back. Derek may love Meredith and have a hairline that defies the laws of nature, but he is a human.

Callie and Maggie find Alex to get the scoop on Meredith. When he tells them that Derek came home late last night, they both gasp. They assume it’s because he has something to apologize for. Now even Alex is worried about MerDer.

Evelyn is getting a scan, but she’s nervous and upset about Owen’s reaction to John. Amelia keeps telling her very kindly to stop moving, but Evelyn delivers a very touching monologue about how she met John, how he courted her, and that she is really happy with him, even if their relationship is not conventional.

Jo inserts a camera into her patient’s sinuses to find out the cause of the headaches. All looks good until a creature pops up on camera and both women scream. The scream brings Steph by but Jo blows her off, telling her that all is good. Please, she wants that nose monster all for herself.

In Danny’s room, he’s struggling to breathe. The poor kid is in a lot of pain, and wants the surgery even as his sister argues with him. He tells his well meaning sister that this is no kind of life for a kid, and he’s willing to risk it all if it means less suffering. Alex follows his sister out of the room. Since their parent’s died, she’s spent her life taking care of him. The thought of losing him is painful, but watching him in agony is no life either. She gives consent for the surgery.

Flashback four weeks where Renee is alone in a lounge, making coffee and smashing cups from frustration. Derek sees this and she stumbles all over herself trying to explain. Her research is at a standstill, but Derek tells her that just means she’s on the cusp of a breakthrough. They share another longing look before Derek excuses himself.

Owen stops by to check on his mother, and bring her some “ladies underthings,” which made me laugh out loud. Poor Owen is nowhere near comfortable seeing his mother as a women, and not just his parent. I get that though. I nearly choked on my Diet Coke when my mother announced she “had almost taken a lover” over dinner a few Mother’s Days ago. It’s hard to see our parents as people sometimes. Imagine how hard it must have been for them to raise us and watch us grow. Anyway, Evelyn tells Owen about how she and John met in a writing group, and they get along so swimmingly. Owen still sees red flags where his mother sees good intentions. He’s afraid John’s after her pension, because there’s no way John could have real feelings for her. His mother’s heart breaks right then and there, for both Owen and John. She sends Owen away. When Amelia sees Owen in the hall and tries to make conversation, he’s a grade A dick.

Jo is trying to coax her patient’s nose worm out with some vapor. Her patient goes on and on about her experience of jumping off of a ledge into a lake, how she was scared but did it. (It’s probably where her little friend came from.) Jo tells her to zip it, lest she scare the bugger. When it finally makes an appearance, Jo goes to grab it but her patient freaks out and slaps her. Not cool lady. Jo tells her they are going to take a time out.

Steph watches from the theatre as Ben and Jackson remove their patient’s arm ear. Geeee-ross! She doesn’t even notice when Bailey sits down beside her and gives her the death stare. Ben told Bailey about her bribing him, and Bailey is not pleased. Steph seriously low balled with an offer of 50 bucks. Get with the game, Edwards. (Side note: Is it just me, or has Bailey been severely underused this season?)

Meredith and Alex work in Danny in the OR and Alex doubts her at every step. She switches her procedure to one that might work, just as Danny starts to crash.

Flashback to a week ago, when Derek calls Renee at one a.m. and asks her to come down to the lab. He’s taken a look at her research and volia, here’s the breakthrough she’s been waiting for.

Richard stops in to see Evelyn, concerned about her drop in blood pressure. John also stops in to bring her some presents and things to make her comfortable. Anyone with eyes can see that he cares deeply for her. Yet, she decides to break it off with him. When he tries to protest, she starts having abdominal pains.

Meredith and Alex are still in surgery, and she confronts him about doubting her. She needs his support more than anyone’s. Then, poor Danny starts bleeding out again.

Evelyn is rushed to the OR, and it turns out that the bruising on her abdomen wasn’t from the fall: She has a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurism, and needs emergency surgery. Owen sees John sitting in the waiting room, and puffs out his chest, telling the man to leave. John says he will, but only after he knows his lady love is alright. Not knowing would be unbearable. After that, he’ll be out of their lives.

As the Seattle rain comes pouring down, Meredith and Alex have to deliver the terrible news to Danny’s sister that he didn’t make it. Meredith’s streak is over and she knows why.

Flashback to the night before, Renee and Derek are geeking out about her research. She’s so excited about the breakthrough she tells Derek she could kiss him. At first she tries to take it back, but then she leans over and does just that. She kisses him. Derek doesn’t stop her, and leans into it, too.

Back in the present, Alex chased Meredith outside. She’s upset about Danny and blames Alex for doubting her, and he pulls her in for a hug. He knows she’s not mad at him, she’s mad at Derek. He offers himself as a sounding post and a punching bag, because he’s her person now.

Evelyn makes it through surgery and Richard points out that if it weren’t for the fall, she might not even be alive right now. It’s amazing how the universe works, isn’t it? John goes to leave, but tells Owen about a special book he ordered for his mom. Owen can see how much John cares for his mother, and puts his concerns aside so the two can be together with his blessing.

The time has come to remove the face creature, and Jo has called in April for backup. Their patient is freaked and reluctant to have it removed-until April spins a yarn about the creature snacking away at her sinuses and brain. Bye bye, Buggy. Jo yanks the sucker out and it’s a leech! And of course, Jo keeps it and sticks it in a jar. Steph is totes jealous-of the hours, not the leech.

Owen finds Amelia and apologizes for his previous assholeness. She gives him a hard time at first, but now that pants-feelings have developed between them, it’s hard to stay mad. They go back to his trailer and do it. I will say this: Owen Hunt is not a gentle kisser.

At the MerDer mansion, The McDreamys have a heart to heart. We flashback to the aftermath of the kiss. Derek pulls away while Renee asks if he feels the pull towards her like she does to him. He tells her that he loves his wife, and takes off, leaving his phone and keys behind. Present day Derek calls “Post It” and explains that DC doesn’t matter if he can’t have a life with Meredith and the kids. He needs her and can’t live without her. Meredith looks at her husband, and tells him that she doesn’t need him. She wants him. Meredith is self aware as hell, and knowing that she can survive without Derek has been epically freeing. She’s making the choice to have him back in her life, because it’s what she wants. Meredith might thing she’s dark and twisty, but she’s strong and brave, too. Her voiceover tells us, “Just because we can live without something, doesn’t mean we have to.”

Here are our favorite #GreysGays tweets from last night’s episode.

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