The air in Seattle was heavy with a maritime fog that felt like a wet wool blanket. Christopher stood in the middle of the Central Supply warehouse, his eyes scanning the stacks of sterile gowns, IV start kits, and trauma dressings.
In the original Grey's Anatomy timeline, the ferry boat crash caught the hospital in a state of resource-depleted chaos. Not this time.
"I want triple the usual O-negative blood units in the ER blood bank by 0700," Christopher commanded, his voice a cool, monotone rasp. "And I want the ventilation overflow units tested and staged in the North Hall."
The supply manager, a man who looked like he'd survived three administrations, squinted at him. "Dr. Wright, it's a Tuesday in Seattle. We haven't had a multi-casualty incident in six months. This is budgetary suicide."
"It's preventative medicine, Mr. Henderson," Christopher drawled, his sarcasm a thin scalpel edge. "The barometric pressure is dropping, and the fog is thick enough to hide a freight train. People in this city lose their ability to navigate as soon as they can't see the Space Needle. Just do it. Consider it a gift for your audit next month."
He walked out, his mind a flickering reel of what was about to happen: a mass casualty on the water. Meredith sinking into the Elliott Bay. Derek screaming her name.
He spotted Meredith by the coffee cart, looking pale and hollow-eyed, her "McDreamy" breakup still fresh. She was the catalyst. If she didn't swim, the show ended here.
"Grey," Christopher said, stopping beside her. He didn't look at her; he looked at the Seattle rain against the window.
"Dr. Wright," she murmured, clutching her cup. "Are you here to tell me I'm failing my internship again?"
"No," Christopher said, his voice dropping into a vague, haunting whisper. "I'm here to tell you that water is significantly colder than it looks, Meredith. If you find yourself in it today... try not to forget that you're a surgeon. We don't stop fighting until the monitor is flat. Remember that."
Meredith blinked, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Why would I be in the water?"
Christopher adjusted his lab coat, a sharp, knowing smirk touching his lips. "The universe likes to throw things at you, Grey. I'm just suggesting you wear a life jacket for your soul."
He walked away before she could ask a follow-up, leaving a tiny, ominous seed in her mind. He couldn't stop her from falling, but maybe, just maybe, the subconscious reminder would keep her kicking.
He pulled out his phone. "Jack. Stay away from the ferry terminals today. Take the I-5. Trust me. - C"
He hit send. The first siren echoed in the distance five minutes later.