Christopher sat in the sterile silence of the Grey Sloan Memorial library, the blue light of a tablet reflecting in his glasses. He wasn't looking at current medical journals; he was cross-referencing GPS coordinates with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) maintenance schedules.
The date was burned into his brain. April 23rd. The shortcut. The cell phone. The semi-truck. The incompetent trauma center that wouldn't get a head CT.
"The show wants its tragic hero," Christopher whispered, his sarcasm replaced by a cold, calculating intensity. "But Derek Shepherd is a better surgeon than he is a martyr. And frankly, the hospital's mortality rate is already a statistical anomaly. I'm closing the morgue for the season."
He had already successfully averted the plane crash and saved Lexie. Now, he was looking at the "Big One." If Derek lived, Meredith didn't vanish for a year. If Derek lived, the Grey Sloan surgical board remained intact.
But Christopher couldn't just tell Derek not to take the shortcut. Derek was stubborn, arrogant, and possessed a "McDreamy" sense of invincibility. He had to be manipulated.
Christopher stood up, his white coat snapping behind him as he marched toward the Chief's office. He found Jackson Avery and Richard Webber discussing the Catherine Fox Foundation budget.
"Avery, Chief. I need a favor that involves a significant amount of foundation capital and a very specific stretch of road," Christopher said, leaning against the doorframe with his trademark razor-sharp smirk.
Jackson looked up, wary. "Wright, the last time you asked for a 'favor,' we ended up moving half the radiology department into a hallway during a tornado. What now?"
"I've been reviewing the trauma catchment area for the Dillingham shortcut," Christopher lied smoothly, tapping a map on his tablet. "The cell reception is a dead zone, and the road surface is a disaster waiting for a lawsuit. If the foundation wants to avoid a PR nightmare, they'll fund a series of emergency call boxes and a mandatory detour for heavy freight starting next Tuesday. I've already drafted the proposal for the City Council."
"Why next Tuesday?" Richard asked, his eyes narrowing.
"Because the moon is in a specific alignment with my patience, Richard," Christopher drawled. "And because I have it on good authority that a 'high-profile' member of our staff uses that road frequently. We can't afford to lose a department head to a lack of paving infrastructure."
As he left the office, Christopher felt the timeline ripple. He wasn't just saving a man; he was dismantling the very engine of Meredith Grey's future character growth. He felt a pang of guilt, but then he remembered the sound of the ventilator in the original episode.
He pulled out his phone and texted Jack.
"I'm rewriting the map. If I can ground a plane, I can stop a truck. Meet me at the brownstone. I need to look at someone who isn't a ticking time bomb. - C"
Christopher walked toward the elevator, but he stopped when he saw Derek Shepherd coming the other way, looking for his keys.
"Heading to the airport, Derek?" Christopher asked, his voice low.
"D.C. calls, Wright. Why? You want to come along and show the President how to do a craniotomy?" Derek teased.
"Actually, Derek... take the long way," Christopher said, the sarcasm momentarily slipping to reveal a haunting sincerity. "The scenery is better. And I'd hate for you to miss the board meeting on Wednesday. I have a new neurosurgical protocol I need you to sign off on."
Derek paused, his hand on the elevator button. "The long way takes an extra hour."
"An hour is a small price to pay for staying in one piece," Christopher said, turning away. "Trust me. I'm a prodigy. I know these things."