Not one but two characters proposed marriage on this week's episode of the CTV hit "Grey's Anatomy." But don't expect a painfully sweet, double-wedding "very special episode" on the horizon.
In the fictional world of Seattle Grace Hospital, happiness is always tempered by a strong dose of heartache. This week was no exception. (Spoiler alert: Stop reading now if you've saved the episode for later viewing.)
In an hour sprinkled with nice comedic moments, we saw George mourn his father's death by embracing life -- first by indulging in nonstop sex with Callie, then by sharing his feelings with her more honestly than ever before.
"Every time I look at you, I feel better," he told her. Then came the kicker: "Marry me?"
George also shared a lovely scene with Izzie, who has been his surrogate mom since the series began. Much as it pained her, she realized George no longer needs her. "I have to let you go," she told him.
Meanwhile, the Chief made his retirement official, setting off frantic competition for his job. Derek was furious to learn that Burke already had been offered the job and turned it down. He got angrier after learning that Mark Sloan had canceled his plans to leave Seattle because Meredith told him the chief's job is open.
Derek yelled at Meredith and stalked off, leaving her wondering whether they were over. Once Derek's anger had cooled, he gently reassured her: "You can expect that I'm going to show up," offering his McDreamiest smile. "Even if I yell. Even if you yell."
Things were less rosy for the Chief: He showed up at home with flowers and told his wife that he'd finally retired, but it was too late. She'd already moved on. (Which, conveniently, frees him up to finally have a relationship with Ellis.)
The Chief wasn't the only one who faced a rude awakening. When Cristina discovered that a marathoner nearly died because he was so focused on winning, she abandoned her stalemate with Burke. "I'm in this for the long haul," she told him. Apparently, so is he: "Marry me," he replied.
In other developments: Bailey proposed that the hospital open a free clinic and she forced the top surgeons to support the idea. You all have "your messy love lives, your secrets and your silliness," she barked at them. "But I need this. I need to believe in something the way I used to believe in you all." Ouch.
To Bailey's surprise, Izzie offered to foot the bill for what she's dubbing The Denny Duquette Memorial Clinic.
And Addison dodged Alex all of the episode, only to find that he's not after a relationship. He simply wants to scrub in on as many surgeries as possible. Or so he told her.
