"What are you three standing around for?" shouted Bailey to Izzie, Cristina and George who were huddled around a phone at the nurses station.
"Shut up!" snapped Cristina listening intently to the phone.
"Oh you did not just…" Bailey started to rant then she saw look on their face. "What's going on?" she demanded.
"There's uh…been a car accident," stuttered George. "It's Alex and Meredith."
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"Chief," said Bailey unusually softly. Richard was in a meeting with the Attendings about departmental rotations.
"Is everything alright?" asked Richard worriedly.
"There's been an accident, Alex Karev and Meredith Grey were involved in a collision on a the freeway."
"Are they alright?" asked Richard already knowing the answer.
"Karev escaped with minor injuries, a few stitches and some bruises," said Bailey. "But Grey was hit head on."
"Are they coming in? I'll prep the OR," said Richard springing to his feet and grabbing his phone.
"There was no time, she was rushed into surgery at Seattle prespiterian for severe internal injuries," said Bailey clearly upset but trying not to show it. "At last count, she had coded twice. I just thought you would want to know."
"Oh my god," whispered Mark watching Derek carefully for his reaction. Derek and Meredith had only broken up a few hours ago, she had gone off with Alex when she had seen him leaving with Rose.
"Where are her friends? Cristina?" demanded Derek getting to his feet.
"On their way to Seattle presperterian, I sent Lexie Grey with them," said Bailey.
"Good," said Richard still in shock. "I'll call the Chief of Surgery and let him know they have one of ours on their table."
"I'll head right over," said Derek heading for the door.
"They won't let you in," said Bailey. "Lexie Grey has overall say in what goes on while Meredith is unconscious and…it's been made pretty clear that you are not welcome. I'm sorry."
"I…should have expected that," sighed Derek. "Who is the neurosurgeon operating?"
"Patterson," said Bailey.
"She's an amazing neurosurgeon," said Erica. "I worked with her a lot, Grey is in safe hands."
"She'll be alright man," said Mark.
"Yeah," said Derek. "Keep us updated?" he said feeling like he could cry.
"Of course," said Bailey gently. "When I know something you'll know something."
"Thanks," said Derek all but running from the Chief's office.
-------------------------------------------
"Here is where you're hiding," said Mark when he found Derek crouched under the stairwell with his head in his hands.
"I just…can't go out there," he sighed. "Everyone saw what happened today…Do you think she…she wouldn't…"
"Grey's tox screen was negative…the other driver was talking on his cell phone," said Mark. "It was an accident… she didn't do anything."
"You've heard from them?"
"Yeah, Meredith is out of surgery and it was very successful," said Mark. "She's out of the woods."
"Is she awake?"
"Not yet, she's just out of surgery."
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6 WEEKS LATER
"Grey what the hell do you think you're doing?" demanded Alex. He had just finished his shift at Seattle Grace and had gone to visit Meredith at Seattle Prespiterian and found her dressed and packing her bag.
"I'm getting out of here," said Meredith. "I'm going insane in here, besides I'm fine."
"How was your CT?" he demanded. Ever since Alex had pulled an unconscious Meredith from the car wreck he had become more like a protective big brother than the Alex she had known for the past year.
"Clean," she said. "Come on Alex I'm going insane here. I'm alright, I'll be cleared for surgery in three days anyway. I want to go home, I want to go outside!"
"Alright," said Alex slowly. "But you are going straight home and someone will be with you at all times."
"I am not a child," whined Meredith. "I don't need anyone to babysit me!"
"If you're not a kid, stop acting like one."
"Shut up!"
"Has McDreamy tried to see you again?" asked Alex carefully. Derek had tried twice in the past six weeks to see Meredith, once when she was unconscious and once when she was awake and recovering. Cristina and Lexie had kept him away from her.
"No, why would he?" shrugged Meredith. "Me and Derek are over. I've accepted that and I'm over it. I feel like…I feel free."
"Yeah we've all heard this before," said Alex rolling his eyes.
"Shut up," she said. "Nothing is going to ruin my mood, this time…I feels so different like I'm brand new again."
"I think you need another CT."
"There must be something about having three near death experiences," Meredith continued as if she hadn't heard him. "There was the bomb, the drowning and the accident. I just…I know it sounds cheesy and weird but I feel like life means more now. So no more dark twisty Meredith, from now on I'm bright and shiny…again!"