Grey's Anatomy AU. Starting from S4E11. Everyone knows they are soulmates, but with Derek so impatient to live happily ever after and Meredith trying to heal her emotional issues, will the timing ever be right? Maybe Meredith needs to discover who she is a little more before she can fully commit to another. With help of old and current friends, will Meredith and Derek find their back to each other? How long will it actually take?
"I can't do it anymore." Derek said looking down at her.
"Well neither can I." Meredith said back. She began to walk away as the evidence of her sadness began to fill her eyes. She quickly blinked the tears away before they had a chance to form and escape. She entered the stairwell and took a seat on one of the steps. Taking in a deep breath she relaxes her shoulders and looks at the wall. She closes her eyes and breathes. She then rises to her feet after gaining her composure and climbs the flight of stairs. She exits the stairwell and walks down the hallway heading towards the chief's office.
Richard Webber knew he was going to be in trouble when he looked at the clock two hours ago. He promised his wife he'd be home before seven, so when he realized he broke that promise he stayed in his office where it was safe rather than going home and facing the wrath of Adele. It was nine o'clock at night and he'd knew she'd be up for at least another hour, so he will stay in his office until it was safe to go home. At least he had mountains of paperwork to keep him company. He was just reading through a new budget plan when a knock on the door caught his attention. He looked up and saw Ellis Grey's daughter standing in the open doorway. "Meredith what can I do for you?" he says putting the packet down on his desk. Meredith walked in the room and closed the door behind her. She took a seat and looked at the man who in a way, though she'd always deny it, was indeed like a father to her.
"Well I was wondering, since it's the end of the quarter and all…" she began hesitantly. She took a shaky breath then continued speaking. "I haven't used any of my sick days for this quarter, and I know we get three sick days per quarter and you either use them or lose them, so I'm just letting you know that starting tomorrow I will be out for the next three days." Richard looked at her knowing something was off. Meredith Grey doesn't take time off. Not when she had an emergency appendectomy, not when she drowned and her mother died, no sir, it was a fight to get her to even take the required medical leave following such things.
"Well are you sick?" Richard asked raising his eyebrows. He knew she wasn't.
"Oh, yes, I'm sick, very, very sick." Meredith said as she forced a cough out of her mouth. A very unconvincing cough, be that as it may.
"Okay then. Get well soon." He said unconvinced as he looked at her. Meredith nodded quickly and left the room. Richard stared quizzically at the door. He knew he shouldn't pry, as much as he wanted to. He'd promised Ellis he would look after her daughter even if his help was unwanted and unwelcome. If something was bothering Meredith and she didn't want to talk to him about it he shouldn't force her to. If she needed a few days to think well that's her right. She's not endangering anyone, she's not being irresponsible, if she needed a break hell she can take a break. It's not like she skips work or is jeopardizing her education as a surgical resident, hell she was one of the best in the group, but he still can't help but worry a little. He let out a sigh. Something was going on, he just doesn't know what, and he knows it's going to eat at him until she comes back in three days. So much for getting all the paperwork done, how could he focus on it now?
She spent the rest of her shift avoiding. Avoiding the OR, avoiding her friends, avoiding her interns, and especially avoiding Derek. It had only been a few hours since her brief conversation with the chief, and now as her shift had ended she found herself sitting on the bench of the resident's lounge staring at her cubby. It was so strange, this morning she was making an omelet trying to be sisterly when Derek sprung house plans on her without any warning, jumping the gun on the happily ever after part of their nontraditional love story. Now they're broken up. That empty feeling she's felt before when she ended things the first time has returned in the pit of her gut. It's a feeling she knows all too well now. Christina enters the lounge and begins to change out of her scrubs. Meredith stands up and leans against the cubby facing her. "Hey can you take my interns for the next three days? I'm not gonna be here." She tells her person. Christina looks at her confused.
"I don't want your stupid interns. Why aren't you going to be here?" Christina asks as she tosses her lab coat in her cubby.
"I'm just taking a few days off." Meredith replies. Christina looks at her, waiting for Meredith give her a better explanation. "Derek and I broke up." Christina scoffed.
"Again?"
"I just need some time to think." Meredith says. "It's only three days. I'll do whatever you want." She bargains. Christina sighs and looks at her friend with sympathy.
"Fine." She agrees. Meredith nods before grabbing her bag and leaving the lounge. As she passes the nurses station, she sees Derek talking to one of the scrub nurses. The two are smiling at each other and she notices the nurse blush. Meredith looks away sadly and continues walking to the elevator, and when the door open she sees Mark Sloan standing in the tiny space looking down at his phone. Meredith enters and stands next to Mark as the doors close and the elevator begins to descend. She stares at the doors, waiting. Mark looks up from his phone and looks at Meredith.
"You okay?" he asks.
"I'm fine." She answers quickly.
"You sure?"
"Just drop it." Meredith tells him. The doors open and she exits leaving a slightly confused Mark behind. As she walks through the lobby she digs her phone out of her pocket and dials a number she hasn't dialed in years. She was surprised when the other line picked up.
"Now why would Meredith Grey be calling me?" the voice on the other end of the phone said.
"I didn't think you'd be up. I was just going to leave you a voicemail. Why are you awake?"
"Sleep is irrelevant Grey. You know that as much as I do. What's up?"
"I just want you to know I'm headed your way. I need some perspective." Meredith says into the phone.
"Oooo like in the good old days?"
"Kind of."
"Now why should I be interested? It's been years. I have a life now you know."
"We have the same life. Surgical residents have no life outside the hospital."
"Yeah but what if I don't wanna see you?" the voice teased.
"Seriously?"
"Nah I'm just bullshitting ya' what time are you gonna be here?"
"In about eight hours."
"See you then."
"See you." Meredith said before she hung up the phone. She got into her car and drove home; she needed to grab a few things before she drove to the airport.
