Meredith awoke in a dark room and immediately began to remember the events that had unfolded that day. She had gone to school like any other day and, but her mom had texted her letting her know she would be picking her up at the end of the day. Meredith knew this must have meant her mom was off work because that was the only way she would ever had come to get her. Ever since Meredith could remember her mom had put more effort into her work than she did with her own daughter and a part of Meredith was always resentful for this. Meredith left school when her final class got out and walked outside to find her mother parked and waiting for her. They had to make a few stops on the way home and they had just left the grocery store and were headed home when the accident happened. It all happened so fast and the next thing Meredith knew she was sitting in the hospital her mom worked at being told by Dr. Webber that her mom was dead.

Meredith remembered feeling too many different emotions and not wanting to let herself fall apart in front of strangers she pulled them all in and focused on the questions being asked of her. She remembers telling Dr. Webber that she had no living relatives and that she didn't know who or where her dad was. She had asked her mom many times about her dad but never got more than a one-word answer from her. The day's events were catching up to her once again and she closed her eyes hoping that maybe this would all be a dream.

Richard had just gotten off the phone with Thatcher who was on his way to the hospital. Richard didn't get into too much detail with Thatcher on the phone because he felt that this was a conversation that would be better had in person but told him that Ellis had died and needed him to come into the hospital. Thatcher told Richard he would be there as soon as he could as he only lived 40 minutes away. Richard went back to check on a few of his patients and soon saw Thatcher being escorted by a nurse to an empty room. Knowing this conversation needed to happen sooner than later, Richard took a deep breath and entered the room.

"Thatcher, we spoke on the phone, my name is Richard Webber and I worked with your ex-wife Ellis. I am very sorry to have had to be the one to deliver the news to you," Richard said as he sat across from the man.

"Ellis and I haven't talked in 16 years but I was still very sorry to hear that she had passed. I guess I am a little confused as to why I was called here in person. You said something about me still being her emergency contact," Thatcher said as he rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on.

"Yes, I apologize about that, our contact information has not been updated in quite some time. However, the real reason I called you in was because Ellis was not the only person in the car at the time of the accident. You see she was with a 16-year-old girl named Meredith and the reason I asked you to come in is because I believe her to be your daughter." Richard held his breath as he said this, not sure what Thatcher's reaction would be.

"Daughter, Ellis never told me she was pregnant. Is the girl okay?" Thatcher asked suddenly concerned for this stranger's well-being.

"I wasn't sure if you knew about Meredith or not, so I am once again sorry I had to be the one to break the news to you. Meredith was very lucky and came out of the accident with a small concussion and a dislocated shoulder. However, she told me that she had no other living relatives besides you meaning that I would have to call child protective services since she is still a minor, unless someone could take her in," Richard explained.

"Someone, as in me? Up until a few minutes ago I thought I just had one daughter and now you are telling me that I have another daughter who just lost her mom. This is a lot to take in." Thatcher said as he felt his headache begin to increase with this new news.

"I know this must be a lot to process and I can't even imagine how you feel right now but all I know is that there is a 16-year-old girl in there who will be put in the foster care system unless you intervene. I have never had kids, so I am probably not the right person to tell you what to do but that girl is scared and alone and I think what she needs right now is her dad to help her out," Richard pleaded.

"Can I see her? Does she know that I was called here?" Thatcher asked.

"Yes, you can see her and no she doesn't know that I called you, but I will go in with you and explain the situation," Richard said as Thatcher nodded and both men got up and went into the hallway.

Richard led Thatcher down the hallway to Meredith's room. They entered the dimly lit room and saw that the girl was sleeping. Not wanting to wake her they stepped back into the hall.

"We can do a blood test to make sure she is your daughter if that would help you make a decision," Richard said.

Thatcher shook his head immediately, "As soon as I saw her, I knew she was my daughter. Is there any way you could sit with her for a few minutes while I make a phone call to my wife? I don't want her to be alone in case she wakes up," Thatcher said as he reached into his pocket to get his cellphone out. Richard nodded and walked back into Meredith's room to sit next to the girl's bed. Thatcher finished his call with his wife Susan who said she would come meet him at the hospital as soon as she dropped Lexi over at her friend's house. He went back into the room and found Richard talking with Meredith. Richard had just finished explaining that he was able to track down her father and get a hold of him.

Meredith looked up at Thatcher as soon as he entered the room and knew immediately that he was her father. She had seen a picture of him with her mom once when they were much younger, but the resemblance was there. Thatcher immediately came over to the side of the bed and began to apologize to the young girl. "Meredith I just want to say how sorry I am about your mom and if I had known about you, I would have been around to help take care of you," Thatcher said as he sat down next to the girl and thanked Richard before he left the room to get back to the ER.

Meredith shook her head as she heard this, "It's okay, my mom should have told you about me but now it's too late for that," Meredith said as she began to cry. She was finally beginning to realize that her mom was really gone for good and even though they didn't have the best relationship it was still her mom. Thatcher reached over and grabbed her hand as the girl continued to cry until she had cried herself to sleep.

Susan showed up to the hospital about an hour after Meredith had fallen asleep and was escorted up to her room by an aid. Thatcher saw his wife and immediately met her in the hallway not wanting to wake the girl up.

"Susan, I promise you I didn't know about Meredith otherwise I would have been there for her," he said almost in tears.

"Honey, I know you would have if you knew about her. How is she doing?" Susan was genuinely concerned about the young girl and wanted to make sure she was okay.

"Physically she is fine besides a dislocated shoulder and a small concussion but emotionally she is not okay at all. I know that this is a lot to take in, but I have to step up and take responsibility for her. She has no one else in her life now and she needs a home and a family," Thatcher said hoping his wife would understand.

"I would expect nothing less from you and I agree that she is going to need people around her while she deals with the trauma that has happened to her. Things are not going to be easy, but we will figure them out and Lexi always wanted another sibling," Susan said as she smiled thinking of their daughter.

"Thank you for being so understanding," Thatcher kissed his wife as both of them entered the room to sit by the girl's side. They both knew that they had to be there for Meredith and help her get through whatever would come up.