The alarm clock went off the same times as it had been for the past year of their internship. The annoying sound that awoke them from the world where fairytales and happy endings are true. Only to bring them to the world of heart breaks, sadness, death, and lies. Meredith reached up and turned off the beeping that seemed to be getting louder and louder every second. Obviously the alcohol she consumed yesterday did work but for the wrong thing. It gave her a terrible hangover. She sat up and looked around the dark room. Then she looked at Alex. She remembered everything that happened last night as if no tequila had entered her system. He was rubbing his eyes not yet ready to open them.

"Thank you," she whispered to him.

"For what?" He yawned as he sat up beside her.

"For helping me"

"You're my friend. What can I say?"

"Still thanks."

"Does Christina know about Shepherd?" His voice sounded full of hatred as he said Derek's name.

"No," Her voice was sad. "I just went to the bar. You're the only one who knows."

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"Where'd you stay last night?" Izzie asked. "You weren't in your room."

"I slept in Mere's room."

"ALEX. YOU DIDN'T?" Izzie almost yelled.

"No, of coarse not." He said defensively.

"Then why'd you stay?"

"She just needed comfort."

"Okay"

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"Meredith!" Derek's voice came from behind Meredith and Alex as they walked towards the locker room together. "Please, let me talk to you."

"Leave me alone," Meredith said loudly and Alex could tell she might cry.

"Meredith…" Derek pleaded.

"Leave her alone, Shepherd." Alex's voice was strong and forceful.

"This is none of your business," Derek spat back. Meredith hurried into the locker room.

"It is all of my business. Meredith is one of my best friends. I can and will hurt you if you keep trying to fuck her up." Alex said sternly with the death glare in his eye. "I have to get to work. You BETTER stay out of this locker room."

"You can't threaten me," Derek agued.

"I can and I am." With that Alex walked into the locker room. Meredith was the only one in the locker room since he and Mere came in a failed attempt to beat Derek there. He walked towards the group of lockers that were his, Meredith's, Izzie's, George's, and Christina's. "Mere, are you okay?"

"Yeah… I… I'm fine." She kept her head low and her eyes were shut.

"If you need to talk, I'm here." He reminded her as they began to change.

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"You are residents today," Bailey began and paced in front of her former interns. "You don't have me to fall back on. You're on your own. You will have your own interns in two weeks and you will be responsible for them and yourself. Got it?"

"Yes," they all say.

"Okay," Bailey said with a small smile. "Dr. Torrez will be in here in a second to tell you who you are to work with today. I'll see you around the hospital."

With that, she gave a little nod and walked out. Callie soon walked in and looked at everyone.

"Grey you're working with Kerev and Shepherd. Yang your with Sloan. O'Malley you are with Burke. Stevens your with Montgomery."

She leaves. Meredith shut her eyes. Shepherd. Damn. Everyone except Alex and Mere left as well.

"Mere? Are you okay with this?" Alex whispered.

"Yeah I'm fine," She sighed.

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