Meredith was lying on her side, in the bathroom where she had spent the whole night before vomiting. She had given up going to bed, one of the main reasons being that every time she tried to sleep, she would have to make a run for it to the toilet. So she decided her best bet would be to camp out on the bathroom floor. Her sleepy eyes slowly widened and she clenched onto her stomach. Pushing herself up onto all fours, she crawled over to the toilet and threw up once again. She sighed and sat with her back up against the wall. Running her hand through her hair, getting it all out of her face. In all of her life since she had started drinking, it had never ever affected her as much as this before. She couldn't quite get her head around why this time was different to usual. But it had to be the reason. What else could the sickness be? There was a little knock on the door, followed by Izzie entering with a fresh glass of water. Meredith titled her head so she was facing her.

"Morning I got you some water" Izzie smiled, placing it in the window sill.

"Ugh... Thanks" Meredith answered, trying her best to reach for the glass but failing.

"You feel any better? You're going to be able to work today?" Izzie asked, she started to brush her teeth.

"Iz… please don't do that, the smell of the toothpaste is just ugh… making me nauseous" Meredith said. "I'll make it to work okay, I have too… plus I'll probably be fine later right?"

"Yeah, sure if it's just a hangover" Izzie placed her toothbrush back into the window. "Where are you expecting me to do my teeth?"

"Wherever… I don't care okay, just not in here right now" Meredith snapped.

"Okay cranky… Me and George will just walk to work, and you can take the car when you're ready" Izzie moved forwards to leave.

"Were walking now?" George opened the door and looked up at Izzie. "Walking??"

"Yes George… walking, no need to over react" Izzie looked at him.

"You guys don't have to walk… I'll drive you" Meredith said, attempting to get up.

"No you won't… were walking. But Meredith just don't be too late okay? Bailey will snap you like a twig" Izzie warned her, walking out of the bathroom.

Meredith looked down as the sound of the door shutting, hammered through her head. She stood up slowly. Feeling dizzy she put her hand on the wall to steady herself. Izzie was right. Being late would not make her in anyway at the top of Bailey's good books. Realising this, Meredith hurried out of the bathroom to get ready.

……………………

Meredith had been stuck in traffic for 20 minutes, or even more. A road had been cut off because of some stupid jerk that had decided to try and overtake and now the police had arrived. But hadn't done anything about the traffic jam. This was making Meredith even more late. Being in the stuffed up car wasn't exactly best either for how she was feeling. Her phone began to ring, frantically in her jeans pocket. After struggling to get it out, fighting with the seatbelt she finally got to it.

"Hello" She answered, keeping her eyes on the cramped road in front.

"Mer... where the hell are you?" Cristina replied, gliding the chair from right to left.

"Er… I don't know, in the car somewhere got stuck in a freakin' traffic jam. Has Bailey noticed im not there…wait don't answer stupid question I know" Meredith sighed. I'm so screwed. She mumbled under her breath.

"You okay? Because yeah you don't sound it" Cristina asked.

"No I'm not okay… Alright? Ugh Cristina I think I need you to come pick me up" Meredith said, panicking.

"What? I'm busy…I've got patients" Cristina looked around.

"You're talking on the phone" Meredith answered.

"That's not the point; I can't just leave in the middle of my shift" Cristina yelled.

"Ouch… Please I can't drive im sick" Meredith pleaded. "I shouldn't of friggin got in the car…just please I'll do anything you want"

…………………….

A couple of hours had passed. Cristina had successfully found Meredith and driven her in to work. Meredith had already had her fingers chopped off by Bailey and for being late she had been on scutt the entire morning. She had met all the others in the basement for lunch.

"Hey… I've been working with the she-shepherd all morning and she hasn't smiled once" Alex gossiped to the rest.

"Really? Maybe shes not a smiley type of woman" George wondered, looking into thin air.

"Alex… You're so right something's not right today. I was in surgery just now with her hubby and he didn't seem happy at all" Izzie continued with the gossip.

"McDreamy? Happy? Tinkerbell you make me laugh" Cristina smirked.

"Meredith…" Izzie went to carry on.

"What? I… huh?" Meredith sighed.

"I was just going to say, did you hear anything from Derek? I mean come on face it... something's going on and he did hint he was breaking it up" Izzie smiled.

"Do we have to talk about this? Today?" Meredith asked. "Infact I can't stand the smell of all the food, so I'm just going now" She slammed her tray down and stormed out.

"Should I go see if shes okay?" George asked the rest.

Alex shook his head "Not now dude"

"I think shes just stressed with all this McDreamy stuff" Izzie said, taking some of the salad off of Meredith's plate.

"I agree" Alex smiled, doing the same.

…………………….

After being sick for at least three times, Meredith had started to get fed up of the day. One of the crappiest days yet of her internship. She chose to sit in the dark on her own in the on call room. She was so stupid for actually thinking that she would get better. And for coming into work. Getting stuck in the traffic jam. She wished she would've just stayed at home. Her pager started to bleep, loudly. Annoying her so much that she accidentally broke the back on it. Walking out of the room, she bumped into Cristina.

"Hey, I have been paging you… you look like crap maybe we should get you checked over" Cristina suggested, placing her hand over her friends forehead.

"I do not need checking over" She lowered herself so her mouth was level with Cristina's ear "Its Addison's duty" she whispered.

"Satan doesn't have to do it, I could do it" Cristina smiled.

"No okay... I'm so perfectly fine" Meredith leaned against the wall.

"Oh no…don't start the fine, no one ever believes it anymore… trust me" Cristina linked arms with Meredith so they were away from everyone. "You could just go home"

"Oh yeah, as if Bailey is going to let me go home... I was late" Meredith reminded her.

"You want to go home Grey?" Dr.Bailey piped up behind them.

"I…Uh…." Meredith struggled.

"Yes she does, I recommend bed rest" Cristina helped out.

"Fine… You go home and you better get your ass back all shiny and new tomorrow Grey…early too" Dr.Bailey hesitated and walked off.

……………………….

Meredith had been home for ages. Attempting to sleep on the couch. There was a knock on the front door. Ignoring it at first, pulling the pillow over her head. After a few more continuous knocks, she got up and marched over to the door. It was Derek. In a shock, she froze just standing in front of him at the door. Derek stood tall with his hands neatly in his pockets.

"Hey…" He smiled making the first move. "May I come in?"

"I… Sure, if you want to" Meredith stepped out of the way, allowing him in.

"Okay then…" Derek sat himself down on the couch. It was like he fitted in perfectly. Like he once had.

"Wha…What are you doing here?" She sat herself next to him.

"I heard you were sick, so I thought I'd come see you" Derek smiled.

"Thanks… that's nice" She smiled back.

"So I um… I told Addison it was over" Derek said calmly.

"I know… Well I actually don't know but there were rumours" Meredith sat back.

"I think maybe I was a little harsh, some of the things I said… I lost my temper" Derek explained truthfully.

"You should apologise if it bothers you that much" Meredith said.

"In time, I guess I will" Derek answered.

"I'm sorry I froze up... in the elevator yesterday" Meredith fiddled with her fingers.

"That's okay, don't worry. I realise that you need time… it's a lot to take in, I can wait for you… your worth it" Derek faced her.

"Yeah... lots of time, everyone seems to think im sick because im stressed about it all but im sure its not. It's… I'm an intern… you can pick up all sorts from hospitals" Meredith sat forward.

"Yeah well, I hope your better soon… I should go" Derek stood up.

"You don't have to really, i…I'm on my own you could stay… talk" Meredith smiled.

"Anything you want" Derek smiled, and sat back down.

It was nice actually talking to him like this. She missed it. She knows she loves him but she just hasn't got a clue how to show it. The sickness, she had an idea what it could be. She just needed her friends to get back. To help her out.