Title: The Best Laid Plans

Authors: Sara and Lizzie

Rating: T for violence, language, maybe sex

Disclaimer: Obviously the show does not belong to two college girls.

Summary: An OR gets taken hostage by a love struck woman whose fiancé is dying. Meredith gets caught in the cross fire, and no one is safe. But, it's all in the name of love, right?

Author's Note: Yea, it's a cliché, but we're obsessed and back to writing game, so feed our egos and review. Updates have been lax since we both began college, but we couldn't stay away for long. Please review. It's our heroin.

Addison had felt this way several times before. It was the way you feel when something has just happened to you and you know everyone's watching you to gauge your reaction. She could feel her shoulders tensing and her mouth setting in a thin line.

She resisted the urge to sigh. She didn't want all the interns to hate her. She didn't want Derek to hate her. She didn't even want Meredith to hate her. They didn't understand that he was her husband, and that she couldn't just let him go without some sort of fight for him.

She turned around and smiled tensely at everyone in the room, and without a word walked out, heels clacking. She met Derek coming off the elevator.

"What the hell was that?"

He raised his eyebrows listlessly at her, but nothing.

"Jesus, Derek, you can at least pretend that you care." She hissed. "You just kissed her."

"I'm sorry." He said; his voice hollow.

"Don't patronize me."

"What else do you want me to say? I didn't mean it? I'd take it back?"

"A little melodramatic, but it would help."

He shrugged, looking guilty. "I'm sorry." He repeated, walking off, leaving Addison staring at his retreating back.

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Meredith put the land line on hold, so the connection wouldn't break, and replaced it in its cradle. "That was Dr. Bailey. She's going to come down to get the x-ray machine and develop the photos of the lungs."

Rachel didn't respond, so Meredith busied herself by hooking the fiancé, who she had learned was named Josh, up to an IV to start treatment for the symptoms. Dr. Webber had instructed her to treat the symptoms, and then the actual virus to prevent him from crashing, and Meredith wasn't planning on taking any chances.

She willed herself to focus on the potential life and death situation at hand, not Derek's lips on hers. Rachel spoke up.

"So that guy? Who brought the stuff?"

"What about him?"

Rachel laughed. "Oh, you can't be serious. Him coming in here with his hands and lips and making you promise to stay safe. He's either your dad or your boyfriend."

Meredith smiled a little, despite the situation at hand. "Neither actually. I think he used to be my boyfriend, but he's married now. Or was always married. The point is all of a sudden, there was a wife."

"And you still love him." Rachel said, in a matter of fact way that Meredith found disarming.

"Why would you say that?"

"If not because of the way you went all googly eyed when he came in here, it's because you promised him exactly what he wanted, even though you have no way of making that promise come true."

Meredith didn't say anything. "I'm right aren't I?" prompted Rachel.

She nodded. "Yea, I guess you are. I love him."

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In the security office, Miranda Bailey was the first to break the silence. "Am I ever glad to be getting out of here." She said, meeting her security escort who was walking her down to get the x-ray machine from Meredith.

Christina exchanged a look with Burke, but Izzie and Chief Webber were both focused on Derek, who looked like he was going to smile for the first time in a long time. His eyes were fixed on the small image of Meredith on the screen, and he seemed like he was still trying to convince himself that he wasn't hallucinating.

To Derek, he felt like the world had righted itself on its axis. Every bit of hope he so desperately needed was wrapped up in brightly colored paper and bundled at his feet. She still loved him. His arguments with Addison were miles away. Even the fact that Meredith was in danger had momentarily escaped him.

She still loved him. They were still in love.

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Outside Seattle Grace, a figure leaned against the building, smoking a cigarette. He inhaled and blew out smoke as rapidly as he could. He wanted to finish this pack before he ended up playing the pawn in Rachel's new game.

He had agreed to help his sister out with this ridiculous, incredulous plan, because he didn't want to lose Josh, his best friend, or his sister. They seemed to be a package deal, and as much as Charles didn't want to admit it, things might just work out for them. If Josh didn't die, and would wait for Rachel until she got out of jail that was.

Charles lit another cigarette and waited to get the phone call that could destroy his life.

Meredith was, for once, relieved to see Bailey. Rachel let her in without question, and Bailey practically threw the packet of x-rays at Meredith.

"Playing with fire, Grey. You're playing with fire."

Meredith eyed her incredulously. "That's what you're going to lecture me about? Derek? I'm trapped in this room, with a disease and a gun, and all you can talk about is Derek?"

"Addison saw that little reunion you guys had."

Meredith closed eyes and placed two fingers on the bridge of her nose. "Okay, Dr. Bailey, I appreciate your concern, but I really can't afford to focus on the current bump in the road of the Shepherd nuptials. Even if that bump is me."

Bailey's expression softened. "He's worried about you, Grey. We all are. Keep your cool, do the job, and stay safe, all right?"

Meredith smiled and nodded. "All right. Thanks."

Bailey seemed to snap back into her old self. "Grey. X-rays. Don't slack off. You might make me look bad."

Meredith shook her head, as usual, torn between annoyance and amusement at her resident, and then opened the packet of x-rays. Her hand moved instinctively to her cell phone as she looked at them.

She dialed the familiar number, out of habit, or maybe out of something more, some ray of hope that she chose to ignore.

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"Meredith." He said, worry evident in his voice. "What is it?"

"Derek?" she asked. "His lung, it's um, it's strained or something. Not punctured or torn, but thin. It's hindering his breathing, and I have to repair it."

Derek took a deep breath. "Okay, lungs, I'm not so good with, but I'll put Burke on, okay? And Meredith, I heard…"

He trailed off, not sure how to broach this, and even more sure that wasn't the right time. "Never mind. Just be careful, Mer."

She promised again that she would, and quickly repeated the problem to Burke who promised that he was on his way with everything she needed.

She turned around to tell Rachel what was going on, and realized she was staring down the barrel of a gun.