Thank you for all who have been reviewing (I say that too much, but I really mean it). I hope you are all enjoying the story so far (I say that a lot too).

Here's chapter 4.

As much as Meredith would have liked to never see her father ever again, she was forced - well, she forced herself- to see him anyway. It was Lexie's funeral. She didn't plan on going at first, but then she felt obligated too. She was her sister after all, as much as she hated to admit it…and she felt that she owed her an apology. Apologizing to people who have died wasn't a thing she did all too often, especially someone she happened to be related to. But it was the right thing to do. Or she hoped. And she also hoped that this time her father would not blame another death on her, though this time she fully deserved it in her opinion.

When she woke up that morning, it was dark and dreary, like many days in Seattle. But today it was very dark and very dreary. Others might not see it, but Meredith did. It took her a while to get ready, probably because she kept on doubting herself and telling herself that she was insensitive. When she was finally ready to start the day, she went downstairs and found Alex sitting by himself, also dressed for the occasion. He looked up at her. They looked at each other for a few moments, until Meredith looked away, unable to look at him any longer.

"Are you getting a ride from me?" he asked her.

She didn't say anything at first. She debated whether or not she wanted to go and see Derek first. Part of her did, and part of her didn't.

"Yeah," she decided. "If you can."

"I can," he said as George and Izzie came into the kitchen. They looked at both Meredith and Alex, looking somber in their dark clothes. Izzie looked back at George for a moment, then said, "So you guys are okay?"

"Yes," Meredith and Alex said in unison.

"Are you really?"

"Yes."

Everyone knew that they weren't, but Izzie took the hint that they weren't going to say anything so she gave up. She sat down at the table with them and looked from one to the other, but no one spoke until Alex stood up and said, "We should get going."

"Yeah," Meredith agreed, also standing up.

"You're going together?" Izzie asked.

"Yes," they said for the final time, and left the room together.

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Back at the hospital, people were back to whispering, as it was the day of Lexie's funeral and obviously time to gossip again. It was best that Alex and Meredith were not there to hear all the people in the hallways, most of them not that sorry, though they claimed they were; they thought it was more interesting than anything.

"Alright," Cristina said as she faced her interns, who were sincerely sad about what happened. They did not want to speak, unlike anyone else in the hospital. It went to show who really cared. "I know it's a hard day, so if any of you would…like to take an easy for the day, it's fine. I'll page you if there's an emergency."

They all looked at her like they had never seen her before. Never had she been this nice to them. It was a whole different side of her; one that they did not know existed.

"So go," Cristina said impatiently, and they quickly scattered. She turned around to look for Meredith, for she had not told her her plans. But she had not yet seen Meredith, so she figured that she had left for the funeral. That was a bit surprising, as far as Cristina was concerned, since Meredith felt everything was her fault. You'd think that she'd rather one away and hide rather than face her family and what had happened.

"Stevens!" Derek said as Izzie passed him in the hall. "Where's Meredith at?"

"She went to the funeral," she told him. "She and Alex went together, but they'll be back here later." She looked at him for a moment. "She didn't tell you."

"No," Derek sighed. "I just wasn't sure what she was doing. Thank you."

"Yeah," Izzie said as he walked away. She felt bad for him. She wished that Meredith wouldn't push him away like she did. But Izzie did not know if she herself would be any different. And she hoped that she wouldn't have to find out.

George came up to her, passing Derek on the way. He looked back at him for a moment, then said to Izzie as he reached her, "He was looking for Meredith?"

"Yeah," she said. "I wish all these people weren't talking around here. I mean I know that they're going to and there's no stopping it. But I just wish that they wouldn't."

"Me too," he agreed. "I mean I really didn't know her that much, but she was really a good person. She was kind of…awesome," he added with a smile.

"Okay," Izzie said uncertainly.

"I told her that," he explained. "One day when we were talking. But it's true, as far as I'm concerned."

"I trust that you're right," she smiled. He smiled back for a moment, then became more serious.

"What?" Izzie said exasperatedly, knowing what he was going to say.

"I don't want you to go out alone," he said seriously. "And I mean it, not until they catch this guy."

"George-"

"Look at what happened to Lexie, and those other girls. I'm sorry, but I'm not going to take that chance. With any of you, trust me I'll say this more than once today. Just please, understand what I'm saying."

"What if they don't catch him? I'll just never be able to walk outside ever again?"

"I'm sure they will, if this keeps going on he'll make some sort of mistake-"

"You don't know that. People get away with it all the time."

He looked at her for a few moments, then looked away. "I'm going to find Cristina. And I'm serious."

"Okay," she sighed, and walked away.

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Derek sat outside by himself, waiting for Meredith to arrive. He was sure that she'd come back to the hospital when everything was done, because she wouldn't be able to stand the silence of home. Someone stood in front of him, but Derek did not look up.

"She went to the funeral, I hear."

"Things do spread around quickly."

"Is she…okay?"

Derek looked up at him. "What do you think? Are you telling me you didn't hear what all happened?

"I did," Mark admitted. "I was just trying to be nice."

"Well she's not okay," Derek said, "and I'm waiting for her, so if you could just go."

Mark stood there for a moment, then gave up and walked way, leaving Derek there by himself.

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Meredith and Alex arrived with many others, which made them both uncomfortable. Meredith tried to think about how she was related to some of these people, but it was too strange of a thought to seem real.

They got out of the car together. They simply stood there for a moment, second-guessing the situation.

"So, are you ready?" Alex asked, though he sounded uncertain himself.

"Yeah," Meredith sighed, knowing she had to go whether she was ready or not. "And if you see my father, make sure you tell me so I can go the other direction."

"All right, whatever," Alex said, and he really didn't blame her. He probably wouldn't want to see him either if he was in her situation.

But Meredith was not able to escape her father like she planned. She did for a while, during the service itself and afterwards. She saw him, so she made sure she was somewhere that he wouldn't see her. It was when they were leaving that Thatcher seen his daughter, while he was standing with Molly, who had seen, Meredith before and hadn't mentioned it.

"Meredith," he said loudly when he saw her, and she stopped, closing her eyes. Alex looked back at them and tried to think of a way to get her out of it, but it seemed to be too late.

Her father came over. At first she did not turn to face him, but she grudgingly forced herself to.

"I'm glad you came," her father said grinning, which she did not understand how he could grin like that. "I'm sure Lexie will have…would have been happy."

"Yeah," Meredith said quickly, wanting to get away from her drunken father very much. "But I'm just leaving."

"I don't mean to scare you away-"

"You're not, I just have to-"

"I know you don't want to be here-"

"I didn't say that-"

"But I-"

"We have to go," Alex said firmly, grabbing Meredith's arm. "I'm very sorry that this happened to your daughter."

"Me too," Thatcher said and laughed. "Everybody keeps dying, don't they? And you," he said, looking at Meredith, "aren't you always there?"

She looked at him with a frightened, accused expression. "We have to go," Alex said again, and pulled her away.

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Derek saw Meredith and Alex approaching and stood up. Alex looked at him, though Meredith didn't. "Meredith," Derek said as he came closer. "How'd it go?"

She said nothing. "It was fine," Alex told him. "I'll see you later," he added to Meredith.

She wished that he would pull her away again; she wanted rescuing from this situation as well. She did not look at Derek, but instead at her own feet and stayed silent.

"It was fine?" Derek asked her.

"Yes," she said plainly.

"Nothing happened between-?"

"It was fine," she said firmly. "I have to go see Cristina now."

"Meredith, just-"

"I'll-I'll see you tonight," she told him, and walked away. He sighed and sat back down. One minute she'd open up, and the next she wouldn't. He figured something happened there, and she would not go to him for it. She never did anymore. He wondered what her friends had that she didn't, and how he could get it from them.

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"It was just so…." Meredith sighed as she stood with Cristina in an empty hallway. "I never want to see him again. And I'm serious about that. I can't do that again."

"Yeah," Cristina sighed. "Well now that this is over, maybe he'll leave you alone."

"None of this is over."

"Well the funeral. Now that that's over, maybe he'll stay away again."

"I hope so," Meredith said truthfully. It was sad that she had no desire to see her own father, but she doubted that anyone in her situation would.

"George gave me a pep talk today about being safe," Cristina said, trying to get away from the father subject. "And he'll give one to you too."

"I already hear it enough from Derek, I don't need it again."

"I don't need it at all," Cristina claimed. "I'm not stupid."

"None of them were."

"I'm not saying-"

"I know. I'm sorry. I think I'm going to go home. It's been a long day."

Cristina looked at her for a moment, then said, "Okay. I probably will too soon. I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Yeah," Meredith said, and walked away. Cristina stood there in thought for a few more moments, then followed her footsteps.

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Callie made her way up to the bar later that night. She too had gotten George's pep talk, even though she wasn't his wife. But she didn't mind. It actually made her feel good to know that he at least still cared about her. She sat down by herself and ordered a drink. She had left by herself, despite of what George said. She, after all, did not have anyone to leave with.

Mark Sloan sat down next to her and also ordered a drink. She looked at him for a moment, like she didn't understand why he was sitting there.

"You looked lonely," he said.

"Yeah," she sighed. "I've been feeling that way."

"I know the feeling."

She gave him a small smile then looked away. "I can't wait until all this crazy stuff ends. It's too discomforting, especially after it happened to lexie."

"Makes me glad I'm not a young nice looking girl."

"Thanks, that makes me feel so much better."

They sat in conversation for a little while, until Callie decided she wanted to go home.

"Would you like me to accompany you?" Mark asked innocently.

"No, thank you," Callie said and laughed. "I'm good."

"Okay, if you say so."

"I do."

On her way out she knocked into a blonde girl, neither of them paying attention to where they were going. They both apologized and Callie left. Mark finished his drink quickly and stood up.

Callie left the bar and walked down the street. All was quiet, and she didn't like that at all. She thought of Lexie and how she had been in this same situation a few nights ago. She thought maybe going back actually would be the best idea. She stopped when she saw a dark figure ahead of her. Her heart dropped and she backed away.

"Callie?" she heard Mark say. She turned around for a moment and saw him coming, and when she turned back around, the dark figure had gone.