"So you told the chief?" Meredith nodded, she and Christina had just finished rounds. Christina was on her way to a surgery whilst Meredith had decided she'd best stick with running labs all day, she hadn't lasted more than an hour without throwing up since getting up that morning.

"And Bailey, we thought it'd be best in case anything happens. Then Addison knows of course which isn't at all awkward, except that it is, extremely. And then you know too. We aren't telling anyone else until we get the all clear."

"We'll see how long that lasts, this is Seattle Grace Hospital you work in, and the nurses have radar for this kind of thing. Plus you live with Izzie."

"Yeah well we'll cross that bridge when……..is that Thatcher?"

At the far end of the hall Thatcher was stood talking to, no, shouting at Lexie. He didn't look too steady and his words were slurred.

"I thought we talked about this Lexie, we said you wouldn't come here after what happened to your mother."

Lexie's face was bright red. "No dad, you said that I wouldn't come here, and anyway, it was too late. If I'd tried to transfer I would've had to wait until next year."

"Is a year out of your career too much to ask when you're mother has just died? Maybe if you had some respect for her"

"Dad, of course I have respect for mom, I love her, I…."

Before she could continue Bailey appeared in front of her and Thatcher. Facing Thatcher.

"Mr Grey, is there a reason why you are interrogating one of my interns for the third time this month?" She could smell alcohol on his breath as he attempted to answer.

"Do I need to call security or are you going to leave quietly?"

Thatcher just walked away shaking his head.

Seeing Meredith watching, Lexie walked over to her.

"I don't know what's gotten into him. Since mom died he's been a wreck. Drinking and rowing all the time."

Meredith pulled her face "Dr. Grey, is there a reason why you're telling me this"

"I…..well…..he's your dad, and he's making scenes in the hospital."

Meredith raised a hand to stop Lexie from talking. "OK, firstly, he's not my father; he hasn't been for about 20 years. Secondly, at least he wasn't making a scene with me for once." She started to walk away turning to add "Plus it could've been worse."

Lexie was annoyed "how could it have been worse?"

"He didn't slap you." Meredith carried on walking down the hall, Christina running to catch up with her.


"Why are we going to Joe's again?" Meredith asked Christina who was pulling her by arm so hard that Meredith was sure it would drop off.

"Because it's where we always go to drown our sorrows after a crap day at work. Hurry up" she carried on tugging Meredith's arm.

Meredith stopped walking. "Christina, have you forgotten something?"

"How annoying you can be sometimes? No I remember, come on lets go."

"I am not annoying, and that's not what I meant. I can't drown my sorrows. Well I could but I think Derek would get pissy about it."
"Awww crap, I did forget." Christina paused for a minute then shrugged her shoulders "Oh well, they serve water, now hurry up. I need a drink." She grabbed hold of Meredith's arm again pulling her across the car park as Meredith giggled.

"Well if it isn't my two favourite doctors" Joe beamed from across the bar.

"Yeah whatever, I'll have a vodka and soda – no make that a double, and she'll have water." Christina pointed at Meredith

"Woah, did I hear right? You just ordered water for Meredith, the girl who drinks my entire stock of tequila." Joe looked gob smacked.

"Yes you heard right, she's on call tonight" Christina covered quickly. "Now shut up and get me my vodka." Joe mock saluted and went down the bar to fetch their drinks.

Meredith climbed onto a stool "So, why has your day been so crap?"

"One of the stupid nurses brought me some things up from laundry and in with my stuff were a few scrub caps that burke left behind." Tears filled Christina's eyes as she carried on talking. "It just seems that every time I start forgetting about him something happens, or something turns up that brings it all back."

"It'll get better soon, I'm sure. In the mean time you can console yourself with the fact that you have liquor to help you along, unlike me."

"True" Christina laughed. "Oh, look its Bambi. I heard he was back today."

They shouted George over. "Hey" He said, he pointed at Meredith's drink "is that water?"

"Yeah, so are you ok? Is it horrible being an intern with new people? We miss you, especially Izzie." Meredith noticed George flinch when she mentioned Izzie.

"It's ok you know. And the new interns are alright they have been nice, especially this one girl Lexie….I mean….er…I" George stuttered as he realised his mistake and saw Meredith's eyes narrow angrily.

They heard the door open and Lexie was stood waving to George.

"Bambi, I think your new best friend wants you." Christina said necking her vodka. George ran off towards Lexie feeling Meredith's eyes on his back.

"Does she have some sort of monopoly on the men in my life?" Meredith groaned. "I wish this was tequila." She added gulping her water.

It was getting late in the bar and Derek was due to meet Meredith any minute now. Lexie had been drinking tequila all night, George had left without saying bye to Meredith and Christina and Christina had drank so much that Meredith couldn't understand what she was saying anymore.

"So tomorrow……….I'm gonna find that stupid nurse………and I'm gonna say to her…………..Meredith? What was I gonna say to her?" Her words were slurred, Meredith shook her head "I have no idea" this was so much more fun when she was drunk too.

"Christina, I need the bathroom, are you alright for a minute?" Christina nodded and Meredith made her way to the bathroom rubbing her head. If she didn't feel sick then she had a headache and if she didn't have a headache she felt sick, she couldn't win.

As she sat in one of the stalls she heard two girls enter and recognised Lexie's voice.

"…..So from what George said they're constantly on and off. Let me work my charm and if their track record is anything to go by then – what is it they call him? McDreamy? How pathetic is that? Anyway, by the end of the month McDreamy will be mine."

Meredith was seething. She was going to march straight up to Lexie and tell her exactly when she could stick her "charm" but decided to listen and see what else she said, it was obvious that they didn't know Meredith was there.

The other girl spoke up. "Come on Lexie, you're an intern and he's an attending. A hot attending but still, what makes you think he'd go for you?"

"Hello? Meredith was only an intern when they started screwing around. Plus I practically asked him out twice, and true he said no both times, but he never said 'No I've got a girlfriend' the first time he told me he was at a bachelor party and the next time he said he still didn't even know my name. What do you think that means?"

Meredith sat shaking on the toilet; she heard them leave but still didn't get up. A few minutes passed then she heard Christina come in shouting her.

"Meredith! Meredith are you puking again? Derek is here and he wants to go home"

Meredith composed herself and left the stall and walked out of the toilets past Christina and up to Derek. He leaned over to kiss her but Meredith blocked him "Christina is drunk and is stopping at mine, it's probably best if you go to the trailer." She started gathering her things to leave.

"Ok I guess I'll see you tomorrow?" He tried to kiss her again, this time she just turned her back on him as she left the bar "Whatever"

"Did I miss something?" Derek asked Joe when they'd gone. Joe just shrugged his shoulders.

On the other side of the bar Lexie looked at her friend. "Looks they're off again" Lexie smiled.


Hey, so i was looking through the past chapters and realised that I hadn't left any thanks to everyone who reviews, so uh...thankyou, lol

It's really good to know that people are reading and to know what they think. Especially when you say you are enjoying it :D