CHAPTER TEN

Meredith allowed Alex to hold her. She felt more vulnerable than she had ever felt in her life. These flashbacks were hitting her hard and fast and she didn't know what to do with them. Alex ran his hand soothingly up and down Meredith's back. He rested his chin on top of her head as she leant against his broad chest. He was really concerned for her. He wanted to find whoever was responsible for hurting her and punch them out. Meredith was awake but it was obvious that her mind was elsewhere.

"Meredith," Ellis said weakly, opening her eyes again. "Call 911. I need you to call 911 just like I taught you."

"No!" Meredith sobbed, terrified by the amount of blood surrounding her mother. "I'm not leaving you!"

"Meredith, please!" Ellis pleaded. "I need to get to the hospital so they can stop the bleeding. I need you to call 911. Now!" Her voice trailed off as she slipped into unconciousness.

"Mommy!" Meredith sobbed, shaking her mother to try and wake her up but she wouldn't. Trembling, Meredith ran to the telephone and did what her mother had taught her to do after the last time that Thatcher had been drinking. She picked up the receiver and dialed 911.

"I need an ambulance," Meredith stammered into the phone. "Mommy's bleeding! She won't wake up! Hurry!" Meredith recited her address just like her mother had taught her and cried as the operator on the other end of the line tried to comfort her.

It seemed like an eternity before the ambulance arrived. Meredith dropped the phone and ran to the men who had arrived.

"She's hemorrhaging," one of the ambulance officers said. "We need to move her now!"

"It's Ellis Grey!" the other officer exclaimed, surprised. "Where's your Daddy?" he asked Meredith.

"He left," Meredith said, frightened.

"You can ride in the front of the ambulance with me," the officer said. "Come on." The officers moved Ellis into the ambulance. One officer remained in the back, trying to control her bleeding while Meredith was put in the passenger's seat. The officer radioed ahead to Seattle Grace hospital and told them that they were bringing in Ellis Grey.

&&&

"What? I'm busy," Cristina said irritably, picking up her phone as she sat in the on call room alone.

"Meredith needs you," Izzie said on the other end, not impressed. "I know that you're ignoring her."

"I've just been really busy," Cristina said. "Meredith's fine. She'll talk to me when she wants to."

"She's not fine," Izzie argued. "And I know you're ignoring her because you hate emotional stuff but she's your best friend and she needs you." Cristina sighed. She knew that Izzie was right but she honestly didn't know what to say to Meredith. She didn't know what she was going through or what possessed her to take drugs.

"I'll come and see her," Cristina said with a sigh. "I have to go." She hung up the phone and checked her pager, hoping that an emergency would come up.

&&&

"What happened?" Richard asked. He had heard that Ellis Grey was being bought in. He climbed into the ambulance and was shocked to see blood everywhere.

"Probable miscarriage," one of the officers said as he passed the gurney out of the ambulance to the waiting team of doctors and nurses. They rushed Ellis into the ER. Richard took a step back, shocked at what was happening. He saw the other paramedic lift Meredith out of the ambulance.

"I have to get back on the road. Can I leave her with you?" he asked.

"Of course," Richard said. He held out his hand and Meredith looked up at him wide eyed. She placed her tiny hand in his. Richard knelt down in front of her.

"What happened to Mommy?" he asked.

"She was bleeding," Meredith said. Richard nodded, knowing that Meredith was traumatized by the ideal.

"Where's daddy?" he asked.

"I want Mommy," Meredith said.

"You can see her soon," Richard promised. "I feel like some strawberry milk. Do you want some strawberry milk?" Meredith nodded. "Come on, sweetheart," Richard said.

&&&

It was awhile before Meredith spoke.

"I need to see Richard," she said. Alex was surprised. He checked his watch.

"I think he'd be at home now. Anyway, don't worry about work stuff. That'll sort itself out."

"No," Meredith said, stubbornly. "I have to see him." Alex sighed.

"I can call the hospital and see if he's still there," he said. Meredith nodded. Alex pulled his cell phone from his pocket and dialed the Chief's office. Patricia answered the phone and handed it to Richard when he said that it was concerning Meredith Grey.

"Oh good, you're still there," Alex said.

"Yes I am," Richard said, unamused. "I'm sitting here filling out an incident report because one of my attendings was behaving like a thug." Alex decided not to pursue this line of discussion.

"Meredith needs to see you," he said. "It's important."

"Tell her that I stand by my decision, but if she wants to see me anyway she's welcome."

"Thanks, Chief," Alex said, hanging up.

"Come on," he said to Meredith. "I'll drive you."

"Thanks," Meredith said in a small voice.

&&&

Meredith stared out the window as Alex drove to the hospital. He didn't know what to say to her but he knew that sometimes company was enough. Meredith's mind was elsewhere.

"She's very week," Patricia, Ellis' nurse, said to Richard. "It was a miscarriage. She lost so much blood they had to give her multiple transfusions. The doctor expects her to make a full recovery. Meredith looked up at the adults beside her. She didn't understand what they were saying. She was still holding on tightly to Richard's hand. He made her feel safe. She felt like nothing bad could happen while he was around.

"I should warn you, she's pretty beaten up," Patricia added. Richard nodded nervously. He knelt down in front of Meredith.

"Your Mommy has been sick but she's gonna be okay now. It might take a little while for her to get better though, okay?" Richard asked. Meredith nodded. They went into Ellis' room. Richard stopped sharply and instinctively squeezed Meredith's hand as they saw Ellis. She had bruises on her face, on her arms and down her legs. Everywhere that was visible looked battered.

"Patricia," Richard called out. Patricia came back.

"Yes, Doctor Webber," she said.

"Meredith shouldn't have to see her mother like this. Has the social worker found out where Thatcher Grey is?" Patricia looked uncomfortable.

"The police arrested him for driving under the influence. Apparently he crashed his car into a pole but wasn't injured." Patricia said. "They're arranging bail now."