Disclaimer: I don't own Grey's Anatomy I wish I did so I wouldn't have to wait each week to know what was going to happen.

Chapter 10

"Alex are you ready?"

"I'm coming Nancy I just want to make sure I have everything."

"I can't believe you're going back to Seattle. You told me it was better to go to New York remind me again why you're going back there."

"There's nothing to remind you of, I never told you in the first place. Remind me again why you insisted on coming with me."

Nancy smiled. "I never get anything past you. I'm going to help you with your stuff, make sure you are settled, check out the hospital, and visit my brother and some old friends that I haven't heard from in a while."

"You don't need to make sure I'm settled but I appreciate it. Why haven't you told me your brother is in Seattle before?"

"You never asked. No changing the subject. Why are you going to do your internship there?"

"I have responsibilities I need to take care of and that is all I'm telling you."

"What about your friends? You said you told them you were going to New York."

"I did. I'll see them at the hospital." Meredith saw Nancy with her eyebrows raised. "He'll be there to. He's just a friend Nancy, nothing else. We've had this discussion he can't be more than a friend."

"So I finally get to meet Mcdreamy."

"I don't think you need to meet him."

"Oh I think I do. You talk about him all the time."

"We'll see."

"Alex what about what you've been running from since you started school?"

"I'm not running from anything."

"I've been your roommate since we were freshman. I've been here almost every night, your nightmares haven't stopped and they always got worse when you came back from Seattle."

"We need to go."

"Fine but you know this conversation is not over. We have the entire drive to Seattle so if you think you're getting out of it you're wrong." Nancy said walking out the door.

"When are you going to New York?"

"I haven't made any plans. I don't start my internship for 2 months so maybe I'll just stay with you until you kick me out."

"If you have friends and family in Seattle why didn't you ever demand on coming with me when I visited before?"

"Because I didn't want to tag along then. I've seen my brother on holidays with the rest of the family so don't look at me like that. I figured it was time I saw what his life was like in Seattle and maybe meet his girlfriend."

"He has a girlfriend and you've never met her, didn't he bring her with on one of those visits during the holidays?"

"No and it's really annoying because for as much as he talks about her we should have met her already. Anyway that's why I'm going to see him."

Meredith laughed at how frustrated Nancy looked.

"Stop laughing it's not funny he says he's going to marry her and we've never even met her. You know you kind of remind me of her."

"How?"

"Let's see, you are stubborn, quiet, avoid things, secretive, pig headed, and…"

"Are you done? It sounds like you don't like her."

"If she makes my brother happy that's all I care about." Nancy said as she looked over at Alex who had a weird expression on her face. "What?"

"I don't avoid and I'm not secretive."

"What's your Mcdreamy's name, and what are the nightmares about?" Nancy asked however Alex continued to stare at the road. "That's what I thought."

Nancy and Meredith took turns driving to Seattle. When they finally got to the city Meredith took over and she drove them to her house.

"Wow, this is your house?"

"It was my mothers."

"I'm sorry."

"What?"

"You said was."

"No she's not, she' um she's traveling."

"Oh, so is it ok if I stay here?"

"Of course. Are you going to go to your brothers tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I'll call him in the morning. What about you?"

"I have some things to take care of."

"You must have a lot to do since you came back 2 months before you're expected to start."

"Yeah I guess I do. Well I'm going to get some sleep, come on I'll show you where you can sleep." Meredith said leading Nancy up the stairs.

The next morning Meredith got up and got ready. When she came down stairs Nancy was already up and had made coffee. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. So are we going to go out tonight?"

"I thought you were going to be with your brother?"

"I am but he's got to work tonight so I'll need something to do." Nancy said with a smile.

Meredith rolled her eyes. "Fine we can do something when I get back. Do you need me to drop you somewhere?"

"No I'm going to call a cab in a couple hours. Thanks anyway, I'll see you later."

The day went by quickly. Meredith visited her mother and made sure she was ok. After she went home and found Nancy waiting for her. "Just like old times."

"I know. I'm going to miss seeing you every night."

"I think you'll be just fine in New York."

"I know but I'll still miss my roommate."

Meredith smiled. "I knew you liked me. Let's go. I know a great Italian restaurant."

They went to the restaurant and had dinner. When they were done they went to a movie and then went home and went to bed.

The next morning Meredith woke up to Nancy standing beside her bed. "What are you doing?"

"Waiting for you to get up. I want to go shopping and you can show me the sights."

"Isn't that what your brother or friends are for, you should be spending time with them."

"I'm meeting them for dinner, you are coming too."

"I'm not meeting your brother and I'm not getting up."

"Why not?"

"Because he's your brother and I have a feeling."

"A feeling?" Nancy asked ignoring the part about her brother.

"Yeah like something bad is going to happen so I'm going to stay in bed."

"Alex if you think I am going to let you stay in bed all day you are crazy."

"Nancy not today." Meredith said as she rolled over and pulled the blanket up over her head.

"Alex it is sunny out right now and from what you and my brother have told me about this city that is a rare occurrence so you need to get your butt out of this bed now." Nancy jumped up on the bed and pulled the blanket off as she started jumping. "Get up, get up, get up."

Meredith stood up and glared at Nancy. "You are just like my friend Christina."

"Which one is she?"

"Crack Whore."

"I like her already, now get your butt dressed so we can go."

Meredith took off to the bathroom and got ready to go.

Meredith and Nancy went for breakfast and then headed to the mall. Nancy decided she wanted to start at the end of the mall they had entered from which was by the movie theaters and work their way down. Then they would come back on the other side making sure to go into each store. Meredith rolled her eyes but followed Nancy.

"Are there any nice jewelry stores around?" Nancy asked as they left the mall.

"Jewelry?"

"Yes, I want to look at jewelry."

Meredith rolled her eyes. "Isn't it suppose to be the man's job to pick out the ring and don't you actually need a man before picking out the ring?"

"Technically yes but you know I like to keep up to date on what is in."

"Fine, there is one right up the road here." Meredith drove for a few blocks before turning into the parking lot.

Both women got out, entered the store, and started looking around. Nancy noticed her friend was acting a little nervous. "You've been checking over your shoulder since we entered the mall and you are still acting weird."

"I feel like someone is watching us."

Nancy laughed. "Is this the bad feeling?"

"Nancy please don't laugh at me I'm serious about the feeling. Can we just go back to the house?"

"After we are done looking."

Meredith nodded and continued to follow her around the store. About 15 minutes later she heard the bell sound above the door. Meredith raised her eyes to see who had entered and her breath caught as she locked eyes with the one person she had hoped to never see again.

He had heard from her mother she was coming back so he had been waiting for her. Every day he would drive by her house hoping to see her. The day before he finally saw her when he had drove by. She was walking to her car as if she didn't have a care in the world and it made him angry. That night he went home got a few things and drove back to her street and decided to wait for the perfect time to confront her. He had seen the girl with her but he didn't care. The next day he followed as they went for breakfast and then to the mall. He watched as they went in and out of the different stores. She still acted as if nothing was wrong as if the last 5 years never happened. He followed them as they left the mall and when she drove to the jewelry store he knew that was the perfect time since the store was all but deserted of customers. He watched them walk in and waited for 15 minutes before he decided it was time for her to pay for the last 5 years.

Meredith froze she knew she would have to face him again but she didn't think it would be now and certainly not in this place. She quickly looked around the store wanting to know where everyone was. She saw the look in his eye and knew he was upset. "What are you doing here?" She asked as he stopped in front of her. Nancy looked up confused by her friends shaky voice.

"I've been waiting for you. Your mother told me you were coming back to Seattle for your internship. So you did go to medical school after all?"

"Yes."

"Well I'm glad one of us got to do what we had planned. You know I've been thinking about you for 5 years?"

"I need to go, Nancy we need to go." She said as she grabbed Nancy's arm.

"You're not going anywhere." He said as he pulled his jacket back to reveal the gun he had.

Just as Meredith saw the gun she heard Nancy gasp and the sales associate let out a small scream. All Meredith could think about was getting Nancy out of the store. "What do you want Luke?"

"Want do I want? I want the last five years back. I want to be getting ready for my internship, I want for my parents to be back together." He paused as he saw the look on Meredith's face so he explained. "They got a divorce. Dad couldn't take the shame of having a son in prison. I want you to pay for what you did to my family and to me."

"I didn't do anything Luke."

"You told them I raped you."

Nancy turned to look at her friend and saw the scarred look in her face.

"You did."

"You wanted it just as much as I did. You let everyone else have a piece of you and it was my turn, it's not my fault you like it rough."

"No one else had a piece of me. Those were rumors, I hadn't been with anyone else. You took what you wanted and you hurt me, you got what you deserved."

Luke raised his hand and slapped her. Nancy cried as she saw her friend get hit.

Meredith quickly recovered still remembering what it felt like to be hit. "Let her leave Luke this is between you and me."

"She's not going anywhere. I want you to pay for what you did."

Meredith turned around and looked right into Luke's eyes. "You can do what you want to me but Nancy and the young woman behind that counter are not part of this just let them go."

"You can be sure I will do what I want to you but first I want all your money." Luke said as he turned to the sales associate and grabbed Nancy. He pulled her to his body and pointed the gun to her head. "Now or she is going to die and you will be next."

Nancy had tears rolling down her face as she looked to Alex.

The sales associate quickly opened the register and took out all the money that was in it. She placed it in a bag and placed it on the counter. "This is all there is. The rest is in a time lock safe, I can't get in."

Meredith quickly grabbed the bag. "Let her go Luke and I'll give it to you."

"You are in no position to tell me what to do. Give it to me."

"So you can kill us anyway. No you let her go and then I'll give you the money so you can go."

Nancy struggled as her friend talked to this Luke man. She had turned around in his arms and was continuing to struggle.

Luke looked Meredith in the eyes and saw how determined she was. He then looked back at her friend who was struggling with him. He realized he wanted Meredith so he raised his gun and brought it down hitting Nancy in the head. She stumbled back and Meredith caught her. "Nancy are you ok?"

Nancy was dazed but she quickly recovered from the blow and straightened herself out.

"Give me the money."

Meredith threw it to him and he caught it. He then pointed the gun on Meredith.

"Now it's time for you to pay."

"What do you want?" Meredith asked as she stepped away from Nancy who was now leaning against the counter.

"Your coming with me."

"I'm not going anywhere with you."

"Have it your way." Luke said as he pointed the gun on Nancy and fired.

Meredith jumped in front of Nancy as she immediately felt the sting in her chest. After she felt the impact of the bullet she saw the counter getting closer and within seconds she felt her head hit the edge before she felt the ground. She heard screams as she felt the blackness pulling on her.

Luke saw Meredith lunge in front of her friend right after he pulled the trigger. He then saw the blood and as she crumbled to the ground he panicked. He heard the screams and immediately ran out the door and took off.

Nancy screamed as soon as the gun went off waiting for the impact of the bullet. She then looked down and saw Alex laying on the ground and she could see the blood coming out of her chest. She screamed to the other women to call the police as she kneeled next to her friend. She rolled Alex over and immediately placed her hands on the wound to try and stop the bleeding.

"They are on their way."

Nancy heard from around the counter and looked around the store noticing for the first time that the man who had fired the gun was gone. She looked back down to Alex as she heard the sirens getting closer. "Alex you're going to be ok, just hold on."

Meredith heard Nancy talking and she slowly opened her eyes.

Nancy saw her friend trying to say something. "Don't worry Alex, help is on the way. We're going to get you to the hospital."

Meredith had been trying to speak but she felt like she was drifting away. She felt her eyes getting heavy but was trying to fight the darkness that was starting to overtake her again. She felt Nancy's hands on her and she grabbed one of her hands. "Cold…head…cold…"

Nancy felt Alex grab her hand and she squeezed it. She looked to Alex and saw her lips moving. She bent down closer to her so she could try to make out what she was saying. As soon as she realized what she said she looked up at the counter. She saw blood and realized that Alex had hit her head. "Hold on Alex, they are coming. I'm going to get you to the hospital, you'll be ok."

"Derek, hey man nice to see you again. How are you?"

Derek looked up from the table to see Mark and Addison both standing before him with huge grins. Derek rolled his eyes. "Mark you just saw me," Derek paused and looked at his watch and then back up to Mark and Addison. "An hour ago."

Mark and Addison sat down at the table. "An hour ago really? Addison it's been an hour since I last saw Derek. A lot can happen in an hour wouldn't you agree?"

Addison giggled. "I couldn't agree more Mark. An hour is what 60 minutes long. That's like 60 things that could have happened since you last saw him."

Derek closed the chart he had been looking at and sat back in his chair. "Alright what is going on?"

"What are you talking about Derek we just wanted to say hi."

"Addi I saw you this morning and Mark did not have that smirk on his face an hour ago."

"I don't know what you are talking about Derek."

Derek looked closely at his two friends before speaking up again. "You went at it in the on call room again didn't you?"

Addison blushed a little while Marks smile just got bigger.

"I'm right you couldn't go the entire day without keeping your hands to yourself?"

"You are just jealous you don't have anyone to go at it with in an on call room."

Addison lightly slapped Mark's arm. "Leave him alone Mark."

Derek chuckled at the look on Mark's face when Addison slapped him. "So what are you two up to?"

"Just celebrating."

"Celebrating what?"

"Can I tell him Addi, please?" Mark asked as he looked to Addison. She nodded and he turned back to Derek. "We're going to have a little Mark."

"Or Addison."

Derek looked at the two who still had smiles on their faces. "Really?"

Addison nodded. "I got it confirmed today. I told Mark as soon as I knew for sure and now we are telling you. You are going to be an uncle again."

Derek smiled as it sunk in and then he jumped up giving Addison a hug. "Congratulations." He then turned to Mark who had now stood and they both embraced in a brotherly hug. "Congratulations man, I couldn't be happier for the two of you."

The three sat back down at the table. Derek looked to Addison. "Have you told Mer?"

"No. I was going to email her when I got home and ask her to call me so I can tell her. I want to tell her in person but I don't know when that will be and I want to tell her as soon as possible."

"Don't worry Addi, she will be happy for us."

"I know Mark I just don't want to bring up bad memories."

"Addi she will be happy. She loves you guys. Don't worry."

Addison nodded her understanding. "So Mark told me your sister is in town."

"Yeah. We are going to go out for dinner tonight and you two are coming with."

"It sounds like it could be fun, I haven't seen Nancy in a long time. How is she doing?"

"She's good Addi. She is going to New York after her visit to start her internship. She seems happy."

"That's good. I'm sure your mom is happy about that since she will be close by."

Derek was about to respond when his phone went off. "Dr. Sheppard."

"Dr. Sheppard this is Nurse Debbie…"

"Nurse Debbie, why are you calling me on my phone and how did you get this number?"

"Your sister Nancy has this number as her emergency contact number."

"Nancy, what's wrong with her is she ok, is she hurt?"

"Dr. Sheppard she is here in the pit. She was brought in but she won't let us treat her…"

Again Derek cut her off. "I'll be right there. Tell her I'm on my way." Derek hung up the phone and turned to leave.

"Derek what's wrong with Nancy?" Mark asked as he stood up.

Derek turned back to his friends. "I don't know. She's in the pit."

"Is she alright?"

"She said Nancy refuses to let them treat her. I'll let you know when I find out."

"Let's go." Mark said to Addison as both of them caught up to Derek.

When they entered the pit they heard yelling.

"Leave me alone damm it."

"Miss I really need to clean your cut and stitch it up for you."

"No not until I can see my friend."

Derek, Mark, and Addison had followed the yells to a curtain and Derek slowly pulled back the curtain. "Nancy?"

Nancy turned to see Derek, Mark, and Addison standing by the curtain. "Derek." Nancy cried as she let a tear fall.

Derek stepped up to her and immediately had her in a hug. After a moment he pulled back from her so that he could look at her. "Are you ok? What happened?"

"I'm fine Derek but they won't tell me how Alex is. I need to know that she is ok Derek."

"Who is Alex?"

"Roommate from college, I told you I was staying with her while I was in town. She's starting her internship at Seattle Grace and I wanted to spend a little more time with her before I had to head to Ney York. She was hurt and they won't tell me anything."

Derek softly touched her face. "You need stitches Nancy."

"Derek, I need to know that Alex is ok."

"I'm more concerned about you at the moment. Did she have a CT?" Derek asked the intern in the room. The intern shook his head no and Derek continued. "Let's go Nancy. After your CT we'll take care of your cut."

"Derek I'm fine and I'm not going anywhere until I know she is going to be ok."

"Nancy she is in the hospital, her doctor will take care of her. Let's go." Derek finished as he went to help her off the gurney.

"No Derek." Nancy said as she pulled her arm away. "I need to know she will be ok before I go anywhere."

"We have to make sure you are ok and then we can check on your roommate. Stop being so stubborn."

"Derek I love you but I am not going until I know." She said starring him in the eye daring him to protest further. Derek saw the pleading in her eyes as she continued. "She was shot and she hit her head. I couldn't stop the bleeding from the gunshot wound and I didn't know what to do about her head. She lost consciousness again before the paramedics and police got there."

"Gunshot, police. What happened Nancy?"

Nancy was about to answer when they heard commotion from another curtain.

"She's seizing get her on her side!"

"Derek, you have to help her."

Derek watched his sister pleading in front of him. He couldn't understand why she was so desperate. "Nancy I need to take care of you first."

Nancy listened to the yells still coming from another crtain and looked back to Derek. "She needs the best Derek. Please she needs the best."

Derek looked to Mark and Addison who were both standing next to him before looking back to Nancy. "Nancy why is this so important, there are other doctors here?"

After the question was asked they heard someone yell, "She's flat lining, charge to…"

"Derek you have to save her, Mark please do something." Nancy pleaded again as a tear rolled down her cheek.

That's all it took to get Derek to move. He motioned for Mark to follow him and they both left Nancy and Addison to go help Nancy's friend.

Derek pulled back the curtain as they heard the heart monitor start to beep. Quickly he went into doctor mode. "What have we got?"

"She has a gunshot wound to her chest. No exit wound and she has lost a lot of blood but we managed to stop the bleeding. We are assuming she hit her head when she fell because of the wound on her head and she lost consciousness. She just had a seizer and we are getting ready to take her for a CT, Dr. Sheppard."

Derek had looked at the chart and took a couple steps towards the gurney to examine her head wound. When he got there he was about to look in her eyes when he paused. His breathe caught in his throat.

"Derek what is it?" Mark asked taking a step towards Derek. When he got close enough he looked at the woman laying before them.

"Meredith."

"Derek she's stable we can wait for another consult."

"No Mark she already had a seizure and she flat lined. We need to find out what the problem is and fix it as soon as possible and that gunshot wound needs to be fixed. She lost too much blood." Derek said and then paused as he looked to Mark. "I can't lose her."

Mark nodded his understanding. "Alright people someone page Dr. Burke and get the CT, page us when you have the results." Mark then turned to Derek as they wheeled Meredith out of the room. "You need to tell Nancy who she is."

"Not yet."

They started back towards Nancy and Addison but Mark suddenly stopped them. "You know you can't do the surgery?" Mark watched Derek turn to face him again. "If there is an injury, you can't do it Derek you'll have to let Dr. James do the surgery."

"She needs the best…I'm here…I don't trust her with anyone else."

"You know the rules, we can't treat family."

"Mark, technically, she is not my 'family'. I don't want to say this but right now in this moment and until the surgery is over, she is not family. She is Alex Stephens my sisters roommate from college and she needs the best."

Mark saw the pleading look in his friends eyes. "I guess it's lucky for her that the best is here right now in this moment then." Mark said with a smirk. "Just so you know when she wakes up I am going to tell her about your ego just now."

Derek smiled thinking about the many discussions they all had concerning his ego. "When she wakes up, I will tell her myself. What are we going to tell Addi?"

"I don't want to tell her until we know she will be ok."

Derek glared at Mark. "You know Addi will be mad when she finds out you didn't tell her the truth."

"I know but you know how she feels about Meredith. I don't want anything to happen to the baby so right now as you said that woman is Alex Stephens and we are helping because we are the best." Mark paused and then smiled at Derek. "A week's worth of sleeping on the couch is nothing as long as her and the baby are ok, it will be worth it."

Derek chuckled a little at Marks response he knew it wouldn't be just a week's worth.

Derek nodded and pulled back the curtain to reveal Nancy and Addison. "Nancy you have to let someone take care of that cut."

"Derek just tell me how bad is it?"

Derek sighed. "She has lost a lot of blood. She is stable and they took her down for a CT. As soon as they get the results we are going to go find out more." Derek looked to Mark as if he was asking for help.

"Nancy how about I stitch you up?" Mark asked as Nancy looked from Derek to him and raised her eyebrows. "Don't look at me like that. You need stitches and I'm the best plastic surgeon so I can prevent a scar or you can let your brother do it. Your choice but I would strongly suggest you pick me since you still need a husband."

Nancy smiled. "You still have quite the ego Sloan?"

"I can't help it if I'm the best now what will it be?"

"Go ahead." Nancy said and Mark right away set to work at cleaning and stitching. "Derek did she wake up?" She watched as Derek didn't say anything. She looked up to Mark. "Mark?"

"No she's still unconscious." He watched as Nancy got tears in her eyes. "Nancy what happened?"

Nancy took a breath and it all came out at once. "Alex didn't want to get up she said she had a feeling. I made her get up. We went for breakfast and then we went to the mall. When we left the mall I asked Alex to take me to a nice jewelry store." Nancy paused as she looked at Derek and saw the smile on his face. "I just need to stay up to date on what's in." Nancy paused briefly and got a far off look in her eyes as she continued. "I brought up that I thought she was acting weird because she kept checking over her shoulder. We were looking around when someone came in. He pulled out a gun and robbed the store."

"Did he get the money?"

"Mark."

"Addi if he got the money why would he hurt anyone?"

"He said he wanted her to pay. He acted like he knew her. She shouldn't have…he was going to…he…"

"Nancy what is it?"

"Derek he was going to shoot me."

Derek pulled her into a hug. "Sshh it's ok Nancy, I'm sure you were scarred but you are ok now."

Nancy pulled away, wiped away her tears, and then looked back up at Derek. "I'm more scarred of losing my friend before I can thank her for saving my life." Nancy looked at her brother and her two friends. She could tell they didn't understand what she was saying so she continued. "He grabbed me and put the gun to me while he made the cashier empty the register. She put it on the counter and Alex grabbed it. She said she wouldn't give it to him unless he let me go. I struggled with him and before I knew it he had hit me and I fell to the ground. Alex helped me up. I was leaning against the counter, she had taken a step back from me and started talking to him. I don't remember what they said but all of the sudden he pointed the gun at me and I heard it go off. Alex jumped in front of me. The bullet went into her instead of me. She fell and hit her head on the counter. The man ran out of the store and I put presser on the wound while the cashier called the police. Derek she saved me, she didn't have to but she saved me and you have to save her." Nancy stopped as she let Derek puller into another hug.

Derek looked to Mark over Nancy's head with worry and pain. "Ssshh Nancy, it will be ok." Just then Derek and Mark's pagers went off. "The scans are done. Let's go Mark." Derek gave Nancy a kiss on the cheek and turned to leave.

"Mark?"

"I'm going to help Addi. The girl has enough scars, I'm going to do the best I can to prevent anymore." Mark gave Nancy a kiss on the cheek and then gave Addison a kiss before turning to Derek and the both of them left to find out what was wrong with Meredith.

I am so sorry for not updating in a while! You know the saying life got in the way I never thought I would be one to say it but it happened. Anyway I am back and I have already started working on the next few chapters. As before, I won't promise when the next update will be but I can promise it won't take me a month. I did get a couple requests to update so I hope that means you all are still reading. Please remember, if you have time, let me know what you think. Thank-you for sticking with me!