Even though there aren't as many reviews for this fic as my other fics, thank you to those who have reviewed. I really do appreciate it. I hope that you enjoy this next chapter.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Meredith hadn't been able to say anything after she had kissed Derek. She didn't regret the situation. Far from it. But there had just been too many emotions to handle in one day and Meredith couldn't add awkward romantic encounters to her list of things to deal with. Instead she had rushed off to the surgeon's lounge, hoping that Derek would understand. Meredith changed out of her scrubs into a pair of jeans and her old Dartmouth shirt that she always wore when she sought comfort. She took her bag out of her locker and closed it. For a moment she closed her eyes and rested her head against the cold, hard surface of the locker. Usually the hospital was the one place that she could go to escape the drama of her personal life. Giving orders with a scalpel in her hand made her feel invincible. But today she couldn't concentrate. She couldn't think straight wandering the halls with the memory of what had happened the day before so raw. She had tried not to care. Usually she was an expert at pretending not to care but not today.

Meredith opened her eyes and exited the surgeon's lounge. She walked numbly though the halls of the hospital, staring at her feet to avoid eye contact with anyone.

"Where are you going?" Cristina asked as Meredith passed her.

"Home," Meredith replied as she kept walking. Cristina looked confused.

"She was fine ten minutes ago," Cristina said to Izzie.

"Her father just died, Cristina," Izzie snapped. "How can you say she's fine?" Izzie followed Meredith down the fall. "Mer!" she called out after her. Meredith stopped, not wanting to be rude and ignore Izzie but she really didn't feel like talking. Izzie caught up to Meredith. "I'm here for you," Izzie said as she stepped in front of Meredith. "If you need anything at all, I'm here."

"Thanks, Iz," Meredith said. She knew that Izzie meant well. "I'll see you at home."

"Okay," Izzie said, not knowing what else to say. She stepped aside and allowed Meredith to keep walking.

Meredith was relieved to walk out of the hospital and feel the sunlight on her face. For once it wasn't raining in Seattle. As Meredith headed towards her car she heard the sound of somebody vomiting violently.

"Alex?" she said, going over to where her friend was sitting on the pavement, obviously sick. Alex looked up at Meredith, trying to hide his embarrassment.

"Oh hey," he said.

"You look terrible," Meredith said, concerned.

"This damn flu going around," Alex lied. "One of the reasons I hate working at a hospital." Meredith looked skeptical.

"It's not flu season," she said. "Are you sure you didn't just have too much tequila?"

"Yeah right," Alex said with pretend sarcasm. "Getting sick off a chick drink." Meredith could tell that he was seriously hungover. She had been there enough times herself. But she decided not to embarrass Alex any more than he already was.

"Okay then," she said. "I'm going home. I hope the… flu passes."

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"Doctor Bailey," Derek said, approaching the Chief Resident at a desk as she ploughed through a mountain of paperwork.

"Yes, Doctor Shepherd," Bailey replied, looking up at Derek's serious expression.

"You put Meredith Grey on my service," he said, unimpressed.

"Yes I did," Bailey replied, not appearing to see Derek's problem.

"Thatcher Grey died in neuro yesterday," Derek said with clenched teeth.

"She said she was fine," Bailey said.

"She always says she's fine," Derek responded. "You should know by now that she doesn't mean it."

"Look, Doctor Shepherd," Bailey started. "I have a lot of residents on my service. I can't be baby sitting every single one of them. Now I care about Doctor Grey, God knows, but I ask her if she's fine and she insists repeatedly that she's fine. She doesn't want me to favor her or go telling every attending her personal business. I assigned her to a specialty that she has a talent for and that she cares about, knowing that if there is a surgery, you are aware of what has happened and wouldn't make her do any procedures outside of her range at this time." Derek could understand where Bailey was coming from but his feelings over seeing Meredith so distraught earlier over rode his professional judgment.

"You should have known better," Derek said with quiet anger.

"Excuse me?" Bailey asked with raised eyebrows.

"You heard me," Derek replied. "You should have known better than to put Meredith on neuro. Now you're one resident down and a patient's care could have been compromised."

"Doctor Shepherd, if you have a problem with the way I'm doing my job feel free to go to the Chief," Bailey said.

"Maybe I'll do that," Derek said, walking away leaving a shocked Bailey behind. "Yang, you're with me now," Derek said to Cristina as he passed her, not acknowledging that she had just seen the whole exchange with Bailey.

"Yes, Doctor Shepherd," Cristina stammered. "Right away."

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Meredith arrived back at the house to the surprising sound of George and Lexie chatting away. She went over to the dining room and found them at sitting at the table engaging in light conversation.

"Hey," she said, relieved that there was no crying going on.

"Hey," Lexie said back, surprised to see Meredith.

"What are you doing back so soon?" George asked. "I mean… not that that's a bad thing. It's good to have you home."

"I had a momentary freak out at the hospital," Meredith answered. She ignored the confused looks that Lexie and George were giving her. "Anyway, I'm home now," she said dismissively. She looked at the paperwork at the table. "What are you doing?" she asked. She noticed that George and Lexie's legs were intertwined underneath the table.

"I hope you don't mind," Lexie stammered. "I found your list when I was taking the garbage out." She held up the piece of paper where Meredith had been hurriedly scribbling down funeral details the day before. "You had some really good ideas."

"Oh," Meredith said, surprised that Lexie approved.

"I like the part about the donation to a charity instead of flowers," Lexie said. "That's nice. He would have liked that."

"I'm glad," Meredith said, awkwardly, not knowing what else to say.

"We've been making some arrangements," George said. "The funeral home had a cancellation tomorrow afternoon so they offered us a small service then."

"The funeral home had a cancellation?" Meredith asked, puzzled. "How does that happen?"

"I was afraid to ask," George said, sounding creeped out. Meredith and Lexie locked eyes and smiled a little. They tried to suppress their laughter over the bizarre situation but gave in and shared a laugh. Meredith took a seat at the table.

"Is there anything I can help with?" she asked.

"I think we just about have it sorted," Lexie replied. "But you should look over what we have. I'd like to hear your suggestions." She handed Meredith the list. Meredith wouldn't admit it but it felt comforting to be involved in a family decision, even if it was a sad one.