Disclaimer: I don't own Grey's Anatomy.
Chapter 11
"What's taking so long, why hasn't Derek come back?"
Addison and Nancy had now moved to the waiting room. Addison reached over and grabbed Nancy's hand. "I know it's hard but we have to wait. Derek and Mark will come and tell us once they have something to tell us."
"Addison they haven't told us anything yet. They should have at least told us what they need to do. Can you go see if you can find something out?"
Addison squeezed her hand and nodded. She walked out to the nurses' station. "Olivia I need to know where Dr. Sloan and Dr. Sheppard are and what the results were of Alex Stephens tests. Do you know?"
"Dr. Montgomery-Sloan, Dr. Sloan, Dr. Sheppard, and Dr. Burke are all in OR3 with Alex Stephens." Olivia continued explaining to Addison what she knew.
Addison walked back to Nancy who was looking tired and worried. "Nancy, she's in surgery."
"What's wrong?" Nancy asked as she saw the worried look on her friends face.
Addison sat down and grabbed Nancy's hand as she started to explain what she knew. "They took her into surgery as soon as they saw the CT results. They saw she was beginning a subdural hematoma so Derek went in right away to fix it. Dr. Burke is working on the gunshot wound. It didn't hit her heart but he needs to get the bullet out and stop the bleeding. They should be almost done. Derek ordered a private room which is set up so why don't we go wait for them there? I let the nurse know to tell Derek where we will be."
Nancy didn't say anything she only nodded. Together both women headed down the halls to the private room and took seats to wait for more news.
"Thank-you Dr. Burke."
"I'm just doing my job Dr. Sheppard."
Derek, Mark, and Preston Burke were in the scrub room after the surgery washing up. When the door opened.
"Why in the world are three of my attending working on one patient and why was I told that you Sheppard ordered said patient have a private room? I don't recall being informed of any VIP patients." There was silence for a few seconds before he spoke again. "I want answers."
Dr. Burke looked at the two other doctors and he saw the uneasy looks they gave each other. He then looked back to the man who was now yelling. "Chief if you'll excuse me I'm going to go check on my patient before she gets taken to her room while Dr. Sheppard and Dr. Sloan answer your questions."
"Thank-you Preston."
"You're welcome, Dr. Sheppard, Dr. Sloan." Preston nodded before leaving the room.
Once the door closed Dr. Webber again addressed Derek and Mark. "One of you speak up."
Derek and Mark both looked at each other silently telling the other to speak. "She's your girlfriend, you tell him."
"Girlfriend?"
"Chief, it's Meredith."
"What?"
"Meredith Grey, she's the patient."
"Meredith what happened? She's not due to start her internship for 2 months. Why is she a patient in my hospital?"
Derek sighed. "She was with my sister Nancy. They were at a jewelry store when it got robbed. From what Nancy said, Meredith jumped in front of her when the gun went off and when she fell she hit her head on the counter."
"How did the surgery go?" Dr. Webber asked with concern.
Mark stepped in knowing how hard this was on Derek. "Chief, it was flawless. Derek did everything perfect and Preston got the bullet out and stopped the bleeding. I helped with closing to try and prevent scarring."
Dr. Webber nodded and then remembered what else Mark had said. "Derek, girlfriend?"
"Richard, I'm not going to lie. I care about her a lot I mean to the point that I know she is going to be my wife but right now, right now we are just good friends. She is not ready for anything else."
"Just be careful, don't hurt her."
"That's what everyone keeps telling me and I can assure you I don't plan on hurting her."
The three of them all started out of the room to go check on her when Dr. Webber stopped them again. "Why are you both here? I didn't think you guys were on call?"
"Addi and I were with Derek when he got the call from Nurse Debbie that Nancy was here and she was refusing treatment so we went with him."
"Is Nancy ok Derek?"
"Yes, she had a cut on her head which Mark stitched up before we got Mer's results."
"Where's Addi and how is she taking this?"
"She's with Nancy and neither of them know it's Meredith yet." Mark said and then he saw the confusion on Dr. Webber's face he turned to Derek.
"Meredith was Nancy's roommate through college. It's funny really, all these years of listening to Nancy talk about her roommate Alex while I talked about Meredith and I never thought it was the same person. I should have gone to visit Nancy at college."
"I guess Nancy never talked about you or told her who her brother was."
"What's that suppose to mean Mark?"
"Think about it. You talked to Nancy about the girl you are planning on marring, if Nancy repeated any of it to Mer do you really think she would have come back to Seattle?" Mark stopped as he watched Derek. "She ran to college when you said you loved her, imagine where she would go if she knew you were planning her wedding."
"She didn't run, she was planning on college all along. And I am not planning our wedding Mark, she will do that when it's time and I don't even have a ring."
"You've looked at them. I've seen the jewelry magazines in your apartment and don't tell me it's to keep up on what's in. Nancy can use that line but I know you better than that."
Derek blushed a little as he looked at Mark and saw the look on his face, he then turned back to Richard. "Richard, I promise I won't hurt her. Now if you will excuse me I need to go tell Nancy what happened and check on Mer." Derek said as he started to walk away. He stopped and looked back at Mark. "You coming or are you going to hide from Addi until she calms down?"
"I'll be in to check on her later. Good job you two." Dr. Webber said before walking away.
Mark caught up with Derek. "I don't need for her to calm down."
"Right. Did you by an air mattress?"
"What?"
"For the floor. It would be more comfortable than the couch. Last time you had to spend the night on the couch you complained about your back for a week." Mark went to say something but Derek continued. "It's going to be more than a week Mark, just remember that and I am not giving you a key to my apartment for the spare bed."
"For the record I have a key to your apartment already in case of emergency, remember." Mark said with a satisfied grin. "And once Addi knows Mer is ok she will forget about the fact that we didn't tell her so there will be no couch and no air mattress."
"This would not be an emergency and Addi can't make me sleep on the couch or air mattress so keep telling yourself that Mark."
"Whatever let's just get this over with." Mark mumbled.
They both walked to the private room Derek had requested to tell Addi and Nancy what had happened.
"Nancy tell me about your roommate."
"Well we started rooming together in freshman year. She was quiet, reserved at first but once she got use to me we hit it off. Sometimes though I feel like I don't know her at all."
"What do you mean?"
"She just…she seems like…I think she's holding onto something from her past and, I don't really know she's so secretive about things. She doesn't let others in I think it's because she's afraid of getting hurt. But she has the biggest heart of anyone I know. She is very pig headed and stubborn. Really, really stubborn, to the point that you can never win an argument with her even if you have proof she's wrong. She avoids things and she keeps things locked up inside." Nancy smiled as she continued locking eyes with Addison. "She is loyal, she fights for what she wants, and she is the strongest person I know. She doesn't trust people easily either and…she is a terrible liar."
Addison didn't know what to say but there was something about the things Nancy was saying, they were familiar.
"I have tried to get her to open up about her past but she has these walls that I can't seem to get through. Honestly after all these years I am kind of afraid of what she could be ignoring but I just want to help her. You always hear how talking about things makes it better but Alex doesn't believe in that and the only time I have seen her cry is when she wakes up from her nightmares."
Addison noticed how Nancy changed from concern to happiness and then back to concern as she talked about her roommate. "What about family, we should call her family?"
"Her mom is traveling and she doesn't talk about her father. She has some close friends she calls them her family."
"Do you have their names I can have a nurse call them?"
Nancy laughed and then explained as she saw the questioning stare coming her way. "I don't know their names, at least not their real names. She has nick names for them from when they were kids."
"Nick names?"
"Yeah, there is Bambi, Barbie, Crack Whore, Mcsteamy, Mcwife, and my favorite and apparently the person she has a major crush on but won't admit it to me or herself…" Nancy had rattled off the names and when she got to the final one both her and Addison said it. "Mcdreamy."
Just as Addison looked up at Nancy the door to the room opened and in walked Derek and Mark. Addison studied their faces and then stood and walked up to both of them. First she reached up and slapped Derek in the back of the head and before either Derek or Mark could make a sound she did the same to Mark.
Both men rubbed the spots on the back of their heads and replied. "Ouch Addi!" Mark continued. "What was that for?"
'It's Meredith." Derek said as he stopped rubbing his head and looked at Addison.
"I gathered from speaking with Nancy. You should have told me." Addison said as she looked to Mark.
"I didn't want you to worry Addi." Mark replied and then Addison again slapped him in the head. "Ouch, will you please stop that."
"You should have told me Mark." Addison then heard a chuckle and she quickly turned and slapped Derek again as well. "And that Mcdreamy was for going along with him and not telling me."
Derek didn't get a chance to respond as Nancy's voice rang out. "Mcdreamy?"
Derek looked to Addison because he had assumed that Addison would have told Nancy the truth since she had figured it out.
"I didn't have a chance to tell her before you got back. She doesn't know yet Derek."
"She doesn't know what Addison, what is going on?"
Derek knew he needed to be the one to tell her so he took a step forward. "Nancy…" Derek paused not exactly sure of what to say. He looked back to Mark and Addison and then back to Nancy. "Why don't we all take a seat and I'll explain everything." Derek stopped and waited for everyone to sit. Once they were all seated he started again. "Nancy, your roommate, her name isn't Alex Stephens, it's Meredith Grey. Mark, Addi, and I met her when she was seventeen. She soon turned eighteen and shortly after that she came and lived with us before she left for school."
"Meredith, your Meredith the Meredith who is stubborn, quiet, avoids things, secretive, pig headed and…"
Derek chuckled remembering the many conversations he and Nancy had regarding his 'crush' as she put it. "Yes my Meredith."
Nancy reached over and slapped Derek in the back of the head.
"Ouch what was that for?"
"You Derek Sheppard are stupid. How many times did I tell you to come visit me? Wait…you're Mcdreamy?"
Derek saw Mark and Addison chuckling. "How do you know about that?"
"Alex, Meredith whenever she talks about her friends she uses their nick names. I don't know their real names, well I guess I know yours."
"Yes that's what her friends call me."
"So who are the others?" Nancy didn't wait for the question instead she quickly gave the names she was questioning. "Bambi, Barbie, Evil Spawn, Crack Whore, Mcsteamy, and Mcwife."
Derek chuckled. And turned to Mark and Addison before turning back to Nancy. "Help me out if I get this mixed up. Ok, Bambi is George O'Malley, Barbie is Izzie Stephens, Crack Whore is Christina Yang, Mcwife is Addison…" Derek paused and smiled before continuing quickly. "Evil Spawn is Mark and Mcsteamy is Alex Karev."
"I'm Mcsteamy." Mark stated while Derek and Addison started laughing.
Addison recovered first. "You don't have to whine about it honey he was just teasing you." Addison said as she patted him on the arm.
"He's right, Alex Karev is Evil Spawn and Mark is Mcsteamy."
Nancy turned to Addison. "How can you stand being around them, Mcdreamy and Mcsteamy? What was she thinking?"
"I know, but she didn't name them. Christina named Mcdreamy and Izzie named Mcsteamy here."
Nancy smiled and turned back to Derek and became serious. "Why did she use Alex Stephens?"
Derek saw the quick look of fear. "She's not in trouble Nancy. She doesn't want people to know who her mother is, and I use the word mother loosely. She is Ellis Grey."
"Ellis Grey the Ellis Grey?"
"Wow. Why? That would be so cool to have her for a mom."
Derek became quiet and Addison spoke up. "Trust us when we say Dr. Grey was never her mom."
The room fell into silence for a few moments. "Who is Luke?"
"Who?"
"Luke. You mentioned George and Alex but you never mentioned Luke. Who is he?" Nancy asked and then she noticed how both Derek and Mark tensed at the mention of his name and Addison grabbed Mark's hand. "Who is he?"
No one got the chance to answer as Meredith was wheeled in. The nurses quickly hooked up the monitors and exited the room. The remaining four in the room stood around Meredith's bed.
"She looks so small laying there." Addison said as tears came to her eyes.
Mark pulled her in for a hug.
"Derek, is she going to be ok?" Nancy asked as she took her eyes away from Meredith and looked at Derek.
"She just needs to wake up now." Was all Derek could say as he took Meredith's hand in one of his hands. He took his other hand and pulled Nancy in for a hug.
Nancy looked to Mark wanting more of an explanation.
Mark watched Derek grab Meredith's hand and knew he wasn't going to answer any other questions so he told Addison and Nancy about the surgery. He finished with the details and saw the tears in both Addison and Nancy's eyes. "She's a fighter. She will not let this beat her."
The group fell into silence each sitting around the bed starring at Meredith willing her to wake up. After about an hour of waiting there was a knock on the door. In walked 2 officers.
"I'm sorry to interrupt but we need to speak to Ms. Sheppard and Ms. Stephens."
Derek immediately stood still holding Meredith's hand after hearing who they were asking for. "Why do you need to speak to them?"
"I'm Officer Phillips and this is my partner Officer Stone. We need to get a statement about what happened earlier today."
Derek tensed. "Meredith hasn't even woken up yet and Nancy has been through enough today. Just leave us alone today."
"Sir I understand you're upset…"
"You understand…" Derek cut him off.
Mark Stood and placed his hand on Derek's shoulder as soon as he heard Derek interrupt the officer. "Derek calm down, getting upset isn't going to help anyone."
Officer Phillips spoke again. "Thank-you sir. Listen I understand you are all upset about what happened but the longer we wait the further away he will get."
Nancy had been silent up until then. She stood and addressed the officers. "I will tell you what happened but I'm not going anywhere. I want to be here when she wakes up."
"That's fine. Can we have some privacy?" Officer Phillips asked the three doctors in the room.
Nancy saw Derek start to respond when she squeezed his hand. "Officer they can stay. I already told them what happened when I was brought in with Meredith."
"Meredith? I thought the victim was Alex Stephens?" The officer said after flipping through his notes.
"That is what she went by but her name is Meredith Grey." Nancy said.
Everyone took their seats and Nancy began telling the officers everything that had happened in the store.
"Thank-you Ms. Sheppard but we have a few questions." The officer waited for Nancy's nod and then he continued. "Did you know the man?"
"No, I never saw him before."
"Did Ms. Grey know him?"
"No…I don't think so…I don't know." Nancy said as she looked at Addison, Mark, and Derek. "She didn't say anything about him before but she said his name and he acted like he knew her."
"What was his name?"
"Luke."
"Why do you say he acted like he knew her?"
"Because he said he wanted her to pay for the last five years." Nancy finished and then heard the quick breaths from Derek, Mark and Addison.
"He's out?"
"Addi, he got out about a month ago. He said he was going to Texas to be with his sister. Why would he come back here?"
"Why didn't you tell me Derek?" Addison asked as she looked to Mark who had a guilty expression. "You knew didn't you?"
"Addi, I was going to tell you but things got crazy here at the hospital and I just never had the right time."
"Excuse me but what are you three talking about?"
Addison decided she should be the one to tell about how Meredith and Luke know each other. She told the story the best she could trying to not give too many details knowing how private Meredith was. She saw the officers taking notes, Mark was holding her hand while staring at Meredith, Derek had moved back to Meredith's bed and had her hand again starring at her, and Nancy had gotten up and went to the other side of the bed where she held Meredith's other hand and she too was watching Meredith. Addison finally finished the story.
The officers stood. "Thank-you all for your help. I think that is enough for now. Please call us when she wakes up so that she can give us a statement." Officer Phillips said as he handed Addison his card and both him and his partner left the room.
Once the door was closed they heard a sob. All eyes went to Nancy.
"I'm so sorry Meredith, I should have made you talk to me."
Addison immediately went to Nancy's side and hugged her while Derek and Mark stood next to each other watching the two women. "Nancy don't do that. There is no way you could have know what happened to her. I know how stubborn she is and she would not have told you anything."
"I tried to get her to talk to me after the nightmares but she never would. She always said she was fine, but I heard her tears each night. I almost got her to talk one night after she drank a bottle of tequila but she passed out and acted like she didn't remember anything the next day."
"What nightmares?"
"Almost every night she had one. She either woke up screaming his name or she would wake herself up in a cold sweat. They were always worse after she came back from Seattle and now I know why."
Derek squeezed Meredith's hand and whispered. "She told me they had stopped."
"That's what she all of us Derek." Mark said as he locked eyes with Addison.
"The rumors were true. Why didn't she stick up for herself?"
Addison looked back to Nancy. "What rumors?"
"All the guys on campus called her a tease. They said…well…" Nancy struggled to get the words out.
"Nancy just say it." Derek said afraid of what she would say.
"We use to party. The first couple years we went to every party. Meredith would get drunk and disappear. I always assumed she was with some guy but after the second or so party the rumors started. They said she was a tease. She would go up with different guys to their rooms and then supposedly when they were to seal the deal she would burst out crying so they guys never got anything. She still kept going acting like nothing was wrong, acting like she never remembered it in the morning. Then one day after one of her trips here she just stopped going and really started focusing on her school work."
"She never got over it. How could we not know this?"
"Derek don't beat yourself up over this."
"How could I have not known this Mark? She is a terrible liar, I should have known."
"Derek you told me yourself you can always tell what she is thinking or have a conversation with her by reading her eyes so how exactly could you have known she was lying by reading her emails or talking on the phone?"
"I hate it when you're actually right about something you know that?" Derek asked as he saw the smile form on Marks face. "I still should have known."
"I know you love her Derek but you weren't with her at all times and sometimes we see what we want to see." Mark said as he looked from Addison back to Derek feeling confidant in what he was saying. "You couldn't be with her 24/7 so when you two were together I'm sure you didn't talk about the past. Knowing you, you kept things light so she wouldn't panic." He finished with a smile.
Derek, Addison, and Nancy all sat starring at Mark. Each were wondering where this all had come from. Addison spoke up. "You are turning into a women on me aren't you?"
"What? Addison why would you say that? You are the one that tells me I have to be nice and supportive when he talks about her ALL THE TIME." Mark said and finished gesturing to Meredith.
"Sorry I didn't realize being a friend was such a chore. And besides who is it that listens to you complain when is it oh right, the third week of each month?"
"Derek, you said you would never talk about that."
"What is the third week of every month?"
"Don't worry Addi you won't have to worry about it for the next nine months." Derek said with a smile.
Mark watched as realization settled on Addison and then he turned to Derek and leaned in to whisper. "Do you have any idea what you have done? That was low Derek."
"Oh don't worry Mark, she will get over it and you started it."
"Keep telling yourself that Mcdreamy but when Mer wakes up we'll see if you feel the same way."
"You don't have nothing on me Mcsteamy so I have nothing to worry about."
"Mark Sloan! The third week of every month. You talk to our friend about the third week of every month?"
"Not so much talk Addi. It's more like he complains about your moods and I listen."
Mark elbowed Derek before talking. "Addi he was my best friend up until 2 minutes ago and he is still my brother even though at this moment I don't remember why."
"What was Derek talking about nine months Addison?"
Addison looked to Mark and Derek and then with a smile she turned back to Nancy. "Hopefully we will be having a little Addison."
"Or Mark." Mark chimed in.
"Oh that's great. Congratulations both of you." Nancy said as she got up and hugged both of them.
They all spent some time talking before falling into silence again.
After some time Derek sat up straighter in his chair and leaned in closer to Meredith's face. "Mer?"
The other three in the room looked at him and then looked at Meredith's still sleeping form. "Derek?"
"Mer I'm here, wake up please." Derek pleaded as he watched Meredith's face waiting for her to open her eyes.
Meredith felt someone holding her hand and she gently squeezed it. She tried to open her eyes but she was still too tired. "Derek." Was all she could get out before the blackness overtook her again.
"Did you hear her?"
"She's going to be ok."
Derek had a smile on his face as he reached over and squeezed Nancy's hand. "She's going to be ok."
Mark and Addison both smiled at him and Addison yawned. "I had no doubt in her at all. Now I'm going to take Mcwife here home so she can get some rest. I'll bring you back some food in a few hours."
"Mark I don't want to leave until I get a chance to talk to her."
"Addi, she won't be fully awake for a few hours you know that. I'll call if anything changes and you know it's not just you anymore, you need to rest." Derek said looking to Addison.
"Fine but only because I will be coming back with him so I can make sure you eat." Derek was about to protest when Addison continued. "If you don't eat I will tell Meredith when she wakes up and I know you don't want that do you?"
"Fine." Derek said and then he looked at Nancy. "Can you guys take Nancy with you?"
"I'm fine here Derek."
"No you need to get some rest and get cleaned up. No offense, I love you but you look terrible."
Nancy thought about it for a moment and then decided to agree knowing he just wanted some time with Meredith. "Fine." Nancy then turned to Mark and Addison. "Can you drop me at Meredith's house and then pick me back up when you come back?"
"Of course we can. Come on I still remember where she lives and Derek we'll call before we head back to get your food order." Addison said.
Nancy squeezed Meredith's hand and then gave Derek a hug before walking out with Addison and Mark.
Derek sighed and then took his seat next to Meredith. He wanted to climb in bed with her and hold her but he knew it wasn't a good idea. He laid his head down next to her head and he softly stroked her hair before falling asleep himself.
After some time Derek woke to his phone vibrating. He quickly looked at the id and answered. "Hey Mark."
"Derek did she wake up yet?"
"No she's still sleeping. Are you guys on your way back?"
"Yeah, we just picked up Nancy. She brought some things for Meredith and we are going to grab something to eat. What do you want?"
"I don't care where ever you go just pick me up something. I'm not even hungry."
"Oh no you don't. Last time you said that you complained about what we brought you. Just pick something."
"Mark really I don't care what you bring to eat as long as it's not hospital food I'll eat anything."
"Derek if I was there I would hit you right now you are worse than a woman just make up your mind." As soon as Mark finished his sentence he got slapped by the two women in the car with him. "Ouch. Addi that was not nice. You know how he gets. And you Nancy, you realize you are riding in my car right?"
"Mark?" Derek asked as he heard Addison speaking to Mark in the back ground.
"Sorry Derek but my wife and your sister are trying to cause an accident. Will you just pick something?"
"Fine, how about hamburgers?"
"Pizza."
Derek's head turned to Meredith and he saw her slowly open her eyes.
"Derek, Derek what was that, what did you say?"
"Meredith?"
"Meredith, what Derek, is she ok? Derek."
"Hey sleepy head, I'm glad your back with us."
"Pizza please."
"What?"
"Since you aren't going to make a choice then I'll choose and I want pizza please."
Derek chuckled. "Did you hear that Mark? The lady wants pizza, can you handle it?"
Mark laughed. "Yeah I heard her and you know she always gets what she wants from me. Hold on a second." Mark told Addison and Nancy that Meredith was awake and asking for pizza. Addison pulled out her phone and ordered the pizza so it would be ready when they got there. "Ok Derek, Addi ordered the pizza, we'll be there in a few minutes."
"Alright, I'll keep her busy until you guys get here."
"Fine but I don't want to walk in on anything and lose my appetite when I get there."
"Shut up Mark, goodbye." Derek said as he hung up the phone. "They will be here in a few minutes. I'm going to go get your doctor to check on you before they get here."
"Derek."
"I promise I won't be gone long, I'm just going to get your doctor." And with that he walked out of the room and had her doctor paged.
After a few minutes Derek walked back into her room with two other doctors. "Mer, this is Dr. Preston Burke and this is Dr. Miranda Bailey."
Preston stepped forward while Miranda set about examining her. "Hello Ms. Grey. It's nice to see you awake. How are you feeling?"
"It's nice to meet you two and do you want the truth?"
"I think that's a good place to start." Preston said with a smile.
"I feel like crap, I mean my head hurts and my chest hurts and I'm hungry but not for hospital food, I want pizza but there isn't any here and I'm hungry and I want to go home and…"
"Mer, your rambling." Derek smirked from beside Preston.
"What was the non truth?" Miranda asked as she was listening to breath sounds.
"I'm fine."
Derek laughed. "You haven't changed at all."
"I'm glad I asked for the truth then." Preston said and then he went about telling Meredith about her surgery and expected recovery.
Meredith listened and by the time he was done talking she had remembered everything that had happened. Dr. Burke and Dr. Bailey had finished their examination and left the room. Once they were out of the room, Meredith turned to Derek. "Derek, were is Nancy?"
"Nancy?" Derek wasn't surprised that she was asking about Nancy considering how Meredith always seemed to care more for others than herself.
"She's fine, she just went to get cleaned up, she should be here any minute." Derek saw the look of worry in her eyes. "Mer, I promise she is okay and she will be here…"
Derek was cut off by the door opening and in came Nancy, Addison, and Mark who was caring the pizza. "Alex!" Nancy said as she practically ran to the bed and bent down to give Meredith a hug trying to be careful.
"Nancy, are you alright? Did you get hurt?"
Nancy pulled back from her. "I'm good. Mark stitched up my cut so I shouldn't have any scars."
Meredith laughed and then realized how much it hurt so she immediately stopped. "Of course you wouldn't want any scars. Michael wouldn't approve of any scars on his fiancé's face now would he?"
"Fiancé'?" Derek asked.
"Sssh, Derek not now."
Meredith looked between the two and saw a look she hadn't seen before on Derek's face. "I'm sorry, am I missing something? How do you and Derek know each other?"
Derek realized Mark was right and Meredith didn't know they were related, he knew it would be better to tell the truth. "Mer, Nancy is my sister."
"Wh…what…what?" Meredith asked. She had heard but she wanted to make sure because if what Derek said was true then all of Nancy and her talks changed everything and she just wasn't ready to deal with that. Suddenly she looked Nancy in the eye. "Nancy?"
Nancy looked down for a moment and then back up at Meredith. "You don't get to be mad at me, you lied to me."
"I never lied to you. You have been trying to get me to tell you about Mcdreamy, you tried to get me to talk whenever I drank too much, I let you hold my hand when I cried sometimes…you…what were you going back to tell him how pathetic I am? How could you keep this from me? I opened up to you and talked to you more than I have anyone else besides my family here in Seattle. Did you get a good laugh out of it?" Meredith began starring at Nancy and her voice slowly raised as she continued. She got tears in her eyes from the pain she felt both from her injuries and from the betrayed she felt. By the time she was done she was yelling and had moved to sit up in her bed. "I was stupid enough to trust you, just leave."
Derek, Mark, and Addison were shocked by Meredith's outburst and when Meredith started to sit up they all saw her flinch from the pain. Derek quickly recovered from his shock and tried to calm her. "Mer please just lay back down. You're going to hurt yourself more if you don't calm down."
Meredith pulled back from Derek. "Don't touch me. What did she call you everyday to tell you everything I was doing? What about all the guys I slept with did she tell you that to? Or how about…"
Nancy had listened to everything that Meredith had been saying and she was in shock. She had thought about how Meredith would take the news when she found out that she was Mcdreamy's sister but she didn't expect her to be hateful. This was certainly not the roommate she had known over the years and yet she wasn't upset with her. She could see the hurt in her eyes and she knew that Meredith wasn't someone who opened up to people and after speaking to Derek, Mark, and Addison she knew why. When Nancy heard Meredith lash out at Derek she broke free from her shock and decided it was time to put a stop to this. "Shut up!" She yelled and then she felt all four sets of eyes on her. "I never lied to you. You never asked for my name and when Michael and I got engaged I started using his name. Now you on the other hand, I found out today that you are Meredith Grey not Alex Stephens so who is the one who lied? And for your information miss jump to conclusions, since I didn't know your real name, Derek never knew about you because he never came to visit me. And if you think I am leaving you better think again. First I don't start my residency for another 2 months so if I want to stay the entire time I will, second you saved my life today, and third even though you are a pain in the ass you are my friend and I care about you so you need to just relax and eat some of this pizza we brought so you can get better, is that clear?"
Meredith listened to Nancy and as she went on her anger started to disappear. She realized Nancy had almost the same eyes as Derek's and she trusted them. Once Nancy finished with the demands, Meredith started to giggle and then laugh. Soon Nancy joined in.
Derek, Mark, and Addison watched the two in front of them. Derek was surprised by Nancy but even more surprised by Meredith who had started to laugh. Mark and Addison shared a look as Mark looked back to Meredith who was starting to settle down obviously realizing that laughing was not a good idea this soon after surgery.
Meredith stopped laughing and held her hand out to Nancy. "I'm sorry."
Nancy quickly took Meredith's hand and squeezed it. "Don't be, you're forgiven. Just remember in the future, get the entire story or explanation first."
"Right, you've only been telling me that for how long now? Are you ok really?"
"I'm really ok Meredith. You are the one who jumped in front of me when he fired the gun. I owe you my life."
"You're my friend Nancy I would have done anything to make sure he didn't hurt you. I'm sorry you had to go through that."
"Meredith, seriously, enough. This is not your fault. I'm just glad you are ok. I'm sorry I dragged you into that store."
"Seriously, you so didn't drag me but next time I say I have a feeling you need to let me stay home."
"Deal." Meredith giggled again so Nancy decided to ask. "Now what?"
"You were rambling. When you were yelling you were rambling."
"Seriously is that all you got out of what I said?"
"Oh no I just thought it was funny you are always teasing me about my rambling but when you were yelling you were doing the same thing."
"Well what can I say I figured that the only way I could get through to you this time was to speak Meredith so I rambled, sue me."
At that she heard Derek , Mark, and Addison let out a laugh.
Meredith remembered the other three in the room. "Ok enough of the drama for tonight. I want some pizza."
"Well it's probably cold now after your bickering with Nancy." Mark said as he and Addison got the pizza ready.
"Cold pizza is better anyway Mcsteamy so hush."
"See Nancy, that is why we are friends."
"Here I thought it was because of all the hours we spent studying."
"Seriously, you want to go there Nancy? I was the one who was actually studying. Spending your time learning your fiancé's anatomy is not studying. I wonder how you actually graduated."
Derek and Nancy both coughed on their pizza while Mark let out another laugh. "I have to admit focusing on learning one persons anatomy is very beneficial and it helped me make it through med school wouldn't you agree Addi?"
"Mark if you even think to continue this conversation about our sex life and what we did in college you will be on the couch for a year."
Mark became silent right away. Meredith giggled again. "Did Michael give you an A in your anatomy class Nancy?"
Nancy's eyes went wide as she again heard Derek cough. "Meredith please let's talk about that later. Do you want another piece of pizza?"
Derek took a drink and then looked to Nancy. "So Nancy, since when do you have a fiancé?"
"Derek let's focus on Meredith."
"How do you not know him Derek? His name is Michael and he's really nice. He's a good guy and he's perfect for Nancy."
"I knew she was seeing someone but I never knew it was this serious."
"Derek, they have been together for 7 years how could it not be serious?"
Derek looked from Meredith back to Nancy. "Tell me more about him. Now that I know he wants to spend the rest of his life with you I promise I will listen better this time."
Meredith giggled. "Derek he's perfect for her. He is really nice, charming, and he has a good sense of humor. He's pretty persistent too. Nancy wouldn't go out with him at first but he got her to say yes. They talk all the time and whenever they are together they can't keep their hands off each other. This one time I came home and…"
Nancy put her hand up and interrupted Meredith. "Meredith!"
"Oh come on Nancy let her finish her story."
"Shut up Mark." Nancy said as she turned to face him and noticed his smirk then she turned back to Meredith. As she looked to Meredith she noticed the smile on Derek's face and Meredith had a similar smile. She pointed to Meredith as she spoke again. "You need to stop talking right now."
"Nancy, you are always trying to get me to talk and now I do and you tell me to stop. Seriously, what is with that?"
"Don't you dare try to play innocent on me. You know the point is to get you to talk about YOU. Embarrassing moments concerning my fiancé are off limits, especially in front of my brother."
"Addi and I are not your brother so go ahead and continue Mer."
Nancy turned to Addison and Mark. "Addison I will hurt him."
"Be my guest."
"Hey!" Mark exclaimed as the door opened.
"You're awake."
"Dr. Webber." Meredith acknowledged.
Dr. Webber walked into the room and stood by Derek. "Meredith you haven't started working yet and I use to change your diapers, please call me Richard." Dr. Webber stopped and then patted Derek on the shoulder. "I'm glad to see our patient is doing well."
Derek noticed Meredith's expression change from happiness to sad when she noticed Richard in the room. "She is, Dr. Burke was in right after she woke up and he said everything was looking good."
"I'm glad to hear that. So Meredith will your mother be coming soon?"
Meredith cringed when he mentioned her mother. "Dr. Webber…"
"Richard please Meredith."
"Dr. Webber, my mother…she can't be reached so you won't be able to see her anytime soon." Meredith finished in one breath.
"Meredith I…" Dr. Webber started to speak but nothing else came out.
Derek, Mark, and Addison all shared a look each was a little shocked at Meredith's behavior and each silently made a note to try and find out what it was about later. Addison saw Meredith try to hide a yawn. "Well it is getting late and Mer still needs her rest so we should get going Mark." Addison said as she stood pulling Mark with her.
"Right, well if you will all excuse me." Dr. Webber said as he started to the door. Once he reached it he stopped and turned back to Meredith. "I'm glad you are ok Meredith and please let me know if you need anything."
As Dr. Webber was walking out the door Meredith mumbled. "I won't"
Derek had heard her but decided not to say anything instead he turned to Mark and Addison. "Can you guys take Nancy home?"
"Of course we can."
"Derek you need to get some sleep too."
"I will Nancy. Just go with Mark and Addi."
"Derek when did your shift start?"
"Mer."
"Derek."
"Fine 5 this morning."
"And what time is it now?" She asked with a look in her eyes that told him he better answer.
"10pm."
"Derek, go home. Take Nancy with you and get some rest."
"I'm going to stay here in case you need anything."
"I am fine Derek. I just had surgery and can assure you I won't be going anywhere anytime soon so take your sister with you and get some rest." Meredith said and she left no room for argument.
Derek wanted to protest but he had seen the look in her eyes and knew he couldn't disagree with her. He decided he could go home with Nancy get a few hours sleep and then come back before she woke up. "Fine but I will be back in the morning."
"Probably before you even wake up Mer." Mark said as he walked up to Meredith and bent over to give her a kiss on the forehead. "I'll see you in the morning. And I'm glad you decided to stay with us."
Addison also gave Meredith a kiss on the cheek and said good bye. Nancy followed and then Derek.
Once they were all in the hall they started making their way to the exit. Mark let out a laugh and patted Derek on the shoulder. "She still has you wrapped around her fingers."
"What?"
"I know you didn't want to leave but yet here you are, leaving."
"I was just honoring her wish."
"Keep telling yourself that. She told you to jump and you did but you forgot to ask how high."
"Mark leave Derek alone, and Derek don't you dare listen to anything he says." Addison said hearing the conversation.
"Don't worry Addi I won't."
"Bad idea Derek."
"Says the man who will be sleeping on the couch tonight."
"Derek you never let them tell you…" Mark began and then what Addison had said finally registered. "What, Addi you can't be serious."
"Oh but I am honey." Addison said with an evil smile.
Derek saw the look on Addison's face. He patted Mark on the shoulder. "Mark always remember you have to pick your battles." Derek said with a smile as he saw the nod from Addison.
"What?"
"I'll explain it to you, let's go." Derek said as the four of them got in the car.
Meredith was in her room alone after her friends had left. Now with the silence all she could do was think. She thought about everything that had happened in the last 10 years and what had happened in the store. It didn't take long for the tears to start to fall. Eventually she cried herself to sleep.
I hope you liked the chapter! I was glad to see that you are still Reading and I was very very veyry happy to get your reviews. They really do mean a lot so Thank-you to everyone who is Reading and THANK-YOU to everyone who reviewed. Please remember, if you have time, let me know what you think of this chapter. Thank-you for sticking with me!
