Chapter 12: The Plan

Meri awoke to find herself in an old, but not unusual position.

She was half-way dangling off the bed, her head practically touching the ground. Her feet were draped diagonally across the bed and Wilson lay with an arm wrapped around her middle, securely holding her so she wouldn't fall – even in his sleep.

There was no way that she could sit up and get off the bed in the position that she was in. So, she did what came naturally.

Her hands found the ground and she pulled her body across the floor until she was successfully off the bed and lying on the floor.

Meredith glanced at the clock and swore softly. The clock read 10:41 in glowing red letters and she had to be there at 11:30. There was no way that she could drive home, shower, get new clothes to wear and get to work on time.

She knocked on the connect door quietly hoping that Greg was awake.

The door was opened and her Uncle's face greeted her with a questioning eyebrow raised.

"I have to leave in forty minutes. Any chance I can borrow some of Allison's clothes?"

"Just call one of your friends, wear what you have on now and change at work."

"We're the same size though."

"And if she had been the one who heard you knocking you would have gotten some clothes. But, it sucks to be you because she's in the shower."

Meredith narrowed her eyes at him. "You have a plan, don't you? Something that's going to make me want to kill you later on."

"Possibly. But I'm not telling, and you won't find out. So the only thing that you can do is follow my advice."

"But your advice is crap. Always is. That's why I go to Jimmy for advice."

"His advice is better then mine?"

"No. you don't even give advice though. You're all about the 'let me beat them up' kind of thing. Jimmy's all about 'let me get inside your head and psycho-analyze you'."

"Neither of those is good."

"That's why I have Lisa."

"Just remember Meri, you went to drama camp one year. One year. Call on those acting skills today."

"What the hell did you do?"

"If I told you, I'd have to kill you. Just trust me."

Meredith nodded and sighed. "I hate you, you know that, right?"

"Yep. But then there are the days that you love me."

"What ever you say Greg." She went to lose the door but House caught her wrist.

"I love you Meri. Don't worry everything will be fine."

Meredith sighed and kissed his cheek. "I love you too. I just wish you weren't into scaring and beating my boyfriends."

"He's your ex. And it's what we do. We're family. Wake Jimmy up, will ya?"

Meredith shook her head and closed the door, walking back to the bed.

"Jimmy." No response.

"Jimmy." Meredith took a pillow and threw it at him. Wilson groaned but opened his eyes.

"We have to be at the hospital in forty minutes. Greg wanted me to wake you up."

James nodded. He knew the plan. "Breakfast?"

"Yeah. Eggs and bacon?"

"Sounds good. I'm going to take a quick shower, will you call room service?"

"Yeah."

Wilson kissed her on the cheek and Meredith caught his hand. "Thank you for last night."

Her cheeks were flushed a light pink and Wilson hugged her. "Don't worry about it Mag-Pie."


Derek awake with a pounding in his head and sunlight streaming into his trailer.

That wasn't what had woken him up. His alarm on his phone was beeping insistently.

Derek turned over and grabbed it. Next to the phone was a note.

You'll thank me later.

That was all it said. But, the hand writing was familiar. To familiar. Derek debating ripping Mark's paper to shred's, but knew that it wouldn't do anything let alone make him feel better.

Instead he made a pot of coffee, showered, and got dressed.

It was time to face everyone.

Addison – who was divorcing him.

Meredith – who had a boyfriend and who he loved.

Mark – who had betrayed him by sleeping with his wife.

Oh yes, it would be a lovely day.


Mark awoke with a groan as his alarm went off.

It was earlier then usual, but he had to stuff to do. Had to be there when the plan was set in motion to make sure that Derek actually didsomethinginstead of just acting like an idiot.

Mark got dressed, and took a moment to get coffee from the hotel. He surveyed the lobby once before leaving.

He was going to be there on time, which meant that House sure as hell better be on time to.

If everything wasn't timed right, nothing would work.


Allison and Greg met Jimmy and Meri in the lobby.

"Can you tell me the plan now?"

Meredith was whining but she didn't care. She wanted to know what was going to happen today.

"No can do Meri-Anne. Deal with it."

"I hate you." She glowered at House, hands on hips.

"You love me kiddo."


Derek stepped into the elevator and nearly got back out. Mark was standing in it, reading a magazine.

"Dr. Sloan."

"Don't start with the BS Derek."

"Why?"

"If you start with the whole 'you betrayed me' crap again I swear it may get violent here."

Marks voice was calm, but his eyes showed how irritated he was.

"I'm sorry, okay? You know I'm sorry. I'm sure the entire fucking hospital knows that I'm sorry."

Before Derek could respond the elevator doors dinged open. The second elevator opened revealing Dr. House, Meredith and the two people whose names Derek couldn't remember.

The other man touched Meredith's arm and she turned to him expectantly.

The words were said quietly, but Derek had become a master at reading expressions over the years. Especially hers. It was the same look she had given him. The same heartbroken look when she had discovered his wife. The fact that she had been an affair.

Before his thoughts could catch up to him, his body was moving towards Meredith.

He wasn't aware of the people watching him, of the small nod that House sent Mark's way or Addison stepping out of the elevator.

All he was aware of was the tear streaks that Meredith had on her cheeks, and the guilty way that the brown haired man was looking at her.

"What did you do?"

House and Wilson were both too stunned to move. To stunned to pull Derek off of Wilson as he lifted him in the air and slammed him against the wall.

In mere seconds Dr. Webber was over to Wilson's side and prying his hands off of Wilson.

"That's enough. Derek." He turned to glower at the five of them. "My office. NOW!"