The Fan Is Still Spinning

Jake had spent the entire night outside of Meredith's room. Derek had fallen asleep in the chair with his head near her lap, her hand still on his head, a lazy reminder that she'd been running her fingers through his hair before sleep overtook them both.

His back hurt, his neck hurt. If he had to listen to one more person who sat next to him and felt the need to strike up another conversation, he was going to have to use his government-issued weapon and make it look like an accident. Yes, he was that good.

He checked his watch. It was a little more than half past eleven in the morning. The Chief would be meeting him soon. He was grateful. He had gotten a lot of work done during the night, his body still not fully adjusted to being up, begging for a soft yet firm mattress. No matter how many stake-outs, late-night research, or leads he followed, coffee was still a necessity to trick his body into functioning. He was not going to attempt the coffee from the hospital. Not from the 'café' inside anyway.

He sat up straight at the sound of his name.

"Jake," Richard called, taking in his appearance. "You didn't stay the night in the chair, did you?"

Jake rose to meet him. "Yeah."

Richard shook his head disapprovingly, but smiled. "All for her, huh?"

He tiredly rotated his neck and attempted to rub at a kink, sighing. "She's my sister."

Richard nodded, leading the younger man toward the cafeteria. He knew the pleasant lunch they had attended would no doubt be tainted by a woman they both cared for and the potential danger she faced.

They both ordered and received their food. As Richard went to locate a seat while Jake paid for his food, Jake was left to his thoughts. He couldn't wait to sleep. That is, after lunch and the wrath of Meri.

"Well, we're both familiar with your line of work. I know we're good friends, but talk to me as if we weren't. I need to know what's going on."

Jake finished the bite he was chewing. "Which is why I'm here. As you could probably guess, I was notified when she was shot."

"Yes," Richard thought for a moment. "Why didn't you come then?"

"You know how she is. The whole 'I'm fine' thing. Plus, work doesn't exactly permit me to leave to take care of someone who isn't blood related."

Richard nodded in understanding and motioned for him to continue.

"So, I'm sure you heard that they caught Zenete, and that the bullet was intended for Stevens."

"Yes. I understand. But what does you being here now have to do with Meredith's safety?"

He thought about taking a swallow but decided to continue, placing it slowly back to its original location while speaking. There was no easy way to say it. "Zenete escaped. I came and am notifying you because two members of your staff are in danger."

Richard slowly put down his fork. "Izzie and Meredith."

Jake nodded, "Yes. Zenete said he was going to come after her; unfortunately, he knows that Meredith didn't die, but he still thinks that Meredith is Izzie."

"So you think that they are both in danger because he could eventually realize that he shot the wrong one?"

Jake finally took a sip before answering. "Yes."

"Hey!"

"I smell muffins!" Alex exclaimed, coming from around the corner.

"Yes, and they are for Meredith; not Alex," she explained, shooing his hand away.

"Please Izzie, just one?"

George joined them as they made their way to the locker room. "Yeah Iz, please? She cannot possibly eat both baskets."

She was in a good mood. Why not? "Fine, just one." She placed the baskets on the bench and let them get their two. She was neatly rearranging them when she noticed Christina changing. "Do you want one?"

Christina snorted. "No." She slammed her locker and made her way towards the door. "And Meredith can stuff them."

The three watched Christina leave as they starting changing.

"Burke," they all said in unison.

The three finished dressing and walked out, headed for a quick visit before they gathered their interns.

"Umm, guys, there's a man following us," George observed.

Alex looked back casually. "Make that two."

Izzie, holding both baskets happily, turned around abruptly. After receiving a quick scolding from Alex for not being discreet, she continued to their destination.

"He probably just wants my muffins."

Mark had arrived a few minutes after Jake and Richard departed. He sat outside catching up on paper work, waiting for Derek to get his lazy butt up so he could visit Meredith before his shift started. He felt bad for leaving without saying good-bye, but he knew she needed time with Derek.

His attention shifted from her room to the two men who attempted to blend in but seemed to be watching the door. Okay, they could be just two men, regular Joes, talking to one another and have a fascination with hospital doors. Okay, no. Not even gay men stand that close to one another.

Stopping him from any further mental analysis her door opened. Derek stepped out, yawning, and took a seat next to Mark. Mark smirked and offered him cold coffee. He graciously accepted and downed it in five seconds.

"My neck hurts."

Mark chuckled. "You shoulda got an extra bed."

Derek looked pensive for a moment. Then he smiled at the memory of touching her while he slept, her fingers running through his hair. "No, it was worth it."

"Okay, wipe the grin off."

The two shared a quick laugh when they heard footsteps and chattering: lots of chattering and footsteps; more than usual for their part of the wing anyway.

To their left was Izzie holding two baskets, coupled by Alex and George. To their right were the Chief and Jake. It took a second, but Mark also noticed two men following the trio. He began to put two and two together.

Mark and Derek exchanged glances and looked up. The seven met while the four other men stood aloof.

Mark was the first to speak. "He escaped, didn't he?"

Jake shoved his hands in his pockets and gave a slight nod to the guards before returning his attention to the group. "Yes."

Izzie dropped her baskets on the floor.

"You're an ass."

Jake expected this. It was only the beginning. "Whatever. You know you're glad I'm here." He took a seat next to her bed.

"You come, unannounced, unexpected, and all 'hey babe;' you," she pointed a finger in his chest, "are a donkey's behind."

He chuckled at her choice of words. "Donkey's behind?"

She snorted, "my diction varies, but today it's 'behind.' You digress. Anyway, what are you here for?"

He scoffed, "What, no hi, how are you, it's good to see you, sorry I haven't called…"

"Two-way street buddy. As I was saying, to what do I owe this non-pleasure?"

The first part had gone a lot better than he thought. He could tell by her tone that underneath their usual banter, she was glad to see him. It was their way. They never really seemed to be more than ten or seventeen with each other.

"I have something to tell you."

When he grabbed her hand and she didn't pull away, he was surprised. She had changed.

She nervously chuckled. "Wow."

"What?"

"I honestly don't know if you're being a cop or my brother right now."

He quickly corrected her. "Like I've told you before, I'm a Detective, Meri. A very high-ranking one at that."

Her nerves cooled a bit. This communication was normal. Normal was good. "Well, what does a high-ranking officer have to do with me?"

"It's about the man who shot you."

Uh-oh, there goes the austere tone again.

She gulped, pushing away the wave of uneasiness that dared to come crashing down. "What about him?"

"He escaped." Noticing the un-welcomed glaze in her eyes, he quickly continued. "Long story short, Zenete escaped and plans to come after you."

She quickly regained her composure. "I thought he was after Izzie." She quickly added, "Not that I'd wish he come after her instead, I mean, I—"

He gave her hand a soft squeeze. "It's okay." He'd said that more than any other human being should have to say in his line of work. Unlike the other times when he wasn't so sure it would be, it had to be this time. "We have protection for her."

Jake watched as her expression let go of concern and welcomed frustration. "So, no doubt I have my own personal body guards outside." She glanced through the window. "You could have at least made them better looking," she huffed, crossing her arms.

He smiled. Frustration he could handle.

"So, what do I do now?"

He patted her hand as he leaned back. "Now, I do my job."

The Chief looked at the six members of his staff. Christina had been ordered to attend, despite her present feelings toward the situation. No one could really figure out if she cared or not. They didn't have the time to. Richard just finished filling in the group. This was about two of their friends who could possibly be targets again.

George was holding Izzie's hand. She didn't seem to notice. If she did, she made no effort to acknowledge his reassuring grip.

"So, any questions?"

After a two-second pause, every hand except Christina's and Izzie's went up.

"Yes, Derek?"

He cleared his throat before asking, "I know she has guards and all, but could we all make sure one of us is with her at all times?"

Mark added, "I think one of us should always be with Stevens too."

The room and the Chief nodded. "I will allow it." He recalled who raised their hand. "Karev?"

"How do we know what this guy looks like?"

The Chief quickly glanced at the fax machine, and then back at Alex. "That's a good question. They are going to fax over a picture later this afternoon. I'll make sure every nurses' station has one, and each staff member has looked at it. O'Malley?"

"What about," he paused to nod over at Izzie. "I don't think she should operate."

The Chief agreed and pressed his connection on the phone to his secretary.

"Yes Chief?"

"Could you clear Stevens' schedule today?"

"Yes Sir."

"Chief?"

"Yes Dr. Bailey?"

"This Jake Edwards; is he any good?"

Richard nodded. "He has two things going for him."

The group waited for him to elaborate.

He stood in front of his desk and sat, draping two feet lazily to his side. "He's the best and he cares about Meredith. He won't let her down," he looked over at Izzie, "or anyone she cares about."

"George called me and told me what happened." He scooted over and felt her slightly mold onto his shoulder. "I'm sorry."

Those words seemed to snap her out of whatever state she was in. She jerked up and looked at him.

"Vince, I'm sorry?"

He nervously chuckled. "For what?"

"I can't date you anymore."

Aptly shocked, he stood to join her. "What? I thought we were----"

Izzie stopped him, "We were; but this…I can't be the reason you're killed."

He made her face him. "You won't be. I'm a big boy," he chuckled to give him strength. "I can handle him."

She gently shook from him as she nodded her head 'no.' "Yeah, but you can't handle him with a gun."

She turned to walk away. After only a few weeks of dating, he knew she meant it. He wasn't going to give up; he was just going to ease up until the mess was over.

He watched her retreating form, wishing he could be beside her. He wanted to be the one to protect her.

She respected him because he respected her. For some reason, a tiny little voice crept inside and repeated, as if in trance.

Derek had gone home to shower and change, only at the order of the Chief. He had an hour before his shift started. Jake apparently needed to sleep, so Mark offered to drive him to the hotel. The two stayed at the same one and Mark had left his little surprise for Meredith there. He literally only had twenty minutes until his shift, but the hotel wasn't far from the hospital. He also figured he wouldn't be leaving any time soon, so he grabbed a few extra clothes as well.

George and Alex watched Izzie like a hawk. She mechanically attempted to make herself busy even though she wasn't allowed too. She gave up when Bailey physically removed her and placed her in an on-call room. Izzie was too tired to protest. Sleep claimed her as the guards watched over her. With two residents down, the other three had a handful with the extra interns.

Christina now sat at Joe's. "Like I haven't done this before." She took a swig of her beer and looked at Joe.

"What's wrong with me?"

Joe hesitated. More than being a woman; this was Christina. He knew not how to answer this without getting ripped a new one. Thankfully, she answered for him.

"I mean, here I am, in a bar, when my person needs me, again. Seriously?" She took another drink. "I need courage."

Joe wiped the counter beside her. "For what this time?"

She glared at him. It was cut short. "I need to apologize."

Christina took a deep breath, immediately scolding herself for doing so. Oh get over it. It's Meredith. If anything she's afraid of you.

Her inner debate made its way to the surface. "Right."

She stepped inside the room, fully prepared to receive the silent treatment or direct eye-contact until she broke; well, as broke as Christina was going to get from eye-contact.

She had the whole thing planned out, the whole 'I'm sorry,' but only a little bit thing all ready.

Christina opened her mouth to speak when she looked up, but the words she desired left and the ones called for came. The bed was empty.

"Meredith?"

A/N: Hope this answers some and poses others!

RockAnatomy, Eternalgorith: Thanks! Appreciate the review greatly! Welcome back and welcome!

Murgy31: Thanks! And sorry for not giving you a shot out in the last chapter! This is me kissing you: muah!

Musicforlife: I try to keep it interesting!

LW107: Lol. Loved your review! Hope this chapter answered your questions!

HuntingPeace: Promise, Addisex in the next chapter . Thanks!

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