A week later…

The past week had gone on the same. Alex and Meredith pretended not to be a couple around everybody other than Christina, who Alex was a little surprised to find out that Meredith had told. Derek continued to ask Meredith out, and Meredith continued to say 'no' to him. Izzie continued to flirt with Alex. And work continued to be grueling.

She climbed the stairs carrying a stack of charts. She groaned as she took a seat on one. She wasn't sure if it was lack of sleep or if she had picked up a bug from a patient, but she was definitely feeling like crap and probably looked like it too. Her pager went off and the word 'lab' flashed across it. She moaned and got up before heading back down the stairs.

"You look like crap." Christina's voice came as she ran down the steps.

"I feel like crap." Meredith said in a sick voice.

"You better not get me sick." Meredith rolled her eyes. "Did Evil Spawn keep you up too late last night?"

"No. I fell asleep as soon as I got home. I have to shake this thing before Bailey finds out."

"How do you plan on doing that? Not even I, the amazing doctor I am, could make you not look sick."

"Thank you for that. You boost your ego even when I look like this."

"You know it." She laughed. "Where are you headed?"

"Lab."

"I'll walk with you. Maybe just being in my presence will cure you."

"Shut up."

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"Hey, Meredith!" George called from down her hall before hurrying towards her. "Do you want to head to Joe's with me, Alex, Izzie, and Christina?"

She had made herself look not as sick, but still felt like crap. "Nah, I think I'm just going to go home and sleep."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I'm not feeling too great."

"Alright, see you tomorrow then."

Meredith nodded before walking into the locker room with her arm wrapped around her stomach. She groaned as she laid down on the bench. Hopefully, she could just hide out in the locker room until her shift ended in twenty minutes.

"What's wrong?"

"Huh?" She opened her eyes to have them met with Alex's.

"What's wrong? You look sick."

"I'm fine." She said sitting up as he sat beside her. "Just a bug or something."

He wrapped his arm around her pulling her closer to him. "You sure?"

"I'm fine." She said shutting her eyes as she laid her head down on his chest.

"I known you for how long? I'm pretty sure I know better then to believe you when you say 'I'm fine."' He rubbed her back as he talked softly.

"I'm just ready to go home."

"I'll come with you."

"No, go to Joe's." She said standing up.

"Mer…"

"Alex…" She said loudly before sighing. "Go to Joe's. I'll be fine. I'm just going to go sleep."

He stood up wrapping his arms around his waist. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. I'll be fine."

He kissed the back of her head. "Promise?"

"I promise." She turned around and kissed his cheek before opening her locker.

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She walked into the house and up the stairs not bothering to eat. She walked into her room and fell back onto the bed. Sleep almost instantly came over her. Just as peace of silence fell over the room, her stomach turned and she was sent running to the bathroom.

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What's wrong with her??? Who knows…?