Okay Everyone! This is the beginning of Book Three, I hope you enjoy it!

Book Three, Part One: The Beginning

Present Day 2020

Meredith's Point of View

I was in a tunnel. Voices washed over me, but I couldn't make heads or tails out of what they were saying. Hands were touching me, soothing me; arms lifted me. I was airborne, flying away from the truth I didn't want to face. Being carried away from my past. The past I knew I would one day have to face.

That day being today.

"Mer."

I shied away, not wanting to be conscious yet. Not wanting to see the worry in Mark's eyes, the confusion in Bailey's or his wife's, not wanting to face him.

"Mer, please come to. Do you think she has a concussion?" He asked someone.

"I don't know. It didn't look like she hit her head that hard." Cristina said.

"Let me check." A man suggested.

"Stay away from her." Mark growled. "You have done enough? Why the hell are you here?" Oh, must be him.

"I asked him here. Would someone tell me what the hell is going on?" Bailey asked. "Why did my Neurosurgeon pass out when she laid eyes on Dr. Shepherd?"

There was silence. I don't know if it was because a look could speak a thousand words or if no one wanted to answer the question.

"Hello? I am asking a question here and judging by the look on at least four of your faces, you all know the answer in one form or another, so spill." She demanded.

Still silence.

"Yang."

"Yes Dr. Bailey?" Cristina asked.

"You know what is going on." Bailey stated.

"I…um…huh?" Cristina stalled.

"Yang. Do you like operating?" Bailey threatened.

It was definitely time to wake up.

I groaned.

"Mer!" Mark brushed my head back and I swore I heard Cristina say 'Thank God'.

"Ouch." I whispered.

My eyelid was pulled back suddenly and I blinked against the pressure and the light.

"Mer?" Lexie asked. I didn't even know she was in the room.

I pulled away.

"Stop that." I grumbled.

"She's okay." Lexie announced happily.

"And that is your expert opinion, because…" Mark asked roughly.

"She is being grouchy." Lexie said with attitude.

"Will you two knock it off?" I asked, raising into a sitting position. Bad idea. My head felt like it had been twisted around like the girl's in the Exorcist.

I laid back down.

"Get her on a monitor." Bailey ordered. "And get her a shot of Meclizine."

"I'm fine Bailey. I just didn't eat breakfast." I explained. I was lying but she didn't know that.

"Ye…" Lexie began but I reached casually over and pinched her leg. She yelped.

I shot her a look.

"You should always eat breakfast Mer." She said, rubbing her leg.

"See, I just need to lie down for a few minutes and then I will be as good as new." I told Bailey.

She looked at my blood pressure reading and nodded.

"Okay, but if you feel dizzy at all, you go home. And eat something Grey. You are withering away as it is." She admonished.

"No I am just thin. Good genes and all." I boasted teasingly.

"Are you saying I don't have good genes Grey?" She asked.

"Of course not Bailey. They fit you just fine." I joked.

A smile graced her lips.

"Okay. I will check in with you later." She looked to Mark. "Make her go home if she doesn't feel better."

"Yes Ma'am." He nodded.

She left and my teasing manner dropped as did everyone else's. I avoided the doorway I knew he was leaning against. I avoided his wife, who stood next to him.

I focused on Lexie.

"I'm fine. Don't worry about me. Thanks for covering." I said.

"You're welcome." She leaned down to hug me. "Who is he, Mer?" She whispered.

"I will talk to you later." I said.

She knew what I meant and she took her leave after a curious look at him and her.

"Cris." I said.

She nodded and after a glare at him, she left.

Mark ignored the other occupants in the room and sat on my bed.

"Don't ever do that to me again. You scared me." He said.

"Mia." I mouthed.

He nodded and looked at his watch. He glanced uncertainly behind him.

"I will be fine. Might as well get it out of the way." I said.

"Are you going to tell him?" He asked softly.

I raised my chin.

"Not yet." I decided.

He nodded and kissed my forehead before standing up and walking to the doorway. I heard him growl.

"If you upset her any more than you have, you will answer to me." Mark threatened.

I heard no response.

"I'm just going to be outside." I heard her say to him softly. I heard the door close behind her as she gave us our privacy.

"Mer. Look at me, please." He pleaded.

I shook my head.

"So stubborn. See that hasn't changed any." He teased.

I finally focused my gaze on him, my harsh gaze.

He stopped smiling.

"See that's where you are wrong. Lots of things have changed." I informed him.

"So I see. You and Mark." Something about the way he said it made me take pause.

I cocked my head to the side with a questioning look in my eyes.

"You don't seem too surprised by that." I said.

"You needed someone to lean on, I guess." He shrugged but for some reason I didn't buy that explanation, but I was going to let it go. It didn't matter anyway.

"Yeah, Mark has been there for me." I said.

"How long?" He asked.

"How long what?" I asked hatefully. I wanted him gone already.

"Has he 'been there' for you?" He said, using air quotes.

"Fifteen years." I said clearly.

"Didn't take you long, huh?" He laughed sarcastically.

"What did you just say? Are you calling me a whore?" I asked.

"What? No." He said, startled.

"Good because I make no excuses for how I fixed what you broke. You left me all alone. I was catatonic for months. But I had my dad, and Cristina and Mark and…" I trailed off.

"And?" He asked.

"Why are you here?" I asked, changing the subject.

"I wanted to come home." He whispered.

I looked through the glass in the doorway where she was visible.

"Looks like you brought someone with you."

"Yeah. Addie. She's my wife."

"Yeah, I got that part before I passed out." I rolled my eyes. "Why didn't you stay wherever it was you were at? Why did you have to come here of all places?"

"I didn't know you were here." He said.

"Didn't you?" I asked.

He looked away but didn't answer.

"Yeah, that's what I thought. Bet your lovely wife doesn't know that part." I said.

He finally looked at me.

"When did you become like this?" He asked. "The Meredith I knew was always smiling, always kind, never hateful."

I looked at him dead in his eyes.

"The Meredith you knew died the day you left her. And don't pretend you know me. You don't know the first thing about me. And that is the way it will stay. You do your work, I'll do mine. When we have to work together, we will remain professional, otherwise stay away from me." I said.

"I don't know that I want to." He admitted. "I missed you."

I shook my head vigorously.

"No. You have no choice in this matter. You will stay away from me. Now please go."

He took a step forward.

"Go!" I yelled. He stopped his advancement. "Walk out that door and go with your wife." I demanded.

He looked searchingly in my eyes. I made sure they stayed cold. He finally nodded and left the room.

I waited until I knew he was gone before I laid back on the bed, buried my head in my pillow and sobbed.