Chapter 20: I'm Ok

"Hello, Meredith."

"Derek?"

The blue eyed neurosurgeon had cornered her in one of the deserted halls at the back of the hospital as she made her way back to the surgical floor. Reflexively she tightened her hold on the chart she was carrying as she met his gaze. Meredith resisted the urge to strike him right there as she recalled the fear flashing through Addison's eyes the previous night.

"Hi." He simply said, McDreamy smile on and not a hair out of place.

His perfection was a mask, covering all the ugliness hidden within. She beat herself over not looking past it. For allowing herself to give into his charms when she had. She had been so eager and he had been so insistent. Still that was no excuse.

"What are you doing here?" She said tight-lipped.

"No hello? Come on Mer. You love me. I know you do." He continued to smile sweetly but she could see something shift slightly in his eyes.

"You should leave." She replied coldly and began to turn to walk away.

"Meredith." His voice came out firm and she faced him once more. His tone sounded like a warning but she paid it no mind as her own rage began to bubble up.

"Look, Derek, you are not supposed to be here. I don't want to see you. I don't want to talk to you. I don't want you near me, let alone her. And do me a favor and lose Addie's number." She seethed, unable to contain her ire.

That had apparently been the wrong thing to say though because as soon as the words left her mouth his palm connected swiftly with her face. He slapped her with such force that when her head jerked to the side and she hit the metal shelving lining the hall. Immediately blood began oozing from just below her hairline.

"What the fuck, Derek?" She snapped at him, her hand shooting up to where the blood was flowing out. She knew she should be feeling the pain but she was too worked up, too angry to register any of it.

"I only want to talk to you. Why won't you let me?" He spat angrily.

"I don't want to talk to you!" She bit right back. "Addison is safe so you can't use her as a bargaining chip. And I swear to god Derek if you so much as look at her…" She began and he took a step towards her getting dangerously close.

"What, sweet, sweet, Meredith? What the hell will someone as insignificant as you do?" He snarled, closing in even more. What swirled in his eyes was something more than anger, it was deeper, and it was starting to scare her more than she cared to admit.

"Whatever." She pushed past him. "Leave Addison alone. Leave us both alone." She added and started to walk away once more.

Something about him made her nervous and while she was not up to showing it, she was not stupid enough to stay. She was done with him but apparently he was not done with her.

He grabbed a fistful of her hair and dragged her back towards the shelves. She dropped the chart and started to fight him off but he grabbed her wrist and bent it. She yelped in pain as he slammed her back to the wall pinning her wrist above her head.

"Let me go!" She yelled.

"I want to talk to you. I want to apologize. Why won't you fucking let me?" He said, his eyes cold and devoid of the McDreaminess everyone had come to know.

"This is how you apologize? You're about to break my wrist. Let. Me. Go!" She continued to fight and kick but nothing was working. The look in his eye suddenly changed as he focused on the blood dripping down her face.

"Meredith, this wouldn't have happened if you'd just listen. Look at that. There's blood on your face now." He said sweetly. The switch was so sudden and eerie she stopped kicking and fighting.

"Derek, please. Please let me go." She said after swallowing hard and calming herself.

"Why?" He tilted his head. "Are you scared of me too? Addison never begged. Unless it was to make sure you didn't get hurt." He chuckled.

"You fucking asshole!" She spat, unable to contain herself.

She took a deep breath and steadied herself as she saw him wind up his free arm to strike her. His eyes still on hers, full of malice but she was not one to back down. Especially after everything he had done. She would never give him the satisfaction so she held his gaze.

Cristina was talking excitedly to Dr. Bailey and Dr. Webber about her patient today. She had been in ortho with Torres and their patient had been a baseball player, who had fractured his tibia while running to a base.

"So he ran to the base and wham!" Cristina said with a clap. "Compound fracture. His bone was sticking out and everything."

"Why do you sound so excited about such a painful injury?" Richard shook his head.

"Well it didn't hurt me." Cristina shrugged as Bailey scoffed while suppressing a chuckle. "Besides, have you ever seen a bone poking out of the skin like that? It was magnificent." She smiled. "I still like hearts though."

"Of course." Richard said, taking an exasperated breath. "You drive a motorcycle?" He asked as he noticed the helmet tucked under her arm.

"Yeah-" Cristina began but stopped as she heard the shouting. "That sounded a lot like Meredith."

"It sure did." Bailey mumbled.

Cristina was not sure why but after the resident spoke she bolted towards where the shouting had come from. Bailey and Richard shouted behind her but she ignored them and kept going. She reached the hallway quickly and could make out Meredith being pinned to the wall by Derek as he spoke to her.

Moving as fast as she could with Bailey and Richard following, she ran the length of the hallway to where her person and the bastard were. She made it to them as Derek was winding up his arm and in one swift motion hit him on the side of the head with her helmet.

It had been a blur. First Derek was holding her against the wall ready to strike and the next he was knocked to the ground.

"Cristina." Meredith said as she looked up from where Derek lay to her person.

"Next time yell louder and longer, idiot." Cristina snapped and quickly hugged her.

"You'll get bloody." Meredith chuckled.

"Whatever." Cristina's voice was muffled by her hair.

"Grey!" Bailey shouted and made her way towards them. Richard kneeled next to Derek and pulled his phone.

"Get security to the back hallway of the east wing." She heard him say before turning Derek, who was groaning. "Move another muscle and you won't wake up again." He said and the neurosurgeon stilled.

"Grey, let me take a look at your head." Bailey forcibly separated Cristina from her. "Glare all you want but we need to check it." She said to Cristina, who mumbled a 'fine'.

"It's really just a flesh wound." Meredith said. "No dizziness. No nausea. No sensitivity to light or sound. Pain is localized to the site. It's a thin layer of skin there and I hit my head with the edge of the metal shelf. It's ok. Probably need two or three stitches." She said as she assessed herself.

"Hmm date?" Bailey asked.

"I mean, I want to date Addison." Meredith mumbled and shrugged while Cristina snickered but Bailey looked ready to hit her over the side of the head. "Sorry, just a joke." She said quickly. "April 13th, 2007."

"Your name? And where are you? How'd you get here?" Bailey droned on.

"That's too many questions at once." Meredith frowned.

"Yeah it is." Cristina agreed.

"You shush and you answers." Bailey huffed.

"Fine. Meredith Grey. I'm at Seattle Grace. And I walked here after I said bye to Addison and Mark. Sorry Dr. Montgomery and Dr. Sloan." She corrected after Bailey glared at her.

"Good." Bailey said.

Security got there a few moments later and escorted Derek away. Richard had them call the police and give them any and all security footage of the attack. Cristina had brought some gauze and tape to cover Meredith's head wound while they went to the E.R. for stitches. Also Bailey put her wrist on a splint before she could have someone take a look at it.

"Can we leave Addison out of this?" Meredith asked as Cristina finished.

"Aside from the fact that she isn't blind, we can't. She needs to give her statement. That's two different doctors hurt by the same man." Richard said.

"Animal." Bailey mumbled behind him.

"Ok. But can we let her sleep at least? Don't call her now. Please." Meredith begged.

"I guess we could-" He began when suddenly all of their pagers went off collectively and Richard's phone rang. The doctors looked at him expectantly, waiting for instructions. "RV vs Minivan. We have all victims coming in. A total of 9 people so I'm recalling everyone."

"Dr. Montgomery too?" Bailey asked.

"Yes, we have a pregnant woman." He simply stated.

They made their way to the pit to get ready. The rest of her friends gave her a puzzled and worried look but she just smiled and nodded at her person. Cristina knew to warn them against saying anything to Addison about it, at least until Meredith herself talked to her about it.

"I can…" Meredith began to protest about being sent to an exam room but Bailey interrupted her before she could complain.

"You can wait where I told you to wait. I'll send Torres in before we get all the incoming." The resident said as she closed the door behind her.

Meredith climbed onto the exam table wincing when she accidentally put weight on her wrist. A few minutes later Callie walked in to assess her wrist. The latina gently moved her hand every which way.

"Does it hurt when I do this?" She asked and Meredith shook her head. "And if I do this?" Meredith winced when she bent it at a certain angle. "Ok, that's where it's tender." Callie said and gently placed her hand back on her lap as she went rummaging through the drawers.

"Is it bad?" Meredith asked. "I thought it was just a sprain."

"It is. But sprains are treated like fractures most of the time. It's not a bad one though you'll have some bruises." Callie said as she made her way back to her with a wrist brace.

"Bruises are no good." Meredith groaned.

"You're lucky it's just bruises. If it was bent further it would've broken in several places." Callie said as she carefully fitted the brace on her wrist.

"You know. Don't you?" Meredith asked with a sigh. Callie had not mentioned it at all but she was certain she knew Derek had been the one to do this.

"People are going to find out what he did, Grey." Callie said as she finished. "Anyway, you are not to use your left hand for the next two weeks. Ice it for 15 minutes every two to three hours. You may take the brace off at night when you go to sleep but I'd recommend an ace bandage and sleep with it above your head or raised on a pillow."

"You do know we have multiple incoming and I'm an intern, right?" Meredith tilted her head.

"Ok. Dr. Grey, how long does it take a sprain to heal when several ligaments have been overstretched?" Callie asked, raising a brow.

"Two to ten weeks." Meredith mumbled.

"Two to ten weeks." Callie repeated. "So at the end of the two weeks you are to come to me so I can reassess. If you strain that wrist in any way I'll know and I'll keep you off work for the entirety of those ten weeks." She finished crossing her arms across her chest.

"Fine." Meredith grumbled.

"At least it's not your right hand. You can still do…" Callie began.

"Scut? I can still do scut." Meredith rolled her eyes a bit.

"And observe surgeries, which is why you're here. To learn. I'm sure, Dr. Montgomery won't mind having you observe." Callie pointed out making her blush. "Neither will I or Burke or Bailey. It'll be ok for just the two weeks."

The door burst open suddenly and Meredith froze fearing a certain redhead had arrived. However, it was not Addison who walked in but Mark, who looked like if you looked at him sideways he would definitely cut you.

"Let me see." Mark snarled. Callie quickly moved away and excused herself, closing the door behind her after giving Meredith a good luck look.

"Sloan?" Meredith called while he moved her bangs away and took off the gauze. He remained silent as he inspected the wound, which had thankfully stopped bleeding. "Mark?" She called again.

"What the hell is wrong with him?" Mark spoke suddenly.

"I don't know. Does Addison know about this?" Meredith asked with a bit of urgency in her tone.

"No. Not yet anyway. Let's get this cleaned up." He said as he grabbed everything he would need to stitch her up.

"Exactly how are you going to fix that up? You only have one hand." Meredith frowned a bit.

"Turns out only my middle knuckle is broken. I can technically still grab." Mark informed her, his anger seemingly watering down.

"You can still… Why'd you have me write everything down for you then?" Meredith asked, glaring at him.

"Because I didn't want to do it." He shrugged.

"You…" She began.

"Shush and look up. I'm gonna work my magic." He said as he lifted her head.

"Magic, my ass." Meredith mumbled.

"Shhh. I can't concentrate." He smirked and she grumbled. "The corner of your mouth looks like it will bruise too." He said and she could see the muscles of his jaw go tight as he suppressed the anger boiling within.

"I have a bruise there too?." She let out a sigh. "I don't want Addison to see them."

"You could probably cover them with makeup but you shouldn't." He said as he began to sow up her skin. "She's going to find out either way."

Addison walked into the E.R. alone after Mark got a page which got him in a mood. She looked around trying to find Meredith but all she found was the usual E.R. chaos and the four interns gowned up and ready to go. As she walked by the nurses station she overheard a conversation that worried her.

"Did you hear?" The tech said.

"Yeah. Apparently security got him." The nurse replied.

"Was Grey ok?" The tech asked. Addison snapped at that and was making her way towards them when Bailey began shouting orders.

"Karev! Ambulance one, that's our pregnant patient. Dr. Montgomery!" She called and Addison made her way towards her.

"Miranda." Was all she had to say before Bailey replied.

"Everything is ok. Go on." Was all the resident said and for the moment that was enough.

"Dr. Montgomery, she is having contractions." Alex informed her as he wheeled the patient in.

Addison's worry over Meredith took a back seat after her patient came in. The patient was 29 weeks pregnant and the preterm labor was well on its way. The ultrasound showed free fluid in her belly so they went directly from the exam room into an O. R. to try and save both mother and baby.

Alex was scrubbing out next to her answering her questions as she tried to quiz him. She knew he hated it but she could also tell he would be a force to be reckoned with if taught correctly. Teaching him could be annoying at times. Especially when he thought anything gynie was beneath him and a total waste of his skill set.

"Answer the question, Karev." She pushed yet again.

"Listen, I already told you and aren't you tired. Have you even slept?" He evaded again.

"Are you not answering because you don't know? Is poor Alex all spent? Did your brain short circuit or something? I thought you being here was a waste of potential. Where's that potential now?" She knew she was being pushy for no real reason at the moment. She knew he was exhausted and so was she, as they had just finished a five hour surgery where both mother and baby decided to throw complications at every turn. However, she paid her exhaustion no mind.

"Since it was at 29 weeks, we'll need to keep a very close eye on the baby's SATs. There's also a very high risk of infection. We'll also need to keep an eye out for any signs of intraventricular hemorrhages. And body temp." Alex droned on.

"Good. Now was that really so hard? Come on, let's go check on her and see if Dr. Torres can put the cast on now before she wakes." Addison said as she began to walk out.

She half hoped she would see Meredith but she did not. The rumors going about had her a bit on edge as well. Glancing at the board she saw that the intern was actually in a surgery with Bailey. Calm washed over her letting her breathe easier. The rumors were still disconcerting but at least she was in a surgery so she really was ok.

'Maybe just a peek in and I'll feel a bit better.' She thought.

"Are we still going to see the patient or is the board more entertaining?" Alex asked bitterly.

"Karev, patience is virtue." She smiled sweetly before walking once more. "I meant to ask, did something happen to Grey?" She asked and noticed how he suddenly tensed up.

"I don't know." He tried to cover his hesitation with a shrug but it did not work.

"You don't know." She repeated and gave him a withering look.

"Ask her if you want to know." He said quickly.

"So something did happen. What happened?" She stopped him from walking and made him turn to her.

"Look, all I know is that something happened. I don't know what." He said as his eyes softened.

"O-ok. Good." She said softly, looking down.

"Mer is ok." He said after a while in silence.

"Yeah?" Addison asked, surprised by the weakness in her voice.

"Hell yeah. It's Mer." He said with a half smile.

"True." She chuckled.

"Uh… by the way I'm sorry I've been such an asshole." He apologized, which took her by surprise. Alex Karev was not the type to apologize to anyone, let alone her. "I'm just exhausted."

"You clearly are if you are apologizing to me." She smirked. "Evil Spawn isn't it?" She raised a brow as he snapped to look at her. "I'm Satan. Anything you do pales in comparison to what I can do, Karev. I can take your evil spawniness." She chuckled.

"Good point." He smirked and she could see his smugness rising again.

"Let's go, Karev." She grinned.

"After you, your highness." He said with a mock bow.

"Don't push it though." She rolled her eyes.

Meredith made it out of the second surgery with Nelson this time as she had managed to worm her way in. Bailey stopped her as she made her way back to the E.R. and told her to finish the notes and go take a nap at home. The blonde did as she was told huffing and puffing at the fact that she had basically been dismissed because at the moment she was useless. Alex came by as she was charting to tell her her girlfriend was asking about her and also to inform her that Addison needed to take a nap or something because she was too bitchy. She almost bit his head off for the comments but he had gotten a page and had quickly scurried away.

She finished the charts and ordered the post op labs for both Dr. Nelson and Dr. Bailey. She was still annoyed at Alex and Bailey, the charting had not gotten that out of her system. In fact having to do charts made her angrier at her inability to even sow a stitch.

"I can do things. I'm not that crippled. It's just a little sprain. I can hold a stupid retractor. I'm right-handed. This is stupid. Stupid observation. Stupid scut. Stupid naps." She mumbled to herself as she put the chart away.

"Grey?" Someone called behind her.

"What?" She snapped and turned to face the person who had called her. "Addie." Her bitterness withering away instantly melting into a smile.

"Your hand." Addison said as her eyes landed on the brace.

"I'm ok." Meredith said quickly and walked closer to Addison, who's eyes were now on her mouth. "Addie, I'm ok."

The redhead's eyes met hers for a moment before shifting to the top of her face. She cursed at herself for forgetting to put her hair back down. Addison walked closer and tentatively moved to brush her bangs away.

"Meredith what…" Addison's voice died out and she swallowed hard. "Who did this?"

Meredith saw her eyes begin to fill with tears and it broke her. She did not want to tell her but she had to. Mark was right, she should not lie. Besides, Addison would find out soon enough since they had to give their statements.

"Derek cornered me in the hallway. I made him angry, which is no excuse. He slapped me and I hit the shelf." She explained as she pointed at the stitches. "He grabbed my wrist and bent it wrong so now it's sprained. So get ready 'cause you'll have to help me shower." She shrugged and smiled in an attempt at a joke.

The joke did not work, which was no surprise. Addison only looked at her for a while and then threw her arms around Meredith, hugging her tightly.

"You're ok." Addison said and backed away.

"I'm ok." Meredith smiled. "Are you ok?"

"Fine." Addison simply said. 'So there's the snappiness'.

"Have you slept yet?" Meredith asked knowingly. It was almost 1 p.m. and she had yet to sleep in about 30 hours.

"I'm fine, Meredith." Addison repeated.

"So you said." Meredith smiled. "How about we get something to eat and then we can go for a nap? Bailey told me to do that, so doctor's orders." She added with a wink.

"I'm not a child." Addison suddenly snapped.

"I know you're not but I can tell you haven't slept. We barely did before we came in yesterday. I want to help." Meredith replied calmly.

"I don't need help." Addison rolled her eyes.

Clearly exhaustion and stress had been taking a toll on the redhead and honestly who could blame her. Derek had attacked Addison, then called her to terrorize her, then attacked her, all in a span of four days. It was a bit much for anyone to handle given that sleep was not very great at the moment.

"Addison." Meredith tried again and went to wrap an arm around the redhead to guide her to the cafeteria or at least the vending machines before going to nap.

"Stop hovering!" Addison snapped harshly and pushed her arm away. Meredith flinched back a few steps as if burned. "Meredith… Mer, I'm sorry." She said quickly trying to reach for her.

"I don't hover, you know?" Meredith said tightly.

"I…" Addison began.

"I don't." Meredith interrupted. "At least I didn't before you. But… but you are too important. So I will hover, dammit!" She huffed. "I'll hover because I'm your friend."

"Friend?" Addison said softly and dropped her gaze, the notion of Meredith only wanting to be that, hurt.

"Yes, friend." Meredith shifted closer and lifted her chin. "Because that's as close as I can get now so you don't run from me. Friend, because you are not ready to be anything else. Friend, because that's what you need right now." She finished, Addison just looked at her and blinked away the tears that were beginning to form.

"And… later?" Addison asked shyly, feeling her cheeks heat.

Meredith moved closer then and cupped her face with her only working hand. She could feel the blonde's breath caressing her cheek and her ear before she spoke.

"Later, I get to be so so much more." Meredith said close to her ear in a low husk.

Addison felt herself shiver at her tone and let out a shaky breath before Meredith backed away far enough that they could look into each other's eyes. Eyes locked while being close enough to feel her Addison began to lose herself yet again in the sea of blue with it's warm breeze. Meredith was leaning in and so was she but in a blink of an eye the blonde pulled away leaving her with a rush of cold air. The intern took her hand in her own and smiled.

"Mer…" Addison began to protest.

"Let's go." Meredith began pulling her away.

"Where?" Addison asked, still a bit dazed.

"Hotel, because we really, really, need a bed." Meredith grinned.

"Mer." Addison mumbled.

"A bed to sleep in, Addie." Meredith said as if to clarify.

"I knew that." Addison grumbled.

"Just in case." Meredith smirked.

"I don't think friends flirt this much. You know?" Addison tried to say seriously but she could not help the grin growing on her face.

"Well, I'm a very particular friend." Meredith shrugged.

"So you just flirt with all of your friends." Addison chuckled a bit.

"Only fiery redheads with nice legs who go by Satan." Meredith said nonchalantly.

"I see… very particular." Addison smirked and raised a brow.

"Told ya." Meredith smirked back.

They were almost to the double doors when they were startled by a voice behind them.

"Are you two always this flirty or…" Mark smiled smugly with Cristina walking beside him.

"Mark." Addison warned.

"Can you imagine what it'll be like when they're official?" Cristina scoffed.

"Cristina." Meredith warned in turn.

"Meredith, let's just go." Addison said, pulling her out as Mark and Cristina chuckled behind them.

"Bye bye, lovebirds." Mark called as Cristina cackled next to him. Meredith made to turn around but Addison only tightened her hand.

"Let's just go. We are giving them too much attention. It's like we're giving them more ammo to keep going." Addison shook her head and sighed.

"You know, we are holding hands too." Meredith said, pressing her lips together to keep from smiling.

"That's just because we are friends. Friends do this. Right?" Addison tried to cover, still holding tightly.

"Right." Meredith giggled.

And then there were 20! I told y'all she'd be ok. This one was a bit long o.o Hope you guys enjoyed it though. Let me know what y'all are thinking please. Until next time. ;)