Meredith lifted the chart and headed into room 4309. A small elderly woman was sitting on the bed, knitting.
'Mrs Patterson?'
'Yes?'
'I'm Dr Grey; can you tell me where your pain is?' The old woman put the knitting down and turned to face Meredith. She looked frail.
'My lower back. It started when I was lifting a bottle out of the cupboard in my kitchen,'
'Yeah a bottle of brandy,' A tall, slim brunette walked in and sat on the seats next to the bed.
'Ok, I need to ask you a few questions. When did you last eat?'
'This morning, toast,'
'Ok, what was you're last fluid intake?'
'Tea this morning,'
'Check her blood for alcohol, probably mixed some whiskey in her tea,'
'Emma,'
'What, you saying it's not true?'
'Emma,' Emma was beginning to grate on Meredith.
'She may also have some in her bag,' the brunette leaned bag against the chair and folded her arms. The small woman's eyes began watering.
'Do you have any health issues?'
'I'm on aspirin to thin my blood,'
'She doesn't tell me what meds she's on but check in case she's on any for liver failure,' That was the last straw.
'I don't believe you. Your mother could be seriously ill and your sitting there making her feel so guilty. You don't know what's wrong with your mother. Maybe she doesn't tell you tell you anything because she knows you will judge her. Get a grip. She's your mother; you don't have the right to judge her!'
'Dr Grey, what's going on in here?' Bailey was standing in the door, her hands on her hips. Meredith threw the chart on the bed and ran out the room.
'I'm sorry about that. She will be dealt with,' Bailey lifted the chart and placed it back in the nurses' station.
'Where did Grey go?'
'The emergency exit,'
'Page Shepherd, tell him to follow me' Bailey walked over and pushed the door open. She could hear Meredith at the top of the stairs. Walking up she could see her intern sitting on the stairs, holding her head in her hands. Sitting next to Meredith, she pulled her in against her chest.
'It's ok,' Bailey sat with Meredith until she spotted Derek coming up the stairs. Stopping at the bottom of the flight he took a sharp breath in.
'Mereā¦' Taking each step slowly, he walked up and scooped her up in his arms. She wrapped her arms around his next as he took her down to the on call rooms.
'Shepherd, take her home. Stay with her. She needs you. I'll tell the Chief what's happening,' Derek nodded and turned to go to the locker rooms. Christina was changing but stopped when she seen Meredith.
'Shit,'
'Can you get her bag?' Christina handed Derek her bag and carried her out to the car. She remained silent the whole way home, even when he lifted her out the car. Laying her down on the bed he pulled the covers over her. Turning to go away she grabbed his hand.
'Don't leave me alone like she did,' Derek nodded and lay on the bed beside her. She turned into his chest.
'She was all I had left. My aunt was dead, my dad I don't know, No cousins, brothers or sisters. I have nobody,'
'You have me,'
'Do I have you?'
'Always,'
'Promise me you won't leave me?'
'I promise,' as the words left his mouth, Meredith realised that was all she needed to hear, that she wasn't alone. Letting everything go, she finally fell asleep, knowing her wasn't going to leave her.
