Chapter 15

Part 1: Career

Meredith was late that morning. She had overslept. If that hadn't been enough, she was driving just a little bit faster than the speed limit permitted when a cop stopped her to give her a ticket which made her even more late and in a worse mood than she had been waking up.

She nearly ran toward the locker room and escaped from less then an inch a collision with the Dr Bailey.

"Good morning, Dr Grey," said the Dr Bailey in her threatening angry tone.

"Dr Bailey," answered an insecure Meredith.

"Well, I am not having a good morning. Wanna know why?" without waiting for an answer she went on "Because my interns are late and running around the hospital! A hospital!"

"I'm sorry. It'll never happen again. A cop stopped me…"

"I don't care why you're late. What I care about are the patients and the other interns who had to cover for you."

"I'm sorry. It'll never happen again."

"Your dam well it won't. I might get angry and you don't want to make your resident angry."

"No, Dr Bailey."

"Good, now I was going to give Karev the gastro patient, but he came here in time so I gave him the lung cancer one."

"It will be no problem, Dr Bailey," said Meredith walking away.

"Wait a minute here, Dr Grey. I have to talk to you."

"Yes," Meredith answered turning around.

"Follow me," Bailey walked her to a quieter hallway, away from prying eyes. "Look, I understand that you have some reasons for almost always working with the Dr Burke when the Dr Shepard has a case for one of you and I am sure I would approve of them, but it can't continue. This might appear to the other staff members like favoritism on the Dr Burke's part. I know it is not the case and I would really much like those persons to mind their own business, but this could affect your career Grey."

"I understand."

"Do you?"

"Yes, I'll have to work less with the Dr Burke and more with the Dr Shepard. I'll do it," she said with a sigh that showed her displeasure in that reality.

"Good! It's good. Now, move your ass and go check on your patient."

Meredith walked in at a fast pass toward that direction, but not before giving one more reassuring smile in Bailey's direction.

Part 2: Parting

They were drinking a cup of coffee together one last time. Meredith had arranged everything with Bailey to be there. He had been surprised to see how much she wanted to say goodbye.

"…and we just had to use more silicone, but I tell you it really wasn't a smooth surgery." Mark was telling Meredith about one of his first surgery back in New-York when they heard a woman voice speak through the microphone.

"The plane in destination of New-York city will soon take off. Every passengers of this flight are asked to present their ticket at the door 649. I repeat. The plane in destination of New-York city will soon take off. Every passengers of this flight are asked to present their ticket at the door 649. Thank you."

"Well, it's me." Mark stated.

"I'll walk you to the security gates." Meredith said getting up.

"Thank you," he said starting to walk. "I never saw him so relief in my life. Even when he married Addison, I don't remember seeing him so happy. It almost made me reconsider leaving."

"Look, I appreciate what you're trying to do, but…" She started, but was soon cut off by him.

"Me! I am not trying to do anything." He smiled at her with his trade mark smirk.

"Whatever you say." She giggled. They stayed silent until they reached their parting point, but it wasn't an uncomfortable silence this time. It was quite the contrary.

"Well, goodbye," she said say awkwardly. She had never been good with goodbyes.

"Yes, I guess this is it. Goodbye Meredith," He walked to the door and turned around to look at her. "Until we meet again, Dirty Mistress." With that he was gone, but not before hearing Meredith's laugh reasoning on the airport's wall.

Part 3: Crashing Down

After leaving Mark at the airport, Meredith went home to find George in the kitchen eating a sandwich he just made.

"Hey, George," she said.

"Hi, Meredith," he said smiling.

Meredith walked behind him to make herself a cup of coffee, but soon realized they were out of it. She sighed loudly.

"What is it?" George asked.

"We're out of coffee. I told Izzie to get us some."

"Well, you know her mind is not all there."

"As usual you're right George," she said sitting down next to him.

George smiled at that and said to her, "I could get you some. You know, if you want."

"That's okay, but thanks," They stayed silent for a minute before George couldn't bear it any longer.

"So, you dropped the Dr Sloan at the airport?"

"Yes," she answered.

"I'm sorry," he said which got him a curious look from Meredith so he added. "You know, that you two had to break up. It must be hard for you."

"No, not really. It was a mutual decision."

"Oh? So you're not sad? I think that's great. That you're not sad, I mean, not that you broke up. I mean I'm happy if you're happy, but still…"

"That's very nice of you," Meredith said getting up.

"Hmm, Meredith?" George called her back nervously.

"Yes?"

"There's something I need to talk to you about," he said looking determine.

"Yes, George. What is it?"

"Well, you know we've been friends for a bit more than a year now. Close friends! And I love being your friend. You know?"

"Yes, I love being your friend too,"

"Good! That's good." Meredith waited for him to continue a minute or two, but George didn't say anything else.

"Is that all?" She asked.

"No!" he said quickly. "I wanted to ask you for sometime … It's just that…well… Would like us to be more than that?"

"You mean best friends," she asked confuse.

"No, I mean… What would you say if I asked you out on a date?"

"George…" Meredith said sadly, but he was finally getting everything out of his chest and could not hear her.

"Meredith, I know you've been through a lot lately and that you just broke up with someone, but consider this. I love you Meredith and I'd do anything for you. You just have to ask. I would rather be killed than to hurt you. I would never let you go," George said his eyes shinning with the confession he just made.

"George, I am so sorry," Meredith said her eyes reflecting that her heart was breaking for him.

"That's okay," he said looking down so she could not see the tears.

"George, I…" she started putting a tentative hand on his shoulder.

"Just go, Meredith!"

"I…"

"Just go, dam it!"

Meredith did not insist anymore and locked herself in her room where she cried for her friend that could not be anything more. There was a time where she might have accepted him, but her relation ship with Mark had taught her that George deserved better than to be with someone in love with someone else. Why was it that once she fixed one part of her messed up life another came crashing down?

AN: I am so happy you guys are still interested in reading this. Seriously dancing from joy over here! Thank you so much for reviewing! You've made my day. You all rock!