George comes in first.

"Izzie?"

She reaches out with one arm, not moving or looking at him. He goes to her and she pulls to lay behind her. He wraps one arm around her waist and kisses the top of her head.

"I'm so sorry, Izzie"

Meredith follows and sits at the foot of the bed. She kisses Izzie's leg, a small action to let her know she's there, then places her hand on her.

"Izzie.."

Cristina whispers as she approaches the bed.

"I have to go see Burke--but I'll come back. I promise."

Izzie continues to cry so she leans over George and kisses her where George had.

"I'll be back"

She says again, motioning a goodbye to Meredith as she steps out of the room.

Scanning the room, Meredith spots Izzie's prom dress on the floor, by the window. She rises from the bed and moves to pick it up.

"Call me if you need me"

She says to Callie and George and takes the dress out with her.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Meredith sits at the edge of her bed, her back to the door, facing the window, her shoulders tired from lack of sleep. She looks over at her alarm clock, sitting on the nightstand and is surprised to see it is now 5:30 in the morning. She looks over at Izzie's prom dress again, this time it is sitting on a chair at the corner of her room. She decides to get up and put it in her closet. The beautiful evening gown had suddenly turned into a funeral dress and she didn't want to give Izzie another reason to feel sad.

George opens his eyes, the soft light from the sunrise coming in through his window. He lifts his head to look over Izzie's shoulder and smiles, seeing her arm lay across Callie's waist, both still asleep. Under different circumstances, this image would have caused him to jump in the air with joy, among other things, but he knows what has brought them here so he pushes the thought away--he smiles anyway.

He reaches over to push a strand of hair out of Callie's face and she stirs. She slowly opens her eyes, looks at him and smiles.

"Hi"

She says, her voice still tired.

"Good morning"

He says, running his fingers through her hair. She sighs and not wanting to wake up Izzie, she tries to whisper.

"We fell asleep"

She grabs his wrist and turns it over to look at his watch. She closes her eyes and sighs again.

"I'm going to go shower"

"I'll make pancakes"

He brings her hand to his lips and kisses it.

"Thanks for staying"

"You're welcome"

She slowly gets out of Izzie's grasp and out of bed. She lifts her arms and stretches, her shoulders and neck aching from the uncomfortable position she slept in. She frowns, feeling her bones stretch out, that's when she catches George watching her, he gives her one of those goofy smiles and she rolls her eyes.

"Let's stick to cereal today, we're running late"

As she walks around the bed toward George, Izzie stirs in her sleep and turns over, burying her face in George's chest. Callie giggles.

"She really doesn't want me to have you does she"

"Callie--"

"I know"

Bends over, runs her fingers through his hair once and gives him a quick peck on the lips.

"I know"

She smiles and begins to walk away, but George catches her hand before she can leave.

"Hey.."

He pulls her back to him and he kisses her, cradling her head with his hand, he nibbles on her bottom lip before letting her go. She moves away, breathless, she smiles and walks out of the room.

Meredith drags her feet all the way down the hallway, never had she regretted going to work more than this morning. Her stomach was in knots, she needed to throw up and her mouth was surprisingly dry. She slumps her way toward the bathroom to brush her teeth so she can get the slow painful death over with. She opens the door to the bathroom and immediately steps back out, not completely closing the door.

"Sorry Callie!"

Callie, immune to embarrassment, stood in the bathroom in her underwear and a tee-shirt, blow-drying her hair.

"It's okay, Meredith!"

"No--I'm sorry…"

Callie opens the door and looks at Meredith.

"You have got to stop looking like you've just witnessed a car accident every time you see me in my underwear. Besides, I'm wearing a shirt this time"

She smiles, and Meredith can't help but smile back. This girl was surprisingly nice to her after all the crap she and Izzie had put her through, not to mention, she had witnessed her being an adulteress whore and hadn't even mentioned it.

"You can come in, I'm almost done"

Callie says to Meredith as she picks up a brush and runs it through her hair. Meredith comes in and begins to brush her teeth. They stand in silence as Callie brushes her hair and Meredith brushes her teeth. When she's done, she turns around to look at Callie who is sitting on the edge of the bathtub.

"Callie…thanks for staying with Izzie last night. I know you didn't have to but I just couldn't…I don't know why…"

"It's okay"

She says, standing up and putting the brush away.

"It was important to George. He cares about Izzie--and you, a lot--and I care about him so…"

"Callie…about what happened--at the hospital…"

"Hey, it's none of my business. I'm not going to judge you, and I'm not going to say anything…but--Meredith…no. never mind"

"No, what? Tell me"

"I just…if you want to be with him, then fine, be with him. You know? His wife…doesn't deserve this. Don't play games because people will get hurt. Don't let him get to you unless he knows what he wants because you will get hurt. Just make sure you know what you're doing"

Meredith nods and tries to smile but she begins to cry.

"I know--I know"

Callie sighs and moves to hug her.

"Come here"

Meredith composes herself and pulls away from Callie. She looks at her and laughs.

"What is it about you that makes everyone just break down?"

"You know, I don't know…"

They both laugh as George stands in the doorway, his mouth open in surprise.

"What's--going on?"

"Nothing"

Meredith kisses George's cheek and walks away.

"What--just happened?"

Callie looks at him and smiles.

"Nothing. We were just talking"

"Oh"

She kisses him and walks out and toward his bedroom"

"Okay. But…what happened?"

He follows her down the hall, confused.