"Just go--she doesn't know--she's a professional, you're a professional--just--go in"

Meredith stands outside the exam room Addison is occupying, mumbling to herself. She finally takes a deep breath and opens the door. Addison looks up at her from behind a counter--she smiles.

"Hi Meredith"

"Hi--I've got the uh--patient history …you wanted…"

She hands Addison the papers as she stammers nonsense and Addison watches her, amused.

"So, I'm gonna go…"

She turns to leave and cringes when she hears Addison call to her.

"Meredith?"

She fakes a smile and turns to face her.

"Yes"

Addison's demeanor has now changed to a mixture of concern and sadness and this makes Meredith feel crappy--and now scared because she knows what she's going to ask her.

"Did--uh, anything happen between you and Derek last night?"

"What?"

"Last night. Did something happen between you and my husband?"

"Addison…"

"I'm asking because, he won't talk to me. I didn't have the nerve to go home last night because I didn't feel like taking any B.S. So, I'm asking you. Woman to woman. Did anything happen between you and Derek last night?"

There's a long pause.

"Like what?"

Meredith was bullshitting her way through this entire situation and she knew it was the wrong thing to do but it was coming out that way before she could stop it.

"Look, I'm not going to confront you about specifics, Meredith because, whatever happened between you and my husband last night was his fault as much as it is your, and possibly more his because it was his responsibility to tell me--but…Meredith, I never hated you, I never blamed you--I can hate you now"

Meredith looks into the eyes of this woman who approached her honorably--she looked hurt and angry and there was nothing scarier than a woman wronged. She knew it because she had been that woman not so long ago. Now she was on the receiving end and all she could do was stare back, not saying anything. Finally, Addison breaks eye contact and begins to look through the files Meredith had handed her.

"You can go. Thanks for bringing these up"

Meredith pauses, thinking for a second that maybe she could fix the situation but, she knows there isn't anything she could possibly say to fix this.

"You're welcome"

With that she walks out of the room and curses herself on the way down the hallway.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"It's not that hard. Just pick a number. One through ten"

Cristina and George are still in the basement. They sit across each other on the floor.

"Cristina, stop it. I'm not going to rate my sex life"

"I don't want you to rate your sex life, I just want you to rate your girlfriend"

"Why!"

"I'm curious. I mean, Meredith sort of has an idea. She and Izzie have heard you two a couple of times"

George now looks terrified.

"Liar!"

"I don't lie. Well, I do. But now about this. Come on! I'm bored, humor me"

"They've really heard us?"

"Georgie, it can only be a good thing. I mean, she's obviously not complaining, right?"

"Shut up"

He pauses for a second then looks up at Cirstina.

"She's a twelve"

XXXXXXXXXXX

Izzie stands in the cafeteria line to pay. She has an armful of different types of drinks and snacks. Alex runs up to stand next to her.

"Hey, Izz"

"Hi Alex"

She smiles weakly at him then turns her attention back to the line in front of her.

"How um, are you feeling?"

"I'm okay."

"The nurses are really riding your ass, huh?"

"Yep"

"You need help with those?"

She pays the cashier.

"No, thanks"

She walks off, avoiding him. He frowns and walks off the way he came.

A few feet away from the cafeteria Izzie runs into Meredith.

"Hey, Izzie"

"Hi"

"How are you doing? You okay?"

"Yeah. I'm fine. What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing. Why would there be something wrong?"

"You're more pale than usual…are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah. I'm okay. I'm here for you"

"Okay. Here, take some of these"

She hands her some of the stuff she is carrying as they continue to walk down the hall. They walk in silence for a while, once in a while Izzie turns to Meredith. They get in the elevator.

"So, are you going to tell me what's wrong?"

"No"

"Okay"

Another pause.

"Addison hates me"

"Addison doesn't hate you. She could, but I don't think she does"

"No, she does. And I don't blame her. I slept with her husband"

"Well, yeah, but, you didn't know he was married"

"Yeah…"

Izzie stares at Meredith now, suddenly her eyes widen and she presses the emergency stop button on the elevator.

"You didn't!"

"I did. But that's not why I'm freaking out right now so please don't yell at me, I just need to vent"

"Okay. Vent"

"She asked me if something had happened, I said no. And now she hates me. I destroyed a marriage. I'm a filthy, filthy whore, and I should feel worse about it. But it's not all my fault. He's the one who's married so…and Finn, oh I had forgotten about Finn. I Haven't called him. I'm having a horrible day!"

Pause.

"Are you done?"

"Yeah. I think I am"

Izzie resumes the elevator ride and they both stand in silence again.

"They're sending you on food runs?"

Meredith asks, calming herself down.

"Yeah. A whole month of this"

"Hang tight. It'll be over soon"

"Yeah"

"Yeah"

The elevator doors open and they step out.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

next chapter: a really cool moment between Shepherd and Callie.

Review please!

xoxoxo