AN: Thank you so much for everyone that reviewed. You've all encouraged me so much!
Derek and Mark will both being showing up in this story, just not yet... but they will be here I promise!
*Trigger Warning.. This chapter mentions the lingering results of physical abuse.*
Meredith had managed to get all their belongings and helped her tired dizzy slow sister into the car and was finally on the way home. She glanced over to Lexie who was resting her head against the window. Her eyes closed but her face etched in discomfort from the pounding headache she had. It was truly a pitiful sight, and she actually felt sorry for the girl. Yet she found it hard to say that.
"Lexie, when did you start feeling sick?" Meredith finally asked her eyes now back on the road. "This morning? You know you should have called out. It was highly irresponsible of you to go into work. We work with people who have compromised immune systems! If you have a fever you shouldn't be around them!" She didn't know why she found herself lecturing the littler Grey but it was certainly easier then the alternatives.
Lexie opened one eye giving her sister a sideways glance. "Is now really the time for a tough love kind of lecture, Mer? I didn't know I was sick. It wasn't until the last hour I was there did the fever come on, and when it did I focused on charts."
Meredith shook her head. "Lexie, you have to learn to pay attention to your own body! I don't believe this all came on in one hour! You pushed yourself ragged, and then put others at risk of exposure to whatever bug you have."
"Meredith" Lexie all but whined.
Meredith turned her attention back to the road. "You just need to be careful Lexie… We're almost home. Let me know if you feel like you're going to get car sick or anything."
"Mmm k" Lexie responded with a tired sigh.
The rest of the car ride was quiet and uneventful. Meredith gathered their things and helped Lexie into the house and upstairs. She led Lexie into her room and pushed her to sit on the end of her bed.
"Mer" Lexie protested "I want to go to bed."
"And you will, soon enough" Meredith promised "First, I am going to run you a cool bath, to help bring down your fever. After we'll get some soup and tylenol into you and you're free to go to bed."
Lexie held up her hands "Dear God, I am sick enough don't cook for me."
Meredith ignored her sister's comment as she moved into her bathroom to turn on the faucet. "I'd feel better if we took a few steps to get your fever down. Bath, food, meds and bed" Meredith pointed to her bed "In that order."
"What?" Lexie's head snapped up causing her to wince from the movement causing her to cradle it in her hands again.
"Derek is on call tonight" Meredith explained "And you're sick, the last thing you need is to be shaky on your feet, going up and down the stairs to and from the attic. to get to a bathroom I can't have you accidentally missing a step in your sick stupor breaking your body and suing me"
Shock followed by annoyance crossed Lexie's face as she narrowed her eyes at her sister. "I am not going to sue you Meredith!"
Meredith shrugged "Now you don't have a chance of hurting yourself on top of everything else." She grabbed a towel and placed it on the toilet by the tub. "Come get in, while I go heat up a can soup."
"Don't burn the house down," Lexie grumbed as she entered her sister's bathroom. "That would be an insult on top of injury. Sick and homeless."
"Lexie the comedian ladies and gentleman" Meredith rolled her eyes as she motioned her into the bathroom. "I can handle heating up a can of soup."
Lexie massaged her temples sitting on the side of the tub while Meredith turned the water off. "I am sorry, you can, I know you can." She agreed. "I don't want to put you out. You don't need to run baths or share a bed with me. All you had to do was drive me home, I promise."
Meredith brushed her off as she headed for the door. "If I can prevent the rest of the house from getting sick, and keep you from breaking your neck on stairs, I am going to. It's the least I can do."
Lexie slowly lifted her head to meet her sister's eyes. "I could sleep on the couch, there is a bathroom down there" She offered.
"And get your sick germs in a common area in the house, no thank you. We all don't need to drop like flies.' Meredith waved her hand at her sister "It's not like we haven't ever shared a bed before. Now stop dawdling and get in the bath" She instructed as she headed out of the bathroom. "I'll be back shortly."
"I know" Lexie mumbled to herself as she got up to shut the bathroom door behind her sister "And you coming back is exactly what I am afraid of." She grumbled to herself hitting the lock on the bathroom door. Hoping to give herself a little privacy before drill sergeant Dr. Grey came back.
Her plan was to sit in the tub for a few minutes, be out upstairs in her bed before her big sister returned from making soup.
She dropped her clothing into Derek and Meredtih's hamper. Eventually they'd get thrown in the wash and back to her. She hoped.
Every muscle in her body ached. Lexie knew her body hurt from much more than being sick. Which is why she knew a bath would be good for her. Help ease her aching muscles, and lower her fever. Killing two birds with one stone. Maybe Meredith had been on to something after all. She just didn't need to tell her that.
Lexie slid further the tub letting out her first content sigh. The water almost instantly brought her a little bit of relief. Her eyes traveled to the clock, She'd soak for a few minutes.
Meredith wasn't sure why everything was coming out so demanding. She was a doctor. She took care of people everyday. It wasn't overly hard for her to muster up some good bedside manner for strangers.
She hadn't a road map for taking care of others from her own mother. She had always had to fend for herself when she was sick growing up. She'd watched TV moms care for their kids in loving nurturing ways. Sometimes it made her jealous, and sometimes made her roll her eyes. There was no need to coddle someone for the flu. Ellis Grey never did that for her. She survived and even managed to figure it out for strangers, and her friends. She'd taken care of Christina, Izzy, Alex and George before. She could easily take care of Derek as well. He was her husband. Her partner, they were a team. Taking care of each other came hand in hand.
With Lexie, it was different. Harder, Scarier. She felt almost responsible for making Lexie feel better, with everyone else she got to help them recover, but she wasn't responsible. Was she afraid of failing her?
Meredith sponed soup into two bowls while her mind raced. If she were sick, Lexie would be going out of her way to help. She wouldn't be barking orders or forcing her into a sweatshirt to avoid a chill. She'd be soft spoken and gentle, warm and inviting, calm She'd be annoyingly persistent but not harsh.
Lexie didn't hit the jackpot in the sister category having Meredith as her older sister. Though the younger Grey never seemed to mind. She loved her big sister exactly as she was. So it was actually Meredith who'd struck gold having Lexie as a kid sister.
As hard and harsh things were coming across from Meredith, it wasn't for the lack of caring. In fact it came from a place of caring. Deep caring.
Meredith was hard on Lexie, harder on her then anyone else, because somewhere along the way, she had really come to care for Lexie…She wanted the best for her. She wanted her to be her best self.
Meredith groaned "I am my mother" She muttered to herself as the realization hit. Ellis Grey wasn't maternal. She was driven. Focused and determined. She knew what she wanted and she went after it. She expected nothing less from her own daughter. She pushed instead of nurtured. So that Meredith would be strong and sufficient. Someone who would never need to rely on anyone.
Was Meredith doing the same to Lexie? Her own sister? The young woman who looked up at her like she hung the moon and the stars? Why was it so complicated? "There really should be how to be a sister book for dummies" Meredith muttered under her dropped two spoons onto the tray before adding some crackers water bottles, along with the medication from Callie, before heading up the stairs.
Meredith set the tray down on the nightstand beside her bed, She had gone to Lexie's room before making soup and had brought down some fresh pjs. Grabbing them from the end of the bed where they had been left she headed to the bathroom.
"Lexie" Meredith called gently "I've got hot soup for you, and fresh pjs" She went to push open the door, finding it locked. Why had Lexie locked the door? They were the only two home at the moment.
Meredith tapped on the door gently "I've got your favorite pajamas and hot soup." Still she was met with silence.
"Lex" her voice was a little louder. "I really think you need to get out now, getting a chill isn't a good plan." more silence. Meredith tried to keep her temper calm as she knocked again a little louder.
"Come on!" She tried again, her voice getting louder. "Lexie!"
After being met with silence Meredith slammed her hand on the door. "Alexandra Caroline Grey, answer me!"
After more silence her anger turned into worry quickly. "Lexie, I am opening this door" She warned, pulling the bobby pin from her braid and let her golden locks fall freely as she knelt down and skillfully picked the lock. Meredith Grey skilled surgeon and lock picker. She thought to herself.
Once the lock popped Meredith opened the door quickly and rushed inside, to find her sister fast asleep in the oversized tub.
"Damn it, Lexie" Meredith's hand flew to her chest "You scared the crap out of me. I thought maybe you passed out and cracked your head open." She mumbled to herself before grabbing the towel she'd left out moving over to the tub. For the second time that day she found herself kneeling next to Lexie and shaking her awake. Okay and maybe Derek had been right to be a little concerned when he found her underwater in the very same tub...
Lexie jumped and slid in the tub not able to get traction in the tub as she let out a terrified scream. `
Meredith kept her hands firmly on her upper arms to keep her from slipping. Not expecting her sister to scream. "Hey, it's okay, you're okay. I've got you." She said softly "You just fell asleep, not the best place to fall asleep by the way, but you're safe."
"Sorry" Lexie mumbled reaching for the towel Meredith had as she groggily stood up her eyes barely open. "Tired, head hurts. Want to sleep, and I am naked..."
"I know" Meredith kept a firm hand on Lexie's arm offering her support as she stepped over the side of the tub. She went to grab the towel from Lexie to wrap it around her, when she stopped dead in her tracks. Letting out an audible gasp. "What in the actual hell?"
"Meredith" Lexie froze a moment before trying to pull her arm away from her sister frantically, finding it just made her more dizzy. Her knees began to shake. Meredith kept grip on her arm tighter to keep her steady. While Lexie's head fell trying to muster up some strength. "Get out! I am naked.."
Meredith's grip stayed consistent as she opened her mouth before closing it again. Her eyes were huge. Unable to find any words.
Lexie could feel her cheeks flushing. She caught a glimpse of her sister's horrified expression and knew she had to get her out of the bathroom and as far away from her as she could. "Get out" Lexie repeated her voice rising with each letter drawn out. "Go away, Now!"
Meredith tightened her grip on her sister, to prevent her from trying to bolt or slip on the bathroom floor more so the latter of the two.. Her eyes trying to understand what she was seeing. As her breath hitched in her throat.
Lexie's hip bones and rib cage had green, purple and yellow bruising with some dark spots that looked very much like finger marks. Working in a hospital and a clinic had taught her how to easily spot out aggressive bruises caused by another person. The coloring of the bruises showed they were in the healing phases. About a week or so old.. Yet Meredith could tell they had been dark and painful at one point and probably still very tender. She ran her fingertip over one of them gently and watched as Lexie flinched slightly trying to pull away. Her fever was working in the older sister's favor, making her dizzy and weaker and unable to pull away.
"Lexie" Meredith warned her voice, calm but controlled. "Stop fighting me, please."
Lexie stilled her movement as she averted her eyes as her breath hitching slightly in the back of her throat.
Meredith's eyes locked on what caused her to gasp out loud in the first place. The crystal clear, handprint bruises above the navel, turning Lexie slightly she found a second bruise in the handshape on Lexie's lower back. Vile rose to the back of her throat as her finger tip gently traced the outline of the bruise. Someone had caused these bruises. Someone's hands had hit her hard. Grabbed her so tightly they left finger marks. Someone had hurt her little sister and now there was nothing that would stop her from finding out who had done this!
"What happened?" Meredith asked, finding her voice again as she loosened her grip on Lexie, but didn't let go.
Lexie shook her head, wincing at the pain that motion caused her head. "Noting. It's nothing. Really no big deal."
"That is not nothing, Lexie! Someone hurt you! It is a big deal" Her blue eyes locked with Lexie's brown pleading with her. "I want to know what happened, and I want to know right now!" Meredith demanded her voice rising. Whoever did this wouldn't get away with laying their hands on her sister.
"Nothing...Nobody!" Lexie repeated her own voice growing louder as she tried to pull away from her sister again. "Let go Meredith" She yelled pulling against her sister as her hand flew up to her mouth "I am going to be sick! Please let me go"
Meredith found herself physically unable to let go of the physical hold she had on her sister. However she managed to help her get to the toilet just in time. She gathered Lexie's hair and pulled it into a messy bun, using a rubber band she had on her wrist to secure it as her other hand rubbed soft circles on her back.
Obviously now wasn't the time to get Lexie to talk. The more upset she got the sicker she became. Face the virus first... The monster under the bed would have to wait.
"You're okay," Meredith encouraged as Lexie groaned, finally lifting her head up, involuntary tears rolling down her cheeks. Here breathing ragged.
"Take a deep breath, try and focus on just breathing." The older Grey encouraged as she took in a deep breath and exhaled herself as a visual reminder.
Lexie nodded slightly before laying against the cool bathroom tile. Not caring anymore she was cold and naked and vulnerable. She didn't have the energy to care anymore. Meredith had already seen what she didn't want her to see. There was no going back from that. Now she was just tired.
"No, no" Meredith shook her head, noticing goosebumps rising on Lexie's body. "We can't stay on the floor. Do you want to get into something warm now? Go lay down? That sounds nice huh?"
Lexie slowly sat up, her lower lip trembling as she reached for her pajamas.
"That's good," Meredith praised as she passed her pajamas. "You get dressed, while I grab you some water to rinse your mouth out with, okay?" Her tone much softer now.
Lexie didn't respond, she just pulled her pajama top over her head.
Once Lexie was in her pjs and her mouth rinsed out, Meredith helped her onto her side of the bed. Tucking the blankets around her.
"Do you think you can have a few bites of soup or a few crackers?" Meredith asked "We can get some Tylenol into you, without upsetting your stomach more?"
Lexie just nodded as she massaged her temples while she took the tray from her sister setting it over her lap. Meredith used this time to grab a thermometer out of her and Derek's bathroom.
"Don't mind me, you just eat." She encouraged as she climbed next to Lexie on the bed, pushing the ear thermometer into her ear in between small slurps of lukewarm soup. "The bath worked a little" Meredith mused as she pulled the thermometer away after the reading. Showing it to Lexie. "You're at 102.3 now, that's going in the right direction."
Lexie nodded before handing Meredith the second bowl of soup hoping to distract her for a few minutes.
"Thank you" Meredith acknowledged as she crossed her legs underneath as she managed a few bites of her own soup. Though she'd lost her appetite seeing her sister's battered body. Neither Grey sister were very hungry and neither Grey sister had anything to say both lost in their own thoughts. The only sound that was heard was the clinking of spoons against bowls every once in a while.
After a few minutes Meredith placed her bowl on the tray next to Lexie's bowl before moving it outside the door leaving it against the wall in the hallway. She'd get it later. Returning to the side of the bed she handed Lexie some Tylenol and a bottle of water, before heading to her dresser grabbing her own pajamas. It wasn't even eight PM, but she was pretty sure it was time for bed. Maybe when she woke up this would all be just some kind of sick weird nightmare.
Meredith took the water bottle from Lexie setting in on the nightstand for easy access before crossing to the other side of the bed. Sliding in next to her sister. She fluffed Derek's pillows trying to get them to the consistency that she preferred.
"You don't have to be nice to me" Lexie mumbled. "You don't have to let me sleep in here. On your side of the bed. I am not Christina."
"Is there a reason that you think that I don't know who you are?" Meredith asked her as she helped Lexie lay down. "It's time for you to close your eyes. Let your body rest. Heal"
Lexie slid down her back to her sister taking a semi fetal position. Letting out a groan as her head continued to pulsate. Her eyes squeezed tightly in pain. "I don't feel good, Mer."
Meredith laughed slightly to herself, that was an obvious statement. "I know, I am sorry you're miserable." The older Grey sat next to her propped up against pillows. Her hand went to her sister's hair. Carefully pulling the hair tie out letting the dark locks fall freely as her fingers began to work her way through the locks. Running her finger tips softly over the scalp. As her eyes focused on Lexie.
"You remembered" The younger Grey's voice soft as her eyes closed. "You remembered."
There was a blizzard happening in Seattle. All nurses and doctors at the hospital were asked to stay if they could.. Many weren't able to make it in and leaving wasn't overly safe. This meant longer shifts to cover for those stuck at home and more exhaustion for those stuck at the hospital.
Meredith was tired, actually dead on her feet was more like it. She finally had the chance to get some sleep wherever she could find it, because of the Blizzard the on call rooms were crammed full of doctors and nurses trying to get in a few hours of sleep, before picking up extra hours to help cover to find a bed had become a chore.
Pushing the door open to the final on call room. Meredith exhaled loudly to herself finding every bed claimed.
Stepping into the room she realized on a bottom bunk was a doctor she'd only ever seen in passing, and never had gotten his name passed out on his back. She envied him.
Next she looked up and found Alex Karev on a top bunk punching a pillow to the shape he wanted. While a second pillow lay to the side. Her eyes lit up. There may be hope of sleep after all.
She glanced over to the last stand alone twin bed against the wall seeing who claimed that one. She was pretty sure her heart almost leapt with joy when she realized who had claimed that bed. Lexie! Lexie was on that bed massaging her temples. Her face grimaced slightly with her eyes tightly shut.
Meredith's eyes went back and forth from Alex to Lexie before moving over to stand by the top bunk. She tapped his leg earning a grunt.
"You have an extra pillow." Meredith stated.
Alex rolled his eyes and grabbed it, tossing at Meredith hitting her directly in the face. "Knock yourself out."
"Thank you" Meredith hugged the pillow to her chest before crossing the room to stand next to the single twin bed, looking down at her sister.
Lexie, feeling someone standing over her opened one eye slowly and groaned finding Meredith peering down at her.. "Meredith, I am really tired and my head is killing me." She pleaded. Expecting the older Grey to try and pull rank and force her from the bed.
Meredith narrowed her eyes "So...move over and go to sleep. Your head won't hurt once you're asleep."
Lexie's eyes widened in surprise. She hadn't seen that one coming. "Um, what? I-I"
"Move...Over." Meredith repeated as she motioned the gesture with her finger. "You're my sister, isn't there some kind of bylaw that siblings have to share?"
"Shut up, Greys!" Alex grumbled, earning an eye roll from both sisters.
Lexie slid closer to the wall taking her pillow with her allowing room for Meredith and her pillow to slip in beside her. "Tell that to Molly" The younger Grey scoffed.
"What?" Meredith asked before pulling up a blanket and tucking it around both of them.
"Never mind"
Alex sat up on the top bunk and glared down at the sisters. "Don't make me come down there…"
Meredith let out a content sigh finally giving her feet a much needed break. As she ignored Kurev. Her already heavy eyes closed. Sleep would be a welcome relief. She was just about to nod off, when a rustling noise and movement on the bed caused them to open.
Lexie was going back and forth between trying to massage a temple and run her fingers through her hair causing slight jostling and rustling of the sheets.
"What are you doing?" Meredith asked, raising an eyebrow "Can you please just settle and go to sleep?"
"I have a headache, I took something for it, but it hasn't kicked in" Lexie admitted "My mom used to run her fingers through my hair and massaged my temples when I got them. It always made me feel better. I am trying to help myself feel better until the meds kick in and I can sleep… Its not working so well. Sorry"
Meredith eyed her sister for a moment. If she wanted to sleep for a few hours, she needed Lexie to sleep. After a few more minutes of movement she finally reached out and moved Lexie's hand away from her head stopping her of her action with a slight whimper. Meredith turned on her side so she was facing Lexie's back. She reached out a hand and began to work her fingers through her sister's hair, in a soft continuous movement. Her fingertips massaged the scalp as she went. She felt Lexie stiffen for a brief moment, so taken by surprise that she sucked in some air quickly holding it for a moment before she let it out, her body almost instantly relaxing.
Several more strokes of Meredith's fingers through her hair and Lexie's breathing became slow and steady as she gave way to sleep.
Meredith made a mental note of this trick in case she ever encountered a wound up Lexie again. It was like a magical power literally at her fingertips.
Meredith's own eyes closed again, yet she kept the movement of running her fingers through the dark locks for a few seconds longer before her hand stilled and landed on the pillow beside her as sleep took over.