AN: Thanks again for all the follows and reviews! You guys are seriously the best. You help inspire me to keep going.

I promise the next update won't be as long, its already mostly written. :)

and again I am sorry for any mistakes.

Lexie's eyes slowly opened, her mouth was dry and she was slightly confused but she wasn't in any pain for the first time in days.

"Hello, my string bean." Her eyes traveled to the direction of the voice to find her father.

She managed a small smile. "Daddy?"

He moved closer to the bed, his hand running over her forehead "Good to see those big beautiful brown eyes of yours."

"Love you" Lexie's eyes closed again not being able to keep them open. "Meredith?" She asked her father hoping her sister hadn't left, especially since their father had shown up.

"I am here." Meredith stepped out from behind her father as she reached for Lexie's hand to give it to squeeze. "Promised you I would be, and I am not leaving either, when you wake again. I'll be right here."

Lexie heard her sister's promise and managed a small squeeze back into Meredith's hand. She was just too tired to say anything more.

"I'll be back tomorrow" Thatcher ran his hand over her forehead again before leaning down to kiss it. "You get some sleep baby girl, and listen to your sister."

Her father's instructions caught her attention as she slowly opened her eyes to nod in understanding before they closed again.

"Call me?" Thatcher asked Meredith "If you girls need anything, I'll be back tomorrow."

Meredith nodded "I've got her." she assured him. "I promise."

"Take care of yourself too," He added quietly "You're not good to either one of you, if you pass out of exhaustion."

"I'll be okay" She offered him a tired smile. "I plan on sleeping while she sleeps."

Thatcher kissed Lexie's forehead one more time as he passed by Meredith he placed his hand on her shoulder and offered a reassuring squeeze before slipping out of the room. Meredith watched him go as she tried to process what she was feeling. Watching him interact with her sister was sweet. Having him be fatherly to her though was confusing and Meredith did not like being confused. She quickly shook it off. She didn't have time or energy to deal with daddy issues. Lexie needed her full focus and attention. Nothing between Thatcher and herself was her sister's fault.

"My little Grey, your job right now is just to rest, and not worry about anything else." Meredith instructed her sister, even though it looked like Lexie had fallen back to sleep, she was pretty sure she hadn't been still listening.

"Thank you, Mer, '' Lexie's tired voice replied, confirming that she was in fact still awake and listening. Probably trying to gauge if Meredith was in fact okay before she let herself fall asleep again.

Meredith felt the bed shift next to her and offered a smile as she lifted her head from the mattress. Her position mirroring the one Lexie had been in when she'd woken up from her own surgery. "Hi, again." She whispered into the darkness.

"Hi" Lexie greeted her as her eyes opened she found Meredith arched over the bed. She winced remembering how her back had ached for days after she'd done the same waiting on Meredith to wake. "Does your back hurt?"

Meredith shook her head "Nope…"

"Liar" Lexie mumbled as her eyes scanned the room and even in the darkness she could make out Mark's figure sleeping propped up on a chair. She noticed a pullout bed that probably had been meant for Meredith held two sleeping figures. "Callie and Arizona stole your bed?" She asked in a hushed whisper.

Meredith stood and stretched before quietly grabbing the pitcher of water. She poured a cup of water sticking a straw inside she moved back to the bed "Think you can do it?" She extended the cup to Lexie.

Lexie nodded as she slowly reached for the cup "Was dad here?" She whispered, taking a small sip before extending the cup back to her sister. "Did I fever dream that?"

Meredith nodded and pushed the cup back "Try a little more, your throat will thank me later." She encouraged quietly.

"Bossy" Lexie shook her head in amusement as she took the cup back and took a bigger sip followed by two more small ones. The water did feel good soothing the back of her throat after one more final sip she handed it back to her sister. This time she took it back and set it back on the tray before taking a seat on the stool next to Lexie's bed pulling herself as close as she could to the bed.

"Arizona and Callie stole your bed?" Lexie asked again a hushed whisper as she pointed to the sleeping figures.

Meredith nodded with a smile "I let them."

"And him?" She pointed to Mark with an amused smile.

"Wouldn't leave, when Callie kicked everyone out" Meredith shrugged. "His neck is sure going to hurt like hell tomorrow."

"There was more?" Lexie asked keeping her tone quiet.

"Kepner, Cristina, Derek" Meredith began to rattle off "Jackson and Bailey were all here for a while. Altman, Webber and Alex popped in briefly after his date with promises of catching you tomorrow, some others from your class of interns I don't remember all of their names."

"And dad?" Lexie asked.

"He was here" Meredith pointed to the purple blanket draped over Lexie's leg with the teal one at the foot of the bed. "He brought us a bag of color coded necessities for the night."

"You have a color" Lexie observed as she cleared her throat and looked away so she wouldn't tear up while she reached for her blanket.

"Suppose I do" Meredith nodded she helped Lexie grab hers before she grabbed the teal blanket from the end of the bed and held it out in front of her sister. "This is mine, keep your paws off, you cozy blanket stealing thief." She pointed her finger at her.

"April took them..." Lexie responded tiredly as she leaned back against her pillows and tried to not smile.

"Blaming Kepner?" Meredith raised her eyebrow as she dropped her blanket and leaned up and tucked Lexie's around her. Followed by making sure her IV was good. "I'll allow it today, being you just had emergency surgery and all."

"I am tired," Lexie whispered to Meredith, "Really tired, like to the bone tired."

"I am sure you are" Meredith nodded "You just had surgery. You have three fractured ribs, a sternum fracture and an abdominal hematoma."

Lexie groaned quietly to not wake anyone up. "Not going home tomorrow am I?"

"Not going home tomorrow." Meredith confirmed "Callie is going to keep you here for a few days. We are monitoring blood clots, and making sure everything starts healing properly before you are discharged."

"I am out of the game for a few weeks?"

"You've been benched." The older sister nodded

"Not fair" Lexie mumbled tiredly as her eyes closed.

Meredith wanted to scream of course it's not fair Lexie. You were used as a damn punching bag. However she instead just took a seat on the side of the bed.

"Are they mad at me?" Lexie asked quietly.

"Whom?" Meredith asked quietly.

"Cristina and Webber for being benched?" She whispered when Callie shifted across the room on the cot.

Meredith shook her head "Of course not, Lexie." she spoke softly. "Everyone just wants to see you feeling better and not in pain."

Lexie nodded "What time is it?"

"four thirty in the morning." Meredith glanced at her watch.

"Did you sleep?" Lexie asked quietly, "Are you going to do your rounds this morning?"

"Tomorrow" Meredith shook her head "Webber and Bailey benched me today too."

Lexie winced as almost waiting for Meredith to yell at her. She knew Meredith didn't enjoy time off. She was motivated to keep moving just as much as Cristina was. Days off were not a thing.

Meredith shrugged "It's not like I am not in the hospital" She reminded her sister with a smirk. "It's my happy place after all."

"You're a true freak." Lexie teased slightly rolling her eyes.

"Maybe, but we both know I'll be able to spy and get my hands on things." She smiled, "while I keep my eye on you and make sure you rest." She then narrowed her eyes "And you're a freak just like me, you're going to be jealous.. We both know it."

"Yeah.. probably" Lexie admitted "Though more seriously, will you at least get a nap in?"

"If you behave yourself I'll get a nap in."

"I can't believe they stayed," She whispered, pointing to Arizona and Callie.

"I am not surprised," Meredith replied quietly "They are invested in you and your story, and want to be a part of who gets you feeling better and back on your feet. You're our Little Grey."

Lexie shifted uncomfortably at Meredith's words as she took a deep breath before nodding "Meredith, can I have some more water, My throat is so dry."

"Nice deflection" Meredith responded quietly before handing the cup of water to her sister carefully,

Lexie took a small sip as she avoided her sister's eyes and just focused on her water instead.

Meredith kept her eyes on her sister. Studying her as she mentally prepared for just how long the next coming days would really be.

Meredith was dead on her feet. It had been a long three days. She had known it was going to be a long few days, but she wasn't expecting to feel this tired after her first back at work. She and Lexie had both practically slept the day before away.

Lexie was still running a fever, and in more pain then anyone was comfortable with. However, she was actually starting to perk up to everyone's relief. She'd slept most of the day after surgery. She had not been interested in eating or drinking anything, or really even talking to anyone that morning when they'd woken she'd woken up more more talkative and hadn't turned up her nose completely at breakfast.

Meredith stretched her arms as she approached Lexie's room. Wanting nothing more than to get off her feet and rest her eyes for a few minutes. Maybe she could daydream about what it felt like to sleep in her own bed.

She pushed the door open to her sister's room finding Teddy sitting in a chair pulled close to Lexie's bed. Her shoes discarded on the ground. Her socked feet resting on a bar below the bed. A tupperware container of salad in her hands, she was shoveling bites of salad into her mouth. Her eyes on the TV screen above the bed.

"Hey Altman'' She greeted Teddy as she moved over to the cot in the room and flopped down. "She's sleeping?" She asked curiously as she leaned back on the bed, her arm covering her eyes from the overhead lights above. "Did she eat tonight?"

"Fell asleep about twenty minutes ago, watching her romcom movie she had to watch, and no she turned her nose up at dinner. Couldn't even get her to eat a peanut butter cup." Teddy answered as she motioned to the tray. "Derek stopped by and left you dinner." She pointed to the table by the cot. "He'll be back after surgery. He plans on hanging out here with you for a few hours." She told Meredith as she rested her salad bowl on her lap to look at the sticky note by the bed. "Callie and Arizona headed home for the night, with the plans of being here first thing in the morning…"

"Figures she would pick a romcom." The older Grey shook her head with amusement as she opened the bag that contained her dinner. Her stomach rumbling reminding her just how hungry she was. She pulled out the sandwich and unwrapped it quickly taking a bite. "So good," She said between bites. "I love my husband."

"He's a good one" Teddy agreed with a smile

"And Callie and Arizona are heroes these days." She added as she glanced at Teddy. In fact she wasn't surprised to see Teddy hanging out in her sister's room. Every time she'd passed Lexie's room that day to do a semi scan and check of her younger sister someone had been in her room with her.

Now Meredith couldn't confirm it but she had a sneaky suspicion that Arizona had somehow orchestrated a schedule so little Grey was never alone. The fact that they didn't know who hurt her was in the back of all their minds. They didn't know who, where or how… Their guesses since Lexie had said the attacker thought she was Meredith, and she had said it was because Meredith was Elis's daughter that it might be connected to the hospital, and nobody liked the idea of her just sitting alone.

She had spied Webber in there first thing that morning, drinking his coffee and reading the paper. Bailey had claimed she needed a quiet place to read charts and everyone else was driving her crazy that day. Callie of course had been in and out all day. Arizona and Christina brought their lunches in and set up camp Mark had been in and out all day long.

Alex had a story he was tired and all the on-call room beds were full so he had to nap on the cot.

April had gone to the house and come back bringing back supplies that both Meredith and Lexie would probably want and need while staying a few days at the hospital. So of course I had to unpack everything and put it where it was easily accessible. Jackson of course had to help April with all of these tasks.

Derek hadn't used any excuse. He'd just said he wanted to see his favorite little Grey.

Even Thatcher had been there for a few hours. It was comforting to Meredith's big sister's heart to know her little sister was safe and being watched over by the community around them. Yet she didn't know how Lexie was handling it. The poor girl hadn't a moment to herself in three days. Meredith was quite sure she'd lose her mind if she was Lexie.

"How are you doing, you look dead on your feet." Teddy asked as she placed her empty salad container on the bedside table before slipping her feet into her shoes. She stood and stretched her back and arms before grabbing Lexie's chart to hand to Meredith knowing she'd want to take a look at it.

Meredith tried to hide a yawn unsuccessfully as she took the chart nodding a thanks to Teddy. "Shocking considering the Grey sisters slept most of yesterday."

"Why don't you go home?" Teddy offered "I can stay with her longer. I promise you she won't be alone at all." as she watched the older Grey quickly shake her head dismissing that idea right away.

"Arizona has a schedule, doesn't she?" Meredith asked with a smirk as she glanced over Lexie's chart to Altman.

Teddy shrugged "I know not what you talk of, I just happened to walk by and found her watching a romcom. Sounded like a good girls night to me. Only thing missing is the wine"

Meredith narrowed her eyes "You normally have girl nights with Arizona, Callie and Bailey...Not Lexie…."

"Are you saying I can't be friends with your little sister?" Teddy crossed her arms over her chest and pretended to look wounded. "I am hurt…."

Meredith rolled her eyes "There is a schedule…" She paused, "It means a lot to me. Thank you."

Teddy winked as she settled back in the chair. "I am really invested in this movie, if you want to at least get a shower in. As you can see in her chart she's had some pain killers recently. She's out."

"I know." Meredith glanced at her sister "The last few days, I have learned to read when she's sound asleep, when she's restless sleeping or just pretending because she's spying. I am getting good at reading the Great Lexipedia."

"Once her fever goes down, and there are no more signs of infections she'll get to go home. That'll be better for healing. Her own bed."

Passing the charts back to Teddy she went back to her sandwich. "I'd like very much for her to go home, and for us to wake up from this nightmare."

Teddy gave her a sympathetic smile. She was about to say something when Lexie's phone started ringing and vibrating on the bed. Teddy grabbed it quickly and tossed it to Meredith who read the caller ID. "Molly…"

She quickly hit the silence button not wanting to answer Lexie's phone but also not wanting the phone to wake her up. "She'll leave a voicemail."

"Mere, go take a shower, do something to unwind. You deserve it."

Before Meredith could respond her own phone began to ring. She dug it out of her scrubs and looked at the ID. "Molly is persistent…" She glanced at Lexie before looking back to Teddy "You sure you're good with the romcom movie and the girls night host passed out?"

"Best kind of girls night" Teddy offered with a smile.

Meredith nodded as she answered the phone quietly before slipping out of the room. "Hey Molly" She greeted the youngest Grey almost unsurely.

Her eyes were burning, her temples throbbed and her feet were protesting being on them as she paced the hall outside of her sisters room. While the youngest sister began a rapid fire of questions. Why wasn't Lexie answering, what was wrong. Thatcher had let it slip that Lexie's injuries were the result of an assault, and the youngest was demanding answers. Answers the eldest didn't have herself.

"She's sleeping" She answered the first question as gently and with the most compassion she could muster up for the young woman on the other end of the line. "I am not going to wake her up, but I will have her call you back when she is awake." She offered.

Meredith continued to pace the halls as she listened to the rambling on the other line of the phone. "Yes.. She does have three pillows on her bed." She assured her. "I have found out she likes three pillows when she doesn't feel good…" She paused, "Yes, her pain is being managed…" She was pretty sure she wanted to pull her hair out at this point. "No, she's not eating right now, but we aren't too worried about that. She's being hydrated… No she's not watching scary movies.." She raised her eyebrow at that one. "Oh they make her cry when she's sick.. I see… She's warm enough she has several blankets...Thatcher brought more.." It was official she wanted to throw her phone and run. She knew Molly was just worried about her sister, but it would be nice if she had some trust that Lexie was being cared for.

"Molly" Meredith tried to interrupt. "I know you are worried about your sister, we all are, but not only am I a doctor myself. I am her sister too Molly, I am capable of making sure she's okay!" She winced slightly, she hadn't meant to snap.

Meredith was exhausted, she was three days into this situation with Lexie. She was the one that was there. Just because she hadn't been there since childhood didn't mean she couldn't figure out how to be there for her now, or that she was any less of her sister. "I am sorry" She offered a quiet apology "I know you've known her your whole life, and she's your big sister and you just want to help, you're worried. I shouldn't have snapped at you… We both want the same thing for her."

The other end became quiet for a few minutes before Molly announced she was coming.

"You don't have to come," Meredith tried her as she clenched her jaw from snapping again. "I swear she's getting the best possible care there is…No, she hasn't told us who did this yet, but…." Meredith inwardly groaned "Molly, she's not ready to talk about it….you coming won't make her talk faster…" She rolled her eyes and clenched her fingers when the younger woman insisted that she could get Lexie to talk. After all they'd known each other their whole lives.

She thought about telling her that Lexie had not wanted Molly or Thatcher called in the first place; but she thought better of it letting it go.

"I'll let Lexie know you're coming" Meredith offered "And we will get ready for your arrival." She added hoping that Molly would at least show up after Lexie was released. She wasn't sure she was up to Molly, Thatcher and Lexie's reunion in the hospital. She still didn't who or what happened to Lexie. She was navigating new territory of big sister and wasn't really wanting to add more Grey's to the mix.