A/N: Chapter 5 is up. Thank you much for all the reviews.

I don't own Grey's Anatomy, or its characters. Please review.

Mark was sitting on the chair beside Meredith's bed contemplating and occasionally running his hand through her hair. Mark hadn't left Meredith's side since he returned from Richard's office. He estimated that she was about to wake up anytime soon.

"Hey there, sleepy head." Mark greeted Meredith as she partially opened her eyes.

"What happened…water.." Meredith softly asked.

Mark poured a glass of water from the jug nearby, and then adjusted the bed, so that she could sit up.

"Here you go. You need to hydrate." Mark told her, handing her the water glass.

Meredith slowly sipped her water, then asked, "What happened to me?"

"You fainted today morning." Mark told her, caressing her face.

"Oh, ya. I think I remember… Talking to Derek about some aneurysms and Cristina showing me some charts. I was even sick this morning. Do you know why?" Meredith asked.

"I do, Mer. There was a wound on your head, pressing against the nerves connected to your digestive system. That was what was causing you to be sick. Thankfully, you work in a building full of doctors and we were able to remedy it." Mark explained.

"Who operated on me? And I feel something on my face and stomach… what is it?" Meredith said, gently rubbing her hand through her stomach, which had a white bandage wrapped around it

"Well, when you fainted, you scarred your face and hit your stomach. The hit on your stomach caused your uterus to tear. But, don't worry, it's all fine now." Mark reassured her.

"Who operated on me?" Meredith pressed.

"Derek operated on the wound on your head, I fixed up your beautiful face and Addison repaired the tear on your uterus."

"How long did this operation take?" Meredith thought for a second the three of them, would operate separately, elongating the OR time by three.

"An hour or so, why?" Mark asked confused as to why she would want to know this.

"So, the three of you were in the same OR at the same time, working on the same patient?" Mark questioned bewildered.

"Yes, just because the patient was you." Mark told her, smiling. Meredith was touched that the three of them put aside their differences for her.

"Who ran interference?" She wanted to know who in the hospital would take on such a task, she guessed it would either be Dr. Webber or Dr. Bailey.

"No one. I didn't allow any interns or residents in the OR. I didn't want to take any risks, so, just the three of us, you, and a couple of scrub nurses." Mark told her, shocking Meredith.

"Firstly, Wow! I'm proud that the three of you were able to be there, without biting each other off… No one is injured, right?" Meredith asked for confirmation.

"No, no one is injured. All three of us came out of the OR unscathed." Mark replied smiling at her astonishment.

"Mark, did you just say that you didn't allow any residents or interns in the OR?" Meredith asked, recalling his previous words.

"Uh, yes."

"You do realise that this is a teaching hospital?" Meredith asked confused.

"I don't care. They can learn on someone else." Mark dismissed Meredith.

"But Mark— "

"Meredith, I was so scared and so focused on getting you better, I even told off Dr. Bailey." Mark elaborated, knowing that that statement would prove his mental state to her.

"You told off Dr. Bailey!" Meredith couldn't believe him. The entire hospital was scared of Dr. Bailey.

"Yes. You're important to me. Very important." Mark confidently replied. Meredith knew that this was the time to approach the elephant in the room. She finally had mark's ear and wasn't going to waste it.

"Mark, about our conversation last week. Please hear me out." Mark nodded and got up from his chair to sit on Meredith's bed, so Meredith started. "I never meant to imply that I'm not important to you or you're not important to me. Cause, you are. You're my best friend and I really value what we have."

"Then why?"

"You weren't there that time. And so much was happening between my internship, mom's Alzheimer's, Derek and everyone that I wasn't thinking about you."

"That's reassuring." Mark stated flatly.

"Mark… Mark, look at me." Meredith said, gently running her free hand through his face. "You are my BEST friend, have been since Boston. But, at that time, there was so much going on, I… I couldn't factor you in. I know that it's a lame excuse, but you need to trust me. I didn't have much to go on. There was so much heart ache and pressure and everything going on that I just…"

"Meredith, you should have called me. I would have come here. Even after the incident you didn't contact me. You should—"Mark was giving his point of view when,

"Meredith, thank god you're awake." Cristina said, barging through the door. "Oh sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt."

"But you did." Mark murmured, and Meredith swatted him, giving him a slight smile as an apology.

"Come in please. I hear he didn't let you guys even see me while I was unconscious. I need to see someone other than him." Meredith told jokingly.

"Fine. You guys talk, I'll be back later." Mark told Meredith half- heartedly. He left the room, giving way to Cristina, Alex, Izzie and George.

"Hey, you scared us there." Alex told her.

"I know; I'm sorry."

"Man, McSteamy is protective of you." Izzie remarked.

"Standing up to Bailey, that took balls." Cristina added.

"Even I was shocked when he told me." Meredith agreed.

"Can he do that… dismiss Dr. Bailey like that?" George asked.

"Uh, Yeah. He is her boss as well." Cristina countered.

"But I thought people in this hospital thought that Bailey was even the chief's boss." George asked confused.

"Except when Mark is on his over-protective rampage. Was he really bad?" Meredith asked her friends.

"Hell yes. He didn't even allow us inside your room. 'Only attendings.' He literally paged Webber to do your gen surgery check-up, even when Bailey was just outside your door."

"Oh God. I'm so screwed. Bailey is going to forever hate me." Meredith said groaning. She knew Bailey was going to forever hold this against her.

"Don't worry. I'll give you the summary of all the amazing surgeries I get to do when she chooses me above you." Cristina joked.

"Oh, shut up." Meredith said annoyed.

"as if that's happening." Alex remarked.

"What do you mean?" Izzie asked Alex.

"If anything was proven today, it was that how much Shepherd and Sloan care about you. Ever since you fainted, they didn't leave your side till the operation was completed." Alex explained.

"He's right, you know. Shepherd's feelings might not be romantic, but he does care a lot. And Mark, he had perched himself here. They both cancelled all their operation for the day. Even Addison cleared her scheduled as soon as she saw that you needed her to operate." Izzie agreed.

"They operated on me; they are doctors." Meredith tried to reason.

"No, Mer. They are the heads of their respective departments. Your procedures were minor. Any other doctor, or even a resident could have performed the surgeries." Cristina rebutted her.

"Least of all, they could have guided while residents do it. Your injuries weren't fatal." George added.

"Look guys, I know, alright. They are a tad bit protective of me, so what?" Meredith told defensively.

"No one is blaming you. Meredith." Izzie said.

"Yeah? Seems like you are." Meredith blamed. Her blood pressure was getting high.

"Mer, calm down." Cristina tried.

"No, I won't calm down. Tell me truth first about what you guys actually think of this." Meredith said adamantly.

"Okay, look, we get that none of this is your fault. You didn't know Shepherd the night at the bar and you met Mark a while back. But they are our bosses. And no one is saying you don't deserve being in an OR or anything, it's just you have those guys to fall back on, when you need help or are in trouble." Alex tried to explain.

"People would kill to have such connections at this hospital, and you know it. Daughter of Ellis Grey having two world class surgeons on your side against any hurdle Bailey puts up. She might want to hold this against you, but she won't be successful, cause those two won't let it be." Cristina added.

"We're just jealous, that's all." George re-assured Meredith.

From there all five conceded and the conversation moved to lighter topics. The other four told Meredith about the procedures they assisted on and was happened in the pit. Cristina was in the middle of her story when Mark, Derek and Addison entered the room.

"We just need to do a check- up." Derek explained while walking towards Meredith.

"Can we stay?" George asked.

"No. Leave please." Mark ordered.

"Mark—"Meredith tried to dismiss his command when he interrupted her.

"You will go off to sleep after this check- up. You need to rest." Mark told her strictly.

"I can stay with her through the night." Cristina offered. Even though she knew that Meredith was in good hands with the three senior doctors, she worried about her best friend. It was difficult for her not knowing what was going on throughout the day.

"No need. I will stay with her." Mark replied and indicated the four of them to leave. They said their good- byes and wished Meredith to take care before leaving.

Derek moved to Meredith's side and took off the bandage on her head. He examined it and was satisfied with what he saw.

"This wound seems to healing nicely. There are no signs of infections." Derek told Meredith.

"That's good." Meredith said relieved.

"Do you know when you fell?" He asked her.

"I don't remember… wait, I did hit my head on the bathroom door last week." She told Derek.

"And that's your cause… I'll update the charts and you can be discharged tomorrow from my side barring any complications" He concluded.

Addison was next, who did an ultra- sound which looked normal as well. After that, Derek and Addison left, giving the room to Mark and Meredith.

"How are you feeling?" Mark asked Meredith.

"Fine, a little sore. That's all."

"Good. You're gonna come home with me tomorrow."

"What? Why?"

"Because we don't want you to climb stairs for a week. Derek will agree with me."

"You're teaming up against me?"

"Yes. He has agreed to try and forgive me."

"That's great. Not fair to me, but I'm happy for you two."

"Come on, now sleep. I'm right here if you need anything."

"Mark," She called for him to look at her. "Thank you. You're so much more important to me, I forgot that when we were apart."

Mark smiled at her, knowing that they were going to be okay. "You're important to me as well. Now, if you listen to me and heal properly, I'll forgive you for forgetting that fact."

"Deal." Meredith agreed thankfully.