Chapter 4: Rain

The next few weeks had been almost radio silent on both ends as Meredith began her long shifts at the hospital while Addison was stuck at the practice. There were chance glances here and there accompanied by some waves but not much more than that as it seemed her neighbor had been stuck with late night shifts. As for her, the redhead was slowly getting used to her new job with one or maybe two deliveries a day. So far not much surgery, which was slowly starting to get to her. Surgery was her life. It was true that she loved being an OB but there was something about surgery. The way she felt the moment a scalpel was placed in her hand, that high, she missed it.

It was Saturday morning and she wasn't sure why exactly she was awake, especially since she had no work. She thought it might've been her internal clock until she heard rumbling thunder and rain. Her eyes flew open and she slightly lifted her head before looking at the clock, which read 6:35 am.

Muttering to herself, she dropped back onto the pillow until she recalled the night before. She had gone yet again to make sure Meredith's door was locked, leaving her iPod, book, and cardigan on the chair. After double checking the blonde's door she went straight upstairs leaving everything behind.

"It's raining. Dammit!" She got up with a jolt, feeling slightly dizzy at the sudden movement.

Running down and opening the outside door she went through the rain to pick up her stuff. The water was cold and it was coming down hard. She felt the pelting rain on her skin as she had run out in her sleeveless short nightgown. Shivering a bit she went back to her door but it didn't open.

'No fucking way.' She thought to herself.


Meredith wasn't in a very good mood that morning. She had woken up early and gotten herself ready only to realize that her shift wasn't supposed to start until noon. She had plopped herself back in bed when she noticed her window had been open, which meant that thanks to the torrential rain her curtain was soaked through.

She got up and went to the window to close it and take down the curtain. As she stepped closer she noticed her lovely neighbor running around her terrace. She chuckled a bit as she saw Addison frantically moving about. Meredith was just about to close her window when she heard the redhead screaming.

"You stupid door! Why?! It's raining!" Addison shouted bitterly. Meredith moved to her balcony, shielding herself as best she could.

"Addison!" She called and the redhead snapped to look at her. "Come over." She waved her hand. It took but a beat before Addison started scampering towards her house.

Meredith made her way downstairs and to her door where Addison waited pouting and shaking like a wet cat. She opened the door and the redhead quickly stepped inside.

"Are you ok?" Meredith asked, trying to keep the smile off her face as Addison gave her a slight glare.

"It rains in L.A." The redhead muttered bitterly.

"It rains everywhere Addison." Meredith tilted her head with a hint of a chuckle.

"No. It doesn't rain in L.A." Addison grumbled.

"Well, someone didn't get the memo." Meredith smirked.

"Quiet." Addison said as she shook her iPod and book.

"Why were you outside with so little clothes in the rain? I know we live close to the beach and all, but shouldn't you cover a bit better? We don't know who might be lurking out there." Meredith grinned as she saw the hint of a blush in the redhead's cheeks.

"Because, Grey, I left my things out and the door locked and I keep forgetting to put the spare key under the flower pot and my phone is inside so I can't call the locksmith or Nae who has a copy of my key." Addison rambled then backed out and looked over at her house. "You think I can climb in through the balcony?" She asked.

"No, Addison. You'll hurt yourself." Meredith chuckled.

"Hey, I'm athletic." Addison protested.

"Oh, I know that." Meredith raised a brow.

"How do you know that?" Addison narrowed her eyes.

"You're standing almost naked in front of me. I can see how athletic you are." Meredith shrugged.

"Right. You saw me naked." Addison sighed.

"No, I didn't." Meredith tried keeping the raising blush off but that was impossible.

"Is my body not memorable enough, Meredith?" Addison tilted her head.

"We said we would forget that." Meredith crossed her arms on her chest.

"Oh right. Convenient." Addison shrugged. "Anyway, it should be ok. I can make it up there if I go…" she started once more.

"Addison, no." Meredith said again and shut the door.

"I've done it before." Addison waved her arms about.

"But it's raining, it'll be slippery this time." Meredith said with a smile.

"Fine." The redhead muttered then shivered slightly.

"You cold? I can get you some dry clothes." Meredith said as she grabbed the blanket off the couch. "Here." She wrapped it around the redhead, who shivered some more but sighed contently.

"Dry clothes would be great." Addison said quickly. "Don't you have work?" She frowned.

"My shift starts at noon. So you're free to stay here until the locksmith or Dr. Bennett comes or until whenever you want to." Meredith smiled sweetly.

"Thanks, Meredith." Addison smiled back.

"Not a problem. Now come on. Let's go upstairs to get you changed." Meredith offered her arm and Addison quickly took it.

"Don't you think it's too fast? You already want me naked in your room." Addison raised a brow.

"Well you are already wet." Meredith blurred out and then gasped and stopped walking as Addison began to laugh.

"Affected by your own comment. Wow, Meredith." Addison chuckled but when Meredith turned to her she could see the blush stamped on the redhead's face.

"Let's just go up." Meredith managed to get out.

"Yes ma'am." Addison chuckled some more, recovering quicker. She began to follow again before she suddenly halted as something caught her eye. "Is that my umbrella?"

"Huh?" Meredith followed her gaze.

"That's my umbrella. I left it at the trailer." She explained as her eyes remained glued to it.

"Derek, gave it to me." Meredith mumbled and she snapped to look at her. "Sorry, when I broke it off with him, he got bitter and brought me everything he had that was mine. Which honestly wasn't a lot. I did tell him it wasn't my umbrella but uh…" She rambled but stopped as Addison began to laugh.

"That moron. Can't even keep his women straight." She laughed harder as she thought of the double meaning in her own statement.

"Addison, you're scaring me." Meredith said softly and then began to laugh along with her. After sobering some, the blonde spoke again. "I'm glad we can laugh about this now."

"Me too, Grey. Me too." Addison smiled before she shivered slightly.

"Ok. Come on. You need dry clothes." Meredith chuckled and led her up the stairs.


Addison shuffled in after Meredith, who quickly moved to what she supposed was the closet. Curious as ever the redhead moved about glancing here and there as if trying to find some hidden secret. Aside from some pictures of Meredith with her friends the only thing that caught her eye was a note. Her note. She smiled as she eyed the paper and then looked back up when the blonde walked out of the closet with some clothes.

"So I think you'll be comfortable in these." Meredith said, offering some flannel pajama pants and a t-shirt. "Also if you want to look more presentable I've got these slacks but they're too long so maybe they'll be good on you." The blonde blushed a little.

"Thanks, I'll wear these for now." Addison said as she took the pajamas and t-shirt. "But I would like to see how those look on me." She added as she pointed at the slacks dangling neatly from Meredith's other arm.

"Sure." The blonde said quickly and handed them over as well. "I don't think my bras are going to work for you." She said while her eyes roamed her chest.

"Yeah." Addison chuckled as she eyed the blonde's chest. "I don't think so either." She smirked.

"Like what you see?" Meredith asked, getting back that mischievous spark in her eyes.

Addison looked at her and continued smirking before she pouted. She was enjoying this other less nervous side of Meredith so she decided to push back a bit, just a tiny bit. She did enjoy turning her into a stuttering mess. This whole thing was becoming a game to her, riling Meredith up. It was just that though. A game. Because there was simply no way this weird and flirty friendship of theirs could become something else now, could it?

"Well, technically I haven't seen as much as you. Want to change that?" She said with her pout in place until she noticed the blonde flushing furiously.

"Addison… you said to forget." She mumbled.

"Meredith, you can't start something and then back out just like that." Addison chuckled and moved closer. "Now," She began in a husky tone and watched as Meredith gulped, "where do I change?" she perked up.

"Uh… you could go in the bathroom. Through there." Meredith pointed at an open door still flushed.

"Thanks." Addison sang before going through the door.


Meredith sat at the edge of the bed waiting patiently for Addison when the redhead called from the bathroom.

"Grey!" Addison called.

"Yeah?" Meredith replied readily.

"Can you call the practice and see if Nae can bring me my key? She's actually there today. Also I want to blow dry my hair. Is that ok?" The redhead semi shouted through the door.

"Go ahead and use the blow dryer. I'll call Dr. Bennett." Meredith said back.

She went rummaging to find her phone and then scrolled through her saved contacts. She supposed Addison's insistence on her taking down the number was actually justified. After finding the number she called and waited for someone to pick up.

"Hello, thank you for calling Oceanside Wellness." A woman said.

"Hello? I'm looking for Dr. Bennett." Meredith said.

"This is she." Naomi replied.

"Oh, Dr. Bennett, this is Meredith Grey. Addison asked me to call you and ask if you could come unlock her door. She locked herself out." Meredith explained.

"Why can't she tell me herself?" Naomi asked coldly.

"Because she's getting herself dried up. If you could come as soon as possible. Thank you." Meredith said in an equally cold tone and clicked the call off.

"Wow." Addison leaned on the doorframe, arms crossed and smirking.

"She…" Meredith began but stopped releasing a puff of air.

"Is she coming?" Addison chuckled.

"Yeah. I mean, I think so." Meredith shrugged.

"Hmm." Addison said and then made her way out with her bundle of wet clothes. "I like the slacks. Can I keep them?" She asked innocently.

"Yeah. By the way, could I ask for a consult for a pregnancy?" Meredith asked a bit sheepishly and saw the shift in the redhead's eyes which prompted her to speak once more. "I'm not the patient."

"Oh." Addison's eyes softened again. "What is it?"

"So I'm helping out in OB this week because the resident had to go to some convention or something. Anyway, I have a 24 week pregnant patient whose baby has two amniotic bands going around her legs. I suggested surgery to correct it but the fetal surgeon won't do it. He says the best bet is to just deliver and fit the kid for a prosthesis." Meredith explained.

"24 weeks? I mean, any fetal surgery is risky. Just as any other surgery. I'd need to look at the scans and..." Addison started.

"I know you can do it." Meredith interjected. "You'll be fine."

"Wow, such confidence." Addison smiled.

"I've watched you work. You're amazing." Meredith said seriously. "I know you can do it." She added confidently.

Addison only looked at her for a while as if taken by surprise. But who was the redhead kidding? She was a world class surgeon. Meredith was sure she could do this in her sleep.

"I guess I've got a surgery to look forward to." Addison smiled brightly. "I've been missing those like you wouldn't believe."

"Well guess I found one way to woo you." Meredith smiled. "If you'll let me of course."

"I please do."

And then there were 4! Hope you liked this little one. Some fluffy funniness (that is not a word but I don't care) to balance out all the angst we like to dish out. Next stop St. Ambrose. Until next time. ;)