For those of you itching for some MerAlex lovin', you're going to have to wait a little bit. I know, I'm so sorry. I just don't want to have them jump into it ... but there are plenty of scenes between them that scream love.

Thanks so much for all the reviews! I hope you guys keep enjoying. :)

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Chapter 7: "Runaway"

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"I didn't even know she had a father," George said, as he and the other interns stood around.

Izzie scoffed. "Everyone has a father, George." She stretched. "Just not everyone's father has an entire secret family that doesn't involve his daughter."

That day, it had been all hands on deck. Dr. Shepherd had performed an eight hour surgery on Thatcher Grey for his subdural hematoma that had formed as a result of the accident. The team had also discovered a tumor, which likely caused his reported blackout prior to the accident.

As for Thatcher's wife, she had minor injuries and was in a room talking to Dr. Shepherd at that moment, maybe about her husband, but probably about her daughter, who was pregnant this morning.

The stress of the accident caused Molly Thompson to go into premature labor. Though Dr. Montgomery-Shepherd had done everything she could to keep her from having the baby, the little girl came out, two months premature. The baby needed to be constantly monitored, while the mother had lost a sufficient amount of blood.

"Where is Meredith?" George asked. They all looked at Alex, who'd they'd seen carry her off this morning.

"And how did you know that man was her father?" Izzie asked, accusingly.

"Give it up," Cristina growled. "And leave her alone." Truth was, she'd been calling Meredith all day, to no avail. As much as she wanted to be angry with Meredith for not coming to her, she was more angry with herself for not being available.

"She's our roommate! Not like we've even seen her for the past few days." Izzie looked at Alex, briefly. "I mean, you live with a person, you expect them to actually talk to you! She's-"

"Would you just shut up?" Alex interrupted, not able to take Izzie's rambling for another moment. He stood abruptly and walked away. The truth was that he wasn't exactly sure where Meredith was. There was any number of options. Most likely, the Chief had taken her home to let her relax. The only problem with that was that the Chief was still at the hospital, in surgery.

Alex checked out with Bailey and left, trying to remember the exact way to the Chief's house. After driving for an hour, he finally pulled up in front of the house he'd eaten dinner in a few days prior. There were no lights on, but he chanced it anyway and knocked on the door.

When no one answered, he went back to his truck and sat. He had to find Meredith to make sure that she was okay, and the Chief was the only person who could answer that question.

The Chief pulled up an hour and a half later, looking tired and dejected. Alex launched himself out of his truck. Richard Webber looked at the boy who stood before him and said nothing. Instead, he nodded and the two entered the house together.

Alex followed Richard Webber upstairs. As the approached their destination, they could hear her sobs through the closed door. Alex wanted to leapfrog the Chief and run in to make sure that she was okay. But he followed behind, respectfully, and let Richard Webber take care of his daughter.

He felt like an outside observer, as he watched his boss gather his friend in his arms and softly whisper reassuring, "Shhh"s into her ear.

"Daddy?" she asked, through her tears. "He's … he … he lives here? And he never …" Meredith broke down all over again. "I have a sister! And a niece!" Her voice was raw and scratchy.

All at once, Alex felt like he shouldn't be there. He turned to leave and was stopped by the Chief's voice. "I have to go back to the hospital, sweetheart." His voice was pained, his regret evident. "But Alex is here," he said, reassuringly. "Okay?"

Meredith continued crying, but nodded nonetheless.

"I don't want to see you at the hospital tomorrow, is that clear?" he asked, looking pointedly at Alex. Alex nodded, understanding that Meredith was now his responsibility. "Alex, you're looking sick. If you're sick, I don't want you inside my hospital." Richard Webber stood and nodded his head at Alex before shuffling back downstairs to return back to his job.

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Feeling awkward in Chief Webber's house, Alex had gathered up Meredith and taken her to his house. He laid her on the couch with her head in his lap. Together, they sat watching whatever was on television, welcoming a distraction. Alex stroked her hair, wanting to provide her with some sort of comfort.

For the fifteenth time since Alex had been with Meredith that evening, her phone buzzed. She looked at the screen, then threw it back on the table. Alex didn't ask anything about it, which was probably why they were such good friends.

Next, his own phone vibrated. It was Izzie. He picked it up. "What?" he asked. Meredith didn't budge.

"Where are you?" Izzie asked.

"Home."

"How can you be home at a time like this? Meredith is missing. Like, 1-800-MISSING. We've tried Joe's and she's not home-"

"Did you call her phone?" he asked, knowing full well that they had. Meredith turned her head to look up at Alex and gave a small, amused smile.

"Of course we called her phone, Alex! Do you think we're complete idiots!?" Izzie was silent for a moment. "Will you just … if you see her, will you tell her to call us, so that we know she's not dead, or anything."

"You'll probably see her before I do. I caught the flu from my patient today. The Chief told me to stay out of his hospital, so I don't infect anyone else."

"Whatever. Just, let her know we're worried about her." Izzie hung up the phone before he could respond.

"I'm supposed to tell you that they're worried about you," Alex told Meredith, but remained focused on the television. "But, don't pick up the phone the next time they call. I don't want them to …" He wasn't sure what he meant, or where he was going with it, so he dropped it.

"Alex?" Meredith asked. He looked down at her. "Do you have any tequila?" Alex nodded and moved to stand up. "And chick flicks?" she added.

"Grey, you're killing me," he told her, but a smile played at his lips, happy that she was at least talking now.