Meredith! Answer the phone! Please be okay. Just call me back and tell me you're okay.
Derek had been trying to reach Meredith for hours. He'd called the trailer after he left it, her cell phone, and paged her. He even tried to call Addison and Cristina. Addison didn't answer either. None of her roommates had heard from her. He came back to the hospital to see if she was there.
"Chief?" Derek caught up with Richard in the hall. "Please tell me you've seen or talked to Meredith lately."
"I haven't heard from her. Have you seen Addison? She didn't show up for rounds this morning."
"No. I tried calling her as well. Neither one of them will answer me."
"Derek, calm down. I'm sure Meredith is fine, but I'm worried about Addie. It's not like her to not call. She may be really sick."
"Or…she might be with Meredith."
"Derek!"
"I'm sorry, Chief. I'm going to look for Meredith.
GAGAGAGA
The pounding on Addison's door woke her up around 10:30. She rolled over to look at the clock. It felt so good to sleep in. She put a robe over her t-shirt and shorts and went to find out who was banging on the door. She looked through the peep hole and found Derek looking frantic on the other side.
"What's that…" Meredith had also been woke up by Derek's pounding.
"Shh!" Addison whispered. "Let's have some fun."
"What are you…"
"Be quiet. Derek is on the other side of the door freaking out."
"Ohh. Okay. I'm going back to your room." Meredith grinned a devious little grin.
Addison made her self look as sleepy as possible then opened the door. Derek burst in looking around with wild, frantic eyes.
"Why didn't you answer? Have you talked to Meredith?"
"I was trying to sleep in. I'm sure she's fine, Derek. Relax a little."
"I've been calling you two for hours. Do you know where she is?"
"Not exactly."
"What do you mean?"
"Last time I talked to her, she sounded kind of strange. I think she was upset about something."
"Where is she? Addison! Why didn't you call me?"
"You were in surgery."
"So, you don't know where she is?"
"No," she fought back a smile.
"By the way, why didn't you go to work? The chief seemed kind of upset."
"I forgot to set my alarm," she lied.
"In the years we were married, you always woke up two minutes before the alarm went off. You don't need an alarm."
Damn. He'll figure it out now.
"Well…"
"Addison! You know where she is, and you're not telling."
The smile peeked through.
"No I don't."
"Liar!" he began to wander through the apartment. "Meredith? Are you in here?"
Meredith's giggles came from behind a door causing Derek to run in that direction. He tried the knob, but it was locked.
"You two are mean! You knew I would be worried, and both of you cut off all connection with me."
"Derek! Don't get mad. She needed to rest."
"I'm fine now." Meredith piped up, opening the door to Addison's room.
"Now?" Derek looked from Meredith to Addison.
"Yes. Will you leave? Addison is going to cook for me today, and we're going to hang out."
"But…"
"We'll be fine. Go take care of brains. Oh, and tell the chief I'm sorry."
While he grumbled the entire way, the two women led Derek out of the apartment. He protested as they pushed the door shut and locked it. Then they both collapsed onto the floor, laughing.
"I hear that! One of you better turn your phone on. I'm going to check on you later."
Meredith wiped tears from her eyes, and Addison started coughing. They looked at each other and another fit of laughter began.
"Have you ever laughed until you puked before?" Addison asked between laughs.
"Probably. I need a tissue." Meredith answered before dissolving into more laughter.
Women. Derek sighed as he got onto the elevator.
"So…what do you want for brunch and dinner?"
"Both? Seriously?"
"Yeah."
"Mmm. Food."
"I need more than that to go on."
"Waffles and bacon. And orange juice. Oh, an omelet would be nice, if it's not too much trouble."
"I think I can manage that." Addison headed into the kitchen.
Meredith perched on a counter top while Addison began pulling items from the refrigerator and cabinets. When she started pulling oranges out of the refrigerator, Meredith's jaw dropped.
"We're having real orange juice?"
"Of course! No Tropicana in this house."
Meredith sat back and watched as Addison prepared brunch entirely from scratch (except for the bacon.) Addison had bought the gourmet bacon at an expensive shop. When the food was close to being ready, she gave Meredith everything she needed to set the table. The ate in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the food.
"You really are good at this."
"Thanks." Addison smiled sheepishly, her cheeks pink.
"I mean it. This is better than IHOP and the really expensive place downtown."
"Thanks. Now stop making me blush and eat your breakfast."
Their plates were almost empty when Meredith suddenly grew quiet and fidgety. She stared into her plate and began making a sticky mess out of what was left of her third waffle. Addison immediately noticed the change in Meredith's behavior and stopped eating to watch her. When the waffle was mashed to the point of no longer needing to be chewed, she reached across the table and took Meredith's hand. Meredith looked up, her face full of emotions.
"Whenever you get ready," Addison spoke softly.
"My mommy's dead, and I barely know my father. Plus, it's been a really hard year."
Addison didn't speak. Instead she gave Meredith the space she needed to say what she needed to say.
"I did it on purpose. I thought it was what I wanted, but then it started to hurt so much. When I changed my mind, it was too late. I couldn't do it on my own anymore. I didn't want Derek to think I'm his damsel in distress to rescue, but he had to rescue me anyway."
"Everyone needs to be rescued sometimes."
"But he looks at me like I'll break in two. I don't want to be overprotected."
"He's overcompensating."
"Because he didn't protect you?"
"Yes, but let's not focus on that right now. You can get stronger and show him that he doesn't have to look after you. I know you can do it."
"Will you help me?"
"Of course, but you have to help me in return."
"Sure. Anything you need."
"I need a date," Addison whispered, blushing.
"I think I can help you out with that," Meredith grinned. She knew the perfect guy.