A/N: I love Izzy. I'm not trying to vilify her at all in this chapter, merely just using her as a prop in revealing M/D to the hospital. I want to do it differently than how she found out on the show and obviously they don't live together, so it would be harder for her and George to find out.

Meredith loved Cristina. She really did. Cristina was her best friend and all, but lately she'd be extraordinarily cranky. She's tried to talk to her about it, but Cristina assured her it was nothing. It didn't help that there was a flu going around the hospital and both women seemed to have contracted it. Meredith had trudged on through it, eating lots of aspirin and drinking mugs of TheraFlu, unwilling to miss any work. Cristina simply denied she was sick.

Only Derek actually knew how sick both ladies really were. Meredith had little to no appetite and couldn't keep food down and the same went for Cristina. When he was home and able, he tried to take care of them, but only when they'd let him. He was surprised that Bailey was even letting them work. The hospital was short on staff though because not everyone was as resilient as Meredith and Cristina were. Even though her apartment had been ready weeks ago, Cristina was still staying with them. Meredith and Derek chalked it up to the fact that Cristina didn't like being alone, even though she'd never admit it.

It was raining, as usual, which didn't help anyone's moods in the slightest. Bailey was still ticked at them, although she wasn't saying anything about it. The looks she gave them were more than enough. The board was slow today so he figured he had an actual shot of getting home at a decent time. Meredith and Cristina both had rounds in the morning and he was going to use his morning off to go fly fishing down on the land he'd bought. He'd taken Meredith there on their picnic a month or so back and sometimes when he wanted peace and quiet he'd just go out there to sit. It was relaxing.

Now approaching Bailey's interns in the hall, all of them looked miserable except Izzy who perked up when she saw him. He flashed her a polite smile before ticking his eyes over to Meredith who was nursing a can of ginger ale. She looked like death warmed over and he wished that she could take the time off to get better. It was no fun watching the woman you were in love suffer and even less fun to live with her right now. Meredith Grey did not do sick well at all.

" Good morning all, " Derek greeted them as they passed.

He heard various mumbled greetings all except for Izzy who returned his greeting with enthusiasm. He'd been hoping he could at least get a smile from Meredith, but no such luck. He watched Izzy flash him another wide smile before they moved on. He shook his head and went to go check on his patient.

The interns were taking a break down in the basement of the hospital as they normally did, all save for Meredith, who hadn't been able to get away from the pit. Cristina was attempting to keep down ginger ale, after Meredith had told her it had settled her stomach. Alex was just sitting there and George was blowing up a glove to draw on it. Izzy had her knees drawn up to her chest sitting on one of the hospital beds.

" So does anyone know the story on Dr. Shepherd, " She asked eagerly, hoping maybe someone could fill her in.

" He came from New York. He's a brain surgeon, " Cristina muttered sarcastically.

" Well I know that. C'mon Cristina you've worked with him a lot, you've gotta know some details about him, " Izzy pressed.

" Izzy has a thing for him, " George filled in helpfully.

Cristina's eyes got wide and she nearly choked on the ginger ale she was drinking.

" Shut up, George. I do not have a thing for him, " Izzy denied, not very convincingly.

" Right. That's why I catch you staring at him, like all the time, " George scoffed.

" I do not stare at him, " Izzy defended.

" No. You gaze at him."

" I do not! "

" Save it Stevens, even I've caught you doing it, " Alex spoke up.

" Who asked you, Evil Spawn? "

Deciding now would be the best time to exit, Cristina got to her feet and slipped down the hall unnoticed while the other three continued arguing.

Derek had decided to wait for Meredith across the street at Joe's. He really wanted a drink and it would still be another hour before she got off. Normally, they'd just meet at home, but she had driven in with him today. Not a very discreet move, but she hadn't felt well enough to drive herself. He was making light conversation with Joe until the bar started to fill up and they got to busy to talk. He'd kept himself distracted by watching the pool tournament on TV, but by the time it was over, there was still no Meredith. He heard someone slip onto the bar stool beside him and he turned in that direction smiling, thinking it would be Meredith. No such lucky. It was Izzy Stevens. Not wanting to be rude, he kept the smile on his face and nodded his head at her.

" Dr. Stevens. "

"It's Izzy outside of the hospital, " She smiled at him.

" Alright...Izzy, " Derek said uncomfortably.

" I was sitting over at that table in the corner when I saw you sitting by yourself, " She said casually, the smile never leaving her face.

" Yeah, uh. I was supposed to meet someone here, but they haven't showed yet, " Derek inwardly winced. That probably wasn't the best way to get rid of her.

" That's a shame, " It became painfully obvious that she was flirting with him.

" I'm sure they'll be here soon, " He responded hastily, attempting to dig himself out of the hole he had dug.

He saw Joe look over at the two of them with wide eyes and he shot Derek a sympathetic look.

" Well, I don't have anything to do at the current moment, I'll be happy to keep you company until they show, " It was then he spotted Meredith coming through the door, looking through her bag for something and he smiled politely at Izzy.

" Actually Dr. Stevens..- " He started. He didn't get to finish because Meredith appeared on the other side of him completely oblivious to Izzy's presence. He turned to look at her, wanting to warn of the situation, but he didn't have time. She finally looked up from her bag and placed a kiss on his cheek, muttering an apology for being late. He heard a sharp intake of breath from Izzy and he didn't turn around to see her reaction. Meredith finally found what she was looking for and it was only then did she notice who was beside him.

" Izzy. " Meredith stated, surprised.

"You have got to be kidding me, " Izzy exclaimed as she stood up from her barstool.

" Izzy, wait!" Meredith tried to calm her down as Izzy angrily picked up her jacket and threw a couple bills down on the bar.

" Go to hell, " Izzy spat as she stormed from the bar. Meredith stood there a moment, trying to grasp what had just happened. She looked over at Derek helplessly and he offered her a small smile of reassurance.

" As if I didn't already feel like crap , " Meredith sighed as she took a seat beside him. Derek rubbed her back soothingly, aware that there secret was no longer a secret.

Cristina called Meredith three times, but she never answered. She'd just about finished getting ready to go home when she overheard Izzy ranting to George about Meredith. She'd pretended she wasn't paying attention, but she overheard the conversation very well. As did several other people. Izzy had been over at Joe's and apparently she'd run into Derek and Meredith. Their secret was out and as soon as she'd gotten away from them, she'd dialed Meredith's number. All three times it went to voicemail. Shit.

Derek was blissfully aware that he had the morning off and he was tempted to go into work, not wanting Meredith to face the vultures alone, but she had assured him she could handle it. They'd traded cars for the morning because her Jeep handed the land terrain better than his BMW did. She and Cristina had gone in to work together and he'd left for his fishing trip.

They'd gotten to the hospital before anyone else and hurriedly changed into their scrubs to start their rounds. Meredith was perfectly aware of the strange looks she was getting and the fact that when she walked up to people, conversation stopped. That was until she and Cristina got back to the locker room. Izzy was perched on the bench with her back to Meredith, talking to a group of people when they walked in. Izzy didn't notice, just continued on with her tale. Everyone else looked distinctly uncomfortable. She stood there for a good minute before clearing her throat and folding her arms across her chest. Izzy whirled around, clearly surprised at being caught.

" Meredith. I didn't think you were here today."

" Obviously. " Meredith replied sweetly.

" Your car wasn't in the parking lot."

"I have Derek's."

With that, the group scattered not wanting to witness whatever was coming next. Even Cristina ducked out of the locker room, leaving the two girls alone. Izzy didn't say anything, just watched her warily.

" So it seems that you've told everyone in the hospital that would listen. "

" Wasn't like you two were being very discreet, " Izzy sneered at her.

" What is your problem?"

" Um, you! You're my problem. Apparently, it seems you can help Dr. McDreamy in ways the rest of us can't."

" I'm going to advise you to shut up now, simply because you look like an idiot for talking about something you know absolutely nothing about."

" Oh, so you mean you aren't sleeping with him."

" Whether or not I'm sleeping with him is none of your business, " Meredith fired back coldly.

" What the hell is the matter with you, Meredith? You have people's respect without even trying and you're throwing it and your credibility all away for some hot sex?"

" You really don't have a clue, do you Izzy? It's not about the sex and up until you had to go and run your mouth like some little high school girl, it had nothing to do with this hospital! "

" Like I really believe that. "

" I don't care what you believe. My relationship with Dr. Shepherd is none of your concern. "

" You actually think you have a relationship with him? Meredith, he's just using you!"

Looking at the girl in front of her, Meredith couldn't help but laugh. Izzy looked at her like she'd gone crazy.

" Using me? Will you listen to yourself? What on earth could he be using me for? In case you hadn't noticed Izzy, he's an attending. I'm only an intern. "

" Which is exactly why your sleeping with him is totally inappropriate."

" Oh cut the crap, Izzy. This doesn't have anything to do with work. It has to do with you having the hots for him. "

" You are so off base."

" Am I? Didn't you ask Cristina about the details of his life just yesterday?"

Izzy was silent, but Meredith was still angry. Barreling forward, she continued to yell at her friend.

" You want the details of his life? Fine. He lives with me, he sleeps with me and most importantly he loves me. That's all you need to know."

And with that she slammed out of the locker room, leaving a gaping Izzy behind.