Miranda Bailey went into the room, expecting to get yelled at. But she did not. Izzie was looking out the window with unfocused eyes, and she didn't seem to care that much. Bailey cleared her throat to announce her arrival. Izzie's eyes fluttered to her for a second, then she looked back out the window again.

"How're you feeling?" Bailey asked, wanting to make some sort of conversation instead of coming here for no reason. Izzie did not respond to her. Bailey sighed impatiently.

"So you don't know how to speak now," she said. Izzie closed her eyes for a moment, then looked back at her.

"I'm used to it," she said. "I'm used to not telling anybody. I'm used to falling down the stairs."

Bailey was surprised but satisfied; she figured that she would break sooner or later. Izzie continued, looking unsure and uncomfortable.

"I didn't know that things would be like this then," she said. "When this all started. I mean he seemed like such a good person. He was kind, he was…. He wasn't what he is now."

"Yeah," Bailey said; she had heard similar stories.

"And I kept on dismissing it. I kept on thinking it wouldn't happen again. But then it did and still I didn't do anything because…because I had gotten used to not doing anything. And I was afraid of him. I made up excuses, I quit my job all because I was afraid of him. I could have left a long time ago. I should have, when it first happened. But I was stupid and didn't. Then it got to the point where I just couldn't. Until this last time. I realized that one more time would do it. I really didn't think he'd keep me around that much longer, and I didn't want to die, especially at his hand. So I left and came here. It was the only place that I could think of to go. This is all that I have. Or had."

"I think you can still say have."

Izzie just looked at her for a moment, then managed to smile. She nodded and wiped away the tears that came to her eyes.

"George was in here."

"I know. I'm sorry but I can't be everywhere all the time."

"It's okay," Izzie said quickly. "It was nice to see him, but now he's angry at me because I wouldn't tell him anything."

"Well I was too," Bailey said. "I wouldn't expect him to be any different."

"Yeah," Izzie sighed. "I just…I'm used to not talking about it. And I'm ashamed. I've made stupid mistakes-"

"And we all do," Bailey said, cutting her off. "But you're trying now-"

"Trying," Izzie said in an undertone.

"-and you have a chance to turn it all around."

"Yeah," she said in the same voice, and Bailey knew that she didn't believe her.

"But whatever," Bailey said impatiently. "Do whatever you want to do."

She gave her one last look and left the room. Izzie wanted to call out after her but she didn't. She really didn't feel like it.

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Meredith came up to George as he stood at the nurses' station, his mind preoccupied. He wanted to go back and talk to Izzie. He was still getting over his initial shock that she was here. She'd been gone such a long time, and he had given up hope that she was coming back. He had waited for a while, overtaken by guilt at the fact that she left because of him. And now here she was, finally back like he had wanted and he was avoiding her.

"Hey," Meredith said to him, making him jump in surprise. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you." He was silent. She frowned. "What's up?"

"Izzie's here," he said absently.

"Izzie?" Meredith repeated. "Izzie Stevens?"

"Yes," he answered.

"Where?" Meredith asked excitedly; she'd really like to see her after all this time. "And why is she here?"

"She fell down the stairs," George said with a humorless laugh.

"What?" Meredith said, confused.

"Yeah, Bailey had to operate on her," George responded.

"Is she alright?" Meredith asked, concerned.

"I think so," George said vaguely.

"How'd she fall down the stairs?" Meredith asked. "Did that happen here?"

"I think you should ask her those questions. She didn't give me any answers."

Meredith stared at him. She wanted to know what was really going on.

"Okay," she said determinedly. "Where is she?"

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Izzie opened her eyes to see Meredith standing in the doorway, looking uncertain. She was surprised by her change in appearance. She had expected her to be just like she had two years ago before she left.

"Hi," she said awkwardly.

"You talked to George?" Izzie guessed.

"Yeah," Meredith replied, stepping into the room. "Is there a problem with that?"

"No," Izzie sighed. "I suppose not. I came here trying to hide from everyone. I should have known that was impossible. Or I really didn't want to hide and didn't realize it."

"Why would you want to hide from us?" Meredith asked, sitting in the chair next to her bed and frowning.

Izzie didn't answer the question.

"What happened?" Meredith asked. "George told me you fell down the stairs. But I have a feeling that's not really what happened."

Izzie thought about it for a moment, then said, "I really don't think that now's the time to talk about it. I haven't seen you in two years. So what's been happening? You and McDreamy still together?"

Meredith wanted to argue that this was the time to talk about it, but she didn't think it would do any good. So instead she announced that she and Derek were engaged and hoped that Izzie would tell her when she felt the time was right.

George watched the conversation from out in the hall. He wanted to go in there and talk with them, especially since he was curious if Izzie would tell Meredith or not. But he just watched from the outside, because he could not get himself to do anything else.