DISCLAIMER: I don't own Grey's Anatomy or any of the characters. However, I do own "Mads".

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thanks for reading... and thanks to everyone who's reviewed. I hope you are enjoying the story. On a weird, dorky note, I have the words "PAGE BREAK" written every time a new scene starts because I can't get the single grey line to stay after I save the changes. So I apologize if it looks weird and incredibly lame. If anyone knows how I can get the grey line to stay after I save the changes in the chapter I would love to hear from you. If you aren't sure what grey line I'm referring to, look back at Chapter 3 & 4. I used them as little separators. Anyways, I'll shut up and let you read! Thanks again and ENJOY!

SUMMARY: Meredith has a "feeling" that it's going to be the worst day ever. She dresses up in her favorite clothes, which so happen to be expensive designer clothes from her "other life". Izzie and Meredith have a heart-to-heart talk during a nice breakfast together before. Meredith wants to make sure she has a happy moment before work even though discussing her feelings while trying to clear the air with Iz is out of character for her. She wants to remind everyone that she is their "family" and they are hers. Mer drives herself to work and stops on the way to make a phone call to someone named "Mads". It's obvious that whoever "Mads" is, she knows everything about Meredith: her secrets, her fears, and her insecurities.

PREVIOUSLY… Ch.5

Meredith had gotten maybe 3 hours of sleep TOTAL the entire night. When her alarm sounded at 2:40 am telling her it was time to go to her "other life" before work, she had a feeling. A feeling so strong that she called in sick to her "other life", stayed in bed, and tried to get another two hours of sleep before she had to be at work. Still, now at 5 am, that feeling hadn't disappeared, but had only grown stronger and more intense. It was a feeling similar to the one she had woken up with the morning of the code black at Seattle Grace. Except, that feeling had been more of death waiting to claim her. But this morning's feeling…had nothing to do with death. This one was more of a "oh crap, the devil's going to fuck with me today, make my life a living hell" kind of feeling. When some people think of the Devil, yes death certainly comes to mind. But this was as if she KNEW that today was going to be one of the worst days of her life, which spoke volumes to her because she thought that she had already experienced the worst day of her life…a few times now. "How could I have a worse day than the one four years ago or when I almost drowned, or…" she thought to herself. There were other horrific days and moments she'd experienced, but she knew that if she laid in bed remembering them, each and every last detail of them, that she would never have the courage to face what was to transpire today. What scared Meredith the most was that it wasn't just that this feeling was that today was going to be hell, but that she sensed loss and betrayal on top of whatever would happen. In fact, this feeling of loss was so intense that her eyes began to swell with tears. One by one silent tears transcended her pale face; there was no mistaking it, Meredith was terrified. More than terrified really. So frightened, that her mouth began to water as the bile rose from her stomach. Before she knew it, Meredith's covers were flying through the air toward the floor as she sprinted for the door. She made it to the bathroom just in time to kneel before the porcelain God and pay the toll.

After emptying what very little her stomach contained, she leaned against the wall, fingers threaded through her hair, and cried. She cried for this day, she cried for her family and friends, but most of all, she cried for herself. Her moment of pity was over as Izzie knocked softly on her bathroom door. "Mer? Are you okay? Are you sick?" she softly asked through the wood of the door.

Leaning over the sink, "Uh, no Iz. I'm alright. I'll be out in a minute," she brushed her teeth and rinsed her face with cold water trying to get her body and emotions under control.

Izzie had to consciously keep from gasping at what she saw as the bathroom door opened. Meredith stood there, drowning in a pair of sweats and long sleeved red shirt, in fact she thought it looked like one of Derek's; her face was the color of the bleach white towel in her hand. Basically, she looked like someone that belonged in the hospital…as a patient. "You sure you're alright? If you're sick, maybe you should stay home," she said to Meredith, gently placing a concerned hand on her arm.

Meredith was silent for quite awhile, as her thoughts played a game of tug-of-war. With this feeling she'd woken up with, she wanted nothing more than to stay home. In bed. ALL day. But she couldn't, she knew she had to face whatever was going to take place today. Meredith grabbed on to Izzie's hand with her own, squeezed it in reassurance, and said looking straight in her eyes, "I'm fine. I promise. In fact, why don't we both quickly get dressed and have a nice breakfast together?"

Izzie couldn't have been more surprised at this proposition. It was very unlike Meredith to want to have a nice sit-down breakfast with anyone. She looked at her oddly for a second until a huge smile appeared on her face. "That sounds amazing! Great idea! I'll cook, we can catch up." Izzie crossed her fingers and hoped that this was Meredith's way of reaching out and asking for some sort of help. That Meredith was ready to trust Izzie with whatever was happening in her life. "Ha, I'm gonna know before Christina!" Izzie excitedly thought. She couldn't help but dream that Mer was finally considering Izzie one of "her people", the same way she viewed Christina ("her person"). She longed for that bond with either Christina or Meredith. Izzie had always felt so left out. They were in their own little dark and twisty world and wouldn't let anyone else in.

Meredith Grey was not the type of girl to go crazy with makeup or clothes when it came to work. Why go to the hospital in something "hot" and stylish when she would be changing out of it and into her scrubs within minutes of arriving for her shift. Sure she had cute and very "in" clothes that she wore for nice or special occasions, but work was not included as a nice occasion. However, today was different.

She didn't know exactly what was going to happen today; she only felt it was big, bad, and life changing. Because of this, Meredith decided that it was a great day to look fabulous. So after quickly showering, she went to work on her hair. Luckily, she was naturally pretty great and fast at doing her hair and other's. "Who would've guessed right?" she smirked and thought as she applied the finishing touches to her long, slightly wavy hair. No ponytail today. She wanted to look nice and put together, but definitely not over the top. After locking her door, a robe clad Meredith got down on her knees and reached around under her bed until she pulled out a box. Rifling through the neatly folded clothes inside, she finally chose the perfect outfit. Laying the clothes on the bed, she scoured for her wrap and tape. Once the items were located, she sat at the head of her bed, left leg stretched before her, and began carefully wrapping the bandage from the middle of her foot to the middle of her thigh with great patience and precision. Once she was satisfied with her work and knew that the wrap was secure, she grabbed the athletic tape and went to work. Meredith needed to make sure that certain spots were wrapped and taped in such a way that it not only acted as a crutch and protected the injury, but she was able to have full mobility and range of movement. Meredith stretched her now mummified leg a bit and jumped around, making sure her work was impeccable… just in case. Satisfied, she threw on her one of a kind custom Dolce and Gabanna medium wash jeans made especially for her (they just so happened to be her favorite jeans) and a gold tank top sporadically covered in gold sequins. Her favorite black leather bomber jacket and black Tory Burch flats finished off the look. Sure the pieces of clothing were all designer, but none of them had any labels on the outside. No one would know that these clothes were expensive and designer and came from her "other life". Throwing her scrubs, more athletic tape, socks, running shoes, black leggings, blue spandex shorts, and a black razor back shirt with built in sports bra in a gym bag, she ran downstairs to have breakfast with Izzie.

"Well you look amazing! You're coloring looks a lot better."

"Make-up. It really can work miracles."

Still unable to take her eyes away from Meredith and her "new look", she joked, "I bet you McDreamy is gonna die when he sees your fine skinny ass walk through the doors today! All he's gonna wanna do is jump you! Ha! Nurse Rose who?"

"I don't care what Dr. Shepard thinks of me. In fact I would prefer if I don't see him at all today or anytime soon! He just won't leave me alone and it's driving me crazy!" Meredith replied.

The fact that Meredith had just referred to Derek as Dr. Shepard did not go unnoticed by Izzie. Actually, she found it strange. Setting two plates of French toast, eggs, sausage, sourdough toast, turkey bacon, and potatoes down at the table, Izzie couldn't help herself. After all, Meredith left her a wide-open entrance. "He's just worried. In fact, we all are Mer. We know you are totally hiding something from us. You are always out somewhere mysterious, you barely sleep, you barely eat, you're jumpy, and quite frankly you've been looking like shit. Are you in some kind of trouble? You know you can trust me. You're my family. Let me be here for you."

Meredith picked up her fork and began eating, ignoring Izzie's heartfelt speech as long as she could. I mean what could she say? Not the truth, so she lied…well sort of. Placing her fork down and looking straight at her roommate, colleague, and friend, she calmly and quietly said, "I know Izzie. I know you've all been worried about me, but I promise you that everything will be fine. Things have just been so stressful lately. You guys are right, I haven't been taking as good a care of myself as I should; I realize that now, but things are going to change. There's no need to worry about me anymore. I've been taking care of myself since before I can remember. It's just the way I am. Just because I don't tell you every little thing about me or how I'm feeling, doesn't mean I don't trust you. Because I do, I really do. You're my family too and I hope it always stays that way." Meredith continued to eat the delicious breakfast Izzie had prepared them. Looking up and staring Iz straight in the eyes, her voice began to break and shake as she whispered, "No matter what happens, you will always be my family." As she heard George and Alex pummeling down the stairs, following the smell of Iz's cooking, she looked towards the sound of them laughing. "You all will." It took Izzie a second to realize that Meredith's eyes were glossy and watery, so she decided to leave the matter alone and continue eating in silence. Izzie jumped a little as she felt Meredith tightly grab her hand, "You know, we don't know everything about each other Iz. And that's ok. We know what we need to know and that's enough."

Izzie squeezed her hand, "I know Meredith. You're right. Just know, I'm always here if you need me."

It took everything Meredith had not to spill anything about her secret. Instead she walked over, pulled Izzie to her feet and gave her the biggest hug. It was this sight that George and Alex walked in on. They looked at each other strangely, then walked over and joined the hug.

"Dude you look hot! What's with the new look?" Alex questioned, looking Meredith up and down.

"Just felt like wearing something different today."

"You look really nice Meredith. Those new clothes?" George asked.

"No, they're actually like… hm… five years old. I think," she answered.

Izzie was confused. She'd been in Meredith's closet numerous times to borrow something and she'd never seen any of the items Mer was wearing. "How come I've never seen them in your closet when I'm borrowing your clothes?"

"Guess you didn't look hard enough," Meredith smirked.

Just as the boys sat down with their plates of Izzie's scrumptious cooking, Meredith walked to the sink to rinse her off her empty plate. Izzie was ecstatic that Mer had eaten all her breakfast. "I guess she was telling the truth when she said things were going to get better," Iz thought.

"I'm gonna head out you guys. I've got to run a quick errand before work, so I'll see you at the meeting with the Chief, Attendings, Residents, and interns before rounds," Meredith announced.

Breakfast with Izzie was not only delicious, but Meredith had enjoyed their heart-to-heart discussion. She had wanted to have breakfast together since she had no idea what was going to happen today and she wanted one last happy moment before "the Devil had his fun with her". She really didn't have an errand to run (just a phone call to make); she just wasn't ready to tell George he couldn't move into the locked room. It had been such a nice morning, that she didn't want to ruin it or upset anyone.

As she drove towards the hospital, Meredith patted her very full stomach and smiled. She couldn't have been more ecstatic over that fact that she didn't start the day off with one of her "special shakes". With the feeling she had, Meredith felt it was extremely wise to start the day off with a full meal that would give her energy for whatever she would have to face that day.

Before she reached Seattle Grace, Meredith pulled into an IHOP parking lot so she could make her private phone call. Reaching for the gym bag she'd packed that morning, she dug around inside until she found the crystal covered cell phone she kept hidden from her friends. It was a lifeline to her "other life". She hit speed dial 2 and waited for someone to pick up. On the fifth ring, a groggy, sleep-filled voice answered.

"Hello?" the voice said.

Meredith smiled, "Hey Mads, it's me! Sorry I woke you up. I… I just need to talk."

Suddenly the voice, or "Mads" as Meredith had referred to her, became much more awake. "You ok Mer? Anything happen? What do you need me to do? Who do I need to call? Does someone need to come get you? Are you hurt?" "Mads" was panicked and rattling off questions.

"Chill. I'm fine. I just… I have a feeling."

"Do you know what time it is?" "Mads" was angry. "You scared the fuck out of me! You never call me this early unless something is wrong! What the hell? I thought something had happened to you… that you were in trouble."

Meredith became defensive. "Yes, I know what time it is. It's 5:30 in the morning! I'm sorry it's so early, but I need to talk to you and it's the only time I can call you all day. You know I need privacy to talk to you. That's incredibly difficult to get at the house. I'll let you go. I'm sorry."

"Mads" felt bad. She knew Meredith wouldn't call her this early unless she really needed her. "No, I'm sorry I was a bitch. It's just that every time the phone rings, I find myself holding my breath, so scared that it's bad news. That something has happened to you." "Mads" sighed, followed by a huge deep breath. "Anyway, what's going on? You said you have a feeling? What kind of feeling?" she asked Meredith, worry filling her voice.

"Don't worry, it's not a feeling of death. I just feel like something terrible is going to happen today. I feel like it's going to be the worst day EVER. I can't talk to any of my friends about it… just you."

"Mads" was awake and listening not only to every word Meredith said, but to the sound of her voice, the pauses she took. She listened to everything. "Well, what do you want me to do? Have everything ready? Call Big? Call Moe? Maybe you should just take the time off work now, instead of waiting for the announcement or for something to happen."

"No, not yet. Not if I don't have to. I do, however, want you to get EVERYTHING ready. Most likely we will have visitors soon, so have that all prepared. Also, I do want you to give a heads up to BIG… and… uh… I guess giving Moe a heads up wouldn't hurt either. But, Mads. Before you do anything else…"

"Make sure she's safe," interrupted "Mads", finishing her sentence.

"Yes. Thank you!" Meredith sniffled into the phone, holding back her tears. "Also, make sure you stay safe as well. I don't know what I would do if anything happened to you… either one of you."

"You are the one that needs to stay safe! Promise me you'll be careful?" "Mads" voice was laced with love and concern.

Meredith smiled. Another person worried about her, but this one, she didn't mind. "Always. Well I've got to run. I'm going to be late for work. There's an important meeting before rounds. I'll call you when I can. Don't forget that I love you and miss you!"

"Miss you. Have a good day and stay safe. Don't kill any patients!" "Mads" giggled. "And don't forget that I love you too Mer."

Just as they were about to hang up, Meredith said, "When she wakes up, tell her I love her and that we'll all be together soon!"

"No problem. She'll be beside herself when I tell her I talked to you. Oh and give that McDreamy of yours a kick in the nuts for me! Luv ya, Bye!" Meredith turned the extremely girly phone off and placed it back in its safe and hidden spot in her gym bag. "It's time to face the day," she thought as she maneuvered the car back onto the street, heading for Seattle Grace.

CHAPTER 6 - May 17, 2008

After hanging up with "Mads", Meredith headed towards Seattle Grace. She couldn't believe it, not only did she hit every red light from IHOP to work, but she couldn't find a parking spot to save her life. She ended up parking so far away she felt she was walking across an entire country just to get to the doors of the hospital. All these things combined made Meredith late for the surgeon's staff meeting with the Chief. In fact, she didn't have time to change out of her "hot" clothes and into her scrubs. "I was right about my feeling. If this is just the beginning, it really is going to be the worst day of my life!" Meredith thought as she ran towards the large conference room carrying her gym bag. She felt like she had traveled back in time to her first day as an intern. So focused on getting to the meeting, she burst through the conference room doors interrupting the Chief mid sentence. All eyes turned towards her as Meredith walked to the seat Christina and Izzie had been saving for her. She was well aware of people's whistles and whispers over her appearance. Sitting down and getting comfortable in her seat, her eyes met the Chief's furrowed eyebrows and questioning look. Immediately she looked away only to notice Derek lustfully eyeing her up and down. "Well if everyone's settled, I'd like to continue," the Chief said, not at all trying to hide his annoyance at his staff's complete focus on Meredith's tardiness and state of dress instead of the topic at hand.

The chief resumed what he'd been informing them before Meredith interrupted. "What's with you showing up to the meeting dressed like runway Barbie?" Christina whispered.

"I didn't have time to change into my scrubs."

"Why are you wearing those clothes to begin with? You look like… like a… a girl…that… that cares about what people in this 'middle school' think," Christina wouldn't let it go.

Meredith was getting annoyed. Defensively she snapped, "I just felt like wearing something different… dressing like a girl or runway Barbie, or whatever you want to call it, instead of a slob. Maybe you should try it one day. You never know, you might end up getting a date!"

This shut Christina up, but it didn't stop other people's glances. Meredith could understand certain people looking at her, for example the colleagues of hers that incessantly gossiped about her or Mark because of his horny personality, but she could not for the life of her understand why Bailey wouldn't take her eyes off her. Bailey's eyes were squinted at her; not in a mean menacing sort of way, but a thinking hard kind of way. As if she was trying to remember something. Meredith couldn't have felt more uncomfortable. In fact, she was starting to regret wearing her favorite clothes.

The meeting was over and Meredith had absolutely no idea what was said. She was too busy thinking and worrying to even bother paying attention for a few seconds let alone a couple minutes. Everyone was filing out of the room, getting ready for rounds and surgeries. As she exited the room, someone grabbed her by her right arm, dragging her a few feet away from any eavesdropping staff members standing directly outside the conference room. Not knowing whom it was, she panicked. On instinct, Meredith's right leg flew to the side to knock her "assailant's" legs out from under them. "It's me Meredith. Mark!" he said to her just in time or else he would've been flat on his ass. "What the hell? Jumpy much?"

"Sorry, I didn't know it was you!" Looking around, Meredith noticed that some nurses and a few interns were staring at her like she was insane. They had witnessed her start to use a defensive "I'm gonna kick your ass if you touch me" move. "Great! I just supplied the gossipers with ammunition. I can hear it now! 'Crazy, broken hearted Meredith takes out her anger and lonliness over losing McDreamy on his best friend, Mark.' Or maybe it'll be, 'Manwhore McSteamy almost gets his ass kicked by loony, dirty ex-mistress Meredith for trying to take her in an on call room to get down and dirty.' The possibilities are endless. I so didn't need this today. Ughh, dammit Mark. I really am gonna kick his ass!" Meredith thought. Suddenly she became irritated and her voice became an angry whisper. "What the hell were you thinking? Grabbing me like that? At a time like this. You know what's going on! Of all the people in this hospital, you know better, you idiot!"

Mark threw his hands in the air, surrendering, "Geez, I'm sorry! I thought you knew it was me!"

"Whatever! Do you have anything to say? I mean why'd you grab me to begin with?"

"Well I saw you're hot little outfit. Thought maybe something was going on? They make the announcement?" he asked while slowly looking her up and down in an appreciative manner. "I mean the first time I met you four years ago, you were wearing clothes like this."

"No. There hasn't been an announcement," she told him.

"Well then what's with the clothes?"

Meredith was annoyed, "Ugh, why is everyone making such a big deal over my clothes? I just felt like wearing them."

"Ha! Meredith Grey does not wear clothes like this on a daily basis," he emphasized her last name, Grey. "Especially when it comes to work. What's the real reason?"

"Fine, all knowing man whore! I woke up with a bad feeling, like today is going to be the worst day. I figured if something bad's gonna happen, I might as well look good."

"Feeling must be pretty strong for you to play dress up," he said, his voice full of empathy and understanding. A rarity for Mark.

She frowned, "Yeah it is." One moment she was fine, the next Meredith's face lost all coloring. It was as if she'd seen a ghost.

"What's the deal? You alright? You look like you've seen a ghost?" Mark asked while Meredith glanced around and behind herself in a worried, self-conscious manner. She didn't answer him. She was too busy looking around. Mark grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to stare straight at him. "Meredith. You're freaking me out. What are you looking for?"

"Did you hear that?" she nervously asked.

"Hear what?"

She leaned forward as if telling him a secret and whispered, "Whistling. Did you hear the whistling?"

"Can't say that I did," he eyed her worriedly.

"Right. Nevermind. Forget this happened. I'm just tired. Must've been my imagination," she tried to assure him. However, he wasn't buying it. "Well I gotta go. I'm already late for rounds and I'm not even in my scrubs."

"You sure everything's okay?" She had really scared Mark. Maybe she wasn't imagining it. The question was, what was being whistled to make her look like she was gonna lose her breakfast? He could only imagine… and the things he came up with made his skin crawl.

"Positive!" Meredith headed towards the elevator, but was interrupted by Mark. "Bye superstar. I'll see you later. And… good luck with your day. Everything's gonna be fine. Don't worry too much." He wanted to ease her mind even if it was just a little and even if he didn't really believe what he was saying!

"Right. Thanks Mark."

As Meredith entered the elevator she was happy to find it empty. She would have time to think about her day so far and try to shake the feeling of uneasiness created by the whistling she heard. She hoped and prayed that either the tune she heard whistled was only in her head or the whistling in general was. She wasn't exactly one for going to church or praying, but "desperate times call for desperate measures" she thought. Just as the elevator doors were almost shut, a hand shot in opening them back up. Meredith hoped it wasn't Derek. Afterall, he loved cornering her in the elevator, especially when it was empty. To her surprise it was none other than Dr. Miranda Bailey. Meredith couldn't decide if she was relieved that it was Bailey and not Derek or if it made her feel more uneasy and tense than she already was. Bailey had had her on edge during the entire meeting with her relentless staring.

As the elevator began its climb to their floor, Bailey glanced over at Meredith. "You're late Grey! You aren't even dressed. You're still in your street clothes."

Meredith didn't respond; silence filled the elevator. "Hello? Earth to Dr. Grey!"

"Oh um sorry Dr. Bailey. Um…I know I'm late. Trust me, it won't happen again," Meredith's last sentence sounded strange and distant with an underlying message.

It was obvious that something was going on with Dr. Grey. She looked as if she were a million miles away. "You okay Grey? You seem upset."

Meredith looked at her, "Um. Yeah. I'm fine!"

Bailey shook her head back and forth, "I don't believe you for one second, but whatever. If you don't want to tell me what's going on, there's no way I can help you."

"Well that's alright Dr. Bailey because I promise that I am just peachy! But thanks!"

Dr. Bailey was unconvinced. She could always tell when Meredith was lying; this was one of those times. "Alright then. If you say so."

An uncomfortable silence settled in the air. Meredith glanced up to see what floor they were on. "Ah yes! It's almost to my floor," thought Meredith.

Just as a faint smile of relief washed over Meredith's face, Dr. Bailey began speaking again. "You look nice today Grey. Any special occasion?"

"No, just felt like something different," Meredith said, for what felt like the millionth time that day.

Dr. Bailey was looking at her again; the same way she'd been staring at her during the meeting. "Well it's a good look for you. In fact, you remind me of someone. You've always actually looked so familiar to me, but I especially see it today."

Meredith felt like she might pass out. "Oh my God! Have I been found out? Bailey can't actually see the resemblance… can she? No way! No one has before! I mean the first time I ever even met Bailey was my first day as an intern. She didn't know me four years ago." Meredith was trying to remain calm. "That's right. She must just be thinking of one of her friends or a patient of hers. But then again, she surprised me, well all of us, when we discovered she loves "Judy Dolls". Maybe she does recognize me!" At this point, Meredith was doing everything she possibly could not to hyperventilate. "Is something wrong with the elevator?" Meredith thought to herself. It was as if it was moving in slow motion, the way certain scenes are shot in movies or TV shows to impact and affect the audience more. She didn't want to be rude and ignore Bailey's statement, so she said, "Well I hope it's someone good that I remind you of."

Dr. Bailey smiled, lighting up her face. She looked so genuinely happy that her smile became contagious and a small one appeared on Meredith's own face. "Oh yeah. I can't think of her name, but she's a celebrity." That was all Meredith needed to hear to make her want to run and never look back. Luckily the elevator beeped, signaling they'd arrived at their destination. Dr. Bailey continued, "Beautiful and talented. She's actually a…" Meredith didn't hear the end of what Bailey was saying as she quickly exited the elevator, gym bag in hand. However, she didn't need to hear the end because she already knew whom the chief resident was referring to.

"Sorry Dr. Bailey, but I'm late as it is and I still have to change into my scrubs. But, it was nice chatting with you!" Meredith yelled back as she ran towards the resident's locker room.

"Girl gets stranger everyday," Dr. Bailey shook her head and muttered to herself as she headed down the hall in the opposite direction as Meredith.

Meredith barged into the locker room, throwing her gym bag down on the bench closest to her locker while running towards the restroom. She made it just in time to vomit nearly her entire delicious breakfast she'd shared with Izzie. "Maybe I've developed some sort of ulcer from sneaking around and hiding my stupid secret." Meredith thought. After exiting the stall, she quickly cleaned herself up and headed to her locker. She couldn't remember the last time she'd changed so fast. Before she knew it she was out of her favorite clothes. Meredith looked over her bandaged and taped leg, making sure everything was still secure. Satisfied, she pulled her black leggings on, put the blue spandex shorts over, followed by her black razor back tank top, all of which she'd pulled from her bag. This was her "be prepared" outfit. She looked as if she was heading out to work out or do something athletic. Once Meredith was positive everything was as comfortable as it could be, she threw her scrubs on over her "sporty" outfit. Getting ready to meet her interns for rounds, she stuffed everything in her locker, but not before grabbing her very sparkly girly cell phone and putting it in her pocket with her normal plain black iPhone. "Just in case of an emergency," Meredith thought to herself.

She was in such a hurry to meet her interns that she forgot she hadn't finished putting her shoes on yet. She had just slipped them on with the heels of her feet smashing the back of the shoe down. Arriving at her group of interns, she quickly fixed her shoes, just in case she had to run for some reason or another. Frazzled and out of sorts, Meredith said, "Alright let's do this. Let's start rounds."

George, Christina, Izzie, and Alex were already sitting around a table in the cafeteria when Meredith joined them, plopping her tray down at an empty spot with a loud bang. She was visibly upset, but they were scared to ask her what was wrong.

"Dude. What's got your panties in a knot?" Alex asked, earning an elbow in the ribs from Izzie due to his insensitivity. "What the hell?" he said to her.

Meredith glanced between the two. "Nothing. I just… keep hear… I'm just tired and can't wait for this day to be over." She was going to say that she kept hearing someone whispering a haunting song from her past, but she was scared.

"Did dressing like a slutty Barbie get you a date?" Christina glared. Apparently, she was still pissed off about this morning. Meredith didn't have it in her to argue with her, so she pretended she didn't hear anything. She was too preoccupied with her "feeling" and the awkward things that kept happening to her. She'd heard the whistling two times since she'd heard it with Mark. The first, during rounds and the last time while she was talking to a patient's family. However, when she was with the patient's family, it wasn't exactly whistling that she heard; it was humming. It was the same song she heard whistled earlier, just hummed instead. Every time she looked around to find where it was coming from, she saw nothing. Just nurses, doctors, patients, and their families. What if she was starting to go crazy from all the lying and the lack of sleep and it really was in her head?

Meredith's thoughts were interrupted by Izzie. "Breakfast was really great this morning Meredith. We should do it more often. Maybe make it a weekly thing? What do you think?"

"What are you talking about Martha Stewart?" Christina asked.

"Meredith wanted to have a nice breakfast with me this morning. We caught up and talked about stuff. Not to mention ate some really great food!" Izzie explained to Christina, knowing this would upset her. Izzie finally felt like Meredith was making an effort to include her and she wanted to rub it in Christina's face.

Before Christina could freak out, Mer answered her question, "Of course, Iz. That sounds like a great idea!"

Annoyed, Christina rolled her eyes and scoffed as she got up to leave.

"It'll be like our own tradition!" Izzie was ecstatic.

Lunch had just ended and most everyone was gathered around the nurse's station. Everyone being the Chief, Mark, Dr. Bailey, Callie, Nurse Rose, Christina, George, Lexi, Izzie, and Alex. Meredith had her head buried in a patient's chart when she heard the whistling again. However, she wasn't the only one this time; it wasn't in her head.

"Who is whistling that horrible song?" the chief (Richard Webber) asked, looking around.

Mark's eyes also began searching for the whistler. "Seriously. Who is that?"

Meredith's face was as pale as could be. The whistling was clearer and more distinct than it had been the other times she'd heard it that day. She knew who it was. She knew this was it. This was why she'd woken up with such a bad feeling. Before she looked around, she carefully and unnoticeably began toeing off her shoes, then her socks. The whistling became humming and got louder, signifying that the person was getting closer. It wasn't until after she was barefoot, standing in her scrubs that she turned towards the place it was coming from.

"Oh my God!" Dr. Webber and Mark said at the same time. They'd spotted the whistler/hummer, about 15 feet from Meredith.

"Meredith, come on. We need to go!" the Chief said to her.

Mark stepped closer to Meredith. "Come on, Meredith. Before it's too late," he whispered.

Dr. Derek Shepard was coming around the corner when he spotted an extremely strange sight before him. There was Meredith, standing by the nurse's station dressed in her scrubs… barefoot. Her socks and shoes discarded on the floor next to her. The Chief and Mark had panic written all over their faces as they tried to convince Meredith to leave. "Leave? Where were they going with her? What the hell was going on?" he thought.

"Meredith, NOW! Let's go NOW!" the chief emphasized the words "now". The whistler continued to stand there, smiling.

"No. It's too late. You guys need to leave." Meredith bravely said. She turned to the chief, "It's time, Richard. They found me."

"Who found you Meredith? What the hell is going on?" Izzie said. Confusion evident in her voice.

"Just GO! All of you. This has nothing to do with you!" Meredith yelled.

Meredith turned to the person causing the mayhem. "Took you long enough to find me."

At this point, nurses had joined everyone around the nurse's station. The chief and Mark had tears in their eyes, for they knew what was going on.

The humming stopped. "All that matters, that here I am!" the whistler said with her heavy accent and somewhat broken english. She appeared to be Meredith's age or something close to it. She was shorter than Meredith, but just as skinny. Barefoot and dressed in leggings with grey sweats cut by hand to hit just below the knee and a red tank top not covering the straps to her black sports bra.

"Irina, what do you want?" Meredith asked as she untied her scrub bottoms, causing them to pool on the floor, and pulled off her scrub top revealing the "sporty, workout" outfit she'd put on in the locker room. Whispering began behind her as her bandaged and taped left leg was revealed.

"Meredith? What the hell happened to your leg?" George asked. "Is that from that patient's kid a couple weeks ago?"

She was ignoring them… or trying to, but she was terrified. Terrified that when they discovered who she really was and that she'd lied, that they wouldn't want to be her "family" anymore or even her friends.

Meredith grabbed the sparkly cell phone from her scrub pant's pocket and casually threw it to Richard. He knew what to do. As Meredith began to speak again he sent a text message to BIG. "Found out. Needs extraction," is all he said. BIG would understand and take care of it… hopefully before anyone, especially Meredith, got hurt.

She repeated her question, "What do you want Irina?"

Hearing the stranger's name again, Bailey yelled, "Oh my God. It's you!" Derek, Christina, Alex, George, and Izzie (among others) fixed their eyes on Dr. Bailey. However, she didn't notice, nor did she care. "Damn girl, do you know who you are? What the hell have you been doing here?"

Christina finally spoke up, "Dr. Bailey what are you talking about?"

Everyone shut up as they heard Irina's answer, "You are fine. How is it you walk?"

A small smirk of a smile appeared on Meredith's face. "Thought you guys could get rid of me just like that, force me into retirement? It just made me work harder, want it more!"

"They should've killed you, when had chance!" Irina replied scowling.

It was then that everyone noticed two large men dressed in black had slowly taken their place behind Irina, each on one of her sides. Everyone was confused. Someone wanted Meredith dead? Had people tried to kill her? Thoughts were flying a million miles an hour in each of their heads as they softly whispered to people around them; all asking similar questions: did anyone know anything about this? who was Meredith and what was Bailey talking about?

Derek began walking towards Meredith, "Mer, what is going on? Who are these people? Are you in trouble?"

"Derek, stay away from me! You don't know me! You don't even know who I am!" Meredith didn't have it in her to turn and look him in the eyes. She had an idea of how hurt he was at this very moment.

Before he could get any closer to her, Mark reached out and stopped him. "Listen to her man. You'll only make things worse. She doesn't need you to be her knight in shining armor, so please, just stay back here." A few silent seconds went by of both looking each other in the eyes… well Derek was mostly glaring. Finally, Derek shrugged Mark's arm away, but didn't proceed to her. Something just told him he should listen to Mark, even though he wanted nothing more than to punch him for knowing something about Meredith that he didn't. "Why can't Mark mind his own business?" Derek wondered.

"You're all too stupid to ever kill me, " Meredith smirked.

"Meredith don't!" Richard yelled.

"You will always be number 2… second best, and you know it!" she spat at Irina.

Irina made a motion towards the man on her right. Everyone looked towards Meredith as they heard her gasp. The man on Irina's right had a gun aimed directly at Meredith.

PLEASE REVIEW! I REALLY WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU THINKS ABOUT THE STORY! THANKS FOR READING... YOU ALL ROCK!