DISCLAIMER: I do not own "Grey's Anatomy" or any of the characters from it. However, BIG, MO, JB, Donny, and Paul all belong to me and my imagination.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thoughts are in italics, this time without quotes around them. I would love to know which way you find easier to read. Thanks! Also, there are 2 phone conversations in this chapter. When you see the short line of dots enclosed in quotes, that is the person on the other end of the phone speaking. Let me know if it's too confusing the way I wrote it.

In case you wanted to see what certain things look like in the secret room in Meredith's house, the one described in Chapter 2, there are some links in my profile. Check 'em out! It will really bring the room to life!

Thanks to everyone who's been reviewing. It is MUCH appreciated! Have a GREAT day!

PREVIOUSLY IN CH.7

Bursting through the door of the roof Meredith picked up the pace, knowing that it would determine whether she lived or died. "This better be in effect or I'm fucked and this'll all be worthless." Luckily she trusted BIG with her life… ten times over.

Everyone was crowded in the parking lot. No one saw anything, especially Meredith. The only thing they heard was a helicopter, but they heard noisy helicopter blades whirling quite often. After all, this was a hospital.

"Hey, there's a trauma! A few of us better go check it out!" Christina said pointing to the helicopter.

"That isn't filled with a patient. That's Meredith's ride!" the chief replied. "Keep your eyes on the roof! Trust me!"

All eyes were on the roof, waiting for something. No one knew exactly what. They just figured it had something to do with Meredith. What everyone found strange was that the helicopter never landed, it was lowering itself next to the roof, but a little higher than it.

"What's it doing? Why isn't it landing?" Lexie screamed, completely panicked.

"There isn't time for it to land," Richard somberly stated.

Overcome by silence as the group of hospital staff, at least most of them, realized what that meant.

Seconds later disbelief and shock rang through the group when Meredith came into view and she jumped off the roof of Seattle Grace hospital.

"Oh my God!" Lexie whispered, tears rolling down her face.

CHAPTER 8 – May 17, 2008

As Meredith ran full speed towards the edge of the roof facing the front of the hospital and the main parking lot, she thought of Mads and Miley. If this didn't work, she would be a splattered human pancake of shattered bones on the pavement below. What ripped her apart was that she hadn't seen either one for a couple months. Also, not getting to tell Miley how much she loved her this morning was weighing heavily on her mind.

As she neared the edge of the roof, her ride (the helicopter) got into position with the backseat door open revealing BIG. Everything was ready for her. The helicopter's skids (the long metal feet they stand on when they're on the ground) were just a bit higher than the floor of the roof as it hovered where the roof stopped. This was her only way out since Irina was relentlessly chasing her. Literally putting her life in Donny and BIG's hands, she leapt off the roof, hands high in the air reaching for the helicopter's metal feet (skids).

Everyone below was unconsciously holding their breath as they watched Meredith's crazy jump towards the white helicopter. "Oh…my….GOD Meredith!" Derek whispered as she made hand contact with the helicopter's skids.

Soaring through the air, Meredith silently prayed to make it as she felt the cold metal touch her hands. She grabbed on for dear life. Just holding her left arm above her head caused her horrible pain, but actually gripping something so tight with it was excruciating. People aren't lying when they say bullets hurt a hell of a lot. Before her grip on her left hand was completely solid the helicopter started to turn towards home. As it jerked, Meredith's injured left arm released the skid. She whimpered and grunted as she fought to hold on with her right hand while struggling to get her other one back in place.

Watching Meredith dangle from the metal foot of a helicopter while fighting for her life had every one of her colleagues in the parking lot 100 panicked. Some were so terrified that no sound would escape their mouths. Others said things to Meredith as if she herself could hear their encouraging words.

"Oh no!" Lexie cried.

"Come on Meredith, you can do it!" Mark said.

"Damn it Grey, you better not fall! You've been through far worse and made it through standing tall. Just add this to your list!" Bailey scolded.

"Just grab it!" the Chief said.

"Concentrate Meredith. Breathe… just breathe. You CAN make it," Christina mumbled, surprisingly calm.

"This is not good!" George muttered.

Meredith's heart pounded as she struggled to get her injured arm above her to grab the lifeline. She could feel her grip on her right hand slipping. She couldn't hold on with one hand much longer. Suddenly Miley and Mads faces flashed through her mind and she found the strength and fight to grab the skid. Finally, holding on with two hands again, the crowd below breathed a sigh of relief. All except Derek, he was the color of the hospital bed linens, white!

Before the helicopter made a move to fly away, BIG dropped the rope ladder down to Meredith. Carefully she hooked and tangled her legs in it so that if her hands slipped off the metal skid she'd at least still be hanging on to something and not spattered and dead on the cement below. Satisfied that her legs were secure, she reluctantly reached over with her left hand and grabbed the ladder. Once she had one hand on the ladder, she knew she was out of harm's way… this time. Meredith easily placed her right hand next to her left. Before climbing up, she took a few seconds to relax and get her heart rate down. Two strong arms reached for Meredith and pulled her inside once she'd climbed to the top of the ladder.

Seeing Meredith safely inside the helicopter with the door closed, Derek leaned over and puked. He had been absolutely terrified that he'd lose her. All he saw while she fought to get in the helicopter was her wet, blue, lifeless face when he'd pulled her from the water. That image still haunted him. Bent over, hands on his knees, he spit a few times and took deep calming breaths in hopes of soothing his churning stomach.

"You alright Derek?" Mark was at his side, hand resting on Derek's hunched over back.

"I don't know," he truthfully replied. He really had no idea if he was okay. His mind was too jumbled and confused with everything that had occurred in the last 15 minutes or so.

"She's okay now. Trust me. She's with BIG, he'd die to protect her," the chief added, joining their conversation.

"BIG? Who are you talking about? I'D die to protect her," Derek snapped, emphasizing "I'D". After a few more calming breaths he looked Richard in the eyes, face tense, and eyes serious. "What the hell is going on? I want some answers for God's sake!"

"It's not my place to tell you. It's Meredith's," the chief said to him.

"Yeah right! I'd have a better shot of Doc, our dead dog, filling me in than Meredith!" He angrily spat out. "I mean I know I've made some mistakes when it comes to her, but I've done my best to make amends. Why does she not trust me?"

At this point her friends, Christina, Izzie, George, and Alex, and her half sister, Lexie, had joined the Chief, Mark, and Derek to listen to what was being said. They too wanted answers and hoped Dr. Webber would be handing them out.

"I'd be shocked if she did trust you or anyone after everything she's been through. She has her reasons and trust me, if anyone of you were her and had gone through what she has, you wouldn't trust easily either," Richard responded.

"Yeah, we all know she has 'Daddy issues'," Christina angrily said.

"Don't forget 'mommy issues' too," Izzie interrupted her, earning a death glare from Christina.

"Right. As I was saying, we all know she has 'parent issues', but how can that cause a COMPLETE lack of trust? Especially with me? I thought we told each other everything," Christina obviously felt not only hurt, but betrayed as well.

"That's not it," Mark said. Now it was Derek's turn to send a death glare.

"Oh and of course you know about it. It wasn't enough for you to sleep with Addison while we were still married, but now you have my girlfr…" he stopped, looking over at Rose, "you have Meredith's trust. What else are you gonna take from me?"

"Buddy, you have no idea what this is about. This has nothing to do with you. I'd met…" Mark tried to explain. Before he could get "met" all the way out, Richard grabbed his arm in an attempt to stop him.

"Dr. Sloan. It isn't your place to explain," Richard said, eyes locked with Mark's.

With tears in her eyes, Meredith groaned as she looked out of the helicopter's window at her friends and colleagues. She was just now realizing that everyone had witnessed her getting shot and her MIRACULOUS escape. Hearing her groan, a large muscled arm wrapped itself around her shoulders, pulling her close. With that small gesture from BIG, she felt safe. Not just in the physical sense, but the emotional one as well. It started as a few tears, but she quickly found herself sobbing in BIG's shoulder.

"Nothing's gonna happen to you Bear. You're safe. You're going to stay that way. I promise!" Big tried to comfort her, but her cries only got louder.

"It's not just that Big," she said through tears.

"Then what?"

"My friends, they're never going to forgive me. I've lied to them. I lied to Derek. They're never gonna wanna speak to me again! Especially Derek and Christina!" she was crying so hard that she was having trouble breathing. It was similar to the time she'd had to disconnect that elderly woman from life support. Afterwards she'd hid in the supply closet hysterically crying. It was Derek that found her and calmed her down… well after having to breath in a paper bag. Just thinking about the incident made the sobbing worsen as she realized they'd probably never share that kind of moment again. Getting worried about her, Big grabbed a small bag, normally used for airsickness, and held it against Mer's mouth.

Once her sobbing was reduced to sniffles and slight hiccups, Big reached for his cell phone attached to his belt, "I better touch base with the boys."

Dialing a number and holding the phone to his ear, he waited for the person to pick up. Once he heard the voice answer he started talking, "Hi."

"……"

"Goldilocks is secure."

"……"

"I think we're heading to the compound. I'll let you know if the plan changes. Why don't you…" Big was interrupted by Meredith grabbing the phone.

"Hey Mo! Thank you so much! I want you and JB to bring all my friends to the compound. I have to attempt to explain. Take them to get packed first."

"……"

"Who exactly? Bring Lexie, Christina, Izzie, George, Alex, Dr. Bailey, oh and her baby, Dr. Sloan, Richard and Adele, Callie, Dr. Hahn, and um… Derek. I guess bring Rose too. I don't want her to think I'm trying to steal him back."

"……"

"There's enough room at the compound."

"……"

"Okay, thanks Mo! You're the best!"

"……"

"Oh wait, one more thing,"

"……"

"Tell Richard, Mark, and Bailey they're gonna need to bring some medical supplies including stuff to remove the bullet and sew me up," she said glancing at her throbbing shoulder. "Alright, see you soon. Bye!"

Meredith hung the phone up and handed it to Big. "Oh don't worry S squared, I was done," Big joked with her causing a small smile to grace her face.

"So home, sweet, home, here we come!" Meredith excitedly yelled, her smile growing.

Before Big could reply, his cell rang. "Hello?"

"……"

Glancing at Meredith, he mouthed the word 'Paul' to her. "Yeah, we're en route to the compound."

"……"

"Um, I don't know if that's such a good idea, she's injured." Meredith hit his arm to get his attention and whispered, "Don't tell him I've been shot."

"……"

He debated not listening to Meredith and telling Paul the truth, but he didn't. "Um, just a scratch," he glared at Meredith, "so, where do you want us to meet you guys?"

"……"

"L.A.? Alright, we're on our way! We'll see you in an hour and a half, maybe longer." With that, Big hung up the phone, replacing it to its holder on his belt.

"I take it, he wants to see me?" Meredith asked.

"Not just him. A few members of the committee and some others as well," he eyed Mer. "You sure you're up for this?"

"Of course. By the time I get back, everyone should be at the house. It'll be perfect timing!" she smiled, but he could read her like a book. She was scared and hesitant about the meeting.

"It'll be ok. I'll be right there with you," he grabbed her hand. Big tapped the helicopter pilot on the shoulder, "Well Donny, we're going to make a quick stop in Los Angeles, then we're going home!"

Meanwhile at Seattle Grace, Mo hung up his cell and called to Dr. Webber. He relayed Meredith's request to the Chief. After a quick hushed conversation, they both walked over to the group who had migrated to the benches in front of Seattle Grace. They were all caught up discussing what they'd just witnessed. Everyone quieted as the chief cleared his throat to get their attention.

"I need Grey, Yang, O'Malley, Stevens, Karev, Dr. Torres, Dr. Hahn, Dr. Sloan, Dr. Bailey, Dr. Shepard, and Rose to all stay. Everyone else go back to work!" the chief ordered. Once the others had left, leaving only the chosen few standing in front of him, he began. "Meredith is just fine." This one sentence sent a series of questions flying his way. Holding up his hand for silence, he continued, "You will each be accompanied by one of these nice gentlemen," he pointed to a group of five men dressed in black standing with Mo. " They will take you home and wait as you gather a suitcase. Plan to be gone at least five days, maybe more. Once you are packed they will be driving us to a secure location where you can all see and speak to Meredith."

They all questioningly glanced around at each other, now more confused than before. "A secure location?" Lexie asked worriedly. "What does that mean?"

"Don't worry. You all will be safe. There won't be anymore incidents like the one you just witnessed," Richard assured them. "Meredith wants to explain everything to you."

"What if we don't want her explanation?" Christina snapped.

"Then you will no longer work for this hospital. Let me make myself clear, this is NOT voluntary. It is required. And believe me, once you're there, you won't regret it," Richard ordered.

"What about the hospital and all the surgeries? How can we all just pack up and leave at the same time?" Callie asked.

"Last time I checked, I was the Chief. So, none of you have anything to worry about. It will all be taken care of."

They had no choice but to go home and pack. They had to go. Afterall, no one wanted to lose their jobs.

"Dr. Bailey, Dr. Torres, Dr. Sloan, and Dr. Shepard will remain while everyone else starts packing," the chief instructed.

Now alone with the four doctors, "Here's what I need. I need you to all get medical and surgical supplies. We will be removing a bullet there, so we'll also need antibiotics and other various medications. Derek, you will bring everything you'd need to treat someone with severe nerve damage and nerve pain, that includes heavy narcotic pain killers, both pill form and IV form. Sloan, you know what you need. Do you all understand?"

"Yes sir," Bailey answered.

"Meredith was shot in the shoulder, how does that involve me?" Derek asked him.

"We will need you the most," the chief solemnly told him. "Don't ask anymore questions, just do it!"

With that they headed to the hospital to get everything they'd need. Before Dr. Bailey could get too far, Richard yelled, "You've been told to bring your son, Tuck. Don't worry about a crib or play pen. Everything you'll need besides clothes and any kind of formula, will already be there."

Confused as to why Meredith would have a crib or any kind of baby paraphenilia, Dr. Bailey said, "Alright, if you're sure."

"I'm sure."

Both headed off to get what was needed for Meredith and the trip.

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