Author's Note: I know I ended the last chapter in a cliffhanger, but I swear that it had a purpose. Some people were iffy about Meredith being there, and about him showing up again, but basically, everything has a reason. There's a new episode of Grey's this week-any chance we'll get some Addex before Addison leaves? (Actually, according to SF, we just might)...operative word being might. :(
Enjoy! Ane leave me a review, please!
Meredith pushed the glass door of Seattle Grace Hospital open, stepping out into the sprinkling rain. "I know, Derek. Just stop by when you get off, it's not that big of a deal."She said with a laugh. Adjusting her purse strap on her shoulder, she thought of the night ahead. Derek said something about dinner on the phone, causing her to smile. "Sounds good to me. Izzie's supposed to be out with Cristina and George, so I'm sure they wouldn't miss...me."
"Meredith?"She heard his voice through the phone. Though she wasn't sure why, the fact that she saw Addison looking distraught in the parking lot upset her. She had heard the rumor regarding her and Alex, but the man she was standing with definately Alex. "Mer...you still there?"
"Um..yeah. Derek, it's...it's fine. I'm just going to go on home. Take a shower...maybe put on that perfume you like..."Meredith said, walking closer. She knew that Addison and her weren't on the best of terms, but she figured that if she were to walk closer, she'd be able to tell if Addison needed her there. "Bye."She whispered closely, tucking herself tighter.
Watching as she neared their aisle in the parking lot, she watched as two nurses walked past, presumably for the next shift. Pausing a moment, watching the light on her cellphone, Meredith thought that perhaps she should have stayed on the phone-or at least acted like she was. Pressing a few buttons, and continuing her walk, she hoped it was for the best.
"Hey-"Meredith said, mustering up the strength to approach them. "Addison, I'm not trying to interupt, but-"
"Then don't...I'm sorry m'am, but we're in the middle of an important conversation, so if you could please just wait-"
Addison glanced over at her, thankful for once to see her. Knowing full well that she couldn't say anything, she couldn't scream or tell Meredith to run for help, Addison tried her best to remain composed. "Please, I'm sure she'll make it quick. We were...working together-"Addison said, hoping Meredith would play along. "With a patient, and I asked her to come and find me before she left."
Meredith turned towards Addison, nodding. She saw fear in her eyes, only to turn and see who Addison had been talking to. Silently, she prayed Alex would get the text message in time.
Alex sighed as the elevator doors opened, stepping out onto the fifth floor. In a way he thought it was better that he leave after Addison, because maybe he would be able to work better. Because maybe it would be easier to concentrate. He shook his head, walking down the hallway. It was useless, he thought. He couldn't get his mind straight-and that was when his phone beeped, a signal he had a message.
Frowning, he was expecting Addison, but was disappointed when he recognized Meredith's number. "Meredith?" It confused him even further when he read her message: Outside. Now.
He tried to laugh it off, thinking that maybe it was an accident, and that she meant to text Derek. But still, it didn't hurt to look. He ran back to the elevator, but not before someone could catch him.
"Alex Karev-what are you doin'?...You were supposed to be up checking labs ten minutes ago. Now where are you goin'?"
"Bailey. I'm sorry...it's just-"
"It's just nothing. Get back to work."Bailey insisted, worried about his insistance.
"I got a message...telling me to go outside. I just...I know it's stupid, okay?...But what if-What if it's important?"
"Who sent it?"
Alex lowered his head, realizing how rediculous it would sound. "Meredith."
Bailey frowned, her hand on her hip. "Meredith? I was under the impression that Addison Montgomery was your latest adventure...because if you're going up against Shepherd, I think it's safe to say you have stiff competition. Now...go...upstairs."
Alex sighed, frustrated. "Right. I understand."
"Good, then go."
"It's just-"
"I do not care if there is a sudden freak storm out there and she is asking you to go out a open her car so she can get in without getting drenched even further, Alex. I asked you to check on the labs for my patient, and when I ask you to do something, it would be nice if-"
"Doctor Bailey-"Derek said, frowning against the wall. "Something going on here?"
She rolled her eyes, starting to walk off. "See?...This is the guy that should be getting text messages from Meredith. Now, the both of you..back to work."
She left, leaving Derek with loaded questions for Alex. "So, she won't tell me what's going on...why is Meredith texting you?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know. Right."Derek replied with a nod.
"She just said 'Outside. Now.'...I don't know what it's supposed to mean."
"Why would she-"
"I don't know, okay?...I don't. I just got back from out there when I...I walked Addison out."
"Do you think it has something to do with her?"Derek asked, trying to ease the younger man's pain.
"Maybe."Alex said with a shrug. "But what are the chances? Addison left ten minutes ago, I doubt she would still be out there."
Derek nodded, feeling concerned. He thought back to the conversation he had with Meredith just moments before. Derek remembered the way Meredith's voice has suddenly grown quieter, how suddenly she sounded more hesitant. "You need to go out there."
"Are you kidding? And risk getting chewed out by Bailey?...Look-"He said, pulling out his cellphone. "I'll just go into the waiting room, or in the elevator...and call her. Okay? Addison's fine, it's Meredith you should worry about."Alex replied, slightly annoyed with the fact that for once Derek had something encouraging to say to him.
Shifting his feet on the ground, Derek knew that Alex was right. Meredith was the one who had messaged Alex for whatever reason. "The message said to go outside. Meredith sent it. I'm your boss..."Derek said, nearly slamming his hand against the down button. "I'm dropping a file off...you're putting a rush on labs. Meet me in the hospital lobby as soon as you can."
"What. Why?...You don't honestly think this means something? It's probably one of her and Izzie's stupid games to screw with my head. They probably thought Addison was with me, so they did something to piss her off. But fine.."
"We're both going. And if Bailey tries to get you..."He said, glancing over at him as the doors opened. "She'll have to talk to me."
Addison looked over at Meredith who suddenly appeared afraid. She knew. She knew who he was, and why he was there. And in an instant, she felt his hands tightly gripping her wrists, pulling her closer to his car.
"You two talked long enough...it's time we talk, Doctor Montgomery. There's a bar across the street...we're gonna go there. And you-"He said, turning to Meredith. "You are coming with us."
"I don't-I can't-"
"Meredith."Addison warned. You shouldn't have come out here. She thought. Noone else deserved to be drug into the situation. "Please, Jason. It'll be fine if she stays here. Meredith...has a date tonight. She can't be late."
"Yeah, well, the funny thing about that..I was supposed to have a date. Remember a couple of weeks..couple of weeks ago?"Jason Warden struggled as he spoke, rain spattering his face. "So Meredith is coming with us. There's nothing a few beers can't solve, right?"
"I can't-"Addison paused, stopping herself.
"What do you mean you can't?...It's right there."He said, waving his hand towards the street. "Now you, blondie...you coming or what?"
Meredith was frozen, not knowing what to do. She didn't understand why Addison was acting the way she was. She was supposed to fight back. To kick or to scream. And then she had herself to consider. In any normal situation, she'd be running back inside the hospital, instantly calling for help. But she couldn't. Because she knew who he was, and what he was capable of, and she knew that he was well aware. "You can't go there. If you...If you escaped, they'll come looking for you."
"No, they won't. See-"He said, grinning. "That's the beauty of it. I was talking to family down in Texas. Told 'em that I was coming...you know, eventually. Told my wife...my...soon to be ex-"He said, staring at Addison, whom he still gripped tightly. "But if you're so sure...why don't you rush back inside...tell 'em I'm here?"He asked, producing a knife from his jacket. "There's...you know...more where that came from."
Swallowing, Meredith agreed, if only for Addison's sake. "Fine. I'll-"
"Meredith-"
"No, Addison. He wants me to go...he wants to talk. We'll talk. Joe's."
"But now that you mention it...yeah, they probably would be looking for me around here."Jason said, turning toward Addison. "See, if you would have done your job in the first place-"
"How many times do I have to apoligize, Mr.Warden?"
He nodded, his brown hair matting against his face. "You have a point."He looked up at Meredith, waving his knife towards her. He wrapped his arm tight against Addison's stomach, conciously realizing how she reacted. "You...Meredith, right?"
She nodded.
"You can drive, right?"
"To where?"Meredith asked, her eyes pleading with Addison's. They were stuck in it together.
"Someplace I'll tell you to go. Someplace where Doctor Montgomery and me can talk things out...I'd hate to use this-"He said, patting his pocket. It made Addison shiver, just thinking of what it could contain.
Meredith glanced sadly back at the hospital, feeling in the moment that she had no other choice. He had a gun, he had Addison. All she had was a misleading text message to Alex, which from the looks of things, was too late. She looked back at Addison, then at him. "Okay. I'll do it."
"I don't see her out here-"Alex said, staring out at the benches. "See? I told you it was nothing."
Derek nodded, convinced. Still, he needed that something. Proof that maybe this time things were okay. "Call Addison."
"She's on her way home in the Seattle rain...I doubt she's going to have time to answer her phone..."Alex said, walking out. "I'll just go look and see if her car is-"He glanced over to her row, close to the hospital, but several slots over. He began to jog, but heard Derek behind him
"Stop."Derek said, standing on the edge of the pavement. Wind greeted him as he stared out to the parking lot.
"What?"Alex asked, further confused by the situation.
"Her car is here."
"So?..."Alex said, following Derek's panic-filled line of sight. He saw the hope in Derek's eyes, knowing full well how worried he was about Meredith, because he was feeling just as much, if not more, about Addison. And then he saw it. "Isn't that..."
"Meredith's leaving."Derek said, his eyes following the car leaving the lot.
Everything seemed simple enough. Addison probably walked back inside, probably forgot something, or wanted to speak with a nurse. A message from Meredith couldn't have been a warning. Alex kept telling himself that as the car began to speed past. It was then that he saw something-nothing big, but something noticeable. A shadow in the back of the car.
"Excuse me..."An officer said, approaching them.
Alex saw him, recognizing him after a moment. "Aren't you-"
"Yes. Doctor Karev?"
Alex nodded. "Is there a problem?"
"Well, we aren't sure. But there has been a reported incident, and I needed to speak to you. We have reason to believe Jason Warden escaped recently, and there is a belief he could return to Seattle. Is Doctor Montgomery still working?...We need to speak with her, too."