-1Meredith walked through the hospital, a new found sense of respect seeming to pass over her. People nodded and smiled at her.

'Chief,' Meredith turned, Addison laughing gently.

'You were made for this job,'

'I might have to agree with you on that one,'

'So, what are you and Gibbs doing to night?'

'Nothing, why?'

'Meet me and Mark at Joes, eight?'

'Sounds good,'

'See you later, chief,' Meredith worked her way through the mountain of paperwork in front of her, Patricia watching her.

'You need a hand?' Meredith laughed, nodding her head.

'What the hell am I signing?'

'Intern cards. Not important in the scheme of things. Just sign them, I'll check it all,'

'You are a god send,'

'Yeah, my salary doesn't say it though,'

'I promise it will, next week,' Patricia raised her eyebrows at Meredith.

'Yeah?'

'Yeah,'

Meredith lay curled up on the couch, her jacket still on. She had collapsed with exhaustion. Gibbs opened the house door, looking around. Her bag lay at the bottom of the stairs. Leaning over the back of the couch he smiled. Lifting her up, she curled in against him, allowing him to take her jacket off while lying her down on the bed. She held onto him, smiling as she tightened her grip.

'You want me to stay?' Gibbs whispered softly, tickling the skin on her neck.

'sleep,' he climbed over her, Meredith curling into his side the way she did every night.

'I need to go away for a few days,' Meredith's eyes shot open, Gibbs waiting for her response.

'Why?'

'Conference,'

'You never go to them,'

'Kate, Tony and Jen are going,'

'And?'

'I need to make an appearance,'

'No you don't,' Meredith looked at him, Gibbs smiling at the teenager like reaction.

'You don't have to go anywhere,'

'I do,'

'No just stay with me, say your sick,'

'You won't even notice I'm gone,' Meredith sat up.

'You think I wouldn't notice,'

'No, I didn't mean it like that,'

'How did you mean it?'

'You'll be at work for the majority of the time,'

'And? You think I won't notice that your gone?'

'Mer,'

'No, I'm gonna work, since I won't notice that your gone,'

'Meredith,' Meredith slammed the bedroom door, Gibbs shocked at how she had reacted. Sitting on the bed, he listened to her leaving, throwing things about. A smash caused his body to move suddenly, fear for Meredith hitting him. She stood, tears streaming down her face as the ceramic vase lay on the floor smashed.

'Mer,'

'Don't…just…'

'Meredith, you need to talk to me,'

'No…not…god I can't do this,' Meredith lifted the keys off the side board, and stepped over the smashed vase. Gibbs stopped her opening the front door.

'Meredith,'

'NO, let me go,'

'No. I want you to talk to me,'

'Later…I can't do this now,'

'Can't do what?' Meredith dropped the keys from her hands, Gibbs going forward and catching her as she fell to her knees.

'I need time…I need time Gibbs,'