-1Meredith stood over the table, wrapping the clip round the aneurism. Her fifth surgery in 24 hours was taking its toll. She looked up to the light, adjusting her eyes to it.

'Are you alright?' Meredith looked to the intern

'I'm fine, been working solidly for the last 36 hours,'

'Do you want me to page someone else Chief?' Meredith shook her head and went back to the surgery

Three hours later Meredith ripped the gloves off her hands and slammed down on the button to open the scrub room door. The young girl had died, three days before her fifteenth birthday. She scrubbed her hands vigorously, feeling like she could have done more, that she could have saved her life. But deep down she knew she had done everything she could, but it just didn't seem enough. Looking to her pager, she read the multiple messages from Gibbs, telling her to call him back. She couldn't face him, not yet. Her hands trembled, Meredith knowing she couldn't perform anymore surgeries, she was done. The empty corridors gave her a chance to think, something she didn't really want time to think about. The empty house, empty bed, the empty feeling she had had since Gibbs had left hadn't lifted and the argument they had had was still hanging over them both but she had told him to leave and she was suffering for it now. Sitting in the darkness of the tunnel, she left the sleep consume her body. She let herself stop for a second and instantly she was asleep.

Opening her eyes, Mark kneeled down in front of the gurney, gently shaking her.

'Hey, they were about to send out a search party,'

'Who?'

'Board of directors. They're waiting for you,'

'Shit,' Meredith tied her hair up, running into her office and lifting the papers off of her desk. Patricia handed her the cell, Meredith briefly looking at it before handing it back with the multiple missed calls from Gibbs.

'If he calls, tell him I'm in Surgery,' Meredith stopped outside the board room and straightened her scrub top, trying to look professional. Opening the doors, the room full of men turned and looked at her, Meredith feeling instantly intimidated.

'Sorry to have kept you waiting gentlemen. Time flies when your,' Meredith took a deep breath in, the room starting to spin.

'Having fun?' She nodded and smiled at the young guy sitting up the back taking notes.

'So gentlemen, what can I do for you?' they all exchanged looks.

'You didn't call this board meeting for no reason and I'm guessing its to do with the fact I'm a female and running a hospital. So, what figures do you want?'

'We want to know the plans you have for the hospital,'

After four hours, Meredith was fighting back. With each question she answered, the more respect she was building with the men.

'So have I put all of your fears to,' Meredith stood up.

'Rest? Or do you have anymore problems,' the man who had sat at the back the entire time, taking notes came up beside Meredith.

'Are you ok? You seem Ill,'

'I'm ok,' Meredith lifted the pile of folders. She listened into a conversation walking to the door. Meredith put her hand out, trying to grab onto something as everything went blurry and her legs went from beneath her. Her fall was hard, Meredith conscious for seconds before she passed out. A flurry of people went to her, the shouts for help ringing out. Addison and Mark were at her side in minutes, the gossip spreading. Addison and Mark exchanged looks, noticing how ill she really did look. Her face was pale, seeming long and drawn. Addison sent everyone out, only her and Mark in with her. She examined her gently, pressing down on Meredith's stomach, Mark running blood tests.

'Run a pregnancy test,'

'What?'

'Her stomachs expanding and it's not fluid. Get a pregnancy test done,'

'Would she not know?'

'If she is, she's at least two months gone. I would say she would know,'