Meredith took a deep breath and slowly walked into Seattle Grace, she was nervous the last time she had been there she was a mess, she and Derek had broken up and she had seen him and Rose going off together. She was much better now, she was stronger, she was over Derek. Well alright she wasn't totally over Derek, but the mere thought of him didn't make her want to curl up in the fetal position for the next fifty years.
She was there to show the Chief her medical certificate clearing her for surgery, and to set a date for her to go back to work. She made her way up to the surgical wing managing to avoid anyone she knew. As she walked through to get to the Chief's office, she could feel everyone's eyes on her, the whole staff were looking at her. So she held her head high in the air and pretended she couldn't feel their eyes on her.
She got to the Chief's office and took another deep breath. 'Bright and Shiny, remember bright and shiny! Derek and I weren't meant to be, relationships are not meant to be that hard. But I have to work with him, I can do it!' Meredith knocked on the door and after a minute she heard the Chief roar for her to come in.
"Hi Sir," she said.
"Hi Meredith it's lovely to see you looking so well, you had us all worried," said Richard kindly.
"Thank you sir," said Meredith. "I uh brought the medical certificate clearing me for surgery."
"Anxious to get back to work I see," said Richard.
"Yes, I have had more than enough rest," said Meredith. "So I am ready to start as soon as possible."
"Well…you'll have to have a physical by one of our doctors and if they say you are fit for duty you can start tomorrow," said Richard.
"Good, I can't wait to get back to the OR," said Meredith relieved.
"Just like your mother," said Richard fondly. "Speaking of which we have one of her old students visiting for a few months, he started last week."
"That's nice…but I doubt I would know them," said Meredith. "I really didn't get to know any of her students."
"Right…of course you didn't," said Richard awkwardly. "I'll have Dr. O'Malley go your physical as soon as possible."
"Thank you sir."
"Are you sure you're alright Meredith? With everything that happened before the accident?"
"Yes Chief I'm fine, I'm actually really great right now," said Meredith smiling as if she had a secret no' one else knew.
"Good, if you need anything don't hesitate to ask," said Richard professionally.
"Thank you."
"If you just want to wait I'll go and page Dr. O'Malley"
"Thank you Sir," said Meredith getting up. "I'll be in the cafeteria."
"Okay."
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"Do you need someone to drive you home?" asked George after he had given Meredith her physical.
"No I'm fine," Meredith insisted. "The accident was not my fault. I'm a good driver!"
"I know, I was just asking…" George stuttered walking her to the elevator. Then he spotted Derek and Rose standing together waiting for the elevator. "I'm going to walk you down."
"George go back to work now," said Meredith firmly, they were close enough for Derek and Rose to hear her now. "Despite what everyone seems to think I am fine, I am not broken. I'm happy, I'm…hell I'm alive. Go back to work!"
"Alright," said George looking a little afraid, then he whispered to her. "Alex made me, he says I wasn't to let you out of my sight until you got to the parking lot."
"George," said Meredith through gritted teeth. "Go or I will hurt you!"
"Alright…bye," he stuttered leaving Meredith standing there with Derek and Rose.
"Grey, you're back," boomed Mark who was walking towards the elevator in his civilian clothes.
"Hello Dr. Sloan," smiled Meredith. "How are you?"
"Splendid Dr. Grey," said Mark formally. "How are you? Anymore trucks rammed into your skull since the last time?"
"No just the one," smiled Meredith.
"Oh good, we can't have those nasty machines messing up that pretty little head of yours," said Mark charmingly.
"This is going to be one long elevator ride," Meredith muttered just as the doors opened.
She stepped onto the elevator and stood close to the door, while Derek and Rose walked right past her to the back. Derek couldn't help but steal a glance at her, she had had her hair cut into a cute bob and she seemed different, the sparkle in her eyes was back!
"Hold the elevator," a voice called. Meredith hit the open button.
"Thanks," said a dark haired man getting onto the elevator. "Dr. Shepherd, Dr. Sloan."
"Dr. Holden," said Derek politely.
"Holden?" said Meredith looking at the man, and it dawned on her. Of course the only student of her mother's she had said more than two words, that would have to be the one that that started at Seattle Grace.
"Well, well, well," said Dr. Holden looking Meredith up and down. "Looks like Candy is all grown up."
"You work here?" said Meredith flatly.
"For now," said Dr. Holden. "Happy to see me?"
"Of course you work here," said Meredith. "Out of thousands of my mother's students, you have to come here."
"I'm going to assume you missed me Candy," said Dr. Holden.
"Assume away," said Meredith stepping off the elevator.
"What was that?" asked Mark.
"Long story," chuckled Dr. Holden as he watched Meredith walk into the parking lot.
"You know Meredith?" asked Derek his curiosity getting the better of him.
"You could say that," said Dr. Holden still watching Meredith. "You see nine years ago, I hit on Ellis Grey's jailbait daughter in a bar, that was an interesting few weeks…"