Chapter Forty: Want You Back

Mark had been looking everywhere for Meredith. He had run into Derek who had told him that Meredith was looking for him. He had paged her several times now and called her phone repeatedly. He was beginning to be very concerned over her whereabouts especially with how upset she had been over Thatcher's presence in the hospital.

"Dr Yang" he called out to Cristina who was walking toward him.

"What?" she snapped back at him, wondering what he would want from her.

"Have you seen Meredith?" he asked desperately hoping she would know where Meredith was.

"Not since this morning. Why?" she asked intrigued.

"She seems to have disappeared, she was upset about something and now I can't find her anywhere" he breathed at her.

"Oh god, what have you done now?" she snapped at him. "I told you if you hurt her again you would deal with me" she growled.

"Relax Yang, I haven't done anything. Thatcher Grey was admitted this morning, Mer's father, I'm sure she has told you the deal there so she's been on edge and upset all day and now she has disappeared" Mark filled Cristina in.

"Oh, shit um well I will keep my eyes open for her, if I find her I will let you know but I have to get these scans to Hahn" Cristina said sincerely before heading off to find Hahn.

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Addison hadn't always been a workaholic but lately work was all she seemed to do. Throwing herself into work stopped her from having to think about how shitty her life had become since leaving New York and since Meredith had left. She had been at the hospital for over 24 hours which was especially rare for any attending. She was finally feeling exhaustion setting in so had decided to head to the on call room to get some rest.

As she opened the door she jumped noticing the small figure huddled on the ground, shaking.

"Meredith?" she asked softly, concerned to why she would be so upset.

Meredith looked up and noticed the look of concern on Addison's face. Addison had been there for her through a lot of things but she had shut her out from her life and now she was the one person who would probably understand the best.

"Addie" Meredith murmured softly.

Addison's heart soared at Meredith calling her by her nickname Addie it was something she had definitely missed. She crouched down beside Meredith on the floor, moving to a sitting position she gave Meredith a look to let her know it was okay to tell her what was going on.

"Meredith, what's happened?" Addison asked after some time of just sitting there waiting for her to say something.

Meredith looked up at her, her eyes red and puffy from crying. She was physically unable to cry anymore she had used up all her tears over a man she had not seen or heard from for many years.

"Thatcher is here" Meredith finally spoke, softly but surely.

Addison immediately understood what that meant. All Meredith's insecurities and old fears had resurfaced over the abandonment by her father all those years ago. "What's he doing here?" Addison asked hoping Meredith would open up to her.

"He was in a car accident, it's pretty bad. The other driver died on impact. From what I've heard he is critical, Derek is in surgery now, he has a bleed on his brain and a heart condition" Meredith confided in her once best friend.

"I'm so sorry Mer, I know he hurt you so badly, especially when you were getting to know him again" Addison said genuinely.

"I just can't help wishing he could have been taken to a different hospital or even worse than he wouldn't make it at all" Meredith spoke softly. "I'm such a terrible person" she continued.

Addison wrapped her arms around her fragile friend and hugged her. She was surprised that Meredith didn't pull away; instead she leant in resting her head against Addison.

"You listen to me Meredith; you are not a bad person. Don't ever think like that" Addison said firmly. "In 5 months you are going to be a mother, and you will be an amazing one" Addison continued.

"I'm going to be a complete screw up Addie. I don't know a thing about babies and I'm having two!" Meredith exclaimed.

"From what I can see you have plenty of people who are willing to help out and that care for you very much. I don't think you are going to have too many problems" Addison said.

"I guess, I've missed you Addie" Meredith said softly.

Addison looked down at her surprised. She hadn't expected that at all. She had expected Meredith to tell her to go away the second she noticed her but instead they were talking, actually talking without fighting. It was just like old times.

"I've missed you too Meredith" Addison said hugging her again.

"I don't forgive you yet Addison, but I'm going to try to. I want you back in my life, it's going to take time but I'm willing to try" Meredith told her looking up in the eye.

"I wouldn't expect anything less" Addison said softly quietly rejoicing that she was closer to getting her best friend back.

Suddenly the door to the on call room burst open causing both women to jump.

"Oh Meredith thank god" Mark exclaimed. "I have been looking everywhere for you, you haven't answered my pages and I've called you a million times" he ranted finally noticing Addison sitting beside Meredith with her arms around her.

"I'm sorry" Meredith said getting up off the ground and wrapping her arms around her husband. She noticed the puzzling look he gave her.

"Let's go I will fill you in later" Meredith whispered to him. She gave Addison a small smile before taking Mark's hand and leaving the on call room feeling as though a huge relief had been lifted from her.