Meredith strides confidently to the desk. "Sadie Winters room please," she says.
"And your name?" the receptionist asks, without looking up from her desk.
"Dr. Grey. Dr. Meredith Grey," she says.
"And?" she asks, eyeing Lexie.
"Dr. Grey. Dr. Lexie Grey," Lexie replies.
"Wow. Sisters and both doctors. Your mother must be so proud…" the receptionist says, almost snidely.
Meredith and Lexie look at each other and stifle a smile. "Should we tell her that my mother was never proud of me a day in her life, and she's dead now, and that although your mother was extremely proud of you, she's dead too?" Meredith asks.
"Only if we tell her that our shared proud father is drowning his pride in a bottle of Johnny Walker Black right now," Lexie adds.
"Here are your visitors passes. You'll need these to enter the ward. She's upstairs on ward 3. Take the elevator to the 3rd floor and make a left. She's in room 331," she says.
"Thank you," Meredith says.
Lexie follows Meredith to the elevator. She notices that Meredith's stride is becoming faster and more tense. She struggles to keep up until they approach the door that reads "331," where Meredith stops and says, "So what do you think? Do I knock?" she asks.
"Ummm…I guess so, I mean, it's still her room. I guess the usual etiquette applies. You should always knock before entering someone's room," Lexie says.
"Thank you, Miss Manners," Meredith replies, knocking firmly on the door three times.
"Come in," Sadie says.
Meredith and Lexie enter the room tentatively.
Sadie sits on her bed wearing a hospital gown and robe. She has no makeup on, her hair is in a sloppy pony tail, and has a slightly dazed look on her face which Meredith and Lexie attribute to the drugs. She looks extremely thin. Almost emaciated, which startles Meredith.
"When they told me you guys were coming, I thought it was some kind of bad joke. I mean, I never actually thought that you would show up. After what I did…Meredith…you have to know that I would never have…" Sadie pauses to find the right words and Meredith cuts her off.
"Sadie…Dr. Wyatt played us those tapes. I am so sorry for what you went through. I wish I had known…" Meredith says.
"I couldn't tell anyone, Meredith. Telling you would have been admitting it to myself," Sadie explains.
Lexie interrupts. "And Sadie…I'm sorry I didn't see you falling apart sooner. When I walked in on you in the supply closet that day, I knew something wasn't right and I should have pushed the issue…"
Sadie shakes her head. "Lexie…you were so nice to me. I guess that's why when I had my breakdown I turned you into the one person who meant the most to me. You didn't do anything wrong. I should have been upfront and I should have taken care of myself. I needed so much help, and I didn't let myself get it. I'm getting it now though. As much as I hate being here indefinitely, I'm sort of relieved to just not have to deal with life for a while…someone else controls everything. I don't have to think at all…it's easy, and I think I need easy right now," Sadie says.
Meredith sits down and looks right at Sadie. She motions for Lexie to sit next to her as she notices that Lexie still looks uncomfortable.
"Okay…so can we drop the awkwardness and just talk? Catch me up on the hospital gossip?" Sadie asks.
Meredith wracks her brain for something to say. Lexie does the same and is the first to come up with a question for Sadie. "So…do you have a roommate?" Lexie asks.
"Yes. She's nice. Quiet, but nice," Sadie says.
"What brought her here?" Lexie asks.
"Lexie! That's none of your business!" Meredith chides.
"What? I'm just asking!" Lexie says.
"No. It's okay. She sets fires. They have to be careful that she doesn't get near the kitchen because it's a trigger for her to see a gas stove. Come out to the common area. I'll introduce you," Sadie says.
Lexie looks at Meredith who shrugs. "Okay," Lexie says.
They walk out to the common area and see a young girl with brown stringy hair that covers half her face. "Laura, these are my friends, Meredith and Lexie. They came to visit me," Sadie says.
"Hi. Nice to meet you. I'm going to grab something to eat and then go back to the room. I'll see you later, Sadie." Laura says.
"She has a hard time making conversation," Sadie says, after she leaves.
"So, Lexie's dating Mark Sloan…" Meredith says, trying to bridge the awkward silence that keeps creeping up.
"Meredith!" Lexie says.
"What? Sadie's our friend! She should know who you're dating!" Meredith says.
"Mark Sloan? Wow…so it all worked out with you guys? That's great!" Sadie says, enthusiastically.
"Yeah. It is great. In fact, I promised I'd call him. Let me just step outside and let him know we arrived. Okay?" Lexie says.
Lexie steps outside and Meredith and Sadie stare at each other, awkwardly.
"We're going to have to really talk about it, Sadie. If we ever want to regain our friendship, we're going to have to talk about it…I mean, really talk about it. Not 5 minutes at the beginning of a visit, but really talk about it." Meredith says.
"I'm not good at this, Mer. I guess that's why I'm in here…" Sadie says.
"I'm not either…I guess that's why I probably should be in here too," Meredith jokes.
"So where do we start?" Sadie asks.
"I don't know…the beginning?" Meredith suggests.
"You said you heard the tapes…" Sadie says.
"I did…and Sadie…I'm so sorry…I should have known. I didn't mean to ignore the signs the way I did. I mean, if I hadn't left…and if I had just asked you a few questions…" Meredith says.
Sadie stops her. "Meredith. I have a mental illness. Two, actually. Dissociative Identity Disorder which is controlled pretty well when I take my medication, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder…which isn't really as easy to control. There was nothing you could have done. I was a wreck during that time. I never dealt with what happened to Amy. I'm working on that now."
"But you tried to end your life. You tried to kill yourself. And my leaving had something to do with that…"
Sadie shakes her head. "No. Your leaving made me sad. A normal reaction to being sad is to cry. A normal reaction is not to slit your wrists on the street in England. I needed help, Mer…from a professional. Not from my friend. You were a wonderful friend. The absolute best. You did nothing wrong," she says, taking Meredith's hand.
Meredith's voice catches as she says, "Thank you."
"I mean, I held you at gun point, and here you are! I think that proves your amazing friendship!" Sadie says.
Lexie comes back into the room. "Sorry. I'm back. Mark says hi to everyone," she says, beaming.
Sadie closes her eyes for a moment.
"Are you tired?" Lexie asks.
Sadie nods. "It's one of the side effects of the medication. I'm so tired all the time," she says.
"Why don't Lexie and I go, and we'll come back tomorrow before we leave and we can catch up more…okay?" Meredith says.
Sadie smiles. "That sounds good. I just have to get a nurse to walk me back to my room."
"Oh! We'll walk you back," Lexie says.
Sadie shakes her head. "I need a nurse to take me back. She has to make sure I have no sharp objects. I'm still not cleared for free reign of the floor."
"Oh…okay," Meredith says, awkwardly.
"We'll see you tomorrow. Get some rest…okay?" Lexie says.
They each hug Sadie goodbye and walk out of the room.
"Wow…that was weird and awkward. I mean, she's really a psychiatric patient. She can't even walk the halls freely," Meredith says when they get outside.
"Yeah. I felt bad for her. Didn't you?" Lexie says.
"Definitely. I kind of want to forget that. She's like a shell of her former self. She used to be funny and crazy and adventurous. Now she just seems…well…sad and pathetic," Meredith says.
"Yeah…" Lexie says.
They are quiet for a few minutes, lost in their own thoughts. Finally, Meredith says, "So what should we do now?"
"I don't know? DO you want to go out? From what I hear, you're a big fan of tequila.
"I am…which is why I brought a bottle of it in the trunk. What do you say we just head to the hotel and break open the bottle?" Meredith says.
"I say that sounds perfect!" Lexie says.
(Break)
Meredith and Lexie are in their pajamas. Meredith holds the bottle of tequila, but Lexie grabs it out of her hand and takes a long sip.
"We should get to know each other. Ask me anything. Anything in the world…" Lexie says.
"Okay…when did you lose your virginity?" Meredith asks.
"I was 18. It was my first year at Harvard and I slept with my Molecular Bio professor. Not for good grades. Never had to do that. I was smart enough. Just because he was so hot. God…he was hot!"
"Wow! 18??? That's old! I was 14. He was the pizza delivery guy. He used to come to our house a lot because my mom never cooked for me and was never home, so he used to come over and we'd talk when he delivered the pizza. He wasn't hot at all…but he told me I was, so I did him. Right there…in the front hallway. I just did him!" Meredith says, laughing.
"Really? At 14? That's so young!" Lexie says.
"Your turn. Ask me something!" Meredith says.
"Okay…If the world was going to blow up and you could only save three people, who would they be?" Lexie asks.
"Three? Three is a weird number. Why three?" Meredith asks.
"This is my question! I said three!" Lexie says as she hands Meredith the bottle of tequila.
"I'm not drunk enough to answer that…" Meredith says as she takes a long swig of tequila. Then she adds. "NOW I'm drunk enough!"
"So answer my question! You're stalling! If I'm drunk enough to ask it, you're drunk enough to answer it!" Lexie says, laughing.
"Okay…Derek and Cristina, definitely. That's two." Meredith says.
"Didn't take a genius to figure those two out…" Lexie says.
"Ummm…I don't know who the third would be. Maybe me! I'd save me so I could be with Derek!" Meredith says.
"You don't count. You're already going to live! You have to pick a third person!" Lexie squeals.
"Fine. I'd pick…" Meredith stops and takes a huge sip of tequila, "You!" she says, throwing her arms around Lexie.
Lexie bursts into tears. "I love you, Meredith! You're the best sister I ever had!"
Meredith bursts into tears too. "You're the best sister I ever had too!"
"I'm the only sister you ever had," Lexie points out.
"Yes…but I just saved you from Armageddon! And now, I think I'm going to pass out," Meredith says.
"I might pass out too. Did we finish the bottle?" Lexie asks.
Meredith picks up the empty bottle of tequila. "Maybe we had help from the other two of you…I see three of you right now," she says.
"Yeah…there are three of you too. You're a triplet. Now you have lots of sisters!" Lexie laughs.
They collapse on the bed and lie quietly, until Lexie says, "What about Izzie?"
"What about her?" Meredith asks.
"Why would you save Cristina and not Izzie? I think you should let Cristina blow up with the rest of the world and save Izzie…" she says.
"Shut up. My head hurts. No more talking," Meredith moans.
(Break)
"So who were those people that you were with today?" Laura asks Sadie.
"My two friends. One of them is kind of the reason I'm here…" Sadie explains.
"Is that the girl you held at gun point?" Laura asks.
"Yes," Sadie sighs.
"Wow. And she still came! That's a good friend. It's weird having visitors though…isn't it?" Laura asks.
"Yeah. They leave and we stay here…" Sadie remarks.
"I like being here," Laura says.
"Why?" Sadie asks.
"It feels safe. There's less chances of me starting fires. I don't want to start them. I just can't stop. Here, people stop me. I feel like I get a rest from trying…you know?" Laura says.
Sadie closes her eyes and puts her head back. "Yeah…I do."
(Break)
Lexie rushes to the toilet and leans over it vomiting violently.
"Are you okay?" Meredith asks.
After Lexie finishes, she says, "No…I think I might die…"
"We could publish a study. Alcohol tolerance is not inherited. I'm not even hung over," Meredith says.
"Can you stop talking so loud?" Lexie whispers.
"Get in the shower. You smell like puke and tequila," Meredith says.
At the mention of tequila, Lexie turns green and runs back to the bathroom.
"Again?" Meredith says. "I'm going to get ready and go down for coffee. Come join me after you stop puking your guts out!"
"Can you tell them not to turn any lights on?" Lexie pleads.
"Yeah…I'll do that," Meredith says, sarcastically.
Meredith helps herself to coffee in the lobby and calls Derek to leave him a message. She knows he's in surgery today, but she wants to at least tell him how much she misses him. When Lexie arrives, Meredith takes one look at her and laughs.
"You look like death," Meredith says.
"I thought that was YOUR nickname," Lexie says back.
"You can borrow it for today," Meredith says.
"You're mocking me," Lexie says.
"Like you can't even imagine," Meredith says, smiling.
"Where's the coffee?" Lexie says.
"On the table up front. It's strong. Perfect for you right now," Meredith says.
Lexie gets a cup of coffee and sits down. "How are you not totally hung over?"
"I drink a lot," Meredith says.
"Yeah…I can see that…" Lexie says.
"I saved you last night. You have to be nice to me. Come on. We should get over to say goodbye to Sadie. I'm ready to get home," Meredith says.
"Me too. I feel like closing my eyes and sleeping for 10 years. I could be an attending by then," Lexie says.
"Not if you sleep through the next 10 years," Meredith points out.
"True. Let's go see Sadie and then get back home," Lexie says.
As they walk out to the car Meredith says, "As much as I want to get home, I'm glad we did this. It's been nice."
"It has been. Really nice. I'm glad we did this," Lexie agrees.
"Come on. Let's go. Try not to throw up in the car," Meredith says.
(Break)
Sadie sits in the common area with her roommate Laura and waits nervously for Meredith and Lexie to arrive.
"They're coming back today? You're so lucky. None of my friends ever visit anymore. They did at first, but the longer I was here, they just stopped coming," Laura explains.
"Yeah. Something tells me this will be the last time they come. Yesterday was nice, but pretty strained. Lots of awkward silences…" Sadie admits.
"Yeah…know the feeling. I don't even know what to say to normal people anymore," Laura says.
"I'm going to be normal again. I'm determined to get past this. I'm not going to let this ruin the rest of my life. After what I did…I can't accept that that's the last big thing I ever do. I have to do something useful. Something good…something so that I'm not remembered as the crazy girl who tried to shoot her friend. Something so that Amy can be proud of me," Sadie says, determined.
Before Laura can respond, Meredith and Lexie walk in. "Hi Sadie," Meredith says.
"Hi," Sadie says, shyly.
Lexie sits down immediately and holds her head.
"Don't mind her. She can't hold her tequila," Meredith says.
"Don't say that word…ugh…" Lexie says.
Sadie laughs. "Hey, Laura, can you give us some privacy. I want to spend some time with Mer and Lexie before they have to go back," she asks.
Laura's face darkens. "Sure. I guess I'm good enough to be your friend until someone else comes along. Just remember…you're one of us…not one of them," she says as she storms out of the room.
When she leaves, Meredith looks at Sadie. "What was that about?"
Sadie shrugs. "She's got issue?" Then she laughs. "Obviously…that's why she's here with me. So enough about this crazy house. Tell me more about your drunken tequila night."
Meredith shakes her head. "Not much to tell. We had fun and this morning, Lexie was praying to the porcelain god!"
"We drank the whole bottle…I can't believe you're not hung over too," Lexie says.
"Nope. I can hold my tequila!" she says.
"I told you not to say…oh my god!" Lexie cries as she runs out of the room gagging.
"Down the hall to the left!" Sadie says. "I hope they don't mistake her for one of the bulimics!" Sadie adds, laughing.
Meredith laughs too and then grows serious. "Sadie. How are you really doing? Are you okay here?"
Sadie nods. "I am. I was just saying to someone…I need to get through this. I need what I did to you not to be the last thing I ever do in my life. I can't just be that crazy girl who tried to shoot her friend. I need to be more than that…" she says.
Meredith grabs Sadie's hand. "You can do this. I know the next big thing you do is going to mean something."
"Thanks," Sadie says, smiling.
They sit in silence for a moment until they are interrupted by a man and woman running frantically through the room.
"Has anyone seen Laura?" the man asks, frantically.
"She's not here! Damn it! Check the kitchen!" the woman replies.
Suddenly, Sadie points to a dark trail of smoke. "Run!" she says, grabbing Meredith's hand.
They see the flames start to engulf the hallway. "How do we get out of here?" Meredith screams.
"Follow me!" Sadie says.
"Lexie! We have to find Lexie!" Meredith says.
"Meredith! Run!" Sadie says as she watches the flames get closer.
They sprint away from the flames as Meredith keeps saying, "But what about Lexie? We need to find her!"
"There's the door! Get out! I'll go get Lexie. I promise! I know my way around here." Sadie says.
Meredith stands outside the burning building watching the flames grow taller and more menacing as Sadie runs back inside. Tears stream down her face as Meredith looks at the growing crowd outside the hospital.
"Help me! My sister's inside!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" she cries. "Lexie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" she screams, dropping to her knees. "Lexie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
*****************
Thanks to those of you who reviewed the last chapter! Please read and review this one! I'd so appreciate it!!!!!!!!!
The drama's about to get major!