Chapter Three: Seeing The Chief

Meredith's heart skipped at beat as she listened to him.

"Did they accept my application?" she asked disbelievingly.

The Chief frowned at her, "That is not what I want to talk to you about. I want to know why you applied for it!"

Meredith shrugged slightly and looked at him, "You want to know the truth?"

He looked at her for a second before looking away from her and muttering, "I think I can guess."

There was a tone in his voice that sounded like he knew how she felt, but Meredith didn't say anything.

"I need a change sir. This place has become more about my personal life to everyone than my want to become a surgeon. I need to be able to regain my edge without having to worry that maybe over my shoulder is my old attending boyfriend who really was married and then he goes and picks her over me and…"

She stopped mid-rant and found the Chief of Surgery staring at her with a bored expression.

Taking a deep breath she tried again, "Chief I need a change of environment. I can't learn to be a great surgeon at this hospital when my mistake of crossing the line affects me everyday. I can't have that if I am going to have a future in medicine or…become a great surgeon like my mother."

Meredith cringed inwardly at using her mother as an excuse but she needed to get out of this hospital as soon as she could.

"And will transferring to another hospital and state solve these problems Meredith?" he asked, looking deeply into her eyes, probing for any flicker of uncertainty.

Meredith wholeheartedly nodded and said, "Yes Chief, it will solve all of my problems."

The Chief sighed deeply and rubbed his eyes with his hands for a few seconds before looking back at Meredith.

"Meredith there are other options than transferring to avoid Dr Shepherd."

She nodded and said solemnly, "I know sir but this is the easiest for me and everyone to remove myself from this complicated picture that I've painted."

"What about your friends? Yang, Stevens, O'Malley and Kirev?"

Meredith smiled sadly and nodded, "They'll manage without sad, scary, damaged me around."

The Chief looked at her sadly and suddenly reached across the table and gently took her hand in his.

"This is a life-changing decision for you Meredith, but if you do want to continue with the transfer then I won't hold you back. You have my permission but you shall have to go talk to Bailey and…"

Meredith's pager suddenly went off again and she quickly glanced at it, already knowing whom it was.

With a big sigh she looked at the Chief, "I'm sorry but I have to go."

He nodded and dismissed her with a quiet, "Ok Grey."

As she reached the door he suddenly spoke and instantly she turned to look at him.

"Meredith, I just want you to know that if you decide to go ahead, that there will always be a place for you in the program at this hospital if it doesn't work out for you."

Meredith smiled gratefully at him, "Thankyou sir."

He smiled back at her, "You're a fine intern Grey. I wouldn't want to see that talent go to waste."

She nodded at him and accepted the compliment with another, "Thankyou sir."

Walking out of the Chief's office, Meredith took only five steps away from the door before she saw an enraged looking Derek storming down the corridor towards her.

Ok ready Meredith, professional level only…

A/N: I've already updated the next chapter just so people won't have to wait because it's not fair to do that to you all. :)