AN: Thank you for reading! (I apologize for any mistakes. Its so hard to edit your own stuff.)
Lexie finished her sandwich and shoved her empty ziplock into the cup that held the tiniest amount of coke. It really was almost a joke, when they offered free beverages and snacks. Did one sip of coke and five pretzels really count as a snack?
She stuck the cup in the pocket of the seat in front of her as she folded down the tray. The next time a stewardess walked by she'd make sure to hand them the cup from the pocket.
She glanced over at Meredith who was deeply engrossed in her book. Her left foot tapping slightly to what Lexie guessed was partially because of the music she was listening to, and partially out of nerves.
There was something about flying that made her uneasy. She sighed wishing she'd thought to bring a book. Anything to distract her. She thought about tapping Meredith's arm and making her take the headphones off. But then what would she say? It's not like the two had any decent length of conversation in the few weeks since that patient had turned on her. She could still feel his calloused hands on her neck, squeezing. The way it restricted air. Made her eyes feel like they were going to bulge out of their sockets. She could still hear Meredith screaming at him to let her go. She had heard the panic and fear in her sister's voice. She hadn't heard that tone come out of her before or since. Her stomach felt heavy as she tried to shake the heaviness off. She needed something to distract herself from her own thoughts.
The younger Grey shifted in her seat trying to get comfortable. She tried to push herself up in her seat but misjudged her palm placing on the arm rest as she tried to put weight onto her palm her hand slipped causing the upper part of her body to fall into the seat next to her, jostling Meredith who by the surprise of the jolt in returned dropped her book and ipod, her wired in ear headphones ripping out of her ears as they fell with the force of the ipods descend.
Lexie felt heat flood to her face as she knew her cheeks were turning several shades of red. "I am so sorry." She apologized quickly as she went to lean forward to retrieve the items she caused her sister to drop at the same time Meredith had done the same thing. Their heads collided. Causing her to see stars at the pure force.
"I know you're mad at my very existence these days, but are you actually trying to kill me?" Meredith grumbled, sitting back up with her items, letting them fall to her lap as she rubbed her temple wincing wondering if she'd have a goose egg.
"No" Lexie's tone coming out more defensive than she wanted as she too rubbed her head. Meredith really was hard headed. "Of course not! I am not really that big of bitch!"
A man in the seat in front of them pushed himself up and turned around after being jostled by them and hearing the sharp tone in Lexie's voice.
"I am sorry." Lexie apologized quickly to him as she felt her cheeks turn even redder.
The man narrowed his eyes at Lexie, clearly still annoyed.
"We are both sorry, and she apologized." Meredith said to him calmly, "Won't happen again, but the show is over so…" She motioned with her hands for him to turn around.
"So sorry." Lexie apologized again as she stammered "We're sisters.." She stated as if she needed to explain.
Meredith narrowed her eyes at Lexie clearly telling her to shut up.
The man's eyes softened slightly. "Say no more, I have three sisters myself. Good luck.." He shrugged before turning around.
Lexie buried her face in her hands "I can't believe that just happened. I am so embarrassed"
"Well if you'd settle down." Meredith pointed out "And stop being so damn defensive, that wouldn't have happened."
"I am not being defensive! Nor am I wound up." Lexie defended inwardly, groaning at how that sounded.
"Nooo" Meredith scoffed "Not one bit, my little Grey." She let out a sigh not wanting to fight with Lexie in a very small tin tube thousands of feet in the air, so she opened up her book trying to find her page.
"Meredith." Lexie exhaled as they hit some turbulence causing her stomach to drop. As she quickly reached for the arm rests. Her knuckles turned white as she held on. She heard another almost annoyed sigh come from the seat next to her as Meredith dropped her book in her lap and turned slighted in her seat to look at Lexie. "Lexie, it's just a little turbulence, we're okay. You are okay. Take a deep breath."
Lexie wasn't sure if she was trying to convince her or both of them..
"I know. I am fine, don't worry about it. Shut up and go back to your damn book." Lexie mumbled trying to sit up straighter feeling slightly stupid just a loud ear piercing of scream sounded from the back of the plane causing both sisters to jump.
"What was that?" Meredith asked, pushing herself up in her seat a little to look towards the back of the plane.
"Do we want to know?" Lexie asked honestly as a few stewardess rushed by them. "It's you, and me on an airplane with our Grey genes of attracting disaster!."
"I did tell Derek we could take down a whole plane today." Meredith mumbled as she craned her neck further to see what was going.
"You what?" Lexie's jaw dropped "Don't put that crap out there, Meredith Grey!" That was the very last thing they needed right now.
"Ladies and gentleman, do we have any medical staff on board?" A flight attendant's calm voice came over the speaker. "Please raise your hands and a flight attendant will come to you."
Meredith and Lexie exchanged glances before their hands shot up as they stood so they could be seen.
It wasn't even a second later did a flight attendant show up at their seat. "Both of you are medical?"
"Doctors." Meredith nodded for the both of them. "I am Dr. Meredith Grey."
"Dr. Lexie Grey," Lexie added, pointing to herself.
The Attendant's eyebrow shot up. "Both Grey's any rel…"
"Sisters" They both spoke at the same time. Causing Meredith to smile a little. It was nice that with everything going on they were both at least still claiming each other.
"Your parents must be so proud." She nodded "And could you come with me, we have a situation in the back, but we are trying to remain calm to keep all the passengers calm." She whispered "We've informed the captain we need to divert the plane to the Portland Airport."
Lexie's eyes got huge if they were diverting the plane, meant the situation was serious .
Meredith nodded as she placed her hand on Lexie's back pushing her gently to move.
Lexie took a deep breath as she allowed Meredith to push her forward as she followed the flight attendant down the rows. She felt all the eyes on her as they walked the aisle, people craning their necks trying to see what the situation was.
Their pace quickened as they got to the back of the plane when they saw a woman older then them. Probably the age Susan would have been had she still been alive slumped over in her seat. Another woman sitting next to her yanking on her sweater. Shaking.
"Josie Joe, you open your eyes right now." She kept repeating this isn't funny.
"What happened?" Meredith demanded as she and Lexie reached the seat. Lexie kneeling down and placing her fingers along the women's neck feeling for a pulse. "No pulse, Mer." She said quietly
"She was fine one minute, then she said head hurt out of no where and the next thing I know she's slumped over" The woman cried out as she kept shaking the woman.
"How can we help?" A flight attendant asked.
"Help us get her to the ground" Meredith instructed "We need to start CPR, If you have an AED machine, get it" She requested
"You said her name was Josie?" Lexie asked the woman as she carefully helped pry her hand off the non responsive woman. "What's your name?"
"I am Gina, and this is my sister, Josie." Her hand flew over her mouth as her eyes filled with tears "Please help my sister."
Lexie nodded "We're going to do our very best, Gina." She said calmly as she, Meredith and a flight attendant all carefully moved the woman to the ground. She'd already turned an alarming shade of gray and her lips were blue.
They were limited on how much space they had to perform CPR, but the two Grey doctors went right to work. Lexie was the one to start chest compressions.
Meredith was kneeling beside her waiting for the AED machine to be brought to them, as they hit more turbulence sending her forward, her head slamming into the leg of the seat.
"Meredith?" Lexie called between chest compressions as another flight attendant seemed to materialize and quickly went to help Meredith up.
"Your bleeding, ma'am." She winced. Lexie's eyes traveled to Meredith as she scanned her over. Sure enough blood was running down Meredith's temple.
"I am good, I promise." Meredith assured the attendant as she grabbed a napkin they handed her as she applied it to her temple "Just a bump." She said softer as she caught Lexie's eyes. Trying to reassure her that everything was okay.
"Are you good?" She asked Lexie as she kept doing compressions and breathing knowing how taxing that was on a body.
"Still no pulse" Lexie whispered as the AED machine was finally handed over to Meredith who quickly set to work getting the woman's shirt cut and set up to use. Lexie moved her hands after the machine detected no pulse and was going to shock.
After the first shock Lexie went right back to chest compressions while the machine kept trying to do a read. Still no pulse. She moved her hands as it went to do the second shock. She knew most AED machines only did three shocks and they were running on very borrowed time.
After the third shock Meredith gave a subtle shake of her head to the flight attendant.
"You can stop." Gina placed her hand on Lexie's shoulder. Her voice trembled. "She's gone, I know she's gone."
Lexie didn't want to stop, She kept the compressions going. She wanted to give this woman back her sister. She couldn't be the reason this lady walked off this plane without her sister.
"We're descending." The flight attendant told Meredith as she brought a blanket to cover Josie with.
Meredith nodded, understanding what she wanted. She took the blanket with a defeated sigh. "Dr. Grey." She spoke quietly.
Lexie's arms kept pumping trying to bring life back to this woman, her eyes burning with tears threatening to spill. "We have to keep trying. We can't stop."
"Lex." Meredith's voice softer as she reached out and placed her hands over Lexie's hands as she stilled them. Their eyes connected and all the air left Lexie's lungs as Meredith nodded and motioned to the seat behind her. "We need to buckle up." She said calmly as she covered Josie.
Lexie swallowed hard and inched her way up the seat next to Gina and simply extended her hand out wordlessly.
The older woman took it and held it in her own hand. Her eyes never leaving Josie.
The two sat silently holding hands lost in their own worlds of thoughts.
Meredith covered Josie gently. She stood and realized both Lexie and Gina were unbuckled so she quickly kneeled back down buckling in both women before taking the third seat on the other side of Lexie she buckled in herself and used one hand to hold a fresh napkin to her head while her other hand rested on Lexie's knee.
There must have been an announcement about the emergency landing as the entire plane seemed to be somberly quiet. Not a sound came from anyone on the plane.
The landing was a complete blur for Meredith. She couldn't tell you about the landing. About how they got off the plane. One minute she was on the plane holding on to Lexie's knee the next she was sitting on a stretcher. Her and Lexie's carryons by her feet.
Lexie standing up by her head as she nervously picked her at her fingernails.
Josie's body in a black bag was wheeled by them. Gina followed slowly behind. She stopped when she got to the stretcher.
She reached out for Lexie's hand. "Thank you for trying to save my sister." Her voice cracked "And for holding my hand the rest of the way."
Lexie grasped Gina's hand. "I am so sorry for your loss."
Gina looked between the Grey's as she took a deep breath. "Having a sister is one of the most precious gifts some of us are given on this earth…Take care of each other. Don't waste your moments."
Meredith and Lexie exchanged glances. They'd told the flight attendant they were sisters, but they had sat that at their seats, nowhere near Gina. It wasn't mentioned again.
Gina offered a sad smile "Am I wrong? Are you two not sisters?"
"No" Lexie shook her head "You're not wrong, she's my big sister, but how?"
Gina shrugged "Little details, on checking with each other, even trying to save my sister you were still looking out for each other." She shrugged "And she realized you were unbuckled, and buckled you in first… To prevent you from getting hurt by turbulence too, big sister moves. Josie did that for me my whole life."
Meredith shifted on the stretcher; she wasn't sure she was great big sister material. She was flying blind. "I am very sorry for your loss."
"Take care of each other." Gail repeated "And thank you for the kindness you showed me and my sister today." She added before turning and following after Josie.
"Thank you for my sandwich." Lexie's voice cracked slightly as she watched Gina walk away.
"You're welcome." The older Grey responded quietly.
"I should have saved her." Lexie sighed.
"Lex" Meredith turned "You couldn't, she was gone before we even got back there. I suspect a ruptured aneurysm, there is nothing you or I could have done differently on an airplane to change that outcome." Meredith insisted "And you went above and beyond to bring comfort to Gina, that's why you're such a great doctor, Lexie."
"Are you sure you won't let us take you in?" A paramedic came around Meredith with the supplies he needed to clean and bandage her wound.
"No, I am fine." Meredith promised.
"You could have a concussion." He warned.
"I am traveling with my sister, who is a doctor, she'll know how to take care of me if I were concussed." She smiled, "And I trust her with my life." She offered Lexie a small smile.
The paramedic sighed "I am against it." He warned as he applied the bandage. Meredith nodded "Noted." She nodded as she grabbed her and Lexie's bags and hopped off the stretcher.
"I got her." Lexie promised the paramedic.
"Let's go find out what the plan is." Meredith held out Lexie's bag to her. "Do you want to get on a plane and go home…Do you want to see when our next flight is scheduled out for California?"
Lexie shrugged as she scuffed the toe of her shoe on the pavement. "I really don't want to get back on an airplane." She offered "I just don't have a good feeling about it."
"Can't say I blame you there, kid" Meredith mumbled as she shouldered her bag. That was the very last thing she wanted to do. Though she wasn't sure if she should force her sister to go home, or if they should continue on to California. Maybe they really did need a break. Especially after this plane ride.
"Dr. Greys." The flight attendant that had come to get them on the plane. "Thank you, for all your help." She offered. "I was just informed this flight won't be able to continue on its route until tomorrow morning, if you go to the ticket counter they'll arrange you a room until morning."
Meredith shifted her bag to her shoulder "Know anything about rental cars?"
"Absolutely, after what you did for us on the plane, I'll get you two set up with a rental car, if you'd prefer." She motioned them to follow her. "We are entirely grateful for your services onboard our aircraft today."
"I wish it had a better outcome" Lexie mumbled as Meredith sighed.
"We do too" The flight attendant placed a hand on Lexie's shoulder "But we saw how hard you tried. We know it was not an ideal situation. We're sorry this is the start to your trip. Let me get you that car, so you and your sister can enjoy the rest of your vacation.
It took Meredith everything she had to not roll her eyes. This was anything but a vacation.
Lexie's knuckles were turning white as she drove on the icy mountain pass. Why had they decided that going to California in the winter months was a good idea? What was so great about a beach anyways? It would be warmer there but not warm enough to do anything really beachy and fun.
They had decided to take a rental and keep their journey going. They'd called Addison and let her know they'd be several hours later after an emergency landing.
Meredith had also reached out to Derek so he wouldn't worry either. Though he wasn't thrilled they were driving.
And neither of them took into account for was now stuck on snowy icy mountain roads in the middle of the night.
Maybe getting back on the airplane would have been a better plan.
"Are you okay?" Meredith asked as she lifted her head off the cold glass window as she rubbed her eyes tiredly.
Lexie had refused to let her drive after taking not one but two hard blows to head on the plane, and Meredith had decided to not argue as she was fighting a horrible headache and her stomach was churning.
"Mmm hmm" Lexie replied as she bit her lip as she gripped the steering wheel tighter. Keeping Meredith and herself alive was the goal, but she wasn't going to let her sister know she was panicking inside.
Meredith sat up straighter and really looked out the window to see large fat flakes falling hard and fast making it impossible to see the road in front of them. "Shit" She mumbled to herself.
"I am fine." Lexie insisted "We're fine. We're just taking it nice and slow." She tried to convince her sister, but Meredith wasn't stupid. She could hear the worry in Lexie's tone.
"Okay." Meredith agreed. "You got this." She assured her. "You're capable of anything."
Lexie swallowed hard. "Of course, I've got this." She repeated as a car came up from behind them riding their tail. The car swerved to the right and picked up speed flying around them and immediately slammed on its brakes once it was in front of them as it swerved in and out of the lane in front of them.
Lexie let out a scream as a rock was kicked up in its swerving. She kept tapping the brakes lightly trying to slow their car down while the car in front of her had yet to gain control.
The rock flew into the windshield shattering it, as glass and snow showered the girls.
Lexie let out another scream as she lost control of the car for a brief moment, it spun so fast she thought she was going to puke and it lunged forward. She thought for sure they were going to fly off a rocky cliff and fall to their death, but the car came to a stop on an older unmarked road that she hadn't seen before.
"Are you okay?" Meredith asked, one hand covering her heart the other wiping glass out of her face.
"I am alive." Lexie replied "That's as okay as I am right now." She cried out between clenched teeth as she kept the car on the older road following its path. Hoping it led them somewhere safe to stop ."And I may have peed my pants."
A shattered windshield and freezing temperatures in the middle of the night were not in their favor. She knew she had to figure out something quickly.
"Lex, we need to pull over." Meredith called over the sound of the wind and snow now coming through the open windshield. Her eyes closed as the ice cold air burned her lips and nose.
Lexie sat up straighter. "Lights" She called to Meredith as the car took them down to another road that split off. Ahead were several neon lights, of a gas station, a diner and an inn. They had somehow spun off onto a roan that led them to a little mountain side town.
She squinted around the ice cold hair that was burning her face, making her eyes water as she focused on the lights, which grew brighter and brighter the further they got.
"A diner" Meredith called "Stop there."
"I am!" Lexie yelled over the howling ice air as she drove the last little bit, heaving a sigh of relief when they entered the pothole filled parking lot.
"Norma's diner." She observed as she put the car in park and quickly got out. Shaking glass from her hair and sweater. She rushed to Meredith's side of the door and helped her sister out.
"You're bleeding." She observed under the neon glow.
"You are too." Meredith stated "Superficial, we can clean them up once we get inside, where it's warm."
Lexie nodded in agreement as she pushed Meredith forward and the two quickly entered the pretty much deserted diner.
"Oh, my stars, what are you two baby girls doing out on a night like this?" An older waitress with hot pink blush and bright blue eyeshadow came around the counter quickly. "My heavens, are you alright?"
"Our windshield shattered." Lexie pointed "And we fishtailed off the road and somehow ended up here. We're stuck."
"Oh you poor babies." Her hand went to heart. "Well I am Norma, and you two here have ended up at Pinestory Bluff. We don't get much traffic up here these days, but our little town is glad to have you." She motioned them in "Come, sit, let's get you some hot cocoa and bandages." She motioned to a booth. "I'll call Esther at the inn next door, have her set up a room for you dolls." She tsked her tongue on her teeth. "You two won't be traveling any more tonight, and we'll call Walter Randy up at the shop first thing tomorrow morning." She promised "He can look at your car then."
"Thank you." Lexie pushed Meredith into the booth "I am going to run and grab our bags, so we can pay you for our cocoa and are ready to go next door to the Inn and get a room.." She called.
"Whenever, darling." Norma called as she knelt in front of Meredith and tipped her chin as she scanned her over. Meredith didn't even try to pull away from this stranger that was now inspecting her face. Something about her was comforting in a chaotic sort of way. "Our docs, out of town… but I think you'll be okay, love. These don't look deep."
"They aren't." Meredith assured her as she looked at some scratches on her hands. "and my sister and I are doctors" She smiled "So I can say that with confidence. We just need some soap, water and bandages."
"Doctors." Norma's eyes got wide. "Sister doctors no less, well I'll be. It's like our little town has some celebrities." She grinned as she rightened herself "Let me get you what you need." She offered "And a piece of pie, on the house." She winked, "You doctors need to eat more." She waved her finger "You're always too busy to eat. Well not here. Not at Norma's no ma'am... You're going to eat like queens while you're here." She promised as whizzed by returning seconds later with a first aid kit, two cups of steaming cocoa and two pieces of warm blackberry pie before Meredith even had a chance to respond.
"And I've shot Esther a message, she has a room waiting for you girls" Norma called out over her shoulder as she headed back. "Now, Esther is a very dry old old soul, she doesn't come across warm and friendly, don't be put off by her. She's really an ole-softie."
Meredith shook her head trying to keep up with this older energized waitress zipping around an empty diner in the middle of the night. "We'll be okay." She called after her. "We are used to all kinds of personalities. We'll just be thankful for a nice bed and hot showers."
Norma dropped a first aid kit on the table as she peered out the window to check on Lexie. "She should hurry, it's mighty cold out there."
Meredith herself pushed up on the bench to check out the window and saw that Lexie had gathered their bags and they were sitting on the roof of the car. She was leaning against the car looking up at the sky.
"I think she just needs a minute to herself." Meredith responded, keeping her eyes on her sister. "We had a more of an eventful evening than we were prepared for…Coming off a very long couple of tense weeks."
"Bless your souls." Norma shook her head but headed over to the diner door and opened it. "Come on, youngin, it's too cold to be standing out there with no coat, you'll catch your death."
Meredith tried to hide an amused smile, because while she did know Lexie needed a minute to herself. She did not want her outside in a snow storm, alone. However she felt if she had said the same thing, her sister would have had her head on a silver platter. While the last few hours had been easier than the last few days, Meredith could feel the tension between the two of them.
Meredith watched in amusement as Lexie threw her head back in annoyance at being summoned in. She kicked at the snow before taking a deep breath and grabbed all the bags and slowly made her way inside.
"I found a tarp and some boxes and made a temporary barrier for the car windshield." Lexie reported to Meredith as she dropped their bags by the table and slid into the booth across from Meredith reaching for the hot mug of cocoa instantly. Her eyes lit up as she saw the mountain top of whip cream on top.
Meredith did her best to keep her amusement hidden. Sometimes her sister was just so young and carefree in her spirits. Innocent. It was moments like that why Meredith was reminded of why she fought so hard to protect her. The world was cruel, and the last thing she'd let it do was steal that wonder from her sister's soul.
Lexie felt eyes on her as she licked away at some of the whip cream. "What?" She asked with a sigh.
Meredith let her eyes fall to her mug as she held the warm white diner style mug in her hands. "Nothing, Lexie..nothing at all."
Norma clapped her hands together. "You girls ready to head over and get some sleep, Esther is all ready for you."
Lexie nodded and grabbed her bag to pull out her wallet. "Later, baby." Norma stopped her. "We'll settle up later. You two are exhausted, I can see it written all over those pretty young faces."
Meredith stood and grabbed the first aid kit Norma brought to them.
"Take it with you, love. You can bring it back to me in the morning, when you two come over for your hot breakfast."
"Thank you." Meredith and Lexie said in unison as Lexie climbed to her feet sliding her carry-on bag on her shoulder while she attached Meredith's to her suitcase and grabbed both handles and wheeled them out the door.
"See you tomorrow." Meredith called Norma. "We appreciate everything you've done for us tonight."
"Take your pies." Norma motioned to the table where Meredith realized that in the time Lexie was gathering the bags Norma had packaged their pie to go.
"Yes, ma'am." She complied as she scooped up the pies. "We will see you in the morning. I am sure."
"That you will." Norma called after her as Meredith went chasing after Lexie.
"Ladies." An older woman dressed in all gray greeted them as they entered the lobby of the small Inn next door to the diner.
"Norma told me you were in need of a room." She eyed them over. "I have one left, I hope you don't mind sharing a bed. It's a king."
Lexie inwardly sighed but shook her head. "No, ma'am we don't mind."
"Good." She pushed some paperwork towards Lexie. "Sign these, we have ground rules here. No loud music, no loud TV, No dancing…."
"No, Dancing?" Meredith couldn't help but ask.
"Dancing is loud and makes an uncomfortable stay for other guests."
Meredith nodded "We will save our dance parties for at home." She promised, causing Lexie to smirk when the older woman narrowed her eyes at Meredith not amused by the comment.
"See that you do." She warned as Lexie began filling out the paperwork.
"We are in partnership with Norma's diner, breakfast is on the house, if you stay the night here. It is served from 5am to 9am sharp. After that you will be responsible for your own breakfast."
"Got it" Meredith nodded.
"Everything in your room is fresh and clean. If you need anything please call and allow me enough time to get what you're requesting if it's reasonable." She added "Extra pillows and blankets are in the closet. Hot tub will be open tomorrow, the pool is outdoors and closed due to snow, no we will not open it.. So don't ask."
Lexie looked surprised. "People ask to swim in snow storms."
"Oh, child" Esther shook her head and said no more as if Lexie had asked if two plus two was four.
"Here are your keys." She pushed to Meredith. "Room 219 is yours. Do try and get some rest." She added "And thank you for choosing to stay here at Esther's nest inn."
Lexie wanted to remind the woman they were stranded and didn't have a choice, but she decided it wouldn't go over well, so she kept her mouth shut.
"Thank you" Meredith responded as she glanced at the sign telling them what way to go. As she motioned Lexie to follow her and headed towards the left of the building to go find their room.
Lexie quickly followed after with all the bags.
"Here we go." Meredith found the door upstairs at the end of the hall.
"Thank goodness" Lexie mumbled, wanting into the room and away from everyone at the moment. She was over having to be social.
Meredith pushed the door up to a big beautiful room, with hardwood floors, log style bed, splashes of yellow and white. Kind of like a cabin in the middle of the woods during springtime.
Lexie dropped the bags by the door and instantly fell into an overstuffed yellow chair by the window kicking her shoes off immediately.
"This place is beautiful" Meredith tried as she put the pies in the mini fridge "Want to shower first? We can see what needs to be bandaged after you shower."
"Yeah, okay." Lexie yawned as she stood "How's your head?"
"Hurts." Meredith admitted
Lexie took a mental note to check her pupils when she got out of the shower and to set an alarm to wake her up a few times in the night to make sure she did not have a concussion. She prayed to God Meredith did not have a concussion. Not up in some little mountain town in the middle of nowhere. No Addison, no Amelia, no Derek. Nobody was around to help her if her sister did have an issue.
"Shower, bed." Lexie mumbled.
"Shower and bed." Meredith repeated.
Meredith came out of the bathroom towel drying her hair expecting to find Lexie passed out.
"You're still awake." She observed as she dropped her towel onto the floor beside the bed.
Lexie sat up and peered over the bed at the towel and raised her eyebrow at Meredith. "Really?"
"What?" Meredith shrugged, "I'll pick it up in the morning."
"Slob." Lexie muttered under her breath. "I have a feeling Esther would have words about a nice wet towel on the floor."
"Cranky girl." Meredith pointed her finger at her sister. "I will get it in the morning, and Esther will be none the wiser. I am tired" She groaned. "Are we really going to fight about a towel on the floor at two in the morning?"
"Clearly, we are." Lexie mumbled as she got up and retrieved the towel and went and hung it up in the bathroom.
"You're a ray of sunshine these days." Meredith exhaled as she slid onto her side of the bed. "Go, to bed Lexie."
"I will, when I am ready to. Not because you told me to." Lexie mumbled as she got onto her knees on the bed and grabbed Meredith's chin and tilted it towards her shining some little flashlight she'd found somewhere into her eyes.
"Stop it." Meredith swatted at her hands.
"Checking your pupils." Lexie rolled her eyes "Making sure you don't have a concussion."
"I don't." Meredith snapped. "I am fine."
"You said you had a headache." Lexie pointed out.
"Yeah, you." Meredith grumbled "Go to bed, Lexie."
"Cute." Lexie dropped the flashlight onto the table as she rolled to her side of the bed.
"So you're still mad at me?" Meredith guessed. "Because I told you what to do a few weeks ago, and now? Great…"
Lexie sat up quickly and turned and glared at her sister. "The fact that you don't even know why I am mad at you, is why I am so damn.." Lexie held up her hands and squeezed them in frustration when she couldn't find the right words. She let out a loud grunt before sighing. "Goodnight Meredith."
Meredith rubbed her forehead in frustration. "Are there any manuals?" She asked as she turned off the bedside light by her table.
The room was quiet and dark and Meredith guessed Lexie had fallen asleep the minute her head hit the pillow..Which would have been a good thing. The girl was exhausted.
She closed her own eyes when she felt the bed shake a little and heard Lexie sniffle. "Manuals on what?" She asked in the dark. Her tone was different as if she was trying to talk around silent crying.
Meredith sat up and looked down at the back of the figure next to her. She reached out and carefully tucked a piece of Lexie's hair behind her ear. "Manuals on understanding your sister." She said more gently as she lay back down. Facing Lexie's back.
"No." Lexie mumbled "At least, I have yet to find any." She mumbled into the dark. "Good Night, Mer."
"Goodnight, Lex" Meredith said softly as she rolled back onto her side and closed her own eyes. Knowing they were both beyond exhausted… They wouldn't solve anything right now. Sleep came first. The rest would come later.