THANK YOU so much for those who are reading. I do read your reviews and they mean the world to me. Sorry for the errors I struggle with editing my own work, my brain just sees it on how I meant it.
Lexie yawned as she sat up, rubbing her face. She glanced at the clock by her bed. It had been only two hours since she and Meredith had fallen asleep. She flipped on the bedside lamp on her side of the bed. Wincing as the bright light hurt her eyes.
Stifling another yawn, she turned in the bed, Meredith's back was to her as she lay curled up on her side. Her hands resting under her cheeks. She must have been in a good deep sleep, as she hadn't stirred when Lexie began making movements or even turned on the light.
Though Meredith was used to sleeping in the same bed as someone else now. The movements probably didn't seem as noticeable to her anymore.
"Meredith?" Lexie called quietly as she placed her hand on her sister's shoulder. When she didn't respond Lexie got on her knees and peered down at her sister. She felt horrible for this. She reached out and moved some dark blonde hair out of Meredith's face. "Meredith." She repeated louder.
Meredith let out a little groan "What?" She mumbled "Sleeping."
Lexie shook her head at the obvious statement. "Yeah, I know." She said quietly. "Do you know where you are?" She asked.
"No.." Meredith grunted as she kept her eyes closed. "Do you?" She asked.
Lexie bit her lip I mean in all fairness they were stranded in a little small town that neither of them technically knew where it was for sure.
"Pine, something." The older Grey added as she tried to grab her pillow to cover her face, only to have Lexie remove it quickly earning her another grunt of disapproval.
"Do you know who I am?" Lexie asked gently.
"Ms, Annoying." Meredith muttered.
Lexie heaved a huge sigh as she tried to figure out how to ask her sister a few more questions to make sure she didn't have a concussion.
"You're my little Grey." Meredith exhaled slightly. "Who I am debating on smothering with a pillow, if you do not stop asking me stupid questions…while I am trying to sleep."
She was fine. Lexie determined as she crawled back to her side of the bed and flipped the light off. "Does your head still hurt?" She asked one final question in the dark earning another huge sigh from her sister. She really was dancing with the chance of getting murdered by her big sister.
"Would hurt less, if someone would stop talking to me, and let me sleep."
"So it still hurts." Lexie muttered to herself before being hit with a pillow.
"Go back to bed, Lexie!" Meredith snapped.
Lexie rolled her eyes again as she shoved her sister's pillow back to her side of the bed. "Go back to sleep, princess." She muttered. "Sue me in the morning, for trying to make sure you stay alive." She mumbled. "I am sure Derek and Cristina would be very disapproving if I brought you home dead."
"You couldn't afford the lawyer fees, and call me princess again..." Meredith mumbled as she tucked her pillow back under head , letting the tired threat remain unspoken. "Go back to sleep Lex, I think I have a migraine, not a concussion." She tried to assure her sister. "And you're going to get one yourself, if you don't go back to bed and try and get more sleep. That's how your body works, remember…"
Meredith had a point, Lexie got migraines when she ran on too little sleep. There were many times Meredith had found her sister on 24 hour benders at the hospital in the Oncall rooms nursing a migraine.
"Thank you." Meredith added pulling the blankets over her face "For caring enough to face me at four am, but please for the love of god, go back to sleep.'
"Okay." Lexie rescinded quietly as she rolled back over "If you need me, you can wake me up." She added closing her eyes, bracing for another snap.
"I know." Meredith mumbled as she was halfway back to sleep.
Meredith's stomach churned, her head pounding the room felt like it was spinning. She rolled slowly over to check on Lexie but found the bed empty.
Sitting up carefully to avoid puking she scanned the room but found it empty. She glanced at the clock and realized it was almost nine. Maybe her sister decided to run next door for breakfast.
The mere thought of food made Meredith's stomach churn violently causing her to fly from the bed and make a race for the bathroom. She was suddenly very thankful her kid sister had slipped out, and was not witnessing this pathetic disaster. She then wondered how Lexie dealt with these several times a year. She was pretty sure she felt like heard was going to explode, and throwing up made it feel even worse. Was this what death felt like? God she hoped not.
She groaned as she fell against the cool tiled bathroom floor taking in its cooling comfort of the tile floor.
"You are cutting it very close."
Lexie turned around to see Esther behind the counter now dressed in all black. Her long white hair held up in a tight bun. "Excuse me?"
"For breakfast, child." She pointed to the clock. "Thin girl like you needs to eat more."
Lexie shifted uncomfortably; she hated any conversation about weight. Weight didn't make a person, and the whole world's obsession with it was gross. She forced a smile though. She knew the older woman was actually just trying to be kind.
"Yes, ma'am." She glanced at her watch. It was ten minutes to nine. "My sister took a really nasty hit to the head last night on the airplane." She explained, "And I risked my life several times to wake her up in the middle of the night to make sure she was concussion free."Lexie offered a small smile "Needless to say, It was a rough night, and I am exhausted."
Esther motioned with her head towards the direction of the diner. "Hurry on over, Normal will take care of you, regardless of the time."
"Thank you," Lexie offered.
"I'll take it, your sister is still asleep?" She asked before Lexie had the chance to head for the door..
"Yes, ma'am" Lexie responded politely and honestly.
Esther nodded "Let Nora know what's going on" She instructed "She'll send something back for your sister, for when she wakes up, and if she happens to wander down here before you're back. I'll let her know you're next door."
Lexie paused, "Does this small town have a pharmacy nearby?"
Esther nodded "Yes, child. About two blocks up" She pointed out the door. "Right next to a couple of boutiques if you're in need of some warmer clothes." She added glancing out the window as the snow was still coming down hard. "We keep our paths salted and kept. Roads will be a mess" She added "But everything around here is within walking distance."
Lexie turned and glanced out the window at the big fat snowflakes. "I am guessing my sister and I will be here another day at least."
"I already extended your stay" Esther promised "Now head to Norma's, child."
"See you in a little while" Lexie nodded as she headed out the door.
"Good morning, Sugar." Norma greeted as she patted the counter "Come, sit, eat." She encouraged the minute Lexie entered the diner.
"Do you guys sleep?" She asked, hopping up onto a barstool in front of Norma.
"Oh, heavens, yes' Norma promised her. "You girls caught me just coming off a three week Hawaiian vacation." She patted her cheek and smiled proudly. "See my beautiful tan?"
Lexie saw Wet N Wild painted on blush but forced a smile "Oh yes, I see it. Lucky girl."
"As for Esther, she lives over at the Inn, she just got up for you and your sister and went back to bed."
"Oh, she shouldn't have."
"Nonsense" Norma waved her hand. "You girls looked like frozen mice the cats drug in." She scanned behind Lexie. "Now doll, where is your sister?"
"Sleeping, she's not feeling well" Lexie shook her head "Migraine, I am going to head to your pharmacy after breakfast, see if by chance they have anything in stock, I can fill it for her." She shrugged, "She doesn't get them like I do." She offered "So she probably feels like she's died and gone to hell." She added "And even though she may have threatened to kill me twice last night I don't want her to suffer.."
"Tell you what, doll" Norma pushed a menu in front of Lexie. "You find what you want, order it now, I'll get you a to go cup of coffee, you head down to the pharmacy while I get your breakfast ready for you and that sweet sister of yours." She offered "You pick it up on the way back. Get her feeling better sooner."
"Really?" Lexie asked hopefully "Are you sure?"
"Of course, we gotta get that sweet girl feeling better."
"She's none too sweet today, and she'd probably say the same thing about me the last week or so." Lexie muttered as she began flipping through the menu. "Can I get some toast and tea for Meredith?" She asked "Something light?"
"Sisters are complicated aren't they love?" Norma asked as she noted down the toast and tea.
"Yes, very." Lexie sighed "Probably the most complicated relationship I've ever had." She sighed inwardly. She kept her eyes on the menu "What do you recommend for me?" She asked "I can't pick, my mind is too jumbled, and nothing with eggs…I am allergic."
"No eggs" Norma noted "I can come up with something." She offered "You run along to the pharmacy…You want to get your sister feeling better."
Lexie nodded "I do want her feeling better, she'll stop threatening my life." She smiled
"Meredith?" Lexie pushed the hotel room door open quietly in case her sister was still asleep. She slipped into the room and let the door shut behind her quietly. Placing the bags on the table she noted the bed was empty.
Setting all but one of the bags on the table she headed to the bathroom. Placing her hand on the door and tapped her fingernails on the door. "Mer?"
After no response Lexie pushed the bathroom door open slowly she poked her head in and found her sister laying on the bathroom floor by the toilet in a dark bathroom.
"Nice knocking." Meredith mumbled without opening her eyes.
"I tapped," Lexie countered with a shrug. "And might I add that's funny coming from you." She pointed out. When Meredith had something on her mind to say, she wasn't going to let a closed door stop her. There had been many times now, Lexie had encountered her big sister just barging on in, even when showering. She'd long given up on the thought she'd have true privacy if sister was around.
Lexie slipped all the way in turning on the light causing Meredith to groan and try to curl into a smaller ball as she shielded her eyes.
"I know, I am so sorry." She dropped down onto the bathroom floor next to Meredith as she rubbed her back.
"God, I am sorry" Meredith mumbled to Lexie "For every time, I wasn't as sympathetic to you, for these. They are truly living hell."
"I wouldn't say you were exactly unsympathetic, when I've had them." Lexie offered as she moved Meredith's hair from the back of her neck and placed an icepack from the bag she rested on her lap as she stretched out her long legs in front of her. Using the bathtub as back support
Meredith jumped when the unexpected ice pack hit the back of her neck. "Damn!" She hissed.
"Trust the process." Lexie assured her. "I've got you."
"I know." Her sister groaned "But a warning would be nice next time."
"It was more fun for me this way." Lexie teased "Especially since you always lecture me on the finer arts of taking care of myself, to prevent this living hell on earth, and you threatened my life a few times last night."
"I said sorry" Meredith mumbled as her body seemed to relax a little, the ice seemed to be taking some of the edge off.
"You said sorry for being unsympathetic" Lexie argued "Which is different."
"If my head wasn't about to explode into a million freaking pieces, I'd hit you." Meredith grumbled. Now was the time her sister decided to become a pain in the ass.
Lexie continued to wrestle in the bag. "This pharmacy in this town sent me over to see the nurse" She explained quietly "Their doctor is out of town."
"I know" Meredith hissed through the pain.
Lexie shrugged as she continued "The two of us managed to get you a migraine cocktail." She offered "Plus an anti nausea shot, So I am going to push your pants lower here in a second, and get you a shot."
"I can give it to myself." She mumbled trying to sit up, before falling back down quickly as her stomach churned.
"No, you can't." Lexie stated simply. "You're going to shut up, get past your vulnerability of someone else taking care of you, Derek and Cristina aren't here so you're stuck with me. Deal with it."
Meredith held up her hand to stop Lexie only to have Lexie swat her hand out of her face. "You'd be doing the exact same thing for me, if the situation was reversed. So just stop."
Meredith let her hand fall to the cool bathroom floor. She couldn't argue that. She'd sit on her sister and force her to allow her to administer a shot if needed. She didn't know why having it reversed seemed like such a big deal.
"It's not always your job to care for everyone else." Lexie mumbled as she grabbed her supplies and got the shot ready. "And you can't always control what others do in regards to their own health or safety."
"Seriously?" Meredith asked
"What?" Lexie asked, "You can't walk away from me right now."
"It hasn't been me that's been walking away the last few weeks, Lexie." Meredith winced as her stomach churned. "I have done everything but get on my hands and knees and beg you to talk to me, and if I thought that'd actually work, I'd consider it."
"And the moment I said something you didn't like, you would have shut me down, because you're right and more knowledgeable." Lexie argued as she lowered the waistband a little on her sister's pjs to clean the spot for the shot.
Meredith kept her cheek on the cool tile, willing herself to not throw up. Not even caring what Lexie was doing. "You didn't even give me a chance to hear you out, and that's really not fair.."
"This will make you start to feel better, here in a few minutes." Lexie offered as she ignored what Meredith just said. She administered the medicine and fixed Meredith's clothing before leaning back against the tub again as she moved the ice pack from the back of her neck to her temple before she rubbed her back.
"Your stomach will settle first, your head will stop pounding next." Lexie explained "You're going to feel foggy and hung over for the rest of the day." She explained "Sluggish, migraine hangover. I've learned to work through them, but you my friend get the luxury of being snowed in, and you can nap and watch movies."
"Still snowing?" Meredith asked, laying perfectly still trying to not move. Movement had meant pain and suffering.
"Blizzarding."
Meredith sighed "We're not leaving here today, are we?"
"Nope." Lexie shook her head. "Looks like you're really stuck with me now."
"No surgery with Addison?" Meredith exhaled. "I was looking forward to that part of this set up."
Lexie patted Meredith's back as she moved the ice pack back to her neck. "So you think it was a set up, too?"
Meredith opened one eye carefully. Her stomach was calming down and her sister was right. She slowly pushed herself up off the floor.
"Easy."
Meredith grabbed the ice pack from Lexie's hands and let it fall to her lap. "Total setup."
Lexie took a deep breath "Your stomach settled?"
"Mostly" Meredith mumbled.
Lexie pushed herself up off the ground and stood before reaching down and grabbing onto Meredith's arm "Come on, let's get out of here, it smells like vomit." She pointed out as she pulled Meredith up to her feet and pushed her gently towards their room.
"Nobody forced you to come sit in here."
Lexie shrugged as she led Meredith to their bed and got her sat up on her side of the bed.
"I am starving." Lexie declared as she headed to the table and began rummaging through the bags Nora had packed for her. Finding Meredith's toast she brought it over to her and placed it on her lap. "You need to start nibbling on this, I know you don't want to."
"You are correct." Meredith dropped the box to the bed next to her, only to have Lexie pick it up and put it back on her lap.
"You need to try, Meredith." Lexie repeated "The amount of medicine in your system now, you need something in your stomach, I promise you won't puke now."
"No" Meredith protested.
"Don't recall asking you." Lexie opened the container and pulled out a piece of plain toast and shoved it into her sister's hand. "A few bites, lets go."
"Where did you learn to be so bossy?" The older sister grumbled as Lexie headed back over to the table to find out what Norma had packed for her. "From you." She added as if it was the most obvious answer in the world.
"Well done kid, you have learned well." She mumbled around a bite of toast.
Lexie smiled triumphantly before digging into her box. "Oh yummy." She cheered finding beautiful homemade fluffy chocolate chip pancakes.
Meredith raised her eyebrow "Just what you need for breakfast, pure sugar."
Lexie shrugged, "They're still warm…and they smell just like my moms." She declared happily as she pulled out a fork and quickly cut herself a piece. She shoved it into her mouth and froze for a moment letting her tongue absorb the flavor. "They taste like my mom's." Her voice cracked as she fought back tears. "I miss my mom so much, it hurts."
Meredith was quiet. She missed Susan too. She wanted more time with her. Especially now. Susan knew Lexie. Susan would know how to help them communicate.
"Lexie?" She asked as she swallowed a bite of the dry toast. Her sister was right, the toast was also helping her feel better. Plus the shot had kicked in. She no longer had a brain melting pain searing through her skull. A dull headache remained. She could handle a dull headache.
Lexie had turned her back from Meredith, so she wouldn't see her cry as she shoveled chocolate chip pancakes into her mouth, while she wished her mommy was there with them. "Hmmm?" She responded.
"Why are you really mad at me?" Meredith finally asked.
The younger Grey paused for a moment mid bite of pancake to her mouth. She took a deep breath and lowered the bite back into the container before turning around to face her sister. "You didn't ask if I was okay." She responded honestly.
Meredith's eyebrows shot up in confusion. Out of the million things her sister could have said, that was not what she was expecting. "What?" She watched as Lexie's shoulders slumped forward and she sighed. Muttering something to herself before she got up and came and sat on the end of the bed in front of Meredith.
"That day at the hospital." Lexie looked down at her hands. "When everything happened, and you found me outside, you didn't ask if I was okay." She repeated. "What had just happened was terrifying, and for a brief moment I thought I was going to die." She said quietly "I was scared, my ego was bruised and I was in so much physical pain…and you didn't ask if I was okay."
Meredith went to open her mouth and she closed it as she gathered her thoughts.
"You came out, to hand me my ass." Lexie mumbled "Point out everything I did wrong." She sighed "And you're right, I messed up that day, and I probably did NEED to hear those things." She admitted "But you're my big sister Meredith." Her voice cracked slightly. "I was scared, and you didn't even seem to care." No longer being able to hold the tears back Lexie wiped away them shake her head in embarrassment. "Sometimes, I just want you to tell me it's going to be okay. That I am okay….You're my sister…Sometimes…I just need you to say its going to be okay."
Meredith inhaled as she put the box of toast on the bedside table beside her.
"Look, I know being a sister is new to you." Lexie mumbled "And its not your job to take care of me. I can't hold you to the level, I hold myself for how I handle Molly, it's not fair of me." She mumbled "And I told you once that I had a fantasy of my big sister in my head and you were nothing like her, but I loved you anyways…." She glanced up at Meredith "And I do, very much so. I love you." She added. "I just…"
"Lexie." Meredith scooted closer to Lexie she went to reach out to touch her but let her hand fall to her side, not sure if in that moment if that's what Lexie needed.
"I am sorry." She finally found her words. "From the depths of my soul, I am sorry." She meant it. Hurting her sister wasn't something she wanted to do ever again. She knew she'd hurt her several times when the girl came to town and she would have to live with that guilt forever.
"I reacted the way I did…because of how scared I had been." She admitted. "I thought he was going to kill you too, you turned purple, and you couldn't breathe." Meredith patted her chest "And I was the one in charge that night, it was my job to teach, and keep you safe…" She brought her lip in and bit down on it. "I am new to this whole big sister thing, and I can't always separate us as colleagues, verses sisters anymore….The line became blurry somewhere along the way…" She struggled to find the words. "I did react out of big sister." She admitted "I wasn't yelling at you because I thought you messed up as a doctor…I was yelling at you because I needed you to see how precious you are to me, and how destroyed I would have been if something happened to you."
Both girls grew quiet as they picked at their nails respectfully processing what the other had to say.
Meredith slowly reached out and took Lexie's hand in hers and held it. She did not do vulnerability well. Only Derek and Cristina tended to see this side of her. It's how she kept herself safe. "I should have made sure you knew you were okay." She admitted. "The lecture could have waited…I am not sorry I gave it to you." She added squeezing Lexie's hand. "Because I never ever want you to put yourself in a situation where you can get hurt. In a situation where I can't protect you…Please don't ever do that again." She added as she got up onto her knees and pulled Lexie into a hug. "You're okay.' Whispered into her ear. "And I got you. Always. I promise. Everything is okay, now."
Lexie allowed Meredith to hug her for a minutes before pulling away "Its a two way street, Mer." She added quietly. "Please remember that, the next time you tell someone to shoot you…You have Derek, and Cristina who need you…" She bit down on her lip "And a sister, who thinks the world of you…I've got you too, always."
"I am new to this whole sister thing." Meredith admitted "I am new to having people inside my safe walls..." She cleared her throat. "I need you to give me some grace as I learn how this sister thing works, and I need you to communicate with me, if i mess up." She requested. "Please? Please don't shut me out. I don't like it when you're not talking to me..." A small smirk tugged at the corners of her mouth. "Even if I do say you talk too much." She teased slightly causing Lexie to laugh. "I will work on always making sure you're okay first, before I lecture you." She offered.
Lexie laughed as she rolled her eyes. "Fair enough...and I will work at listening to you when you advice me on something...and I am never going to stop driving you fully crazy. It's my right of passage, and you're new to the sister thing. So you have to believe me."
"I'll take it, if that means I always have my annoying Little Grey in my life." Meredith poked her in the ribs before she picked her toast back up. "Thank you, for making sure I am okay, and have what I needed to feel better."
"Always." Lexie crossed her heart with her fingers. "Even if you do threaten my life at four in the morning."