~Timeline-season 5, after No Good at Saying Sorry. Izzie is not sick in my story, obviously. Thank you so much for reviews-it really helps make stories better. Anything you see that you don't like, please tell me. I will try to fix it.

Meredith had just gotten off of her shift. She was tired, but her brain was still working overtime and she was thinking about her latest case. She stopped for a second to rub the back of her neck. She sighed in contentment. She would be home soon, asleep. She made her way to her car and pulled out of the hospital. She was aware of her drive home, but just barely. She was tired. Her eyes burned and she felt sick to her stomach. She felt the familiar crunch of her driveway and stumbled to the front door. She tripped on something on her way. The black blob that made her fall moaned. She got back up to her feet and inspected.

"Thatcher?" she asked in half disgust and half surprise.

"Meredith.." he grumbled. "Please..please.."

Meredith looked at him. She felt pity. She never expected to feel that. Anger, yes. Pity, no.

"Okay, Thatcher, why don't you come inside." she said, exasperated at her weakness. She tried to make herself emotionally distant at this time. She just didn't think about anything. She looked down as he tried to stand up. Pathetic, she thought.

She sighed. "Come on, Thatcher." She reached down to grab his arm.

He fought back. In one solid, smooth motion, he slung his arm back and decked Meredith in the face. She was not expecting that. She felt her face throb, and felt liquid running from her nose and somewhere else. She couldn't think of anything but the pain for a moment, and she let out a cry of pain. Meanwhile, on the ground, Thatcher was slowly getting up.

"Oh, Meredith, I am so sorry…" he slurred at her, tears in his eyes. Meredith was sucked into his misery. She knew loss. And she was the better person here. She was not going to let Thatcher turn her into a horrible human being.

"Just get up Thatcher, it's okay." she said harshly. Her face still hurt. He swayed, and she supported him into the house, not an easy task, seeing as he outweighed her by about 100 pounds and he was at least a head taller than her. She was tired from the exertion. She helped him to the couch, where he immediately passed out. Instead of worrying about her life, she went upstairs and plopped into bed, loosely aware of her mind telling her she was insane for letting him in her house. She let her mind wander…

She woke up and was painfully aware of her bruised face. Izzie took that moment to barge into her room, a coffee in her hand.

"Why is your father on the couch?" she looked at her softy.

Meredith put the pillow over her already obscured face.

"He was drunk, and in the front yard. Police would have came and made this whole big thing or whatever…."

"Okay. Just…make him bathe or something. It's ruining my breakfast time." She left as quick as she entered.

Meredith sighed. She should go kick him out. She sat up and wandered into the hallway. She walked downstairs, slightly disoriented, and looked at the couch. Hmm. He was already gone. Easier, she thought. She went into the kitchen and plopped down, and got really lightheaded.

"Whoa, must be hungry!" she said happily. She loved Izzie's cooking.

Izzie turned around, apron and cooking utensil equipped. Her face quickly turned from a carefree expression to an extremely worried and surprised one.

"What?" Meredith was confused.

"Oh my god Meredith what happened to you?!" her face was marked with concern and pain.

Meredith felt her face. Crap. It must look awful. She forgot to wipe the dried blood off of her face before going downstairs.

"Izzie! Izzie. It's fine." she reassured her. She took off for the bathroom and grimaced at the sight. It did look horrible. She had blood from a cut below her eye, and from her nose. In addition to that, she noticed, after she wiped the blood off, she had two wonderful black eyes, and a bruise around the cut.

"Thank you, daddy…" she muttered under her breath.

"Thatcher did this to you?!" Izzie yelled, appearing behind her. Meredith jumped at her loud voice and got a little more nauseous. "I swear! Meredith, are you okay? You don't look too goo…" at that moment in time Meredith leaned over the toilet and threw up. Great, she thought. Now I have a concussion.

"Derek is going to kill Thatcher." Izzie said before vanishing through the doorway.

Meredith leaned over and thought, Hmmm..I think my life just got a little more complicated.