Looking at you side ways

73

Dr. Bailey stood in front of Meredith and said, "You can try. I'd have to take you down. Hey. I may be short, but you're pretty tiny. I could do it."

Meredith sat down uneasily as Miranda sat down and opened the bag. "Great. I love ham and cheese, chips and a pepsi."

Meredith sat with her hands folded in her lap and tensed up [i]in anticipation for another authority figure to give her a verbal slap down.[/i]

Miranda bit into the deli sandwich and said, "Heavenly. I hope Sloan get's nasty fake fish sticks for lunch."

Meredith laughed a little.

Miranda said shrewdly, "So how's your mother?"

"My mother?"

"You're mother. Ellis Grey. How is she doing?"

Meredith said, "Okay. I was just there and she is...um.....her normal self."

Miranda laughed as she took a sip of her drink. "Still a bitch then?"

Meredith looked at Dr. Bailey surprised and said, "Yeah. Still a bitch."

As Miranda continued to eat she said, "Meredith. Your mother is in the top five of my most challenging patients ever. And that says a lot! I put up with her for a few days and you put up with her every day. I know it's been a struggle to be a surgical intern and have the responsibility of your mom too."

Meredith was too shocked to say anything.

Miranda continued on, "Everything I have heard about Rosewood Nursing Facility is great. She is getting the best possible care."

Meredith shrugged her shoulders and said softy, "Well, she's paying for it."

"Still. It is a huge responsibility on you. This last month coming up is crunch month. This is the time when a lot of interns see the finish line and slack off a little or get too confident. You have been doing exemplary work Meredith. I'd hate to see you get sidetracked by anything."

Meredith nodded, "I won't."

"I appreciate your professionalism Meredith about keeping your love life outside the hospital. Even if they all gossip about you two anyway. My God. Don't these people have a life?"

Meredith allowed herself a small giggle. "I don't know why everyone is so concerned about our business?"

"Mainly jealousy. Jealous of your mother, jealous of your smarts, jealous of your surgical skills and jealous of Shepherd looking at you like that."

Meredith blushed and said, "I don't...we haven't...."

Bailey held up a hand and said, "I know."

Miranda stood up and said frankly, "Meredith. I am a fan of tackling things head on. No avoidance. But the next five weeks. ..This last month maybe you should limit your exposure to anyone or anything that causes you to lose focus on the medicine. Focus on the goal of passing and then deal with things. It's not a sign of weakness to do that."

Meredith stood up and realized what Dr. Bailey was saying and collected the trash. "Thanks Dr. Bailey."

Dr. Bailey said sincerely, "You are going to be an extraordinary surgeon Meredith Grey. And in just over a month I hope you and I are going to be colleagues and from that point on it will be Miranda and Meredith. Okay?"

Shocked Meredith said, "Okay."

Dr. Bailey turned to go back into the hospital and said, "This conversation never happened Grey. Now get your ass off hospital property until the day after tomorrow when you are supposed to be here!"