I Won't Let Nobody Hurt You

34

The next day Meredith was back at work and spent her lunch break with her friends in Addison's office while the redhead was in surgery. "Have I ever mentioned that my interns suck?" Meredith groaned as she picked at her lunch.

"Only every time we see you." Cristina chuckled.

"They're not all bad, it's really just those three that don't know how to keep their mouths shut." Meredith sighed.

"I'm sure Montgomery is still willing to break their legs." Alex snickered.

"Oh she is." Meredith giggled. "She assured me of that this morning when she dropped me off at the locker room."

"Maybe you should let her." April shrugged.

"Miss I love Jesus approves of bone breaking?" Cristina gasped, dodging the plastic fork that April threw at her face. "Missed me missed me now you gotta kiss me!"

"God, you are such a child sometimes." April rolled her eyes. "I'm just saying, if they're more concerned with gossip rather than doing the jobs they are paid for then maybe it's better for the hospital if they're out of work for a while."

"There is certainly more to you than meets the eye." Cristina smiled proudly. "I like you way more than I ever thought I would."

"Thanks, I think." April laughed nervously. Meredith wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"From Cristina, that is a compliment." Meredith assured her.

"Definitely." Alex agreed. They continued to eat their lunches and joke around until they were interrupted by a knock on the door. They looked up and exchanged confused looks when they saw Jackson. Meredith waved him in and watched him with an anxious look on her face.

"Hey guys." Jackson scratched his neck anxiously. "I was wondering if I could eat in here with you guys."

"Why? You haven't made Mer cry enough?" Cristina scowled.

"I actually wanted to apologize to her and maybe start fresh." Jackson sighed. "If I'm being honest, a lot of my behavior was due to jealousy."

"Why would you be jealous of me?" Meredith's face twisted in confusion.

"You aren't the only one with a crazy mother that cares more about surgery and image than she does you." Jackson explained.

"Ellis is not my mother. Addison and Arizona are my mothers." Meredith said coldly.

"I'm sorry." Jackson said sheepishly. "That's why I was jealous, you get a do over that I wish I could get. You now have two mothers who would kill for you and I never had that, so I was jealous and I acted like an ass."

"I can understand that." Meredith sent him a small smile. "If the tables were turned I would probably feel the same way."

"Can we start over?" Jackson asked hopefully.

"We can." Meredith nodded. "Right guys?" She glanced at Alex, Cristina, and April, but mostly between Alex and Cristina.

"You get one more chance Avery." Alex sighed. "Hurt her again and that punch will seem like mercy."

"Understood." Jackson chuckled.

"If Mer is willing to give you a second chance, then I guess I can too." Cristina agreed.

"Same here." April nodded. "I know we were friends at Mercy West and I kind of ditched you for them when we got here, but you were a jackass and I didn't want to be around someone like that."

"I don't blame you April." Jackson smiled and sat down. "My interns are clueless. There's no way I was this clueless as an intern."

"Right?" Meredith huffed. "It's ridiculous." Towards the end of their lunch break Addison came in and kissed Meredith's forehead, her eyes slightly widening when she noticed Jackson.