Everyone Needs A Hero

Part 15- Off I Go

Richard stood at the door to Bailey's office and quietly knocked. He hoped she was in there. There had been a situation earlier and he wanted to let her know without having to track her down. He got no response. He sighed knowing if she wasn't in there he'd have to go look for her.

"If you're looking for the chief she's asleep " Maggie informed him as she walked up " Is this about that drunk in the pit?"

Richard nodded " Why is she sleeping in her office ?" he asked quietly. .

Maggie shrugged " She's been in there since Friday. I don't know but when Derek died Meredith left town because she couldn't be in that house or the city alone. So if I had to guess"

Richard nodded and slowly pushed the door open. He quietly stepped inside.

Sure enough Bailey's office showed that Maggie was right. She'd probably been in her office since Friday or longer judging by the mess.

"Hey " Richard greeted quietly sitting down next to the couch on the floor. "Bailey."

"ugh " Miranda groaned quietly "What... what do you need ?" She slowly sat up.

"You're sleeping in your office " Richard stated with a concerned smile.

"And how long did you sleep in here when Adele left you? " Bailey demanded " You don't get to judge me."

"I'm not judging you. " Richard replied with a sympathetic tone " Your kids ? "

"Are at home and they're fine. " She snapped " They've got enough sad widow food to keep them from starving. And if they run out I have four more dishes in my fridge."

"Bailey " Richard sighed "They need you. "

"And I need my husband " Miranda said quietly with a small crack in her voice.

Richard got up and took a seat next to her. He reached over and put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

4 Days After The Pearl Apartment Fire

"Tuck " Miranda said to her son as she looked at the door. There was someone there.

"I got it " Tuck told her as he got up.

"If it's "

"Someone from the hospital or one of Dad's coworkers, I know. " Tuck finished as he walked to the door and pulled it open.

Meredith Grey and Richard Webber were standing outside the door. They were worried. Bailey hadn't been to work in 4 days.

"Hey Tuck is your mom here ?" Richard asked.

"She's sick. It's contagious. "Tuck told the same lie he'd told every time someone picked up the phone.

"We need to talk to her. It's about the hospital. " Meredith said quietly.

"Hold on " Tuck told them as he shut the door. He turned around and looked to his mom " It's about the hospital. It's Meredith and Richard. "

"Let them in. " Miranda said quietly.

Tuck nodded and opened the door to let them in.

"Bailey the hospital needs you. The OR schedule is a mess, nobody's been on call for trauma for three days. Why aren't you at work ? This isn't ok " Richard demanded when he saw her. She was on the couch in her pajamas just staring. Staring at the wall. He knew she wasn't sick.

Miranda didn't answer. She nodded once but said nothing. She couldn't speak the words that were hurting her so much. The words that she couldn't accept.