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"What happened? Is she stable?" Addison can't help but cry out when she sees a nurse standing next to Meredith's bed, hovering over her, and doing something with her IV.

She runs into the room but stops dead in her tracks when she notices the nasogastric tube coming out of Meredith's nose.

Addison's heart sinks. No!

The nurse carefully puts the formula she's been holding next to Meredith's hand and takes a few steps back, smiling reassuringly at Addison, who's standing at the feet of the bed, looking down at the blonde with wide eyes.

"Everything's alright, Dr. Montgomery. I was just putting the formula into the NG tube-"

Addison glares at her. "Why?!"

The nurse bows her head, avoiding Addison's gaze. "Dr. Webber said that Dr. Grey is malnourished, and this is the only way to get her to eat anything."

Richard did this? Behind my back?

Feeling anger building inside her, Addison points at the hallway, her face hardening. "Go away! Now!"

The nurse quickly gathers her things and leaves the room, leaving Addison standing with hunched shoulders next to the peacefully sleeping Meredith.

Addison takes a deep breath and reaches for Meredith's chart, quickly scanning through it – Meredith's sats were normal, but her BP was way lower than it should be.

Holding back a sudden lump in her throat, she puts the chart back down and sits in the chair next to the bed, gently squeezing Meredith's hand and making circles on her palm with her thumb.

Meredith's face is pale; the harsh brown of the tape on her nose starkly contrasts the whiteness of her skin. Her cheekbones are starting to look hollow, and her hair is greasy and without life.

Addison softly kisses her forehead, wishing she would get better soon.

She hears heavy footsteps making their way to the bed. She looks up and sees Richard looking at her with empathy.

"You should go home and rest, Addison," he says softly. "We will take care of her."

Addison sits back down, not letting go of Meredith's hand. "How could you do that without telling me?" she asks coldly, her gaze searching his face for something that would tell her he regrets it.

Richard sighs. "I was doing what's best for my patient."

Addison shakes her head, staring at him. "No. You're doing what's best for you."

"I'm not-"

"You are acting like her father. But you aren't. You better remember that," Addison says firmly, enjoying the hurt that appears in his eyes at the reminder.

Still, he doesn't yell at her. Instead, his gaze jumps to Meredith. "I understand you're angry, Addison."

"You don't understand anything!" Addison lets go of Meredith's hand and stands up. "I can't believe you didn't ask me before doing something like this." She points at the NG tube, her voice stiff with anger.

Richard puts his hands up placatingly. "I paged you, but you weren't answering."

"I was in surgery."

"That isn't my fault. I tried to ask for your permission. You can't say I didn't."

Addison throws her hands in the air, making her way around him. She fears that if she stays, she will say something that would cost her a job. "Whatever. I have a post-op patient to take care of."

But Richard has the last word anyway. "The NG tube stays in. It's for her own good."

-----------------------------

Convincing Richard to let Meredith go home with her is easier than Addison expected. All it took was some false promises and a few threats about moving her service back to New York.

Meredith's friends weren't happy. Addison could hear them whispering all the time, huddled together in a corner, but whenever she walked over to them, they fell silent, avoiding her eyes.

The only person who has anything to say about it is Derek.

It's on the day Meredith is supposed to be discharged. Addison is on her way to Meredith's room with a wheelchair when he appears beside her, grabbing her elbow.

"Hey, Addie. Can we talk?" His tone is friendly, but she notices a certain rigidness in his body.

Letting go of the wheelchair handles, Addison turns to him, smiling. "Sure."

"She's not ready," Derek says, his voice urgent. His eyes are bloodshot, and his scrubs are full of wrinkles as if he slept in them. "She still doesn't speak or get out of bed," he adds when Addison isn't saying anything, a hint of desperation in his voice.

Addison's smile falters, and she crosses her arms over her chest. She won't let Derek, of all people, tell her what she can and can't do. "She needs a familiar place to get better."

"Yeah, this hospital isn't a familiar place for her. For God's sake, she practically grew up here."

"I have it under control."

"I don't think so."

"I don't care what you think, Derek," Addison says firmly, voice full of venom. "You're not her boyfriend anymore. Stop acting like you know what's best for her!"

"You're one to talk."

Addison looks away from his piercing glare. She won't let him get into her head. She knew what she was doing.

Derek's eyes soften as he takes a deep breath. "I only want her to get better."

"She will get better. I will help her."

"Getting her discharged this early isn't helping her. She needs professional help."

Addison feels her patience growing thin. She throws her arms in the air, already walking past Derek back to the wheelchair. "Oh, you plan to lock her up in psych and let them make her brain a cuckoo's nest. Great."

"What? No, I-"

"I have to go." Addison grabs the handles and quickly walks away. She needs to get away from him before she loses the little bit of hope she managed to find.

"This is a bad idea, Addison!" Derek calls after her, but she ignores him. Her mind is set on the future, planning what she will do once Meredith is home with her.