Another trigger warning for mentions of self harm

It has been 10 days since Astrid had left Seattle which meant she had officially been in the hotel for 6 days and 18 hours. She had left the room and hotel once but that was on her first day in New York. Astrid decided to get her phone from her car, she wondered if anyone actually was missing her. She slipped her hoodie on and headed down to the car where she grabbed her phone and charger which she kept in the glove compartment. On her way back to her room she decided to pop to the restaurant, she fancied some fruit and pancakes since it was still morning time.

"Good Morning Miss, what can I get you?" A young woman who was in the restaurant asked Astrid.

"Hi, could I get a hot chocolate, some pancakes and umm a fruit salad with extra Apples but no pineapple please, could I have it to take away to my room too please" Astrid fakes a smile as she try's to act like she was fine, she's self harmed over the last 6 days. It they were only superficial cuts which she managed to treat herself with bandages and steri-strips (are they what their called? I know that's what my mum calls them 🤔)

"Coming right up" the young woman smiled to Astrid who then paid for what she ordered. The young woman smiled as she got on with her job, while waiting for her order Astrid turned her phone on and slipped it into her pocket while it loads up and she waits for the order. In her pocket she felt her phone vibrate over and over, she guessed they were calls and texts from her brother and friends. She was shocked especially after she had convinced herself that her no-one was worried and that no-one missed her.

"Here you go Ma'am enjoy your food" the young woman said kindly to Astrid

"Thank you"Astrid said as she gave a small nod to the woman before picking up her food and her hot chocolate before heading to the elevators to go up to her room. Astrid leant against the back of the elevator and let out a small sigh.

"Why is everything always so hard" Astrid sighed once more while waiting for the elevator to stop on her floor, once it did Astrid made her way down the corridor and towards her room which she immediately unlocked once she got their. Astrid placed her things on the bed and her drink onto the bedside table, she kicked her shoes off and climbed onto the bed as her baby kicked, it was the first time she had felt this baby properly kick, or maybe it was the first time she had noticed. As she sat on the bed Astrid checked her phone, she had over 100 messages from everyone back home in Seattle, their were more from Mark and Lexie but their were so many she would have to get through

Mark
50 voice messages
25 texts

Meredith
25 voice messages
30 texts

Jade
30 voice messages
30 texts

Adam
28 voice messages
23 texts

Emma
12 voice messages
54 texts

Derek
12 voice messages
13 texts

Lexie
22 voice messages
60 texts

"Well that's a lot of texts and calls to get through" Astrid thought to herself, apart from them their were messages from Izzie, Cristina, Addison, Alex, George and then Richard Webber and Miranda Bailey, she knew she was probably going to be in trouble for not showing up to work, but she would cross that bridge when she came to it. Astrid began working through the voicemails, she sighed as they all were basically the same, they all wanted to know where Astrid was, some of marks had Echo in, crying for Astrid and that broke Astrid. After reading the texts her phone began ringing with Lexie's name.

"Hello" Astrid said quietly, a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach

"Little Sloan' I didn't think you'd answer" Lexie exclaimed, she sounded shocked that Astrid had answered the phone.

"I'm sorry about that" was all Astrid said.

"Where are you? Are you okay?" Lexie asked Astrid who wasn't too sure what to say, was she ready to go home where she works have to see Alex, and explain to her brother that she's in a dark place again.

"I'm fine, I just couldn't face seeing Alex and Addison, I know I've been childish by running away instead of facing up to everything but I had to think it my own mental health, it was already really bad. I thought leaving would be best so I could be the mom and doctor I know I can be" Astrid admitted however she didn't end up telling Lexie where she was, she didn't want her brother to know right now.

"Where are you little Sloan? I won't tell anyone. I'll come and meet you. It will be easier to talk" Lexie said calmly hoping Astrid would tell her where she was, she would go and meet her and hopefully bring her back home, if not she could at least tell Mark that Astrid was okay.

"Do you promice you won't tell anyone! And you'd come on your own?" Astrid asked Lexie

"I promice Little Sloan! I promise I'll come alone and I won't tell anyone where you are" Lexie reassured Astrid who bite down on her lower lip

"I'm in New York!" Astrid said her voice quite.

"I'll be their as soon as I can. And I promise I'll come alone!" Lexie said to Astrid softly. The two woman said their goodbyes and Lexie went to the chief of surgery Richard Webber.

"What is it Dr Grey, I've got a meeting in five minutes" Richard said to Lexie

"I promised Astrid I wouldn't tell anyone where she is but I'm going to get her home, Could I book a few days off please" Lexie asked Richard who looked shocked that she had actually heard from Astrid

"She answered your call?" Richard asked sounding shocked as Lexie nodded

"She doesn't sound like herself but yes, she said she was trying to think of her mental health but I don't think it's helped. I saw the argument she had with Karev the day she went off, it was clear she was struggling then, she hadn't even spoken to anyone if it wasn't for work and mark" Lexie explained to the chief

"Bring her home. How many days do you think you'll need?" Richard asked Lexie who wasn't sure, she knew the journey their and back is 5 hours 10 minutes each so that's 10 hours 20 minutes

"I'd like to say no more than 3 days but it all depends if I manage to get her on the flight home" Lexie said to Richard who wrote down in his book

"If it takes longer just call" Richard said and Lexie thanked him before leaving, she headed back to Meredith's which was where she was staying, she quickly booked her flight out and it was the only flight they had that day so she's packed a bag with the essential things she would need.

"Where are you of too in such a rush?" Meredith asked Lexie who practically ran down the stairs.

"Can't say, will be back in a few days" Lexie said having already broke her promise by telling the chief where Astrid was and didn't want to break it any more by telling more people. Before Meredith could say anything he else Lexie was off and in the car to head to the airport.

8 hours later
9:30pm New York time

Lexie had got through security and was in a taxi to the hotel which Astrid was in, Astrid had told her the room number and floor so she wasn't looking like a mad woman wondering where a was. After a short taxi ride she finally reached the hotel and paid the driver before heading inside. Lexie used the elevator and took it to the floor Astrid was on.

"It's me little Sloan!" Lexie said as she knocked on the door finally reaching the room. Inside the room Astrid made sure her arms were covered, she wasn't ready to tell anyone about her self harming.

"Hi" Astrid said opening the door, she saw Lexie's face light up as she opened the door, probably relief that she was okay and actually where she said she was.

"We can talk better now" Lexie said softly as she gave Astrid a hug.

"I'm sorry for the worry" was all
Astrid said as she stepped aside for Lexie to enter the room. Astrid then shut the door and the two began talking. Lexie was aiming to convince Astrid to go home but it was going to be hard, especially with Astrid still believing none was actually missing her.

Little did both of the women know that this moment was the start of something more for them both, the moment they both realised they had feelings for one another.

GXHAYX
MrsHalstead200