Mental Health One-Shots

Meredith Grey wasn’t an idiot.

She’d spent years in medicine, years watching people, reading between the lines of what they said and didn’t say. And Skye—Skye wasn’t exactly subtle.

At first, it was just an observation. The way she barely touched her food in the attendings’ lounge. The way she pushed things around on her plate, eating just enough that no one would notice. The way her scrub pants had started fitting looser, how she tugged at the waistband like it bothered her.

Then Meredith noticed the way Skye always seemed to go to the bathroom after she ate. Not every time. But often enough that it set off alarm bells in her head.

So she watched.

Not as Chief of Surgery. Not as Addison’s girlfriend. Not even as Skye’s former attending. Just as a worried friend.

She just watched. Because she was worried.

And tonight, her suspicions were confirmed.

Skye had eaten dinner with the group—just a small meal, barely a full portion—but at least it was something. 

“Ugh, how can Callie's food taste a lot better than this?” Skye put her utensils down after she ate a few bites.

Callie shot Skye a look. “I can tell you that my food is amazing.”

The rest of the table laughed.

“You do, babe. Your instant noodles are the best. I love it.” Arizona said while giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.

Amelia smirks. “The rest, though? Not so much.” That earned a sharp glare from Callie.

“Eat more, Skye. I haven't seen you eat much.” Addison reminded her.

Skye rolled her eyes. “Yes, mother.”

“Eat Knight, or you won't be a knight in shining armor that saves trauma patients.” Amelia said as she threw a fry at Skye.

Skye laughed, dodging the fry with a smirk. She played along, acting as if everything was normal. As if she wasn’t already planning her next move.

Meredith watched.

She didn’t say anything as Skye picked at the last few fries on her plate but didn’t eat them. 

Skye had eaten. Not much, but enough for Addison not to press further. And then, like clockwork, Skye excused herself.

“I'm going to the bathroom for a minute.” She said while stretching and then stood up from her chair.

Meredith glanced at Addison, who was caught up in a debate with Callie about bone grafts. She hesitated, then set her fork down.

“I’ll be back,” Meredith murmured, standing. She followed Skye.

Skye went straight to the nearest bathroom.

Meredith counted to ten before she followed, pushing open the door quietly.

She wasn’t sure what she expected to find when she pushed open the bathroom door—but the sound hit her first.

A retch. A cough. The unmistakable sound of someone vomiting.

Meredith’s stomach twisted.

She hesitated for only a second before stepping forward, knocking gently on the stall door. “Knight?”

Silence. Then, the lock clicked, and Skye stepped out.

Her eyes were slightly red. The faint scent of mint and antiseptic clung to her.

For a second, neither of them said anything.

Then Skye let out a sharp breath, running a hand through her hair. “Grey, I swear to God—”

Meredith didn’t say anything. She just grabbed some paper towels, wet them under the faucet, and handed them over.

Skye hesitated before taking them. She wiped her mouth and her hands, avoiding Meredith’s gaze.

Mer reached into her lab coat and pulled out a bottle of water, twisting off the cap before holding it out.

Skye didn’t take them at first, just stared at her.

Meredith raised an eyebrow. “They’re not poisoned, Knight.”

That at least got a small huff of laughter before Skye took the water bottle and took a small sip.

“Thanks,” she muttered.

Meredith leaned against the sink, arms crossed. “You okay?”

“I’m fine.” Skye’s voice was rough, forced casual.

Meredith sighed. “You’re really not.”

“Seriously, Grey,” she muttered. “Drop it.”

They stood there in silence as Skye leaned against the sink like the weight of the moment had finally caught up with her.

Meredith let her have that silence—for a minute.

Then she said, carefully, “Do you want to tell me what’s going on?”

“Not really.”

Meredith exhaled. “Skye.”

Skye shook her head. “It’s nothing.”

“It’s not nothing.”

Skye let out a dry laugh, shaking her head again. “Grey—”

“I’m not asking as Chief. Or as Addison’s girlfriend. Or as your former attending.” Meredith met her eyes. “I’m just asking as someone who’s worried about you.”

Something flickered across Skye’s face. Annoyance, then exhaustion.

Then, quietly—

“Don’t tell anyone.”

Meredith’s chest ached. “Skye—”

“Not even Addie.” Skye’s voice was firmer now, more desperate. “Promise me.”

Meredith hesitated. “I thought she knew?”

That did it.

Skye flinched.

Meredith’s stomach twisted.

Skye turned away, gripping the edge of the sink. “Don’t tell her.”

Mer frowned. “Skye—”

“Promise me.” Skye’s voice was sharp, desperate. “Please, Mer. You can’t tell her.”

“She doesn’t know?”

Skye looked away. “She’s helping me with something else,” she murmured. “She doesn’t know about this.”

Meredith sighed, rubbing her temple. It wasn’t fair. She shouldn’t be the only one knowing this. But she also knew Skye—knew that pushing too hard, too fast, would only make her retreat.

She reached out, resting a careful hand on Skye’s shoulder.

“You should talk to someone.”

Skye let out a weak, humorless laugh. “Addie already made me talk to a psychologist.”

“For this?”

“For something else.”

Meredith’s jaw tightened.

She had no idea what Skye was dealing with, not entirely. But she knew she was struggling. And she knew this—this wasn’t just about food.

Mer studied her for a long moment. Then, finally, she nodded.

“I won’t tell Addie,” Mer finally said. “But I think you should.”

Skye swallowed. “I can’t.”

Mer studied her for a moment. Then, gently, “Not yet?”

Skye didn’t answer.

Mer gave her shoulder a squeeze before pulling away. “Okay. But you have to promise me something.”

Skye tensed.

Mer crossed her arms. “If it gets worse—if you get worse—you tell someone. Me, Addie, your therapist. Anyone.”

Skye exhaled, gripping the sink like it was the only thing keeping her upright. Her eyes flicked to the mirror, meeting her own reflection—red-rimmed eyes, the faintest tremor in her fingers. She barely recognized herself.

She didn’t like that Meredith saw this. That she knew.

Meredith had always been too damn observant. Too sharp, too perceptive. And now she was looking at her like she actually gave a damn, like she saw more than just the mess Skye had become.

It made Skye want to run.

But she didn’t.

She forced herself to meet Meredith’s gaze. “Yeah. Okay,” she muttered. “If it gets worse, I’ll tell someone.”

Mer raised an eyebrow.

Skye sighed. “I promise, Mer.”

It wasn’t a lie. Not exactly. But she also wasn’t sure if she’d actually keep it.

Meredith didn’t look convinced, but she let it go. “Alright.”

 She glanced at the clock. They had to get back soon, or Addison would start asking questions.

“Come on,” Meredith said, softer now. “Let’s get out of here before people start wondering.”

Skye hesitated, running a hand through her hair again. “I need a minute.”

Meredith nodded. “Take your time.”

She lingered for another second, just to make sure Skye was steady, then stepped out of the bathroom. She let out a quiet breath, rubbing a hand over her face.

This wasn’t over. Not even close.

Skye finally left the bathroom five minutes later. Her expression was perfectly neutral, her posture relaxed—like nothing had happened at all.

It was impressive, really, the way she could slip back into the mask so effortlessly. 

Skye and Meredith walked back to the attendings’ lounge.

When they stepped inside, the conversation was still going. Callie was arguing with Amelia over something, Addison was laughing, and Arizona was curled up next to Callie, eyes amused. It was normal.

Skye sank back into her seat, plastering on an easy smirk.

But Meredith wasn’t fooled.

Neither, apparently, was Addison.

As soon as Skye sat down, Addison gave her a quick once-over. “You good?”

Skye gave a lopsided grin. “Yeah. Just needed to walk off Callie’s cooking.”

Callie gasped in mock offense. “That’s it. You’re banned from my house.”

Arizona patted Callie’s arm. “Babe, she’s right.”

Laughter rippled through the group, and Skye played along perfectly. She smirked, teased Amelia back, and let herself be pulled into the easy conversation.

Skye glanced at Addison, who was watching her, sharp-eyed but relaxed. She didn’t know. Not about this. 

Addie has enough on her plate, not to mention she already helped Skye with her other problem. Skye doesn’t want to burden her more than that. 

Truth be told, Skye’s eating behaviour got worse after Addison found out about her cutting and restricted sharp things from her apartment. But she won’t say that loudly, of course. Even if Addie or her therapist or someone else asks about it.

So she smiled, leaned back, and pretended like everything was fine.

Meredith caught her eye from across the table.

Skye knew this wasn’t over.

But for now, she could pretend.