Meredith walks down the hall and as she passes Richard, he notes sternly, "So you convinced Shepherd to do two surgeries without my approval." Clearly emboldened by her therapy, she responds, "So." He's appalled, asking if that's how she talks to the Chief. That question really means a lot less considering that a number of the doctors have talked to him like this -- it's not really a new situation. Meredith just decides to use her, "Get out of unapproved surgery free card." She tells Richard that her mom attempted suicide after he left, and demands to know if he knew that. He didn't, and he's sad and horrified. Meredith doesn't make it any better as she yells, "She was a brilliant surgeon. How could you do that to her? She was a talented, gifted, extraordinary surgeon." Something in what she just said jolts her with some realization, and she runs off as Richard calls after her.

She busts into Dr. Amy's office who just orders, "Tell me." Breathlessly, Meredith explains that Ellis was a brilliant surgeon, and that she clearly didn't want to actually die because if she did, she'd know to slice her carotid artery, which would take only seconds to snuff her out. Meredith triumphantly repeats that she was an excellent, gifted, extraordinary surgeon. "She didn't want to die." Dr. Amy asks what she did want, and Meredith answers without hesitation that she wanted Richard to come back. And why didn't he, Dr. Amy questions? He didn't because he never knew that it happened, and Ellis was too stubborn to ask. Dr. Amy asks her what that means, and Meredith answers, "Well, that part I don't know. Could you just tell me that part for once?" Happily, Dr. Amy tells her that she can. She explains that Meredith is a gifted, extraordinary surgeon like her mother was, but with the added gift of being able to learn from her mistakes. There's a long shot of Meredith and she thinks a moment before she realizes, "She wasn't talking about surgery." Pleased, Dr. Amy agrees that she wasn't. Mere repeats, stunned, "She wasn't talking about surgery at all."