As if the girls didn't have enough tension between them Meredith and Lexie Grey have another problem to face when their father ends up in the ER (Thatcher). When he come in Alex Karev receives him and he asks for his daughter, Lexie, but when she's busy, he gets Meredith. Surprisingly, Meredith and her father actually have good conversation (for once). Thatcher actually tells Meredith how proud he is of her and all she's accomplished and she feels good about herself (for a moment). She turns a blind eye to his drunken state because he tells her that it's his late-wife's birthday and he's upset. She leaves him feeling like she actually matters to him. Then Lexie arrives and gets mad at Alex for letting Meredith in on their "secret" (about her father's state). He tells her he doesn't "do secrets." Lexie then talks to Meredith who tells her she actually enjoyed her father before Lexie crashes her dreams of finally mattering to him and tells her that he's a drunk. She goes even further and tells her that he says the same thing to her sometimes and the other times tells her she's worthless. This leaves Meredith gasping with nothing to say. Two things make me upset about this. First, I hate that Alex never has any allegiance to anyone. He never gets in the middle of things, never is consistent about caring. What's his deal? Second, the last thing in the world Meredith need is more reason not to trust her father (and all men in her life). It kills me that for each step forward she takes a step back. I just want her to get it together so she can get it together with Derek Shepard again.

more from this episode. . .