Derek Shepherd had been in Seattle for a few weeks now. He'd moved there after catching his wife in bed with his best friend. He had tried to get them out of his head and had thrown himself into his work once more. He had also met a girl in a bar and had a one night stand, which had then turned into more when she'd shown up as a new intern the very next day. It wasn't anything serious and they'd slept together a few more times now. He'd sometimes think about his wife, but shook off the thought as she had cheated on him with his best friend and he deserved to get on with his life. The truth was that he was still hurting and he knew he'd have to get in touch with Addison again eventually. But right now he couldn't face any of it.

She'd called him constantly at first but had mostly given up since he never answered. He'd sometimes receive one or two calls a week now. But nothing like when he'd first left. Sometimes he wanted to pick up and hear what she had to say for herself. But another part of him couldn't bare to hear the excuses she would come up with.

Little did he know he was about to receive a phone call that would change everything.

Derek's phone rang and seeing that it wasn't Addison calling he picked up.

"Dr. Derek Shepherd speaking?"

"Dr. Shepherd I'm Dr. Richard Jones calling from Mt. Sinai Hospital."

"Oh what can I do for you?"

"I'm sorry to tell you like this but your wife has been in an accident. She's currently stable but it was a serious car accident. We had to operate and she is now in a induced coma. We hope to bring her out of it in a few days once she's has some rest."

"Oh my god. I.. I'll be there as soon as I can. I work in Seattle but I'll be on the next plane."

"Ok Dr. Shepherd we will see you soon."

"See you soon." Derek hung up in a shocked daze. He immediately checked his phone for the first flight to New York and found one leaving in 2 hours. He then sent Richard an email, before rushing out of the hospital never looking back.

Just over 7 hours later he had arrived in New York and headed to the hospital. He'd had a lot of time to think about everything on the flight home and as he thought he hated himself for everything he had ever put Addison through. Yes she had cheated but he had treated her like shit for a long time before that. Ignoring her, treating her indifferently, not turning up for special occasions and barely even coming home very often. He had been a terrible husband and although it had hurt him to see his wife and his best friend together, the more he thought about his own behaviour and the damage he had done to their marriage long before that night. The more he realised that he was mostly to blame for what had happened to their marriage.

He arrived at Mt. Sinai and went straight to the welcome desk. "Hi my wife Addison Montgomery-Shepherd has been in an accident. Could you tell me where she is please?"

"Of course Sir let me check for you. She's on the 4th floor if you go to the desk there and ask for Dr. Jones who's been treating your wife."

"Thank you." Derek told her and headed for the elevators.

He arrived on the 4th floor and asked to see Dr. Jones. He looked up as he saw the Doctor come towards him.

"Dr. Shepherd I'm Dr. Jones." He shook his hand. "Your wife is still in a stable condition and we are monitoring her. If you'd like to come with me and you can see her."

"Thank you Dr. Jones."

As he walked into the room he gasped at what he saw. "Oh Addie. I'm so sorry." She had some cuts and bruises and her head was bandaged from her surgery. But other than that she just looked like she was sleeping peacefully apart from the tube in her throat.

"I'll leave you with her and we will be back to check on her soon."

"Thank you doctor."

He sat down in the chair beside the bed and reached out for her hand. "I'm so sorry Addie. I've been a terrible husband to you for so long and it hurt me what you did with Mark. But I realised I've also been hurting you for a long time before that. I'm here for you Addie. I will understand if you don't want to see me again when you wake up. After all I left you and just walked out. But I'm here for you and I just want you to wake up and be ok."

After sitting there some more he realised he should inform some of their friends and family about what had happened. First he called Savvy and Weiss who said they would be there right away. Then he called Archer and her parents who said they would come as soon as possible. Then who called Naomi and Sam who now lived in L.A but said they would try and come out if they could find someone to watch Maya and arrange it with work at their practice.

Savvy and Weiss arrived half an hour later and he hugged them as they came in.

"Oh Addie." Savvy said softly as she sat down and reached for her hand.

"What happened Derek?" Weiss asked him.

"She was in a car accident. They called me and said she was stable but in an induced coma so her body could have time to heal before she wakes up."

"Oh god. This is terrible. I'm so sorry."

"I shouldn't have left. If I'd been here this may never have happened or it would but I'd have been here for her straight away."

"Addie was devastated by what she had done. She loves you so much Derek, but you weren't there a lot and Mark he was there for her a lot of the time instead. I know it was wrong what she did, but she never loved him. She only loves you. But she missed you and she was drunk and Mark was there and she regrets it so much Derek." Savvy told him.

Derek hung his head and stared at the floor. "It hurt so much but I know that I wasn't a good husband for a few years now. I hate that it's took this to happen to Addie for me to see it, but if she'll let me then I want to try and make up for everything and be the husband she deserves."

"I hope you guys can work it out as you really were great together and you got lots for a while but I hope you can make it work. If you both want to. I know Addison loves you so much but she was also very hurt that you left."

"I know she was Savvy and I hate that I put her through that but at the time I couldn't think of that."

"It's good you're here for her now and I know she'll be glad to see you when she wakes up. Even if she'll be mad at you and things won't be easy. I know she'll be glad to see you."

"I hope so Sav. I'm going to be here for her and I know it's not going to be easy but I'm willing to fight for my marriage and I understand it will be on her terms. If she wants time to herself and to think about everything. I will leave her be and wait for her. But I will also let her know everyday how much I love her and want to fix our marriage."

"That's good Derek. I hope you can do that."

They all sat by her bedside for a few hours. Reminiscing about the past and hoping that Addison could hear some of their stories. Savvy and Weiss then left a couple of hours later and the doctors had been coming in to check on Addison every so often. A few hours after that and Derek had dozed off with his head against the bed with his hand holding hers.