Disclaimer: Nope.... I don't own it! I only own Cass and any other character's not in the show that you will learn of later.............. Plus, would I have a disclaimer if I did ha ;)
Summary: Meredith isn't quite sure why she can't stay away from eight year old patient Cassandra Noelle Scott. She isn't sure why she is so protective of her either. Maybe it's the fact that when her parents talked, Cass would cringe. Or after she was released from the hospital after "falling" down the stairs and needing brain surgery, Cass was back in a mere two weeks with another broken arm and lacerations...
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"You went shopping, for a patient," Cristina laughed as Meredith put tissue paper in a bag that held the present for Cass. They were sitting at their lunch table, George's empty seat screaming at them.
"Shut up," Meredith mumbled.
"I think it's sweet," Izzie gushed.
"That's why I love you," Alex said kissing Izzie on the lips. "Always looking up."
"Ugh!" Cristina muttered standing up. "You all are too happy for me." She pointed to Meredith. "You with your cutesy patient and perfect husband and island wedding and McDreamy husband." She pointed at Izzie and Alex. "You two with your remission and perfect wedding and finally getting a honeymoon and frozen eggs." She picked up her tray. "I need blood and guts, I need a trauma, I need to go to the ER."
"That's not the only reason you need a trauma," Izzie called as she turned away.
"You know it," Cristina smirked. Izzie turned to Mer.
"So... what is it with this patient?" Izzie asked.
"Yeah Grey, you never get attached. Your philosophy is that you hate when you like them and they are dying," Alex pointed out.
"Cass is not dying," Meredith muttered.
"She's getting defensive, something is up," Alex laughed.
"I just have a feeling," Meredith told them. "Something is up with Cass."
"I still stick with my gut feeling," Izzie said. "You just want a Mcbaby."
"Don't you have somewhere to be," Meredith muttered, tossing a grape off her tray at her friend.
"Nope," Alex shook her head. "We're off today. Iz has an appointment."
"To check if it's back," Izzie sighed. Meredith smiled and grabbed her hand.
"It's not back Iz," Meredith said. "George isn't taking us from you yet." Alex kissed Iz on the cheek and helped her up.
"Good luck with your patient Mer," Iz called back.
"Thanks," Meredith said. "Good luck with your check-up!" Izzie smiled and walked away, hand in hand with her husband. Meredith picked up her tray and the present and walked to the trashcan before going to her husbands office.
"Hey Mer," Derek smiled as she walked in.
"Her Der," Meredith said coming around his desk to kiss him on the lips. "So what's up."
"Hmm... I have this problem," Derek sighed. "I think I need help Dr. Shepherd."
"And what's this problem?" Mer giggled.
"I am insanely attracted to this woman who just walked into my office... but..." Derek began.
"Your afraid your wife will get jealous?" Meredith asked as she kissed him again.
"Mhmm hmm," Derek groaned and deepened the kiss.
"I'm sure she'll be fine," Meredith sighed placing kiss down his neck.
"I was thinking the same thing," Derek muttered.
"Good," Meredith murmured. Just then Derek's pager went off.
"Damnit," he hissed.
"Duty calls Dr. Shepherd," Meredith sighed as she got off of him and Derek straightened his ruffled shirt. "And you might want to take care of that." Derek looked down and groaned.
"You'll just have to later," Derek smirked and Mer rolled her eyes. Then he spotted the present. "What's that?"
"Oh... well.... it's for Cass," Meredith murmured, looking down.
"Meredith," Derek warned.
"Derek, you should have seen her eyes when she realized her hair was gone, I have to cheer her up," Meredith protested.
"Every time I can't find you you are in her room Meredith," Derek told her.
"Their daughter Maeve is fussy, Eileen can't be in there constantly, Cass needs company," Meredith said.
"She's going home in a week... don't get attached," Derek told her. "Be careful."
"I will Derek, just trust me on this," Meredith sighed.
"I trust you," Derek murmured and kissed her forehead before running to answer his page. Meredith picked up the present and went to the pediatric ward. Meredith smiled as she walked through Cass's door.
"Meredith!" Cass exclaimed, eyes lit up. Meredith opened her mouth to speak but her parents who were in the corner holding Maeve spoke up.
"Cassandra Noelle," David growled. "You are to call her Dr. Shepherd."
"It's very rude to call her by her first name, now apologize," Eileen scolded.
"I'm sorry Dr. Shepherd," Cass murmured, looking down.
"No it's fine," Meredith smiled. "I have most of my younger patients call me Meredith. It makes it easier for them to trust me and remember me."
"As long as it's okay with you," Eileen shrugged. Just then Maeve started wailing and Eileen sighed.
"Cass," David asked. "Is it okay if we go home for a little." Meredith couldn't help but see the disappointment, yet relief in Cass's eyes. Her voice told a different story.
"It's okay," she said, a happy voice.
"Bye Cassie," Eileen said exiting the room.
"Bye Mommy, bye Daddy, bye Maeve," Cass gave each of them a little wave. She turned to Meredith. Meredith smiled and sat on the edge of her bed. Her bandage on her head was finally taken off and Meredith couldn't help but notice the light that went out in her eyes when she noticed she was looking at her head. "My hair is gone."
"Yeah," Meredith sighed. "But it's gonna grow back." Cass nodded. "But for now I have a present for you." Cass's eyes lit up again.
"For me," she smiled. "What is it?" Meredith held out the bag for her.
"Open it and see silly," Meredith laughed. Cass tore the tissue paper out and held up several scarves. "So you can wrap it around your head and cover up our bald head, I wasn't sure what your favorite color was so I got a lot of them." Cass smiled widely.
"Thank you Meredith," she squealed hugging her tightly. Meredith smiled and hugged her back.
"Your welcome sweetheart," Meredith said. "You want me to put one on you?" Cass nodded. "What color?"
"Purple," Cass said holding up a purple scarf.
"Good choice, that's my favorite color," Meredith told her and took the scarf from her.
"Me too," Cass giggled as Meredith wrapped it around her head and tied it in the back.
"There you go Cass," Meredith said.
"How'd you come up with this?" Cass asked.
"My friend Izzie gave me the idea," Mer shrugged.
"How?" Cass asked.
"Well she had cancer and her hair hasn't grown back quite yet so she has been wearing scarves," Meredith shrugged.
"Oh," Cass nodded. "What's she like?"
"She's very bright and bubbly, loves the color pink, and loves to bake," Mer laughed.
"You have a lot of friends here?" Cass asked.
"Yes I do, they are sort of my family. I have five really great best friends," Meredith said, a little reluctant to say five.
"Can you tell me about them?" Cass asked. Meredith smiled.
"Well," Meredith began. "It started when I was an intern, which is kind of like a doctor in training. They were all learning with me...." Mer wasn't sure why she was telling Cass this. For some reason she felt compelled to tell Cass the whole story. Not with the adultery, or ex-wife, or even anything about her McDreamy. Just about her friends and her life in the hospital. Cass was very interested.
"Okay," Mer said finally finishing. "That's it. Now enough about me... how are you feeling?"
"Fine," Cass muttered. Meredith narrowed her eyes.
"You sure, do you have a fever, any nausea," Meredith questioned.
"Nope," Cass murmured.
"Cass, you have to tell me, I am your doctor," Meredith said.
"I don't feel that good," she admitted. Meredith checked her chart and looked at her temperature.
"101.1 fever spiked in the middle of the night," Mer read. "Looks like it's just a side effect from the surgery. Cass why didn't you tell me?"
"I was hoping it would get worse," Cass admitted quietly. Mer's eyes widened.
"Why?" she asked.
"I like it in the hospital," Cass said. "I don't want to leave." That was odd, very odd.
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Still don't have a clue? You will in a few chapters. I love it how hard all of you are thinking just, your thinking too hard haha! It's not as complicated as you think. Meredith only has a hunch, that's all.
This, like all my stories, will definitely have a happy ending... just not until the end. ;) It will get really angsty I won't lie but there will be a great ending, I will make sure of it!
Please R&R!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
