Disclaimer: I don't own Grey's Anatomy, or the characters, and probably never will.
AN: I have no medical knowledge, just way too much time to search the internet.
Sorry it's taken me so long to get this one done. Worst writers block EVER! I just couldn't seem to get it right. I'll try to keep the updates coming more often from now on, but no promises.
Thank you so much for all your wonderful reviews, I truly value each and ever one, so please keep them coming.
Enjoy!
Derek walks hesitantly into Mark's room, and over to his bed, where he pulls a plastic chair over, and sits down. Mark watches his best friend move around the room, obviously upset, and stressed.
Once Derek has taken a moment to settle into the chair Mark picks up the pen and paper Erica had left there earlier, and scribbles 'what's wrong?'.
Derek reads it. "Apart from the obvious?"
Mark glares at him, no real harshness behind it.
"Yeah, I know. I just spoke to Erica; she said that they're going to operate in an hour or so, I just wanted to come see you before..." Derek pauses, not allowing himself to continue that chain of thought, knowing where it will end.
"This is all just so sudden Mark. You were fine, now..." Derek comments before looking back up at Mark. "I called mom, she's going to be here tomorrow. I don't think I've heard her so worked up since we were kids-"
Derek stops talking as when some one knocks on the door, and without waiting for a reply enters the room. Derek turns around in his seat, and comes face to face with Erica, who is closely followed by two orderlies. "Is it time for..." Derek begins to say, but can't bring himself to finish the question.
"That it is." Erica remarks before moving to the bedside, looking directly at Mark, and confidently says. "Don't worry Sloan, I'll have you back good as new in no time." They all know that this isn't completely true, but no one comments.
After taking a minute to check a few things, Erica says. "I'll see you in there." And then walks briskly from the room.
Derek also turns to leave. "I guess I'd better go then, I'll see you-" He stops in his tracks though when he feels Mark's hand grip weakly around his forearm, he turns back to look at his friend.
After spending so much of his life around Mark, it only takes Derek one look into Mark's panic stricken eyes to tell him that Mark wants him to stay with him, and not to leave him to go through this alone.
Derek moves back closer to Mark, and firmly takes hold of his hand. "I'll stay right with you. It's okay, relax."
"You paged me Dr Hahn." Christina says as she walks up to where Erica is sitting behind the nurses' station busily writing on a chart.
Erica turns around to face her. "People seem to think you're the best resident when it comes to cardiothoracic. That true?"
"I'd like to think so, why-"
"Prove it to me, I want you to scrub in with me on Sloan's surgery."
After taking a moment to hide her surprise, Christina replies. "Thank you Dr Hahn."
"Well what are you waiting for? Get in there, and make sure the nurses set everything up right." Christina hurries into the OR, struggling to keep the smile off her face; she finally has a chance to show Hahn what she can do.
When Christina enters the OR she sees several scrub nurses setting up all kinds of equipment. Without hesitation Christina quickly walks over to them, and points out everything that isn't as Erica will want it.
Just as they finish setting up several minutes later, Mark is wheeled in on a gurney by two orderlies. Derek is walking beside the gurney, never releasing his grip on his best friend.
"Dr Shepard, I didn't know you where going to be assisting." Christina comments as she watches the orderlies and nurses transfer Mark onto the operating table, and connect him to every necessary piece of equipment.
"I'm not, I'll just be observing." Derek informs her whilst making sure to stay within Mark's line of sight.
"Alright Dr Shepard." Christina replies before turning her attention to the anesthesiologist standing at the head to the table, leaning over Mark. "Dr Phillips, how long 'til we're ready to start?"
"I'm starting the anesthesia now... So about two minutes, and you can cut."
"I'll go scrub in then." Christina tells him as she walks quickly towards the door.
Six intense hours later Erica and Derek watch as Mark is wheeled back into his room in the CICU, and transferred back into his bed. The endotrachial tube, ventilator, and about twenty other pieces of medical equipment are still connected to Mark's weakened body.
"Do you think he'll be able to come off the vent soon?" Derek questions Erica, whilst keeping his glance focused on Mark.
"Probably." Erica replies as she places his chart down on the over-bed table, and tiredly settles into a chair beside the bed, and watches as Derek follows suit.
About an hour later Meredith walks in, goes over to Derek, and gives his a chaste kiss on the cheek. "Hey."
"Mere." Derek replies distractedly, continuing to focus on Mark, and the numerous monitors surrounding the bed, watching for the slightest sight of trouble.
"How's he doing?" Meredith asks, looking over Derek's shoulder to Mark's prone form on the bed.
This finally gets Derek's attention, or at least some more of it. "He's doing better, but you know..." Derek's trails off, not wanting to think of everything that could go wrong.
"Yeah, I know." Meredith says softly, she then leans over so that she is looking at Derek, albeit awkwardly. "How're you doing?"
"What?"
"How. Are. You. Doing?" Meredith repeats slowly.
"I'm fine, why?" Why is she worrying about me, Mark's the one who's sick?
"You look tired, maybe you should go home for a while."
"I'm not going anywhere." Derek tells her firmly.
Erica can't help but put in her two cents worth. "You do look like you could use some sleep, why don't you go into one of the on-call rooms, and I can page you if anything changes?"
"No, I am not going to leave here until Mark is awake." This time Derek's tone allows no room for argument.
After a sitting in silence for several minutes Meredith stands up, and heads towards the door, as she reaches the doorway she turns to Derek. "I have to get to rounds, I'll come back later. Okay?"
"Yeah, see you later." Derek says, Meredith then walks away.
Erica also stands up to leave. "I've gotta go too, I'll be back to check on him soon. Just page me if anything changes."
"Sure." Erica then leaves, and Derek is left sitting alone beside Mark's bed, secretly terrified that he won't survive this.
TBC...
Thanks for reading!
Please review!
Let me know what you want to see happen next, I try to work all suggestions into my stories.
