Author's note: Short but dramatic bit...

Disclaimer: Yummy tasty doctors... just taking a tiny nibble. Swear they ain't mine...


MEGA WHATEVER - Chapter 7
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Derek Shepherd sighed. He was feeling tired. Just those few words with Meredith and he was already exhausted. He wasn't used to feeling so useless. He was always on the go. If he wasn't operating he was doing rounds, or lecturing, or doing paperwork or any other form of administrative work. Usually, he barely had time for Meredith, but now all he had was time, and yet, his body was signaling quite clearly that it was time for yet another break.

He pressed the call button. Even the simplest task of fixing his pillow was beyond him. He hated it. He might as well have another nap since he couldn't do much else.

The nurse was by his bed in mere seconds. She quickly fixed his pillow so he could lie down. As she helped him into a lying position he caught the sight of Cristina Yang heading in his direction. Damn! Meredith had just gone looking for her. He had to somehow keep her here and get Mere back.

"Nurse, can you please page my wife? Tell her it's urgent."

"Are you alright Dr. Shepherd?" The nurse asked, obviously concerned by his request.

"Yes, yes. I'm fine, but I need Dr. Grey here now. Can you page her?"

The nurse, confused by his strange request, nodded assent and went to the nearby desk to get her task taken care of.

By the time the nurse had gone, Cristina Yang had reached his bed. Although he felt drained, he put all his strength into somehow preventing Yang from leaving. He looked at her through his neurosurgeon eyes. Yang still hadn't noticed he was up. She stood beside his bed and he noted she appeared somewhat confused. She held her hand to her forehead. She seemed in pain, but he knew that this could well be due to her broken nose. Despite the thick bandage covering her injury, it was obvious there was massive swelling around the break and it was spreading.

Yang was rubbing her eyes now and as she did that she swayed ever so lightly to her right. Just as she was about to lose her balance she gripped the front side of his bed and steadied herself.

He saw this is an opportunity to get her attention. "You OK?"

"Huh?" Yang was quite startled when he spoke, then she got her bearings. "Yeah. I'm fine. Sure. I… I… was just coming to check on you," she said and to confirm this she yanked his chart off his bed and began reading it. Only that Derek realized she was having a hard time reading. His suspicions were getting confirmed before his eyes. He just hoped the nurse had paged Mere and that she would get here in time.

"So how am I?" he asked Cristina who was still trying to figure out his chart.

"Sorry?" She looked up at him, obviously troubled.

"How am I doing?" he repeated his question.

"Ah… Ahmm… You… You're OK. You're doing OK." Yang blurted.

"Can I have my own room, then?" He wouldn't relent.

"Err… I… errr… I have to discuss it with Dr. Altman." Yang Managed.

Derek felt sorry for her. Cristina Yang was always in control of things. She was capable of making life and death decisions even as an intern. She was that good. A decision such as this, i.e., if a patient was well enough to leave post-op was a simple one, and as a resident, Dr. Yang was entitled to make it, and was, of course, capable of making it. But now, unable to figure out his chart, Yang was scared to make the wrong decision. Derek was at least comforted that she still had enough common sense left in her, not to make any decision if she didn't have all the facts.

"When will Dr. Altman be available?"

Cristina didn't respond to his question. She clasped her head. Derek knew she was experiencing an excruciating headache. He wanted to get her to sit down. Actually, what he really wanted to do was to get inside her head and relieve the pressure building up in it, but he wasn't even able to go to the toilet to relieve himself at that moment. He was so frustrated!

"Dr. Yang… Cristina… I think you should sit down."

But Yang was oblivious to his words. Her headache was taking over, and Derek watched as she collapsed in front of him.

He couldn't do a thing, she just crumpled to the floor, letting out a shrieking cry of agony, and all he could do was watch.

He grabbed his call button and pressed it constantly until his fingers turned purple, all the while calling out for help, even though he hardly had the strength to yell.

Then the room disappeared and with it his consciousness.