Haven
Meredith awoke with the sound of bickering, something that confused her very much considering that the last time she checked, she was lying in bed with her recovering husband, not a place for bickering.
"Hey, she's opening her eyes," she faintly heard Grace say.
She soon felt someone's hands that weren't Mark's roaming her body. "What the…" she started as she attempted to open her eyes fully. She caught a glimpse of Addison before she closed her eyes.
"What are you doing Addy?" She waited for an answer but the only response she could focus on was the throbbing of her head. She brought a hand to cover her eyes. She soon remembered again where she was.
"How do you feel?"
Meredith couldn't believe it. Addison was asking about her instead of her husband who just had life-endangering surgery. "I'm fine."
It took all the strength she had to open her eyes and look up at Mark. She smiled. "Hey you."
Instead of the smile she expected, she was greeted with a frown. "Why are you squinting?"
She sighed, "Maybe it's because I just woke up?" She looked between Mark and Addison. "What's with you people?"
It was then that she noticed the rest of the room was full. For some reason, she was feeling a little weak. She looked at Mark's chest, blushing.
"Did I slobber?"
"No; you were sweating."
She used the back of her hand to wipe her hair out of her face. "Oh." It took her a second before she thought about what Addison was doing examining her. "Is the baby okay?" she asked, panicked.
Addison nodded. "She seems to be. You, on the other hand, are not."
Meredith found it a little hard to focus as each second went by. She lied back down. "What do you mean?"
"You have a fever, you're burning up, and you've been sleeping for about," she glanced at the clock in the corner, "twelve hours."
By this time, Meredith had her eyes closed again.
"Mer?" Mark asked?
"Hmmhmm," she sleepily responded.
"Maybe you should try and stay.." he trailed off when Addison signaled for him to let her rest.
Mark looked down at Meredith. "How in the world is she asleep already?"
Addison looked around the room. She pondered for a second to give them privacy, but as close as they all were, she figured they'd find out anyway.
"We have to do more tests, but I'm pretty sure she's just exhausted. I think it's just stress, but if she doesn't continue to eat, rest, and relax, it could get worse."
Mark nodded and held her tighter, Meredith returning the gesture in her sleep.
"Guess the party's on hold," Izzie said, following the others out the room.
Derek smirked as Mark continued to pout. He found it rather amusing.
"You are a sad, sad man Mark Sloan."
Mark uncrossed his arms, wide-awake. "I just don't see why she has to be in a separate room."
"Are you sure you went to med school?" Derek joked, taking a seat. "You're recovering; you don't want her to pass any germs on and compromise your immune system."
"Well," Mark argued, "I'm healing faster than normal patients and have a better system because I take care of myself."
A few seconds passed.
"How is she doing?"
Derek chuckled, "I assume the same as the last time you checked, which was fifteen minutes ago. She's still sleeping."
A few more seconds passed.
"What if she wakes up and wonders where I am?"
"Then she'll ask where you are; she's a grown woman Mark," Derek said, shaking his head.
Mark sighed. "I'm alive."
Derek smiled. "I know; I'm a genius."
"Get. Away. From. Me."
Izzie backed cautiously away from the bed while Alex laughed. "I knew I liked you for some reason."
Meredith groaned and placed a pillow over her face. "I swear Izzie," she briefly removed the pillow and glared, first at Izzie, then the other occupants, "if you guys try and get me to eat one more ice chip, I will get out of this bed and strangle you then make you eat ice chips!"
Alex continued to laugh while Izzie looked like she was about to cry. Christina smirked and finished reading her magazine.
Meredith sighed, knowing the fever was making her, well, extra crabby. "Look Iz, I'm sorry."
Izzie nodded. It took a few seconds, but she bounced right back. "Is there anything else you need?"
Meredith shook her head. "No, I think I'm just going to go back to sleep."
Alex and Izzie said their goodbyes and walked out. Christina didn't budge.
"Don't you have to pick up Micah?"
Christina shook her head. "Preston's family is with him. I'm all yours for the next couple of hours."
She looked up to find Meredith rubbing her temples.
"Want some pain meds?"
Meredith shook her head 'no.' "It's not good for the baby."
Christina got up and place the magazine down, "Well, it's not good for the baby if her mom passes out and can't deliver her either, now is it?"
Mark saw Christina talking with one of the nurses outside his room.
"Hey, Derek."
Derek was talking with Grace.
"Kissface," Mark tried again.
"I am not."
He gestured toward the doorway. "Go see what Yang is going on about."
Six hours later Mark was in Meredith's room.
Being friends with the Chief had its perks.
After finding out about Meredith not taking the pain medication and Christina successfully forcing her to, he called his wife and told her he agreed. Reluctantly she gave in. Two hours later she no longer had a fever. Upon hearing the good news, Mark waited a couple of hours before he made his request.
Okay, his demand.
Mark continued to stare at the mother of his child and her even breathing, a sign she was getting much-needed sleep. It was now about one in the morning and their friends had finally let them get a little peace and quiet.
"What are you doing in here?"
Even after knowing his wife in and out, he couldn't remember the last time she ever sounded so, frightening.
He quickly lightened the mood. "Happy to see me?"
She got a little more comfortable and looked at how their two beds were put together to make one.
"I'm serious Mark," her voice more pleading. "You're not supposed to be here. I have a …" she stopped when she brought her hand up and felt her forehead. She grinned.
"I don't have a fever anymore," she said, more in the tone of a question than a statement.
"No you don't," Mark replied, watching her face go from relief to concern again.
"But you still shouldn't be in here. You're still recovering."
Mark chuckled, "They say patients always heal faster with contact from loved ones."
Meredith smiled. "Does that line always work for you Dr. Sloan?"
"Only with women with the same last name."
The two shared a comfortable silence. Moments later, Meredith spoke up. "Mark?"
"Hmmm?" he sleepily replied.
"We basically have a month or so before the baby comes, and, well, I'm glad you'll be there to see it."
Mark opened his eyes and brought his lips to hers. "I told you; wouldn't miss it for the world."
A/N Sorry it was a little short. One more chapter to go…expect a longer one!
Gaforever: He pulled through! (sorry I missed ya before!) She's okay too!
VegasButterfly, TVHollywoodDiva: See, she's okay!
KB22: No more bad things!
Maureen: THANK YOU!
Fresh42jazz: See, happy ending is in sight!
Marinka: SORRY to keep you waiting!
Surgery-Girl: You know I like my drama!
Rolly21: For real! Sucky way to spend the day of birth.