Come Away With Me

A.N: Thanks for all the reviews ... and...I just wanted to apologize to you all who have been anxiously awaiting Chapter 10... it's here now!

This is the sequel to "The World Spins Madly On," if you haven't read that... I would have to say it might be beneficial for you to read that before reading this story.

Same rules apply here though. None of the episodes that aired after "As We Know It" apply here, and in these stories Dr. Bailey was never pregnant.

This is a Derek/Meredith fanfic, and while other characters will be involved, I've decided to just label it as that.

Also, just want to thank everyone who reviewed the first story. You guys are the reason why I am writing this one. So thanks! And, a big THANK YOU to everyone who has been reviewing this one.

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Grey's Anatomy... even though I really wish I did.

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Chapter 10: Open Your Eyes

As Derek drove us to the hospital we sat in silence. He held my hand as I stared out the window, trying not to focus on the fact that I was in a car. I now hated being in cars. I hated the feeling of fear I got when I put my seat buckle on. I hated how I couldn't seem to relax and enjoy the music in the car anymore. Being in the car was now something that caused me the greatest fear. Sometimes I felt the panic rising inside of me, and I struggled to maintain in control. And now, as we drive down the street with the entrance to the hospital the panic inside of me was boiling over.

Derek squeezed my hand, "Are you okay?"

I didn't turn my head and look at him. Instead, I just squeezed back.

"It's going to be okay," Derek said softly, "everyone is going to be excited to see you, and then you'll show them how much progress you've made and everything will be fine."

My mouth was dry. I couldn't seem to find the words to agree with him; to tell him that I knew he was right.

"I'll be right there with you the whole time."

I turned my head and looked at him and whispered, "Promise?"

"I promise."

He pulled the car into the Seattle Grace parking lot and parked in a handicap space. That was another thing I wasn't used to... being handicapped. The wheelchair sat in the trunk of his car, and I dreaded using it. I hated it. I wanted to be okay.

Derek placed the temporary handicapped sign on the mirror, and then opened his door, "I'm going to get the chair."

He closed his car door and walked around to the trunk to get out the wheelchair, and before I knew it he was opening my door. "I don't want to go in there."

"Meredith..."

"I can't."

"Yes, you can. I will be there with you and so will your friends."

A lone tear snuck out from my eye, "I just can't."

"It's going to be fine," he said as he unbuckled my seatbelt and lifted me out of the car seat and into the wheelchair. "I do not want to go in there." I wanted to scream at him, but I tried to keep my voice calm.

"You have to."

"I'll go to a new doctor."

"No, Meredith. We are going inside. Are you ready?"

I sighed in resignation, "Fine."

He pushed me towards the entrance, and right before we went inside whispered, "I love you."

As we sat outside the Chief's office, Izzie, Cristina and George all dropped by to say "hi." I tried to act normal, but I just couldn't. People were staring. They were staring at me... in my wheelchair, and they were staring at Derek. The looks that passed between the nurses, the snickering of some doctors, I saw and heard it all. It was like people thought that I wouldn't see them; it was like they thought I was blind.

Derek grabbed my hand. "Don't worry about them."

"How did you know?"

"I can tell."

Before I managed to get anything out, the Chief's door opened and he asked us to come inside. Derek stood up and wheeled me inside.

"Meredith, how are you feeling?" The Chief asked.

"Okay."

"Any progress?"

"A little."

"She's understating her progress, Richard," Derek interrupted, "she's been able to stand without holding onto anything for a few seconds."

"That's good news, Meredith." The Chief said. He looked surprised. "That is a very good sign for you."

I couldn't say anything. What was I going to say? Good? The fact of the matter was it wasn't good. I wasn't walking. I wasn't back to my normal self.

"You have to take it one step at a time." The Chief continued. "It's not going to happen instantly."

"I know that."

"Meredith - " Derek started, but I just couldn't take it anymore.

"No. Everyone is treating me like I am not a surgeon. I am. I understand what is going on with my body. I know the likelihood of me regaining all my previous mobility. I know how long it is going to take. We don't have to keep talking about this like I am not a surgeon. Please"
They both sat there silent. No one moved. I felt better. It felt good to finally get that off my chest. I felt like I had finally taken a weight off of my chest that just seemed to be pushing and pushing. I had finally freed myself of the idea that I was just a patient. I wasn't.

"I'm sorry, Meredith." The Chief said quietly. "I don't mean to treat you like you aren't a surgeon."

"I know that neither of you do it intentionally. It just... can we just act like I am not the patient. That maybe we are talking about a different person who just happens to have the same problems that I do? Because that way I'll feel like I am part of the decision process."

Derek grabbed my hand and nodded his head, "We can."

"Do you think you can stand for me now?" The Chief asked.

"I can try."

"Take your time."

Derek stood up, preparing himself to catch me if I fell. I placed my hands on the armrests of the wheelchair, and took a deep breath. I pushed down on the armrests and slowly got myself into a standing position. I stood there for a few minutes before I decided that maybe I would try to take a step. Derek inched closer to me, and Chief sat there staring to me. With all that I had, I tried to move my right leg. It moved a few inches, but then I felt myself falling until Derek's arms caught me and placed me back into the wheelchair.

"That was good." The Chief nodded.

"I think that is the longest you've stood." Derek agreed.

I didn't say anything. I only wished that I had taken that step.

"Meredith, it looks like your progressing well. You should start physical therapy in a few weeks, and we'll go from there."

"Okay."

"But before you go there is just one thing I need to talk to you both about."

"Chief... if this is about our relationship and the hospital..." Derek started, but was interrupted by the Chief.

"It's not."

"Then what's wrong?" Derek asked.

"We wanted to wait to tell you. We didn't want to put too much on you at once, Meredith."

"What are you talking about?" I wasn't sure I wanted to know. I didn't know if I could take anymore.

"Meredith," the Chief said quietly, "when you came into the hospital, you were very hurt."

"I know." I wanted to scream. Obviously. Why else wouldn't I be able to walk right now, jackass?

"Chief, what's going on?" Derek was getting impatient.

"Meredith, when you came in," the Chief hesitated, "you were pregnant."

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