So, in random news, I saw the Cigna commercial with our couple that also had Doogie Howser in it. I watched Doogie Howser back in the day and had a huge crush on Neil Patrick Harris, although I was too old for him then and still am. But that commercial really makes me want a Grey's Doogie Howser crossover, which I probably will never get since I'm likely the only fan of both shows and I only read Doogie fanfic; I don't write it. Oh, well. Onward with the story.

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Chapter 11

Derek was exhausted. He felt totally drained. That surgery had taken a lot out of him.

Yes, he had been confident and the successful outcome proved that his confidence had not been misplaced.

But even still. Now that the surgery was over and she had come through, he could admit to himself that deep down inside he had been a little nervous. Maybe even more than a little. And of course, her coding on the table hadn't helped anything.

But that was neither here nor there. The important thing was that it was over and she was O.K. She was going to be O.K.

So now he found himself heading for the family lounge area. That was where the families waited for news. He didn't know why he was going there. Yes, he would normally talk to the families but Addie didn't have any family out here.

Except, she apparently did. As he got there, he spotted Archer waiting. Oh, happy, joy, joy. His instincts had brought him here and there was no getting out of it now.

"Archer."

Archer stood up. "Well, how is she?"

"She's fine. She made it through."

Archer collapsed back onto the couch. "Thank you." There was a sincerity in Archer's voice that surprised Derek, although it really shouldn't have. Because one thing Derek knew for sure was that Archer really did love his sister. In fact she might be the only person in the whole wide world that Archer actually did really love.

"So, she's going to be all right."

"She's going to be fine. There was a complication but we handled it." Derek had no idea why he had told Archer this but he regretted it instantly.

"Complication! What complication?"

Derek sighed and bit the bullet and told him. "There was a bleeder and she coded. But we were able to get the bleeding stopped and also able to stabilize her. She's in I.C.U. now."

"All right. Can I see her?"

"No visitors in the I.C.U, remember. I think it's better for you to go back to your hotel and come back tomorrow. She's most likely going to be out all night."

"That doesn't matter. She still needs support. For that matter, she could still have complications. She had them during surgery. They could recur."

Derek sighed. "It won't recur. It shouldn't."

"How do you know? What was the complication? Of course it could recur."

Derek sighed again. He had no choice now but to restate it. Well, with the stress of everything that had been going on it probably was no wonder Archer wasn't getting it. Archer wouldn't stop with the inquiry until he had his answer. So Derek had to give it to him again. "It was a ruptured vessel. A bleeder. I handled it."

"Oh, you handled it."

"Yes, I did."

"So you were in the O.R. all by yourself?'

"No, I had a team, a very good one. They did what they did and I did what I did."

"What was that?"

"I took care of the bleeder and they brought her back. There are you satisfied now?" Archer was really getting to him now.

"Yes. Because all I want is for my sister to live and be O.K. You and I both know she could have died from that bleeder."

"But she didn't."

"Which is great but still. For that matter, how do we know there won't be any deficits?"

Derek sighed yet again. He hadn't wanted to think about that possibility but now he was being forced to. "That shouldn't happen. Everything looked good after I was done."

'That's all well and good for you to say."

Derek's patience was wearing thin but he managed not to shout. "Look Archer, I get it. I know you were worried because you love her but making it through the surgery is a good sign."

"Yes, it is. I'm not saying it's not. But you and I both know-."

"Screw what we both know, all right." Now Derek was shouting. It was a good thing there wasn't anyone in the lounge but him and Archer.

Now he lowered his voice. "Look we can't dwell on what might happen. She might have died on the table. She almost did." Derek couldn't help but shudder at the thought. "She almost did but my team and I didn't allow that to happen. I might not have been able to do anything about her tumor but I was able to. So let's concentrate on what has actually happened and not what might happen, all right."

Archer was staring at him. "Fine by me."

"Good. Now if you'll excuse me I have to get to her."

"Wait. What?"

Damn it! He'd slipped again. He hadn't wanted Archer to know what he was going to do. But he had no choice now. He had to tell him. "I'm going to be staying right by her side all night."

"You are." To say Archer was shocked would be an understatement.

"Yes, and it's not because I think anything might happen to her. I know it won't. But it couldn't hurt for me to be close at hand just in case something happens. Which it won't. O.K."

"O.K."

"Now if you'll excuse me."

"You're excused."

And Derek walked out.

Archer shook his head. "Well, I'll be damned. That jackass is still in love with my sister. How do you like that?'