Let me apologize for taking so long to update. My mood and events in my life this past week was not one that fostered good writing. I would also like to thank everyone for your reviews and for continuing to read.

Disclaimer: I do not own Grey's Anatomy or any of its characters, but I do own Kathleen and all of the other Cassidys.

Chapter 14

Kathleen continued to sit silent and alone in the waiting room. She watched as other families received word that their loved ones were out of surgery and they would be okay. She watched the clock's hand tick away; second by second, minute by minute. It was agonizing to say the least. Her hands fidgeted. For the first time in over five years all she wanted was a cigarette or a drink. She just wanted some feeling besides panic and fear. But she didn't give in. She just sat there waiting and watching the door way. Every time she saw a set of blue scrubs, she hoped it would be a familiar face, eager to tell her that she had been worrying for nothing and that Melanie would be a healthy little girl again.

Finally she saw Dr. Grey reenter the room. "Ms. Cassidy, Dr. Bailey just finished Melanie's operation. The transplant should take, but we're going to have to monitor her closely for at least a week or two."

Kathleen took it in for a moment. She tried to restrain her tears but she couldn't. "Thank you so much, Dr. Grey," her breathing irregular. "I'm sorry. I never used to be this way, I really am happy."

"I know Ms. Cassidy." Meredith had seen almost every way a patient's family could react after a surgery.

"I would really appreciate it if you would call me Kathleen. You've more than earned the right. You all did save my Melly's life."

"Ms.- Sorry, Kathleen, I do need to tell you, Melanie's surgery didn't go ideally. I'm afraid she's not completely out of the woods yet. There's still a recovery ahead of her."

"What didn't go ideally in Melly's operation? You said it should take. That is the ideal outcome, is it not?"

This was the part Meredith hated "There's a possibility that Melanie won't accept the liver. If that is the case then there is very little we will be able to do. We had to remove a lot of damage from the tissue, which isn't a great sign. You do need to be prepared, just in case."

Kathleen could tell she was going to lose it. Today had already been so emotionally draining but this was just one more thing. "I can't."

"Kathleen…" Meredith eked out before Kathleen interrupted her.

"I can't do this anymore. I shouldn't have to. I shouldn't have to sit in a hospital waiting room and hear how my daughter, despite going through a painful operation could still die. It's not fair. It really just isn't fair."

Meredith normally didn't hug patients or get to close but Kathleen looked so pitiful, she knew she had to. "Kathleen, I know none of this is fair, but you've been strong up to this point and you just have to keep on being strong."

"But I'm so tired. It's like I'm in this ocean and I keep fighting to stay afloat and I keep thinking, is it worth it?"

Meredith thought about when she had stopped fighting. "It is worth it. You have a wonderfully charming girl, who you have been an excellent mother to. She's why you keep swimming. She should be back in her room by now. You don't want her to wake up alone."

Kathleen took the doctor's words to heart. "You're right, I don't want her to be alone." She followed Meredith to her daughter's room. Melanie was on the bed, still in her drug induced sleep. "Do you know what her favorite Disney princess is Dr. Grey?"

"No I don't" Meredith replied as she checked on Melanie's vitals. They were good but they could stand to be better.

"Sleeping Beauty. She always was a good nap taker. All you had to do was give her her blanket and tell her it was naptime." Kathleen's eyes focused on her daughter's peaceful face and watched as Melanie's eyes flickered open. "Good morning Princess."

"Mommy, I'm too old for you to keep calling me a princess." Melanie's voice was raspy and tired.

"You'll always be my little princess, even when you have your own children. Dr. Grey, how are things looking?"

"As of now, she's stable but we are going to keep monitoring her. Do you want us to get you a bed?"

"No it's all right. The chair shouldn't be too uncomfortable."

"Let me know if you change your mind. I or one of my interns will be back in an hour or so to check on her again."

"Thank you Dr. Grey," Kathleen said before Meredith turned to leave. She turned her attention back to Melanie. "Sweetie you should go back to sleep."

"You said it was morning." Melanie replied.

"It's not really morning, not yet."

"Are you going to leave?"

"No, I'll be right here when you wake up." Kathleen kept watching her daughter, even after she fell asleep. She heard the monitor beep, reminding her that her daughter was still alive; second by second, minute by minute.

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I will try to get another update soon. I do promise that you won't have to wait this long again. Please leave a review.

As always thanks for reading, Jen