Disclaimer: I have a disclaimer... do you think I own it? :)
Summary: Meredith and Derek Shepherd have the perfect life. Perfect careers, money, huge house, lots of land, supporting family, and adorable two and a half year old daughter, Emily Elizabeth Shepherd. She is the perfect combination of Meredith and Derek. She had Derek's dark, curly hair, but Meredith's emerald eyes, nose, mouth, and laugh. Emily was their world. But it only takes one day for a world to fall apart...
This chapter's a mix of Mer in New York, hanging with the Shepherd's, and Mark and Derek in Nevada. Hope you like it!
"Come on honey," Carolyn Shepherd broke Meredith out of her thought. "The girls want to see you." Meredith sighed and picked up her bags.
"Okay," she murmured as Carolyn began leading her to her car.
"What's wrong... other then your daughter being kidnapped and you idiot husband?" she asked gently.
"Nothing... what's pretty much it..." Mer told her. "I am that peggable now... but the situation I am in now is kind of obvious anyway."
"Meredith... Derek, I know my son, won't rest until he finds Em, you'll see her again, you'll hear her voice again," Carolyn reassured.
"Derek said that too, before he left... he is always saying it... but Jason, he said that next time we'll see her in person... he said that next time we see her, she'll be dead," Meredith gasped.
"Oh honey," Carolyn breathed, knowing very well what he said but every time she heard it her heart ached more. "Have hope... I said it a month ago and I will say it again and again until Emily is back... right now it is all we have."
"And that's why it is so hard to have," Meredith whispered. "Knowing that that is the only thing I can hold on to. Hope that I will see my daughter again. Hope that he doesn't hurt her. Hope that he doesn't kill her."
"With us by you're side for the next couple of weeks, maybe you can learn how to," Carolyn pondered. "A few days with us Shepherd does anyone some good. Even someone who lost their daughter."
"I have missed you all," Meredith thought aloud, trying to convince herself as well as her mother in law. "But I miss her more... so so so much more." A few tears rolled down Mer's cheek.
"Of course you do honey," Carolyn sighed. "You wouldn't be a mother if you didn't."
"I can't stop wondering what she is doing right this very second," Mer whispered. "What he's doing to her. What she is thinking. If he brain washed her or not. I mean... he raped and abused his own daughter from when she was two to when she died at 12, excluding the two years he spent in prison before he broke out. That's eight years of suffering for his daughter, his own flesh. He did most of it without his wife knowing too before he killed her. What is stopping him now from doing that to Em? He may be forcing her to call him daddy but he isn't her daddy, there is absolutely nothing stopping him." Meredith stepped into her car.
"Don't think of that," Carolyn shook her head. "Anything but that."
"Then what should I think about?" she asked.
"The memories," she told her. "The great times you had with Em, the good and the bad. Plus all of the amazing ones you'll have when you get her back. When Derek is the only one she is calling Daddy... that's what you think of."
"Yeah," Mer nodded. "The memories." She hoped that wasn't all she was going to have left of her daughter. On the ride to the infamous Shepherd house, Meredith nodded off, exhausted from her seemily endless flight. She slept peacefully until Carolyn had to wake her for they were at the house. Meredith breathed a heavy sigh as she grabbed her luggage. She hadn't seen the Shepherd sister's since the last Christmas, that was five months ago. She was much closer to them then she had originally expected, mostly with Elizabeth and Kathleen for they were the closest in age to her. Nancy had taken forever to warm up to her enough to be accquantinces and now almost friends and Megan, although the youngest, was very protective of her bother and hadn't like the idea of a post-it wedding. Because in there eyes they were already married, when she first met them Meredith agreed to let them attend a small ceremony in city hall and Meg finally began to like her. But now matter how close she was to them, she didn't really want to see them, especially since it was because of her family's current situation.
"Meredith!" she heard a voice exclaim before she even took a step towards the house. She saw four girls with dark hair begin to fly out of the house, headed for her.
"Hey," Meredith said weakly as Meg reached her first and embraced her.
"Oh Mer... this is unbelievable. I am so sorry about what is happening to you," she said and Mer nodded, used to the phrase.
"If you need to talk more I am here," Kathy told her, now her turn to hug her. Meredith nodded again, already knowing her answer, no thanks.
"I told you not to officially marry that idiot brother of mine... he's a brainless brain surgeon," Nancy sighed and hugged Mer awkwardly.
"I am so glad you are here," Liz finished off, having a hard time hugging her with a large pregnant stomach. Meredith soon got lost in a sea of commotion.
"Girls!" Carolyn snapped. "Do not harass her! She just got off a plane less then an hour ago, she's exhausted. Give her space! She does not need reminding right now!"
"Mom it's..." Meredith sighed but the girls cut her off.
"No... we're sorry Mer," Kathleen said.
"We were just excited to see you," Liz murmured. "It's been torturing us."
"We'll let you get settled into the guest room and take a nap," Meg said, grabbing her bags out of her hand. "You need you're rest." Mereth smiled softly. The four girls, capable to be harsh, all had their mother's kindness.
"Especially since the dinner," Nancy said.
"Nancy Lorraine Shepherd Scott!" Carolyn exclaimed. "I didn't... I wasn't..."
"What dinner?" Meredith asked.
"Tom and Nancy brought the kids up too..." Carolyn explained. "And I thought I would take advantage of the fact that we were all here with dinner but... if you..."
"I don't mind," Meredith shook her head. "If I am here to visit the Shepherd's why not just have them all at once.""
"I'm glad you're okay with it," Kathleen said.
"Now let's get you to a bed," Carolyn commanded as she saw her yawn again. But it wasn't only the yawn, it was the shakiness of her hands, the unsteady voice, and the tears glittering in Mer's eyes, knowing that she wanted an escape.
"So what's the plan now?" Mark asked once Derek finished reviewing what he had done so far.
"I was going to keep on searching... I thought that was obvious," Derek said cooly.
"Okay... handing out pictures is not searching, it's not helping," Mark informed him.
"How do you know?" Derek asked harshly.
"One... her picture and his is all over the news," Mark said.
"Shut up," Derek muttered.
"Hey, it's true," Mark defended. "And two, if you hand her picture to the guy accidentaly, who knows what will happen... what he'll do to Em... what he'll do to you." Derek shuttered just thinking of Jason laying a hand on his little girl.
"I would not do that... and am not stupid," Derek hissed.
"I'm not saying you are," Mark sighed. "But how do you know? Who knows what kind of disguise he has, on her and on himself."
"Then what do you suggest we do?" Derek whispered, looking down.
"You said the police won't except your help because he knows you... that bastard doesn't know me," Mark said. "Maybe they'll except mine?"
"Let's go to the station," Derek nodded and grabbed his coat.
"Good," Mark smiled and followed his friend out. "So where is it? Do I need to go to my room and get the keys to my rent-a-car?"
"It's a few blocks away," Derek shrugged. "We're walking."
"So you don't have a car," Mark asked. "Because walking is pathetic."
"The airport is far away from here... what do you think I walked there too?" Derek asked. He reached into his pocket next to the room key and grabbed the keys. "Happy."
"Very... because who knows where we will need to go," Mark said. "Especially if they let us help."
"I may need a disguise or something... he knows me," Derek said.
"And dye you're hair... no thanks... You're wife sent me out here to help you, she'd kill me if I let you do that," Mark informed him.
"Even for Em... wait... SHE sent you out here... I thought..." Derek said, a little shocked.
"You Derek Shepherd... should stop thinking," Mark shook his head. "Because you are brainless, you may have a big heart but..."
"It's my daughter Mark," Derek shook his head. "She's out there and we don't know if she is okay. We haven't heard from him... he hasn't been spotted. We've been given false hope after false hope and I needed answers. I needed to try myself."
"I understand that, Mer understands that, but..." Mark said.
"But nothing," Derek said as he came to the car and got in, Mark next to him. "I need her back Mark. Jason or whatever his alias is now has taken her across the country and back, away from us, I need her back."
"Of course you do Derek," Mark shook his head. "There's no doubt." Seeing his friend so desperate he sighed. "So what are we going to tell the officers?"
"That he doesn't know you, that you can assist wherever needed," Derek told him.
"What have they been doing so far?" Mark questioned.
"They've spread out all over the city," Derek said.
"I thought this place was supposed to be small?" Mark said.
"There isn't a big population, which is probably why Jason chose to come here, except at the same time it doesn't make sense seeing that Em should be found by now," Derek sighed.
"Could they have been somewhere else the whole time?" Mark asked.
"Not likely since the next major places is miles from here," Derek said.
"What is that?" Mark asked.
"Eureka I believe... I was thinking of traveling up there, the police told me they were searching there as well," Derek said. He stepped out of the car after he pulled into the police station. Mark followed him inside.
"Mr. Shepherd... we weren't expecting you today," the secretary he now knew as Karen informed him.
"This is my best friend Mark Sloan," Derek introduced. "Emily's godfather... he showed up unexpectedly to help so..."
"Go right up, Captain Reese and Officer Lynch are up there right now," Karen told him, not looking up again. "Nice to meet you Mr. Sloan."
"Technically it's not," Mark said. "We wouldn't be meeting if..."
"Come on Mark," Derek rolled his eyes and pulled his friend towards the stairs. "That was rude."
"She was a bitch Derek..." Mark said.
"I won't disagree but..."
"Dr. Shepherd... what are you doing here?" he heard Officer Lynch ask.
"Oh... this is my friend Mark Sloan... he's Em's godfather and he showed up unexpectedly so..." Derek explained.
"Officer Amelia Lynch," she said, sticking her hand out to shake his. Mark obliged.
"Since you won't let me help officially because he knows me... I thought Mark could help since he's never seen Mark before in his life," Derek said.
"Dr. Shepherd... that was not the only reason... you should both go home and let us do our job," she told them.
"Officer Lynch, no offense... but... this place doesn't have a big population, if you are having this much trouble finding Em..." Mark reasoned.
"The population is over 500," Officer Lynch said cooly. "While that is not as much as say... Philly... where Emily was taken previously... here in Austin, besides the main part of town where we are now, everyone is more spread out, more distant."
"All the more reason to let me help," Mark said. "I would give my life for that little girl. My wife would understand." Mark hid a smirk as she saw her eyes darken when he said wife.
"Surely you have children," she said.
"We just got married six months ago," Mark nodded. "No kids yet." He folded his arms against his chest. "I am here to help and will do anything you need. I am here for Derek and if he isn't leaving, I'm not." At this point Derek was very grateful for his friend.
"Very well then," Officer Lynch sighed. "Captain!"
"Yes... Dr. Shepherd... what are you doing here?" he asked. Derek sighed and explained everything again.
"Come and see what else we found out then," Captain Reese nodded and led them over to the bored which has changed since. "We have several of our computer technologists create these images." He ran his hand over the several images now on a fourth board. "These are computer generated images of the possible changes of hair color and eye color that Emily and Jason could have." Derek gasped looking at the picutres of the little girls. None of them were his Emily, none of them looked like her, but one of them could very possibly be her right now.
"So..." Mark said.
"We are going to being putting these out as well..." Captain Reese explained. "Now about Mr. Sloan helping us out..."
"It's Dr. Sloan," Derek corrected.
"A doctor as well?" he questioned.
"He is... but continue," Derek nodded curtly.
"I am not sure how he can be used I am afraid," Captain Reese told him. "What we have been doing so far is scanning the city, going door to door, trying to find any evidence of either of them."
"And why can't Mark help with that?" Derek asked. "More people."
"We'll think about it," Officer Lynch nodded, looking at Captain Reese. "But... we know that you will do it anyway so... if you find anything out, here's my cell number and the number to the station." She handed them a card. "And here are copies of these pictures." She handed them a folder.
"Thanks," Mark nodded. "We'll be in touch." Mark looked at Derek and the two exited the room.
"So where do you want to start?" Derek asked.
"I was thinking lunch," Mark smirked. Derek looked at him in shock. "We can't find her on an empty stomach."
"Whatever," Derek sighed. "You're treat."
"Yeah right," Mark scoffed. "Where?"
"I've been eating in... but there's a bistro across the street from the hotel," Derek told him. "There?"
"That's fine," Mark smiled. "You're treat?"
"My daughter's missing," Derek said flatly.
"Touche," Mark muttered as they got into the car and drove to the bistro. The hostess sat the down and they order their drinks.
"So where do you want to start?" Derek asked.
"It's only me who can do this Derek, you know that," Mark sighed.
"Okay... what do you want to do after we get me a hat and sunglasses," Derek said. Mark shook his head.
"Um... houses?" Mark questioned.
"We can't just go up to a house and say, 'Hi, we are looking for that bastard Jason Hartley who kidnapped my daughter Emily... are you that bastard'," Derek shook his head. "We are not police and if it is Jason we get killed."
"Then what do you propose we do?" Mark asked.
"Say we are taking a survey?" Derek shrugged.
"Of what?" Mark asked.
"Do you ever really take the survey when people come up to your door?" Derek asked.
"No," Mark said.
"We just need to see their face and compare it to the picture's," Derek told him. "We can change it every other time."
"Well are you the smarty pants," Mark muttered.
"I am a brain surgeon," Derek beamed.
"And I am a plastic surgeon," Mark huffed.
"Well I save people, I don't give face lifts," Derek smirked.
"Burns Derek, I take care of burns!" Mark exclaimed. "I-"
"Sorry for interrupting... Here are your orders," the waitress smiled.
"Thank you," Derek nodded.
"And can I just say that you two are a very cute couple," she said sweetly and walked away just as Mark was taking a sip of his water.
"COUPLE?" he choked out and water spewed out everywhere. Derek chuckled.
"Maybe that can be our next alias," Derek smirked.
"Shut up ass!" Mark hissed.
"Come on it was kind of funny," Derek laughed.
"I... I won't even address that," Mark shook his head and delibrately looked down at his food. For the first time since Em was kidnapped, Derek didn't have sorrow overpowering his heart, he wasn't thinking what he would do if Jason killed her, he was thinking what they would do, the fun they would have, when they got her back.
Meredith woke up to the sound of footsteps running through the hall. That's how she used to wake up. Emily running into her room screaming 'Mommy, Mommy wake up! I want to give you a kiss!' She sighed as she swung her legs over the bed. It was already 4 o'clock meaning that most of the family was probably downstairs.
"Now or never," she muttered and looked into the mirror and brushed her hair. She had to at least make her appearance look like she was okay even though inside was a different story. Because inside Meredith was bursting with rage, sorrow, heartbreak, longing to hold Emily in her arms again. Gently Meredith pushed the door open, the footsteps had to be kids running downstairs and now she was alone on the floor of the house.
"Let's get this over with," she sighed, running her hands through her hair as she made her way down the stairs. Immediately she was overwhelmed by a flury of adults and kids. As her eyes scanned the room, she desperately tried to remember all of their names.
Nancy was married to Tom, they had four children, twins Henry and Rebecca who were 13, David who was 7, and Amy who was 5. Kathleen was married to Matthew, they had five children, Michael who was 12, Sarah who was 10, Joshua who was 7, Alyse who was 4, and Morgan who was three months old. Elizabeth and Sean had five kids, one on the way. They were Kristen who was 13, Jenna who was 9, twins Kevin and Bridget who were 5, and Audrey who was 2, luckily the next baby was a boy they were naming Ryan. Finally Megan and Greg had four children, one on the way, Lauren who was 12, Connor who was 8, Sammy who was 4, Jessica who was 1, and the boy they were expecting next they were naming Andrew.
"Aunt Meredith!" she heard a little voice say. It was Audrey, the closest to Em. Close behind her was Alyse and Sammy. She watched as the three little girls ran up to her and threw their arms around their waist.
"We didn't know you were coming," Alyse giggled.
"Yeah," Mer smiled slightly and ran her finger through her trademark Shepherd dark hair. "It was last minute."
"Hi Aunt Mer," Rebecca, Lauren, and Kristen greeted her with slight smiles. They were older and knew what was going on.
"Hi guys," Mer smiled as more of the family realized she was there.
"Aunt Mer, where's Uncle Derek?" Sammy asked.
"Oh um..." Meredith whispered.
"And where's Emi?" Audrey asked and Mer gasped a little.
"Audrey!" Kristen exclaimed. "I told you..."
"It's fine Ali," Meredith sighed.
"No it's not Mer," Liz sighed and came up to her youngest. "Audrey Marie what did I tell you?"
"I forget," she murmured.
"You remember," Liz said sternly.
"Not to talk about Em," she whispered.
"And why not?" Liz guided.
"I forget," Audrey said. Liz sighed and took her hand gently. Meredith closed her eyes tightly as Elizabeth led the little girl away. She sighed and walked towards the rest of the family
"Meredith," Tom, Nancy's husband said. "I am so sorry." He hugged her tightly and Mer felt comforted by the manly embrace.
"Thank you," she nodded as Sean, Liz's husband hugged her.
"How are you holding up?" he questioned.
"Best I can... knowing the police are looking for her helps," Meredith whispered.
"If there's anything we can do," Greg, Meg's husband said.
"There's not much, but this helps," Meredith reassured as Matt, Kathy's husband hugged her next.
"I'm glad you came here," he said and Mer smiled. That was the first greeting that didn't directly mention the situation.
"Thanks," Mer nodded and broke apart from them. She looked to see some of the younger kids around so she wiped away her tears. She felt Amy tug on her shirt, Nancy's youngest.
"Aunt Meredith, can you play with us?" she asked sweetly. Mer opened up her mouth to say something but Nancy interrupted.
"Not right now Ames," she told her. "Aunt Meredith is coming to the kitchen."
"But last time Uncle Derek told us that Aunt Mer couldn't cook," David, Nancy's seven year old said.
"David!" Nancy scolded but Meredith started laughing, a few more tears coming out of her eyes.
"It's fine," Meredith said. "Yeah, I can't cook very well Dave." Nancy still smiled apologetically while she led her to the kitchen.
"Mommy what you doing? Daddy tolded me you no allowed in kitchen cause you makes big big fire!"
She found all of the Shepherd girls in there, even Liz with Audrey. Liz turned around and prompted her daughter.
"I'm sorry Aunt Meredith," Audrey whispered, tears in her eyes.
"It's okay sweetie," Meredith put on a fake smile and hugged her young niece. "Why don't you go find Sammy and Lysee, they are still in the living room." The little girl's face lit okay.
"Okay!" she giggled and ran out.
"I'm so sorry Meredith," Liz sighed. "I didn't..."
"Liz," Meredith grabbed her hand. "It's fine."
"No it's not... I should have..." Elizabeth murmured.
"It's not your fault at all," Meredith sighed and sat down in the chair between Kathleen and Carolyn.
"Do you want some coffee honey?" Carolyn offered.
"Yeah... coffee would be good," Mer murmured. Carolyn got up and began pouring a cup for her.
"So... how our idiot brother even bothered to call you yet?" Megan asked. "Because..."
"No... and neither has Mark," Meredith told them.
"Mark?" Kathleen asked. "Why would Mark call you?"
"I didn't tell you guys," Mer looked up as Carolyn set her cup in front of her. "Well... I was rushed off to bed as soon as I came but... anyway... I asked Mark to go to Nevada with Derek, or follow him there because I didn't trust him."
"You Meredith Shepherd... are genious," Liz said. "If anyone will talk Derek to coming back it's Mark."
"No," Mer shook her head. "Not coming back... helping him... Mark is Em's godfather, he would do anything for her just like Der and I."
"I guess that is smart too," Carolyn nodded. "But isn't it dangerous."
"We don't know," Meredith shrugged. "Aparently he had a gun when he attacked me but... he couldn't take it to Philly on the plane... so who knows."
"Well then... since Derek won't answer any of our calls..." Kathy said. "Time to call our other brother."
"Oh guys... I..." Meredith began but it was too late, Kathy already had the phone to her ear.
"Mark... MARKIE! You answered!" Kathy said. "Yeah she's here... yeah she told us... you were right and um... here... okay I will, hold on for a sec." She set the phone down and put it on speaker.
"Hello," Mark said.
"Hi Mark," the girls chimed in.
"Hello Mark," Carolyn said.
"Hi Ma, hi girls... and Mer right?" Mark asked.
"Yeah, I'm here," Meredith said weakly.
"How our brainless brother doing?" Nancy questioned immediately.
"Crazed, obsessed," Mark answered. "And worried sick. About Em and Mer."
"He lost the right to care about Mer when he left her alone!" Liz snapped.
"He did it for a good reason guys," Mark sighed. "This place, as small of a population it has, is huge and spread out and... we're lucky that they let us help."
"They're letting you help," Meg gasped, shocked.
"They really are," Mer murmured.
"They are," Mark nodded.
"What... what... Mark... how is it looking?" Meredith asked cautiously. "Any leads?"
"Not yet Mer, I am sorry... like I said, everyone is spread out... they haven't even covered half of the house in the past two weeks," Mark said gently.
"Oh," Meredith whispered, her gaze dropping to her lap.
"But they've been thorough, don't you worry Mer... they'll find her," he said confidently.
"Yeah," Mer sighed. "Um... I... I'm going back up to bed..."
"Okay dear," Carolyn sighed. "We'll send someone up for you when dinner is ready, that sound good." She grabbed her hand gently as she stood up.
"Mhmm," she murmured and sulked up the steps.
"Guys, take care of her," Mark said, worriedly. "She's like my sister and... I care about her and... I'm really worried."
"Mark... take care of him," Carolyn told him.
"I will," he promised.
"And we will," Liz promised.
"Bye... we'll be in touch," Nancy said.
"Bye," Mark said and the line went dead.
"Will it ever end?" Meg asked.
"I don't know," Kathy shook her head.
"Let's just hope the two of them take care of themselves as well," Carolyn nodded and looked towards the steps where Mer disappeared, not knowing that she was currently crying herself to sleep.
Next chapter will be whatever... not sure yet haha! Things will probably continue with Mer in New York and Derek in Nevada... possibly Mark gone... things will slow down a little bit until something happens...
A/N: Happy ending, I will remind you about that :)
PLEASE R&R!