After a restless night Meredith was up at 5 and knew that she needed to find out some answers about Bess. She left Derek to sleep and she ducked off to work. The girls had slept a night with no interruptions and Bess didn't wake her at all but Meredith did wake during the night and felt and extra presence in the darkness of the room but she shrugged off the feeling and closed her eyes again. She couldn't put a certain thing on her restless night but the baby had been quite active and her mind was racing.

She snuck out the door of the house and noticed the girls were sound asleep. She closed and locked the house up behind her and got in her car and drove to the hospital. It was peak hour at the hospital and people on rounds and starting the day already.

"Mer, what are you doing here?" George asks her as she gets out of her car.

"I had to get some things."

"It's 5:30 in the morning. You should be at home sleeping."

"Yeah sleep doesn't come to those of us who are mothers." She says. "Hey, have you seen Iz?"

"She's been here since 3 am."

"Oh okay. I'll just call her."

"You alright Mer? You seem a little on edge."

"I'm fine." She says as she walks beside him.

"How did the party go? Have a late night?"

"The girls were asleep by 11. One of the girls though had an accident with her water and dropped it. She went into a state of shock."

"Was that Bess?" He asks.

"Yeah it was."

"I've treated her before."

"You have?"

"Yeah she was probably only 4 years old. Broken clavicle from falling down the stairs."

"Accident?"

"That's what the father said. I had my suspicions."

"Did you report it?"

"I did. By the time Social Services came they had left, AMA."

"Really? Did they follow up at all?"

"I don't know. I doubt it." He says. "Her file was a mess though."

Before she got to ask him another question his pager sounded and he had to head off. She went to the nurses' station to wait for Izzie.

"Dr Grey, you on today?" Tyler asks.

"No, I'm here on a personal errand."

"Do you need to be examined?" He asks looking at her baby bump.

"No, no. It's a long story. I need to see an ex-patients file."

"For?"

"Research."

"Okay. You know where they are. I'll see you around." He says heading off.

She heads to the cabinet of patients who had been treated here in the past 6 months. She went through to W, searching for the file.

"Grey!" She hears someone shout from behind her. She jumps and hits her head against the cabinet.

"Ouch." She says placing a hand to her head. She turns around and sees Izzie standing there. "A little more warning next time."

"Sorry." She says coming to her side. "What are you doing here?"

"Found it." She says pulling the file out of the cabinet and then closing the drawer. "Come with me."

She drags Izzie into the office behind the station and shuts the door.

"Last night I saw the bruises."

"How?"

"She had an accident and spilt water over her pyjamas. I took her upstairs to change her from her clothes and she was in this state of shock and confusion. I helped her change from her clothing and she was covered in bruises and marks. I think she had cigarette burns on her body. Even her upper thighs were covered in bruises. Derek even saw them as well. He came to Kaylee's room and spotted them as I changed them. Iz she's covered in them. Old and new ones as well."

"So why do you need her file?"

"So I can get the history of her and understand her a little bit better. Family history and things like that. I'm going to call CPS when she leaves my house and make a report. I never treated her as a patient so I can't make a report on that behalf but as a concerned member of the public and mother of the girls' friend I have that right to call on behalf of what I think might be severe neglect and abuse."

"Has she said anything to you?"

"No."

"Okay."

Meredith sits down with the file and reads through Bess' history.

"This girl has been hospitalised so much and not just here. George says that she came in when she was four with a broken clavicle and the father left against medical advice. She's been to so many different hospitals and they always change when a report has been made." Meredith says.

Elizabeth Jane Walker, 13th of December 2010, female

Father – Bruce Walker

Mother – Sally Dean, Deceased

Siblings – Bradley Walker, male
Emma Walker, female

"I never knew she had two siblings. Did the youngest come in with you at all when you treated her?"

"No she didn't. It was just her father and Bess."

"She's been hospitalized thirteen times since 2012. That's 5 years' worth of hospital visits from broken bones, illness and asthma attacks. There is no mother either and the address is in the derelict part of Seattle." She says.

"When she came in I could smell something strong. It was like the mixture between cigarette smoke, booze and methamphetamine." Izzie says.

"I could smell something on her pyjamas last night. The poor girl."

"Did you say bruises near her anatomy? Upper thigh?"

"Yeah." Meredith says. "Give us your arm."

Izzie holds her arm out and Meredith presses Izzie's arm for a few moments before letting go. "It was like that mark I left on your arm but more permanent."

"Well I did call Seattle Pres after her visit to get some more info on her since she was treated there for an asthma attack and they ended up telling me about a visit that sparked interest in them calling CPS when the child was 3 after the Aunt brought her in after caring for her for a few days. The Aunt noticed severe bruising around the thighs and caught the child inserting things in her…"

"Oh no." Meredith says.

"The Aunt told him that she was quite ill and needed attention and he gave her permission to take her but Bess wasn't ill. The Aunt wanted to see a paediatrician over the bruises and the inserting and she did and they asked her questions about the situation she was living in and they made a CPS report and they know that they did go and question the father and they found nothing to be wrong. Pres knew something was up and they were concerned."

"The poor girl." Meredith says. "Wow, I think I know enough to be concerned."

"You should go home Mer." Izzie says.

"I am I just don't know how someone can do such a thing to a child. A 6 year old girl is being targeted to abuse and not just physical but sexual abuse."

"People are sick and twisted Meredith. That's the dark side to the world."

"But what if he's abusing the younger sibling." She says. "I need to go… I need…"

"I know. Go home and don't let it bother you at all. Make the call after the kids leave and you'll feel better."

Meredith left the hospital in a state of disgust and worry. It was just after six thirty when she walked through the door and she passed the kids who were still sleeping. She headed up to the bedroom and found Derek was still asleep. She slipped her shoes off and snuggled in beside him.

"Where'd you go?"

"The hospital."

"Were you paged?"

"Nope. I had a personal matter to take care of."

He opened his eyes. "Is something wrong with the baby?"

"No. I had to check a file for some research."

He knew who she was referring to. "What'd you find out?"

"She's been hospitalized 13 times in 5 years. Seattle Pres first raised the alarm about the possible abuse in 2013 after the Aunt caught some very disturbing behaviours and bruises along the pelvis and thighs."

"Disturbing behaviours?" He asks.

"Insertion of objects." She says.

"Into? Oh." He says.

"She's been sexually abused. Or still is." Meredith says.

"Did you make a report?"

"No. I'm going to wait until she leaves to do it. Maybe get to know her a little better."

"Okay." He says. "Was she in our room last night cause I felt like something was?"

"I think so." She says. "I really am feeling for this poor girl."

"Me too." He says and snuggles her even closer to his self.

"Mumma?" They hear and see Cooper clutching his teddy bear and padding across the floor towards their bed.

"Hey Coopie. It's early." Meredith says to him.

"I woke up."

She lifts him up onto the bed and he goes and lies down in front of her, facing her.

"I know you did baby." She says and kisses his forehead.

"Morning Coopie." Derek says.

"Hi Daddy." He says yawning. "Work today?"

"No work today." She says.

"How's the bubba?" He asks placing a hand on her stomach.

"The bubba is good." She says and smiles as Cooper kisses her stomach.

"Morning bubba. How are you? Hopefully your good and be kind to Mumma today. Not long now bubba and you'll be here sharing our mornings with us and I may even let you cuddle my teddy." He says rubbing her belly. "I love you."

"Oh that was sweet Coopie." Meredith says to him. "Bubba loves you too."

They lie together as the three of them for another forty minutes and hear the girls moving downstairs.

"I suppose the girls are up." Derek says.

"I'll go and check on them."

"No stay. I'll do it." Derek says kissing her cheek and then moving from the bed and heading downstairs.

"What are we going to do today Mumma?"

"Well entertain your sister's friends and then maybe have a quiet afternoon. Maybe watch a movie or something."

"Okay. Can we go and see them?" He asks.

"Sure Coop. Let me just change and then I'll take you down."

After changing into comfier clothes she carries Cooper downstairs and sees the girls up watching TV while talking.

"Morning girls." Meredith says.

"Morning Mummy." Kaylee says smiling widely. "Morning Coopie."

"Morning."

Cooper happily stays on Meredith's hip as she walks into the lounge room and sits down in one of the chairs.

"Where's Daddy?"

"His making a call and then going to get breakfast ready." Kaylee says. "Did you get paged to go to work?" Kaylee asks.

She bites her lip for a moment before answering. "No, I left some paperwork there the day before and I was up so I thought I would commute there before you all woke up and get back so I could spend the day with you all."

"Oh okay. I thought you got paged on your birthday." She says.

"No, no I didn't." She says. "I wanted to make sure I got to spend today with you again. You've been lucky getting two full days with me Kaylee."

"I know Mummy and I am grateful for that."

Meredith smiled back at Kaylee who turned her attention to her friends and they continued to play with the Barbie dolls. Derek entered the lounge room again and sat on the arm of the chair and kissed Meredith's temple.

"What would you girls like for breakfast?" He asks.

"Your famous pancakes!" Kaylee screeches. "You have to try Daddy's pancakes, they are quite amazing." She says to Bess, Hanna and Annie.

"Pancakes it is." He says clapping his hands together.

"I'll help." Bess says getting up off the sofa.

"No, it's right Bess." Derek says. "You stay here with the girls and play. You're the guest."

She nods her head and climbs back onto the sofa and picks up the abandoned Barbie and continues the imaginative play the girls had created.

"Coopie do you want to stay with the girls or help me and Daddy?"

"Help."

"Okay." She says standing up. "Girls we are in the kitchen if you need anything."

She carried Cooper into the kitchen and lets Peanut inside who makes her rounds before setting herself at Derek's side watching him make the pancakes. Cooper sat on the chair at the island and drank from a bottle.

They prepared breakfast when they had another presence in the kitchen.

"Can I sit in here?" Bess asks.

"Of course." Meredith and Derek say.

Derek helps her up onto one of the chairs and continues to cook.

"Are the girls letting you play?" Meredith asks concerned at to why she made her way into the kitchen.

"Yeah they are. I just wasn't interested."

"Well that's okay." Meredith says hoping this would give her the chance to find out more about the little girl. "We were just discussing baby names." She says when all too well that weren't.

"Do you know what you are having?"

"No, we don't." Meredith says. "I'm liking the name Bradley for a boy and Emma for a girl."

Bess' eyes lit up. "They are my brother and sisters names."

"So you do have siblings?"

"Yeah. Two."

"How old are they?"

"Bradley is 17, he doesn't live at home. He hasn't lived at home since I was a baby and my sister Emma is 2. She lives mainly with my Aunt."

"Why?"

"Well Daddy is busy a lot with work and he thinks it's best for her to be with my aunt because of how young she is."

"Why don't you live with your Aunt as well?" Derek asks interested in knowing.

"Because I just don't. Daddy doesn't really say why. He prefers me to be at home for the company."

Meredith felt her stomach flip at the word she used. She covered her mouth and felt nauseous before leaving the room to throw up.

"Is she alright?" Bess asks.

Derek diverted his eyes back to the girl. "Yeah, the baby just makes her sick sometimes."

"Oh that's okay than." She says softly.

"Do you want to go and get the girls and let them know?"

Meredith cleaned herself up and looked at herself in the mirror before heading back downstairs. He had the girls at the table eating.

"You alright?" Bess asks.

"I'm fine. Just the morning sickness that comes with having a baby." She says before looking at Derek who nodded his head in agreement.

They sat together and had breakfast and the girls talked about different things while Meredith picked at her pancakes not really feeling like eating.

"Hey, you should at least try and eat." Derek says rubbing her back.

"I can't. I feel nauseous."

"I know you do." He says and kisses her cheek. "Just try, please?"

"I'll try."

The girls then went off to play and Bess stayed behind to help clean-up.

"Bess we'll deal with this. You go and play."

"But it's the least I can do." She says.

"Okay, can you just carry these things over to the bench then you can scurry off and play with the girls." Meredith says.

Bess gives her a smile and clears the table and then heads off in a better mood.

"It's breaking my heart." Meredith admits.

"I know me too." He says as the phone rings. "Hello?"

Meredith continues to clear the table and starts loading the dishwasher when Derek hangs up.

"Who was that?"

"Bess' father. He won't be able to get her and asked if we could drop her home around 6. He's been held up."

"Sure." Meredith says. "Well the others are going at lunchtime. Maybe we can take the kids to the land for a picnic."

"Sounds perfect." He says knowing that visits to the land had been declining compared to before.

The girls had put a movie on and by the time it ended Hanna and Annie's parents were here to take them home. Kaylee thanked them for coming and said she would see them soon. The parents sent their thanks before heading off.

They then told Kaylee and Bess to go and get dressed as they were heading out to the land. Meredith changed Cooper and she herself changed. Derek was making lunch downstairs. Meredith couldn't help but ache more when she saw the ratty clothing that Bess came out wearing. She asked Kaylee if she could lend Bess a jumper and long pants since it would be quite cool by the time they got home. They got the kids into the car and then headed off across to the ferry.

"I've never been on one of these before." Bess says.

"You haven't?"

"Nope because we live on the other side of town." She says.

"Well Derek and I quite like ferry boats." Meredith says from the passenger seat smiling.

"You should see the land Bess." Kaylee says. "You have the view of Seattle from up there."

"Is this were you were born?" Bess asks.

"Yes." Kaylee says giggling. "I was a surprise."

"More than a surprise." Meredith says turning to look to the backseat. "Three weeks early, on my birthday and decide to come in half an hour while your father and uncle and aunt were off at the river with me alone in the hut and had your 12 year old Uncle deliver you. You were the fastest delivery every Miss Kaylee."

"I know I was. Mummy will never let me down on that one." She says to Bess.

"Do you know about your birth Bess?" Derek asks.

"I was born in the hospital." She says lying that all too well she knew that she wasn't born in the hospital but her father always assured her that she was born there.

"When's your birthday Bess?"

"13th of December." She says.

That date struck her memory to a newspaper article from 7 year ago. She pulled her phone out and searched that date with local news articles coming up.

'Baby found in dumpster beside pub and abandoned apartment block. Mother missing.'

'Body found of a woman three blocks away from baby finding.'

'Murdered mother of dumped baby. Killer on the run.'

'Dumped Baby reunited with father.'

Meredith felt her mind go into overdrive again and that nauseous feeling overcame her again as she remembered those articles and the fear that surrounded Meredith as she was a new mother and reading about her worst fears. Bess was this abandoned baby from all those years ago and Meredith can't help and feel if the father had something to do with the unsolved homicide and yet it was so familiar to one committed 2 years ago and then again 17 years ago to Bess' father. It was either bad luck or no one looked into it.

She shook off the feeling and decided to not read into it anymore and to just enjoy the family time.

They had just finished lunch and the kids were chasing around a ball.

"What happened in the car Mer? You went silent."

She grabbed her phone and showed him the articles from that date and the clogs clicked together in his mind.

"No." He says.

"And why do I think the father has something to do with it?"

"I don't know? I feel so bad for her. I don't want to return her home tonight."

"Me either." She says. "She is so innocent and cute and she doesn't deserve anything like this."

The kids came running over and collapsed in front of the two of them breathless.

"Do you three need a drink?"

"Yes please." They all answer.

They poured them out drinks and they sat down quietly and drank from their cups.

"I need to use a bathroom." Bess says.

"I'll take you Bess. I need to go as well. Anyone else?" She asks.

"No Mummy."

"Okay, we'll be back."

They headed up to the hut to use the toilet. Bess went in first while Meredith waited for her outside. Bess finished up and left the room while Meredith occupied the toilet and Bess was left to wonder around the hut.

When Meredith left the bathroom she found Bess scanning over pictures that had been brought out to the hut from the time Michael Shepherd had built it nearly 12 years ago to now.

"Who is this here?" Bess asks pointing at a picture.

Meredith came and peered at the photograph and smiled.

"That is Derek's family. His mother Carolyn, father Michael and his sisters, Kathleen, Nancy, Alice and Amelia."

"He has a big family." She says.

"He sure does."

"Is Derek's daddy still alive because Kaylee doesn't mention him?"

"No sweetie. Michael passed away 8 months before Kaylee was born. He died the night before Kaylee's cousin Braden was born."

"Oh that's sad." She says.

"Yeah it is but I suppose it gets easier. My mother died as well, 3 years ago and my brother and sister were only young just like Derek's younger siblings."

"I'm sorry."

"It's fine Bess, my mother was sick so I much preferred her to be at rest then in pain." She says. "Do you have a mother?"

"My mummy died just after I was born."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"It's fine. My Aunt is like a mother to me, Brad and Em." She says. "And because she died when I was a baby I don't feel that connection like Kaylee does towards you. I never really met her so yeah."

Meredith couldn't help but wrap an arm around Bess' shoulder and pull her close.

"What happened this day?"

"That was the day Kaylee was born and my birthday, we share the same birthday."

"Oh it looked familiar." She said. "Was Kaylee actually born in here?"

"She sure was. In the kitchen. My brother was 12 at the time delivered her for me."

"Wow!"

"I know." Meredith says smiling. "That's why each year for our birthday's we try to come out her for a picnic and a day together. It's been a tradition we have tried to continue."

"I think it's a nice one." She says. "What about this one?"

"This is Cooper's first visit to the land. Mind you he is a winter baby, so it had just snowed a few days before and we came here to show him. We layered his clothing up and brought him here. He slept the entire time we were here while Kaylee attempted to make snow angels and snowmen."

"You seem like you have a happy family and great times."

"We are a family Bess and we try to make most of ever smile and happiness because you never know…"

"When it could be gone." Bess says finishing the sentence. "Yeah I know, my Aunt says that to me all the time."

"Bess can we take a seat for a moment?"

"Of course." She says and they go and take a seat on the couch.

Meredith didn't know where to begin but she wanted to be honest.

"Bess, I want you to know that if you ever want anyone to talk to or another 'mother figure', I'm here. You and Kaylee seem to be good friends and I hope that the two of you stay friends because I feel you need her. I know I don't know much else about you but I am here to speak to when you are scared or just want someone here for you. I care for my children and their friends as much as possible because I will see them grow up from 4 year olds to 18 year olds and hopefully beyond that. Bess, if ever you feel scared or threatened ring me because I will come and get you." She says.

"You saw the marks and bruises didn't you?" Bess says quietly.

"I did." Meredith says. "And it rings alarm bells because I'm a mother and I fear the worse. I have seen these before and it's not because the child is clumsy it's because of other reasons."

"What if I am clumsy?"

"Well then you are clumsy." She says. "But Bess if these are coming from someone, I don't know who but whoever is giving you these you need them to stop and have an adult intervene and give that person help because you don't deserve these." She says. "If you are being hurt you can let me know because it's not right."

Bess doesn't say anything and keeps her mouth quiet as Meredith sighs.

"Fine your just clumsy then." She says. "When we drop you home I will give you my cell number and if you want to talk or need help then you ring me, day or night. I will rescue you and not leave you behind." She says. "But if you're not clumsy and someone is hurting you then we can get people in and they will stop the abuse and you will live with someone who is kind and caring. You can't keep this a secret."

"I'm just clumsy." She says quietly.

"Okay then, whatever you say." Meredith says to the girl.

"Can we go outside?"

"Sure." Meredith says standing up. "I will protect you no matter what Bess."

Bess doesn't answer and takes off to go and sit down again. The kids were continuing to play with the soccer ball and Derek squeezed her hand.

"So?"

"She's just clumsy." Meredith says to Derek sighing. "I knew she wanted to tell me but she couldn't. It doesn't stop me from making a complaint to CPS."

"I know. I'll hold your hand as you do it." Derek says as Cooper walks over to them and climbs onto Meredith's lap and snuggles into her chest. "We'll make sure she is protected."

After the weather quickly turned sour they retreated to the car to head home and unpack from the picnic and gather Bess' things before dropping her home. The girls were upstairs, while Cooper was off playing by himself and Meredith and Derek were in the kitchen.

"You're not driving her over there Meredith. You don't know what he could do. I'll take her."

"But I need to get an idea at where she lives."

"We'll we can go together drop her home and then get take out and go and get Charlie."

"Can we please?"

Derek turned his attention to Kaylee and Bess moving to the kitchen.

"Oh before I forget, your pyjamas." Meredith says giving them to the girl to pack in her bag.

"So you girls ready?" He asks.

"Yes Daddy."

"Okay we'll let's get going."

"Is Mummy and Cooper coming?"

"Yeah they are. We are going to get take out and get Charlie before bringing her here."

The trip across town changed from the expansive houses and apartments to the derelict part of town were town apartments and houses were for people on welfare.

Bess had been silent on the trip over and Meredith could see the changing mood in the child as she became nervous the closer they got to the house. Derek himself felt out of place as they rocked up in the black SUV. Yes, him and Meredith weren't the richest of people in Seattle but Ellis's estate and trust fund she had for the children covered the expenses of the house and Meredith's school fees and it let Derek and her put their money towards other things just like how the fund Richard had set up for them when Meredith was having Kaylee covered for baby things getting Kaylee through and they were fine especially after Derek upgraded to a newer car just after his birthday since he had been driving around a second hand car after Amelia wrote their car off last year and he knew it was time to upgrade since the second hand car wouldn't accommodate for the baby who would arrive in December. They weren't rich or poor. They were happy and making do with what they had.

The car seemed out of place in the derelict neighbourhood with old cars, beer cans and bullet holes in houses carried on throughout the street. Meredith slipped Bess a piece of card before tears started to fall from her eyes.

"Bess you alright?" Kaylee asks.

Bess doesn't say anything and climbs from the car followed by Kaylee. Derek and Kaylee help her up to the house and the crying then starts when they are halfway to the front door. That is when the father makes his arrival and comes storming down the front yard hand yanks the crying Bess from the path and drags her up to the house without a goodbye.

Derek and Kaylee look dumbfounded and then turn back and get into the car and continue on.

"What they hell just happened?" Derek asks as he continues down the street.

A hard slap knocks the wind out of Bess as her father throws her down into her bedroom. "What did you tell them?"

Like I said. It gets nitty gritty.

Thoughts would be great and I'll try and update as soon as I can.