Chapter 22: Observer
Derek's Point-of-View
It had been a few weeks since bringing Meredith home. Things were…well not easy. But they weren't impossible. The kids were trying to adjust to their mother not knowing who they were, I knew it wasn't easy on them, but it was better than not having her here at all.
Meredith's memories came and went. Every week it was different, this week she was an observer, it was like she watched us all through a glass window and made tentative analytical observations like a shrink would. I just went with it, I knew I should just remind her of her reality, but I didn't want to cause her any more stress than I had already…and let's face it, after a while it was exhausting. But I wasn't giving up, never.
She was helping Dani set the dinner table as I pulled the pot roast out of the oven and tested it. It was ready to be brought to the table, Winston and Ian were putting the vegetables and potatoes on the table when the doorbell rang. My oldest had yet to be seen, only calling earlier to leave me a message saying she was going to be home late because of volleyball practice. I wondered if she'd forgotten how to turn the doorknob.
"Everyone have a seat, I'll be right back."
I walked to the door and opened it, ready to scold Delilah for getting home so late when I saw a person who was most definitely NOT Delilah.
"Richard." I frowned "What are you doing here?"
"Look I gave you time." He sighed as he ranted slightly "I gave you a lot of time to think and to cool down."
"Richard."
"Don't Richard me, you can't quit Derek." He lectured me "You're the best neurosurgeon on the west coast, maybe in the country. You have a duty to your skill; you have a duty to your patients."
"I don't have any patients."
"Damn it Derek!" he muttered "Why do you have to be so stubborn. I know you have a lot going on, but we need you too, just stop this nonsense and come back!"
"Nonsense." I sighed "I'm sorry Richard but taking care of my family is not nonsense. I can't say I don't miss surgery, because I do. However, I was a husband before I was a surgeon and I won't skip out on my wife when she needs me the most. No surgery is going to be good enough for that. I'm sorry."
"Derek there has to be some way, there has to be something." His tone sobered "Tell me what I can do, how can I help."
"You want to help." I sighed "Find a cure for Alzheimer's."
He shook his head and turned to leave my porch. I closed the door and went back to the dinner table where everyone had started eating, Meredith looked at me as I sat down with a serious look of speculation in her eyes.
"You're in trouble."
"No." I shook my head "I'm fine."
"You're also a bad liar."
I chuckled, I can't count the many times she'd told me that in the past. She could always see right through me, read me like a book…even now when she couldn't even tell me who I was. The front door opened and then slammed shut, I looked up just as Delilah came flying in.
"Well, well." I grimaced "Look who decided to grace us with her presence."
"Yeah." She panted as she sat down "Practice went late. What's for dinner?"
"Pot roast." I gestured "Your favorite."
She stared at it for a long second before turning her nose up at it.
"What, do I not make it as good as mom too?" I frowned "Mind you, I am the one that taught your mother how to cook."
"It's not that." She shrugged "I'm just not hungry, can I just go take a shower and head to bed, I'm beat."
I frowned speculatively, it wasn't like Delilah to just turn down her favorite dish, or to just want to send herself to bed.
"Yeah." I mumbled "I guess if that's all you want to do."
"It is." She jumped up and then skipped out of the room.
"What's with her?" Winston asked…see, it wasn't just me.
"She's a teenager." Was all I could come up with.
A moment later I felt a hand on my arm and looked over to see Meredith staring at me with a look of concern.
"What is it?" I asked.
I saw her eyes widen as tears filled the rims of them, she let out a soft whimpered breath.
"She was with a boy."
Do you think Meredith is right about Delilah?