Derek Shepherd scoured the ER, not entirely sure who he was looking for. He was breathing heavily and it was a miracle that he got here safely, especially with his 6-year old son in tow.

"Mommy!" Derek watched as Christopher ran towards his mother, who was sitting on one of the gurneys. Bailey was placing a band aid on the one minor cut on her forehead. It was the only visible injury, apart from the bruises scattered throughout her uncovered skin. That, and the smudges of dirt on her neck and arms.

"Oh my god, Christopher," Addison Shepherd breathed out as she hugged the 6-year old. Derek willed his feet to move closer and he did, but he still felt like he was floating.

"What happened?" He asked, automatically scanning Addison's body. Her clothes looked like they had gone through hell, and her face had smudges of dirt (or was it grease?) on the jawline. She looked like she had been through hell. Of course they did.

"There was a car… I didn't see… well, I offered her a ride since we were both going to your place and… I'm sorry, Derek. I really didn't see the other car and next thing I know—"

"Hey, take it easy." Derek watched Bailey try to calm Addison down. She still wasn't letting go of Christopher and it looked like the child was okay with that. Then the resident turned to him while physically soothing a crying Addison.

"Addison was unconscious when they were admitted, but she was awake onsite. She has a mild concussion, so we have to monitor that. She also have a couple of bruises and minor cuts, sprained wrist, and so far she's being plain stubborn."

He placed a hand on Addison's shaking shoulders.

"I'm so sorry, Derek." He watched as Addison continued to cry, looking at him for forgiveness. Bailey's words passed through his head as he can't fully grasp the situation unfolding in front of him.

All he could do was nod, because really, he didn't blame her. He knew better than to blame her.

But if he sees the other driver...

"Where… where is she?" He finally spoke, his voice cracking as he asked Bailey. He tried not to think too much about what happened, or else he would surely have a breakdown.

"They're still checking out her injuries… but it looked bad..." Bailey answered, voice quiet. There was a brief silence (as silent as an ER can be) before Derek nodded once again.

"And.. you're… you feel okay?" He asked Addison. He felt slightly better when she nodded her head. He leaned down to kiss her forehead and Christopher's, before standing up straight again and taking a deep breath.

"I should…" Bailey directed him to where the other doctors were treating Meredith Grey.

"I wanna go with you, please," Addison said, lifting Christopher with her as she stood up. Before Derek or Bailey could protest, she immediately added, "I'm fine."

"I have to assist the chief… keep an eye on her Dr. Shepherd."

Derek sighed as he sat on the waiting chairs. Richard was leading the team treating Meredith's injuries. A broken rib punctured her lung and she had broken bones both in arms and legs.

Thank God there was no head injury—miraculously—or Derek would have lost his mind.

The number of people in the waiting area were increasing: 10 minutes after sitting on the chairs, they were joined by Yang, Stevens, and Karev. Stevens and Karev were quietly whispering to each other since they sat on the chairs, while Yang has been staring into space since… much like Derek.

"Mommy, I'm tired." His son rested his head on his mother's lap. He just watched them the majority of the time they were waiting. He might not show it, but hearing Richard's voice through the other end of the call, telling him that Addison was in an accident felt as if all the air was sucked out of his lungs. He was already frozen and felt as if the world was collapsing.

Then he was told that Meredith was in the accident too and by then, he was too numb to digest more information.

He knows Addison was feeling guilt—he knows how the narrative isn't favoring Addison: the ex-wife and the future girlfriend (since they were still dating and going slow) in a car accident, with the future girlfriend sustaining most of the injuries. Yet, as much as he wants to say something to comfort Addison, he felt as if his body was still in shock. Just an hour ago, he was watching Cars with Christopher.

"You can sleep on my lap, baby. But we have to wait 'til we know Meredith's okay." Derek's heart warmed at the softness of Addison's voice and he wished he was also comforted by her, yet he can't even open his mouth to say something. They were all exhausted and he knows that Addison would do anything to lie down—she was in the accident too, and he did tell her to, but he just got a glare in return.

"Hey… I came as soon as I can…" They all turned to Mark Sloan. The plastic surgeon sat a seat away from Derek.

"Addison, you alright?" They both chuckled as Addison rolled her eyes, obviously frustrated.

"For the last time, yes. All I got was a few bruises, a milder than mild concussion, and a cut on the forehead—I'm more than fine." Her voice sounded strained as the back of her head was already leaning against the wall and her body already as comfortable and unmoving as it can be, since Christopher was sleeping on her lap.

Mark nodded, satisfied with her answer. He fell quiet for quite some time before suddenly laughing, catching all the attention of everyone in the room.

"What's so funny, Mark?" Addison asked in a tired voice, yet everyone still heard the annoyance in her tone.

"Nothing, I'm sorry, it's just… well, don't you find it funny that the three of us are here, in a waiting room, waiting for an update like we're a family of Derek's mistress."

"Hey!"

"What the hell?"

"Mark!"

Addison and the former interns—now first year residents—were ready to throw him something.

"Yeah, it's funny." Everyone turned to look at Derek incredulously.

"God, I never really understood the two of you," Addison said, mocking disappointment at her two best friends.

"Girl—"

"I'm fine, I'm alright. Other than the fact that I'm tired, which we all are, I'm fine, alright?" Addison cuts Callie off before the Ortho resident can even ask her if she's fine.

"Alright, geez. Sorry for caring," Callie said sarcastically, but squeezed Addison's upper arm in support. The redhead just nodded, trying not to move too much as her child slept on her lap.

"How much longer?" Mark asked, looking at Callie.

"Half an hour, give or take." Derek just stared at her, his exhausted eyes barely showing relief. That means surgery's doing good so far. He won't stop worrying til then, though.

When the waiting room opened once again, it was the Chief, with Bailey a bit behind him. Derek stood up, along with the rest of the doctors in the room.

"It went well. It was touch and go for a while but she made it through." Cheers rang around the waiting room, and Derek felt as if he could breathe now.

Meredith was fine.

He thought he would never shake out of the empty head space he was in a while ago, but the Chief's words pulled him out and now he can't contain his happiness. He wants to rush out of the room and go to Meredith and —

"Mommy?" Christopher's voice was quiet but it pierced through the celebratory cheers enough for Derek to hear. He turned to look at his son and saw that the 6-year old was softly shaking Addison's hand, trying to wake her up.

"Addison?" Derek's voice was barely audible. He rushed towards his sleeping ex-wife, who was not showing signs of waking up despite the loud noise and Christopher's movements. His heart was dropping to his stomach and he felt as if his knees were about to give up and they did, just in time so he was in front of Addison's chair.

"Addison. Addison, honey, wake up." By now, he got everyone's attention as he gently cradled Addison's lulling head, and softly squeezed her arms.

It normally doesn't take him more than two tries to wake her up.

God, she has a concussion.

He tried to ignore his son's scared voice, calling out for his Mommy.

Mark was beside him, and immediately placed his fingers on Addison's neck, trying to feel a pulse.

"Faint pulse, Derek," Mark said, panic clear in his voice. The chief was already yelling for a gurney and everyone around Derek was moving, trying to control the situation, yet all he could see was Addison's unconscious form. He thought the worst night so far in his life was over. He didn't know things could go even worse.

He felt his son wrap his small arms around him, trembling, scared. God, who wouldn't be?

"Oh my god, Addison."

"What did they do to your head, Mommy?!" Derek watched as Callie entered the room with an obviously wide awake Christopher. He felt his heart jump as he heard Addison's soft laugh.

"I'll give you all some privacy." Callie sent a reassuring smile at Addison, who had a bandage around her head.

"You know what they did?" Addison asked as she made space for Christopher to settle down beside her. Derek carried the wiggly 6-year old and gently placed him beside his mother.

"Be careful, kid," Derek said to his son softly.

"They drilled a hole in my skull to see my brains." Derek smiled as Addison staged whispered.

"They did?!" Addison smiled. Their child turned to Derek, who nodded his head. "Woah. That's gotta hurt much, Mommy. Especi'lly if they used the thing in Daddy's toolbox."

"Yeah, it hurt Mommy much, Toph. That's why you gotta be careful, alright? Don't move too much," Derek said softly. He was running on reserved energy and he knows he should at least visit Meredith again but he can't. He still remembers vividly the horror that washed over him when he took in the image of his son trying to wake up his mother's unconscious body.

It was the most dreadful thing he ever saw, almost at par with his father's death, and it was one of the things never wants to see ever again.

"Okay. I'mma be caref'l much, Mommy." Christopher grinned and softly leaned on his mother's body.

"I know you'll be, baby. You know Mommy loves you so much, right, Christopher?" Derek's heart drops at the sudden shift in Addison's tone.

No.

"Yes, Mommy. I loves you much much much too," Christopher said, unaware of the emotions his mother was going through.

"And if ever Mommy suddenly goes away… you should always remember that, alright? Mommy loves you so much."

"Addison." Derek's strained voice made Addison look at him with her reddish moist eyes.

"I just want him to know. In case…" She said, kissing the top of their son's head.

"Are you leaving me, Mommy?" There was a hint of growing panic in Christopher's voice and Derek does not like where the conversation was going.

"No, Christopher. Mommy isn't leaving, okay? She's not allowed to." He looked at his ex-wife with determined eyes.

"Are you… are you g'nna dies, Mommy? Like my baby sis?" The silence that followed was deafening. Derek's heart was breaking into pieces and it felt as if his family was crumbling in front of him and he was stuck. He can't do anything but watch and he hates himself for it.

"Mommy, won't, Toph. She isn't going to die anytime soon, okay?" Derek said. He smiled as his son nodded his head vigorously.

"Derek…"

"You aren't, Addison. Stop it." He just watched Addison sigh and hold their son closer. He can't help himself anymore so he stood up and walked to the other side, settling on the little space beside Addison. He needed to be closer to her. He needed to hold her for his comfort, as he felt like she was slipping from his grasp.

"You aren't leaving anytime soon, Addie." His voice was barely a whisper as he gently wrapped an arm around Addie and held his family closer to him.

"I should have expected it. It's your branding. You always have a flair for the dramatic. God forbid everything goes smoothly with Addison Forbes Montgomery," Mark said, smiling, as he rocked a somewhat sleepy Christopher with his lap. Addison just laughed at him, knowing every word he said was right.

"I'm riding ho'sey, Unc' Mark," the 6-year old giggled softly. "Fasta'!"

"Sorry, champ. Can't go any faster," Mark said. He does work out, but it's been a tiring and exhausting night and his feet are numb.

"Uncle Mark can't 'cause he's growing old and his knees are going bad, love," Addison said lovingly at Christopher, while holding a teasing tone for Mark.

"Ha. ha." Mark said sarcastically. He noticed the slight wince from Addison and his air got caught in his throat.

"Are you okay?" He didn't even bother to hide his panic. He stood up and lifted Christopher along with him.

"Yeah… just a killer headache." Addison smiled reassuringly, fingers ghosting over her bandage.

"I'm gonna call Derek."

"Mark—"

"Call Derek for what?" Derek entered Addison's room, coming from Meredith's. It was his second visit and he felt bad as all he could think about when he was there was going back to Addison.

"Her head's killing her," Mark rushed out, instinctively clutching his nephew closer. Derek immediately walked to Addison's side and examined her, ignoring Addison's repeats of "I'm fine."

"Hold out your arms," Derek softly instructed, smiling reassuringly at his ex-wife. Addison did as she was told, concentrating so hard to keep them up, yet, as if she was out of control, her left arm started going down, making her repress a groan and wince.

Derek sent a panicked look at Mark. He immediately turned and picked up the phone on the hospital's bedside table and dialed the in-hospital number. He kept an eye on Addison, who was still sitting upright, now frowning as she knew something was wrong other than her pounding head.

"I need you to book an OR stat," he said calmly yet urgently, if that was possible. He went silent as the receiver went on with details. He looked straight at Mark, who was now on alert and confused with what's happening. "Addison's bleeding into her brain."

Christopher was with Bailey. Mark sat at the gallery, watching as Derek desperately tried to save Addie's life. The Chief agreed that it was an emergency situation and without a doubt, at that moment, Derek was Addison's only chance.

He shouldn't have been. They shouldn't even be here.

Then there was a rumor that Owen Hunt saved the life of the other car's driver.

His efforts might be all for naught once Derek hears about it… after he's done successfully saving Addie's life.

He watched as Derek expertly maneuvered through the exposed part of Addison's brain, as if she was just another patient.

Yet Mark knew him almost all his life. He knows this would take a toll on Derek. No matter the result. Everything that happened in the span of the night definitely changed all of them.

Addison's stats suddenly dropped, making Derek audibly curse. Mark did too. And so did Callie, who was sitting beside him.

"Derek," Richard warned in the OR, and Derek quietly pulled back, letting them revive Addison's body. It was like a dance, Derek trying to get work done in between Richard's attempts. His throat was clogged and his chest was ready to burst, yet he took in a deep breath and kept it in, kept it together.

You can't leave, Addison.

His child's face briefly flashed before his eyes, and he pursed his lips, holding back a sob, while his hands seemed to have a mind of their own as they mechanically orchestrated the surgical tools he was holding.

"Again." Richard's stern voice cut through the thick atmosphere in the OR, and Derek knows he's feeling just the same as he does.

The man did have to watch and operate on his pseudo-daughters in one night.

When Addison's stats went up and the machines calmed down, Derek still managed to pull off a stoic face.

Just a while longer, Addie.

He went out of the OR as fast as he could, the explosion pent up inside his chest ready to burst. He wanted—needed to shout, to punch something.

He reached the stairs and when the door shut, he repeatedly slammed the railings, the echoing of metal satisfying his raging emotions a bit. He was gasping for air, as emotions burst from him, eyes shedding the restrained tears.

A growl escaped his throat and he continuously slammed his palm against the railings.

"Derek, enough." Mark's voice echoed through the floors.

"She coded twice." Derek gasped, crumbling on the one step he was standing on. He held his head as he tried to grasp everything that happened in less than a day. He knows it's nearing morning and the sun is rising, or probably did. And Christopher… god, Christopher.

"You saved her." Derek shook his head.

"You saved her, Derek. She may have been down for quite some time but at least she's alive now, right?" Mark went down the steps and sat beside Derek.

"All of these shouldn't have happened."

"Yeah… but they did."

"If… If I stayed with her, if I didn't leave..."

"Don't go there, Derek. That's a huge fucking stretch."

"Yeah."

"When's Mommy wakin' up?" Derek looked at his son's hopeful eyes as the child sat on his lap. He kept his hold on Addison's still hand.

He can't let go. Almost losing her was the worst wake up call he ever experienced.

"Soon, kid. Keep telling her stories," He said, rubbing Christopher's back with his other hand.

That night did change everything. And he'll be damned if it's not for the better.

"Mommy! I tolds you much much stor'es! And you woke up!"

"Christopher… give Mommy some space, alright?" Derek said, trying to calm down a vibrating Christopher. The heavy weight on his chest was suddenly lifted. He knows it's going to be a rocky road to recovery for Addison, but he knows she can go through it with the support of her family.

Their family.

"It's alright… I love your stories, baby." Addison gave them a small smile and then closed her eyes once again. "Love you both."

"We love you too, Addie," Derek said softly, placing a soft kiss on her cheek. He smiled when her lips curled up. She's okay. They're all okay.

As he helped Christopher gently place a kiss on his now awake mother, Derek knew everything's going to be fine. They were all together and that's what matters. He's going to make sure it's going to stay that way.

And no one's leaving again anytime soon.

• End •

Note: This was inspired and rip off of the the Dell situation at the end of Private Practice Season 3. Thought it would be interesting to spice it up with Grey's first saucy love triangle (or quadrangle as respect for Mark).