A\N: Hi! I have another chapter for you all! Thank you all for your continued support and patience. Thank you all for your reviews. They motivate me! Now, there is a little drama. But remember, I don't own the show.
Chapter 94
"Meredith." Derek coos as he watches his wife sleep a few mornings after Father's Day. He smirks as he watches her sleep on her side. His fingers nimbly brush her hair to the side. "Wake up, Mer." Derek musters against her lips. Pulling back to look at the clock. They had two hours before they had to check in to the hospital. So, Derek really wanted to pamper her a bit, maybe help her take a bath. Especially since they had no clue how long they would be in the hospital.
Derek smirks and shakes his head as he sees her begin to rouse. Her eyes blinking open only to squeeze shut again. "No!" She moans and hides her face in her pillow.
"Oh, Meredith. It will be alright." Derek reaches to wrap his arm around her so that he could massage her back.
"I don't wanna go. That means something bad is gonna happen. I'm a lightning rod." Meredith mutters unhappily.
"Meredith. You're not a lightning rod. You have, not only Addison, but Robbins, Karev and Cristina watching you. Plus, I plan on keeping a close eye on your numbers." Derek chuckles as he wonders where this was coming from. His eyes twinkle with concern as he sees her fear filled eyes open.
"But, what if something does go wrong?" Meredith whispers as he cups her cheek.
Derek sighs as his face lights with a reassuring expression. "Then we will get through it together." Derek explains with confidence. "Let's just take today one step at a time, Mer." He soothes as he rubs her back. "We will get up, take a bath together and then have a nice breakfast with the kids. Then we will head to the hospital." Derek whispers against her ear. Meredith blinks up at him with wide eyes, her hand clutching his shirt. Derek could tell that she was terrified despite knowing that this was a precaution. Early on they had discussed with Addison being admitted to the hospital early. But, she was still scared.
"Ok." Meredith breathes finally after considering his plan. She was still scared, but figured for now she would be okay if they took it one step at a time. As long as all three babies made it out okay, this would be worth it.
"That's my Meredith." Derek beams and cups her cheek. Kissing her slowly. When he pulls back, they both are panting heavily. "Come on, let's get you clean."
"Hmm, is this just an excuse to rub my naked, wet body?" Meredith giggles as Derek sits both of them up in bed. She immediately groans at the pressure on her bladder and back. Her one hand clutching her back. The other, gripping Derek.
Derek frowns and rubs her arms and holds her close to him. "No, it's me wanting you comfortable." He looks over the pain and discomfort on her face. "Are you okay?" He asks.
Meredith turns to look at him. Her eyes half open as she clutches her back. "Just normal pregnancy stuff, Derek." She offers him a small, reassuring smile.
Derek tilts his head with a gasp. "Meredith." He breathes, kissing her head. "You are amazing. So incredible. I can never thank you enough for giving this to me." Derek repeatedly kisses her head and nuzzles his nose against her cheek. "I love you so damn much." He kisses her as she leans into him and he now rubs her belly.
"I love you, too Derek and our babies. I just want them here." Meredith whispers.
"They will be, Meredith." Derek beams and moves to kneel in front of her. His hands roaming her very large stomach. "Hey, guys. Are you being good to mama?" He coos smirking at Meredith. His hands feeling the slight movement beneath her skin.
"They're quiet this morning." Meredith whispers as she watches Derek rub and kiss her belly.
"Good job, guys. Keep it up while I help mama take a bath." Derek laughs while giving several more kisses before standing. "Come on, Meredith." He wraps his arms around her and helps her stand. Leading her to the bathroom. Derek stops when they get to the large bathtub against their window. Meredith holds her back while Derek places a non slip bath mat and turns on the water. As the water fills, he strips her clothes before doing the same to his. "Here we go, Meredith." Derek whispers as he holds her hand and helps her into the bath once it's filled. He steps behind her as they sit together.
"Oh! Oh, this feels so good!" Meredith moans as she collapses against Derek's hard chest. She clutches his arms as they hold her tight.
"Hmm, I'm glad." Derek beams as he kisses her head.
"Better than you realize, Derek." Meredith says as her eyes close and head goes back. Derek hums with pride as he nuzzles the side of her head. Letting his nose brush against her hair asks he inhales her wonderful lavender scent.
"Great." Derek hums, his voice deep as he reaches for her soap. He lathers some on a sponge and begins slowly washing Meredith's body. She gasps as her body sinks back into Derek even further.
"Derek." She moans as his hands roam her body as he washes her. Derek smirks as he kisses her neck while soaping up her breasts. "Derek." Meredith warns with a surprised gasp. Making him laugh.
"I know, Meredith. We aren't having sex. I'm just enjoying these." Derek laughs again, the sound reverberating through the bathroom. "Just enjoy the feeling." He moans into her ear.
"Fine." Meredith breathes and closes her eyes in bliss. She still didn't feel like having sex, but she would definitely not complain about her husband caressing her body like he was doing now. She moans as Derek rubs in between her legs and thighs with the soap. Then, he tilts her chin up so that he could kiss her. Meredith feels her pain and soreness completely wash away as Derek takes care of her. Soon, he carefully begins washing her hair. Slowly massaging her scalp with her shampoo. Once Derek is done, he gets out and wraps a large, blue towel around him. Meredith giggles as she notices him struggling to ignore the erection that formed. "I'm sorry I can't help fix that." She giggles as he helps her stand.
"Hmm, it's okay, Meredith. You will soon." He coos while wrapping her and her huge belly in a purple towel.
"But still, Derek." She hums and presses her stomach, the only part she could, against his stomach. Her eyes twinkle when she gets a idea as her hand travels to the towel. "Just because I don't feel like it doesn't mean we can't do this..." She giggles and lets his towel drop and grasps his rod.
"Mer!" He gasps as his body shakes and his head goes back. She giggles profusely as she rubs him only a few times before she hears him moan loudly. His arms holding her close. "Oh, yes!" He gasps as he comes hard. Meredith stands unsteady on her tiptoes to kiss him as he comes down.
"Better?" Meredith giggles.
He nods silently with a proud smirk. "Oh yes. You didn't have to do that." He cups her cheeks and kisses her.
"You've done amazing things for me, I could at least do that." Meredith hugs him tight. Snuggling as best she could with her bump.
"Hmm, it was incredible." Derek smirks as he hugs her back. "Thank you."
"No, thank you, Der." She coos as her hand rubs his chest with a smile.
"My pleasure, Mer." Derek beams at her as he looks at her in his arms. "Now, let's get ready." He kisses her once more before leading a waddling Meredith to their closet. After getting dressed, they head to the kitchen where Carolyn has breakfast waiting for them. Lexie sits in her chair and waves as she eats her food. Meredith kisses Lexie before sitting next to her.
"Thanks, mom." Meredith breathes as she takes the eggs and pancakes.
"My pleasure." Carolyn smiles as they start eating. The older kids eventually joining.
"Mama, why do ya have to go to the hospital if nuttin is wrong?" Bailey wonders when they have finished their breakfast and his parents were heading out the door. They had explained this to all three, multiple times with no avail.
Meredith looks from Bailey's wide blue eyes to Zola's pleading, puppy dog eyes to Derek's concerned ones. "Because, guys, the babies are probably coming soon and Dr. Addison wants us there to be safe. In case something isn't... Right." Derek attempts to explain. He hugs Meredith super close at the same time.
"Oh." Bailey says quietly, hanging his head.
"You will have fun with nana and she will bring you to visit." Derek bends to lift Lexie out of her chair and a pouting Zola and Bailey into his arms. "We love you, guys." He kisses all three profusely. Eventually getting some giggles.
"Love you so much!" Meredith copies Derek's words and actions. Sending as much love and reassurance to her kids as she could. Derek puts the kids down and leads Meredith outside after grabbing their hospital bag and after one last goodbye.
"They will be okay, Mer." Derek whispers as he holds her hand while they are halfway to the hospital. This was after she had been staring out the window the whole time.
"I know. It's just... It's just... Oh, it's so much, Derek. So many things can happen." Meredith turns to him, free hand resting on her stomach. "The babies are coming soon, so much is gonna change."
"Meredith." Derek attempts to calm her, but she keeps talking.
"Who knows what will happen or what the kids will think. They probably secretly hate us because we keep leaving." She rambles. "They are so confused and scared."
"Meredith." Derek says firmer and a bit louder to get her attention. "Hey! Look at me." He coos again with a smirk when she stops mid sentence with her jaw dropping open. She looks at him in confusion. Derek watches the road as he contemplates his words. "Mer." He whispers this time. "First of all, the only thing that will change and will get bigger, actually, is how many kids we have and the amount of love I have for you and our family will triple. Nothing will change about how much we spend time together. It may be hard, but we will do it. The kids will be okay. They may not understand now."
"See! You could tell they were upset also!" Meredith gasps before he could continue.
"They were upset. But, Meredith they get upset when we go out to dinner!" Derek sighs. He releases her hand to rub his face. "Once they get used to the idea and realize that the babies will be here next week at least, they will be more comfortable." Derek offers.
"You better be right." Meredith mutters, making Derek stifle a laugh. After thinking over his words, she looks up at him. "Okay, I think I'm calm." She giggles as Derek parks.
"Hmm, excellent. Let me know when you need to freak out again." He laughs and pulls her in for a kiss.
"Kay." Meredith breathes against his lips. Some of the tension leaving her body.
"Okay, let's get you inside. I want to show you off." Derek smirks.
"What? As your fat whale of a wife who can only give you a hand job?" Meredith snarks.
"Damn no! More like as my hot, gorgeous, sexy, beautiful, amazing wife. The one who even makes a hand job hot." He smirks. "My wife who has given me everything." Derek kisses her once more as he tilts her chin up to meet her gaze. His lips hover over hers before she hums in content. "Ready?" He whispers.
"I guess." Meredith breathes heavily as Derek rubs her shoulders.
"It will be okay." Derek whispers against her ear before he opens the door and gets out. He gets the wheel chair out first before getting Meredith situated. Rubbing her shoulder, he smiles down at her while Meredith looks up at him. Then, he pushes her towards the entrance. As soon as the doors slide open, every single pair of eyes were upon them. Nurses and residents watch as they walk to the elevator. Some even walk closer to them. Derek just shakes his head, pushing faster. Meredith rubs her stomach protectively and groans inwardly. Both sighing in relief as they make it onto the elevator. Their relief was short lived, however, when, on the first stop several nurses join. Eyes bulging as they whisper to each other. All the while staring at Meredith's extra huge bump.
Finally, they reach their floor. "Ugh, finally." Meredith mutters as they reach the check in desk.
"Hmm, you would honestly think that after all of these years, they would know." Derek mutters and turns to the charge nurse. "Grey-Shepherd checking in under Dr. Montgomery." He pauses talking with Meredith.
"Well, many are new, Derek." Meredith notes.
"But with the gossip mill here, you know they would
have heard." Derek adds as the nurse hands over some forms.
"May have heard. Didn't care." Meredith shrugs making Derek stifle a laugh.
"There you guys are!" They hear Addison call as she approaches.
"Yeah, sorry. We took our time." Derek smiles as he begins filling in the check in papers.
"Not a problem unless something is wrong. Remember, this is precautionary." Addison informs. "How are you, Meredith?"
"I'm fine. Just nervous and want these babies here safely." Meredith muses.
"We will do everything we can." Addison pats her shoulder with a smile. Just as Derek finishes the forms. "Let's get you settled." She grins and gestures to follow her. They go with Addison into a large suite where Arizona, Alex and Cristina are all waiting.
"Hey, guys!" Arizona coos when she sees them. "You ready?" Her perky grin showing.
"Yeah." Derek nods when he sees Meredith staring away nervously.
"Great, we will just get you in here and check everything. We want to monitor as long as possible before a necessary delivery." Arizona rubs her arm. Derek and Meredith nod in agreement before they begin to transfer Meredith to the bed and get her situated.
"Let's see how your babies are doing this week!" Addison smiles at them as they lay together in the hospital bed. She holds the probe up in the air while Derek and Meredith look at each other. Derek with a soft, concerned look and Meredith with wide, fearful eyes. She turns on the machine, pushes Meredith's shirt upwards and places the device with the blue goo on her stomach. Arizona and Alex all crowd around to watch the screen. The nervous parents watch as the three doctors study the screen.
"Their cords." Derek notes immediately when they see the boys on the screen. It was quite obvious that their umbilical cords were twisted multiple times.
"Well, they are getting bigger and that is to be expected." Arizona explains calmly.
"Guys... I'm actually worried more about something else. It's not definite until we test, but still it worries me." Addison forewarns.
Meredith gasps and sinks into Derek. "What is it, Addison?" Derek growls protectively as he holds his wife close.
Addison shares a look with the other doctors before pointing to the screen. "Well... The fact that I can't... see Mason's bladder too well can mean two things." She pauses and watches Arizona nod and Alex and Cristina hold their breath.
"I'm a lightning rod." Meredith whispers under her breath only for Derek to hear. Causing Derek to bend and cuddle her close. Rubbing her back to soothe.
"Hey, hey, shhh!" Derek coos gently to Meredith. Kissing her head. "What could it mean?" He asks eventually, with strength pushing him through.
"Oh, well..umm." Addison considers her next words carefully. Closing her eyes in thought. "Either it could mean that the TTTS progressed or the cords are wrapped too tight and that's either hiding something or cutting something off and..." Addison stops to let that sink in a bit.
"They need surgery either way." Derek whispers as his stomach drops. He knows Meredith is freaking out without even looking at her. Addison avoids his gaze by staring at the screen for a long while.
When she doesn't respond, Arizona comes to her rescue. "Uh...yes. But! But, we don't know to what extent until we check the hearts and run some tests." She explains.
"How does this happen so quickly?" Derek gasps as his free hand tears through his hair.
"It just does. It happens." Arizona explains calmly and moves closer to rub his shoulder. "But, let's get all of the information first." She comforts, seeing their distressed faces. After thinking and processing her words, Derek and Meredith nod. Both feeling a sense of an out of body experience as Addison and Arizona hurry and draw bloodwork to check for problems. Meanwhile, Cristina grabs the probe and begins checking the hearts. Derek sits next to Meredith on the bed and wraps her close. Her hands clutched in his while they wait. Both of them are so caught up in their worry that they don't notice Cristina's fear stricken gaze. Cristina runs her hands through her hair in a panic. Thinking of what to say. Her palms turning white as she grips the cart. Closing her eyes, holding them shut until the door slamming makes her jump.
"Guys." She mutters as she looks up and notices that Alex had left. Probably with the bloodwork. Cristina meets Meredith's gaze and she knows that Meredith knows that something is wrong. "Listen first, Mer." Cristina says firmly, making Addison and Arizona look over curiously.
"What's wrong?" Meredith mutters eerily. Staring blankly at her friend.
"Uh... Um. Well, it seems as whatever is happening with the cords and kidneys have begun to affect Mark's heart." Cristina swallows as she watches her friend's faces fall.
"How much?" Derek asks while rubbing his chin. A large sigh coming out long and loud.
"Not too much from what I can see. The PDA has gotten larger, so the chances of it closing on it's own have gone down. The murmur has increased." Cristina explains.
"Derek." Meredith whimpers and looks up at him. He stares down at her in sadness as he caresses her cheek.
"Meredith, Derek, let's get all tests back and then we will make a plan." Arizona offers and nods in encouragement. The nervous parents look at each other, holding hands tightly.
"Fine." Derek mutters as the three other doctors nod and go to write information down. Meredith cuddles up to Derek as she tries not to focus on the frightening thoughts in her head. Derek stares at the clock as he watches the numbers tick by painfully slow. He couldn't tell who was shaking more, him or Meredith as they waited.
After what seemed like a lifetime, the door clicks open and in walks Alex. A nondescript look upon his face. "Hey." He mutters and hands a file to Addison, who rips it open quick. All the doctors crowding around her. Meredith and Derek watch as Addison studies the papers and Arizona points to something. Cristina shows them a note in the chart and points to some numbers on the new paper.
"We will be right back." Addison looks up and informs them. Gesturing with her head for the others to follow. They head out of the room to discuss the plan of care in private. Leaving two frightened parents to let their minds wander. Derek watches Meredith bite her lip as she grips his hand. There was nothing her could think of to say right now that could help. They didn't even have any official diagnosis but, Derek could not think of what to say to make the tightness in their chests go away. Together they sit in silence as they wait for everyone to come back. Derek holding Meredith as she stares ahead blankly. After what seems like another eternity, Addison comes back inside. Followed by Alex, Arizona, Alex and Cristina.
"Okay, guys, you ready?" Asks Arizona. She sighs as both Meredith and Derek look at them. They nod slowly and await the news. "Alright." Arizona considers her words carefully. It had been determined outside that Arizona and Cristina would explain."Well, um... Based on your lab results and what we could see on the ultrasound, the TTTS has progressed." She says as gently as possible while the parent's faces turn white. "It's difficult to tell on the outside, since you are actually pregnant with triplets."
"How much?" Derek whispers and rubs from Meredith's hair to her back over and over. Holding her tight.
Arizona looks over at Alex and back to Meredith and Derek. "Well, Mason's bladder is not visable. That could be because we can't see the bladder because of the cords. But, it could also be the significant decrease in number of oligohydramnios in your bloodwork that indicates that Mason isn't producing enough urine. On top of that, the cords do look wrapped pretty tight." Arizona takes a breath before continuing. "Then, all of this is beginning to take a toll on Mark's heart. Leading us to believe that they are in late stage 2 TTTS."
"Mark's heart is working harder to pump all that blood, making it almost weaker." Cristina swallows.
"Derek." Meredith whimpers as tears fall.
Derek kisses her head and chokes back his own sob. "What do we do?" He asks.
This time, Alex speaks up to answer. "Well, there are a couple options. We can deliver all three before baby three grows too much more and makes the boys' cords tighten. Or we can do a non invasive surgery to reduce some of the fluid."
"The risk with surgery is that the way the cords are, it is difficult to see and reach the shared vessels." Arizona explains. "At least in the ultrasound."
"Couldn't you open her up all the way?" Derek asks without thinking. "That will make it easier to see the cords!"
"No, I'm not doing full surgery!" Meredith snaps. "We do that, might as well deliver!"
Addison takes a breath and closes her eyes in preparation. "Derek, doing that is the last resort. If the cords are too tightly wrapped, then yes, we have to open her up fully."
"Can't you wait and see if they unravel themselves?" Meredith whispers.
"No...Meredith. That is too risky at this point. The cords plus the fact that the amniotic fluid in the twins sac is too disproportionate makes waiting too risky. Something has to be done." Addison explains.
Meredith looks up at Derek who was watching her with sad eyes. She looks away at the window as she feels Derek use one hand to soothe her and the other to rub her belly. "They're too small." She murmurs stoically.
"Meredith, we will do whatever we can to avoid delivery if that's what you want." Arizona offers.
"What do you want, Derek?" Meredith wonders as she bites her lip in contemplation.
Derek sighs and brushes her hair back. "I just want you and the babies safe. I want... I want..." He sucks in a huge breath. "I want all four of you alive." Derek whispers with a crackle in his voice before he stares at all of the doctors.
After a long, intense staring contest, Addison replies. "Derek, we will do everything in our absolute power to ensure their safety."
"Fine." Derek nods with a glare. "What about the heart?"
"If they can reach some of the arteries and fix the TTTS, then we will try to monitor Mark's heart until they are born." Cristina explains.
"So, you're hoping that the heart and kidneys resolve on their own?" Meredith wonders.
Cristina nods in silence before responding. "Yes." She finally replies.
"Okay. So, what's our plan then?" Derek asks. Needing to hear it again.
Quiet tension goes through the room as Arizona and Addison look at each other. Alex sighs, putting his hands on his waist and Cristina crosses her arms and looks down. "We either do the non invasive Fetoscopic Laser Photocoagulation and try not to have to open and deliver. Or we just deliver all three as premies. Deal with the heart and kidney problems separately." Arizona says softly.
Derek looks at Meredith and strokes her forehead. Brushing her hair back. "I guess try the surgery." Derek says finally after talking silently with Meredith with their eyes doing all the communicating. Meredith grumbles to herself as nerves fill her. She sighs and leans back against the cool, purple sheets. Closing her eyes in attempt to remain calm.
"Okay then. Let's get you prepped." Addison smiles. "Karev, book an O.R. Yang, set up to monitor Cardio." The doctors move around to set up while Alex goes to call the O.R. Derek moves to the bed to cuddle with Meredith. He wraps her in his arms and kisses her head. Meredith just turns away to look out the window while she gets poked and prodded in anticipation of the surgery. Two hours later, Alex announces that their O.R. is ready for them. Meredith doesn't look at him or say anything in response.
"Meredith?" Derek calls. Rubbing her arms a bit. She just blankly looks at him and then back at the wall. Making Derek look up at Addison in fear.
Addison sucks in a breath and comes to sit on the bed. A soft smile on her face as she puts her hand on Meredith's arm. "Perhaps I should go into detail of this procedure. It's hard to think like a doctor when you are a mother." She smiles at Meredith who was now looking at her.
"That would be great." Derek whispers as he continues to sense the fear running through his wife. She had been stoic and silent since their decision earlier. He figures this might redirect her attention to something less scary.
"Okay, then, Meredith. This procedure is very simple and non invasive. You will be given a epidural so you won't feel anything. You will be awake. I will use a laser to seal the blood vessels that are contributing to the abnormal blood flow to the babies. It is the most effective procedure and I have done it before. I will attempt to untangle their cords in the process. We are hopeful that we will be able to get around the cords and we can hold off delivery for another week. We did plan for delivery at 29 weeks, remember? To give baby three the best chance?" Addison reminds Meredith. "I also still gave them steroids to mature their lungs. Just in case." She adds with a smile.
"Yeah." Meredith mutters with a hoarse voice from not talking for the last two hours. "Thank you."
"Good, Meredith." Derek breathes in relief. He pulls her chin to look at him. "I will be with you the whole time."
"I know." Meredith whispers with a small smile. Cuddling into his neck. Derek agrees and bends to kiss her head.
"I love you." Derek whispers against her ear. Meredith smiles and hums in agreement. Feeling a little bit better.
"Alright, let's go get your kids to behave in there." Addison pats Meredith on the arm and stands. Making Derek and Meredith sigh in anticipation. Alex and Addison wheel Meredith down to the operating room after giving her an epidural. Derek holding Meredith's hand as he walks next to her. Cristina and Arizona following behind.
"Derek... I'm scared." Meredith breathes as they wait for the doctors to scrub.
Looking at Meredith with a smile and caressing her forehead, he kisses her softy. "That's okay, it's understandable." He stares deep into her eyes.
"You're scared too?" Meredith wonders.
"Definitely." Derek whispers. "But I know that we will all be okay."
"You will still love me even if something happens to the babies?" Meredith whispers nervously. Derek looks at her in shock. Despite years of reassurance, Meredith still had unsure moments when things got really tough.
"Of course, Meredith. I will always love you. Our love will get us through." Derek whispers against her skin between her ear and cheek. He pulls back to see Meredith smile softly at him.
"Thanks. It helps me to hear it sometimes." Meredith breathes heavily.
"No problem." Derek smirks and kisses her again.
"Alright, guys. Let's do this!" Addison interrupts the couple's special moment. Her smile noticed even through her mask as she steps in her side of the table. Arizona comes to the opposite side of the table, while Alex and Cristina sit at their monitors.
"Okay." Meredith sighs and looks up at Derek for reassurance. He smiles warmly at her, letting her breathe easier. Addison lifts the probe and holds it over Meredith's large stomach. Before she can begin, Derek stands. He grips Meredith's hand and leans close to Addison.
Derek looks at his terrified wife and then turns to Addison. "Do not mess this up." He whispers harshly to Addison. Leaving her shocked at the sheer intensity of his message. By the time she regained her composure, Derek was sitting again, stroking Meredith's hair and watching her intently. Addison shakes her head as she sighs with Arizona. She inserts the probe and begins exploring the uterus.
"It sure is packed in there." Arizona jokes to diffuse the tension.
Meredith and Derek both turn to look at the screen. "Wow!" Meredith gasps as she sees the pink cords tangled all around.
"I can see Mark and Mason through some of the gaps. That is a good sign." Addison beams.
"Oh!" Derek breathes in relief. Meredith closing her eyes as she lets out her own sigh.
"How are the hearts, Dr. Yang?" Addison asks as she begins attempting to move the cords.
"Stable." Cristina calls from her spot watching the heart monitor.
"Great. Come on boys, move so we can help you be more comfortable." Addison pleads. Sighing when she sees one of the babies move on the ultrasound screen.
"Meredith, they are so beautiful." Derek whispers as he watches the screen as well.
"Yeah?" She giggles and stares up into his twinkling eyes.
"Mmhmm." Derek nods. His eyes tearing as he looks between the screen and Meredith. Staring into her eyes as he strokes her forehead.
"Alright, I see some of the fused arteries. Let's begin cauterization." Addison says to Arizona.
"Beginning." Arizona replies. Together they begin separating the arteries that the twins shared. As they work, Arizona suddenly notices something. "Hey, Dr. Montgomery?" She pauses and whispers. Looking at Derek to make sure neither parent was listening. They weren't, luckily. Derek had his head low, pressed against Meredith's ear as she focused on his voice. When Arizona is confident that they aren't paying attention, she turns back to Addison.
"Yeah?" Addison looks at the other doctor and then, at the same time she sees Alex look and point to something on a screen. He whips his head around to look at Addison. His eyes wide as Addison looks between Alex and the screen. Reading what it was telling her. She frantically looks at the baby monitor screen and back at Meredith. Addison looks at Alex's screen that had the lines and moves the probe to see the uterus muscle on her screen. "Damn." She groans as she sees another contraction.
"Why is she contracting?" Arizona whispers, shocked and confused.
"No idea." Addison whispers. Thankful for the epidural masking the feel of the contractions for Meredith. "Let's look for signs of bleeding." She whispers as Cristina sits up taller in her seat. The two search quickly for the bleeder, hoping to catch it before Derek or Meredith notice.
"Damn, I can't find it." Arizona muses as she glances at the monitors.
"It might be..." Addison eerily groans as a thought pops into her head. Her eyes wide as she meets Arizona's equally large ones.
"Don't say it." She gasps as the monitors blare. Making Derek jump up from his spot.
"What the heck happened?!" Derek shouts. Arizona and Addison jump and turn to look at Derek's furious look. His eyes are dark, filled with anger and fear.
"There's a little... Um..." Addison starts, but gets stuck. Her breath catches in her throat as she hears the monitors blaring louder. The bleeding was clearly getting worse.
"Her BP is getting high!" Alex shouts and hurries over. "Get that damn bleeder under control!"
"What?!" Derek shouts and looks at Meredith. "Mer! Mer!" He calls, kissing her head.
"Mm... Huh?" Meredith mumbles incoherently. Her head rolling side to side and her eyes squinting. Derek panics as he looks between his wife, who had been alert and awake, and the three doctors. His mouth opened wide and eyes just as enlarged.
"Derek, there is a bleeder somewhere. We have to open. Get her sedated now!" Addison barks to a nurse as she explains. The nurse quickly moves into action along with the standby anesthesiologist. Getting Meredith intubated and sedated.
"Why?! How?!" Derek frantically asks. "I need answers!" His voice falters.
"Derek, I will explain once I have got this bleeder under control!" Addison interrupts as she holds the scalpel over Meredith's stomach.
"Addison! I want to know why you have to cut?!" Derek insists as he stands and puts his hands on his waist.
With a sigh, Addison hands the scalpel to Arizona. Motioning for her to continue. "Because I can't find the bleeder on this screen. It's probably underneath something." She explains as the loud monitors sound in the room. Her eyes stormy, displaying a fierce authority.
Derek gasps and begins breathing heavy. Covering his eyes as he processes the information. Fear coursing through every vein in his body. "Why though?! What did you do, Addison?" Derek demands, his hand going down to clutch Meredith's shoulder.
Addison and Arizona look up at him. Stopping their search to stare incredulously at him. Venom shooting between Derek and Addison. "Derek, if you won't sit quietly next to your wife and wait so that I can save her and your children, you can wait in the waiting room." Addison stares at him long and hard. Daring him to challenge her. Finally, after what seems like years, Derek slowly sits next to Meredith. He glares at Addison while she turns back to help Arizona search. Bending down to stroke Meredith's forehead, he takes her hand and waits. Willing her to be okay.
"We have to find this bleeder." Arizona whispers so Derek couldn't hear. "What the heck happened?" She fumes silently as they look over Meredith's open stomach. Their hands moving furiously over the cavity.
"We must have knicked an artery." Addison mutters under her breath. Making Arizona's eyes go wide. "No idea how, but it must have been more connected than anticipated." They rush ahead, searching and suctioning Meredith's abdominal cavity. Cristina and Alex look between their screens and the two lead surgeons.
"Mark's heart rate is increasing." Cristina notifies in a calm voice. Making Arizona and Addison stop short to stare at each other. Meanwhile, Derek gently strokes an unconscious Meredith's forehead and shoots daggers at Addison with his icy blue eyes.
"Damn it!" Addison mutters as they frantically continue their search.
"Karev, get your ass up here and help! Yang will monitor both machines." Arizona commands and Alex immediately stands and begins exploring with the other two.
"Guys... This bleeding is getting out of control." Alex whispers. His eyes wide as he sees the blood inside of his best friend pooling.
Addison sighs and looks down at Meredith's stomach. The sound of the suction blending in with the monitors. "We have to deliver." She mutters and throws her head back. Arizona gives her a sympathetic look and nods. She shares a silent thought with Addison and looks at Derek. He looked so sad, so distraught as he looked at his wife. Stroking her hair as he wiped at his eyes.
"Derek. We have no choice, we have to deliver the babies." Arizona takes a large breath and explains after Addison gives her a pleading look to handle telling Derek after they realize together that they can't prolong this anymore .
"But..." Derek whispers as he whips is head up and stares at them. His eyes wide with fear. "We were supposed to wait a little longer. It's... It's too soon." His voice cracks as Alex moves to help set up three emergency incubators.
"Derek..." Arizona begins, but is cut off by Cristina.
The doctor stands and places her hand on Derek's shoulders. Her next words would be considered uncharacteristic of her a few years ago. However, Derek remembered something similar from when Bailey was born. "Derek, Meredith will be alright. She's going to be very old when she dies. Not only that, but she will have all six of your kids standing around her." Cristina affirms with her dark eyes looking deep into his. Willing Derek to be okay.
After considering her words, Derek takes a deep, shuddery breath. "Okay." He nods and looks to Addison to continue. Derek grabs Meredith's hand and sits next to her. He kisses her head and nuzzles close to her ear to whisper. "Oh, Mer. I am so sorry. So sorry. But, don't worry, we will be alright. All of us." He chokes back a sob. "We have the best working on our kids and you." Derek whimpers as he kisses her over and over. "I love you. I love you so much." He cries softly.
"Here is baby one!" Addison beams, trying to make Derek happier.
"Meredith, oh, Mer! Mark is here!" Derek chokes out as he watches as Addison hands a lightly whimpering baby to Alex who gets him into an incubator. He sits up to get a look before turning back to Meredith. "He is beautiful, Meredith. Oh, I can't wait for you to see him." Derek continues to cry as Alex, Cristina and a few nurses swarm around Mark's incubator.
"Alright, here's Mason!" Arizona beams as she pulls him out. Derek gasps at the small baby before him. More tears fall as he notices that Mason wasn't whimpering like Mark. Let alone crying. Derek's eyes widen in shock.
"Addison." Derek mutters eerily.
Luckily, Arizona noticed and raced the tiny baby to the incubator. "Karev, can you give me a hand?" She calls and begins pulling out her stethescope.
Alex looks at Cristina for reassurance. Not wanting to abandon her or Mark. "Go, Alex. Mark is okay. I got him." Cristina says. Alex rushes over to Arizona and begins doing compressions on Mason. Derek feels his chest tighten and his stomach turn as he watches. He wanted to throw up at the sight of his son's laying there, helpless. Derek buried his face in Meredith's neck. Praying for his family to be okay.
"Okay, here comes baby three." Addison coos and lifts one more tiny baby out. She smiles as Derek looks up and gasps. His heart beats fast as hears the baby cry softly.
"It's a girl?!" Derek beams. Shock going through him as he laughs in a moment of short relief before hearing a weak whimper.