Chapter 54: Sadness and Remorse
"Oh, Meredith. Are you ok?" Carolyn said the second she saw Derek and Meredith walk into their house from the office.
"She is fine. We just had to get her right ankle set with a cast. I haven't done one in a while, so it was... interesting." Derek smirked at Meredith as he was helping her get situated on the couch.
"Interesting? Derek... I think we will go in the hole this month with as much material as you wasted. Bailey is going to kill us. She is going to have to order supplies first thing Monday morning." She laughed the entire time.
Derek shrugged his shoulders, while continuing to flash that goofy smile to Meredith the entire time. He was just really happy to know... she wasn't bad hurt. He checked her over well, although when he got to her pelvis, he had to swallow hard not to want to take her. She was amazing in every way.
"Has dad made it back up?" Derek asked his mom.
"Oh yes, I joined him down there for..." Carolyn stopped with a sudden look of shock. She almost told her son and his girlfriend that they were having fun in the hay together.
Derek just grinned and shook his head watching his mom turn many shades of red.
"Your father is... taking a shower. I am sure he will be out soon. I am just going to... go and let him know you guys are... back." She said quickly walking out of the room.
"Are they always like that?" Meredith asked Derek the second Carolyn was out of the room.
"My parents have been in love since the day they laid eyes on each other. Yes, they have always been like that, since as long as I can remember." Derek continued to keep his eyes fixated on hers. He wanted the same exact thing with her, and he was pretty sure they could have it.
"That is amazing Derek, it is rare, you know, to find that." Meredith said quietly, but never taking her eyes off his either.
Derek swallowed hard before starting to say, "Mer, you and I... we can have that. We will have that. I want that, with you." Derek said with a very serious look on his face, taking his hand to her cheek, stroking it lightly.
Meredith looked into his eyes; looking... searching his soul to see if he was serious. She knew he was, but this... she wanted what his parents had, with Derek. "Derek, can... we?"
"Yes, we are there. It doesn't mean life will be perfect, but it does mean we will always have each other and always be completely in love, no matter what. We are in this... together... forever." Derek poured out, not realizing this conversation would be coming so quickly, but it just kind of happened and neither of them were freaking out in anyway.
"Meredith, I am glad to see you are okay." Michael said walking quickly into the room, not even realizing until it was too late, he was interrupting something special between his son and the love of his life. He looked between the two of them; sorry that he didn't notice sooner they were having a tender moment.
"Dad." Derek looked over at him, moving away from Meredith. He didn't realize how close he had gotten to her lips.
"Son, I am... " Michael said quietly, acknowledging to his son he was sorry for walking in... at that moment.
"Well, I broke it. It was confirmed on the x-ray. But, Derek didn't see any signs of a concussion. That is good because I get pain meds." Meredith said breaking up the semi-quiet silence.
"I am sorry to hear that. I hope it isn't too painful." He sympathetically said.
"It is, but luckily, I know where to get the good stuff." She winked and flashed a smile at Derek and then looked to Michael, smiling.
"And she is probably just about to be high on it. The break was really bad, almost in need of surgery, but luckily, no surgery." Derek said watching Meredith's eyes getting tired, knowing the medicine was starting to kick in a bit.
Derek looked to his dad, "Do you know what is up with Queenie?"
Michael sighed. He knew it would upset Derek... knowing what caused her to buck like she did, but he had to tell him, "Derek, there was a burr, on her saddle pad that was... sticking in her back."
"Shit." Derek spat out quickly, looking to Meredith. He could have sworn he checked the pad for everything. He couldn't believe this. He was the cause of her accident.
"Derek, you had no... idea. It happens." Michael said walking over to him, putting his hand on his shoulder.
He looked down and at Meredith who had shut her eyes all the way and was starting to emit small snores. He couldn't help but smile.
"We started running and that is when Queenie bucked. I saddled her. I let Mer do Koda's just in case something was wrong. I should have looked better." Derek stated, sitting back running his hand through his hair.
"Derek... stop! You had no way of knowing." Michael said looking at his son breaking. He knows he would be the same thing had it been Carolyn. Michael looked at Meredith and chuckled, "Does she always snore like that?"
Derek laughed along with his dad, "Yes, and I love it. And I love her." He looked seriously at his father, "She could have been hurt." He made sure she was comfortable before getting up to go to the kitchen table.
"I know son, I know." He said as he followed Derek into the kitchen. They both sat down at the kitchen table in quiet for a few minutes.
"How will she manage at home by herself?" Michael asked knowing she couldn't get up and down the stairs in her cast.
Derek sighed heavily again thinking about how she would manage. She couldn't drive, she would have a hard time up the stairs, and she would have a hard time in the office.
"She should stay at your house. There aren't stairs or anything." Michael suggested seeing his son process what would happen.
"Dad." Derek looked up. It wasn't a secret he had been staying out all night and getting home early in the morning to be at the ranch.
Michael laughed a bit, "Son, do you think I was born yesterday? I know you have stayed at Meredith's overnight. What do you think when you come home at 5am to work on the ranch?"
"Um... I don't know, but I didn't... I mean, I didn't know what you guys would say." Derek really had no idea what to say.
"Well, she can't manage on her own, going up and down the stairs. I would offer here, but the stairs would be a problem up to one of the rooms, so your house is the best for her. And Derek, remember, I was young once... I know what it is like to be in your shoes. Trust me on that." He stated plainly.
"I will have to talk to her." He said hearing his phone start ringing, wincing slightly at the ring tone that was followed along with it, You Give Love a Bad Name by Bon Jovi.
Michael raised his eyebrow slightly and Derek silenced his phone hoping Meredith wouldn't wake up.
"You aren't going to get that?" Michael asked.
"It isn't important." He stated looking over at Meredith. He had to remember to delete the number out of his phone. He had no idea why she would be calling anyway.
"Derek." Michael said in a warning tone.
"Dad, really, it is nothing." Derek said continuing to look at the beautiful woman lying on his parents couch. He couldn't help but grin from ear to ear.
Michael noticed his son watching Meredith and he couldn't be happier that his only son has found the love that most people can only dream of. "Have you thought about the house and building in the spot?" Michael said quietly curious as to Derek's plans.
Derek sighed, "Dad, I don't know what to do. I want to, but I also want to wait. It will be... her house too. The guest house is fine for me now until we figure something out."
"Have you talked to her about it at all?"
"Kind of. She knows I want to build the house, on the lake with the master bedroom facing the mountains. She knows... that." He smiled huge to his dad.
"Well, I am sure you will figure it out, together." Michael said.
"I love her dad. I can't imagine not having her. Today... when I heard Queenie... start bucking and I turned my head... dad, I think my heart stopped... watching her." He stopped and took a deep breath, "I have never been so scared in my entire life. She could have... Damn it, I should have checked things better." Derek shook his head.
"Derek, you can't do this. It happened, Meredith will be ok. And I have a feeling you won't be leaving her side." Michael smiled slightly.
"No, I will probably drive her nuts." Derek chuckled a little.
"Like your mother has since my heart attack." He laughed when he saw Carolyn walk in the room.
"I have what?" Carolyn asked knowing he was saying something about her.
"You... and how you took good care of me, perfect care of me during my recovery." He mocked as she got to him and wrapped her hands around his neck from behind him.
"I drove you nuts." She laughed and kissed his head and looked to Derek, "I am glad she is ok."
"Me too, mom... me too." Derek looked at Meredith; she was the woman who he wanted for all eternity. His heart swelled for her... bigger and bigger each day if that was possible. He was snapped out of his gaze when he heard his voicemail indicator sound go off. He had no idea why she would be calling...