Chapter 7: Going Home
Meredith had been in the hospital for six days and now she was finally getting discharged. The doctor was running a few last-minute tests before she officially let her go home. Derek was in the hospital room, packing up all of their things, and hoping that the news was good. He was so used to being the one who had to make the decision on letting a patient go home and he was realizing how nervous and anxious it could make a person. When he saw a nurse wheeling Meredith back to the room and he saw a smile on her face, he had a good feeling that they were going to head home.
"There are my girls." Derek smiled, finishing putting stuff in the small travel bag.
"We can leave." Meredith breathed.
"Who did you pay off?" He teased.
"One or two nurses." Meredith joked.
"No doctors? You must be very convincing." Derek laughed, kissing her forehead.
"Dr. Stein will be here in a few minutes." The nurse laughed, placing Meredith's chart by the bed.
"Thank you." He smiled.
"No problem." The nurse replied, before walking out.
"Ready to go?" Derek asked.
"Yeah." Meredith pushed herself up from the wheelchair.
"How are you feeling?"
"Great." She replied, walking over to the dresser.
"Sit down...I'll do that."
"Oh okay..." Meredith remembered as she slid onto the bed.
"My mom is at home getting everything set up for you." Derek told her.
"Set up?"
"Bringing over good...moving some stuff into our room."
"Why do we need stuff in our room?"
"Bedrest, Mer."
"What do I do on bed rest...I can't sleep the whole time." Meredith replied as Derek walked over to rub her small belly.
"Read...watch movies..."
"I can do that."
"I guess you heard the good news." Dr. Stein knocked on the door frame to let them know she was there.
"I get to go home." Meredith smiled.
"Do we have discharge papers?" Derek asked.
"Right here." Dr. Stein handed him a clip board. "I'll have you sign since you're taking her home and then have Meredith sign."
"Alright." Derek nodded, signing his name.
"Meredith's BP is a little high still but low enough that I don't mind her going home and relaxing."
"Should we be taking it regularly?" Derek asked.
"Once a day in the evening." Dr. Stein replied. "I obviously don't have to show you how since you're a doctor."
"Okay." He answered.
"Meredith, do you have any questions for me?" Dr. Stein asked.
"What can I do and what is a big no?"
"As of right now...there's going to be a lot more that you can't do then what you can do."
"Like?"
"When you are not using the restroom or showering, you need to be in bed." Dr. Stein told her. "If everything goes well the next few weeks, you may be able to move around a bit more but thats all dependant on what happens."
"But I can be home alone?" Meredith frowned.
"If it's absolutely necessary but it would be optimal if someone was home with you." Dr. Stein replied. "If you are up out of bed, there absolutely needs to be someone with you."
"Okay." Meredith looked down at her hands. "What about...I mean Derek and I are a couple and couples..."
"You mean sex." Dr. Stein chuckled.
"Yeah sex..."
"For the time being, I'm going to have to say no."
"Oh." Meredith frowned.
"As with everything else...if the next few weeks go smoothly and there are no complications, then we'll re-evaluate."
"Okay." Meredith kept her head down.
"Any more questions?"
"I...I don't have any." Meredith shook her head as she looked at Derek.
"When should we come in again? "Derek asked.
"A week from Friday."
"Alright." He nodded.
"I'll have a wheelchair brought in once I have your discharge papers sent the nurse. I'll give her some information to give you on dealing with bed rest." The doctor explained.
"Thank you Dr. Stein."
"Have a good day." She smiled, leaving the room.
"You alright?" Derek whispered.
"Yeah." She took a deep breath, rubbing her stomach as she stared at the window.
"You sure?" He breathed, taking her hands.
"Just a lot to take in."
"I know."
"You do?"
"It's a lot for me too."
"I want her to be okay." Meredith said honestly as she looked up.
"I know." He whispered, cupping her face in his hands. "She will...as long as we do everything the doctor says."
"Bed rest it is."
"Let's go home."
"I need to change into my clothes first."
"I'll make sure all the paper work is done."
"You heard Dr. Stein..."
"Hmm?"
"It's taken care of..."
"I know...I just want to...check on something."
"Okay..." She frowned.
"I'll be right back." He whispered, kissing her forehead.
"Alright."
"Then, we'll be going home." Derek breathed, kissing her one more time and then leaving the hospital room. He stepped out of the room, taking a deep breath and leaning against the wall and trying to calm himself down. He was scared. Scared that something else would go wrong and scared that his daughter would be born early but he knew that he couldn't show it. He needed to be strong and hold everything together for Meredith to keep her calm and make sure that his fears didn't come true.