Chapter 21: What Do You Want?

Derek stepped off the elevator at the ground floor, anxious to find Meredith and hold her in his arms. He was foolish to push her away. He knew he needed her just as much as she needed him. He turned the corner to the main lobby where he left her, just as a swarm of men in black uniforms stormed the hospital. Derek immediately grew alarmed as he watched them spread out and disappear down various hallways. They were strapped with bullet proof vests, and each held big see-through shields. Large letters that read SWAT in white were displayed on their backs.

Derek looked around confused for the chief of police or one of the detectives he spoke to earlier, and found them all huddled at the receptionist desk, their makeshift camp.

He crossed the floor in a hurry and joined them at the desk.

"What's going on?!" He demanded.

Before any of the men could respond, Derek was joined by his friends, each curious to the sudden arrival of the SWAT team and frantic activity.

"Dr. Shepherd, we've been trying to reach you…." Agent Mullie replied aggravated.

Derek let out a frustrated sigh and ran a hand through his hair. "Damnit! My phone and pager aren't working… thanks to Luckabee… or whatever the hell his name is."

The detectives exchanged glances then nodded, Agent Mullie taking the lead once again. "Sir there's been an advance on the case. My men have been going over the hospital surveillance cameras and we are now one hundred percent certain that Mr. O'Dandridge never left the hospital premises. He has your daughter somewhere inside the hospital."

Derek rocked back and the small crowd of friends gasped. Derek took in a breath, a tiny flint of light peaking in the sheer darkness of his soul. He wouldn't hurt his daughter with them being so close, would he?

The detective went on. "As of seven minutes ago, this hospital was put under an official lock down. That means nobody leaves and nobody enters. All incoming ambulances and patients are being diverted to Mercy West. As you just saw, the SWAT team was also dispatched and is now sweeping the floors in search for O'Dandridge. We also have a team surrounding the hospital… and I assure you… he will not get away. It's now only a matter of time."

Derek nodded, daring to hope. Daring to let himself believe everything would be okay.

"There's one more thing sir."

Derek turned back to Agent Mullie, taken back at the sudden change in his tone. He nodded for the man to continue.

"Seattle PD just returned from O'Dandridge's residence. What they found was a bit disturbing. We're no longer so sure it's ransom he's after."

Derek furrowed his brows, fear creeping back into his body. "Wh…what do you mean? If not ransom…then what?" He wasn't so sure he wanted to know.

"We believe his target is Dr. Grey…. Where exactly is your fiancé, sir?"

The feeling of dread was immediate as Derek turned towards his silent friends. They all held the same uneasy expression. He forced his eyes across the group until they rested on Izzie. Her brown eyes were large with fright and she shook her head.

"Sh.. she went to the bathroom. She said she wanted to be alone…that was over ten minutes ago…" Izzie's voice trembled as she clung to Alex for support.

Without so much as a word, Derek's legs moved him forward, past his friends and passed the empty rows of hard chairs. Mark and Burke followed, keeping up with Derek's sprint; the police officers and detectives just behind.

Derek heaved his shoulder into the hard swinging door of the woman's bathroom, bursting it open. The other's followed in moments later as they frantically searched the room. Derek had told himself: she'd be there, she'd be sitting on the ground worrying, or maybe she'd fallen asleep, but she'd be there.

All he was met with was an empty bathroom. No Meredith. Only empty stalls and quiet sinks, whispering mockingly at him that his whole world had just been turned upside down for the second time that day. The two people most important to him in the whole world was snatched from under his nose. The last thing he remembered as he fell sobbing to his knees were two strong hands, one light one dark, grabbing his arms to catch him, as the detective in charge reached for his radio to notify his men, they now had two missing females.


Meredith found herself in a dark hallway down below the hospital in the deserted basement. She was following her directions exactly; her hands trembling and breathing shallow, but knowing she had to keep going. For Carwyn, for her baby's life… she had to keep going.

He was adamant in his orders; she was to tell no one. No police, no friends, especially no Derek. She was to immediately head down the basement, taking the stairs and not the elevator. Make sure no one saw her. Talk to no one. Draw absolutely no attention to herself, and he wouldn't touch Carwyn. Mess up… and she'd never see her daughter again.

Meredith obeyed, knowing this man was capable of unspeakable things. She'd do it in a heartbeat… she'd sacrifice herself for her daughter, she didn't even hesitate in making that decision. What mother wouldn't lay down their life for their own flesh and blood?

She came to the end of a corridor, and pushed the door open that was on her right as she was instructed. As expected, she found a narrow room, lined with shelves full of old supplies. She walked deeper in the room she suspected was a supply closet and was surprised to find it was merely an abandoned hallway, long forgotten. She moved further and further down the dim walkway, and found another door. She moved forward, knowing with each turn and each knew door, she was one step closer to Carwyn.

She finally found the door she was looking for, and old office of some sort, and took a breath gathering her courage. She could do this. For Carwyn. For Derek. She would make it up to him. It was all her fault getting them into this mess. She wouldn't make him suffer by losing his only child. She would make things right so Derek and Carwyn could live a long happy life together. She owed them that.

"You made it." The familiar cool voice that made her tremble in disgust snapped her from her thoughts and drew her further in the room.

It was dim and dusty and Meredith had to blink a moment as her eyes adjusted to a faintly lit room. The door slammed shut behind her causing her to spin on her heel and come face to face with Carwyn's kidnapper. Her eyes seemed to adjust just then as his clean-cut features came into focus. She narrowed her eyes at his calm smile and stopped herself from reaching out and slapping him across the face.

"Where's my daughter?" Meredith's voice was slow and even.

His smile grew broader, finding her courage amusing, as his eyes moved to the corner of the room.

Meredith slowly turned and searched the back of the room with her eyes. She gasped when they settled on her form, unmoving on the ground.

"Relax Meri, she's only sleeping. You kept your end of the bargain… so I kept mine."

Meredith didn't bother to acknowledge the insane man as she rushed across the room and gathered her baby in her arms. Her eyes searched her daughter's body for any sign of injury and breathed a sigh of relief when she found none. Her small daughter stirred in her arms and slowly opened her eyes.

"Mama?"

"Yes baby. Mama's here. Everything's going to be okay. You're okay now." Meredith held her close and felt Carwyn's small arms wrap around her tightly. She shifted her so the tiny child was on her lap and Carwyn buried her face in Meredith's chest.

Meredith waited until Carwyn's breathing slowed again before turning her head back to the man who stood watching intently.

"Why are you doing this? What do you want Chris?"

Chris O'Dandridge chuckled. "So, you know my real name? I didn't expect any less. You're a very smart woman. I'm surprised you didn't find everything out sooner though."

"I tried to give you the benefit of the doubt." She spat back. "I should have gone with my initial impression that you were an asshole."

Chris tilted his head, his eyes darkening. "If I were you, I'd watch my tongue. You are in no position to speak to me like that."

Meredith tore her gaze from his. He was right. Both she and Carwyn's life hung in his hands. She better watch what she said.


"This is insane!" Derek's voice shook and he didn't bother to keep his voice down. "They expect us to just sit and wait?! I don't know how much more of this I can take!" His face was read and his hands trembled as he pulled them aggressively through his disheveled hair.

"I say we start looking for them ourselves." Mark suggested, growing more frustrated with each passing minute.

"I agree. We know this hospital better than the police do. They're bound to miss private on call rooms or supply closets." Burke stood, not wanting to sit helpless a minute longer.

"I'm in." Alex stood and turned to George and Richard who nodded.

"Okay, let's do this." Burke rubbed his hands together, taking charge. "You girls stay here. If there's any news, Cristina, you call me. Please stay together, this man's crazy, there's no saying what he'll do."

The girls nodded in agreement, knowing they were too scared for Carwyn and Meredith to be any help if they went along.

The men huddled for a minute and split up the hospital. Derek and Richard took the upper floors and the roof. George and Burke took the surgical floor and cafeteria and any other public areas. That left Mark and Alex with the main floor and the basement. They were to call every fifteen minutes to check in. They wished each other luck and hurried off. Eager to be busy. Eager to find the girls.


Do you think the guys will find the girls?