Chapter 25: She'll Be Okay...
By the time the elevator reached the main floor, a team of medical personnel and FBI agents were anxiously waiting. Meredith's body was snatched from Derek's hesitant arms. She was placed on an awaiting stretcher and whisked away to a trauma room. Immediately the men in suits were in his face asking him a million questions and requesting statements. Their faces were a blur and voices a dull hum, as Derek watched his love disappear behind closed doors and curtains.
Derek ignored the demands, and pushed past them, desperate to stay with Meredith, desperate to see for himself that she would be okay. Before anyone could stop him, he opened the door of the room they had taken her to and gasped in horror when the white sheet that covered her body was lifted up. Crimson blood stared back at him causing his legs to go weak. He opened his mouth to call out to her when he was suddenly pushed out by an ER doctor.
His face turned red, and anger boiled, and he was about to throw the door open and threaten the end of careers to his subordinates, when strong hands grasped him and led him to an empty chair. Derek blinked, trying to clear his mind and register everything that was happening. It's seemed unfair. Everything that Meredith had already gone through, already overcome, only to be faced with this. She was strong, but Derek didn't know if this might not be the thing to break her forever.
He looked up into the concerned faces of two of his best friends.
"Th… there was a lot of blood." He choked out.
"Calm down man…their doing everything they can. She'll be fine." Mark assured.
"Bailey just got here; she won't let anything happen to her. Miranda's one of the best." Burke gave his try at comforting.
"It's all my fault…" Derek buried his face in his hands, hiding his sob.
"Come on… don't do that. It's no one's fault. We're only human."
"You can't blame yourself Shepherd…"
His friends tried hard to ease his guilt, but Derek ached inside for once again letting Meredith down.
Derek sat and waited, his eyes locked on the door to her room, waiting for an update, hoping for good news. The detectives once again came and got what they could out of him for a statement, and then busied themselves with questioning the other men. People came and went, lives continuing, reminding Derek that the world wouldn't stop because the woman he loved was hurt.
Somewhere in the haze of activity, Derek heard himself asking about the bastard. Had the son of a bitch who did this to his girl been caught? The answer was a disheartening no, he had managed to escape out an old fire exit in the basement, one no one knew about until it was too late, and now it was up to border patrol to find him before he fled the state.
It seemed like hours passed, when in reality no more than forty-five minutes could have gone by, Derek found himself pacing outside the door. He made the mistake of trying to enter once again, but this time it was Bailey who had ordered him out, and he honestly couldn't deny that he was still terrified of that small woman. He had timidly obliged and pulled the door shut after him, but found it too hard to sit, and resorted to wearing out the cold tile before him.
"Derek, you really should try getting some rest. You've been up all night."
Derek looked up at his approaching ex-wife and shook his head stubbornly. "Not until I can see her, not until I know with my own eyes that she's fine."
Addison nodded through her glasses before turning hesitantly to the door. Her hand froze above the doorknob, when Derek spoke up to stop her.
"Sorry Addison, no one's allowed in yet. Bailey's being very strict."
Addison turned to Derek and bit her bottom lip, unsure how to respond. "Derek…" She started cautiously.
Before she could continue the door flew open and the short stout woman commonly referred to as the Nazi appeared in the doorway.
"Good, you're here Addison. We're ready for you."
Derek opened his mouth confused, but Dr. Bailey continued, turning towards him.
"Dr. Shepherd, she's going to be just fine. Her wounds are all superficial. There was a lot of blood when she came in… but it appears that it wasn't hers. That's one strong woman you know. That man must have took one hell of a beating. I'm turning her over to Addison now, and when Dr. Montgomery- Sloan finishes her exam… you can go and see her."
Bailey made a movement with her lips that Derek took as a smile and hurried off. Cold shock invaded Derek as he turned back to Addison, realization of why she was called slowly dawning on him.
"No." He whispered.
"Derek calm down."
"No!" He shook his head, willing it to not be true, as his hands clenched into tight fists at his side, swearing under his breath about what he'd do to that man if he ever got a hold of him.
"Derek. Listen. We won't know anything until I do the kit. Okay? Let me examine her and see what I can find out. Just... calm down. I'll come out and get you when I'm done."
Derek didn't say anything. He couldn't. He was numb. The thought of another man touching her with their hands was sickening in itself. The fact that someone would do it against her will was almost too much. His stomach churned and Derek bolted for the nearest trash can, gaining stares of those around him as he emptied the contents of his stomach over and over again. When his stomach stopped retching, he straightened up and dragged himself into an empty tri-age room and hovered before the tiny metal sink. He splashed the cold water over his face and rinsed his mouth out until the foul taste was gone. Drying himself off, he took a breath and let it out slow. He needed to gather himself together. He needed to be levelheaded and be the strong one for Meredith. He could do this. He had to.
He only had to wait a few minutes longer before the red head doctor finally emerged and held the door open for Derek, signaling he could finally come in.
His eyes settled on her small body covered in a light blue hospital gown, resting on the soft bed before him. She immediately felt his presence and opened her heavy lids, a smile resting on her face as she took in the handsome man before her.
"Hey." Her voice cracked softly.
"Hey." He echoed, drinking in the sight of her, eyes open, safe, alive.
Derek crossed the room in large quick strides and joined her on the bed. He carefully took her in his arms and held her close, swearing he'd never let go of her again.
Addison watched from the doorway and smiled. "I'll put a rush on these tests." She held up the large clear plastic bag that held her cultures and swabs. "We should know everything in around thirty minutes."
Derek nodded gratefully at Addison before she turned and hurried out. He then turned back to his fragile fiancée and rested his head on top of her smaller one.
Meredith snuggled deeper in his chest, breathing him in, loving the feeling of security and protection his arms seemed to offer.
"I'm sorry." She whispered.
Derek pulled away startled and looked down in her green eyes brimmed with tears.
"Why are you apologizing Mer? It was my fault. I should have been there. I swore to protect you and Carwyn and…" His voice trailed off, his pain evident with each word.
She shook her head against his chest. "No, it was my fault. I had a feeling… I knew there was something about him… and I didn't do anything…"
Derek pulled her even closer and ran a hand along her back as she cried. "Please Mer… don't blame yourself..."
He listened to her cry, keeping his embrace firm. After a moment her sobs slowed, and he heard her sniffle.
"I was so scared." She barely whispered.
"Me too. Damnit Mer…if anything happened…if that son of a bitch…I'll never forgive myself."
He felt her tiny body pull away and he looked down into her tear streaked face. Their eyes locked and everything they were feeling passed between them unspoken. His grief, his remorse, her fear, her guilt. All in one look, the air was cleared and apologies accepted. She moved a hand to touch the rough cheek of his unshaven face and Derek noticed for the first time the small stitches that covered her hand and arms.
"Mer." His heart sank and he reached to caress her wounds gently.
"I'm okay Derek. Now that you're with me. I'm okay. We'll figure out everything else… as long as you promise to never let go of me… ever."
"I promise."
Meredith moved her hand from his cheek and to his hair and ran a hand through the addictive mane. She pulled his face down so her lips were gently pressed against his, and spoke into his mouth.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
She then pulled him down harder, her lips meeting his with hunger. Derek tried to remain gentle; aware of the trauma she just suffered, but the demanding tongue she was thrusting inside his mouth was making it difficult for him to focus on anything but how thin the material was on the hospital gown that covered her breasts.
She pushed herself against his body and Derek found himself laughing. "Mer… slow down… you just…"
He was cut off by her mouth, once again her tongue demanding entrance.
A deep voice clearing its throat at the door caused Meredith to grudgingly pull away. They turned to the interrupter and saw it was Alex.
"Sorry to interrupt but you have a visitor."
He didn't need to elaborate because moments later a bounding Carwyn ran in, followed by a smiling Izzie.
"Mama!" She crossed the room and difficulty climbed the large bed, settling carefully in between her mother and father, content to be in the company of both parents.
Meredith wrapped an arm around her young daughter and placed a big kiss on her cheek. "Oh Carwyn. You were so brave. Are you all right?"
"Mmm hhmm." She nodded, her soft curls bouncing. "Izzie got me ice cream."
Her parents chuckled and exchanged an amused look. Meredith also sighed relieved. She already started fretting about what kind of consequence this whole ordeal played on her daughter and had already considered looking up child psychologists. Maybe none of that would be necessary. Maybe they all would truly be fine.
Alex and Izzie took the two chairs to the side of the bed, and Derek and Alex went on about their rescue mission, gaining impressed nods from their girls. Meredith didn't talk much, not wanting to relive any of her ordeal, and content to listen to the men, proud of their heroic efforts.
They were laughing and chatting, Meredith letting herself get washed away in the peace and shelter only love brings, whether of romance or friendship. Another soft knock at the door, brought her back to reality, her eyes resting on a serious Addison.
The four adults looked up cautiously and Derek felt Meredith reach and take his hand.
"Ummm… Alex, Izzie… do you think you could take Carwyn out for a minute… I need to talk to them in private."
They both nodded and Izzie immediately stood and reached out for Carwyn. "Come on Carwyn… I think there's still a few more flavors of ice cream we haven't tried yet." Izzie gathered her and headed for the door after Alex, shooting an anxious look at Meredith before disappearing.
When they were alone, Derek finally spoke. "Wh…what's going on Addison? Is this about the lab results?"
Derek felt Meredith scoot closer, and he put an arm around her, showing he would be strong, that no matter what, he'd be there to hold her.
Addison stared down at the papers in her hand before looking back up, and taking a deep breath.
…to be continued…
