Chapter 33: True Love Conquers All
"Come on Mer. Just open the door. Let me help you." He tried the door again, but it was still locked.
Derek sighed frustrated. This wasn't like Meredith. When she wasn't feeling good, she would ask Derek to hold her or rub her feet. She didn't push him away. Not anymore.
He kept his hand on the knob and opened his mouth to pry further when her voice stopped him.
"Please….Just go. I'm fine. Have fun at dinner with your friends… I love you D."
Derek took a sharp breath and rocked back. His heart raced faster in his chest and he raised a flat palm and rested it on the door.
"Okay Mer. I love you too."
Derek swept his eyes around the empty locker room and turned. He walked to the door and took a quick look back before throwing the door open and exiting into the hall.
Meredith listened as Derek's footsteps faded. She heard the heavy door creak open and then shut with a heavy bang. Silence followed and Meredith sank back defeated. She was alone. Her hope evaporated and left a sick film of despair.
The man started laughing, a slow deep laugh that quickly turned harsh and rough.
"This is almost too easy."
Derek's heart was racing and his face visibly pale. A million terrorizing thoughts swarmed through his mind and adrenaline pumped through his body.
He didn't have time. There was no room for hesitation. With each passing second the woman he loved was locked in the small bathroom with a crazed killer.
There was no doubt in his mind that the son of a bitch O'Dandridge was back. His hair stood at attention on the back of his neck as Meredith's voice rang in his ears.
I love you D.
I love you D.
I love you D.
The only other time she had ever referred to him as "D" was when O'Dandridge had got to her before. Now, he knew that this was her way of calling out for help the only way she could.
Derek moved his legs faster until they were a sprint and the doctors and nurses in the hall became a blur. He made it to his office in record time and immediately threw open the small door to a side closet. Two tall forms appeared at his door as he rummaged his hand frantically around on the top shelf.
"What's going on Derek?"
It was Mark, followed by Alex who noticed something in his face as he dashed down the long hallway clearly in alarm.
"Call security!" Derek barked, his face strained as he reached on his tip toes, obviously searching for something specific.
"Security?" Alex echoed, his confusion speaking for both of them.
Derek didn't answer as his hand finally rested on the intended item. His fingers curled over the heavy metal, and he brought it down.
Both men in the doorway gasped as their eyes rested on the small black semi-automatic pistol in his hand.
Derek turned, his eyes dark, his face scared yet determined, and finally spoke.
"He's back. And he has Meredith."
Without any further delay, Alex grabbed his phone and ran, following Derek's earlier request to call security. Mark watched wide eyed as Derek pressed pass him, quickly turning his steps back into the sprint of before.
Mark snapped into action, following Derek only paces behind.
"Derek! Wait! Think about this a minute! Do you even know how to use that thing?"
Derek didn't stop, he pressed on as he answered over his shoulder.
"I bought this a few months ago. I knew he would come back. I just had this feeling. Mer wouldn't agree to hiring a private bodyguard, so I took a gun safety class without her knowing. I bought this forty calibers soon as I got my license… been hiding it in my office ever since. I swear Mark… If I'm too late… I'm gonna blow his head off."
Mark knew Derek wasn't bluffing and couldn't help but think he'd never seen him so enraged. He followed the rest of the way in silence, hoping they weren't too late. Hoping security would get here quick.
Meredith whimpered as the man's hand came down hard across her face, sending a fiery shock through her cheek and pulsated through her temple. She called out in fear, her scream echoing off the sterile tile of the cold bathroom, adding fuel to the man's rage.
She cowered in the corner, sunk down on her knees, desperate to protect the growing life inside her. She was too weak to fight anymore. Too scared to do anything but tremble on the hard ground. Scenes flashed through her head.
The night of the handsome stranger in a good-looking red shirt who had picked her up at the new bar she'd found.
That handsome stranger quickly turning into someone she couldn't live without; someone she didn't even remember.
Their years of separation.
The amazing moments of Carwyn's birth.
She and Derek reunited; rekindling the spark that had never really went out.
The first time Derek had told her he loved her.
Her very first birthday party and all her friends showing their love and support.
Derek getting down on one knee and proposing
Finding out they were expecting another child.
Her tears of pain and fear quickly turned to tears of remorse and sorrow. She would never get to see Carwyn wear her first two piece. Shave her legs for the first time. Go on her first date with some nervous teenager boy.
She'd never get to see Carwyn walk down the aisle and join lives with another man. Watch as Carwyn brought her own babies into the world.
She'd never get to give Derek their second child. She'd miss him growing old. They wouldn't spend the rest of their lives together hand in hand like he'd promised. She was being deprived of all her dreams and desires.
Derek was being robbed of the woman he loved.
Meredith looked up once more through her teary swollen eyes as dark eyes hovered over her. She closed her eyes, bracing herself for the next blow, as he lifted his large, booted foot and an evil smile stole across his face.
This was it. She succumbed to her inevitable end.
Her body tensed as it waited for the impact. The man moved his foot back and gathered all his strength in this good leg and took a swing.
A loud, sickening crack erupted through the room as the heavy wooden door came crashing open. Wood splinters sifted through the air as everyone tried to figure out what was happening.
Derek took one look at Meredith, her face bleeding and pale, curled in a ball on the floor. He raised his blazing eyes to the man hovering over her and his heart started beating even harder in his chest.
This time the quickened pulse was not out of fear. It was from pure rage. He had hurt his Meredith. That bastard harmed his love.
O'Dandridge's eyes were wide with shock. He turned and raised his hand and took a step towards the two intruders at the door.
Without any further uncertainty, Derek raised the gun and pointed it directly at the O'Dandridge's heart. The attacker stopped and his mouth dropped stunned.
Derek braced himself and easily pulled the trigger. The noise was deafening and light smoke filled the small bathroom. O'Dandridge dropped to the floor motionless as warm crimson slowly spread through his shirt.
Derek left the gun fall softly to the ground as he quickly stepped over the body and gathered his shaking fiancée in his arms.
Meredith had kept her eyes closed through the whole ordeal and had yet to open them; too afraid to want to know what had happened. When his arms touched her, she jumped and frantically tried to push him away until his low calm voice broke through her terrorized mind.
"It's okay Mer. I got you. Everything's going to be okay. He's never going to hurt you again."
Meredith dared to peak an eye open and was met with the most beautiful sight. Derek's intense blue ones were inches away, peering deep into her own, full of concern and alarm.
She threw her arms around his neck, and he held her tight. He rocked back and forth, comforting her like a child as she sobbed, letting out all her fear, all her pain, her chilling despair.
They stayed that way. Locked in a lovers embrace as first the hospital security came running in, guns drawn. They were quickly followed by Seattle PD and eventually the FBI.
Derek and Meredith were oblivious to it all. The commotion, the questions, the detectives marking off the crime scene.
They held on to each other for dear life. Knowing the nightmare was finally over.
Derek relished the feeling of his love pressed against his chest, enjoying the hard beating of her heart drumming against his own.
Meredith basked in the safety of Derek's arms, letting her dreams of growing old with him renew, the peace and serenity that only his love brought, washing over her, and baptizing her in joy.
Once again… they held on to each other… and true love conquered all.