July 2nd, 2004

Derek hadn't woken up. Over two weeks and he was still hooked up to all these goddamn machines. Alex wanted to scream. She wanted to shake him awake. Everyone had been extremely supportive though. They took care of Lilah and her. They fed them.

"You need to wake up, Bro." Padric said, "I couldn't take care of this family myself. You know Kevin has never been good at that kind of stuff." Padric looked at his little brother. This was what he always feared. Joanne, their mother hadn't even been able to walk in this room. Alex understood.
"Here." She said softly handing Padric a cup of coffee, "It's hospital mush, but it'll do."

"Thanks." He said leaning back in his chair. "How are you holding up?" Alex shrugged.
"I only cry in hysterics when no one is around." She said. Padric sighed softly.

"Me too." he said.

"I have stuff to tell him, but I want him to be awake when I do." Alex said.
"He can hear you, Alex." he said, "Talk to him. Tell him whatever you need to tell him." Alex's blue eyes glanced at Padric. She looked back at Derek. If he did wake up soon, he'd be screaming in pain probably. Alex slid her hand into his good hand.

"Derek, It's me." She croaked out. Alex stared his him.

"It's me too," Padric said, "Alex needs to talk to you so she needs your full attention." She smiled thankfully. If Padric wasn't around, she'd probably be sobbing right now.

"Derek, I was...I need you to wake up because I'm pregnant." Alex said trembling. "I was at the doctor's today. This time...I'm not due in November, but I'm due February 26th. I'm so scared that I'm going to miscarry again. I need you." She began to cry slowly into his hand. She didn't see the fluttering of his eyelids.

"Oh my god." Padric whispered, but Alex felt his hand tighten around hers. Her eyes widened.
"D-Derek?" She whispered. He grunted as he opened his eyes, "Oh my god. Get a doctor, Paddy. Derek, I'm here." Alex kissed his cheek, "You were hurt in a fire, Derek. She broke your leg and burned your side pretty good." Dr. Cardwell walked in.
"Derek, you're awake." He smiled checking out his vitals, "You gave us a scare. You've been unconscious for about two weeks now." Alex watched a confused look spread across Derek's face.

"Everyone has been worried about you." Alex said. Derek grunted.

"I'm going to remove the tube, Derek. I need you to exhaled." Dr. Cardwell said, "On the count of three. One...Two...Three." Derek exhaled and the tube was removed. he coughed with a loud groan.

"Oh Derek." Alex whimpered. He stared at her.
"Pregnant..." He croaked out.
"You heard?" She asked. Derek nodded with a groan.
"Pain...god." He moaned.
"I'll up your morphine drip." Dr. Cardwell said, "You were touched and go for a while there, Derek. The burns were pretty deep on your arm, but you were able to keep everything." Derek stared at his bandaged arm. "It'll be a long process. Your leg is broken also. You will need to go through a lot of physical therapy."

"If you want to." Derek muttered, "Get Sweet and Doherty."

"They're fine." Alex said touching his forehead.

"The drugs are starting to take affect." Dr. Cardwell said. Derek stared at Alex.
"Really? Pregnant?" He asked. Alex smiled softly.
"I'm really pregnant." She said, "Get some sleep, Baby. I won't leave your side." Alex watched as Derek fell into a drug-induced sleep. She couldn't even imagine the kind of pain he was feeling. She knew how hurt her heart and soul was, but hopefully everything would be improving.

July 16th, 2004

Week 8

Alex hated celebrating her birthday as she watched her fiance writhe in pain. He was slowly getting better. Slowly was the main word.

"Son of a bitch." Derek groaned loudly.
"You're doing terrific." Sheridan Grey, his Physical Therapist said.

"Bull shit." Derek snapped, "I want to go back to my room." Sheridan shook her head.
"You need to work on your leg and arm and when you're out of that cat you need to work on your other leg." She said.

"I want to go back to my room!" he snapped. Alex got up from her chair and walked over to the two people.

"I'll bring him back." She said.
"We still have twenty minutes left." Sheridan said. Alex shrugged.

"You can do it another day. Derek is obviously getting very frustrated with this today." She said helping Derek into his wheelchair.
"If you coddle him his recovery is going to take longer." Sheridan said.

"I'm taking my fiance back to his room." Alex pushed Derek out of the room. he sighed softly.
"Thank you." He said.
"I can't stand seeing you in pain, Derek." Alex said, "You need to cooperate with her you do realize."

"I know." Derek muttered, "I just want to go home."

"You can't yet." She said. They were silent as she pushed him onto the elevator.

"How are you feeling?" Derek asked, "You and the baby."

"We're fine." She said, "We're not the one in recovery."

"No, but you are pregnant. You were so sick with Lilah." Derek said.

"Like I said, I'm fine. I just want you to recover well." Alex told him with slight irritation.

"Why haven't you brought Lilah to see me?" He asked.

"She had a cold and the doctors didn't want her in the burn unit." Alex said. Derek nodded.
"When can I see her?" He asked.

"I don't know." Alex said. Derek sighed.

"You must be tired and must be sick of hospitals." He said, "Why don't you go home and relax for awhile? I'll be fine." Alex shook her head.

"I am going to be here every step of the way, Derek." She said. "I am fine." He sighed looking at her.

"I don't want you here though." Derek said. Alex stared at him.

"Wh-What?" She stuttered. Derek hung his head.

"I don't want you here, Alex." He said.

"Why?" She asked.

"I don't...I don't want you to see me like this." Derek said, "Helpless and in pain. I can't have it." A small smile came across her face.

"I'm going to be here." She said, "You stood by me after my screw up and I'm going to stand by you during this."

"This isn't like an affair, Alex." He said.

"I know, but I'm going to be your wife and it's my job to help you." She said, "I won't think any less of you. You will always be a very strong man in my eyes." Derek looked down. "You can cry in front of me, Derek. It's okay."

"I don't want to be in pain anymore." He whispered.

"it's going to take awhile, Derek, but you need to work at this." Alex said.

"I need your help." He said.
"I told you. I will be here." Alex kissed his forehead softly. His pain would go eventually, she just wished it was sooner than later.

* * *

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