Ch.2
"She's stable now, but we'll keep an eye on her."
"Thank you Grey."
Meredith nodded. She looked at the clock on the wall.
4 hours down…6 to go…
"What are you checking the clock for?" Burke asked. "You have somewhere to be?"
"No," she said shaking her head. "No where to be but here."
Burke looked at her.
"You should take a break…you look exhausted."
She laughed.
"You know, that's why I like you Burke…you're an honest man."
He smiled as he walked away.
Meredith smiled, looking down the hospital hallway.
4 hours down without seeing him. 6 more to go…
"Penny for your thoughts?"
She spun around.
It was him.
"Oh…hi," she said, trying to hide her disappointment.
Derek squinted at her.
"Mer, you look terrible."
She scoffed.
"Well, gee, thanks." She said sarcastically. It was ok for Burke to say it…she liked him at the moment.
He sighed.
"That didn't come out right," he searched her face. "What I meant was…are you ok?"
She looked at him, trying not to get lost in his eyes.
"Never better." She started to walk past him.
"Mer, will you just stay and talk to me for a second please?"
"Sorry Dr. Shepard, but I have a patient to check up on."
He watched her walk away, never taking his eyes off her, hoping she would turn around and come back to him.
He hated what he was doing to her. He had never meant to hurt her like he did. He loved her.
He still did.
"Damn it Derek," he muttered to himself. "You're such an ass."
"You got that right."
Derek turned around.
Christina was glaring at him.
"Not now Christina, I'm not in the mood."
"Do you think I care?" She looked at the chart in her hand. "I'm not here to yell at you, although, give me a minute to prepare and I might be able to."
"Then why are you here?"
"I need you to come examine this patient."
He took the chart from her.
"Let's go."
Meredith had made her way to the supply closet, her favorite place to go when she needed some alone time. Even if it was just for a few minutes, she loved the solitude.
She sat there, cradling her head in her hands, trying to stop the tears that were brimming her eyes.
"You're a stupid girl," she said to herself. "He doesn't love you anymore. Maybe he never did."
Just then, she heard a loud crash out in the hall. She stood up, slowly opening the door.
There was a young man, early 20's, lying on the ground.
"Are you ok?" She ran over to him squatting down beside him.
He looked up at her, shaking.
"I'm fine," he said roughly, standing up quickly.
She noticed a cut on his head.
"Here, let me take a look at that," she said reaching up. "You might need stiches…"
He grabbed her hand and jerked it away.
"I said I'm FINE." He growled.
She backed away, the tone of his voice scaring her.
Something was wrong with him…but she didn't know what it was.
"Ok, she said putting her hands up. "I'm sorry."
He started to walk away.
"Can I help you with something?" she asked, mentally kicking herself for not letting him just leave.
He faced her. She could see he was sweating.
"Actually, you can," he said.
She didn't move.
"Ok, she said, growing more uneasy. "Why don't we walk down this way and you can tell me what's wrong."
He laughed.
"There's nothing wrong with me," he said reaching into his coat pocket, revealing the pistol he had been hiding.
Her eyes grew wide at the sight of the gun.
"You see, here's the thing." He said. "I need a hostage…and lady, I think this is your lucky day."
She felt her body grow cold.
"Lucky me," she whispered.