Chapter 23: I Care About You Two!

"Do you think she's okay?" Meredith whispered as they sat side by side in a small emergency room, exam area. Her daughter was asleep, with an IV hooked up to her arm.

"She'll be okay." Derek assured her. "Dr. Bateman is great."

"Hmm..." Meredith bit her lip, flipping through her purse.

"She's going to need to rest for a few days."

"Great."

"I can help...come over when you have to work..." Derek whispered.

"I can figure it out." Meredith groaned, pulling the receipt that the nurse at the front desk had given her.

"You get that I'm trying to help right?"

"Yeah, I do I just...sorry."

"If you need anything, you know I'm here."

"Yeah...thanks." Meredith replied, folding up the receipt and placing it back in her purse.

"Anything..." Derek repeated.

"Hmm..."

"Meredith..."

"What?" She groaned.

"Never mind." He sighed, sitting back in his chair.

"What were you going to say?"

"Nothing. Just forget about it."

"Okay." She replied, putting her purse down on the floor.

"I'm going to get some coffee. Do you want some?" Derek said, standing up.

"No thanks." Meredith whispered, before lifting her head. "Do you have to go?"

"I don't have to..."

"If you want to you can."

"I'll stay here." Derek smiled, sitting back down, and putting his arm around her, rubbing her shoulder.

"Thanks..." Meredith whispered.

"I told you. Anything."

"Derek...what is it you want me to ask you for?"

"I don't want you to ask me for anything."

"Then don't offer."

"That doesn't make any sense."

"Oh really?"

"I want you to let me help you pay for this." Derek said quietly.

"Derek..."

"Not the whole thing. Just...let me help."

"Seriously?" Meredith pushed his arm away.

"Why are you getting upset?"

"You just offered to help me pay for this."

"Right..."

"I don't need your money." Meredith hissed.

"That's not what I was implying." Derek groaned.

"Then what were you implying?"

"That I want to do something to help you and Dawsyn out."

"You don't have to."

"I want to."

"I'm not poor." Meredith said defensively.

"I didn't say that either." Derek sighed.

"You weren't saying that either the other night when you paid for my gas."

"Why can't you just except my help?"

"Why are you helping?"

"Are you really asking me that?"

"Yes, because you gave my daughter a twenty for lunch at the start of the week too..."

"She told you about that..."

"I found it in her bookbag, and she said you gave it to her." Meredith groaned.

"Sorry...about that...She wanted pizza and then it was chicken fingers the next day so...It's not a big deal."

"I buy things for her lunch so that she eats them. Not so you can take pity on her."

"I don't pity her." Derek snapped.

"Then why give her money?"

"She asked...She really wanted it. And she's a good kid..."

"No she's rude."

"I don't understand why we're arguing about this."

"We're aren't arguing."

"Fine."

"Fine." Meredith replied.

"I'm going to get coffee."

"I don't care."

"If I buy it for you are you going to yell at me?"

"You're funny Derek...real funny." Meredith rolled her eyes.

"Why can't you just...accept help?" Derek said, turning back around and trying to keep his voice down.

"I don't need help."

"That's not the point."

"The what's the point?" Meredith groaned, crossing her arms. "I don't know what else you want me to do."

"I want you to except me...in your life...my help...my..."

"Can we not talk about this?"

"Fine...Let's just...Fine." Derek sighed.

"I just don't want you to think I need your help."

"That's not why I'm trying to help."

"Okay." Meredith said quickly, sounding annoyed.

"You don't believe me..."Derek mumbled.

"I didn't say that."

"You don't have to."

"Then, leave if you're that irritated with me." Meredith watched her daughter sleep in the hospital bed.

"You know I'm not going anywhere." Derek whispered.

"Hmm..."

"I care about you two! I'm not pitying you!"

"Okay."

"Look at me."

"No."

"Mer...Please look at me." He whispered.

"What?" Meredith sighed, looking to her right.

"I know that we've known each other for...a short time. That doesn't mean that I don't care about both of you...I barely knew anybody here and then I met you...So...You should just know that I care about you and Dawsyn." Derek breathed, taking her hand.

"I wish you didn't."

"Too late."

"Ms. Grey?" A doctor said, entering the room holding Dawsyn's chart.

"Dr. Batemen." Meredith looked up, moving her jacket to the other arm as she held out her hand.

"Dawsyn's going to be just fine." Dr. Batemen smiled.

"Good...that's good." Meredith replied, looking at Derek then back at the doctor in front of her. "So...is it the flu or..."

"That's the good news. The bad news is she's got a severe stomach infection."

"

Oh." Meredith frowned.

"I want to put her on an antibiotic and keep her here for a while longer for fluids until she's rehydrated." Dr. Batemen replied.

"How long is a while longer? I mean it's five in the morning...can she go home later this evening?"

"If she begins responding to the medication, then yes. I want to monitor her for a few more hours and if everything looks okay, I don't see why she can't go home. She'll just need to be watched closely."

"Ok." Meredith nodded.

"The nurse will be in soon with her medication and a new IV and I'll be back to check on her a bit later. If you have any questions, just have the nurse page me." Dr. Batemen smiled.

"Thank you Dr. Batemen."

"Your welcome...Good to see you, Derek." Dr. Batemen nodded, shaking Derek's hand before turning around the leaving the room and handing the chart to a nurse who was standing outside.

"Stomach infection."

"Not the flu."

"Are you going to gloat now that you were right?"

"No..." Derek chuckled, kissing her forehead.

"She's sleeping comfortably."

"Mmmhmm..."

"Well, I have today off now, but maybe Izzie can watch her tomorrow."

"I have to work in a few hours, but I don't want to leave you."

"I'll be fine."

"You'll page me if you need something?"

"I won't need anything."

"Except someone to watch Dawsyn tomorrow."

"I'll figure it out...I have friends."

"Meredith...I'll do it."

"I didn't ask you."

"I'm offering."

"Fine...you can watch her."

"Good." Derek smiled, taking her hand.

"Don't spoil her." Meredith grinned.

"She has a stomach infection...Of course I'm going to spoil her." Derek laughed.

"Great." Meredith giggled quietly, leaning her body into his. Her daughter was okay, she was sick, but she was going to be okay. She just needed Derek to not think she needed him.