Ch.6
"How's it going?"
Meredith looked up from her hospital bed to see Christina in the doorway.
"Day number 5 of treatment…it's pretty much the same as days 1-4"
Christina pulled up a chair.
"At least you don't have to stay in this hospital all the time. You get to come in for a few hours, get the treatment and go home to McDreamy."
Meredith smiled.
"That is a plus."
Christina stared at the IV in Meredith's arm.
"Christina."
"Yea?" she snapped her head.
"Tell me something about you."
"Me?"
"Yea…I'm sick of being the topic of conversation. Tell me something."
"Ok…well…Burke made dinner last night. Let's just say we should be glad he's a talented surgeon, because he aint no chef."
Meredith laughed.
"I'm sure he's good at other things too…"
"Damn right he is. He's my man, he's gotta be good."
The girls laughed.
Christina's pager beeped.
"Ok, I gotta run. Call me later?"
"You know I will."
Later that night, Meredith was lying on the couch when Derek came over.
He sat down beside her, exhausted.
"Long day?" she asked.
He just nodded.
"I had this little girl come into day, her parents were distraught, she was having some kind of seizure…we tried everything to figure out what was wrong with her."
"What happened?"
He sighed.
"She died an hour ago."
Meredith sat up, wrapping her arms around him.
"I'm sorry."
He shook his head.
"You know, I love what I do. I love being a surgeon…but some days, I just don't know if I'm strong enough."
"Of course you are Derek. You're one of the best surgeons that hospital has."
He looked at her. He rolled his eyes.
"How are you feeling? I don't know why I started rambling on about my stupid job when you're lying here like this…"
"I'm doing ok. And I like hearing about your job. It's nice ya know? Makes things seem a little more normal."
He gave her a half smile.
"SO treatment went well?"
"Same old same old." She fell back against the couch. "I'm exhausted."
He rubbed her leg.
"Come on; let's go get you in bed."
She stood up. He grabbed onto her, noticing her legs were shaky.
"Can you make it?"
"I think so."
She took a few more steps before sinking into his arms.
"Maybe not."
He bent down and picked her up, carrying her up the stairs.
"I knew I had you around for a reason," she joked.
He laughed as he laid her down on the bed, tucking her in.
He bent down next to her, gently stroking her hair.
"You sure you're ok?"
"I'm fine," she said. "It's just the treatment."
He nodded.
"I'm going to grab something to eat…I'll be up soon ok?"
She nodded, already drifting off.
Derek went down to the kitchen, trying to find something to eat.
After looking around, he settled for some macaroni and cheese, a favorite of his.
He finished up and washed the dishes. After walking upstairs and taking a quick, hot shower, he finally made it back to the bedroom. The light was off. He carefully sat down on the bed, lifting up the covers to slide under. Once he was settled, he reached over to wrap his arms around her, a habit he had grown accustomed to.
He touched her, pulling back instantly, his hand wet.
He sat up.
"Meredith?"
She didn't answer.
He turned on the light and looked at her.
She was drenched in sweat, her teeth chattering.
"Meredith." He placed his hand on her forehead.
"Oh god."
She was burning up.
He jumped out of bed and ran over to her, pulling her covers back.
She stirred, mumbling something he couldn't understand.
"You've got to get up Mer," he said urgently. "Come on."
He picked her up again, the second time of the night. This time, he ran down the stairs with her in his arms. He grabbed his keys and sat her down on the passenger side. He hopped in and sped away.
"Derek," she muttered, her breathing becoming labored.
"Shh, it's ok. Just hold on."
He reached into his briefcase he had left in the car earlier that night, pulling out his cell phone. He dialed the hospital, letting them know they were on the way.
He drove 80, running every red light that stood in his way. After what seemed like an eternity, he pulled into the emergency wing of Seattle Grace.
Doctors were waiting by the door.
"What's her status?" they asked loading her onto a stretcher.
"Female, 28, recently diagnosed with AML, started treatment a few days ago." Derek said breathlessly.
The attending wheeled her down the hall into an empty room.
"Dr Shepard" Miranda ran up to him.
"Something's wrong with her-"
"I know, we're going to go take a look. Why don't you go sit down in the waiting room?"
"NO, I'm coming back there."
"She's not your patient Derek."
"It's Meredith, Bailey!" he yelled, as if there would be any question of him going back.
"I know its Meredith and that is exactly why I don't want you in that room."
He tried to move past her. She moved in front of him.
"Dr. Bailey," he said sternly. "GET out of my way!"
"I'm not moving until you go over there and sit down."
Suddenly, Izzie ran up to them.
"Oh my god, I just heard, is she alright?"
"Stevens, take Shepard over to the waiting room so I can go back and examine her."
Bailey turned to Derek, seeing how upset he was. She sighed.
"Trust me Derek…you don't want to see her like this."
Izzie placed her hand on his shoulder as Miranda ran down the hall.
"Come on," she said gently, leading him over to an empty seat. Defeated, he sat down, running his fingers through his hair.
She sat down next to him.
"I called Christina and Burke, they're on their way."
"Ok."
She twirled her fingers nervously through her hair.
"She's going to be fine Dr. Shepard…right?"
He didn't say anything.
The truth is, he didn't know.
All they could do was sit there and wait.