Meredith's eyes blinked open hesitantly. "It's nice to see you do that again. It's been awhile…"
"How long…"
Derek smiled at her and sat down next to her. "Your surgery ended just over 2 hours ago. Grace is down in surgery now, so I thought I'd wait here for you to wake up."
"How did it go?" He just nodded, and that's all she needed. "Oh, thank god!" A tear slipped down her cheek and with it all her fears faded away. She could walk. She would still be able to be a doctor. It was the only thing she needed to know at the moment. She didn't care about Derek's confession just a day ago; she didn't need to respond to it. It was what it was, and she would handle it when they knew more about Grace.
"So, according to the doctors, you should be starting physical therapy next week, and then in about two months…"
"Two months! That long?"
Derek stared at her, "Being a doctor doesn't mean you'll make some miraculous recovery from a major surgery, Meredith. You of all people should know that." The words had hinted slightly to her mother's condition, and they stung. He'd hit her hard without realizing it, until he heard her sharp intake of breath.
"Excuse me?"
"I didn't mean it the way it sounded. I just meant that you've seen some of the best doctors go in for surgery and then have to work hard to get back to normal. I'm just saying that you should keep in mind that this was a really big surgery…
"You don't think I know that? I'm the one that had to get the news that I might never walk again, and that if they performed the surgery I needed to walk too soon, I would lose my life! I'm the one that got told by you the day before this major surgery that you were still in love with me after over 15 years of me waiting patiently for you to come around. I'm the one that could've died today without telling you that I loved you… And I'm the one that needs to tell you now that it might be too late for us." She took a deep breath, "maybe it's time for you to go check on Grace."
He just nodded. He wasn't sure if she meant what she'd said or if she was just upset. He was hoping she was angry, that this would pass and they could be together. He wanted to have the life that he was always meant to have with her. She was his future, he knew. He closed his eyes and could see Grace, running around with their children—the little siblings he and Addison never got the chance to give her. He could see them starting a private practice just on the outskirts of Seattle. But, as he was learning, seeing wasn't everything. He sighed, and left for his daughter's room.
"Burke?"
Preston stopped, knowing the voice. "What can I do for you, Megan?"
She was behind him. He could feel her, just inches away from him. "The same thing you always could do for me…" She reached her hand out and touched his shoulder. Preston flinched, flying out of her reach as if her fingers had burnt him.
"That's not me, Megan. You're looking for someone who doesn't exist anymore." He held up his hand, stopping her argument. "I was foolish. She is my life. And right now, this is my career and my future and my family that you're interfering with. Whatever happened then will never happen again. You need to leave."
"Can't. I'm here for Derek…"
"You're the specialist friend of his?"
She smiled and nodded. "And, if I can save your niece's sight… you might just be seeing a lot more of me in Seattle…" She turned around, walking towards Grace's room.
Preston stared at her retreating figure for a long time. Then he felt eyes watching him—Izzie was staring at him, her jaw open. "We need to talk, Burke…"
He closed his eyes. 'This cannot be happening…' he thought. He nodded and led the way to his office, the only place he knew they would be able to discuss what she'd witnessed in private.
He had barely closed the door when she spoke, "How long has it been going on?"
"It happened once. It was over 6 years ago. Do you remember the surgery I was asked to assist on in New York? She was performing a surgery there, too… We went out for drinks to celebrate successful surgeries, and I told her about Cristina. I told her I was in love… but she didn't care. And after a lot of drinks… I made the biggest mistake of my life. I thought I left that mistake in New York… She means nothing to me, and I have never had any other affairs. Cristina is my life, Izzie, and you know that just as much as anyone…"
"If she's staying in Seattle… you have to tell Cristina. Before she finds out who she is on her own… And so help me god if I get dragged into this mess and get caught keeping this from her… I will never forgive you for doing this to her. Do you realize what this could do? She's already an at-risk pregnancy, and stress isn't good for her or the baby… You could be risking your family and the woman you love, no matter what you do." Izzie shook her head, avoiding the thoughts that were running through her mind. She opened the door; "You don't have a choice now, do you?"
"We can't tell her, you know that. Megan will keep her mouth shut, and when Cristina has our child and is my wife…"
"You mean when you can actually know she won't leave you? When she's got this innocent little baby to worry about, and when she's thinking how great a father you are to your child and how could she possibly leave? When she's trapped, that's when you'll tell her?" Izzie shook her head at him.
"That's not what I mean, Izzie. When she can handle this without it risking her life or our child's life, I will tell her. She has every right to know, and to leave me for what I've done, but I will not risk their lives over one night that happened 6 years ago…"
"Then you better pray that you're right about Megan and she knows how to keep a secret. Because if Cristina finds out from someone other than you what happened…"
"What can't I find out?" Cristina asked, leaning against the door.
