Chapter 12: Cards and Sleep

When Meredith got out of the car on Derek's land, she was surprised at how much land he had. Then, she wondered what she was thinking. She barely knew him and yet she had driven out of Seattle and into the woods with him? It wasn't like she had much to lose right now anyway… He seemed like he wanted to help. It was help she knew she needed because the hospital was not an option for her. She couldn't seem to cry yet, so thinking and clearing her head seemed liked the next best thing. However, as he walked ahead of her through the grass, she found herself questioning this again. She didn't mind the woods, but she was having some doubt about creeper serial killers. "So... your house is over there?"

"The house is up there...trailer is over there." Derek pointed.

"House...trailer..." She said slowly, lifting her bag and purse. Derek insisted on carrying her large suitcase and she had fought him on it. However, he knew she was too tired to carry it.

"You'll be in the trailer tonight." He explained.

"That's fine."

"If you need me, the house is only a short walk up. I'll give you a flashlight and my phone number if you don't want to walk."

"And it's just you on the land...? Right?" Meredith looked around at all the trees.

"Just me and Cash." Derek nodded.

"Okay..." She said slowly as Derek unlocked the trailer.

"There's plenty of food in the fridge."

"Okay." Meredith said again, looking around at the land again before stepping inside.

"It's small." Derek put her bags down in the tiny kitchen.

"I'm a small person."

"Hmm...yeah."

"You do realize that as much as I'm not some girly girl... I will still freak out when I hear something outside?" Meredith replied, peaking out of the window.

"You're not going to hear anything." He laughed.

"Because I am pretty sure this is the scenario of a horror film."

"I'm going to be right nearby."

"I'll be fine...but if I'm awake I'll spend the whole time thinking there is a man with an axe outside of the trailer so..." Meredith never wanted to do it but she walked over to her purse and pulled out a bottle of pills.

"You're going to sleep."

"Not if I think there is a man about to murder me..."

"After we fix your sleeping and eating, we might have to work on paranoia." Derek laughed.

"I'm not paranoid...I watch movies." Meredith rolled her eyes as Derek moved the suitcase to the bed.

"Do you want anything?" He laughed, shaking his head.

"Where is something to drink so I can take the melatonin?"

"If you take that, I'm going to have to stay out here with you."

"Why?"

"Because I'm not giving you a powerful sleeping medication and then just leaving you alone."

"Why?"

"Because if anything is happening outside you won't be able to hear it."

"That's the plan."

"Its either try to relaxation and be alone...or take the pills and I'm staying here. It's up to you." Derek stood against the wall.

"I'm not going to die from taking a natural supplement to get sleep."

"Okay." Derek sighed.

"I won't." Meredith said as she took the bottle of water, he handed her and swallowed the pill.

"Alright." He walked to the door of the trailer.

"I'm a big girl."

"Then I'll see you in the morning."

"Will do." Meredith replied, closing the trailer door and marching right over to the bed. She hadn't planned on taking the melatonin, but it was a good idea. She wouldn't get freaked out and she would finally get the much-needed sleep that had been lacking. She looked around and suddenly realized just how quiet it was. Thankfully there was a remote on the bed and she reached for it, turning on the television to the evening night show. Listening to funny people would probably help her tonight. Before she sat down, she walked to the door of the trailer, locking it.

"Hmm..." Meredith put her hands on her hip when she suddenly heard some leaves ruffling around. It was probably just the wind. The wind. That was all. Just the wind and maybe a possum or something. She walked over to the bed, hearing the noise again and shook her head. "Just the wind."

A moment later, she heard another sound. This time Meredith was certain it wasn't leaves or the wind. It sounded like something was hitting the trailer. The taps were getting closer together and louder with each sound. Just then she heard a huge thud. "AH!"

"Meredith..." Derek knocked on the door after he heard her scream. He was standing outside on the small porch holding a stick that he had banged against the side of the trailer to try to make a point.

"What?" She ran to the front of the trailer to see Derek standing there with a stick and a smirk on his face. She shook her head, piercing her lips together. "You're an ass!"

"What?"

"Not funny at all!" She screamed, unlocking the door but walking away and not opening it.

"Do you want to come up to the house or do you want me to stay here?" Derek walked into the trailer.

"I'm not leaving this trailer."

"Then I guess I'm staying here."

"Of course you are." Meredith rolled her eyes.

"I'll sleep on the floor."

"It's your trailer."

"Meredith."

"What?"

"You're not going to make this easy are you?" Derek sighed.

"Guess not." She shrugged.

"Well since you already took the medicine...you should probably lie down."

"Well now I'm freaked out." She groaned, sitting on the small kitchen table.

"I can go outside while you change."

"Just don't look."

"Okay."

"Thank you." She groaned, walking towards the bedroom, pulling some sweats from her suitcase.

"Uh huh."

"I still think you're an ass."

"I don't usually hear that from patients."

"Do you usually try to scare your patients?" She argued, walking out of the bedroom.

"If telling them what will happen if they don't have surgery is scaring them...then yes."

"Ass."

"Get in bed."

"Fine." She sighed, walking and standing in front of the bed.

"There are more blankets in the closet if you need them."

"Is there heat in here?"

"No."

"Oh." Meredith looked around, her eyes looking empty again.

"Just a little radiator."

"That's okay." Meredith breathed, looking around the tiny room.

"I'll be in the kitchen."

"It's not like you're that far away."

"I'm just letting you know." Derek sighed, going into the kitchen, and grabbing a bottle of water.

"If you're going to be an ass, then why even ask me to come?"

"I'm trying to help you."

"I don't need you to stay with me in here." Meredith lied.

"Which is why I'll be in the kitchen."

"Of course." Meredith rolled her eyes, feeling admittedly a little annoyed with him.

"Look...I'm not forcing you to be here Meredith. You came to me and asked for my help and that's what I'm trying to do."

"Then you tried to scare me when I'm already on edge!" Meredith shouted right back, not knowing where her anger had come from. It was the loudest she could remember her voice being in a long time.

"I shouldn't have done that."

"No, you shouldn't have." She snapped.

"If you want to leave, I'll take you back to Lexie's." Derek said, expecting her to take him up on his offer.

"No." Meredith crossed her arms, falling back against the bed.

"Okay...then I'll be in the kitchen."

"Okay."

"I want you to try to eat something in the morning."

"Fine." She sighed, not even trying to argue back.

"I make pretty good pancakes."

"Mmm."

"I'll leave you to get some sleep." He sighed.

"Not tired."

"Not yet."

"I don't like waiting." Meredith replied, looking out the windows. "If you can't tell."

"Want to play cards?"

"Cards?"

"Go Fish...War. Your choice."

"I'll play Go Fish." Meredith replied, smiling weakly. She hadn't played that game since she was in middle school.

"Okay." Derek smiled, grabbing a deck of cards from the closet.

"I haven't played in a really long time."

"Seven cards each..."

"Right..." Meredith leaned up against the pillows as Derek sat down across from her.

"And then the go fish pile." He put the rest of the cards down in between them.

"You can go first." Meredith replied.

"Alright..." Derek breathed, looking over his cards. "Do you have any threes?"

"Damn it." Meredith reached for one of her cards and handed him the three card.

"Thank you." He laughed. "Still my turn?"

"Yeah."

"Do you have any...sevens?"

"Crap." Meredith groaned, pushing another card in his direction.

"How about any kings?"

"Go fish."

"Your turn." He picked a card up from the pile and added it to the rest of his cards.

"Do you have any fours?"

"Nope. Go fish."

"Great." Meredith sighed, reaching into the pile.

"Getting tired yet?"

"No...Dad."

"Do you have any aces?"

"Here." Meredith rolled her eyes.

"Jacks?"

"You are cheating!" Meredith slammed her Jack down.

"I've always been good at Go Fish." Derek laughed. "Eights?"

"Go fish." Her shoulders dropped and Derek watched as her eyes began to blink tiredly.

"Your turn."

"Nines?"

"Here." Derek handed her the cards.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"I..."

"Lie down." Derek breathed.

"Hmm?" She looked up quickly.

"The medicine is kicking in."

"I'm no… tired." Meredith shook her head quickly, even as her eyes felt heavy.

"Meredith...lie down."

"Fine..." Meredith wanted to protest more but she really did feel tired.

"I won by the way." He laughed, picking up the cards so she could lie down.

"Yeah yeah..."

"We can have a rematch tomorrow."

"I feel sick." She complained as he placed the blankets over her.

"It's from the medicine."

"Mmm..." She winced slightly.

"Sleep."

"Fine." She sighed, curling against the pillow.

"See you in the morning." Derek turned off the lamp on the bedside table.

"Cold..." Meredith mumbled.

"I'll get you another blanket."

"Okay...thanks." Meredith yawned.

"You're welcome."

"Thanks..." Meredith said again, yawning as Derek put another blanket over her and sat on the bed.

"Mmhmm."

"And can..." Meredith stopped, suddenly going quiet as her arm fell limp and it was clear that she was finally going to get some sleep.

"Goodnight." Derek laughed slightly, pulling the other blanket a little further up over her. She was finally asleep, and he was hopeful that once she got some rest everything else would start to get back to normal, or at least as normal as it could possibly be.