PART TWO
The next morning Derek was the first one who woke up. As I opened my eyes and rolled over to turn off the annoying alarm, I found his side empty and cold. I called his name, but didn't get any answer. The shower in master bathroom wasn't working, nor door of it was closed. I didn't hear any sound from the living room or kitchen, and I started to panic.
At the young age Derek was diagnosed with heart valve disease. His aortic valve wasn't closing properly and disturbed the blood flow through his heart and his body. Although, the disease isn't very serious and isn't lethal, but there might be some complications. Since childhood Derek is drinking medicine and living healthy lifestyle to prevent disease getting worse.
I held my husband's hand when he had been wheeled to the surgery at the age of twenty-seven. I was very scared and afraid, because I didn't want to lose him. When he opened his eyes, I cried tears of joy, knowing that everything will be alright.
Derek was seeing doctors regularly, living healthy lifestyle, running almost every morning, reducing stress and the usage of alcohol. Everything was fine, until one morning five weeks ago. Derek woke up with pain in his chest and shortness of breath. I was scared, and two hours later we were sitting in Dr. Altman's office and waiting for the results. Everything seemed fine, but she recommended him to start drinking medicine she prescribed.
I called his name again, and sat up. I was almost out of the bed with my heart beating fast, when I saw a note on my nightstand. It was from Derek, and I let out a relieved breath that I was holding.
Mer,
I got called to perform an emergency surgery early in the morning. I will see you in hospital.
I love you, and good luck on your first day!
Husband x
P.S. – I took the car, and I don't want you to drive today.
I laughed at the last sentence and got out of the bed. Derek was very protective of me and never allowed me to drive on my own. He said that he felt safer when someone drove me, and I had agreed with him, ignoring the fact that we own two cars.
I took a fast shower, made myself coffee and scrambled eggs and thanked God that my husband had taught me how to cook. Without him, his excellent cooking and teaching skills I would be probably eating junk food for the rest of my life. While I was brushing my teeth and putting last things in my bag, taxi came. I had five minutes to finish everything I did, because the ferry boat was in half an hour and I couldn't be late for it or I will be late for work.
"Seattle Grace Hospital, please!" I said to the driver, when I had sat in the backseat of the car. Living in the woods and about an hour away from the hospital had it's pluses and minuses. The drive to work from home was long, and we had to make sure that we didn't miss the ferry boat, or we would have to wait an hour to the next one. The drive was very long after hard day in work, but ferry boat always made it all a little better. I and Derek had a thing for ferry boats.
Derek had built us a house on our land in Bainbridge island four years ago, one year after we came to Seattle and left everything in New York. It was an old dream of us, and it finally came true after eight years together. We had everything to be happy, almost everything. There was one thing that we wanted more than everything in this world, and it was kids. I knew that I was healthy to try again, but pain of losing the first one and fear of losing another one stopped me.
Derek and I had talked last night about everything, and I promised that one day I will be ready to try again, but I don't know when it will be. I don't want to give him false hopes, but deep inside I knew that I was the one who didn't believe it. My husband knew that everything would work out, and we would have our own child one day, but I… I saw it all as one big dream.
I needed to talk to someone about it all, and there was only one person who could understand me. I found my mother's name in my address book and pressed the call button. It went straight to the voice mail, and I asked her to call me later. Derek's name popped on my phone screen, and smiled seeing it. I had missed him this morning, and I was looking forward to see him in the hospital.
"Hi," My husband said. "Are you on your way to the hospital?"
"Yes, a few minutes away from the ferry actually." I answered, and moved my head to look out of the window. The trees were replaced with houses and shops, and I was able to see Seattle that was on the other side of river.
"Did you take taxi?"
I laughed. "I did. I didn't want to stress you out, although I almost got a heart attack this morning."
"What happened?" Derek's mood changed fast. I was able to hear concern in his voice. "Are you – "
"I'm fine, Der. I got scared when I woke up without you by my side, and I couldn't hear you in the house. Of course, later I found your note, and everything went back normal. Did you drink your pills this morning?"
"How can I not if there is a big sign on the fridge saying that I should not forget to drink my pills." This time Derek was the one who laughed, while I rolled my eyes.
"I am just looking out for you."
"I know it, but everything's alright. I am healthy, and my heart is working excellent. You don't have to be afraid, Meredith."
"I know that your surgery was successful and you don't have problems anymore, and you are drinkings pills, but I am still afraid, Derek."
"You don't have to be afraid. I saw Teddy three weeks ago, and she said that everything's fine. If you want, we can go and see her again, but I am assuring you that there is nothing wrong with me."
"I believe you, I truly do, but take it easy, alright?"
"I will, Meredith." Derek assured me, and I felt him smile though the phone. "I have to go and give work to my residents, but I will meet you in front when you arrive."
"I hope you are not lying, Dr. Shepherd." I said with a laugh, as driver drove car on the ferry. "I love you."
"I love you too, Mrs. Shepherd." Before I got a chance to reply, he ended the call, and I rolled my eyes. He always had to say the last word. I guess it's a man thing.