Derek was still staring at the ceiling when he heard a knock at the door, and two police officers entered. They were both good-looking African-American men, one about forty and one in his 20s.

"Dr. Shepherd, I'm Frank Kaye," said the older one, "and my partner is Greg Davis. We're here to talk to you about the stabbing last night. We arrested Rene Collier this morning, just before she was about to board a flight to Paris. We need to discuss what happened in greater detail.

"I'm not sure I want to pursue this."

"Dr. Shepherd, I know it's embarrassing, but it's not your fault that you got stabbed."

"To be honest, it feels that way."

"Dr. Shepherd, a person has to be very disturbed to stab another human being. Now, you're married right?"

"Yes."

"Well, in my experience, the type of person who would do this type of crime could become a stalker and could harm your family."

"My family is in Seattle."

"I understand that," said Office Kaye. "But it's easy enough to get a plane to Seattle. The distance doesn't protect you from a stalker."

"Dr. Shepherd, we went to Collier's apartment, and we found photos of your wife and children. It's very concerning to us that she had those photos. We think it's very important to prosecute Collier for your family's safety."

"I'll do whatever it takes for my family's safety. But I have to tell my wife about this."

"Yes, you better tell your wife soon," emphasized Officer Kaye. "This is going to be a front page story in the Washington Post, and it will hit the internet tonight. It's a juicy story for the press, love struck research assistant knifes NIH researcher."

Derek groaned. "I want to be famous for my work, not for a madwoman going after me."

"No victim likes to be part of a big news story."

"I'm supposed to go to the White House tomorrow."

"Did you tell them about this incident?"

"No."

"Call the White House first, your wife second."

"Thanks for the recommendation."

"And I want you to come to the arraignment, tomorrow, 9 a.m. I'll come and pick you up at 8. The doctor said you're being discharged then."

"Okay. I have a flight to Seattle at 11 a.m."

"You may need a later flight, but you can go home. We'll let you know when we need you for trial."

"Okay."

"Thank you, Dr. Shepherd. We'll see you tomorrow."

"Good-bye."

Derek called the White House, and the counsel moved the meeting back to NIH. He didn't want Derek showing up at the White House, given the likely press interest in the story. So Derek kept staring at his phone. He decided to call his sister first.

"Hi Amy."

"Have you called Meredith yet?"

"No. But I'm going to call her in a minute. I wanted to talk to you first."

"I'm flattered."

"I need you to be there for Meredith. Can you stay with her tonight?"

"Sure. She invited Owen and me to dinner."

"Good. The police just left. I'm going to have to tell Meredith everything."

"You should do it anyway."

"Well, the story is going to be on the Internet tonight. They've arrested the research assistant. It turns out she had photos of Meredith and the kids in her apartment. They're worried she might do harm to them, not just me. So the story's going to go public."

"I'll be there for Meredith. But I wouldn't be surprised if she's mad at you. Bailey told me that when she thought you were cheating on her, she was really mad, two trauma surgeons and an orthopod mad."

"Meredith won't hurt me."

"I know. She loves you. I don't know why."

"Amy, you love me, too."

"You're my brother, I have to love you."

"I love you too, Amy." Derek smiled. "Now I have to call Meredith. Do you know where she is?"

"She was going to hang out in the daycare center for a while."