Derek runs his hand through his hair as he leans back against the elevator wall. He is almost to his floor, their floor. Practice was good. It wasn't too intense because their first game is tomorrow. He really wants to go to the match tonight, he is just hoping that Meredith will go with him.

He sighs as he pushes himself off of the wall and exits the elevator. He doesn't know if she will be back yet. He hopes she is back. He needs to talk to her. He needs to explain. He needs to. He inserts his keycard into the lock and waits a second as the light turns from red to green. His heart is racing. He is nervous, but he has no idea why. Maybe it is because he is about to confess to someone that he has known little more than a week that he is afraid he might be falling for her. Wait. Not might. Is. He is falling for her. He is falling for her so quick and so fast that it scares the shit out of him.

He inhales deeply as he pushes the suddenly very heavy door open. He quickly glances around the clean, empty room. He doesn't see her. He steps into the room and that is when he sees it. Her purse and her keycard are lying on the bar. She's here. He can talk to her. He needs to talk to her.

He walks through the small kitchen area but doesn't see her. He notices that her bedroom door is open. Should he go in? He doesn't want to intrude. He doesn't want her to feel violated. She doesn't deserve to feel violated. But he is afraid that if he announces himself she will instantly shut him out. If she shuts him out again he doesn't know if he will ever get back in. And he really wants in.

With these thoughts in mind, Derek takes the few steps towards her bedroom. He steps inside the darkened room but doesn't see her. That is when he sees it. The bathroom door is cracked open and there is a light emitting from the crack. She is in the bathroom. He walks towards the bathroom and stands next to the door, listening for any indication that she is not naked.

That is when he hears it. A moan. A low, almost inaudible moan that belies a tortured soul. A moan that tears at his heartstrings. He doesn't care. He doesn't care if she is naked. He needs to take away her pain. He needs to take away her torture. He needs to save her.

He places his hand on the bathroom door, pausing a moment. He forgets to breathe as he waits in anticipation, the tension and nerves only building with each tick of the clock. The smooth wood of the door is cold under his sweaty palms. Why are his palms so sweaty? He never used to get nervous before. Not over a girl. But then it hits him. Meredith isn't just a girl. Meredith isn't just a woman. She is the woman. She might be it for it. She. No. He can't think like this. Not yet. Not now. Now he needs to talk to her.

He finally applies some force to the door, which immediately gives way. He looks around the bathroom but doesn't see her. Where in the hell? That is when he looks down. He looks down and he can't help but gasp audibly. Lying on the floor surrounded by and covered in blood is none other than his Meredith. He can't help but think of just how much she looks like a rag doll, a toy bent, and broken and discarded haphazardly on the floor.

He immediately steps into the bathroom and it kneeling down next to her in a matter of moments. She finally hears him as he kneels down and her eyes jerk open and her blood shot green eyes meet his cloudy blues. When he finally speaks his voice is broken.

Derek: Mer…oh God…Mer…

Meredith looks down and realizes the mess and the fact that her cut is still openly bleeding. She didn't mean to let it get this bad. She just got caught up. She just got caught up in the high that is cutting. Her painkiller. Her emotional painkiller.

Before she can grab the towel, Derek is pressing it on her bleeding wrist. He is frantically trying to stop the bleeding. He looks down at her other hand and sees the straight razor still gripped in her other hand. He reaches out and pries it from her grip. He places the bloody piece of sharp metal on the edge of the counter.

Derek: Mer? What…are you…I..

Meredith: I'm fine.

Derek: Fine? You're fine? You are covered in blood. Did you…were you trying to kill yourself?

Meredith jerks back, but Derek maintains his firm grip on her arm as he hold the towel in place.

Meredith: What?

Derek (in a concerned voice): Were you trying to kill yourself?

Meredith shakes her head.

Meredith: No…No…I wasn't…I…oh God…

He notices Meredith's eyes dart around as they take in the extent of her blood loss. He reaches up and brushes her hair out of her face before leaning in and placing a gently kiss on her forehead. She doesn't pull away. She doesn't fight his strength. A part of her feels relief. A part of her feels relief at the fact that this is no longer her secret. She has someone to share it with. And that, that lets her know that she isn't alone.

Derek: How long?

Meredith: What?

Derek: How long have you been a cutter?

Meredith opens her mouth only to close it again. This is it. This is the moment of truth. He will probably think her crazy, but she doesn't want to lie to him. She stares down at the floor as she answers.

Meredith: Since I was fourteen.

Derek gasps.

Derek: Oh, Mer…

His heart is breaking. His heart is breaking for the amazing woman sitting in front of him. All of the pain, all of the suffering that she must have gone through in her life. He wonders. He wonders if anyone else knows. He wonders if she has ever had anyone be there for her. Her fragile, broken voice cuts through his thoughts.

Meredith: You are the first and only person who knows.

Derek feels his heart swell and he bends down and envelops her tiny frame in his arms. She leans into his touch and allows his warmth to relieve some of the coldness that she has been feeling. A coldness that she has been feeling for so long.

When he releases her he stares at her for a moment before reaching under the cabinet and grabbing the first aid kit. He removes the towel from her wrist and notices that the bleeding has slowed down. He stands up and wets a cloth before cleaning the area of the wound. He looks up into her eyes before doing anything else.

Derek: I'm going to wrap your wrist and then we are going to get you cleaned up and changed. After that, you and I are going to sit down and talk.

Meredith looks up at him.

Meredith: I can take care of myself.

Derek tilts his head to the side and smiles at her.

Derek: I know you can, but I think that you have been taking care of yourself for far too long. Now, now I am going to take care of you.

Meredith opens her mouth to speak, but no words are able to escape. She simply nods as the tears begin to build in her eyes. Derek reaches up and brushes away a tear that manages to escape.

Meredith: Thank you.

Derek just smiles at her as he begins to take care of Meredith. He can't help but think how he could get used to taking care of her. He also can't help but thinking about how broken this amazing woman is. No matter what, he knows that he is going to be there. He is going to be there for her.

I couldn't leave you guys hanging...I was always planning to update again as soon as possible..Hope you guys liked...Oh..and Mer never wanted to committ suicide...i can elaborate if you want...but that is important to note...she was not suicidal...there is a big difference.