Meredith sighs frustratingly as Derek helps her into the wheelchair. "I can walk you know," she mutters as he hands her her bag.
Derek chuckles as he shakes his head. "I know, but we have been over this. You may be able to walk, but it's best for you to take it as easy as possible…and it's hospital policy for you to be wheeled out."
She rolls her eyes as he begins to push her forward. "Whatever," she mutters.
Derek suddenly stops the wheelchair. Meredith looks up confused and that is when she feels her strength begin to crumble.
"Meredith. Dr. Shepherd," the cold voice says as she stares at the pair.
"Dr. Grey," Derek responds curtly as he looks down and notices Meredith's trembling hands gripping the sides of the wheelchair. He once again begins to push the chair down the hallway, hoping that Ellis moves out of his way, but she doesn't.
"So, I see that you are sticking by her…" Ellis says in a disgusted tone as she nods in Meredith's direction.
Derek grips the handles of the wheelchair as he clenches his jaw. "Yes," he answers briefly.
"You are ruining your life," Ellis says, and he is unsure if she is talking to him or Meredith.
"Shut up," Meredith says in a small voice.
Ellis's eyes narrow as she stares at the pale figure sitting in the wheelchair. "What did you say to me?"
"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" Meredith screams at her mother.
He can hear her haggard breath as she finally stands up to her mother. Derek releases his grip on the handles and walks around to the front of the wheelchair and kneels down in front of her.
"Mer?" he asks as he takes in her flushed appearance.
She redirects her glance to look in his eyes. "I'm fine," she says unconvincingly.
He smiles softly at her. "Sure you are," he says as he grabs her hand and begins to rub small circles in her palm with his thumb.
She sighs as his touch slowly begins to relax her. "Sorry," she mumbles as she stares at her feet.
He reaches up and lifts her chin, forcing her to look at him. "Don't be. You have nothing to be sorry for," he says in earnest before he turns around and once again comes face-to-face with her mother. "If you will excuse us, Dr. Grey, I have to take Meredith home," he says with a glare before walking back behind the wheelchair. He doesn't wait for a response as he pushes Meredith past her mother.
"She will bring you down," she shouts at the retreating duo.
Derek pauses and shrugs his shoulders, almost as if he is trying to brush her off.
"She's not worth it," Meredith whispers, the tears now beginning to slowly trail down her face. "She will ruin you. Just let it go."
He sighs, knowing that as much as he doesn't want to let it go, Meredith's mom is his boss. They reach the awaiting car in silence. Mrs. Shepherd smiles at them from the driver's seat. Derek holds up his hand, letting his mom know that he needs just a moment, before he once again kneels down in front of it.
"Just so you know," he says in a deep, serious voice. "You are worth it. She may not be worth it, but you are." He reaches up and wipes away the few remnants of tears with the pad of his thumb.
Just as Meredith opens her mouth to speak, her stomach rumbles loudly. Meredith bites down on her bottom lip as she blushes.
Derek chuckles. "Hungry?"
Meredith nods her head slowly before allowing a small giggle to escape.
"Okay then," he says as he opens the back door for her, "let's go get you some food."
Meredith nods as Derek helps her into the backseat before climbing in next to her. A nurse that followed them out takes the wheelchair back into the hospital.
"What do you want to eat?" he asks her as he turns to face her.
She shrugs. "I…will you hand me my purse?" she asks with a blush.
He furrows his brow in confusion as he looks at her. "Why?"
She stares out of the window. "So I can see how much money I have left," she says quietly.
"Nonsense," Derek says as he leans in closer to her. "Did I not tell you I am going to be taking care of you from now on? That means I buy you stuff and included in that stuff is any food your stomach desires," he finishes with a smile.
However, she still doesn't turn to face him. "I can't let you do that. I can't…I won't be a burden…I…"
"You, Meredith Grey, could never be a burden," he says earnestly as the car begins to move forward.
"I'm not a charity case," she mumbles as she leans her forehead against the cool glass of the car.
"I didn't say you were," he says as he reaches out and envelops her hand in his.
"Maybe not, but you are treating me like I am," she whispers quietly.
"You are the mother of my unborn child. You…you are giving me so much more than I could ever give you," he says as he begins to rub small circles on the top of her hand with his thumb.
She sighs heavily as she looks at him out of the corner of her eye.
"I am going to take care of you. You might as well not fight it," Derek says in a joking voice that is laced with seriousness.
"Fine," she whispers as she allows him to pull her body against his.
"Good. Now, what do you want?" he says in a light voice.
She bites down on her bottom lip as she looks up at him from under her lashes. "A big mac and a large french fry from McDonald's," she whispers.
He chuckles as he can't help but lean down and place a soft kiss on her hair. He doesn't fail to notice the way her body stiffens, but decides to ignore it for the moment. "Again?" he asks amused.
She shrugs. "What can I say? It's what your son wants," she responds in a lighter voice.
He chuckles as he leans forward. "Did you hear that Mom? Now he's my son…" he chuckles as he winks at Meredith.
Mrs. Shepherd laughs. "McDonald's then?" she asks as she looks in the rearview mirror.
Both Meredith and Derek smile at her and nod and she can't help but linger at the perfect framed image the mirror presents.