Chapter 41:
January 4, 2026- Seattle, Washington
Meredith opened her eyes. She couldn't remember where she was. All she could think about was the memory that was still fresh in her mind. As she tried to sit up, everything came floating back. The Doctor. The tests. The cancer. Derek. She looked around. Her daughters were watching her with worried looks on their faces and she found herself lying in a hospital bed.
"Mom? Are you okay? You passed out," Celine said as she grabbed Meredith's hand.
"Yes, I'm fine," Meredith said taking deep breaths, "Where is your father?"
"He's just down the hall. We've already seen him," Celine said, trying to comfort her mother.
"I need to see him," she said getting up,
"Woah, Mom. You just had a panic attack. You need to lie down," Celine said, pushing her mother back down.
"Celine, I suggest you take your hands off of me or you will seriously regret it," Meredith said in a forceful tone.
"Mom, the Doctor said you can't leave," Celine said, not letting her mom go.
"I don't give a damn what the stupid Doctor said. I'm a Doctor too and I say I'm just fine. If the stupid Doctor comes back just say I'm in the bathroom!" Meredith said forcing her way up.
"Stupid Doctor? Now I know you aren't talking about me," Bailey said coming into the room, "Or thinking about getting up."
"Seriously?" Meredith asked in a weak voice as she lay back on the bed.
"Yes, seriously," Bailey said with a smile on her face.
"Dr. Bailey, you have to let me see him," Meredith pleaded hours later.
"You aren't ever going to shut up are you?" Bailey asked.
"You can't tell a person that her husband has cancer and then refuse to let her see him!" Meredith complained.
Bailey sighed and walked over to Meredith, "I'm not going to do this because I like you. Because I don't. I'm just going to let you see him so you'll shut up. Is that understood?" Meredith nodded, "But you are going in a wheelchair. I don't want to find you on the floor somewhere, understood?" Meredith nodded again and Celine and Aimee helped their mother into a wheelchair.
"Just let me go by myself. We need this right now," Meredith said.
Bailey looked at her for a moment, but could see the desperation in her eyes, "Fine. He's in room 2324." Meredith nodded and smiled before turning out of the room.
Meredith wheeled herself down the familiar halls of Seattle Grace until she reached 2324. She almost couldn't make herself go in. She wanted to see her husband, not the weak man she was sure to find inside. As she finally did open the door, her heart slowly broke.
Once she was in the safety of the room, she got out of her wheelchair and hurried over to Derek's side. She placed his hand in between both of hers as she looked down over her husband. He slowly turned his face towards hers and saw the tears rolling down her face.
"Don't cry, Mer," he said in a weak tone.
"I'm sorry," Meredith said as she wiped the tears from her face.
"It's okay. Everything's going to be okay," Derek said.
"How can you know that?" Meredith asked as she sat down next to Derek on his bed.
"In sickness and in health?" he asked.
"In sickness and in health," she answered.
"That's how I know."
He smiled at Meredith, but all she could was cry harder. Derek pulled her down a little and she slowly laid down next to him on the bed. He wrapped his arms around her and she silently cried into his chest, until she drifted off to sleep.